2009 National Games of China, Torch relay
The torch of the 12th National Games, first unveiled on April 28, 2009, is based on the concept of ruyi (如意), a traditional Chinese ceremonial scepter. The torch is 69 cm long. It is designed to resemble the ruyi with gold and silver being the colour theme. At the top, the golden willow pattern is combined with the grey ruyi stripes. The mouth of the torch is shaped like the lotus, which is the city flower of Jinan. Also, the main venue for the games, the Jinan Olympic Sports Center, is also known as Donghe Xiliu (East Willow, West Lotus) due to its distinctive architecture.


2009 National Games of China, Torch relay
Mirroring the 2008 Olympic Games, a torch relay began on August 1, 2009 at Mount Taishan, a cultural site with a tradition of spiritual pilgrimages. The flame was lit in a sun ray ceremony by Beijing Olympics gold medalists archer Zhang Juanjuan and diver Wang Feng. On August 16, the Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress Wu Bangguo received the torch at the Great Hall of the People which officially marked the start of the relay. The torch was then carried on a two-month relay around the China, including through the major centres of Shandong.


2009 National Games of China, Torch relay
The route of the torch relay was (in chronological order): Mount Taishan, Shandong → Beijing → Tianjin → Shijiazhuang, Hebei → Shenyang, Liaoning → Changchun, Jilin → Harbin, Heilongjiang → Hohhot, Inner Mongolia → Taiyuan, Shandong → Xi'an, Shaanxi → Lanzhou, Gansu → Xining, Qinghai → Ürümqi, Xinjiang → Lhasa, Tibet → Kunming, Yunnan → Chengdu, Sichuan → Chongqing → Guiyang, Guizhou → Nanning, Guangxi → Changsha, Hunan → Zhengzhou, Henan → Hefei, Anhui → Nanchang, Jiangxi → Guangzhou, Guangdong → Haikou, Hainan → Macau → Hong Kong → Fuzhou, Fujian → Hangzhou, Zhejiang → Shanghai → Nanjing, Jiangsu.


2009 National Games of China, Torch relay
The Shandong leg included the following cities (in chronological order): Qingdao → Weihai → Yantai → Weifang → Rizhao → Linyi → Zaozhuang → Jining → Heze → Liaocheng → Dezhou → Binzhou → Dongying → Zibo → Laiwu → Tai'an → Jinan.


2009 National Games of China, The Games, Opening ceremony
The Chinese President, Hu Jintao, started the official opening ceremony on October 16, which featured an extensive firework display and a large scale music and dance performance at the Jinan Olympic Sports Center Stadium, nicknamed Xiliu (西柳), literally "West Willow", due to its resemblance to the city tree, the Chinese willow. IOC President Jacques Rogge and a dozen IOC members also attended the ceremony.


2009 National Games of China, The Games, Opening ceremony
Liu Peng, who had headed the organising committee for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, stressed the role the Games played in improving the standard of sport in China, and also its importance in promoting fitness as a whole. Following this, the torch was brought into the stadium and the cauldron was lit, signalling the climax of the opening ceremony.


2009 National Games of China, The Games, Venues
The main venues for the games are located in Jinan. The Jinan Olympic Sports Center precinct is home to the main stadium, Jinan Olympic Sports Center Stadium as well as the indoor stadium, aquatic center and tennis center. Many secondary venues were located in regional centers scattered across Shandong, including in Qingdao, Yantai and Weihai.


2009 National Games of China, The Games, Closing ceremony
The closing ceremony was held on October 28, 2009 in the Jinan Olympic Sports Center Gymnasium. It was attended by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao who officially closed the proceedings.


2009 National Games of China, Participation
With a total of 10,991 athletes from 46 delegations, the event was the largest in the Games' history. Among the 46 delegations were 4 municipalities, 22 provincial teams and 5 autonomous regions. Further to this, the People's Liberation Army sent a team, and fourteen sports association teams were entered (generally associations from specific industry groupings or large organisations).


2009 National Games of China, Concerns and controversies, Doping
In order to qualify for the Games, a random selection of 30–50% of the athletes in the track and field events had to pass an exam, which tested knowledge of anti-doping policy, the damage associated with drug use, and methods of self-protection from banned substances. The director of the Chinese Athletics Association, Du Zhaocai, noted that athletes who had previously been banned for failing drugs tests would not be allowed to compete at the Games.


2009 National Games of China, Concerns and controversies, Doping
This measure was partly a reaction to the positive test of gold medallist Sun Yingjie at the 2005 Games, which had caused bad publicity for the event. Guo Linna, a rower from Henan, was the first athlete to be disqualified after testing positive for 19-norandrostenedione, and shooter Li Jie from Inner Mongolia tested positive for the banned drug propranolol a few days later. Women's 100 metres gold medallist Wang Jing tested positive for epitestosterone and was disqualified from the Games.


