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Ron Dennis has experienced extremely difficult times during more than 30 years as boss of the McLaren F1 team but none will be more personally taxing than the months ahead.For a man whose passion is Formula 1 (and always will be, to quote a recent interview), the public hurt inflicted by the boardroom coup will be nothing compared to removal from the helm of a team he nurtured and shaped into one of the greatest in the history of the sport.Pain is a favourite word of Ron when expressing the trials and tribulations of competing. He is going to feel a lot of that -- but without the compensation provided by the totally irreplaceable buzz of going racing and being involved at the highest level. Ron Dennis will miss that. Whether or not racing will miss him is typical of the many contradictions created by this managerial powerhouse.The simple figures behind the Dennis hegemony tell of expanding McLaren from 50 to 3,250 employees and winning more than 20 F1 world championships along the way. The details are more complex -- as befits the man himself -- but intriguing because of it.The story of Ron Dennis and McLaren is a lengthy one in terms of time and achievement; so colourful and varied, in fact, that it leaves those of us who knew him with a series of landmark moments that created an indelible impression -- for reasons good and bad.In March 1981, we were called to a former electronics factory on Boundary Road in Woking to visit not only McLarens new workshop but also to see F1s first carbon fibre chassis. All of this was an outward sign of the new regime driven by Dennis as his company, Project Four, merged with a McLaren team that had been dying on its feet. The event was low-key but the aims were clearly very high, as evidenced by John Barnards revolutionary and lightweight chassis being prepared in these small but unfashionably immaculate premises.Dennis had convinced the talented and occasionally irascible Barnard that they could work together. Ron would use the same powers of persuasion to encourage Niki Lauda to not only make a comeback, but to do it with McLaren. Lauda won the third race of his return in 1982, while John Watson would take victory for the team in Detroit two months later.Thinking, as always, of the future, Dennis confided during a press dinner that weekend that he had approached Ayrton Senna with a view to funding the young Brazilians F3 programme for 1983 in return for an option for F1. Dennis may have been non-plussed when Senna, clearly a rising star, turned him down but that merely doubled Rons determination to eventually have Ayrton on board.By the time that mission had been accomplished for 1988, Dennis had already gone through the quite remarkable phase of convincing Porsche to build what would be the dominant TAG-Turbo. With the Senna/Prost/McLaren/Honda package then winning all but one race in 1988, it really did seem that nothing could stop Dennis. It was no surprise when he was named Businessman of the Year by an esteemed commercial publication that had nothing to do with sport.How long could this go on? The handful of F1 reporters ushered into McLarens charcoal-coloured premises in Wokings Albert Drive in 2002 couldnt help but feel that Dennis had finally over-reached himself when he discussed the latest plans for his company. With the boyish enthusiasm of a youngster showing off his new train set, Dennis revealed a scale model of what would eventually be known as the McLaren Technology Centre (MTC).Perhaps reading our collective doubts, Ron assured the assembled company that the bill (eventually ￡270 million) would be financed over three years by surplus cash flow. And it was. Inbetween, we would don hard hats, boots and high-vis jackets to inspect work in progress, that same excitement still palpable as Ron marched ahead, explaining detail and, at the same time, noting snags. While no longer doubting this project would reach fruition, we couldnt help but feel sympathy for the hapless site foreman as Dennis made requests for cleanliness and perfection that redefined fastidious to the point of damaging obsession.That, of course, would always be the problem. You cannot achieve such phenomenal success without causing upset along the way. While Dennis may have accepted that unfortunate necessity, his arrogance occasionally seemed to blank off its true effect. The chickens, which were bound to come home to roost, crash-landed in the middle of 2007.In January of that year, Ron had held a press lunch in one of the boardrooms at MTC. The purpose was to tell the F1 media how we would deal with the arrival of Lewis Hamilton. This, in not so many words, was the subtext: These are the ground rules. Youll talk to Lewis only when we say so.So intent was Dennis on micro-managing his exciting new charge and instructing so-called Fleet Street to get its house in order, he did not