A 1998 Nike baseball ad campaign assured us that "Chicks dig the long ball." Apparently neither chicks nor dudes dig long games Air Presto Ultra Breathe , however, so for several years MLB executives have been pondering ways to shorten them.

This year, certain low-level minor league games will begin every half-inning after the bottom of the ninth with a runner placed on second base. The -reason behind the move is obvious: The odds of a team scoring with a runner on second and nobody out (61.7 percent, according to an article by CBS Sports' Dayn Perry) are far higher than the odds of scoring with no runners on and nobody out (25.9 percent).

In theory, more scoring equals more fans, especially among today's attention-deficit generation. Most purists Air Presto Ultra Flyknit , however, hate the idea, equating it with a beer league softball gimmick, an aberration like hockey shootouts and the NFL's "sudden death unless you kick a field goal" overtime format. Yes, a winner is determined, but at what cost to the integrity of the game?

The purists might have a point. Granted Air Presto Ultra , baseball's leisurely pace might not play as well with fans today as it did a century ago. But the sport has already made accommodations to increase both general interest in the sport (inter-league play, wild-card playoffs) and a younger fan base (walk-up -music, social media platforms).

Instead of focusing on the small percentage of regular-season games that go to extra innings, how about cutting down on some of the television commercials between innings? Lost revenue could be offset by raising advertising rates. This "charge it and they will come" strategy would have the -potential to speed up all regular--season games.

Baseball lost its "national pastime status" of the mid-20th century not because the sport -itself changed; it was the nation that changed. There's nothing wrong with tweaking the game to stay relevant, but there's also no need for baseball to fundamentally alter its identity in the process.

CAPE TOWN, Sept. 4 (Xinhua) -- The Congress of South AfricanTrade Unions (COSATU) said on Monday it remains fully behind DeputyPresident Cyril Ramaphosa's campaign to be the next presidentdespite his alleged involvement in a sex scandal.

"We reject the phony outrage expressed by some factionalists whoare posing as righteous people in order to attack the DeputyPresident Air Presto Mens ," said COSATU, the country's major union federation whichis a coalition partner with the ruling African National Congress(ANC).

COSATU's support is seen as important for Ramaphosa who is apresidential hopeful to take over President Jacob Zuma in the 2019general elections. The federation has millions of followers.

The ANC will hold its elective conference in December to selectthe party's president who will automatically become the country'spresident if the party wins the general elections.

Ramaphosa and former African Union (AU) Commission ChairwomanNkosazana Dlamini-Zuma are front runners to become the ANC'spresident.

But Ramaphosa's reputation has been tarnished by a sex scandal,in which he is accused of having sex relationships with a number offemale students whom he financially supports.

A number of emails from Ramaphosa's private email account havebeen illegally obtained and provided to at least one mediaoutlet.

According to the emails, Ramaphosa paid money to several youngwomen with whom he was supposedly in relationships.

Ramaphosa said someone intentionally obtained his personalemails and provided them to the media to discredit him.

He dismissed the scandal as "dirty war" ahead of the ANC'selective conference.

COSATU has noted the reports of the supposed sex scandalsurrounding Ramaphosa, COSATU national spokesperson Sizwe Pamlasaid.

This matter is "non-scandal" and is between Ramaphosa and hisfamily only, said Pamla.

This nonscandal "is the work of smear merchants Air Presto Womens , who are usingstate resources to tarnish Ramaphosa's name and reputation", Pamlasaid.

COSATU supports Ramaphosa because of his commitment to radicaleconomic transformation, to the fight against corruption and to theunity of the ANC and the democratic movement, among others, Pamlasaid. Enditem

SINGAPORE, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- Some 70 athletes will represent Singapore at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in July.

According to the Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC) Air Presto , the final list of athletes and sports will be confirmed in June.

Six sports have been confirmed and they are athletics, badminton, shooting, swimming, table tennis and gymnastics.

The council said the athletes will be sent to compete, and not for exposure. Only those deemed to be the best in their fields will be selected.

SNOC's vice president Low Teo Ping was quoted by local TV Channel NewsAsia as saying that this really is an opportunity where the athletes are given a chance to showcase themselves Cheap Nike Presto , and to really work towards being able to perform. And hopefully performing at the Commonwealth Games in certain sports would ... benchmark them with some of the best in the world."

The SNOC has not set a medal target for the Games.

At the last edition of the Games in Delhi, Team Singapore won 31 medals -- 11 gold medals, 11 silver medals and nine bronze medals.

BEIJING, May 14 (Xinhua) -- The State Council, China's cabinet, said on Wednesday that it has approved the establishment of an inter-ministry joint conference mechanism to coordinate income distribution reform.

The mechanism Nike Presto Sale , led by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), the top economic planning body, includes the ministries of education, science and technology, public security, civil affairs Nike Presto Ultra Breathe , finance, human resources and social security, according to a statement on the website of the central government.

Other ministries or departments in charge of land and resources, taxation, hous.