2009 National Games of China, Concerns and controversies, Alleged match fixing
Despite a number of new measures to prevent corruption or abuse of the judging system, one of the judges in the diving competition accused a fellow judge of pre-arranging results. However, an investigation by the State General Administration of Sports detected no signs of foul play.


2009 National Hockey League All-Star Game
The 2009 National Hockey League All-Star Game was held at the Bell Centre in Montreal, home of the Montreal Canadiens, in conjunction with the Montreal Canadiens centennial celebrations on Sunday evening, January 25, 2009. The game was held between two teams, each representing a conference (Eastern and Western) of the National Hockey League (NHL). The Eastern Conference team won the game 12–11, decided by shootout.


2009 National Hockey League All-Star Game
The game was part of a weekend of activities. On Saturday, a game featuring NHL rookies and sophomores preceded a skills competition among the NHL players, called the NHL All-Star Game SuperSkills Competition. In a first for the All-Star Game, the "Breakaway Challenge," a part of the skills competition, had fans voting for the winner using their mobile phones, with the real-time voting results posted on the NHL's website. The game was preceded by a circus arts display and a concert was held between the second and third periods.


2009 National Hockey League All-Star Game, Skills Competition
Unlike previous years, the Skills Competition did not have players playing on the behalf of their respective conferences (thus, there was no conference-based scoring) and the team-based Obstacle Course was removed. In addition, YoungStars players became eligible to play in the Fastest Skater, Hardest Shot, Shooting Accuracy, and Breakaway Challenge events.


2009 National Hockey League All-Star Game, Skills Competition
In reaction to the changed format for the skills competition the year before, the Fastest Skater event reverted to the traditional one-lap format. The breakaway challenge used Jason Maggio, a local minor hockey goaltender defending the goal (to answer criticisms that the all-star goaltenders simply poke-checked the players as they were making the shot) as well as the player being able to take as many shots as possible in one minute (instead of only one shot). Finally, instead of being a judged competition, the breakaway challenge allowed the public to vote for the winner via text messaging.


2009 National Hockey League All-Star Game, Skills Competition
The public chose Alexander Ovechkin, whose highlight was a shot using two sticks while wearing a series of props provided by Evgeni Malkin, by a landslide, with 47% of the votes. Malkin won the shooting accuracy over Dany Heatley in a sudden death shoot-off after both scored 4-for-4 in the preliminaries. Malkin shot 3-4, missing the last target, while Heatley hit his first two but missed on the third. Andrew Cogliano walked off as the winner of the Fastest Skater competition.


2009 National Hockey League All-Star Game, Skills Competition
The Hardest Shot competition was played for charity, with each competitor contributing $1,000, to be matched by their team and the league, as well as the National Hockey League Players' Association (NHLPA), for a total of $24,000 to the charity chosen by the winner of the competition. Zdeno Chara won the event, with a record 105.4 mph shot (eclipsing Al Iafrate, who had set the record the last time the All-Star game was in Montreal).


2009 National Hockey League All-Star Game, Skills Competition
The Elimination Shootout involved all 40 skaters (but only four of the six goaltenders – leaving Roberto Luongo as the only player to not participate in any of the skills events), with the goaltenders being able to choose which skaters they will face off against. The field was narrowed from 40 to just 12 after one round, and Shane Doan eventually outlasted Marc Savard after seven rounds (including two rounds in which none of the three remaining players — Doan, Savard nor Milan Hejduk — scored).


2009 National Hockey League All-Star Game, YoungStars Game
For the first time, the YoungStars game, part of the Skills Competition featured a three-on-three rookies versus sophomores format, consisting of three six-minute periods with the clock stopping only within the last minute of each game. Coaching the rookies was Luc Robitaille and for the sophomores was Pete Mahovlich. Unlike the previous All-Star Game, YoungStars goaltenders were named prior to the game, though sophomore goaltender Carey Price volunteered to do double duty after Erik Ersberg withdrew from the game due to injury. The game saw rookie goaltender Pekka Rinne (who replaced Steve Mason) make 20 saves in a 9–5 victory for the rookies. Rookie Blake Wheeler was named the MVP of the YoungStars game after scoring four goals.


