DieBruderschaft.com

How will you best remember Big Papi?As David Ortizs final regular season hits its home stretch, we asked fans to select the Boston Red Sox sluggers signature achievement.Two weeks ago, we began the Big Papi Bracket with an opening round of 32 moments. That Thursday, we revealed the Sweet 16. Last Monday, we moved on to the Elite Eight. Then,?the Final Four.And this week ... the championship round.You cast votes well into the six figures. Now, Red Sox beat writer Scott Lauber discusses the moment you ultimately chose as No. 1.All anybody knew amid the bedlam at Fenway Park in the wee hours of the morning of Oct. 18, 2004 was that the Boston Red Sox -- a motley crew of self-proclaimed Idiots -- had lived to play another day in their American League Championship Series against the archenemy New York Yankees.Looking back, though, the moment had far greater significance, not only for both teams but also for the slugger who made it happen.That hit, David Ortiz is fond of saying, it put me on the map.Odds are, Ortiz would have gone on to hit more than 500 home runs regardless of whether he had taken Yankees reliever Paul Quantrill deep to right field in the 12th inning of Game 4 of the wildest ALCS in baseball history. But his legacy as the most clutch hitter of his generation -- Senor Octubre, if you will -- was born with that one swing.It was fitting, then, that after two-plus weeks of voting in ESPN.coms Big Papi Bracket, fans chose Ortizs two-run walk-off homer against Quantrill as the signature achievement in his career. The field of 32 was whittled down to a Sweet 16, Elite Eight and later a Final Four that also consisted of Ortizs walk-off single in Game 5 of the 2004 ALCS, his grand slam in Game 2 of the 2013 ALCS that sent then-Detroit Tigers right fielder Torii Hunter flipping into the right-field bullpen, and Big Papis This is our f---ing city speech in the first game at Fenway Park after the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing.And while each of those moments were worthy champions, the Game 4 homer was a predictable winner given the stakes and, lets face it, the opponent.The Yankees were the team to beat back then, Ortiz said earlier in the season. Being able to do what we did [in 2004] was something that was very special. It was career-lifting. People pretty much get to know you better, focus a little bit more on you. If you continue to be successful, you can build a career out of it.Ironically, Ortizs homer is only the second-most famous play from that game. In the ninth inning, with the Yankees leading by one run and legendary closer Mariano Rivera on the mound, Dave Roberts pinch-ran for Kevin Millar and boldly stole second base, enabling him to score the tying run on Bill Muellers single up the middle.The game went on, with both teams leaving the go-ahead run in scoring position in the 11th inning. Manny Ramirez opened the bottom of the 12th with a single to left field against Quantrill, bringing Ortiz to the plate against the veteran right-hander, who had held him to one hit and two walks in eight previous plate appearances.Ortiz knew Quantrill was known for his sinker, which tended to tail in against left-handed batters. Ortiz ran the count to 2-1, then got a sinker he could drive. He pulled in his hands and turned on the ball, hitting it on a line over the right-field fence.Hes such a good hitter in general, but Fenway made him a different hitter, especially for a pitcher like me, because he could take you over that wall in left field, Quantrill told Boston Magazine earlier this year. When I pitched to him in the 2004 playoffs, I tried to get inside and it didnt quite work out -- at least for me.One night later, Ortiz did it again, lining a single to center field against Yankees reliever Esteban Loaiza in the bottom of the 14th inning of Game 5. The series went back to New York, where the Red Sox won twice and became the first team ever to come back from a 3-0 deficit in a best-of-seven series.In Red Sox lore, nothing that has happened since -- not even the 2007 or 2013 World Series titles -- has been able to compete with 2004, especially the vanquishing of the Yankees.And with that, Ortizs reputation was cemented. Never mind that he spoke for an entire city following the Marathon terror, belted