Fotoecke » bat that seemed pulled from the script of a feel-good movie

SAN DIEGO -- Tony Hawk says no.Mario Lopez says yes.Could there be anything more absurd than the worlds most famous skateboarder and an actor who appeared in Saved by the Bell taking opposite sides of the San Diego Chargers long, twisting and increasingly bitter push for a new stadium?Funny thing is, neither Hawk nor Lopez lives in San Diego proper. So they cant vote on Measure C, the ballot initiative that asks the public to approve an increase in the hotel occupancy tax to provide $1.15 billion for a $1.8 billion stadium and convention center annex in the southeast corner of downtown.Hawks anti-C comments, delivered with a dose of humor, were included in Bill Simmons anti-stadium segment on Any Given Wednesday on HBO. Lopezs TV ad in favor of Measure C was filmed in the Los Angeles area -- where the Chargers tried to move last year, angering a fan base thats been loyal since the Bolts moved here in 1961 from Los Angeles.The twisting stadium saga began in 2000, when Ryan Leaf was still the Chargers quarterback. It probably wont reach the finish line even after the votes are counted Tuesday night.Few people think Measure C will get the two-thirds super majority needed to pass. The Chargers, who have long sought a significant public subsidy to replace aging Qualcomm Stadium in Mission Valley, have said privately they hope to get the equivalent of a moral victory if the vote is close to 50 percent. If team chairman Dean Spanos really wants to stay in San Diego, as he keeps saying, hed likely be forced to negotiate a different plan with City Hall, the citys powerful tourism industry, and other stakeholders. None of those entities had a say in the 110-page initiative written by the Chargers.If the measure is badly beaten, Spanos could exercise his option to move to L.A., a concession granted by fellow NFL owners after they rebuffed his plans to build a stadium in Carson with the hated archrival Oakland Raiders as a partner.Is it possible that voters will stand up to the mighty NFL?Mayor Kevin Faulconer remains as optimistic as ever that something will get done on his watch. Hes moved past last year, when the Chargers pressured him to come up with a stadium plan, and then walked away from negotiations to focus on L.A.Look, I think San Diego has been part of the NFL for 50 years, said Faulconer, who clinched a second term in the June primary. San Diegans want the Chargers to stay. San Diegans want a deal that is fair for taxpayers. Those are not mutually exclusive.Heres the disconnect: While many San Diegans love the Chargers and want them to stay, many dont like what they consider a scorched-earth campaign Spanos waged last year in trying to beat Stan Kroenkes Rams to L.A. Spanos, whose team is valued at more than $2 billion, never uttered as much as Im sorry after fellow owners sent him back to San Diego to try again. His lawyers hurriedly wrote Measure C in time to gather enough signatures to qualify for the ballot.The tourism industry opposes both an increase in the hotel tax raised and a convention center annex several blocks from the bayfront convention center. The convention center needs expanding for big clients like Comic-Con, which also opposes Measure C, but attempts to do so have been blocked in court.Faulconer remained mum for months. Several civic and business leaders, led by Qualcomm co-founder Irwin Jacobs, urged the mayor to oppose the project.The mayor finally endorsed C, but only after receiving assurances on certain financial safeguards from Spanos. However, that document is not legally binding.The Padres, who rode an appearance in the 1998 World Series to approval of a new downtown ballpark, want to see the Chargers stay in town, but have major concerns about the Chargers plan. If approved, a new football stadium approximately two blocks away would gobble up most of the Padres surface parking and compete for concerts and other events that swell the Padres coffers.Leading the coalition in favor of Measure C is Jerry Sanders, the president and CEO of the regional chamber of commerce. Interestingly, the Chargers complained for years that they couldnt get help from the city, and Sanders was mayor for a large chunk of that time, from 2005-12.Much like they criticized Faulconer last year, the Chargers have gotten personal toward city councilman Chris Cate and architect Rob Quigley for opposing their massive project. The Chargers took out Facebook ads asking why Cate wanted the team to move to Los Angeles, urging fans to call his office. In an op-ed piece on the website Voice of San Diego, Chargers spokesman Fred Maas called Quigley a small-town undertaker.Polling by City Hall shows Measure C getting less than 50 percent of the vote. Polling done for the hotel industry shows it getting 35 percent yes, with 13 percent undecided. A Chargers consultant would not divulge team-sponsored polling.Obviously it passing gives us the best chance to be here long term, quarterback Philip Rivers said. But Im still hopeful that if it doesnt, then its not the end-all. I dont know that, but certainly thats my hope that if its short of passing that there still has been enough progress made that theres still a way to get it figured out.Rivers, of course, will vote yes.Hawk and Lopez wont have a say.