The Athenaeum Forum

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Colin Kaepernick raced into the end zone, then pretended to rip open his shirt with both hands imitating Cam Newtons Superman touchdown celebration. Three years of frustration had come to a head. "Just a little shoutout," Kaepernick said. To whom? "I think you know the answer," Kaepernick said with a grin. Kaepernick said he "will never forget" that he was selected in the second round of the 2011 NFL draft, 35 spots behind Newton, the Heisman Trophy winner and the top pick that season. On Sunday, he outplayed his quarterback counterpart, throwing one touchdown pass and running for another score as the San Francisco 49ers defeated the Carolina Panthers 23-10 to advance to the NFC title game for the third straight season. Kaepernick completed 15 of 28 passes for 196 yards in the divisional playoff win, avenging his worst statistical performance of the season two months ago against the Panthers. "Thats not the first, nor will it be the last time somebody does that," Newton said of Kaepernicks copycat display before leaving the postgame podium. Anquan Boldin had eight catches for 136 yards and Frank Gore ran for 84 yards on 17 carries for the 49ers (14-4), who will visit Seattle next Sunday looking for a return trip to the Super Bowl. "I think were the two teams that everybody was looking at from the beginning," Kaepernick said. "Its going to be a knockdown, drag-out game." The 49ers will have their hands full. San Francisco (14-4) split two games with the Seahawks this season, but lost 29-3 at CenturyLink Field in September. The 49ers were missing receiver Michael Crabtree in that lopsided loss. Crabtree only had three catches for 26 yards against Carolina, but Boldin said he drew plenty of double teams that allowed him to get open. "Thats the great thing about our team -- we have weapons all around," Boldin said. "You try to take one guy out and you still have two or three guys left who can make big plays." The 49ers held Newton in check, intercepting him twice and sacking him five times while stopping the Panthers (12-5) twice on the 1-yard line in the first half. Newton finished with 267 yards passing and had 54 yards on 10 carries, but the Panthers only found the end zone once -- on a 31-yard TD strike to Steve Smith. It was a rough playoff debut for Newton. Linebacker Ahmad Brooks stopped Newton on a fourth-down sneak early in the second. Later, Brooks vaulted over the line and past Newton -- he was called for offsides, but the 49ers showed the Panthers it wouldnt be easy. "Terrible ending to a great season," Newton said. Almost fittingly, he misfired into the end zone on the final play of the game. Kaepernick was held to 91 yards passing, 16 yards rushing and sacked six times in the first meeting with Carolina, a 10-9 loss at Candlestick Park. But he played efficient football Sunday. "We had to get settled down," Kaepernick said. "We came out, they did some unorthodox things against us. We settled down, we got into our rhythm, we started making plays." San Francisco led 13-10 at the half when Kaepernick scored midway through in the third quarter on a 4-yard touchdown run off a read option. The Panthers couldnt answer, failing to score in the second half. The 49ers took a 13-10 lead into the locker room after Vernon Davis caught a 1-yard touchdown pass in the back of the end zone from Kaepernick with 5 seconds left in the first half. Davis was initially ruled out of the end zone on a play where 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh raced on to the field, drawing a 15-yard penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct. Harbaugh said he wasnt disputing the catch, but rather that the play clock continued to run after the play. All turned out fine for the 49ers though, as officials overturned the call ruling Davis dragged his left foot and scored. Television replays showed the 49ers had 12 men in the huddle with backup tight end Vance McDonald racing to the sidelines before the ball was snapped. Referee Carl Cheffers defended the call telling a pool reporter the ball hadnt been spotted -- although Fox television replays seem to indicate otherwise. Carolina spotted San Francisco a 6-0 lead with two defensive penalties -- an unnecessary roughness on safety Mike Mitchell and a headbutt on cornerback Captain Munnerlyn -- leading to field goals. NOTES: Its the second time since 2008 the Panthers lost at home in the divisional playoffs after winning the NFC South and claiming a first-round bye with the No. 2 seed. ... 