his 500th career home run last September and is nearing the end of the greatest farewell season in baseball history. When Ortiz made the cover of a Wheaties box, it was in 2004 and it featured an image of him rounding first base with his right arm raised in the air after the homer against Quantrill.If you step forward and get things done, that puts you on the map, Ortiz said. I think thats what happened to me in 04. Things always start one way, and 03-04, my first years here, being able to dominate and put up numbers, especially against the Yankees, its a big part of what I am. Stan Smith Cheap Online Cheap Adidas Ultra Boost Mens . Brett Kulak and Jackson Houck of the Vancouver Giants were each charged with assault causing bodily harm on Aug. 18, according to the B.C. court services. http://www.stansmithdiscount.com/ . Bryzgalov stopped 25 shots on Saturday in the Oklahoma City Barons 4-1 victory over the Abbotsford Heat. The Oilers signed Bryzgalov to a one-year $2 million contract last Friday after shedding payroll by dealing defenceman Ladislav Smid to the Flames. Cheap Stan Smith Red . Ancelotti says Ronaldo has recovered from a hamstring injury but "but he doesnt feel comfortable yet so we wont risk him." Madrid is third in the Spanish league, six points behind leader Barcelona, going into Saturdays game against Valladolid. Adidas Nmd Mens Cheap . Peter Gammons, an analyst for Major League Baseballs network and website, drew the ire of hockey fans on Sunday when he criticized the two NHL teams on Twitter for their physical game the night before. TEMPE, Ariz. -- Sonny Dykes brought an offense with him to California that rolls up yards and points in bunches.On Saturday, the Bears will face another light-up-the-scoreboard team in Arizona State, setting up the kind of game fans love.The coaches, not so much.Id love to win one 3-2 if I could, Dykes said. If its 70-63, thats not as much fun probably in some ways, but well take that one as well. I guess its all in your perspective. Fans would probably have more fun at the 70-63 game, where coaches might have more fun at the 3-2 game.The Bears (2-1) are rolling to start the season, averaging 47 points while ranking second nationally in passing offense (453 yards per game) and third in total offense (580.3). Quarterback Davis Webb has been a more-than-able replacement for Jared Goff after transferring from Texas Tech, entering Saturdays game with 1,359 yards and 13 touchdowns passing.Arizona State (3-0) has been shaky on defense, allowing 55 points and 540 yards passing in its win against Texas Tech alone, so Webb and the Bears could have another big game.But the Sun Devils also have a similarly explosive offense, capable of keeping up with nearly anyone.Arizona State scored 68 points to outlast the Red Raiders and enters Saturday ninth nationally with 48 points per game. The Sun Devils play fast and will likely have it in an even higher gear in opening Pac-12 play at home.We know that we are going to be up againnst one of the top offenses in the country and our guys are going to get ready for the challenge, Graham said.ddddddddddddA few more things to look for when Arizona State hosts Cal on Saturday night:WILKINS RIDE: Manny Wilkins won a tight battle to be Arizona States starting quarterback. Hes handled the role well. The dual-threat sophomore has been adept at orchestrating the Sun Devils offenseFINDING HANSEN: Webb has quickly found chemistry with receiver Chad Hansen. The Cal junior leads the nation in receptions (40) and receiving yards (546), while tying for the lead with five touchdown catches. A big receiver at 6-foot-3, 190 pounds, Hansen is a load for any defensive back trying to cover him and is not afraid of trash talk, mocking a Texas defensive back with a Hook `em Horns sign after scoring what ended up being the decisive touchdown against Texas last weekend.NUMBERS: Cal is playing at Arizona State for the first time since 2007. ... A win would give Arizona State its first 4-0 start since 2007 and just its fifth since 1976. ... The Bears allow 39.7 points per game, 117th in the FBS. ... The Sun Devils have 13 rushing TDs this season after having 19 in all of 2015. Kalen Ballage had seven of those in one game on his way to the NCAA record of eight overall TDs against Texas Tech. ' ' '