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HOUSTON -- Anyone whos seen Jadeveon Clowneys monster tackle against Michigan in the Outback Bowl last year wont be surprised to learn what the No. 1 overall pick likes best about football. "Big hits," he said. "Im all about hitting. I dont care who it is." Thats what the Houston Texans are counting on from the South Carolina defensive end after skipping a chance to take a quarterback -- their top need -- with the top pick Thursday night. Clowney was introduced on Friday in Houston, joining a team that features 2012 Defensive Player of the Year J.J. Watt. Clowney was already known as a top player before that hit in the Outback Bowl. But when he burst through the line and crashed into Vincent Smith, knocking his helmet off and the ball out of his hands in the process, his star power reached another level. Hes hoping to pile up plenty more highlight-reel hits this season, but knows hell have to be careful about how he delivers them. "Thats what I live for is making big hits," he said. "I hope I dont get no fines this year. I might have to dial it down a little." New Houston coach Bill OBrien, who took over a team that hasnt won since Sept. 15, raved about Clowneys many attributes. But one thing stood out to OBrien as he got to know Clowney. "He really talked about how much he loved winning and how winning was important to him," OBrien said. "These are the type guys that were looking for, were looking for team guys, were looking for tough guys, were looking for guys that are going to come in here and understand that theyre part of a team and theyre coming here to work hard." Houston general manager Rick Smith obviously coveted Clowney for his pass-rushing ability, but values his attitude perhaps just as much. "Hes driven, and in my opinion very committed to being an excellent football play, and we need that," Smith said. Clowney doesnt model his play after any player in particular, but he does study many guys to elevate his game. "I watch J.J. Watt, I watch Ray Lewis, I watch Lawrence Taylor before games," Clowney said. "I go out there on the field (and say): Im about to pull a Lawrence Taylor. Im about to pull a Ray Lewis today. I try to take over the game and try to dominate a game and thats what I do." Clowney got a good laugh during Thursdays news conference when OBrien referred to him as J.D. "I guess he has trouble pronouncing Jadeveon," Clowney said. "So I told him: Just call me J.D., man. Were going to keep it simple. And its quicker and easier." This isnt anything new to Clowney, who said people say his unique name wrong all the time. "I ask mom: Where you get that name from? I mispronounce it sometimes," he joked. "Its all right though. Ive got so many nicknames, people give me J., J.D. call me Clowney, 7. Ive got so many names. Just dont call me Clown." Everyone in his family has names that starts with the letter J, and his mother wanted to incorporate his father Davids name into her sons and came up with the hybrid name. Clowney grew up in Rock Hill, South Carolina, which has a population of less than 70,000 people. Hes excited about moving to big city, but is a bit concerned about the traffic in Houston, home to more than 2 million people. "I better get here early," Clowney said. "If I got to be here at 8, Ive got to get up at 5:30-6, get going and get here on time." . "I dont know where we would be without him," McClendon said. "Hes done a tremendous job for us and (Wednesday) was no different." Logan Morrison drove in two runs in Seattles big sixth inning, Young pitched seven strong innings and the Mariners beat the Houston Astros 5-2 to complete a three-game sweep. . The 12th-ranked Haas served well throughout the match at the Ibirapuera arena, allowing only one break point to the 152nd-ranked Italian. Both players held serve until the first-set tiebreak, when Haas stepped up his game to easily clinch the set. .com) - The Chicago Cubs reportedly signed recently-acquired outfielder Dexter Fowler to a one-year contract on Friday, avoiding arbitration. . Canadas Kaillie Humphries and Heather Moyse will reunite at this weekends season-opening World Cup at Canada Olympic Park as they begin their buildup to the Winter Games in Sochi. . For the Blue Jays the time was Wednesday and the ace was R.A. Dickey. He stepped up. "I feel some responsibility as a stopper from time to time," said Dickey.NEW YORK -- Robinson Cano shrugged off the boos in his return to Yankee Stadium and walked away a two-time winner. Cano doubled