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November, 2011. An 18-year-old from New South Wales makes a stunning debut and is Man of the Match, but doesnt play another first-class game for two years. No, this story is not about Pat Cummins, although the description fits. This is about Kurtis Patterson. A week after Cummins bagged six-for in the baggy green in Johannesburg, Patterson plundered 157 in the baggy blue at the SCG.Neither man was seen again in first-class cricket until 2013 - Cummins due to the gamut of injuries that befall young fast men, and Patterson due at first to being squeezed out of the New South Wales XI, and then suffering injuries of his own. But now Patterson - nicknamed KP, of course - has made the progress that always seemed likely, and is about to make his debut for Australia A.His selection for this winters campaign, which begins with a four-day game against South Africa A in Brisbane this weekend, came after a summer in which Patterson scored 737 Sheffield Shield runs at 52.64, putting him sixth on the competition tally. It was a year of significant gains for Patterson, now 23, who enjoyed the responsibility of batting at No.3 for New South Wales.There were centuries against Western Australia in Perth and against Tasmania in Hobart, and there were very few games in which Patterson did not make a contribution. Importantly, he has now established himself in the New South Wales side, something that seemed inevitable back in 2011 when he became the youngest batsman to score a hundred in Sheffield Shield history.Looking back at that hundred, I think there were two very big lbw shouts in my first 10 balls which, on another day, could very well have been given out, and my career is probably a totally different story, Patterson told ESPNcricinfo. Ive always put that in perspective and known that there was an element of luck involved in that.I was left out of the following game because we had a couple of guys coming back from Aussie duties. Then unfortunately over that Christmas break I was playing Under-19s for New South Wales and ended up tearing a quad. One thing led to another and that year I kept re-injuring myself. It was quite a frustrating time after that. But there were lessons learnt for sure, particularly around my body and first-class cricket.The following season was my first contracted season and that was a big learning curve, going from being essentially just a club cricketer to being a professional cricketer. Its a very different thing training five days a week as opposed to one or two. It was a big learning curve.The difficulty in making that transition perhaps contributed to Patterson sitting out of the New South Wales XI until November 2013, when he finally reappeared against England in a tour game, and then in a handful of Shield matches. It had been a long couple of years but Patterson was back - and still only 20 years old.I didnt want to be known as a one-hit player or anything like that, Patterson said. But at the back of my mind I always had confidence in my own ability and I felt, as a couple of seasons went past, that I was improving and it was just about having that same mentality as I did before my debut, making sure that if an opportunity came up I was ready for it.Patterson believes his game has improved since that debut hundred, particularly his ability to bat patiently and know where his off stump is. He has also gained perspective off the field, and is studying a business degree. Playing alongside his childhood idol Michael Hussey at the Sydney Thunder in the past couple of summers has certainly helped.It was a great thing for me, having him at the Thunder the last two seasons, Patterson said. Its just his general outlook on the game, and also the bigger picture than the game. His success didnt interrupt anything happening outside for him, and I thought that was great. For such a good player to be such a good guy, such a caring guy who was happy to help out youngsters - that was one great trait I saw in him.One lesson I did learn in my first year as a professional cricketer is that whilst its exciting and we do live a great life and have a great living, its also important for me to have a focus outside of cricket. It can be quite a tough game when youre not playing well, thats for sure. Cheap China Jerseys .Y. - New Orleans forward Anthony Davis was chosen Friday to replace the injured Kobe Bryant in the NBA All-Star game that will be played in his home city. NFL Stitched Jerseys . He said Tuesday thats a big reason why he is now the new coach of the Tennessee Titans. Whisenhunt said he hit it off quickly with Ruston Webster when interviewing for the job Friday night. http://www.wholesalechinajerseysforcheap.com/ . 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On a sweltering July afternoon in DeSoto, a sleepy suburb just outside of Dallas, the chicken farmer sweats through his Texas A&M T-shirt as he tends to two dozen of his feathered friends in the backyard of his parents home.Chickens, says Denver Broncos pass-rusher Von Miller, are dope.Despite the oppressive 100-degree heat here in Texas and increasingly heated contract negotiations with his team back in Denver, Miller, 27, is beaming like a proud papa. This chicken coop, which is no bigger than a tennis court, is the four-time Pro Bowlers happy place, his refuge from the spotlight that tends to follow a Super Bowl MVP with charisma to burn. Theres Miller on Dancing With the Stars and the Academy of Country Music Awards. Theres Miller, nude save for his ubiquitous eyewear and fur hat, in ESPN The Magazines Body Issue. Theres Miller at the White House, where the champs were feted by President Obama -- and this champ, at least, botched the greeting.I thought I just would, like, get a handshake, but he kind of held my hand, and he talked about how cool he thought my shoes are and my dance moves, Miller explains. I was just in awe, thinking this is so surreal. Then he let go of my hand, and Im looking at my hand -- and I just tripped on the presidential rug.Its the story of my life, man, he adds with a chuckle.Its a funny anecdote, anyway, in a story about a self-described geek with a dream, one that was born in College Station, Texas, and, if the Aggie has his way, could soon be fully realized with a moneymaking poultry operation. Miller is in talks to potentially acquire a commercial chicken farm not far from his childhood home, but make no mistake, its passion, not profit, that powers Millers poultry game.Here, presumably, is ESPNs first Q&A with a chicken farmer. And check out the SportsCenter feature above for more.