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Revered as one of the greatest golfers of all time, Arnold Palmer became TVs first sports superstar. [url=http://www.nbaknicksonline.com/womens-joakim-noah-basketball-jersey/]Joakim Noah Jersey[/url] . Sky Sports pays tribute to the charismatic seven-time major champion, who has died aged 87. Affectionately known as The King, Palmer was an undoubted trailblazer of the game, becoming the first player to win $1m in PGA Tour earnings while his glittering career was defined by firsts.He was the first sports star to be signed by pioneering agent Mark McCormack, the founder of the International Management Group. Palmer was the first sportsman to own his own jet, which he often piloted himself, and he was the first winner of the World Match Play tournament as well as the first golfer to be awarded the Presidential medal of freedom. Arnold Palmer rose to fame during the advent of the televised era The world of golf would look very different if not for the man from Latrobe, Pennsylvania, who is widely credited as being responsible for securing the status of the Open Championship. When he first played in 1960, he arrived as the holder of the Masters and US Open titles, but the tournament had fallen out of favour with many other American players.Palmer was trying to emulate the feat of winning three major wins in the same year - which had been achieved by Ben Hogan in 1953. He lost by one shot to Kel Nagle, but came back in 1961 to win his first Open title. The fan favourite won it again the next year, establishing it as an event that Americans both wanted to watch and play. Palmer persuaded many leading Americans to play in The Open But if there is one tournament that is synonymous with Arnold Palmers name, it is the Masters. Palmer became the youngest Augusta champion when he lifted the trophy in 1958, and left the tournament with both a permanent spotlight on his career and a dedicated fan following - Arnies Army.It was his legendary fights over this course as part of The Big Three with Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player which further raised the profile of the sport, and it was clear the charismatic Palmer was a favourite among the patrons. Of his seven major victories, four of Palmers wins came at Augusta, in 1958, 60, 62 and 64.With so much history, it seemed fitting that he would end his major career on his 50th consecutive Masters appearance in 2004, but he still relished in appearing as an honorary starter alongside his formal rivals between 2007 and 2015, as did his loyal army. Palmers final appearance at Augusta earlier this year, watching fellow honorary starters Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player Arnold is the reason golf enjoys the popularity it does today, Nicklaus once said of his former rival. He made golf attractive to the television-viewing public. There never has been anyone like him before in the game of golf, and there probably wont be another like him again.The rise of a superstar Born in Pennsylvania, Palmer was the son of a country club golf professional. His father introduced him to the game of golf, shortening regulation clubs for his toddler son to learn to play, and by aged 11 the youngster was caddying at Latrobe Country Club.Success came early for Palmer, winning his first of five West Pennsylvania Amateur Championships at the age of 17. He enrolled at Wake Forrest College on a golf scholarship and won three Atlantic Coast Conference Championships, but then tragedy hit. Following the death of a close friend and team-mate, Palmer dropped out of college and became part of the US Coast Guard for three years. Palmer bowed out of the Masters on his 50th consecutive appearance in 2004 Returning to golf in 1954, he resumed form quickly and after winning the US Amateur in 1954, he turned professional that same year - as well as marrying first wife Winnie Walzer.During his rookie year on the PGA Tour he won his first tournament at the Canadian Open, but it was his maiden major victory at the Masters in 1958 that saw the birth of a true superstar.The 1960s were his most prolific years, and between 1960 and 63 he won a remarkable 29 tournaments, including seven majors. In total, Palmer won 95 titles, including the 1980s PGA Seniors Championships and the 1981 Senior Open. He also played in seven Ryder Cups, and captained the team twice, once as the last playing captain in 1963, then as captain 12 years later in 1975. Presenting Tiger Woods with the Arnold Palmer Invitational trophy. He hosted his own tournament from 1979 His full retirement came in 2006, but it was not how he would have preferred to end his career. He officially retired on the fourth hole of the Adminstaff Small Business Classic after becoming dissatisfied with his performance.Ive been doing this for a long time and, first of all, to stand out there and not be able to make something happen is very traumatic in my mind, Palmer said. The people, they all want to see a good shot and you know it and you cant give them that good shot. Thats when its time.The first sporting superstarThe Hall of Famer had many victories, but one of his biggest achievements was almost single-handedly establishing the commercial success of the game. Signing to college friend Mark McCormacks company in 1960 (now IMG) together they launched the idea of a sports person as a global brand.Winning majors, playing golf with presidents and featuring in adverts, Palmers endorsement earnings with IMG grew from $6,000 to $500,000 in the first two years. Presenting Tiger Woods with the Arnold Palmer Invitational trophy. He hosted his own tournament from 1979 Palmer had a head for marketing, and made as big an impact on the business world as he did in the world of golf. He designed over 300 golf courses, was co-founder of the Golf Channel and had various business ventures that ranged from automobiles to his love of aviation.A global success, Palmer has made more money off the golf course than he ever did playing, ensuring his mark on the world will last for many more generations to come.Golf may have lost one of its most beloved characters but what is in no doubt is that the first sporting superstars name will live on through memories, history books, and forever as the combination of iced tea and lemonade. Also See: Ryder Cup latest news Europes Ryder Cup qualifiers 2014 Ryder Cup recap Golf live on Sky Sports [url=http://www.nbaknicksonline.com/womens-tim-hardaway-jr-basketball-jersey/]Tim Hardaway Jr. Knicks Jersey[/url] .com) - The Denver Nuggets snapped a losing streak last time out and will try to carry that momentum Saturday night when they welcome the Indiana Pacers to the Pepsi Center. [url=http://www.nbaknicksonline.com/womens-john-starks-basketball-jersey/]John Starks Jersey[/url] . - Wesley Matthews got a chance to practice his bow-and-arrow 3-point celebration on Sunday night. [url=http://www.nbaknicksonline.com/womens-bernard-king-basketball-jersey/]http://www.nbaknicksonline.com/womens-bernard-king-basketball-jersey/[/url] .The Canadian teenage golf sensation announced Thursday shell join the LPGA Tour in 2015 instead of attending the University of Florida.