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Will Leitch Departs Deadspin to Join New York Magazine
2008-07-07 13:51:00
Will Leitch Leaving Deadspin to Join New York Magazine One of our first major linkers and now Facebook Friend Deadspin founder and editor Will Leich is leaving that online sports publication to join the New York Magazine as contributing editor. Good Luck Will, but you're not really leaving at all. Still, it seems that perhaps, like me, this whole political revolution thing has drawn you away from sports. Funny how that works

Oakland Raiders Heaquarters In Alameda, California
2008-07-05 21:21:00
RaidersOriginally uploaded by jobyybojThis is a photo of the Oakland Raiders headquarters in Alameda, California . It's at 1200 Harbor Bay Parkway. The facility was acquired with the help of a $10 million "loan" from the City of Oakland and the County of Alameda as part of what's now called "The Raiders Deal."
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Brett Farve Should Remain Retired; Give Aaron Rogers A Chance
2008-07-04 04:52:00
The news is all over the place regarding Brett Farve's rumored return to play in the NFL. But look, we've seen this dance before and frankly I'm tired of it. Look, I've cried twice thinking that was the end of the line for this great legend of the game. But geez, can't we get a chance to miss Brett and wonder what if, rather than see him step on the field and perhaps not do well? What's the point? To prove that one can play until their 50? To test the benefits of Viagra? I'm curious. What's the deal? Is it the money? Or just the plain love of being cheered and admired.I think that's it.Regardless. I can see the late Coach Walsh now, looking down from Heaven and thinking, "If I were there, I'd have cut him two years ago. What's going on with the Packers?" Indeed, that's what we're all wondering. Brett, let this tribute stand:
More About: Chance , Give , Aaron , Bill Walsh , Rogers

Leigh Steinberg's 22nd Super Bowl Party: Scottsdale, AZ - Video
2008-06-19 02:59:00
This is the video account of Leigh Steinberg's 22nd Super Bowl Party . This one held at the Botanical Gardens outside Scottsdale , Arizona. The video features an interview with Leigh where he talks about the "Green Initiative" he's started, Ricky Williams, and "Athletes for Obama."
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Oakland Raiders Talking With City - City Attorney John Russo Interview
2008-06-14 00:32:00
I met with Oakland 's elected City Attorney and my friend John Russo the day after election day to talk about his unopposed win for a third term, how Oakland has changed, Oakland Politics and the District Three Council race, who Senator Obama should pick as his VP, what Russo's is proudest of with the evolution of his office, and the talks between the City of Oakland and the Oakland Raiders. Russo explains that the talks are between the Raiders and the Oakland / Alameda County Joint Powers Authority and that they're going well. He also confirmed that Raiders Manager of The General Partner Al Davis is not in good health and has not attended all of the meeting. As to the possibility that the Raiders would get a new stadium, he said no, but they're in agreement on the matters of concern to the Raiders. Given what I know from trying to bring the 2005 Super Bowl to Oakland (we lost to Jacksonville), that means we should expect to see an upgraded Coliseum at some point in the future...
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Bears release Benson following 2nd arrest
2008-06-10 00:39:00
By ANDREW SELIGMAN, AP Sports WriterLAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP)?Chicago Bears running back Cedric Benson was released Monday following his second alcohol-related arrest in a month.?Cedric displayed a pattern of behavior we will not tolerate,? General Manager Jerry Angelo said in a statement. ?As I said this past weekend, you have to protect your job. Everyone in this organization is held accountable for their actions.?The troubled running back did not participate in organized team activities on Monday, and it was unclear whether he showed up at Halas Hall.Benson?s agent Eugene Parker and attorney Sam Bassett did not return messages seeking comment before the announcement that he?d been waived.The Bears had already made it clear they were losing patience with Benson when they drafted Tulane?s Matt Forte in the second round in April. Three ineffective, injury-plagued years during which Benson at times annoyed teammates with blunt comments left management looking for another running back. A...
More About: Arrest , Release

