So Formula 1 got there in the end. After two wholly unsuccessful and unpopular public experiments, elimination qualifying has now – seemingly – been eliminated itself. Its a common-sense decision to go back to how qualifying was because the new format was universally unpopular, says Sky Sports F1 commentator David Croft.Even if it is a good idea, its not going to get the chance to work if everybody hates it. The united stance taken by the teams to overcome Jean Todt and Bernie Ecclestones reluctance to revert to the 2015 rules has been applauded, but what does the episode mean for future attempts to spice up the sports spectacle - and what can F1 learn from it?Why qualy was changedSpeaking before the elimination system fell flat for the second time in Bahrain last weekend, Bernie Ecclestone explained the reasons behind tinkering with qualifying in the first place.[The thinking was] lets muddle up the grid, the F1 impresario said in an interview with Sky F1. The idea was that, hopefully, Lewis and one or two of the hot shoes would be starting further down. Lewis helped up us in Melbourne because on the first lap he came through seventh, it made a good race. Ted Kravitz interviews F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone on F1 Qualifying and other topics People like things to be a little bit more pure, which is right. And Id like to see the racing as it was. Its not pure when you had 38 races of which Mercedes were first in 32 of them. Not really.F1 Qualifying returns to 2015 formatEcclestone insists he has no beef with the fact its Mercedes enjoying all the success - we dont want to stop Mercedes winning, they have done an incredible job that is unbelievable - but argues if I want to go and see any particular sport I dont want to know the result before I go.His viewpoint is unlikely to have changed since the world champions notched up their 34th victory in 40 races last Sunday.Teams to look again at qualifyingWhile they may have won the argument over qualifying for the rest of this season, teams did offer a concession to Ecclestone and Todt in their letter by stating they were willing to evaluate other systems for next season.The FIA later confirmed Jean Todt and Bernie Ecclestone welcomed the idea put forward by the teams to have a global assessment of the format of the weekend for 2017. The good thing to come out of this is that the teams stuck together and showed unity, says Croft. The governing body and commercial rights holder listened to the teams, took their views on board, and have gone back.But, by doing that, they have secured the cooperation of the teams as well to trial new ideas later in the season if the championships finished. The teams have also expressed a willingness to experiment with new qualifying formats.So, by going back, its not a backwards step for the FIA or commercial rights holder because the teams have now said well cooperate with you, just show us in advance what you want to do.Should F1 still be open to change?While the technical and sporting regulations may have regularly changed - and sometimes changed back - over the decades, the race weekend format of Friday practice, Saturday qualifying and Sunday race has remained largely untouched.But, as discussed at Strategy Group level last summer, is it time to think outside the box in terms of adding value for fans throughout the three-day race weekend? Jean Todt talks about the promoters wanting Formula 1 more exciting on a Saturday, so could we not bring qualifying forward and maybe hold it on a Friday, or Saturday morning, before a reverse grid sprint race on a Saturday? pondered Croft. What is to stop the sport having two races over the weekend?Teams might say that puts an extra stress and strain on the crew - and that might be a valid argument - but its something that should be looked at. Then you look at how you get round the arguments, you dont just dismiss it.Get Sky F1: Every 2016 race liveDont touch the Grand Prix. Its the blue riband of motorsport and you shouldnt touch it because it works and the racings been brilliant so far this year. But that doesnt mean there isnt room for something else on a Grand Prix weekend.Time to try ideas outIntroduced just two weeks before the new season began, its probably little wonder that a new qualifying format so conclusively failed to hit the mark straight away.No doubt wary of a high-profile repeat further down the line, teams have said they are prepared to trial any new ideas out first - potentially as early as the end of the season if the championship is wrapped up before the final round.But what is stopping F1 experimenting with a sprint race or qualifying format before then, away from the race weekend? I dont buy the idea we have to go live with it before testing something, added Croft. I didnt buy that with qualifying. There are two in-season tests, at Barcelona and Silverstone, and there can probably be a test at Abu Dhabi if its needed.What is there to stop the sport trialling a sprint race in one of those tests? You could invite the media for instant comment. You can have fans there - its a trial. You dont even have to do it with the race drivers. Just try it.Theres enough money in the sport to pay the teams to come and do a sprint race test and evaluate it properly. Then, while youre at it, evaluate a qualifying system in the morning as well.Change for changes sake?While it could be argued that F1s powerbrokers already have enough on their plate where 2017 is concerned, with the final aerodyanamic and power unit rules still not signed off and the deadline pushed back to April 30, do the action-packed opening two race days of 2016 actually show there isnt anything wrong with the spectacle as it stands?Croft added: Behind the scenes people should take the time to work out what could be better for 2017. But, during those six to eight months, if the racing continues to be as good as it is at the moment then you have to ask yourself the question why do you want to change? Sky Sports News Craig Slater reveals that F1 qualifying will return to the 2015 style format, starting at the Chinese GP Are you changing the qualifying system for the sake of changing it or changing it to make the racing better? The whole idea has come about to make the racing better but, if the racings good, why are you changing qualifying?You cant rush things and make these hasty decisions. You go back to 2014 and Luca di Montezemolo talking about racing for taxi drivers and then turning up in Bahrain ready to slate F1 and the new engine formula, but then having to leave the race early and miss the climax to one of the most thrilling races Ive ever commented on.Were looking at the negatives and you fail to see the positives there. Dont change for changes sake.After the debacle of elimination qualifying, F1s next move most certainly must be a wise one. Whens the Chinese GP on Sky? Full TV schedule and how you can watch on Sky Sports Also See: Qualifying returns to 2015 format The F1 Gossip Column . The England international had both goals in TFCs season-opening 2-1 win over the Seattle Sounders on Saturday. . -- The Green Bay Packers have signed quarterback Graham Harrell to the active roster from the practice squad and placed tight end Andrew Quarless on injured reserve.