2009 National Hockey League All-Star Game, YoungStars Game, Roster
35 – G Pekka Rinne (Nashville Predators) 8 – D Drew Doughty (Los Angeles Kings) 2 – D Luke Schenn (Toronto Maple Leafs) 21 – F Patrik Berglund (St. Louis Blues) 19 – F Mikkel Boedker (Phoenix Coyotes) 67 – F Michael Frolik (Florida Panthers) 18 – F James Neal (Dallas Stars) 91 – F Steven Stamkos (Tampa Bay Lightning) 32 – F Kris Versteeg (Chicago Blackhawks) 26 – F Blake Wheeler (Boston Bruins)


2009 National Hockey League All-Star Game, YoungStars Game, Roster
31 – G Carey Price (Montreal Canadiens) 58 – D Kris Letang (Pittsburgh Penguins) 18 – D Marc Staal (New York Rangers) 36 – F Dave Bolland (Chicago Blackhawks) 13 – F Andrew Cogliano (Edmonton Oilers) 17 – F Brandon Dubinsky (New York Rangers) 10 – F Bryan Little (Atlanta Thrashers) 57 – F David Perron (St. Louis Blues) 21 – F Mason Raymond (Vancouver Canucks) 16 – F Devin Setoguchi (San Jose Sharks)


2009 National Hockey League All-Star Game, Absentee punishment
Due to a growing number of otherwise healthy players choosing to skip the All-Star Game to rest, the NHL began to enforce the understanding that players that are named to the event must participate in some capacity. Those who choose not to participate must miss a game, either before the Game or after. Players named to the YoungStars game will not be subject to this policy, as their consent is required for participation.


2009 National Hockey League All-Star Game, Absentee punishment
Thus, because Detroit Red Wings players Pavel Datsyuk and Nicklas Lidstrom declined to attend the festivities due to injury, they were each forced to miss one regular season game. Sidney Crosby, who was also ruled out due to injury, participated in off-ice activities and was not forced to miss a game.


2009 National Hockey League All-Star Game, Rosters
Fan voting for the All-Star Game starting line-up was closed on January 2, 2009. The rosters were announced on January 3 by retired Canadian Hockey Hall of Fame player Jean Beliveau, who played in 13 All-Star games during his career.


2009 National Hockey League All-Star Game, Rosters
31 – G Carey Price (Montreal Canadiens) 44 – D Mike Komisarek (Montreal Canadiens) 79 – D Andrei Markov (Montreal Canadiens) 71 – F Evgeni Malkin (Pittsburgh Penguins)  4 – F Vincent Lecavalier (Tampa Bay Lightning) 27 – F Alexei Kovalev (Montreal Canadiens) - (C)


2009 National Hockey League All-Star Game, Rosters
35 – G Jean-Sebastien Giguere (Anaheim Ducks) 27 – D Scott Niedermayer (Anaheim Ducks) 51 – D Brian Campbell (Chicago Blackhawks) 15 – F Ryan Getzlaf (Anaheim Ducks) 19 – F Jonathan Toews (Chicago Blackhawks) 88 – F Patrick Kane (Chicago Blackhawks)


2009 National Hockey League All-Star Game, Rosters
30 – G Tim Thomas (Boston Bruins) 35 – G Henrik Lundqvist (New York Rangers)  2 – D Mark Streit (New York Islanders)  3 – D Jay Bouwmeester (Florida Panthers) 15 – D Tomas Kaberle (Toronto Maple Leafs) 33 – D Zdeno Chara (Boston Bruins)  7 – F Jeff Carter (Philadelphia Flyers)  8 – F Alexander Ovechkin (Washington Capitals)  9 – F Zach Parise (New Jersey Devils) 12 – F Eric Staal (Carolina Hurricanes) 17 – F Ilya Kovalchuk (Atlanta Thrashers) 20 – F Thomas Vanek (Buffalo Sabres) 26 – F Martin St. Louis (Tampa Bay Lightning) 51 – F Dany Heatley (Ottawa Senators) 91 – F Marc Savard (Boston Bruins)


2009 National Hockey League All-Star Game, Rosters
1 – G Roberto Luongo (Vancouver Canucks) 32 – G Niklas Backstrom (Minnesota Wild)  3 – D Stephane Robidas (Dallas Stars)  6 – D Shea Weber (Nashville Predators) 22 – D Dan Boyle (San Jose Sharks) 44 – D Sheldon Souray (Edmonton Oilers)  7 – F Keith Tkachuk (St. Louis Blues)  9 – F Mike Modano (Dallas Stars) 10 – F Patrick Marleau (San Jose Sharks) 12 – F Jarome Iginla (Calgary Flames) 18 – F Shane Doan (Phoenix Coyotes) 23 – F Milan Hejduk (Colorado Avalanche) 24 – F Dustin Brown (Los Angeles Kings) 61 – F Rick Nash (Columbus Blue Jackets) 97 – F Joe Thornton (San Jose Sharks) - (C)


2009 National Hockey League All-Star Game, Rosters
Referees:  Marc Joannette and  Brad MeierLinesmen:  Greg Devorski and  Pierre Racicot


2009 National Hockey League All-Star Game, Uniforms
Replacing the prototypical Reebok Edge design of the previous two games, the 2009 All-Star Game featured a unique design inspired by the Canadiens, featuring the host team's colors of bleu, blanc et rouge. The Eastern Conference team's jerseys were primarily red, while the Western Conference wore white. The uniform featured an asymmetrical design, with a contrasting color stripe coming down one side of the body of the uniform and wrapping around at the waistline. One sleeve on each jersey featured three stars with the years 1969, 1975, and 1993 on them, representing the three previous times the Canadiens had hosted the All-Star Game since the league dropped the Stanley Cup Champions vs. NHL All-Stars format.


