Category: General Sports (Page 102 of 112)

The problem with the Boston Red Sox

In a recent ESPN.com article, Boston Red Sox DH David Ortiz suggested that just because the Yankees are in playoff contention doesn’t mean that shortstop Derek Jeter should get more consideration than himself for the MVP award in the American League.

Ortiz also alluded to the fact that the Yankees have a more powerful lineup than Boston has.

“Don’t get me wrong — he’s a great player, having a great season, but he’s got a lot of guys in that lineup,” Ortiz said of Jeter. “Top to bottom, you’ve got a guy who can hurt you. Come hit in this lineup, see how good you can be.”

To that, Jeter replied “I don’t have to do it in his lineup.”

“I’m not thinking about the MVP right now,” he told reporters Monday. “We’re thinking about winning a division. We’ve still got something to play for.”

This is what’s wrong with the Boston Red Sox. They have guys on their squad that are more concerned with individual awards than the success of the team. What Jeter told reporters about winning a division is what players should be worried about.

But no, Big Papi is concerned with getting his – being a politician for an individual award during the final month of the season when he should be wondering how in the hell his team choked as bad as they did after the All-Star break. Maybe this is why Boston is now 10 and half games behind the Yankees in the division.

Don’t you understand that you just made Jeter look more like a hero Ortiz? Don’t you understand that you just threw your own teammates under the bus with the: “come hit in this lineup, see how good you can be,” statement?

The bigger problem for the Red Sox is the unbelievable infatuation with the New York Yankees. I bet their stomachs hurt just thinking about the Bronx Bombers on a daily basis.

New York hasn’t won since 2000 and yet every year people in the Red Sox organization talk about how they must compete with the Yankees – how they must do enough to keep up with the Yankees – how they must stop the Yankees.

Hello? You won a world championship two years ago Boston!

Love or hate the Yankees – love or hate Jeter, but they are focused every single year on one thing: winning a championship. They don’t care about the Red Sox unless they’re in the way of aWorld Series title. They don’t talk about beating just one team; they talk about building a winning organization to complete with the rest of the Major League.

The Boston Red Sox are focused on one thing too: The New York Yankees. Beat the Yankees and it’s the greatest season known to man.

Weekend Wrap: CFB

What’s nice about college football wrapping up week number two is that most teams are done with their cream-puff part of the schedule. Although week three will still have some unimportant match ups, we can expect see more competitive conference games starting next week.

Here is a look at some games that should have caught viewer’s attention in Week 2:

(#1) Ohio State 24, (#2) Texas 7
Anybody looking for a complete wrap up of this game can check out my other posting on The Scores Report from last night. I was very impressed watching Buckeyes QB Troy Smith make the necessary plays for OSU while Texas freshman Colt McCoy did enough not to win the game for the Long Horns.

I wrote in my College Game of the Week on Bullz-Eye.com that this would be a high scoring affair. But OSU’s defense came up with two huge turnovers – one while Texas was in the red zone – to limit the Long Horns scoring chances.

The Buckeye defense has showed that they will allow yards on the ground early in drives, but is more than capable in shutting opponents down once they reach midfield. In order to truly be viewed as a dominating program, I think the Buckeyes need to sure up that run defense. As of right now, however, OSU is clearly the best team in the nation.

(#4) Notre Dame 41, (#19) Penn State 17
The Fighting Irish dropped two spots in the AP poll because of the unimpressive victory over Georgia Tech last week. If Notre Dame re-claimed its number No. 2 spot with its 41-17 victory Saturday over Penn State.

The Irish put on a show both offensively and defensively in this game against, what I thought, was a decent Nittany Lions squad. Hesiman hopefully Brady Quinn – who looked rushed in his decisions last week – commanded ND’s offense up and down the field to the tune of 287 passing yards and three touchdowns. Wide receiver Jeff Samardzija looked great in space and caught six passes for 56 yards and a score.

All-purpose back Darius Walker finished with 172-total yards and one touchdown for the Irish while Notre Dame’s defense smothered Penn State all game.

