WASHINGTON - The Los Angeles Dodgers are hoping to win their first World Series title in a quarter-century. To do it, theyll have to get past baseballs big roadblock. In the past two years, the St. Louis Cardinals extended even longer droughts in Pittsburgh and Washington. And in 2011, the Cardinals wrecked the party for the Texas Rangers, the franchise that moved from D.C. to the Lone Star State four decades ago. Former St. Louis slugger Mark McGwire, now the Dodgers batting coach, said he wasnt surprised his old club stands in the way of a title for his new team. "You know what? I think everybody figured youre going to have to go through St. Louis to get to the World Series," McGwire said before the start of the NL championship series. "Here we are." And not doing too well, so far. The Cardinals lead the Dodgers 2-0 in the best-of-seven matchup going into Game 3 Monday at Dodger Stadium. To fans in other cities, it must seem unfair. While theyve been waiting for generations in Kansas City, Seattle and elsewhere for that special season, the Cardinals seem to show up every October. Making their 10th playoff appearance in 14 years, the Cardinals are in the NLCS for the third straight season. Theyre looking for their third World Series championship since 2006. And along the way, they keep breaking hearts. Meanwhile, the Pirates havent won a World Series since 1979, when Willie Stargell and the gang grooved to the Sister Sledge disco hit "We Are Family" and defeated the Baltimore Orioles in seven games. A victory by the Cardinals over the Pirates in the decisive Game 5 of the NL division series ensured that Pittsburgh will go at least 35 years between crowns. Last year, the Nationals were hoping to bring a championship to Washington for the first time since the Jazz Age. But the Cardinals rallied from a 6-0 deficit to win Game 5 of the NLDS and prolong Washingtons wait, which will hit 90 years next season. Washingtons first and only World Series championship came in 1924, when the old Senators defeated the New York Giants in Game 7. The winning run scored on a bad-hop grounder by Earl McNeely that bounced over third baseman Freddie Lindstrom in the bottom of the 12th inning. Walter Johnson, who had lost his first two starts, won the seventh game by pitching four scoreless innings in relief. The nations capital didnt have a team from 1972-2004. The Montreal Expos moved to Washington and began playing as the Nationals the next year. In 2011, the Cardinals were down to their last strike — twice — before rallying to beat Texas in the World Series. The Dodgers claimed their last title in 1988, when George Michaels "Faith" topped the Billboard list of most popular songs. Faith was also what Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda had in Kirk Gibson, sending his injured star to pinch-hit in the bottom of the ninth inning in the opening game of the World Series. Gibson delivered with a two-out, two-run homer off Dennis Eckersley to give Los Angeles a 5-4 victory over the Oakland Athletics, hobbling around the bases as he pumped his arm. The Dodgers went on to take the series in five games. Earlier that year, with Magic Johnson at point guard, the Los Angeles Lakers won the NBA title. Now, Johnson is part of the ownership group of the Dodgers, hoping to bring his good fortune to baseball. The group also includes Stan Kasten, who helped build the Nationals team that lost to the Cardinals last year. While the Dodgers have gone a while since winning a championship, theyve been much more competitive in recent years than either Pittsburgh (which snapped a record streak of 20 straight losing seasons this year) and Washington (which hasnt hosted a World Series in 80 years). Both the Cardinals and Dodgers were shaped by Hall of Fame executive Branch Rickey. With the Cardinals in the 1920s and 30s, Rickey established the first farm system; then with the Brooklyn Dodgers, he signed Jackie Robinson, who broke baseballs colour barrier in 1947.In building a contender in recent years, the Cardinals have relied on the tool Rickey pioneered nearly a century ago — a solid pipeline of talent from their farm system. The Dodgers have relied more on high-priced stars. Which approach is better? This series could help answer that question. Will Harris Jersey . Returning to Davis Cup tennis, Federer cruised past Ilija Bozoljac, winning 6-4, 7-5, 6-2 in less than two hours. Federer faced little challenge from Bozoljac, who served well but still was no match for his Swiss opponent. Austin Bryant Jersey .com) - The collective hearts of Chicago Bulls fans sank on Friday night when Derrick Rose went down with a leg injury against the Cleveland Cavaliers. http://www.cheapdetroitlionsjerseysauthentic.com/ .ca. In addition to the game being aired in its entirety on CTV Two Vancouver Island and TSN.ca, TSN2 will also have coverage of Whitecaps FC immediately following NASCAR Sprint Cup Series: Toyota Owners 400. Lions Jerseys China . Sterling was banned for life and fined US$2.5 million by the NBA on Tuesday for racist comments the league says he made in a recorded conversation. Nash, who plays for the rival L.A. Lakers, spoke as a representative of current NBA players at a press conference assembled by Sacramento mayor and National Basketball Players Association adviser Kevin Johnson. Cheap Authentic Lions Jerseys .com) - The Carolina Hurricanes hope to remain perfect at home in January on Friday night as they welcome the Vancouver Canucks to PNC Arena.I have almost no idea what to say anymore about conclusions and sports and because I never played any other sport at a high level, I would never speculate or conclude about what to do out of respect to that sport. I was casually listening to the radio and my interest piqued as the narrative of high school football was beginning. In the report and discussion, it was stated that a study was done on high school football players that over the course of just one year, there had been damage to the brain of a high percentage of players throughout the course of a single season. This was quite eye-opening because I always figured that it took collective years to see significant damage and violent pro football-type hits to create the damage necessary to have cognitive results. I guess, or maybe simply should say I was wrong to have a timeframe in my mind. Then on Monday, I was reading USA Today and on page 3 of the sports is a story of Kosta Karageorge, who was an Ohio State football player who took his life at age 22. He was a walk-on and knowing what I know about walk-ons in Division 1 football, he was a demonstration player which means he did a lot of hitting. Both educations to me, one auditory and one visual reading, got me thinking about concussions and football; that something is really wrong here but what to do I am embarrassed to say I really dont know. Sometimes I think that some people through genetics unfortunately just have a type of brain that absorbs the punishment more than rejects it. Having only the basics in brain physiology at university, I have no real idea, more of a theory but when you think of someone at 22 who had a concussion history doing what he did and a report about the effects of high school football, it does make your mind search for answers. I had three bad concussions dduring my college and pro career and remember the details of all three.ddddddddddddAnd like many who have played football, Ive had many subtle moments of disorientation after unavoidable shots to the head. Fortunately, I feel fine and I think that is an issue because when you feel fine, you lose that ability to deeply relate. I have said if I had a son, I would hesitate to let him play football and this is from a person who has an occupation to promote the game. But I cant say with conviction that I would if I had. I know two players that are different after their careers and, out of respect, would never highlight them. And I wonder if there are others out there that I dont know about that live in quiet desperation. Are my perceptions changing about football? Yes, they are; not is a dramatic way but more in a way of conclusive awareness of a price you may pay. And I say may because there are also many football players who have been retired for many years like me that have no problems. Concussions in sports are still in a grey area but a grey area just through repetition does not paint a positive future. Maybe it is the study of genetics and mans mastery of that knowledge base that could perceive the future and keep people safe that are suspect before they play. I will be the first one to put football in its proper place. It is a sport and only a sport. Good things happen out of it but the sport has little significance to what is important. Yet people pay a price later in life for action taken in the youth of life. I wonder if were all in denial and 30 seconds later. I wonder if it is a slight overeaction because health care is better than ever. But what really bothers me is I wonder why I have no idea what to say or conclude anymore. It is not that I am numb, more confused. 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