2009 National Hockey League All-Star Game, Features
A pre-game performance featured acrobatics and music by circus arts group Cirque Eloize. The U.S. national anthem was sung by Alan Prater and the Canadian national anthem was performed by the Montreal Jubilation Gospel Choir, under the direction of its founder Trevor Payne. Simple Plan and Marie-Mai performed during the intermission.


2009 National Hurling League
The 2009 National Hurling League (known as the Allianz National Hurling League for sponsorship reasons) was the 78th season of the National Hurling League.


2009 National Hurling League, Structure
The National Hurling League saw a major restructuring of the usual four divisions with the teams divided more equitably into a five-tier structure.


2009 National Hurling League, Structure
Division 1 was a single division and was confined to the top eight teams. The top two teams in the division qualified for the final. Division 2 operated in a similar manner.


2009 National Hurling League, Structure
Division 3A was a newly-created division and consisted of six teams. The top two teams in the division qualified for the final. Division 3B operated in a similar manner, however, that division consisted of seven teams.


2009 National Hurling League, Structure
Division 4 was a single division consisting of six teams. The top two teams in the division qualified for the final.


2009 National Hurling League, Division 1
Tipperary came into the season as defending champions of the 2008 season.


2009 National Hurling League, Division 1
On 3 May 2009, Kilkenny won the title after a 4-17 to 2-26 extra-time win over Tipperary. It was their first league title since 2006 and their 14th National League title overall.


2009 National Hurling League, Division 1
Clare failed to win a single group stage game - finishing in the bottom position - and were relegated to Division 2 for the 2010 league.


2009 National Hurling League, Division 1
Dublin's Alan McCrabbe was the Division 1 top scorer with 1-50.


2009 National Hurling League, Division 1, Structure
A total of 8 teams contested the top division of the league, including all of the sides from the 2008 season that formerly took part in Divisions 1A and 1B. Due to the restructuring the 2008 Division 2 champions did not gain promotion to the top tier.


2009 National Hurling League, Division 1, Structure
Each team played all the others in its group once, earning 2 points for a win and 1 for a draw. The first-placed teams in Division 1 contested the final.


2009 National Hurling League, Division 3A, Final
Kildare won promotion to Division Two for 2010 while Meath remained in Division Three for 2010


2009 National Hurling League, Division 3B, Final
London won promotion to Division Three A for 2010 while Roscommon remained in Division Three B for 2010


2009 National Hurling League, Division 4, Final
Sligo won promotion to Division Three B for 2010 while Monaghan remained in Division Four for 2010


2009 National Invitation Tournament
The 2009 National Invitation Tournament was a single-elimination tournament of 32 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I teams that were not selected to participate in the 2009 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament. The 72nd annual tournament began on March 17 on campus sites and ended on April 2 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, with Penn State winning the final 69–63 over Baylor.


2009 National Invitation Tournament, Participants, Automatic qualifiers
The following teams won their conference regular season title, but failed to win conference post season tournaments. Therefore, they were not awarded their respective conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. When they did not receive at-large selections to the NCAA tournament either, they automatically qualified for the 2009 NIT.


2009 National Invitation Tournament, Bracket
Played on the home court of the higher-seeded team (except #4 Miami (FL) at #5 Providence)


2009 National Invitation Tournament, Bracket, Semifinals and finals
Played at Madison Square Garden in New York City on March 31 and April 2


2009 National Invitation Tournament, Game summaries, NIT Championship
The Penn State Nittany Lions faced off against the Baylor Bears in the NIT Championship game. The Nittany Lions won the matchup 69–63, aided by Jamelle Cornley's 18 points. In a four-point deficit at the half, the Lions went on a 7–1 spurt to take a 2-point lead at the beginning of the second. After the Bears tied it at 37, Penn State made three consecutive threes from which Baylor could not recover.


2009 National League Championship Series
The 2009 National League Championship Series (NLCS) was a best-of-seven baseball game series pitting the Los Angeles Dodgers against the Philadelphia Phillies for the National League Championship and the right to represent the National League in the 2009 World Series. The Phillies defeated the Dodgers four games to one. Los Angeles, whose NL-best 95–67 record topped Philadelphia's 93–69 record, retained home-field advantage. The series, the 40th in league history, began on October 15 and finished on October 21. TBS carried the championship on television.


2009 National League Championship Series
The Phillies won the series, four games to one, advancing to the World Series for the second consecutive year. They were, however, defeated by the New York Yankees, 4–2.


