Dein erstes Forum » .Hayes said he armed himself only after

Trent Merrin feared his representative rugby league career was finished after he was overlooked for NSW in this years State of Origin series.But the star Penrith back-rower now has the chance to establish himself as a long-term No.13 for Australia in Saturdays Test against New Zealand in Perth.Merrin, 27 made his Test debut for Australia in the Anzac Test in May last year, but hasnt been part of the rugby league rep scene since.It was the toughest part of my career so far, Merrin said on Tuesday.The best thing about it is I have learnt so much about myself and how to combat it and how to work through it and know what it is like to miss out on something like thatIt is something that really hurts but there was a lesson there.There were personal challenges I faced during it. You start to doubt yourself and a lot of negatives come into the mind about not playing in the rep scene again and it is really a mentally challenging position.Corey Parker was passed over for selection in coach Mal Meningas 24-man Four Nations squad after announcing his NRL retirement. That leaves his Kangaroos lock spot up for grabs. Merrin will be chosen there for the nib Stadium clash against the Kiwis and it is a spot he wants to make his own.That is my goal and that is my dream, to be the next No.13 for Australia, Merrin said.That is something I really want to make my own.I just have to have a humble approach to it all and work really hard and prepare well and take it out there on Saturday night.Merrin produced some of the best footy of his career in helping the Panthers to the second week of the NRL finals after moving from St George Illawarra in the off-season.He said he has now learned not to take anything for granted.Loz (NSW coach Laurie Daley) had a chat with me and said they wanted to head in a different direction this year, Merrin said.There are no hard feelings there. It was a tough pill to swallow but I just went away and worked on the things I needed to.Once I got comfortable with the uncomfortable (of missing selection) I started to play the footy I know I am capable of and gained a lot of confidence mid season.What that tough period has also highlighted for me is that once you are back in this position you want, to make the most of it. Reggie White Youth Jersey . The Cleveland Indians, Tampa Bay Rays, and Texas Rangers all won on Sunday meaning the Rangers will host the Rays in a play-in game on Monday. DeSean Jackson Youth Jersey . Fernandez, coached in Toronto by former two-time Olympic silver medallist Brian Orser, scored 267.11 points and is the first champion to successfully defend since Russias Evgeny Plushenko in 2005 and 2006. http://www.theeaglesfootballauthentic.com/eagles-brian-dawkins-black-jersey/ . The team said Saturday that Lopez was hurt during its 121-120 overtime loss at Philadelphia on Friday. 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He insisted that he only fired because Smith was drunk and violent and had grabbed a gun following their traffic collision last April.No one else testified Smith held a gun. A loaded 9mm semi-automatic handgun was found loaded but unused inside Smiths car.Smith, a 34-year-old father of three, was a defensive leader on the Saints team that lifted spirits in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005. He helped lead the team to a winning season in 2006 and a Super Bowl victory four years later.His death in a traffic dispute was shocking, even for a city with a high rate of homicides.Hayes, 29, will be sentenced on Feb. 17. State Judge Camille Buras will have the option of imposing less than the maximum sentences, and could order them served concurrently. But Cannizzaro said the crime warrants maximum sentences, served one after the other.Hayes would have faced a mandatory life sentence had he been found guilty as charged of second-degree murder. Smith wife will press for a harsh sentence when she gives her victim-impact statement before the sentencing, according to a statement from the family.Its very unfortunate that another child will grow up without a father, said Raquel Smiths lawyer, Peter Thomson, referring to Hayes 6-year-old son. But Mr. Hayes, regardless of that, must face the consequences of his actions under our system of laws.Friends and relatives of Hayes, a former semi-pro football player who owns a towing company, left court without commenting Sunday night.Hayes defense said Smiths popularity led to a rush to judgment by police and prosecutors. Assistant District Attorney Laura Rodrigue countered that the defense was trying to smear Smith.A pathologist report showed Smith was legally drunk that night, after spending time at the citys annual French Quarter Festival, a bar and two restaurants.dddddddddddd He was driving with his wife and another couple, who were traveling with a group of friends in several cars, when his Mercedes SUV may have lightly bumped Hayes Hummer.Smith then drove off, with Hayes in pursuit. Hayes vehemently denied intentionally ramming the SUV moments later -- he said he was trying to dial 911 to report a hit-and-run and didnt realize how close their cars were.The jury appeared to agree with Hayes on this point, finding him not guilty of aggravated criminal damage to property.Cannizzaro said Monday that Smiths apparent anger and his high blood-alcohol level were likely factors in the jurys decision to hand up a lesser verdict than murder. But he said he was satisfied with the two convictions, each reached on a 10-2 vote of the 12-member jury.Hayes said he armed himself only after he and his own passenger were accosted by Smith and Richard Hernandez, a passenger in Smiths Mercedes.Hayes also testified that Smith didnt notice his .45-caliber handgun until Hernandez alerted him to it. And he said he only fired after Smith went back to his car to grab his own gun.Assistant District Attorney Jason Napoli repeatedly noted that no other witness said Smith was armed, and that Hayes never told investigators he saw a gun in Smiths hands that night.I never gave a full statement to anyone, Hayes responded.Napoli said in closing arguments that Smith was executed as Hayes fired into his body, once in the side and seven times in the back.This young man tried his best, trying to avoid doing what he had to do, defense attorney John Fuller shouted during his thundering closing, which lasted more than 3? hours.Saints coach Sean Payton was in court for the late Sunday verdict. A host of past and present Saints players, including former safety Steve Gleason, current quarterback Drew Brees and former running back Deuce McAllister, also attended the trial. ' ' '