Almost 46 years to the day after the NFL first staked a claim on Monday night, theres finally a better matchup on another channel.Hillary vs. The Donald.For years, generals and politicians used sports metaphors to explain some of the most consequential issues of our time. So just this once, lets flip the script. Forget for a moment that the future of America -- not to mention civilization -- hangs in the balance. Instead, imagine the debate as a sporting event ...Think Trump as Mike Tyson. Announcer: Hes still looking to land that one big punch. And hes had it with the fact-checking low blows and policy-question clinches. Hold on! Did he just bite the top of her ear off?Or Clinton as the late, usually mild-mannered Arizona Cardinals coach Dennis Green, firing back at critics who suggested she didnt take her opponent seriously enough: He is who we thought he was! Thats why I took the stage! Now if you want to crown him, you can crown him! But he is who we thought he was!Its so tempting that a number of political analysts are using sports-writing tools to break down the matchup: offense vs. defense, strengths and weaknesses, how the coaching staffs and training facilities stack up, even how the practice sessions have been going.No one has posted a point spread yet, so feel free to add your own Mercifully, weve also been spared a Tale of the Tape.Were excluding pro wrestling comparisons, because thats too easy. Already, billionaire Dallas Mavericks owner and former Trump-confidant-turned-critic Mark Cuban bragged about snagging a front-row seat for what he called the Humbling at Hofstra. Trump countered by inviting Gennifer Flowers, who claimed a long-running affair with Clintons husband.And I hear from a lot of people that Trumps camp lobbied to have close pal Don King replace NBCs Lester Holt as moderator.The best comparisons to the Clinton-Trump battle from different sports:FOOTBALLClinton is serious and prepared. She uses her practice time purposefully. She has experience, a multitude of game plans and knows how to manage the clock. If she was a player, shed be Peyton Manning. If she was a coach -- lets see: wonky, secretive, willing to bend rules, even got caught recently fudging an injury report -- shed be Bill Belichick. Definitely Belichick.As a player, Trump would be Brett Favre, a gunslinger who was at his best on broken plays and never saw a throw he wouldnt make. If he was a coach, hed be Chip Kelly in his Oregon days, breaking the mold with his house-on-fire offensive attack. Or maybe Steve Spurrier at Florida, less worried about what his opponents might do than whether he could sneak out of a film session and squeeze in nine holes before sundown.BASEBALLClinton would be a reliable contact hitter with decent power. She can use the whole field, bunt or move the runner over when called for -- in short, Ted Williams. Teddy Ballgame did all those things -- and still managed to alienate the Boston media and even some fans. Plus, his family chose to have his remains frozen, so -- he could still have a comeback worthy of Clinton.Trump would be Barry Bonds, a threat to homer in every at-bat, but also arrogant, willing to break the rules and unapologetic about it. Like the late-career Bonds, hed also need an XXL-sized hat.If they were managers, shed be Buck Showalter and hed be Bob Brenly.Brenly succeeded Showalter as skipper of the Arizona Diamondbacks and in his first spring-training meeting with the team, dropped Showalters inch-thick organization handbook on the floor and pulled out a cocktail napkin with his rules scrawled across it. They read: Be on time. Play hard.BASKETBALLThere hasnt been so much ego confined in a space about the size of an NBA lane since long-retired titans Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain battled.Russell was the ultimate defender, always in position and so ready to plug holes his Celtic teammates devised the Hey Bill defense; anytime an opponent broke free and headed for the hoop, they simply yelled Hey Bill.Chamberlain was brought a skillset unlike any big man before him. He hogged the prime real estate on the court, drew all eyes to him and scored almost at will. And did we mention his lavish tastes?As a coach, Clinton would be Gregg Popovich, tailoring his schemes to fit the talent on the floor and eager to use immigrants like Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker. Trump would be Larry Brown, a his-way-or-the-highway leader who quickly loses interest in failing ventures quickly and thinks the team bus should always be running in case he needs to make his latest getaway. Custom Rashan Gary Jersey . Nine days before the opening ceremony, organizing committee chief Dmitry Chernyshenko said Wednesday that Sochi is "fully ready" and