2009 National League Championship Series
This was the second consecutive NLCS between the Dodgers and Phillies and the fifth overall. The first two meetings were won by the Dodgers in 1977 and 1978, and the third by the Phillies in 1983; none of the three resulted in a World Series Championship by either team. The Phillies defeated the Dodgers in five games in 2008 en route to their 2008 World Series title. This match-up is the most frequent in the history of the NLCS (as of 2009) tied with the Pirates vs. Reds. This was the first time in LCS history that two franchises met in consecutive League Championship Series on separate occasions (1977–1978, 2008–2009).


2009 National League Championship Series
In 2009, the Dodgers won the regular season series, four games to three, outscoring the Phillies 26–25.


2009 National League Championship Series, Game summaries, Game 1
Thursday, October 15, 2009 – 8:07 PM (ET) at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California


2009 National League Championship Series, Game summaries, Game 1
James Loney gave the Dodgers an early lead with a solo home run in the second inning. Dodger starter Clayton Kershaw was solid through the first four innings, but the Phillies got to him in the fifth, scoring five runs on three hits on a Carlos Ruiz three-run home run, and later a Ryan Howard two-RBI double. The Dodgers made up most of the deficit in the bottom half of the fifth when Andre Ethier reached base on a Chase Utley throwing error that scored Russell Martin, immediately followed by a Manny Ramirez two-run home run.


2009 National League Championship Series, Game summaries, Game 1
With the Phillies ahead by one run in the top of the eighth, Philadelphia outfielder Raúl Ibañez padded his team's lead with a three-run home run off George Sherrill, his former teammate in Seattle, after two leadoff walks. The Dodgers scored two runs in the bottom half of the eighth on Martin's RBI single and a Rafael Furcal sacrifice fly, but Ryan Madson shut down the eighth-inning rally and Brad Lidge, despite allowing a hit and a walk, pitched a scoreless ninth to earn the save.


2009 National League Championship Series, Game summaries, Game 2
Friday, October 16, 2009 – 4:07 PM (ET) at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California


2009 National League Championship Series, Game summaries, Game 2
Game 2 featured a pitching duel between Vicente Padilla and Pedro Martinez, two pitchers who were not even on their respective teams' Opening Day rosters. Martinez pitched seven innings of scoreless ball and Padilla nearly matched him with 7+1⁄3 of one-run ball. The only run came on a Ryan Howard solo shot in the fourth. That RBI gave Howard six for the postseason, which tied the record for a span of six post-season games. However, in the eighth the Phillies bullpen ran into trouble when Casey Blake singled to start off the inning and Ronnie Belliard bunted for a hit.


2009 National League Championship Series, Game summaries, Game 2
On a 3–2 pitch Russell Martin grounded into a tailor-made double play to Pedro Feliz, but Chase Utley threw the ball away which allowed the Dodgers' first run of the game. It was Utley's second error in two games; he had just three in 156 games during the 2009 regular season. Scott Eyre relieved Chan Ho Park and allowed a single to Jim Thome.


2009 National League Championship Series, Game summaries, Game 2
Ryan Madson then walked Rafael Furcal to load the bases and struck out Matt Kemp, but Andre Ethier drew a walk-off of J. A. Happ which scored the go-ahead run to win the game for the Dodgers. Five relievers were used in the bottom of the eighth. Jonathan Broxton closed out the game and the Dodgers evened the series 1–1.


2009 National League Championship Series, Game summaries, Game 3
Sunday, October 18, 2009 – 8:07 PM (ET) at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania


2009 National League Championship Series, Game summaries, Game 3
Philadelphia jumped out early against Hiroki Kuroda in the first from the two-run triple by Ryan Howard. The next batter, Jayson Werth, hit a two-run shot into the hedges behind the center-field fence. Next inning, Carlos Ruiz hit a leadoff double and scored on Jimmy Rollins's one-out double to knock Kuroda out of the game. Scott Elbert in relief walked two to load the bases before Howard's groundout made it 6–0 Phillies.


2009 National League Championship Series, Game summaries, Game 3
They added two more runs in the fifth off of Chad Billingsley when Raul Ibanez walked with two outs and scored on a triple by Pedro Feliz, who then scored on a Carlos Ruiz single. Three more were added in the eighth thanks to a three-run homer by Shane Victorino off of Ronald Belisario. Pitcher Cliff Lee held the Dodgers to three hits and had ten strikeouts in eight innings of work. With the large lead in hand, Lee batted in the bottom of the eighth stroking a single and scoring on the Victorino home run, but he did not start the ninth inning. Chad Durbin retired the Dodgers in order that inning to give the Phillies a 2–1 series lead.


2009 National League Championship Series, Game summaries, Game 4
Monday, October 19, 2009 – 8:07 PM (ET) at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania


2009 National League Championship Series, Game summaries, Game 4
The Phillies once again jumped out to an early lead in the first inning when Ryan Howard hit a two-run home run off Dodgers starter Randy Wolf. As a result, Howard tied Lou Gehrig's record of most consecutive postseason games with an RBI, at eight. The Dodgers tied the game in the top of the fourth inning when Phillies starter Joe Blanton allowed RBI singles to James Loney and Russell Martin.