Quick Shots:
People can be overly shocked by (#9) Florida State’s squeaker over Troy, but any team coming off an emotional win over (#17) Miami and having to play just five days later will look sluggish…Four ranked teams shut out their opponents this weekend, which is obviously a great defensive statement for these programs: (#4) Auburn defeated Mississippi State 34-0, (#7) Florida beat UCF 42-0, (#13) Louisville crushed Temple 62-0 and (#12) Georgia got by South Carolina 18-0…(#14) Iowa barely got by Syracuse 20-13 in overtime, but this is another game that is deceiving because Hawkeyes QB Drew Tate never saw the field due to injury…Finally, (#10) Michigan had its first ever lightning delay in school history, but once play continued U of M hardly stalled in a 41-17 blowout of Central Michigan (a game I thought maybe the Wolverines would overlook because of Notre Dame being on the schedule in Week 3).

Most impressive showing from Week 2: Troy Smith and the rest of OSU’s offense. Smith made great reads, showed great pocket prescience and used every single one of his weapons in the Buckeyes win over Texas. How about finding wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez for 142-yards and a 17.8 catch average?

Least impressive showing from Week 2: (#11) Tennessee’s performance against Air Force. Granted the Vols did beat the Falcons 31-30, but this was a team that nearly jumped up 10 spots in the AP poll with a decisive victory over California last week and then they come out and barely beat Air Force? Maybe this is why Phillip Fulmer is on the hot seat this season – he can’t keep his team focused from week to week.

On tap for Week 3: There is plenty of great match up’s next week with (#10) Michigan traveling to South Bend to face (#4) Notre Dame, (#7) Florida playing (#11) Tennessee and (#18) Clemson going to Tallahassee to face (#9) FSU.

But the best game on the schedule might be (#8) LSU facing (#4) Auburn in a tremendous SEC match up on Saturday.

Update: Check out the new rankings after a second week of action.

Ranking the NFL: Top Defenses

Throughout the preseason, we’ll take a look at the best – and worst – the NFL has to offer, unit by unit. Look for a new set of rankings every few days. This will be the final edition!

In 1985, the Chicago Bears had one of the nastiest defenses the NFL had ever seen. The unit was so good the Bears did the Super Bowl shuffle in January and that defense is regarded as one of the best squads ever to be assembled.

In 2000, the Baltimore Ravens’ defense mirrored the ’85 Bears en route to a Super Bowl Championship of its own, even though the Ravens had less to work with on the offensive side of the ball.

Any team with a solid defense gives hope to playoff dreams – even if the franchise doesn’t have the offense to go with it. An NFL defense is often the backbone of the team without all the flash and pizzazz the offense usually generates.

Which teams are the hardest to move the ball against on the ground and what units make going over the middle for short passes virtual suicide?

Here’s a look at the NFL’s top 10 defenses:

1. Chicago Bears
The Bears defense held opposing teams to fewer than 10 points on eight separate occasions in 2006. Led by Pro Bowler and NFL Defensive Player of the Year Brian Urlacher, Chicago put any doubts created by the offense to rest and eventually wound up playing at home in the playoffs. Nathan Vasher was a pleasant surprise at cornerback and if Mike Brown can stay healthy, the secondary is on the fast track to dominating again this season. Defensive end Adewale Ogunleye is a handful for opposing tackles and LB Lance Briggs has great range and excels against the run as a complement to Urlacher. This unit will get pressure to repeat the success it had last year, but the Bears also hope the offense won’t put the defense in as many compromising situations as it did last season.

2. Carolina Panthers
With the return to health of Kris Jenkins on the defensive line, Carolina will push Chicago as the top defense this year. Jenkins frees up defensive ends Julius Peppers and Mike Rucker to rush the quarterback while newcomer Maake Kemoeatu will solidify an already stingy run defense. The linebackers have health concerns with middle linebacker Dan Morgan but if he can stay on the field, having converted safety Thomas Davis by his side will help Morgan make more plays. The secondary gets great contributions from corners Ken Lucas and Chris Gamble, but the safeties are a bit of a liability in pass coverage. SS Mike Minter, however, is great in run support and is a tremendous leader.