(SportsNetwork.com) - If you focus on the math, its nearly a why bother? proposition. The New England Patriots have been held to fewer than 21 points exactly twice in 14 games this season. Meanwhile, the New York Jets average just 16.4 points, and have been held to 20 or fewer to 10 times. So when an 11-win New England team - fresh off clinching its 12th AFC East title in 14 seasons - heads to MetLife Stadium to meet a three-win New York team, its understandable that nearly everyone but Jets coach Rex Ryan considers a Patriots victory a done deal. Its not hard for me to do, Ryan said. Im a confident person, and I think Im a decent football coach and I think people who know the game realize that. So, I dont worry about it. Ryan, by most accounts, is playing out the string of a six-year tenure thats likely to end shortly after the Week 17 finale in Miami. But he has managed to keep his team relevant in some areas, particularly the run game, where New York trails only Seattle with a 166.6-yard weekly ground average. The Jets gashed New England for 218 rush yards in a two-point loss in Foxborough in Week 7, and their per-carry average of 4.74 yards is third in the league behind the Seahawks and Green Bay. And, then, well ... theres Geno Smith. The second-year quarterback could also be in the final days of an underwhelming run as starter. New York is second-to-last in the league with a weekly passing average of 168.9 yards, and Smith has thrown two touchdown passes and two interceptions in three games since regaining the starting role from Michael Vick, though his passer rating in those games is a pedestrian 78.2. It wont help Sunday that his new favorite target - in-season trade acquisition Percy Harvin - is still questionable with the sprained left ankle he suffered two weeks ago at Minnesota. He played in last weeks 16-11 win at Tennessee, but had no catches and managed a single run for 10 yards. If he plays, hes like to get a dose of New England cornerback Darrelle Revis, who returns to New York for the second time - and first with the Patriots - since he was traded prior to the 2013 season. Ill probably just approach it like I did when I played with Tampa last year, Revis said. Just treat it like another game. Revis and the Patriots defense have been on their best behavior, regardless of opponent, for the better part of 10 weeks since a 41-14 loss to Kansas City in late September. In fact, New England has held foes to an average of 19 points since that loss, going 9-1 while defeating high-end opposition like Indianapolis (42-20 win) and Denver (43-21 win), and losing close to Green Bay (26-21). The Colts, Broncos and Packers are three of the top five scoring offenses in the NFL. We have to play our best football to win, defensive end Chandler Jones said. I truly believe that. Two more victories - against the Jets, then at home with Buffalo in Week 17 - would give the Patriots home-field advantage for the length of their stay in the AFC playoffs. And if New England wins and Denver loses at Cincinnati on Monday night, the top seed will be clinched prior to next weeek. [url=http://www.nbaknicksonline.com/womens-tracy-mcgrady-basketball-jersey/]Tracy McGrady Jersey[/url]. Four of the last five games between the Patriots and Jets have been decided by three points or fewer, and New York won in overtime, 30-27, when New England traveled to New Jersey last season. I know the records are what they are, but we dont look at it like that, quarterback Tom Brady said. We lost going into the Meadowlands last year. Brady was held without a TD pass in that game - the only time thats happened to him in his last 25 regular-season starts. And in the last three games with the Jets, the Patriots have been limited to averages of 283.3 yards and 22.3 points. Theyve got a real good defense, Brady said. Were anticipating their best game. Of course, New England faced the seventh-ranked defense in the league last week against Miami and scored 41 points. That rout continued a stretch of seven games - since the initial meeting with the Jets this season - in which the Patriots have been at or near the top of the league with 36.4 points (first) and 419.9 yards (third) per game. The usual game-week angst between the teams was toned down Monday when Ryan suggested New Englands Bill Belichick was a first-ballot Hall of Fame coach when he retires, though Belichick ultimately responded in his typical low-key persona. Its a very flattering comment, but it sounds like Rex is just buttering me up, he said. I know theyre working hard, like they always do, to play us very competitively. Weve really had a hard time with them, including the last time we played them. Were going to have to do a good job getting ready to go here, stopping a team that runs the ball well, that stops the run well, thats got a lot of explosive guys in the kicking game, thats well-coached, thats though (and) that beat us down there last year. We have our work cut out for us. WHAT TO WATCH FOR Grounded and Pounded The fundamental task of establishing the edges and containing them will be front and center for the Patriots defense against the bruising Jets run game. The interior is manned by Vince Wilfork, Sealver Silga, Alan Branch and Donta Hightower, and if the outside holds up as well, it could force the game into the oft-scattershot hands of Smith at quarterback. Move Those Chains If they want to stay close with New England throughout 60 minutes, the Jets have to be successful in not only extending their own drives, but in getting the Patriots off the field on third downs. Shane Vereen was able to burn them too many times in the first game, while the defense was turning its attention to Rob Gronkowski. Jonas Gray and LeGarrette Blount also provide diverse options for Brady. OVERALL ANALYSIS Its the same old story for the Jets these days. If they come in prepared and revved-up, then play their best game with few or no mistakes, theyll have a chance to hang with the Patriots and maybe win at the end. But with any deviation from that script - read: mistakes by Smith, misfires by the defense - its got the chance to get ugly in a big way. 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