2009 National League Championship Series, Game summaries, Game 4
The Dodgers took the lead in the fifth inning on a Matt Kemp solo home run, and tacked on another run in the sixth on an RBI hit by Casey Blake to make it 4–2. Chase Utley answered in the bottom of the sixth with an RBI single of his own, cutting the Dodger lead to 4–3, which is where it would stand until the ninth inning. Jonathan Broxton, trying to work a four-out save for the Dodgers, retired Raúl Ibañez to start the ninth inning. He then walked Matt Stairs and hit Carlos Ruiz.


2009 National League Championship Series, Game summaries, Game 4
After a Greg Dobbs line out to third base, Jimmy Rollins stepped to the plate with runners on first and second base with two outs. On a 1–1 count, Rollins hit a line drive into the right-center field gap, easily scoring pinch runner Eric Bruntlett and Ruiz, giving the Phillies a 5–4 walk-off win. It was later reported that Manny Ramirez hit the showers before the game was over.


2009 National League Championship Series, Game summaries, Game 5
Wednesday, October 21, 2009 – 8:07 PM (ET) at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania


2009 National League Championship Series, Game summaries, Game 5
The Dodgers went up 1–0 in the first inning after Cole Hamels gave up a solo home run to Andre Ethier. The Phillies came right back in the bottom of the first after Jayson Werth deposited a three-run home run into the right field seats off of Vicente Padilla. In the second, James Loney's leadoff home run made it 3–2 Phillies, but in the bottom half, Pedro Feliz's leadoff home run gave the Phillies that run back. In the fourth, Jayson Werth hit a leadoff single and scored on Raul Ibanez's double, knocking Padilla out of the game.


2009 National League Championship Series, Game summaries, Game 5
A walk and hit-by-pitch from Ramon Troncoso loaded the bases. George Sherrill hit Shane Victorino with a pitch to force in another run. Orlando Hudson's home run in the fifth made it 6–3 Phillies and Rafael Furcal's double knocked Hamels out of the game. In the sixth, Victorino's home run after a hit-by-pitch off of Clayton Kershaw made it 8–3 Phillies. Jayson Werth's home run next inning off of Hong-Chih Kuo made it 9–3 Phillies.


2009 National League Championship Series, Game summaries, Game 5
In the eighth, Chan Ho Park allowed two leadoff singles, then Ryan Madson walked Manny Ramirez to load the bases with no outs before Matt Kemp's RBI single made it 9–4 Phillies. Madson, though, retired the next three batters to end the inning and the Phillies got that run back in the bottom half when Chase Utley scored on a wild pitch from Ronald Belisario. Brad Lidge retired the Dodgers in order in the ninth to seal the Phillies' 10–4 win and advance them to the World Series.


2009 National League Championship Series, Aftermath
On the eve of Game 1 of the 2009 National League Championship Series, it was announced that Dodgers’ owners Frank and Jaime McCourt would be separating after nearly 30 years of marriage. Although seemingly insignificant at the time, their separation and later very public divorce would be a major moment in Los Angeles Dodgers history, as it set in motion for Guggenheim Baseball Management to buy the team in 2012 for $2.15 billion. Since 2013, the Guggenheim’s first full year as owners, the Dodgers have appeared in the playoffs every year, winning a World Series and three pennants. Meanwhile, the Phillies, continued to have success until 2011. Hampered with large contracts and declining performance, they began a long re-build in the mid 2010s and have not been to the playoffs since 2011.


2009 National League Championship Series, Aftermath
Numerous 2008-2009 Philadelphia Phillies would eventually be traded to or signed with the Dodgers in the years afterwards. Shane Victorino, who was originally a Dodgers farmhand, was traded back to Los Angeles at the 2012 trade deadline, while Joe Blanton was traded there a few days later in a separate waiver trade. Both Victorino and Blanton only spent a few months with the team before becoming free agents. Jimmy Rollins would end his 14-year stay with the Phillies after he was traded to the Dodgers during the 2014-2015 off-season, spending only one season with the team.


2009 National League Championship Series, Aftermath
By this time, the Phillies had committed fully to re-building the roster and getting younger. Because of this, Long Beach Poly and UCLA alum Chase Utley was traded to the Dodgers at the waiver trade deadline in 2015. Utley was the longest tenured Phillie-to-Dodger player (2015-2018) and he was credited with helping in the development of a young Corey Seager, while bring a much-needed toughness to the team. During the 2015-2016 off-season, Joe Blanton re-joined the Dodgers, this time as a reliever where he experienced a surprising amount of success before struggling mightily during the 2016 National League Championship Series.