Darren McFadden Signed By Raiders; Ian Greengross Keeps Promise
2008-06-06 22:51:00
At the NFL Draft, Arkansas Running Back Darren McFadden's agent Ian Greengross told me that there would not be a hold out of his client should he be drafted by the Oakland Raiders. Well, he kept his promise as the Raiders signed Darren McFadden today.
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Pacman Returns-for now...
2008-06-03 03:54:00
From NFLMedia.comFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE6/2/08 NFL STATEMENT ON LIMITED REINSTATEMENT OF ADAM JONES: Commissioner Roger Goodell notified Adam Jones today that, effective immediately, he may participate in organized team activities with the Dallas Cowboys, including training camp and preseason games. In a letter to Jones, Commissioner Goodell wrote that a final determination on his reinstatement for the 2008 regular season will be made by September 1. Commissioner Goodell told Jones that his continued participation in the NFL depends on demonstrating that he can conduct himself in a lawful and reliable manner. Jones will be expected to continue the personal conduct program established for him by the NFL and the Cowboys and to avoid further adverse involvement with law enforcement.My Take: That Means No more Topless Bars Pacman !! If you really want to Play in the NFL it's time to show you mean it and keep your Nose clean!

2008 NFL Unrestricted & Restricted Free-Agent Signings As Of 5/29/08
2008-06-02 04:28:00
From NFLMedia.com2008 NFL Unrestricted & Restricted Free -Agent Signings As Of 5/29/08 05/29/20082008 NFL UNRESTRICTED & RESTRICTED FREE-AGENT SIGNINGSAS OF 5/29/08(Based on official notification to NFL office) 1) 131 UNRESTRICTED free agents have signed with a NEW team:TEAMPLAYERFORMER TEAMDATE REPORTEDArizona CardinalsLB Clark HaggansPittsburgh Steelers3/27/08 DE Travis LaBoyTennessee Titans3/4/08 DE Bryan RobinsonCincinnati Bengals4/11/08 QB Brian St. PierrePittsburgh Steelers3/31/08 LB Matt StewartCleveland Browns4/17/08Atlanta FalconsS Erik ColemanN.Y. Jets3/3/08 K Jason ElamDenver Broncos3/24/08 TE Ben HartsockTennessee Titans3/3/08 CB Von HutchinsHouston Texans3/3/08 DT Kindal MooreheadCarolina Panthers3/10/08 RB Michael TurnerSan Diego Chargers3/3/08 C Alex StepanovichCincinnati Bengals3/10/08Baltimore RavensLB Brendon AyanbadejoChicago Bears3/10/08 CB Frank WalkerGreen Bay Packers3/14/08Buffalo BillsTE Courtney AndersonAtlanta Falcons3/10/08 CB William JamesPhiladelphi...
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Kim Kardashian and Reggie Bush Mobbed By 13 Year Olds From A Bar Mitzvah
2008-05-27 16:33:00
(From a source that does not want to be attributed)Socialite Kim Kardashian was saved from stampede of 13 year olds before Hamptons club appearance.Socialite Kim Kardashian leaving the 5 star Garden City Hotel on Long Island, NY to head to her appearance at Whitehouse nightclub in the Hamptons was in the lobby of the hotel and was spotted by a hundreds of 13 year olds from a Bar Mitzvah party that just ended. The young fans started to chase after her and boyfriend, the former USC Running Back and now New Orleans Saints NFL Star Reggie Bush . NYC Nightclub owner John Englebert aka JE of Suzie Wong saki lounge and Prime nightclub saw the stampede and reacted quickly by escorting her through a side door. John Englebert met Kim at a Playboy mansion party about a year ago in Los Angeles. Although Kim wanted to stay she would have missed her appearance. TJ Scott a representative for the club that booked Kim was staying at the hotel and said not even Kim?s man NFL Star Reggie Bush could hav...
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NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell Q & A At NFL Spring Meeting
2008-05-26 22:43:00
COMMISSIONER ROGER GOODELL AT SPRING MEETINGAtlanta, GA ? May 20, 2008News / Release - Source: NFLMedia.com NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell Q & A At NFL Spring Meeting ROGER GOODELL: We had a four-hour meeting this morning and covered a lot of subjects, including labor. We talked a lot about other related issues with respect to our stadiums, what we?re doing to improve the experience for our fans in the stadium. We spent a great deal of time on financial matters and the labor matter. I know you want to speak about the labor matter so I?d be happy to take your questions. I will be back later this afternoon and I can take questions on other matters. But we?ve got sort of a short timetable before we start this afternoon. The Super Bowl voting is this afternoon at 1:00 PM. What signal does opting out send in terms of league?s position?RG: It?s a very clear signal that the ownership does not believe that this deal is working. And it?s important for us all to sit down at the table an...

