COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Missouri linebacker Eric Beisel has waited patiently over the last three years for an opportunity to showcase his abilities.Now, less than desirable circumstances have given him that opportunity, and he is making the most of it.In a 51-45 loss to Middle Tennessee State on Oct. 22, Missouri senior linebacker and leading tackler Michael Scherer suffered an ACL injury, ending his collegiate career five games early. In a 35-21 loss to Kentucky a week later, senior linebacker Donavin Newsom suffered a thigh contusion that has sidelined him ever since.It means a lot to not have them as much as we have had them in the past, and it really makes you realize what you had, Beisel said. Both of those guys are two of my good friends. Weve grown close over the years. Theyre great leaders, great teammates.Scherer said the toughest part about not being able to play is his inability to help his teammates on the field, but that he hopes to help players like Beisel in other ways.The truth is, the defense were running now, Ive played a lot of snaps in and I know a whole lot about it, Scherer said. Its a tough position theyre in right now, but Im just trying to do whatever I can to help them out.Now in his junior year, Beisel discussed his changing role within the program.Ive taken the opportunity to step up as a leader, Beisel said. The more Ive played and the more successful Ive been, people have been looking toward me for advice and momentum. ... Its rewarding.A St. Louis native, Beisel chose Missouri over Arkansas, Kansas State and Nebraska, among others. At home games, No. 38 leads the Tigers out of the tunnel and onto Faurot Field carrying the state flag, an honor coach Barry Odom selected him for.I gladly accepted, Beisel said. Ive been a Missouri fan my whole life. I love the university of Missouri, I love the state of Missouri and I thought if I leave my talents here then I could take my team to a championship.During his first two seasons, Beisel had 22 combined tackles. He made his first career start against Kentucky this year, tallying five tackles, three of them for losses. Last Saturday in a 31-21 loss to South Carolina, he led the Tigers with 14 tackles, including two for losses.Despite his personal success, Missouri (2-7, 0-5 Southeastern Conference) has struggled, and is on an 11-game conference losing streak.It would be rewarding to me if we were winning right now, Beisel said of his own accomplishments. The statistics dont matter. What matters is winning for the university, for the state of Missouri and for all the fans who remain loyal to us.Teammates and coaches are not surprised by Beisels recent success.Eric is the type of guy ... you actually wont see him, but you already know hes putting in work because hell do it late at night, and its showing on the field right now, Newsom said. After practice, Im in here eating, like, starving, and hes out there running back and forth doing footwork drills.Beisels next opportunity to add to his tackle count will be Saturday when the Tigers host Vanderbilt (4-5, 1-4 SEC).He understands the playbook, Odom said. Hes playing well. Hes playing fast ... Im proud of him and I anticipate him having three really good weeks here coming up.---More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.org Cheap Puma Shoes From China . -- Ryan Getzlaf grabbed the three pucks wrapped in tape and held them up to his chest in the Anaheim Ducks dressing room for a celebration nine seasons in the making. Discount Puma Shoes Sale . "Four now," Carl Gunnarsson told the Leaf Report proudly following a 5-2 victory over New York on Tuesday night, the clubs fifth straight at home. http://www.cheappuma.net/ . Capitals head coach Adam Oates said Ovechkin was injured in the first period against the Vancouver Canucks on Monday and clarified it was not a head injury. Cheap Puma Shoes Online Free Shipping . At a Manhattan federal court hearing, attorney Jordan Siev said his law office has gotten more evidence nearly every day to support its lawsuit accusing MLB and Selig of going on a "witch hunt" to ruin Rodriguezs reputation and career. He said the defendants went "way over the line. Puma Shoes Sale Online . Speaking to the Chicago Tribune at baseballs Winter Meetings in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, Boras called the former home of the Expos a "tremendous environment" for baseball. CHICAGO -- Even at his lowest point, Edwin Jackson kept believing he would somehow turn his season around. It sure is looking like an about-face now. Jackson earned his third straight win, combining with four relievers on a four-hitter, and Anthony Rizzo drove in all the runs to lead the Chicago Cubs to a 3-0 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday night. "This is probably the craziest start Ive had in baseball," Jackson said, referring to his season. "Its a game of grinding it out. As long as you believe and you have the confidence that you can come in and turn things around, its all that matters. "Nobody expected me to start like I did -- myself, the front office, the team, the managers. No one. But its a game, you have to keep grinding. You can either sink or you can swim." The Cubs almost went down at the end of this one. St. Louis had the tying run at the plate in the ninth inning after Kevin Gregg dropped a throw covering first base after Rizzo made a diving stop on Allen Craigs grounder and David Freese walked. Alfonso Soriano battled the lights and made a shoestring catch on Jon Jays liner to end the game. Cardinals manager Mike Matheny was then seen arguing vehemently with plate umpire Dan Bellino and might have made contact with him in front of the first-base dugout. He also had to be restrained. Matheny said he wasnt sure if he made contact with Bellino or if he will be disciplined by baseball. He was actually upset at the umpire for taking off his mask after a called third strike on Matt Adams to start the inning. "It had more to do with the umpire and how he mistreated one of our players, with Adams," Matheny said. "It had nothing to do with the call. It had everything to do with going too far." Either way, the Cubs escaped with the win. Gregg got his 16th save in 18 chances, and St. Louis five-game winning streak ended. Jackson (6-10) struck out five without a walk in seven innings. Starlin Castro added three singles and scored two runs for the Cubs, who won for the fifth time in six games. The Cardinals lost Matt Holliday to tightness in his right hamstring when he ran out a grounder in the ffourth inning.dddddddddddd Rizzo delivered an RBI double in the first inning after Castro singled with one out and made it 3-0 in the third off Jake Westbrook (5-4), poking a two-run single to left past a drawn-in infield. That was enough for Jackson, who didnt give up either a run or a walk for the first time this season. He also matched his longest outing of the year and improved to 5-2 in his last seven starts after opening 1-8. "Hopefully, this is (a sign of) things to come in the second half," Rizzo said. The Cubs made some crisp plays behind Jackson, including Brian Bogusevics leaping catch against the centre-field wall to rob Adams of an extra-base hit leading off the seventh. The Cardinals had runners on first and second in the eighth after Blake Parker gave up a leadoff single to Jay and walked pinch-hitter Daniel Descalso with one out. James Russell then retired Matt Carpenter on a liner to centre, and Pedro Strop threw a wild pitch to put runners on second and third before Carlos Beltran struck out swinging to end the threat. Westbrook went seven innings, allowing three runs and seven hits. But it was a tough night for the NL Central leaders, particularly with Holliday leaving the game. He came up clutching his hamstring halfway to first base on a grounder to short in the fourth. He walked off gingerly after being tended to by a trainer and didnt go out to left field in the bottom half. "I think Ill have a better feel for what it looks like (Friday)," Holliday said. "And hopefully, it will be day to day and Ill be able to use the (All-Star) break, and it will be all right." NOTES: Beltran played in his 2,000th game. ... The Cubs Scott Baker threw a bullpen session at Wrigley Field on Thursday and will begin a minor league rehab stint with Class A Kane County on Sunday. The right-hander sat out last season with Minnesota after having Tommy John surgery and had a setback in spring training. Chicago manager Dale Sveum said he will make at least four rehab starts before joining the Cubs. ... RHP Joe Kelly (0-3, 4.15 ERA) starts Friday for the Cardinals, with RHP Carlos Villanueva (2-4, 3.63) going for the Cubs. ' ' '