2009 National League Championship Series, Aftermath
Also in 2016, Carlos Ruiz was sent to Los Angeles in another waiver deadline deal. Ruiz backed up Yasmani Grandal and even caught the final out of the 2016 National League Division Series. 2009 Phillies stellar set-up man Ryan Madson was traded from Washington to the Dodgers in 2018 in another waiver trade. To help bolster an fatigued pitching staff, the Dodgers signed 2008 NLCS MVP and SoCal native Cole Hamels in-season in August 2021, though he would never throw a pitch for the team as he injured himself a few weeks upon signing. Off the field, Raul Ibanez would join the Dodgers front office as a special assistant to the President of Baseball Operations, Andrew Friedman, in 2016.


2009 National League Championship Series, Aftermath
Despite his accomplishments and success in the late 2000s, Jonathan Broxton's costly blown saves in Game 4 of the 2008 and 2009 National League Championship Series proved to be career defining. Broxton had an excellent first half of the season and was selected to the 2010 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, in which he recorded the save. However, he faded in the second half, beginning with four run a blown save against the New York Yankees in a prime-time game on ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball.


2009 National League Championship Series, Aftermath
In somewhat of a repeat performance against the Phillies, he blew another four run lead on August 12, a game which put a dent in the Dodgers chances at a third straight National League West crown. Broxton returned to the closer role at the start of the 2011 season and appeared in 14 games in March and April and produced a disappointing 5.68 ERA and 7 saves. Broxton was later shut down for the season due to shoulder tightness and became a free agent at season's end. Broxton bounced around the league until 2017 and enjoyed moderate success; however, he would never regain his form of dominance he showed in the late 2000s.


2009 National League Division Series
The 2009 National League Division Series (NLDS) consisted of two concurrent best-of-five game series that determined the participating teams in the 2009 National League Championship Series. Three divisional winners and a "wild card" team played in the two series. The NLDS began on Wednesday, October 7 and ended on Monday, October 12. TBS televised all games in the United States. The matchups were:


2009 National League Division Series
This marked the second postseason meeting between the Phillies and Rockies in three seasons; the Rockies swept the Phillies in the 2007 NLDS. The Dodgers and Cardinals last met in the postseason during the 2004 NLDS, which the Cardinals won 3–1.


2009 National League Division Series
The Dodgers and Phillies won their respective series—the Dodgers three games to none and the Phillies three games to one. The Phillies defeated the Dodgers in the NLCS by a series score of 4–1, and lost the 2009 World Series to the American League champion New York Yankees, 4–2.


2009 National League Division Series, Los Angeles vs. St. Louis, Game 1
9:37 p.m. (ET) at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California


2009 National League Division Series, Los Angeles vs. St. Louis, Game 1
Neither team's starting pitcher was particularly effective in the series opener; however, neither team's offense was able to capitalize, as this game set an MLB postseason record for runners left on base combined between the two teams, with 30. Los Angeles starter Randy Wolf loaded the bases with no outs in the first inning, but allowed just one run on Ryan Ludwick's one-out single. In the bottom half of the inning, St. Louis starter Chris Carpenter gave up a two-run home run to Matt Kemp, giving the Dodgers a lead they would never relinquish.


2009 National League Division Series, Los Angeles vs. St. Louis, Game 1
In the third, they put runners on first and second on a walk and hit-by-pitch before Casey Blake's RBI single put them up 3–1. The Cardinals cut the lead back to one in the fourth when Colby Rasmus drew a leadoff walk, moved to second on a groundout and scored on Skip Schumaker's double. In the fifth, Rafael Furcal's sacrifice fly with runners on second and third made it 4–2 Dodgers. Next inning, Kyle McClellan hit Russell Martin with a pitch with the bases loaded to force in another run, charged to Dennys Reyes, for the Dodgers. In the top of the ninth, Jonathan Broxton allowed a one-out single to Ryan Ludwick, who scored on Mark DeRosa's two-out double, before striking out Rick Ankiel looking to end the game and give the Dodgers a 1–0 series lead.


2009 National League Division Series, Los Angeles vs. St. Louis, Game 1
Los Angeles slugger Manny Ramirez was held to 1-for-4 with one walk, while St. Louis slugger Albert Pujols was 0-for-3 with two intentional walks. The game ran 3:54 which made it the longest nine-inning postseason game in history: however, the record was broken four days later by the Rockies and Phillies.


2009 National League Division Series, Los Angeles vs. St. Louis, Game 2
6:07 p.m. (ET) at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California


2009 National League Division Series, Los Angeles vs. St. Louis, Game 2
In an amazing pitching duel, Game 2 was dominated by Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright and Dodgers phenom Clayton Kershaw, who was pitching in his first career postseason start. In the second inning, Matt Holliday hit a home run to put the Cardinals ahead 1–0, but Dodger slugger Andre Ethier hit his first career post-season homer to tie it up 1–1 in the bottom of the fourth, the first hit Wainwright allowed. Wainwright dominated throughout his start, retiring the first 11 hitters he faced, while Kershaw kept pitching in and out of trouble.