NFL EXPANDS INTERNATIONAL PRACTICE SQUAD PROGRAM
2008-05-26 22:19:00
NFL EXPANDS INTERNATIONAL PRACTICE SQUAD PROGRAMFrom NFLMedia.com To enhance the development of elite football talent from around the world, NFL clubs have agreed to expand the league?s International Practice Squad Program . The action was taken at the NFL Spring Meeting in Atlanta, Georgia on May 20. The initiative, which enters its fifth year in 2008, will for the first time feature 16 players joining the practice squads of NFL teams. The players will be selected and assigned to teams in the AFC North, AFC West, NFC South and NFC West in time for training camp. Participating players will be announced in mid-July. Since the program?s inception in 2004, 22 players have participated, including 11 last year and nine that have participated twice. One player, guard Rolando Cantu of Mexico, graduated from the International Practice Squad Program to see action in the NFL the following season. Cantu spent 2004 on the Arizona Cardinals? practice squad before being elevated to the active ...

Kirk Wright Suicide: Former NFL Financial Advisor Commits Suicide In Jail
2008-05-26 02:31:00
In a very sad end to a story about a person that had so much initial promise, Kirk Wright, the man convicted of up to 710 years in jail for mail and securities fraud and who had formed frauduent reports to clients to cause them to think they were making money from his investment portfolio, when he was losing money, killed himself in jail in Union City, North Carolina. Some of his clients were NFL players. The result was that he fled from capture and when found was sentenced to prison for a term longer -- much longer than his life. He was -- to my knoweldge -- given no chance to clean up his act with the people he harmed or society in general. And now, this young man is dead at 37. It's sad. Sad to know that a professional Black young man with vast connections could wind up in the position he found himself in. And he probably saw himself as having failed after trying to reach above where society seems to say where he should be, only to find himself in a mostly-Black prison sy...
More About: Financial , Suicide , Jail , Advisor

NFL Owners opt out of CBA-Upshaw Not Fazed
2008-05-23 02:26:00
NFL Owners opt out of CBA-Upshaw Not FazedBy Dr. Bill Chachkes-Football Reporters Online-Special to SBSEarly this week the NFL owners group opted out of the collective bargaining agreement extension which was signed two years ago. Simply put, we are talking about three more years of labor peace (through 2010) even though both sides claim they "want to get the talks rolling now." NFLPA Head Gene Upshaw wasn't even upset. "We knew this was coming" He said. "We just didn't think it would be so soon". I guess he thought the owners would wait until the November 8th deadline. Something tells me the owners aren't that interested in talking right this second. They will wait until next year at the earliest to call meetings and discuss getting the players to give back some more money, stating hard financial times. While it's true that the country is headed for a recession, there is no concrete evidence of this in professional sports when contracts are getting higher all the time.Could th...