49ers FB Will Tukuafu left with a leg injury in the first half and didnt return. JaVale McGee Jersey . "I have had no discussions with Chad Johnson or his representation," Popp said Friday in an email. However, he appeared to confirm a report on Twitter from TSN this week that Johnson was on Montreals negotiation list. Wilt Chamberlain Jersey . Felton pleaded guilty to attempted criminal possession of a weapon and criminal possession of a firearm. He admitted he knowingly had a large-capacity ammunition magazine and a semi-automatic pistol without a license. http://www.nbawarriorsauthority.com/omr ... rsey-c-26/. Paul George and Darren Collison each scored 17 points and Roy Hibbert added 11 points and nine rebounds for the Pacers (9-3), who won their third straight. Latrell Sprewell Jersey . "We were left with the overall impression that the team wasnt trending toward being able to compete for a Stanley Cup," Capitals owner Ted Leonsis said in a news conference at the clubs arena. "And that was just a clear signal and why it was time to make those changes. Kevon Looney Jersey . Jamies number grades given are out of five, with five being the best mark. Henrik Lundqvist, New York Rangers (5) – He had good saves on Giroux, Akeson, and Hartnell tonight. LONDON -- New Zealand broke England hearts with a last-gasp converted try to edge their gripping Rugby League World Cup semifinal 20-18 at Wembley Stadium on Saturday. Tournament co-host England was 20 seconds from reaching the final until Kiwis halfback Shaun Johnson slipped his counterpart Kevin Sinfield and wrong-footed last defender George Burgess to dive across the line and make it 18-18. Johnson held his nerve to slot the conversion, his fourth goal of the game, and punched the air before he was swamped by teammates. "We always back ourselves if theres enough time on the clock," Kiwis coach Stephen Kearney said. "We were fortunate." The Kiwis will defend the title in the final against favourite Australia next Saturday at Old Trafford. The Kangaroos, who have played in every final since 1957, demolished Fiji 64-0 to repeat the semifinal results from the last cup in 2008. Jarryd Hayne, who played for Fiji in the 2008 semi, scored three of Australias 11 tries against his old team. The classy Australians didnt concede a point for a third straight game, and have conceded only 22 in five matches. "Weve got a bit of pride in our defence the last few weeks," said Johnathan Thurston, who scored 10 goals and a try against Fiji. He said revenge wont be the priority in the final against the Kiwis, who shocked the Kangaroos in Brisbane in the 2008 climax. "We wont be going in there with that attitude," Thurston said. "Well be worrying about ourselves, preparing the right way. The Kiwis are a great side, its going to be a tough night for us but were looking forward to it." The first semifinal of the Wembley doubleheader, which drew about 70,000, grew into an epic from the opening kickoff. England soaked up intense Kiwis pressure, then led 8-0 before the defending champs tied the score by halftime. New Zealand went ahead 14-8, but England came back to retake the lead at 18-14 with 13 minutes to go. England was close to putting the match away, but the Kiwis were given life in the last minute by a penalty from a high tackle on Sonny Bill Williams by George Burgess. And the individual brilliancce of the Kiwis trumped Englands best team effort in years.dddddddddddd "Were bitterly, bitterly disappointed," England coach Steve McNamara said. "Its a very cruel way to finish." England barely survived a New Zealand onslaught in the first dozen minutes, when the Kiwis were denied three tries by remarkable defence. When the English turned the pressure back on the Kiwis, the forwards delivered their first try. James Graham fed Sam Burgess, who sliced through two tackles and offloaded in another for Sean OLoughlin to go over. Sinfield converted and added a penalty for 8-0 after 25 minutes. New Zealand finally replied with a try of utter genius. Kieran Foran cross-kicked on the last tackle, and wing Jason Nightingale jumped in the left corner to keep the ball in. The ball was swept right, and Luke threw a huge over-the-top pass that appeared to be bouncing over the right sideline. But Dean Whare caught the ball in mid-air over the sideline and reverse-flicked a pass straight to winger Roger Tuivasa-Scheck, who took advantage of a stunned England to score the converted try. Johnson nailed a 46-meter penalty to tie the score at the break. The Kiwis led for the first time in the 44th when England wing Ryan Hall went to intercept Kiwis fullback Kevin Locke but missed, and Tuivasa-Scheck scored his second try of the match. Johnson couldnt convert but made a second penalty for 14-8. England showed its mettle. Right wing Kallum Watkins caught the Kiwis flat-footed to cut the deficit to two, and Sinfield also delivered the final pass for Sam Burgess go-ahead try. Sinfield converted, and it was 18-14. England had the Kiwis at their mercy twice more, but second-rower Ben Westwood dropped the ball reaching for the tryline, and Hall dropped an intercept. Late penalties kept the Kiwis hopes alive in the last five minutes, and they ended up stopping Englands campaign in the semifinals for a third straight World Cup. "Im pretty devastated," Sinfield said. "The best team lost. To lose in the last 20 seconds is a killer. I dont think by any means we had the game won but I felt we were in control." Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Jerseys From China Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys ' ' '