ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Tampa Bay Rays manager Joe Maddon maintains technology and not shorter games is key to attracting young fans to baseball. Maddons comments followed Monday nights 1-0 win over the New York Yankees, a game that lasted 3 hours, 28 minutes -- the longest nine-inning, 1-0 game by time in major league history. "I really think that if all were worried about is length of the game regarding attracting young fans, I think thats probably not the actual specific or most important reason," Maddon said. "Its a media-driven problem, I really believe that. I think to involve youngsters technologically speaking is much more important." Nine-inning games this season are averaging 3:03, according to STATS, up from 2:33 in 1981. "I believe you need to really focus on getting the kids more involved based on what kids are digging these days, and thats technology, their devices," Maddon said. Maddon thinks Twitter and Skype would be good tools. "I think Skyping and getting kids to connect with players in an organization during the course of a school year primarily could really draw young people to an organization or a bunch of players," Maddon said. "Even one guy per week Skyped a classroom from each team, just think of the impact that would make. I think once a kid has been touched by an athlete, I dont care what sport its in, hes going to become a fan of that player and that team." Maddon thinks discussions on the matter are needed. "Somebody needs to sit down and really come up with an interactive kind of a situation in the ballpark or at home that engages youngsters, thats what Im looking at," he said. "Be more creative. Get us in touch with them, get players touching kids more technologically and youre going to get more fans." . -- The NFL cancelled its Hall of Fame game between St. .C. - Blair Jones scored the eventual winner in the third period as the Abbotsford Heat defeated the Oklahoma City Oil Barons 3-2 in American Hockey League action on Friday.
http://www.airmax97outlet.it/scontate-a ... -rose.html. Smith has spent the last three seasons with the Rockies, playing both left and right field, and has a .275 batting average with 51 homers and 181 RBIs in 487 major league games. . Assistant coach Glen Gulutzan said Thursday that Edler, who played Tuesday in Nashville, is out indefinitely. . With the Rangers already leading 2-0, Carey Price was taken down early in the second period of New Yorks 7-2 pounding of the Canadiens in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference final on Saturday afternoon.GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Floridas Billy Donovan has spoken to a couple of NBA teams about coaching vacancies, but adds that "I fully plan on being back" next season. Donovan declined to specify which teams called -- Detroit, Golden State, the Los Angeles Lakers, Minnesota, New York and Utah had openings -- and jokingly cited his brief stint with the NBAs Orlando Magic in 2007 as reason for keeping detaills private.dddddddddddd. Donovan says, "Im not going to get into, Hes lying. Hes not being truthful. I got a couple of calls. Thats all it is." Donovan just finished his 18th season at Florida, where he has two national championships and four Final Four appearances. He says NBA interest in "always flattering," but adds that "Im very happy here and like it here." ' ' '
