RIO DE JANEIRO -- In soccer-crazed Brazil, the game is proving central to the sport of electoral politics in one major city amid growing disgust with career politicians. Malik Monk Jersey .The mayoral runoff in Belo Horizonte, the countrys sixth largest city, features two candidates associated with the first division Atletico Mineiro club based there, one as a former player and the other as its ex-chairman.Retired goalkeeper Joao Leite, who got 33.4 percent of the vote in the first round of voting this month, focuses much of his campaign on his playing days. From Atletico hero to the man who will improve Belo Horizonte, is how he is frequently introduced at public events.His electoral opponent is former Atletico Mineiro chairman Alexandre Kalil, one of the most successful club executives in Brazilian soccers recent history after successfully leading the team to several victories over archrival Cruzeiro, the 2013 Copa Libertadores title and the signing of megastar Ronaldinho.He was compelled to assure voters he will govern Belo Horizonte for Cruzeiro fans as well after detractors complained an old video surfaced showing him as chairman saying he wanted to destroy Cruzeiro as well as recent statements that his enemies would accuse him of being a pedophile, even a Cruzeiro fan. Kalil nevertheless got 26.5 percent of the vote in the preliminary round.The two face off again on Oct. 30 and an Ibope Institute poll published Friday shows Kalil leading for the first time with 41 percent of the vote compared to Leite with 35. The survey by one of Brazils most respectable polling organizations questioned 1,001 voters and had a margin of error of 3 percentage points.Brazils former soccer stars have been involved for years in the politics of Latin Americas largest nation. A prime example is Sen. Romario de Souza Faria, so well-known for his role as a forward on Brazils 1994 World Cup winning soccer team that he goes simply by his first name.But analysts think such political outsiders in a country obsessed with the sport could become even more attractive amid Brazils worst recession in decades, the long impeachment fight that recently ended with the ousting of President Dilma Rousseff and a colossal corruption scandal at state oil company Petrobras.People are not feeling represented and candidates like (Kalil and Leite), with very little political history, could become a trend, said Fabio Wanderley Reis, a political science professor at Minas Gerais Federal University. Soccer allegiance should not be an issue, but Brazils rotten party system and the current scandals made these two viable options.Traditional parties and mainstream politicians got trounced in the first round of voting in Belo Horizonte, about 275 miles (440 kilometers) north of Rio de Janeiro. A four-time congressman from Rousseffs Workers Party, for example, got just 7 percent of the vote.Leite shot to fame in the 1980s while playing for Atletico. He started a conservative religious movement called Christs Athletes, giving Bibles to his opponents and praying in the locker room.After retiring from the sport, Leite served one term on Belo Horizontes city council, then four in the state legislature.But he still draws on the soccer past that made him famous.In the second half of his life, Joao is not defending a goal line anymore, a narrator says, sounding like a sportscaster in a recently released campaign video. He is defending the people of Belo Horizonte!Now I want to play in the midfield, Leite said in the same campaign video. I want to be the experienced and balanced man who will lead the attack for Belo Horizonte to improve.Kalil became popular by successfully leading Atletico to several victories over archrival Cruzeiro, the 2013 Copa Libertadores title and the signing of megastar Ronaldinho. His slogan couldnt be more anti-establishment: Enough of politicians, vote for Kalil.TV journalist Heverton Guimaraes, who covers Atletico extensively, said both candidates retain influence in the club, but use the sport differently while campaigning. As an Atletico icon, Leite doesnt talk as much about his time playing. Kalil frequently mentions running the club to make a connection between that success and managing the city, said Guimaraes.Perhaps more than other voters, Atletico fans are struggling to decide between them.We are torn between an iconic player who made us proud for more than a decade and the chairman that gave us our biggest title in 2013, fan Bruno Soares wrote on the teams Facebook age. Not an easy choice. David Wesley Jersey . The head of USA Boxing came out swinging