3. Pittsburgh Steelers
The heart and soul for the Steelers’ defense is strong safety Troy Polamalu. Nicknamed the Tasmanian Devil because he virtually spins in an instant to where the play is happening on the field, Polamalu shows on Sunday what the Pittsburgh D is really all about, and that is being relentless while trying to making plays. It all starts with Casey Hampton in the middle of the defensive line. Hampton is the immovable object in the run defense and that allows Joey Porter and Clark Haggans to make plays in the box and in the flats. Inside linebackers Larry Foote and James Farrior are steady tacklers, as are Polamalu and newly acquired Ryan Clark. Deshea Townsend and Ike Taylor are vastly underrated at cornerback and Bryant McFadden can step in at any moment and start for Townsend.

4. Denver Broncos
A lot of media pundits questioned why the Broncos went out and acquired four ex-Cleveland Browns’ defensive linemen last offseason. Well, nobody is questioning the moves now. Ebenezer Ekuban, Courtney Brown, Michael Myers and Gerard Warren comprised a unit that turned out to be superb against the run. Granted, they didn’t generate any pass rush, but that’s what linebacker Ian Gold, D.J. Williams and Al Wilson are there for. The trio in the middle of Denver’s defense all run well, tackle well and can create enough pass pressure through blitzing that the d-line can stand pat. Another great strength for the Broncos’ defense is its secondary. CB Champ Bailey doesn’t get enough credit for how well-rounded he is. Put him on an island, in the slot, up against the run, blitzing, whatever – Bailey will get the job done. First year players Darrent Williams and Domonique Foxworth played exceptionally well last year and SS John Lynch is still giving receivers a hard time when they come over the middle.

5. Jacksonville Jaguars
People forget how good Jacksonville’s defense can really be, but the Jags have a tremendous line, an above average linebacker corps and a solid secondary. John Henderson, Marcus Stroud, Paul Spicer and Reggie Hayward form a defensive line unit that is easily top five in the league. Stroud has made the Pro Bowl three seasons in a row while Hayward and Spicer combined for 16 sacks last season. The secondary is set with the offseason addition of Brian Williams, Donovin Darius is a big hitter who missed most of last season with a torn ACL injury, and FS Deon Grant has started all 32 games the past two years, so there is no doubting his durability. Rashean Mathis has Pro Bowl potential at the other corner position and Mike Peterson is the glue that holds the defense together from his middle linebacker spot. Peterson has a high motor and has led the team in tackles the last three seasons.

6. Indianapolis Colts
What has made the Colts’ defense so successful under Tony Dungy’s cover-2 scheme is the fact that the line can create pass pressure without the need for a lot of blitzing from the linebackers. It all starts with the ends – Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis create enough havoc in opponents’ backfields that linebackers Gary Brackett and Cato June can drop into coverage. Freeney is one of the league’s most feared pass rushers and Raheem Brock will rotate in with Mathis to make sure the d-line can stack up well against the run. The secondary is loaded at safety. Mike Doss and Bob Sanders are young and can play the run exceptionally well. The cornerbacks are probably the weakness on this unit, but Nick Harper and Jason David know their roles in the cover-2 scheme, and that’s all Dungy can ask for.

7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The concern with this unit is that they have several players who have already had their 30th birthday, but coordinator Monte Kiffin is one of the NFL’s best defensive architects. His Tampa-2 defense will give opponents fits again this season and it doesn’t matter how old his players are. Simeon Rice struggles against the run, but his pass rushing abilities are unquestioned, and his fellow end Greg Spires doesn’t lack in the art of the sack either. Derrick Brooks is still the leader of this unit and Ronde Barber is one of the most complete cornerbacks in the game (much like Champ Bailey). The safeties are a bit of a concern, but Kiffin has enough in place to keep Tampa in every game even if the offense sputters a little while QB Chris Simms gets more experience.

8. Baltimore Ravens
If the Ravens have any hope of getting back to the playoffs after two years of struggles, the defense is going to have to step back up to its previously dominating level. Middle linebacker Ray Lewis has been injury prone and unable to stay on the field, but the Ravens’ brass has commented how motivated and determined he was in training camp. If Lewis can get back to destroying the careers of running backs, safety Ed Reed should once again look like the player that earned NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors just two seasons ago. Reed struggled in 2005 while battling through injuries himself, but a comeback is definitely in order. He’ll have help with Chris McAlister and Samari Rolle, who form possibly the best cornerback tandem in the league. Terrell Suggs, Adalius Thomas and Trevor Pryce complete the rest of the pieces to this stacked defense.