---Follow Bernie Wilson on Twitter at http://twitter.com/berniewilson---Online: http://pro32.ap.org/poll and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL Jacksonville Jaguars Jerseys . -- The goal posts lying flat on the field, Arizonas fans lingered on the field, congregating around the locker room entrance nearly 30 minutes after rushing out of the stands. Jawaan Taylor Womens Jersey . A big centre with all the tools to be an elite player, Johansen paced the Blue Jackets with a standout game Saturday night. He had a goal and two assists for a career-high three points as Columbus beat the New York Islanders 5-2 to snap a five-game losing streak. http://www.authenticjaguarslockroom.com/Youth-Nick-Foles-Elite-Jersey/ . -- Kyrie Irvings last-minute 3-pointer helped seal another victory for Cleveland -- and the Cavaliers longest winning streak since LeBron James left. Telvin Smith Jersey . -- Los Angeles Lakers guard Jordan Farmar will be out for roughly four weeks after tearing his left hamstring. Nick Foles Youth Jersey . Fernandez, coached in Toronto by former two-time Olympic silver medallist Brian Orser, scored 267.11 points and is the first champion to successfully defend since Russias Evgeny Plushenko in 2005 and 2006. CLEVELAND -- Yan Gomes completed a comeback even he doubted was possible.Given little chance to play in the postseason after breaking his right hand last month, Clevelands catcher made the clubs postseason roster and will play in the American League Division Series against the Boston Red Sox.Its an amazing recovery for Gomes, who was days away from returning to the lineup after missing two months with a separated right shoulder when he was hit was a pitch and broke his hand.Its been a roller coaster of emotions, man, Gomes said Wednesday. I went from sitting in a hospital room with my hand broken, not going to lie, crying my eyes out because Im not going to be part of the team. But then once I got my stuff together, I was like, `Ya know what, I can try to make a comeback, got to play a couple games and to be put on the roster is pretty rewarding for me and Im just going to try to do my best to help our team any way I can.Gomes hand isnt completely healed, but thats not going to stop him now, not with a chance to play in the postseason for the second time in his career.Im just going to tape it as tight as we can and hopefully it stays together, he said. But I can tell you, Im going to give 100 percent every time.When Gomes broke his hand on Sept. 14 while playing for Double-A Akron, it appeared his season was over.Doctors told him it could take up to two months to heal, but after picking up a ball and throwing it, Gomes dedicated himself to doing everything he could to get back on the field.Once I first started throwing the ball around, Im like, if I can flick it without noticing, it doesnt hurt as bad, he said. The oonly thing was starting to hit.dddddddddddd The first time I hit, it didnt feel very good. The second time, I saw some progress. This was three days after. The hand is still broken, theres still going to be some pain, but they told me, `Look, if you can tolerate it, its not going to get any worse.He returned to the lineup in the seasons final week, but only played a few innings in the field.But then, with an at-bat that seemed pulled from the script of a feel-good movie, Gomes connected for a home run on the first pitch he faced Sunday in Kansas City. The shot electrified his teammates, who have been pulling hard for him to get back.Im really happy for him as an individual, Game 1 starter Trevor Bauer said. Obviously hes going to help our team. Theres no question about that. But just on a personal side, to have him be able to come back and be a part of something that he was a big part of all year and over the past couple of years that hes been here, its really great to see for him.Indians manager Terry Francona, who is carrying three catchers on his ALDS roster, isnt sure how much Gomes will play.I dont think its probably fair to ask him to be a starting catcher and catch nine innings, he said. I think what wed usually try to do during the season, and try to do now, is take what the players do well, try to maximize that, which is certainly catching and throwing, knowledge of the staff, so we can use that. Hes not limited there. And we can use that.If it grows into more, that would be good. ' ' '