Tuesday with an open letter to Tyson -- a former Olympic hopeful himself -- that accuses the former heavyweight champion of trying to poach fighters who might be candidates for the U. Miles Bridges Jersey . Bjorn, who had a 36-hole total of 8-under 134, made a testing six-foot putt to save par on the 16th and a birdie on the 17th before bogeying the final hole after a misjudged approach shot. American Kevin Streelman was in second place after shooting a 69. https://www.cheaphornets.com/655l-nicola...ey-hornets.html .C. -- When North Carolina freshman Ryan Switzer reported to training camp in August he was a little miffed to learn he was third on the depth chart at punt returner. ATLANTA -- Matt Kemp has been an adventure in left field at times since being acquired by the Atlanta Braves from the San Diego Padres, but the high-priced veteran definitely has been a boost to the offense.Atlanta is averaging 4.8 runs per game since Kemp joined the lineup on Aug. 2, a sizable rise from the 3.4 the team recorded prior to the deal. As a result, the Braves are a more respectable 11-15 because of the offensive improvement.Kemp will play for the first time against his old team on Tuesday when the Braves (48-83) begin a three-game series against the Padres (55-75) at Turner Field. Julio Teheran (3-9, 3.15 ERA) will pitch for Atlanta against Edwin Jackson (3-4, 5.71 ERA).Kemp has three homers and 16 RBI in his 26 games since joining the Braves, but his biggest contribution has been providing a right-handed bat in the cleanup spot between left-handed hitters Freddie Freeman and Nick Markakis.Freeman and Markakis both have been on tears since Kemp joined the team.Markakis has been killing it just as much as Freddie has been killing it, Kemp said. Were trying to protect each other.Kemp had 23 homers before the trade, but the Padres were determined to get out from under the remaining years of his hefty contract. Likewise, the Braves wanted no part of Hector Olivera, who was coming off a suspension for domestic abuse.The Padres released Olivera, but the Braves hope to get a return on the $18 million they will have to pay Kemp the next three seasons even if he doesnt quite return to the player he once was with the Los Angeles Dodgers.Kemp welcomed the trade to the Braves. The key, though, will be staying healthy and getting in better shape.Braves general manager John Coppolella was blunt in a recent interview on MLB Network Radio.We see Matt Kemp as a player with a big upside, the GM said. Hes 31 years old. He is not in shape and thats something we need to work on with him. Hes been told about it. We are going to talk to him more. Its the kind of thing where, for him,, you cant really do that during the season. Jalen McDaniels Jersey. Its not like you can drop 30 pounds during the season and keep playing.The Padres werent convinced that Kemp would get in better shape and regain his former productivity. Plus he was perceived as a detriment in the clubhouse.San Diego is 11-16 since Kemp was dealt and opened its road trip by taking two of three games over the weekend in Miami.The Padres won a three-game series with the Braves in San Diego during early June, but the Braves are 44-25 against them at Turner Field.Teheran pitched the one victory for the Braves at San Diego, allowing five hits over eight innings on June 8 in the 4-2 victory.The National League All-Star hasnt won since June 19, though, and the right-hander is winless at home this season.Teheran is also coming off his first outing of the year, giving up 11 hits and six runs at Arizona on Wednesday in a no-decision during the teams 3-4 road trip. The two homers he allowed pushed his season total to 18 and he has surrendered nine runs on 17 hits over 11 innings in his two starts since a DL stint for a lat strain.Jackson, who finished last season pitching out of the Atlanta bullpen, has also struggled in his past two starts, allowing 13 earned runs over nine innings while losing both.The veteran right-hander gave up three homers in a loss to the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday, but pitched much better than he had in his previous outing at Tampa Bay.The hits came on the balls that werent well-located, he said afterward. Youve just got to do a better job of getting ahead in the count.He was on the cusp of a very respectable outing against a really good offense, manager Andy Green said. I dont necessarily think hes that far off.Jackson, though, has had difficulty against both Kemp and Freeman. Kemp has two homers in eight at-bats against him and Freeman has two in 17 at-bats. ' ' '