9. The NFC East Beast Defense
Okay, it’s time to have a little fun. Considering one could make an argument for each team’s defense in the NFC East, it’s time to form the NFC East Beast Defense. The unit starts with using the defensive ends from the NY Giants – Michael Strahan and Osi Umenyiora, two sack artists to get after the QB. Since the G-Men’s interior is a little thin on the line, I’ll barrow Joe Salave’a and Cornelius Griffin from the Redskins’ d-line to clog the middle. Next, the Cowboys linebackers are fast, young and versatile against both the run and pass. DeMarcus Ware, Bobby Carpenter and Akin Ayodele will man the middle. Finally, the safeties from the Eagles (Brian Dawkins and Michael Lewis) will fit nicely with the cornerbacks from the Redskins (Carlos Rogers and Shawn Springs) to complete the secondary. Was that not fair? Come on, live a little!

10. San Diego Chargers
The secondary is so bad on this group that I hesitate putting them in the top 10, but since the NFC East Beast defense was formed, the Chargers can sneak in at No. 10. The front seven is one of the best in football and linebacker Shawne Merriman might make a nice case for Defensive Player of the Year when ’06 concludes. The Chargers finished first against the run last season and a big part of that success was Luis Castillo and Jamal Williams on the defensive line. Donnie Edwards and Randall Godfrey give Merriman tons of support from the linebacker core and if free agent acquisition Marlon McCree can make the secondary just a little better, San Diego will be ranked higher here next season.

The Bottom five:

28. Kansas City Chiefs
Hey, maybe head coach Herm Edwards can improve this unit, but I’m sure Carson Palmer and the rest of Cincinnati’s explosive offensive are excited to feast on this group in Week 1. At first glance, you get excited looking at Ty Law, Patrick Surtain, Sammy Knight and Kendrell Bell on the depth chart. But then you realize that it’s 2006 and not 2003.

29. Oakland Raiders
Derrick Burgess is a stud and finished with 16 sacks to lead the league last year, but can he offer anything in run support? Warren Sapp is over the hill and although this defense is pretty fast as a whole, they’ll be victimized by teams running right down their throat (hear that LaDainian Tomlinson, Larry Johnson and [Insert Denver RB]?).

30. Houston Texans
The Texans needed way more than just Mario Williams in the draft, but hey, they’re trying to piece things together. Houston has talent – Dunta Robinson, Williams and Demarcus Faggins – but the talent is just too thin to stretch over the entire defense.

31. New Orleans Saints
Drew Brees, Reggie Bush, Joe Horn and Deuce McAllister are all excellent skill players. Now let’s hope they can score 45 points a game.

32. San Francisco 49ers
The only good thing you can say about the 49ers’ defensive unit is that Many Lawson may compete for rookie of the year honors this season because he may have to make every single tackle for San Francisco.

Ranking the NFL: Top NFL Offenses

Throughout the preseason, we’ll take a look at the best – and worst – the NFL has to offer, unit by unit. Look for a new set of rankings every few days.

Defense wins championships, but offenses put fans in the seats, right? Well, that might not be the most accurate of statements, but watching an offense that’s clicking on all cylinders can get a crowd pretty riled up.

Watching Peyton Manning orchestrate an offense up and down the field is a thing of beauty – as long as he isn’t relying on Mike Vanderjagt to kick a game-winning field goal in the playoffs, of course.

If a team has Super Bowl dreams in its head, an offense that can move the ball is a must. The major exception to that rule, of course, is the 2000 Baltimore Ravens, who could barely score points and relied solely on its defense.

Criteria for a top 10 offense:

Forgetting for a second that the ’00 Super Bowl Ravens got by with Trent Dilfer at quarterback, an offense must be balanced for the most part. An efficient running game that can open up the passing attack is ideal, but the importance of each could certainly be flip-flopped.

Don’t forget about the impact an offensive line has on an offense as well. It’s not all about the skill players – it can’t be. Scheming and game plans must also be taken into account.

