Allgemein » he AL Rookie of the Year in 2013 while with the Rays.

WASHINGTON -- Saying they had touched him in a powerful and personal way, President Barack Obama awarded the nations highest civilian honor to 21 groundbreaking actors, musicians, athletes and others during a ceremony on Tuesday at the White House.These are folks who have helped make me who I am, Obama said as the celebration concluded in the White House East Room.The awards had a major sports component, with Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Vin Scully among those recognized with the highest American civilian honor.That led to plenty of sports moments at Tuesdays ceremony, including Obama noting that MJ is more than just a logo. Hes more than just an internet meme. Fittingly, Jordan was crying as Obama made the comment.There is a reason you call somebody the Michael Jordan of, Obama said. The Michael Jordan of neurosurgery or the Michael Jordan of rabbis or the Michael Jordan of outrigger canoeing. Everyone knows what youre talking about.The president also had an eloquent description of Scully, saying, You hear the crack of the bat. Youve got the crowd singing in the seventh-inning stretch. And youve got the voice of Vin Scully.Among those also getting the Presidential Medal of Freedom were actors Tom Hanks, Robert De Niro, Robert Redford and Cicely Tyson.Bruce Springsteen and Diana Ross were recognized for their music.Other honorees included philanthropists Bill and Melinda Gates and comedian Ellen DeGeneres.Obama said the people receiving the medal helped push America forward and inspired millions around the world.?The White House said the president and his staff spend time considering a variety of candidates for the award, but ultimately, its the presidents decision.The award recognizes especially meritorious contributions to the national interests of the United States, to its culture or to other significant endeavors.Posthumous honors went to Native American advocate Elouise Cobell and Rear Adm. Grace Hopper.Others receiving the award included: Richard Garwin, an inventor and polymath physicist who made pioneering contributions to the nations defense; Frank Gehry, one of the worlds leading architects; Margaret H. Hamilton, a mathematician and computer scientist; Maya Lin, the designer of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial; Lorne Michaels, producer of Saturday Night Live; Newton Minow, a former Federal Communications Commission chairman devoted to numerous public and charitable causes; and Eduardo Padron, president of Miami Dade College.Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.Cheap Jerseys For NFL . -- Tony Stewart is 20 pounds lighter and has a titanium rod in his surgically repaired right leg. Wholesale NFL Jerseys China . Nigeria beat surprise package Ethiopia 2-0 in the second leg of their playoff for a comfortable 4-1 aggregate victory. Victor Moses converted a 20th-minute penalty after an Ethiopian handball, and Victor Obinna made certain of Nigerias place in Brazil with his powerful free kick in the 82nd at UJ Esuene Stadium. http://www.discountjerseysnfl.com/ . -- Arizona raced out to a big lead and did not back off, hitting the accelerator instead. Cheap Jerseys From China .H. -- Matt Kenseth made it 2 for 2 in the Chase, holding off teammate Kyle Busch to win Sunday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Cheap Authentic Jerseys . 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.ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Drew Smyly is putting a nice run together after struggling for two months.Smyly allowed just a solo homer over seven innings of one-hit ball, Logan Forsythe and Kevin Kiermaier each homered and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the San Diego Padres 8-2 on Monday night.Drew, he was outstanding, to say the least, Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash said.Alexei Ramirez hit his fifth homer and Derek Norris walked twice, and those were the only baserunners against Smyly (5-11). The left-hander struck out four during his fifth straight start with six or more innings and two or fewer runs.Before the recent surge, Smyly went 0-7 with a 7.60 ERA in 10 starts from May 21-July 18.This game is full of streaks, Smyly said. Youve just got to ride out the good streaks and try and eliminate the bad ones.Brad Boxberger and Kevin Jepsen completed a three-hitter, with Jepsen allowing a single to Wil Myers and a homer to Yangervis Solarte in the ninth.Forsythe hit his fifth homer in his last 13 games off Luis Perdomo (5-7) to put the Rays up 3-1 in the second.Kiermaier had a three-run drive in a five-run eighth that made it 8-1. He had three hits and two stolen bases.Logan Morrison had an RBI double and Forsythe added a sacrifice fly during the eighth.Perdomo allowed three runs and five hits in 5 2/3 innings. He hit two batters during the first, including Morrison with the bases loaded.He made some real nice adjustments, but for us offensively we dug too mmuch of a hole, swung up in the zone a lot, Padres manager Andy Green said.ddddddddddddWe just didnt have very many good at-bats against Smyly.Myers went 1 for 4 in his first game at Tropicana Field since being dealt by Tampa Bay to the Padres as part of a three-team, 11-player deal in Dec. 2014.Myers was the AL Rookie of the Year in 2013 while with the Rays.TRAINERS ROOMPadres: RHP Tyson Ross (right shoulder inflammation) will throw batting practice Tuesday.Rays: RHPs Alex Cobb (Triple-A Durham) and Chase Whitley (Class A Charlotte), both coming back from Tommy John surgery, will make their next rehab starts Tuesday.MOVING DAYPadres: INF Luis Sardinas was acquired from Seattle for cash considerations or a player to be named and optioned to Triple-A El Paso. Green said Sardinas was obtained with the intent of being one of the names we add to the mix, possibly playing shortstop for us in the future.RAYS: Morrison (strained right forearm) was reinstated from the 15-day disabled list and RHP Dylan Floro optioned to Durham.UP NEXTPadres: RHP Edwin Jackson (3-2), Tuesday nights starter, walked eight and threw 149 pitches in a no-hitter while with Arizona on June 25, 2010 at Tropicana Field.Rays: Rookie LHP Blake Snell (3-5) looks to rebound Tuesday night from an outing Wednesday at Toronto that lasted just 1 2/3 innings. ' ' '