Darren McFadden - Marketing Team and Mom At NFL Draft- Video
2008-05-19 22:46:00
We meet the marketing people behind promoting the Oakland Raiders' new running back Darren McFadden. We also talk to Darren's Mom -- all at the NFL Draft .
More About: Video , Marketing , Team

HBO's Hard Knocks to Feature the Dallas Cowboys
2008-05-17 03:40:00
I Guess HBO is trying to keep the show fresh and innovative. That's nice, but could you pick a better team to showcase then the Cowgirls-i-mean-boys? How about some team who is on their way back up, Like the Redskins, or the Vikings, or even the Saints. Any team but the Cowboys and their attention seeking receiver Terrell Owens, who reminds us not to Pick on Tony Romo because he's is "His QB." Let me know when Tony gets a National Commercial spot. Even Brady Quinn of the Browns(and he's still a Back-up!) has an EAS-Myoplex commercial!! Is Wade Phillips even "Telegenic" enough to do a month of Training camp TV spots? Will we see another Terrell Owens "Meltdown"?
More About: Dallas , Dallas Cowboys , Feature , Hard

SF STADIUM GETS BOOST WITH SF CHRON ENDORSEMENT
2008-05-12 07:14:00
The San Francisco Chronicle endorsed Proposition G, which if it passes, will -- in the words of the Chron offer a nonbinding but nevertheless critical public expression of support for a proposal by Miami's Lennar Corp. to develop up to 10,000 homes, about 700,000 square feet of retail space as well as artist studios, green-tech-research facilities and more than 300 acres of parks and open space in and around the old shipyard. As part of the project, Lennar also would rebuild the Alice Griffith public housing project.The endorsement came along with the news that the SF 49ers are abandoning the Santa Clara stadium project.
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2008 NFL Draft - Bill Chackhes On Best Teams; Worst Teams
2008-04-28 04:42:00
Dr. Bill Chackhes, SBS Personality, and Managing Partner of Football Writers Online.com took time to talk with me about the 2008 NFL Draft . Bill is a 34 year NFL Draft veteran; 22 years as a credentialed media member.More about Bill here:http://www.sportsbusinesssims.com/bi ll-chachkes.htm
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MATT WALSH | STATEMENT BY THE NFL ON MATT WALSH -NFLMedia.com
2008-04-24 15:21:00
MATT WALSH | STATEMENT BY THE NFL ON MATT WALSH -NFLMedia.comStatement By The NFL On Matt Walsh 04/23/2008STATEMENT BY THE NFL ON MATT WALSH An agreement has been completed between the NFL and Matt Walsh that will allow Mr. Walsh, a former videotape operator with the New England Patriots , to share with the NFL information about activities occurring during his employment with the club from 1997-2003. Commissioner Goodell will meet with Mr. Walsh in the commissioner?s office on Tuesday, May 13, the earliest date that Mr. Walsh, who lives in Hawaii, will be available on the east coast. The agreement also requires Mr. Walsh to return any tapes and other items in his possession that belong to the Patriots. In return, the NFL and the Patriots have promised not to sue Mr. Walsh. They also will indemnify him for any expenses, including legal fees that he incurs in connection with the interview. Commissioner Goodell determined last September that the Patriots had violated league rules by vide...

