over his chest and did his familiar Superman pose. DURHAM,

Its probably time to eject skipper from the baseball lexicon. The word is just too inadequate. The modern manager is so much more than the captain of a ship. He is a counselor, a teacher, a leader, a thinker, a storyteller, a cheerleader and a bearer of news, both good and bad.If theres one thing this epic World Series has demonstrated, its that the Cubs and Indians are here because of their managers. Its not just a coincidence that two storied Midwestern franchises with Cs on their uniforms are facing each other in the seventh game, hoping to finally write a happy ending. Its also a dazzling demonstration of how the manager has evolved in modern baseball.Joe Maddon and Terry Francona are both Italian-American, both close to their families, both from small, working-class, Pennsylvania towns. Theyre not exactly alike -- the ready-for-his-close-up Joe likes fine wine; the self-effacing Tito fondly recalls Boones Farm -- but they share a sensibility for their players, a willingness to think outside the box and a gift for expressing their thoughts honestly and humorously.Take the obligatory news conferences they gave before Game 6. Asked how Cleveland has differed from Boston, with which he won two championships, Francona said, I mean, there were a lot of times [in Boston] I thought my name was, You Suck because thats all I ever heard.Maddon used the forum to make a proposal: I think there should be two forms of Twitter. There should be the positive form of Twitter and the negative form, and you have to choose one ... There needs to be Twitter police because theres so much negativity thats generated on a daily basis.They are both turning postseason baseball into a breathtaking battle of wits. Jim Leyland, the longtime manager who helped bridge old school to new school, knows them well.They have been brilliant, he said. The way theyve used their bullpens, the way theyve focused on the importance of that nights game ... Im enjoying the hell out of this.Cubs president Theo Epstein, who hired Francona over Maddon when he made him the Red Sox manager in 2004, then hired Maddon when he became available after the 2015 season, sees similar basic qualities in both men.They both allow players to be themselves, and theyre not afraid to turn convention on its head, Epstein said. Oh, there are differences. Joe believes in balancing baseball with outside experiences, and Tito loves nothing more than to get to the clubhouse early. But they treat their players with respect, and thats whats made them so successful.On the face of it, Francona had the harder challenge in getting the Indians here; they were 68-94 before he took over in 2013. Now theyre looking for their first World Series title since 1948. The Cubs were built to win by the time Maddon took over. But they also were on a 0-108 streak when it came to winning world championships, and more to the point, they were down three games to one after Game 4.In the seventh inning of Game 5, up 3-2 but facing a man on and one out, Maddon brought in closer Aroldis Chapman?and let him finish the game. The move was preceded by a few days of gentle persuasion to convince Chapman that he could pitch multiple innings -- precisely what Francona has asked Andrew Miller to do throughout these playoffs (so often, in fact, that it earned Miller the ALCS MVP trophy).Yes, Maddons was a gutsy decision, but it was done with consideration and respect. When he saw the same moment of crisis in the seventh inning of Game 6, with the Cubs leading 7-2, he did it again -- damn the second-guessers.These two really dont care what you think. At this point, they care only about winning, and therein lies the shame of this World Series. As someone who has known Francona since he was a rookie outfielder with the Montreal Expos in 1981, I cant help but root for him. I can still see him going up to each of his Red Sox players after they beat the Indians in the 2007 ALCS and whispering his thanks in their ears. Nor can I help but hope that Maddon is the manager who finally breaks the Cubs curse; his joy for life and baseball are a constant inspiration.For now, its on to Game 7. After the Cubs 9-3 win in Game 6, Francona said, It will be exciting to come to the ballpark tomorrow. Shoot, I just might wear my uniform home.For his part, Maddon said, Both sides have played really good baseball. Its just correct and apt that wed go seven games.May the best team win. It might be hard to find better men, though. Mike Fiers Athletics Jersey .5 seconds to play in the game, Kevin Love never stopped believing that they would come out of there with a win. Jose Canseco Jersey . Calgary scored on the first shift, and Michael Cammalleri scored twice as the Flames cruised to a 5-2 win over the Washington Capitals on Saturday. https://www.cheapathleticsonline.com/2475m-coco-crisp-jersey-athletics.html .C. -- Chris Thorburn thinks one of the reasons the Winnipeg Jets have been successful under new coach Paul Maurice is that theyre playing together as a team. Sal Bando Athletics Jersey . The giant slalom world champion slipped during her first run in the morning, landing on her back and then twisting forward before getting her leg caught in the protective material on the side of the slope. Jake Diekman Jersey . -- Cam Newton pranced into the end zone, placed his hands over his chest and did his familiar Superman pose. DURHAM, N.C. -- Malcolm Bell accounted for 315 total yards as North Carolina Central beat North Carolina A&T 42-21 to claim its third straight Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championship on Saturday.North Carolina Central faces the Southwestern Athletic Conference champion in the Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl on Dec. 17 at the Georgia Dome.This is the third straight year that NC Central and NC A&T met to decide the conference champion.Bell threw for 184 yards and one score and rushed 16 times for 131 yards and twoo touchdowns for North Carolina Central (9-2, 8-0).ddddddddddddoth teams entered the contest undefeated in conference play, but the Eagles jumped to a 28-7 third quarter lead and coasted to the conference title.Dorrel McClain ran for 109 yards, scoring three times, for the Eagles.Elijah Bell led the Aggies (9-2, 7-1), rushing for 104 yards. Oluwafermi Bamiro threw for 161 yards and one score. ' ' '