http://www.cheappacersjerseysauthentic. ... son-jersey. Balotelli was out at dinner with his brother Enoch and came home to discover he had been burgled. The car was later found abandoned. Balotelli wrote Saturday on Twitter: "I feel empty! No emotions . . Fielder ended 4-for-5 with a solo homer, while Avila was 4-for-4 with two runs scored for the Tigers, who put the brakes on a three-game skid and rebounded from a loss in Mondays opener. Victor Martinez and Austin Jackson both contributed two hits, an RBI and a run scored as Detroit maintained its healthy lead atop the AL Central. .Y. - The NFL has fined Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch $20,000 for making an obscene gesture during last Sundays NFC championship game, a person with knowledge of the fine told The Associated Press on Thursday.The Los Angeles Kings hope to lock up their second Stanley Cup title in three seasons Wednesday, when they try to complete a sweep of the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden. Listen to the game on TSN Radio and watch live streaming of the post-game news conferences on TSN.ca and TSN GO. The Kings own a 3-0 lead heading into Game 4 of the best-of-seven Stanley Cup Finals. Los Angeles won the first two tilts of this series on home ice, posting comeback victories to win Games 1 and 2 beyond regulation before grabbing Mondays Game 3 meeting in New York by a 3-0 score. L.A., which beat New Jersey in six games for the franchises first Cup victory in 2012, can become the first NHL team to win the Stanley Cup Finals in a sweep since Detroit claimed four straight against Washington in 1998. However, the Kings also held a 3-0 lead over the Devils in 2012 but then dropped two straight before clinching the title on home ice in Game 6. The Rangers, meanwhile, will try to stave off elimination in Game 4 and send the series back to L.A. for a fifth meeting on Friday. New York is still shooting for its first win in the Stanley Cup Finals since 1994, when it beat Vancouver in seven games for its first title since 1940. The first Cup Finals game at Madison Square Garden in 20 years didnt go the way the Rangers planned, as the Kings used a strong performance by Jonathan Quick to deliver a 3-0 win and push New York to the brink of elimination. Quick made 32 saves to record his second shutout of the 2014 postseason and ninth of his playoff career. Jeff Carter, Jake Muzzin and Mike Richards all scored for the Kings, who needed overtime in Game 1 and double-overtime in Game 2 to win their two games at home. They got a late goal in the first period in Game 3, however, then scored twice more in the second to back Quicks stellar effort. "It was a playoff hockey game. We were trying to win a hockey game," said Quick. "We did a lot of things the right way. We were able to do that. Now we get ready for the next one. The fourth one is always the most difficult." The Rangers were playing their first home game in the Cup Finals since a Game 7 win against Vancouver on June 14, 1994. New York was hoping a familiar setting would get them in the win column, but that was not the case. The Rangers were unable to solve Quick, though, and Henrik Lundqvist was victimized for all three goals on just 15 shots. "He was obviously the best player on the ice tonight," said New York head coacch Alain Vigneault about Quick.dddddddddddd "Give them credit, though, because they found a way to put the puck past a real good goaltender and we couldnt do it." If New York is to win this series, it will have to do something only four other teams have done in NHL playoff history -- win four straight games after falling in a 3-0 hole. One of those clubs is the Kings, who rallied from a 3-0 deficit to beat the San Jose Sharks in the first round of this years playoffs. The only time a team erased a 3-0 deficit to win the Cup was in 1942 when Toronto defeated Detroit. Shortly after killing off a New York penalty and with time winding down in the first period, the Kings skated down the other way. Justin Williams gained the zone through the middle, slipping over to the right before sending a short pass back to his left. Carter took the feed and snapped a shot from the top of the right circle that hit off the tip of the left skate blade of a diving Dan Girardi and in off the glove of Lundqvist with just 0.8 seconds left. It was the first time the Kings had a lead in a game since the third period of Game 6 of the Western Conference finals, a span of 249:14. "Well, I know there wasnt a lot of shots on net," said Lundqvist about the goal. "But we felt we played a real good period, the pace was good, there wasnt a lot of room, both teams were battling real hard for ice. That was their only chance in the first period. We out-chanced them 4-1. We had some real good looks. Stuff like that happens." Muzzin made it 2-0 L.A. less than five minutes into the second stanza when his shot from the point hit off Rangers forward Martin St. Louis before beating Lundqvist, who was screened in front by Carter. Richards then completed the scoring with 2:46 left in the second period. Los Angeles forward Anze Kopitar had an assist in the game and has 21 helpers in the postseason. His 26 points leads all skaters in the postseason, while Carter and Williams are tied for second with 24 each. Williams has recorded a point in five straight games, and has two goals and seven assists over that span. If the Rangers are to make a series of this, they will likely need forward Rick Nash to contribute on offense. Nash has yet to register a point in this series despite totaling 15 shots on net in the first three games. Nash, who led New York with 26 goals during the regular season, has had a disappointing playoffs overall, recording just 10 points (3G, 7A) in 23 contests. ' ' '