The Top 10:

1. Seattle Seahawks
On the first drive of Super Bowl XL, the Seahawks’ offense showed the nation what the west coast had seen all season long – a methodical, but efficient passing game with a nice dosage of running back Shaun Alexander. Seattle didn’t score on the drive, but it did open up the game with a couple first downs and it secured good field position for the defense to shut down Pittsburgh’s offense. Quarterback Matt Hasselback fits extremely well into the West Coast Offense because he is accurate and understands exactly where his receivers are going to be on a given play. Mike Holmgren’s philosophy is to spread the field with three-receiver sets that open up holes for Alexander, and although the offensive line lost guard Steve Hutchinson, Walter Jones is still the best left tackle in the NFL.

2. Cincinnati Bengals
Statistically, the Bengals ranked sixth last year in average yards per game, but any team that plays Cincinnati’s offense knows that it can put up major points. Quarterback Carson Palmer appears ready to go after a near career-ending knee injury that sent him into an offseason of rehab. Coordinator Bob Bratkowski uses the vertical passing game of Palmer and wide receiver Chad Johnson to build leads and then relies on running back Rudi Johnson to kill the clock late in games on the ground. Bratkowski is aggressive and will use three-receiver sets much like the Seahawks do to spread the field, and he even utilizes a no-huddle approach to keep the defense off guard. Having one of the best offensive lines in the game allows Johnson to pick up sizeable gains on the ground and gives Palmer time to find one of his many weapons in the passing game.

3. Indianapolis Colts
Offensive coordinator Tom Moore is a master at maximizing the talent at his disposal in Indianapolis. Moore is excellent at developing mid- and late-round draft picks into solid players, which allows the Colts front office to not have to rely on consistently selecting offensive players in the first round. The Colts had to go offensive in the 2006 NFL Draft, however, because their former running back is now in Arizona. Joseph Addai and Dominic Rhodes will split time trying to make sure the loss of Edgerrin James isn’t as devastating as some people think it will be. Having a solid offensive line and a future Hall-of-Fame quarterback in Peyton Manning will help the offense stay on track. Manning uses all of his receivers possibly better than any quarterback in the league. Marvin Harrison is the consummate pro and Reggie Wayne is just beginning to tap into his potential. Brandon Stokley uses the popularity of Harrison and Wayne to settle into passing lanes for first downs and uses his speed to create separation from nickel backs that can’t cover him.

4. Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs have ranked near the top of the league in offense for the better part of a decade and will once again be a top-five unit. However, Kansas City has taken a major hit to the offensive line in losing left tackle Willie Roaf. Injuries and retirement have ransacked the line and the Chiefs may soon feel the effects by not being as efficient as they used to be. Kansas City also lost coordinator Al Saunders to Washington, which may be the biggest hit. Quarterback Trent Green is 36 but still moves the ball well up the field, and running back Larry Johnson may lead the league in rushing this season. Tight end Tony Gonzalez isn’t the best in the NFL anymore, but his size and athleticism still give Green his best target in the red zone.

5. New York Giants
The Giants averaged 26.4 points per game last season and will certainly be close to that number again if quarterback Eli Manning can build off the success he had early in ’05. Manning slipped a bit toward the end of the season, but Tiki Barber certainly didn’t. Barber can carry the ball 20-25 times a game and is a great weapon for Manning out of the backfield. Coordinator John Hufnagel often calls for Manning to look downfield because of New York’s speed in the passing game. Plaxico Burress, Amani Toomer and Jeremy Shockey will give Manning everything he needs to be successful, but it’s up to Manning to cut down on his mistakes, like the ones he made in last year’s playoff game against the Panthers.

6. Denver Broncos
The Broncos like to take so-called nobodies like Terrell Davis, Mike Anderson and Olandis Gary and turn them into 1,000-yard backs in their system. Denver uses the zone-blocking and cutback scheme that was installed by former offensive line coach Alex Gibbs. The system relies on smaller, athletic linemen and a running back who makes only one cut and then gets up field. Head coach Mike Shanahan kept Jake Plummer out of danger last season with his play calling and it allowed the Broncos to reach the AFC Championship game. A stronger-armed Jay Cutler will soon replace Plummer, but for now, Jake the Snake is capable of leading Denver back into the playoffs. Mike Bell is the starting running back heading into the season, but Shanahan can use a rotation of both Mike Bell and Tatum Bell to get his yards on the ground. The offensive line is solid and watch for newly acquired Javon Walker to complement Rod Smith nicely in the passing game. However, much like Kansas City, the Broncos did lose their offensive coordinator in the offseason. Gary Kubiak is now the head coach in Houston.