Seahawks expected to make announcement about Alexander
2008-04-23 01:21:00
If the former MVP is released by the Seahawks , it would be important for him to make the shrewd decision to retire, while still accumulating large sums of money. Alexander had a prolific career from 2001-2005, playing in every game and accruing 1175-1880 yards every season with fourteen or more touchdowns each year.By GREGG BELL, AP Sports WriterSEATTLE (AP)?The long-anticipated separation between the Seattle Seahawks and former MVP running back Shaun Alexander appears imminent.Alexander?s agent, Jim Steiner, told The Associated Press Tuesday that ?an announcement is pending? about Alexander?s future with the Seahawks. Reports surfaced Tuesday morning that Alexander was about to be cut by the team, but not until after he passed a physical. Alexander had surgery after the season on his left wrist, which he broke last season, and must pass a physical before Seattle could release him, otherwise Alexander could file an injury grievance.The 30-year-old running back is scheduled to earn $...
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Matt Leinart Party Boy In News For Partying With Girls
2008-04-06 02:33:00
Two years ago, as Matt Leinart was repped by Leigh Steinberg and preparing to come out for the NFL Draft, I wondered if Leinart could focus in the NFL with all of the partying he's known for.Well, with his season ending injury and now his photos of him simulating you-know-what with a champagne bottle and some celeb guys, the answer seems to be, well, let's review what I wrote first:There's a school of thought that once Matt Leinart hits the grind of the NFL, he'll not post the same remarkable numbers that he did at USC. While I do disagree with that -- I think Matt will be one of the best -- I do think his first two years will be a bit hard. He's not going to be able to run the streets as he did at USC.Look, as a Cal-grad who was getting his master's degree there at a time when most my age were still undergrads, I can identify with Matt's love for parties and the ladies. But now millions of dollars are on the line. Will Matt dump all of this fun? Well, we have our answer and...
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Why Should Fantasy Football Owners Watch The NFL Draft?
2008-04-05 22:23:00
While fantasy football owners steadfastly wait in anticipation for the beginning of the 2008 season, it’s imperative to remember that one must accrue the necessary building blocks and contributing factors in order to assemble a potent and versatile team capable of emerging victorious in all fantasy league formats. It’s essential to differentiate your team from the competitors by channeling a significant amount of energy, focus and determination into searching for what players in this year’s NFL draft have the ability to add value and provide meaning to one’s team. Still, maintain a vested interest in the excitement and thrill of the two-day spectacular at Radio City Music Hall.As prospective players wait with overwhelming angst and nervousness, and high level executives remain engrossed in the complexities of the draft room, fantasy players are equipped with a desire to accelerate their overall understanding of the rookie landscape, and transform into stronger, more creative...
More About: Watch , Football , Fantasy , Draft , Fantasy Football

Super Bowl XLII Oakland To Phoenix Flight Southwest Airlines
2008-04-04 16:00:00
This is a video of the flight that I took from Oakland to Phoenix to attend Super Bowl XLII and the events before the game. It was a Southwest Airlines flight that left at 1:30 that day and got in at about almost 5 PM.

Michael Irvin At Hall of Fame | One Of The Greatest NFL Speeches In History
2008-04-04 11:11:00
Please listen to this speech by former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Michael Irvin. It's one of the greatest speeches in NFL history.
More About: History , Hall of Fame , Hall , Fame

NFL NATIONALLY TELEVISED PRIMETIME KICKOFF WEEKEND GAMES - NFLMedia.com
2008-04-01 23:29:00
NFL ANNOUNCES NATIONALLY TELEVISEDPRIMETIME KICKOFF WEEKEND GAMESThe NFL announced today its 2008 Kickoff Weekend national primetime television schedule, including a Monday night doubleheader.In a tradition that began in 2004, the Super Bowl champion annually hosts the NFL Thursday night season kickoff the following year. This September 4 at 7:00 PM ET on NBC, the Super Bowl XLII champion New York Giants will host their NFC East-rival Washington Redskins and their new head coach JIM ZORN. Kickoff will be 90 minutes earlier than the start time of the traditional season opener due to the Republican National Convention, which NBC News will cover following the conclusion of the game.The Sunday night primetime game (8:15 PM ET) on NBC will feature a rematch of Super Bowl XLI as the Indianapolis Colts host the Chicago Bears. The game marks the first regular-season game at Lucas Oil Stadium.On Monday night, September 8, ESPN will host a Monday Night Football doubleheader featuring two cr...
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2008 NFL Free Agents Chart List
2008-03-23 20:06:00
Who are the players on the NFL free agency block this year? Where did they go? To answer that question SBS did some research and went to ESPN and Profootballtalk.com to see who went where, and in some cases why. We present the table first, then some commentary. 2008 NFL Free Agent Chart List PlayerPos.FA TypeHt.Wt.Exp.2007 Team2008 TeamGrade Hamza AbdullahSRFA6-22163Broncos Flozell AdamsOTUFA6-734010CowboysCowboys Sam AikenWRUFA6-22155BillsPatriots Ethan AlbrightCUFA6-525713RedskinsRedskins Stephen AlexanderTEUFA6-425010Broncos Roc AlexanderCBUFA5-101904Texans Larry AllenGUFA6-33251449ers Jared AllenDEFranchised6-62704ChiefsChiefs Morten AndersenPKUFA6-222525Falcons Charlie AndersonLBUFA6-42434TexansDolphins Courtney AndersonTEUFA6-62704FalconsBills Derek AndersonQBRFA6-62293BrownsBrowns Tim AndersonDTUFA6-33044FalconsFalcons Mike AndersonRBReleased6-02308Ravens Stacy AndrewsOTFranchised6-73424BengalsBengals Richard AnguloTEUFA6-82664JaguarsJaguars Tom A...
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Source: After trade to Raiders, Hall to get seven-year, $70 million deal
2008-03-19 00:28:00
ESPN.com news servicesAtlanta Falcons cornerback DeAngelo Hall says he will finalize a contract with Oakland by Thursday morning, allowing the trade sending him to the Raiders to be completed.A source told ESPN's Chris Mortensen that the deal is for seven years and worth $70 million. The amount of guaranteed money and bonuses in the contract have not been finalized.The source also told Mortensen the teams are discussing possibly more compensation than just a second-round pick for the Raiders to acquire Hall, a two-time All-Pro. If the deal goes through as planned, the Falcons will have three second-round draft picks and four of the first 48 selections under first-year general manager Thomas Dimitroff. Hall said he is scheduled to fly to Oakland on Wednesday to meet with Raiders officials, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "There is just some tweaking of the language that needs to be done, some minor details," Hall told the newspaper. "No deal breakers."Hall, a former f...
More About: Source , Trade , Deal , Million