-----------ALIPOUR: How did you get into the poultry game?MILLER: Im not even gonna lie, man, it started off by taking an easy class in college. [Laughs.] My professor, Dr. [Morgan] Farnell, he wouldnt let it be an easy class -- you know how these electives can be, you just go in there and sleep through it. But he made it a point to make sure I knew my information. And then I learned about it and really enjoyed it. Before you know it, its my major.How passionate are you about this?Im very passionate, especially when it comes to humanely raised chickens. I take pride in healthy birds. You got all these other big-time commercial farms that raise, you know, 30,000 birds. Me, its a whole lot smaller operation, but its a lot of bang for the buck.When did you acquire your first flock?I started building this chicken farm my sophomore year in college. As I got a little bit more money, it just got bigger and bigger. I got my first flock like five years ago. And then this current flock right here, itll be three years in November. Its like family. Theyre more like pets. We got a lot of natural predators out here, so we got to watch them as well. Hawks took a couple of birds from us, and there are snakes and coyotes. But other than that, they really dont have to worry about much here at Miller Farms.Wait, lets back up. Where are the snakes at?We got a little creek.Were not visiting the creek.No.So, lets say Im a chicken. What kind of life can I expect on Von Millers farm?You can expect a long life, a lot of space, great food and youll get along with your teammates. All our chickens, they get along pretty well. Its just a great environment, like a great organization that you want to play for. For example, they get to go out in the pasture in the afternoon and the morning.dddddddddddd I like to bring them out to natural, solid grass, their natural setting in which theyre picking up worms rather than the litter and the dirt we have in the coop. Thats what its all about for me. Its not about the commercial aspect of it. Of course, theres money involved, and being able to make a buck off of this is what makes everything go, but thats not at the foundation at Miller Farms. Its about happy, humanely raised chickens.Should I expect my owner to eat me?Im not out here to eat the birds. Now, the eggs, thats a different story. Oh, yeah, I eat eggs all day [laughs]. I think you can taste the difference between a pasteurized egg and a commercial egg.How many eggs do they produce?Weve got 10 [chickens] laying eggs, so about 20 eggs a day. We take them in the house, wash them off, put them in storage. My mom [Gloria], she has a whole system. Shes really the mastermind behind the eggs. So its really like a family operation for me and my little brother [Vince], my mom and my dad [Von]. It was something that I brought home and they just ran with it.Are the birds cool with you taking their eggs and eating them?Oh, yeah, theyre cool. I dont even think they know whats going on.Do the birds have personalities?Yeah, they definitely have personalities, especially the rooster. The rooster is the man. Hes the leader of the pack. Hes watching out for everybody. I call him Peyton. We had five of them originally -- he was the toughest one out of the whole flock. Its only one of him, so hes just chillin around. You know, if its you with 30 females, youll be pretty chill, too. But they all got personalities. I thought about creating a little TV show for the birds. You know, you have a celebrity do voice-over for the chickens, like, Mine, mine, mine, get away! [Laughs.] But if you just sit and watch them, they all work as a team. They find food. One will alert the other one to come over here. Its pretty dope.So when did it become an insult to call somebody a chicken?I think when we were little kids, you know? Oh, youre a chicken. Youre afraid. When you think about chickens, you think about them being cowards and, you know, running away. Thats what it looks like. But when you actually look at them, especially the rooster, hes one of the toughest guys in the animal kingdom.So, what happens if I call you a chicken?[Laughs.] Im going to be OK with it.Hey, Von. Youre a chicken.I mean, I understand it. Im a chicken. Chickens are dope.Rocky trained by chasing chickens. Is that Hollywood fiction?No, its not Hollywood fiction. I tried it. But, you know, Id rather chase quarterbacks. Chickens are way more athletic than the most athletic quarterback you could probably go get.What do your teammates think about all this?When they first started hearing about me raising chickens, they thought it was a joke, another one of Vons tricks. But once you really get to know me and where Im from, then you get it. And when you come see my farm and the way I raise my chickens, you get to know me a lot better as well.I know youre in talks to acquire a commercial chicken farm. Whats the next step in your poultry empire.I want to create a different lane. Youve got all these big companies that do it other ways. I want to create a lane where there can be happy, healthy birds -- and thatll be my whole slogan. Youll see the bird with a smile, saying, Hey, Im living with Von Miller and were living great, man! ' ' '