7. Arizona Cardinals
The addition of Edgerrin James finally gives the Cardinals a running game to complement their explosive passing game. No team averaged more passing yards per game last season than Arizona and if Kurt Warner can stay healthy, the Cards will be near the top in that category again this season. Anquan Boldin, Larry Fitzgerald and Bryant Johnson are lethal and tight end Leonard Pope should fit right in. The offensive line is one of the worst in the league, however, so the impact of James might not be as big as Arizona is hoping.

8. San Diego Chargers
The Chargers may very well have the league’s best player in their backfield. LaDainian Tomlinson is explosive and can do anything on the field for San Diego. Tomlinson gives the Chargers so many options in their offensive game plan – including using LT to throw halfback passes to tight end Antonio Gates. Gates gives the Chargers all they need around the end zone with his leaping ability and athleticism, but San Diego lacks a deep threat. Wide receiver Keenan McCardell is a great possession receiver and enjoyed his best season statistically last year, but he doesn’t have great speed. Philip Rivers finally gets to show what he can do with Drew Brees now in New Orleans and unless he has issues because of his inexperience, Rivers will be better than Brees in time.

9. New England Patriots
The offense in New England survived its first season without coordinator Charlie Weis, but it wasn’t smooth. Injuries depleted the offensive line and therefore the running game was almost non-existent. If it wasn’t for quarterback Tom Brady, the Patriots would have certainly missed the playoffs and might have been one of the worst offenses in the league. However, Brady carried the team by throwing for an NFL-high 4,110 yards, and no quarterback is cooler under. Running back Corey Dillon will get pushed for playing time by rookie Laurence Maroney. Maroney is a tough runner and will soon replace Dillon as New England’s starting back. The offensive line is healthy again and Brady will enjoy throwing more to tight end Ben Watson since Watson established himself as a good receiver last season in the playoffs. Do the Patriots have enough at wide receiver if they lose Deion Branch? Good question.

10. St. Louis Rams
How will the loss of Mike Martz affect the Rams’ offensive attack? Well, for one, the game plan should be more balanced now that it won’t have crazy Martz throwing virtually every play, but who knows if the passing game will be even half as productive as it has been in years past. If Marc Bulger is healthy, he still has Torry Holt to rely on and even though Isaac Bruce is getting older, he still is a nice possession receiver. Running back Steven Jackson should get more opportunities in the offense with new head coach Scott Linehan now on board. The offensive line isn’t spectacular, but it can get the job done and houses two solid tackles in Orlando Pace and Alex Barron.

The Bottom Five:

28. Cleveland Browns
The Browns don’t come without weapons on offense, but Charlie Frye is still young and injuries have thrashed a once promising offensive line. Reuben Droughns is a workhorse back, but Cleveland couldn’t score last year and will need a healthy Kellen Winslow Jr. and Braylon Edwards to give Frye anything in the vertical game.

29. Buffalo Bills
Willis McGahee can be an elite running back, but the offensive line is mediocre and J.P. Losman didn’t play anywhere near his expectations last year. Losman will get another shot in ’06, but Kelly Holcomb will be waiting in the wings. The receivers show promise in Lee Evans and Josh Reed, but Peerless Price was a disaster the past three seasons in Atlanta and Dallas.

30. San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers, much like Cleveland, have the tools to succeed on offense, but they have an inexperienced quarterback and a young running back. Alex Smith threw 11 interceptions vs. one touchdown last year, but should get better over time. Frank Gore is going to be fine, but the offensive line is near the bottom in the league and although Smith has wide receiver Antonio Bryant and rookie tight end Vernon Davis, will he have any time to throw?

31. New York Jets
Noodle-armed Chad Pennington is one more shoulder surgery away from calling it a career. Kevan Barlow is adequate and so is the offensive line, but how will new coordinator Brian Schottenheimer hold up in New York? Schottenheimer has never called a play as coach. Yikes.

32. Houston Texans
The theme of the bottom five has been the lackluster play of the offensive line and it’s no different in Houston. David Carr will get sacked plenty again this season and now that Domanick Davis is lost for the season, Carr has even less to work with. It is too bad wide receiver Andre Johnson is a Texan, because he’d be an elite player by now.

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