NFL Draft Order Round-By-Round - As Of Feb 29
2008-03-18 20:46:00
NFL Draft Order Round -By-Round - As Of Feb 29 This is the NFL Draft selection order, which could change as we get closer to the draft itself and with trades. Tentative 2008 Round-By-Round NFL Draft Order (As of February 29, 2008)03/03/2008ROUND ONE 1- 1- 1 Miami 1- 2- 2 St. Louis 1- 3- 3 Atlanta1- 4- 4 Oakland1- 5- 5 Kansas City1- 6- 6 New York Jets 1- 7- 7 New England from San Francisco1- 8- 8 Baltimore 1- 9- 9 Cincinnati1-10-10 New Orleans1-11-11 Buffalo1-12-12 Denver1-13-13 Carolina1-14-14 Chicago1-15-15 Detroit 1-16-16 Arizona1-17-17 Minnesota1-18-18 Houston1-19-19 Philadelphia 1-20-20 Tampa Bay1-21-21 Washington 1-22-22 Dallas from Cleveland1-23-23 Pittsburgh1-24-24 Tennessee1-25-25 Seattle 1-26-26 Jacksonville1-27-27 San Diego 1-28-28 Dallas1-29-29 San Francisco from Indianapolis1-30-30 Green Bay 1-31- New England Forfeited 1-32-31 New York Giants ROUND TWO 2- 1-32 Miami 2- 2-33 ...

Falcons DeAngelo Hall May Become Oakland Raider
2008-03-17 10:00:00
Personally, I think this move's a sign of the fall of the Atlanta Falcons . DeAngelo Hall may have been hot-headed at points, but his talent was unmistakable. I also think DHall was frustrated with the totally inept way the team was being ran under Bobby Petrino. Now it seems the Falcons are willing to part with a second round pick for Hall. What Atlanta will do without Hall remains to be seen, but I think they may have been swayed by some of Hall's poor performances in 2008. Yes, he's a great cornerback, but it seemed that his head wasn't in the game and he may have been trying to do everything he could to get Petrino out of there without, you know, getting him out of there. Still a bad and organizationally immature move.
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SF 49ers Release Darrell Jackson After Not Employing Him Properly
2008-03-17 09:55:00
The San Francisco 49ers went out and got Darrell Jackson as a free agent from the Seattle Seahawks and with much promise. Jackson is a great possession receiver with great run-after-the-catch speed. He's not going to get past you much but he can do damage and the Seahawks knew this. The 49ers did not. The 49ers tried to send Jackson deep and running deep patterns and fly patterns is not what Jackson does well.Now he's gone.
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