and drove in two runs to help the Seattle Mariners beat the New York Yankees 4-2 Thursday night behind an impressive pitching performance from rookie Roenis Elias. Michael Saunders had three hits, including an RBI double, and Elias struck out 10 in seven innings as the Mariners won their fifth in six games following an eight-game skid. Seattle took both games in a rain-shortened series that marked Canos first trip back to New York after leaving for a $240 million, 10-year contract last off-season. "Both days felt good because both days we won, so it has to feel good," Cano said. The All-Star second baseman was booed again and finished the series 2 for 9 with three RBIs. Seattle has won four straight at Yankee Stadium dating to last season. "There werent any expectations from the crowd today. I just wanted to go out and take care of business," Cano said. "You have to understand the fans, but it is not going to be a distraction for me." Yankees starter Hiroki Kuroda (2-3) gave up four runs -- three earned -- and seven hits in six innings, lowering his ERA slightly to 5.14. It was an improvement over his previous outing Friday night, when the 39-year-old right-hander was hammered in a 13-1 loss to the Los Angeles Angels. "I think its a step in the right direction," New York manager Joe Girardi said. "A lot of nights thats going to be good enough to win." Elias (2-2) gave up a leadoff homer to Jacoby Ellsbury but not much else in his first appearance against the Yankees. The left-hander from Cuba threw 73 of 110 pitches for strikes, starting 75 per cent of his 28 batters with a strike. He allowed six hits and one earned run while walking two. Yoervis Medina worked a perfect eighth, and Fernando Rodney got three outs for his sixth save. "The adrenaline comes from the spotlight," Elias said through a translator. "Ive never been to the stadium so it was good to come here and beat the Yankees. Ive seen it on TV but never been here." Ellsbury, who sat out Tuesday with a sore left hand, sent Elias fourth pitch to right field for his first home run with the Yankees. It was New Yorks first leadoff shot since Derek Jeter connected at the Chicago Whhite Sox on Aug.dddddddddddd 21, 2012. Elias, who skipped Triple-A, struck out the next three batters and settled in from there. Showing good command of a sharp curve, he induced two double-play grounders and struck out the side in the fifth. "He was hitting his spots. He was getting ahead. He pitched a good game. Hes got a good arm," Jeter said. "Sometimes pitchers are going to be better than you. He threw really well. Hes not a typical lefty who tries to trick you. He gets it up there pretty good." Cano hit an RBI double in the first and a run-scoring groundout in the third after Jeter made an error at shortstop. Brad Miller dumped a two-out RBI single in front of hesitant left fielder Brett Gardner in the fourth. Saunders followed with a ground-rule double that made it 4-1. New York cut it to 4-2 in the sixth on Brian McCanns run-scoring single with two outs after Cano was charged with an error. Elias retired Yangervis Solarte with two on to end the inning. The Yankees did not get another baserunner until a two-out single by pinch-hitter Ichiro Suzuki in the ninth. "The young man threw a tremendous game. We thought hed be OK in this environment," Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon said about Elias. "The young man is tough." NOTES: After the rainout Wednesday, the Mariners pushed back ace Felix Hernandez one day to Friday night in Houston. Elias had been scheduled to start Wednesday, followed by Hernandez on Thursday. "Give him an extra day and it also gives Elias an extra day. It just made sense," McClendon said. "Felix has been taxed quite a bit and hes pitched on regular rest for quite a while. Its an opportunity to get him where we need him to be. His last two outings have not been sterling outings, I think we would agree. So it gives us a chance to freshen him up and get him back on the right track." ... Seattle has not announced a starter for Saturday or Sunday. McClendon said its possible All-Star RHP Hisashi Iwakuma (finger) will come off the disabled list to make his season debut this weekend. ... McClendon sat struggling CF Abraham Almonte, who was replaced by Saunders in the leadoff spot. Almonte entered on defence in the eighth. ... Many players on the Mariners received autographed Jeter jerseys -- but not Cano. ... Ellsbury has 11 career leadoff homers. ' ' '
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