much of the season, leads the league with 327 2/3 innings pitched. Its 20 wins are ranked second in the majors and its 2.97 ERA, the only stat in this paragraph which reflects positively on the ballclub, is fourth. "Its a well deserved honour," said manager John Gibbons.

SEATTLE -- The quest to bring the NBA back to Seattle took a significant step Tuesday with investor Chris Hansen and his investment group offering to pay for a proposed arena with private funds.In a letter to Seattle Mayor Ed Murray, the City Council and King County Executive Dow Constantine, Hansens group is now offering to rip up a memorandum of understanding from 2012 that called for up to $200 million in public investment in the arena.We just concluded the landscape has changed, said Wally Walker, part of Hansens investment group. We cant be ignorant of where we are four years in. If we think we can do this, then we should. Our priority is to get the arena because we think the NBA and NHL will come after that.Hansens group is now offering to pay for the project privately. Additionally, the group is offering to contribute to a transportation project near the proposed arena that would help deal with freight traffic at the Port of Seattle, a sticking point in past efforts, in exchange for a waiver of the citys admissions tax and an adjustment of the citys business and occupation tax.We have concluded that a changed economic climate makes possible the private financing of the arena, the letter reads. For that reason, and to address concerns expressed by city council members, we would consider revising the street vacation petition to eliminate public financing of the arena. In such a case the MOU would be terminated and the rights and obligations of the parties under the MOU would end.The decision comes 5 + months after the city of Seattle turned down Hansens request to block off a street needed for construction of the arena, which could have led to the issuance of a master use permit, meaning construction of the arena could have started once an NBA team had been acquired.Once we got through to the other side of the street vacation vote going unexpectedly, I think we stepped back rationally to look at what we could do to be put in a position so one, it could be passed, and two, meet the needs of the constituencies, Walker said. We wont meet all needs, but this is a great deal for the community. The previous MOU was as well, but this was better. Were not over the hump yet because there are still politics involved, but were proud of taking this step. We did a fair amount of financial analysis, too, to make sure it would work and be a viable building for the community.The termination of the MOU provides Hansens group with flexibility -- should the city agree to its requests, which still include blocking off the street. Hansen already owns the land for the arena and could proceed with construction even without a team. It also opens up the NHL as an immediate possibility as the MOU was tied to the acquisition of an NBA team as a condition of construction.Walker said the NBA was made aware of the decision to privately finance the project and of Tuesdays announcement.We just wanted them to know what we were doing and they needed to be informed. And the NHL will be monitoring closely too, Im sure, he said.Should the arena plans progress, it can also be viewed as a win for politicians for pushing Hansens group to make the project privately funded.Chris Hansen today demonstrated his continued commitment to building an arena and to take advantage of an improving economy, Constantine said in a statement. His efforts will strengthen our ability to compete for an NBA team.As of now, Hansens group -- which includes members of the Nordstrom family and Walker, a former Seattle SuperSonics president and minority owner -- has not taken on additional investors. The original proposal in 2012 said the total project would cost $490 million. Walker said the cost of the arena has likely gone up slightly from the initial projections.Kevin Plawecki Indians Jersey . The veteran safety was a starter for the Bengals from 2008-2012. He totaled 41 tackles and three interceptions while starting all but four of the 13 games he played last season. 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The four All-Star teams will play for $100,000 in prize money during TSNs annual skins game, airing live this weekend on TSN from The Fenlands Banff Recreation Centre.BALTIMORE, Maryland - Instead of going home to Kentucky, where his family had planned for him an elaborate 30th birthday party, Steve Delabar will spend the last day of his 20s in New York City as a member of the American League All-Star team. Delabar won the "Final Vote," an mlb.com and Twitter campaign for fans to select the last members of the AL and NL rosters. Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman is the National League winner. What a way to ring in the next decade of your life. "When we landed (in Baltimore) my phone just blew up," said Delabar, who turns 30 on Wednesday. "I had 50 texts. I flip over to Twitter and it said that Freddie Freeman myself and I are in and I was like, this is pretty cool. I just nonchalantly showed Casey (Janssen) the Twitter and he was like, youre in, congratulations buddy! Then they made an announcement on the plane and (Im thinking) this is pretty cool." Three years ago Delabar was working as a substitute teacher and an assistant high school baseball coach. The year prior, hed broken his elbow pitching in a game for the Brockton Rox, an independent league team. A steel plate and nine screws later, the surgery to repair his arm was complete. Back to playing softball with buddies, Delabar began to learn an arm strengthening program created by Jamie Evans. His intent was to teach the program to the pitchers he was coaching. Instead, he found his own velocity returning. He caught on with the Mariners in 2011 after impressing in a tryout. He was acquired by the Blue Jays on July 30, 2012, for Eric Thames. Evans is now employed by the Blue Jays as a consultant and Casey Janssen, Brett Cecil and Dustin McGowan are among the disciples of his arm strengthening program.dddddddddddd Asked what he would have told you on a summer day in 2010 if youd suggested hed be going to the 2013 All-Star Game and Delabar laughs. "Where do I pick up my ticket," joked Delabar. "I probably would have laughed and said yeah right. I would have envisioned myself being in the softball all star game before I would be here. Its crazy the things that can happen in a short period of time and to be where I am right now and like I tell everybody, Im blessed to here." The Blue Jays bullpen, as it has for much of the season, leads the league with 327 2/3 innings pitched. Its 20 wins are ranked second in the majors and its 2.97 ERA, the only stat in this paragraph which reflects positively on the ballclub, is fourth. "Its a well deserved honour," said manager John Gibbons. "To have two guys going from your bullpen who are not in the closers role, which is very rare anyway, speaks volumes to what theyve done, the kind of years theyre having. Theyve both been real strong go-to guys and have had tremendous years." Delabar hinted that Munenori Kawasaki was his campaign manager in the lead up to the final vote. "Im happy," said Kawasaki. "Delabar and me played in Seattle together, last year in Seattle. Hes my friend. "Im watching All-Star on TV." Delabar will have his parents, Steve and Debbe, his wife, baby daughter and in-laws with him in New York. ' ' '