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On Monday, the New York Yankees traded closer Aroldis Chapman to the Chicago Cubs, giving a significant boost to a team already well-positioned for a deep playoff run. New York received three prospects, including highly touted infielder Gleyber Torres, and reacquired pitcher and former Yankees draft pick Adam Warren.As a lifelong Yankees fan, people have been asking me my thoughts on the trade, which can basically be summed up thusly: For a team that had three top relievers in Chapman, Andrew Miller and Dellin Betances, the Yankees sold high on Chapman, who is set to hit free agency at the end of this season, and in return got a top-15 prospect and a major league pitcher who threw quite well during his years in the Bronx.Most importantly, Im just glad that Ill once again be able to enjoy watching the ninth inning again.It pained me to watch my team trade for Chapman in December, when other teams had deemed him untouchable after reports surfaced of a domestic violence incident in which Chapmans girlfriend told police he choked her, pushed her into a wall and threatened her with gunshots fired in his garage. No arrests were made after more than a dozen officers appeared at Chapmans house and found his girlfriend hiding in the bushes.In addition to the uneasiness of having an apparently unhinged player in my teams clubhouse and on my teams field, it particularly didnt sit well with me that the main reason the Yankees managed to land an All-Star closer at the bargain-basement price of four unexciting prospects was because they were willing to look the other way from an act of violence.As I wrote at the time, the move was cynical and grossly opportunistic -- ESPNs Andrew Marchand likened it to the predatory nature of a foreclosure sale -- precluding me and many others from enjoying a win sealed by Chapman.That was quite startling for someone who grew up idolizing Mariano Rivera, for a fan base that became accustomed to the ninth inning as automatic, yet experienced the same level of excitement every time that cutter left No. 42s hand. With Chapman in for the save, many of us this season have simply been going through the motions, holding our breath and applause until the last out so we could cheer not for the pitcher who nailed it down, but for the team we still cant help but love despite ourselves. Rather than rising to our feet at the opening bars of Enter Sandman and gasping with every Rivera-induced broken bat, there was no joy in watching a Chapman save, no matter how hard he threw. A 105 mph pitch is exciting until you imagine that same physical force being used by an athlete against the mother of his child.So Im happy to see Chapman go, if only to reclaim my love of late-inning pitching. Thats why I sympathize with my colleague Sarah Spain, who wrote Tuesday about her own difficulties with Chapman potentially being a key component of her beloved Cubs World Series run. Now, I have to picture Chapman pitching the final out of the World Series, she wrote. Chapman on the front page of every newspaper in the country. Chapman, the lasting image of the victory. Chapman, the hero.That image is no big deal for some fans and writers content to settle on the conclusion that major league teams are in the business of winning, no matter what it takes (to quote USA Today MLB columnist Bob Nightengale) -- a notion completely belied by years of PED reform, anti-tampering rules, regulations against foreign substances tainting equipment, not to mention MLBs revamped domestic violence policy. The league itself has decided that whatever it takes isnt good enough after a certain point.To be sure, MLB did conduct its own investigation of Chapman under its new policy, suspending him for the first 30 games of the season.We can talk about whether that penalty was enough -- by comparison, the minimum suspension for a first-time PED user is 80 games -- and yes, relative severity matters in the message to both victims and offenders as to just what kind of infractions the league takes most seriously. With the understanding that MLB players have the strongest union and labor protections in all of sports (and thats a good thing), 30 games wasnt enough to delay Chapmans eligibility for free agency, setting him up for a huge payday after the 2016 season.MLBs domestic violence policy is more advanced than others in sports, and Chapman did serve his time. So heres where those win at all costs fans and commentators will bellow about second chances, admonishing those of us who dont think Chapman has quite yet earned that opportunity. If youre willing and able to accept Chapman as a Cub, thats your right as a fan, and your privilege as someone who has likely never been affected by violence against women. Many of these people are just as quick to dismiss the rest of us as reactionary torch-wielders who secretly hate sports and dont believe in second chances, rehabilitation or reform.Thats simply not the case. The issue with Chapmans moves to both the Yankees and the Cubs isnt just the unsavory opportunism; its that, as Spain and others have noted, hes shown little contrition in the months since the October incident.Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts and general manager Theo Epstein should receive some credit for using the words domestic violence rather than glossing over Chapmans case as a simple mistake (Im looking at you, Sandy Alderson). But both of them also emphasized that the organization takes players character very seriously, and weve no indication that Chapmans character has actually improved. He hasnt spoken out about domestic violence education, and has repeatedly dismissed the October incident as nothing. On Tuesday, he did tell ESPNs Pedro Gomez in Spanish that he has grown tremendously since that time after a rather confusing news conference with English-speaking Chicago media.We have about as much clarity on Chapmans personal growth as we do on just how to feel as fans every time he steps onto a pitchers mound. I know precisely what many Cubs fans are feeling today, having felt it for the past few months. Even if, as a Yankees fan, Im relieved to see Chapman gone, there will be a gnawing in my mind should Torres turn into the pro phenom hes slated to become, if the pieces that help build another Yankees dynasty were acquired through a cynically shrewd trade of a player who might not have deserved to be in the Bronx in the first place.I suppose Ill confront that reality if and when it comes to fruition. For now, at least I have my ninth innings back. Wholesale Authentic NBA Jerseys . The Cincinnati Reds remain perfect with their speedy rookie outfielder in the starting lineup. Cheap NBA Jerseys China . Third-seeded Murray had the easiest path to victory on New Years Eve, barely breaking a sweat during his 6-0, 6-0 win over 2,129th-ranked Qatari wildcard recipient Mousa Shanan Zayed. http://www.wholesalechinajerseysforcheap.com/ . On Saturday night, the normally free throw-challenged centre did just that. Howard scored 18 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter, including 13 of 19 free throws in a 2 1/2-minute stretch, and the Houston Rockets beat the Denver Nuggets 122-111. Cheap Jerseys USA . "It doesnt get any better than that," Giambi said. "Im speechless." The Indians are roaring toward October. Giambi belted a two-run, pinch-hit homer with two outs in the ninth inning to give Cleveland a shocking 5-4 win over the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday night, keeping the Indians up with the lead pack in the AL wild-card race. Cheap China Jerseys .C. -- Al Jefferson joked that he feels he can score from anywhere on the court. LOS ANGELES -- UCLA spent the offseason determined to become more physical on both sides of the ball.One hit by a 294-pound fullback on the first day of training camp Monday indicated the Bruins might be on the right path.Ainuu Taua bowled over defensive back Keyon Riley after catching a pass in the flat, setting the tone during a spirited practice that showcased a new-look offense and rebuilt defense.Coach Jim Mora would rather save such collisions until UCLA is in full pads, but admitted Taua probably didnt have a choice.I think he got on track and couldnt get off track at 294 (pounds), Mora said. But I know the team enjoyed it.Quarterback Josh Rosen is getting all the attention after a strong freshman season, including a spot on the cover of the Sports Illustrated college football preview issue, but it will be players such as Taua and defensive lineman Eddie Vanderdoes that determine whether UCLA can return to the top of the Pac-12 South.Taua was used sparingly as a defensive tackle last season, transitioning to offense during the spring as UCLA moved away from the spread to a more pro-style scheme that will feature fullbacks and tight ends.The redshirt sophomore will likely be asked to serve primarily as a lead blocker, but Mora and Rosen are thinking about Taua as a possible option in the passing game because of his soft hands.If you keep seeing those types of things out of a guy like Ainuu, you go, `Maybe well throw him the ball in the flat and let him turn it up and see if a 180-pound corner wants to tackle a 294-pounder. Im sure they will take him low, so he has to learn how to hurdle. He can do that, Mora said.Were changing up the offense, but we got the pieces to do it, Rosen said. Were looking forward to being a hassle to sccout basically.ddddddddddddpposing offenses didnt have to do much to scout UCLAs injury-ravaged defense last season. The Bruins gave up at least 235 yards rushing in five games last season. Southern California and Nebraska combined for 561 yards on 121 carries to end UCLAs season on a two-game losing streak.The return of Vanderdoes, who tore his ACL in the season-opening win over Virginia, should bolster the defensive line.While the redshirt junior has missed time because of injuries, his productivity when on the field has never been questioned with 10 total tackles for loss in his first two seasons. Even against the Cavaliers, he totaled eight tackles with two tackles for loss despite finishing the game injured.Man, Eddie can be the best 3-technique in college football, center Scott Quessenberry said. Weve seen glimpses of it. Him coming back is a huge X-factor for us.Linebacker Kenny Young made a bolder declaration about Vanderdoes value.We are going to win a lot of big games with this big fella, Young said.Mora cited the need to get bigger and stronger up front after going 8-5 in his fourth season, his lowest win total since taking over at UCLA.The edict seems to have taken hold. Vanderdoes and redshirt senior Eli Ankou each weigh around 320 pounds, giving UCLA the stout presence in the interior of its defense that was missing last season. Ankou added 15 pounds since December and is eager to see UCLA dish out the physicality instead of taking it, especially on the defensive line.Everybodys big and its crazy, Ankou said. For some guys it is like a placebo effect. They feel bigger so they kind of do better. ' ' '