know about damaging events taking place under his own roof. Six months later, the devastating effect of Spygate would explode across the Silverstone paddock, taking with it Rons proudly and earnestly espoused policy of clarity and honesty in all things.At a time when friends are to be valued, Ron found he had an enemy exactly where he didnt need one. The relationship between Dennis, a successful but opinionated working class man, and Max Mosley, an intellectual patrician, was bound to cause friction at some point. These two had previously rubbed along as professionally as possible but McLarens transgression and, in the eyes of FIA President Mosley, Rons denial of key failings would lead to the team paying a price. One hundred million dollars, to be precise. But as Rons detractors knew only too well, it was the bosss personal pride that would be damaged more than the companys bank account.His close family and friends were quick to rally round; something deeply appreciated by a man with a profound belief in the value of loyalty. In yet another contradiction, workers on the shop floor would tell you they rarely saw their boss, never mind exchange a word or two. And yet McLaren to this day is staffed by employees who would not dream of going anywhere else. And those of long-standing known to be considering a move would be the subject of a passionate entreaty from Dennis not to leave the family; a personal plea doubtless prompted by the thought of a rival not only being perceived as superior but also poking Dennis in the eye by winning the tug-of-war.Rons caring attitude often spread beyond the team, as F1 journalists in medical and financial difficulties will attest even though Dennis would not be in favour of broadcasting his unprompted generosity. Such genuine and spontaneous kindness sums up the contradiction behind the methods needed to become the most successful team boss in the sports history.It is the conundrum of a colossus. So very Ron Dennis. Jerome Bettis Womens Jersey . Walcott is available for Saturdays home match against Southampton as Arsenal looks to extend its two-point lead at the top of the Premier League. 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Mel Blount Steelers Jersey . -- New England Revolution goalkeeper Matt Reis is retiring after a 16-year career to become the goalie coach for the Los Angeles Galaxy. Five of ESPN.coms MLB beat writers who cover teams battling for wild-card berths were asked to make a case for why their team will be playing a do-or-die playoff game in October. Below, Eddie Matz argues for the Baltimore Orioles against fellow writers Mark Saxon (St. Louis Cardinals), Andrew Marchand (New York Yankees), Katie Strang (Detroit Tigers) and Adam Rubin (New York Mets).For more on the other contenders, check out Wild-card Wednesday.?Matz: The Orioles will nab one of the AL wild-card spots because of -- get this -- their starting pitching. No, really. After blowing chunks for most of the season, Baltimores rotation is rounding into shape when it matters most. Ubaldo Jimenez has magically gone from the worst pitcher in baseball to arguably the teams most dependable starter. Kevin Gausman is currently in midair, making the leap. And Chris Tillman looked good as new in his first start back from the DL, which means that the Os can now banish their most glaring weak link (Wade Miley) to the bullpen. Combine that with a homer-happy lineup thats been scoring in bunches lately and the only reason the Birds wouldnt get a wild-card berth is if they win the division outright.Marchand: The Orioles look as if they are prime position to win a wild-card spot, but the inconsistency they have played with over the year is somethingg that has to be a concern.dddddddddddd Plus, they might be pitching well now, but do you really trust those starters to come up big?Saxon: Well, something doesnt add up because FiveThirtyEight has them at just 61 percent even to make the playoffs and 4 percent -- behind the Red Sox and Blue Jays -- to win the World Series. Somebody should put back on his designer black frames and remove the rose-colored glasses.Strang: Not sure I see the Orioles sustaining this level of offensive production, which, admittedly, has been absolutely wild. Youd think that at some point, even a lineup as talented as theirs has to cool off. As for the pitching staff, suffice it to say I dont see the triumphant Jimenez comeback story ending the same way Eddie might envision it. And Tillman, though very impressive in his last start against the Tigers, is not out of the woods yet with that shoulder issue. That has to be an area of concern for Baltimore moving forward.Rubin: The Orioles have several potentially fatal flaws. Among them: streaky hitters, an all-or-nothing offense and a fried bullpen. Since the All-Star break, Baltimores 4.50 ERA is second-to-last in the American League, ahead of only the lowly Twins (5.43). ' ' '