will deliver safe, friendly and well-run games that defy the grim reports that have overshadowed preparations. Custom Packers Jerseys . Halladay signed a one-day contract with the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday that allowed the veteran right-hander to retire as a member of team with which he broke into the majors and spent the bulk of his distinguished 16-year career. http://www.custompackersjersey.com/ . After a first half in which he thought "the lid was on the basket," the Toronto Raptors coach watched his squad mount a second half surge to defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers 98-91. Cheap Custom Packers Jersey . Barcelona also left injured defenders Carles Puyol, Javier Mascherano and Jordi Alba out of its squad for the trip to Glasgow. That means that Marc Bartra will probably start again in the centre of the defence alongside Gerard Pique. Custom Packers T-shirts . Wall made the comment in a speech to a Regina business crowd that included Lesnar. The U.S. wrestler and retired mixed martial artist says he was visiting his brothers farm in Saskatchewan and decided he wanted to hear what the premier had to say. ST. LOUIS -- The road crowd gave Ichiro Suzuki a standing ovation when he came to the plate and another nice round of applause after he singled as a pinch-hitter in the eighth inning for his 2,991st hit.As much as shaving the countdown to nine, it ended up really helping the Miami Marlins, too.Hes been amazing for us all year, manager Don Mattingly said of the 42-year-old Suzuki, who scored the tying run in a 7-6 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday night. I thought the fans were amazing right there, respectful.Miguel Rojas drove in the go-ahead run in the ninth for the Marlins, who have won four straight, coming from behind in the last three. Then he paid tribute to Suzuki.Its been an honor, man, Rojas said. The last couple of years having the opportunity to be with Ichiro has been huge because everything hes doing on the field is historic.Tommy Pham had two of the Cardinals four homers and drove in four runs. Stephen Piscotty and Randal Grichuk also connected for St. Louis, which hit two each off Wei-Yin Chen and reliever David Phelps but had three defensive miscues.Its just tough to be on this side of the equation when you had a good night like I did, Pham said. Of his curtain call after a three-run shot in the fourth, he said, Its horrible now.Manager Mike Matheny noted a number of non-plays and added, It seemed like whenever we had one it hurt us.The hit was the first since July 4 for Suzuki. Hes had just seven pinch-hit appearances and one start this month with the Marlins, who have a steady outfield rotation of Christian Yelich, Marcell Ozuna and Giancarlo Stanton.You know if he was playing every day, every day, every day, you know it wouldnt be long, but in our situation you dont know quite how long thats going to take, Mattingly said. So, I dont think anybodys getting too crazy over it right now.Suzuki did not sspeak to reporters after the game.ddddddddddddThe Cardinals blew leads of 4-1 and 6-5 to fall to 19-27 at home. They were 55-26 at home last year, tied for best in the majors.Matt Holliday, getting his sixth start at first base, couldnt handle a long hop on a potential double play ball in the fourth inning that led to a run. Reliever Kevin Siegrist made an errant pickoff throw on Suzuki for an error and Grichuk came in and couldnt retreat in time to harness Ozunas double in the ninth that led to the winning run.Chen has surrendered 19 homers, among the league leaders. Phelps had given up just two in 46 innings.Fernando Rodney (1-2) worked a scoreless eighth and A.J. Ramos finished for his 28th save in 29 chances.Seung Hwan Oh (2-1), the Cardinals stand-in closer, lost on his 34th birthday.Suzuki singled off Siegrist with one out in the eighth and scored on Martin Prados two-out hit off Jonathan Broxton.TRAINERS ROOMMarlins: 1B Justin Boer (ankle) is eligible to come off the DL on Monday but is still experiencing soreness and Mattingly said, progressing, but not ready yet.Cardinals: 1B-OF Brandon Moss (ankle) is eligible to come off the DL on Saturday but is still in a walking boot.UMPIRE DOWNThe umpiring crew worked a man short after plate ump Chad Fairchild took a foul off his right forearm in the bottom of the first. Jim Joyce went from first base to home.HAPPY BIRTHDAYLong-time Cardinals broadcaster Mike Shannon worked the booth on his 77th birthday.UP NEXTMarlins: Tom Koehler is 1-2 with a 7.56 ERA in three career starts against the Cardinals.Cardinals: Adam Wainwright (8-5, 4.49) is 50-28 with a 3.05 ERA for his career after the break. He is 2-0 his last two outings, allowing one run in 14 innings. ' ' '