inal outs. His only appearance of that seri

[riluowanying123]

LONDON -- Andy Murray had already grabbed the headlines by winning his second Wimbledon title, but Heather Watson was determined to play her part.Walking out onto Centre Court after the Scot beat Milos Raonic, Watson and partner Henri Kontinen won the mixed doubles final, beating Colombias Robert Farah and Anna-Lena Groenefeld 7-6, (5), 6-4.It was Watsons first Grand Slam title, and the perfect way to bounce back from the misery of her first-round exit in the singles, ensuring Britain finished the Wimbledon fortnight with champions in five separate events for the first time.I was following the whole of Andys match, she told a news conference. I thought hed win today. He played brilliant. He did everything right. I was watching in the changing rooms when he won.Its just so nice to see him do well here and win. Then to get the two Brits, or three, four win today, is great.It has been a fantastic championships for Britain, with Gordon Reid winning the first singles wheelchair final here on Sunday, having won the doubles with fellow Briton Alfie Hewett on Saturday.Jordanne Whiley, from Birmingham, also won the ladies wheelchair doubles final on Sunday with Japanese partner Yui Kamiji and it was the relatively recent introduction of wheelchair events which brought about Britains landmark.Ill remember this forever, added Watson. Its been a dream of mine since I was a little girl to be a Grand Slam champion. I would take anything, singles, doubles, mixed doubles. Yeah, Ive got one of those now. I mean, Im just really happy.With her victory, Watson became the first woman to win the mixed doubles title since Jo Durie in 1987 -- another good stat the 24-year-old said.Who would have thought were here as champions, Watson added. For me, after such a horrible first-round loss. I made it to the last day of Wimbledon, which has been always one of my goals to reach just the second week of a slam.Couldnt have chosen anybody better than with Henri. He made our time on court so fun. Off the court as well, like warming up together. It was just fun and easy. Yeah, Im just so freaking happy.Some people say its fun, but dont really have fun. We did. We didnt think about winning. We just wanted to go out there and just enjoy our time and just try and play well. Now were Wimbledon champions.Kontinen joked they would retire from mixed when asked if the partnership would continue. Their feat was made even more impressive given they had never played together before this week.Watson was introduced to Kontinen through the Finns British coach,?Chris Eaton, and they signed up for the larger Wimbledon draw after missing the cut at the smaller French Open draw due to Watsons ranking.They may have been the last match on Centre Court but Watson was ready for the champions dinner.That was my preparation for the match, she said. I was picking out my dress in the changing rooms. Im all sorted. Ill be there. Vans Shoes For Sale Cheap . NBA officials ruled the court unplayable in the Bucks final exhibition game on Oct. 25 because players were slipping, and the game was cancelled midway through the first period. Cheap Vans Shoes Wholesale . -- San Francisco 49ers linebacker Ahmad Brooks was fined $15,570 by the NFL on Wednesday for his hit on Saints quarterback Drew Brees last Sunday. http://www.cheapaustraliavans.com/ . Its an influence in football and a big part of the game. Vans Shoes Online Australia Sale . JOHNS, N. Vans Shoes Australia Sale . -- Jacksonville wide receiver Cecil Shorts will likely be a game-time decision whether hell play Sunday in the Jaguars home game against the San Diego Chargers. ROCHESTER HILLS, Mich. -- The last living player from the 1945 World Series was pulling for the Cubs this year.Ed Mierkowicz didnt play for Chicago. He was on the Detroit team that beat the Cubs in Game 7 at Wrigley Field 71 years ago. Now 92, the Michigan native remains a big baseball fan and was looking forward to this years World Series finale Wednesday night between the Cubs and Cleveland Indians.Id like to see the Cubs win, he said Wednesday. Not because I dont like Cleveland, but its been a long time for the Cubs.The Cubs did win, beating Cleveland 8-7 in 10 innings to win their first title since 1908. Before this season, they hadnt even made it to the World Series since 1945 , when Mierkowicz was on the field for the final outs. His only appearance of that series came at the end of Game 7.Chicago had tied the series with a 12-inning victory in Game 6, but the Tigers scored five runs in the top of the first in Game 7 and never looked back. Mierkowicz admits he doesnt remember a lot of the details from games over seven decades ago, but the play-by-play at Baseball-Reference.com helps fill in the gaps.With the Tigers up 9-3, a nervous Mierkowicz entered to start the bottom of the ninth, replacing Detroit star Hank Greenberg in left field.If I took my pants off, my knees would be shaking, he said. I just went along with the flow.Mierkowicz was a 21-year-old rookie who had appeared in only 10 games during the regular season.It was exciting, he said. In fact, it was so exciting, I dont know what the hell was going on -- all the people going crazy.The first batter singled his way, but the final three outs came quickly after that, and the Tigers were champions. Mierkowicz said there was no wild, bubbly-filled celebration the way there would be these days.They couldnt afford it, he said. They probablyy had a little drink or something like that, but it wasnt like now.ddddddddddddMierkowicz recalls throngs of fans waiting when the team took the train back to the Detroit area. He said there was a party at a hotel -- and he won a car in a raffle.He also speaks highly of Greenberg.I was a rookie. The other guys sort of shunned the rookies, Mierkowicz said. He was good to me. I didnt know him that well, but he was a great guy, great ballplayer.Mierkowicz was born in Wyandotte, which is just south of Detroit. Hes friends with Bob Kuzava, the Wyandotte native whose big league pitching career spanned over a decade. Kuzava was the man on the mound when the New York Yankees closed out World Series championships in 1951 and 1952.Mierkowicz ended up playing only 35 major league games over four different seasons with the Tigers and St. Louis Cardinals. He said it was like a cup of coffee -- but no cream.Still, not many players can say they were in the game when their team won a World Series, and Mierkowicz enjoys talking about his career.At his home in a senior living community in suburban Detroit, he has a team picture of the 1945 Tigers.God gave me the ability to play ball, he said. Made a pretty good living. We didnt make a lot of money, but it was a lot of fun.The game has changed a lot since then, needless to say.Theyve got better equipment, and theyre staying healthy because theyre making big money. Equipment is so much different than we used to have, he said. We used to have to buy our glove and shoes. We have to buy it. Now, they give them 25 pairs of shoes. Its like everything else. It changes. For the better, of course.---Follow Noah Trister at www.Twitter.com/noahtrister ' ' '