2009 National League Division Series, Los Angeles vs. St. Louis, Game 2
In the seventh inning, a double by Colby Rasmus with no outs scored Mark DeRosa to put St. Louis ahead 2–1, but Rasmus was thrown out at third base, which ended up being a huge play. At the time, it seemed to be enough to allow Wainwright to pitch to victory; in the eighth inning, however, he pitched into a bases-loaded jam. With two outs, Game 1 hero Matt Kemp grounded out to Albert Pujols to end the threat, and going into the ninth inning, Cardinal closer Ryan Franklin was brought in with one out.


2009 National League Division Series, Los Angeles vs. St. Louis, Game 2
After retiring Manny Ramirez, Dodger first baseman James Loney hit a fly ball to Holliday, who lost the ball in the lights and it hit off his belly, allowing Loney to reach second on the error.


2009 National League Division Series, Los Angeles vs. St. Louis, Game 2
After a walk to Casey Blake, mid-season acquisition Ronnie Belliard hit a clutch two-out single to score pinch runner Juan Pierre to tie the game, and after Russell Martin walked to load the bases, veteran pinch hitter Mark Loretta, who was 0-for-15 career against Franklin, hit a walk-off single to center field to score Blake and the Dodgers won the game in dramatic fashion, spoiling the gem by Wainwright and sending the series to St. Louis with a 2–0 LA advantage.


2009 National League Division Series, Los Angeles vs. St. Louis, Game 3
6:07 p.m. (ET) at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri


2009 National League Division Series, Los Angeles vs. St. Louis, Game 3
The Dodgers swept the Cardinals 3–0, and went on to go face the Phillies in a NLCS rematch. Vicente Padilla silenced the Cardinals' bats again by pitching dominantly, allowing no runs on four hits through seven innings. The 47,296 attendance was the largest crowd to see a game at Busch Stadium since it opened in 2006. In the top of the first, Matt Kemp singled with one out off of Joel Piñeiro and scored on Manny Ramirez's two-out double. In the third, Andre Ethier's two-run home run made it 3–0 Dodgers.


2009 National League Division Series, Los Angeles vs. St. Louis, Game 3
Next inning, Ronnie Belliard hit a leadoff single, moved to second on a groundout, and scored on Rafael Furcal's two-out single. In the seventh, Ethier tripled with two outs off of John Smoltz and scored on Ramirez's single. The Cardinals scored their only run of the game in the eighth when Julio Lugo walked off of George Sherrill, stole second and scored on Albert Pujols's single off of Jonathan Broxton. Broxton pitched a scoreless ninth to seal the series for the Dodgers.


2009 National League Division Series, Los Angeles vs. St. Louis, Composite line score
2009 NLDS (3–0): Los Angeles Dodgers over St. Louis Cardinals


2009 National League Division Series, Philadelphia vs. Colorado, Game 1
2:37 p.m. (ET) at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania


2009 National League Division Series, Philadelphia vs. Colorado, Game 1
Amidst strong, swirling winds at Citizens Bank Park, the Phillies cruised to a 5–1 victory behind a dominating performance from Cliff Lee. Philadelphia broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the fifth when Jayson Werth drew a leadoff walk and scored on an RBI double by Raúl Ibañez, who scored two batters later on a single from Carlos Ruiz. Rockies starter Ubaldo Jiménez ran into more trouble in the sixth, giving up a leadoff single to Chase Utley, who stole second, then an RBI double to Jayson Werth and an RBI triple to Ryan Howard.


2009 National League Division Series, Philadelphia vs. Colorado, Game 1
Joe Beimel relieved Jimenez and allowed an RBI single to Ibanez. Lee, meanwhile, retired 16 straight Colorado batters from the second inning into the seventh, picking up the complete game win in his first career postseason start. Lee was one strike away from completing a shutout, but Troy Tulowitzki lined a two-out, two-strike double in the top of the ninth to plate the Rockies' only run.


2009 National League Division Series, Philadelphia vs. Colorado, Game 1
Actor Kevin Bacon and his brother Michael sang the national anthem before the game.


2009 National League Division Series, Philadelphia vs. Colorado, Game 2
2:37 p.m. (ET) at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania


2009 National League Division Series, Philadelphia vs. Colorado, Game 2
2008 NLCS and World Series MVP Cole Hamels faced Rockies' starter Aaron Cook in Game 2. In the top of the first inning, the Rockies scored the first run of the game when Todd Helton hit a ball up the first base line that was misplayed by Hamels allowing Carlos Gonzalez to score from third. Rockies' catcher Yorvit Torrealba then hit a two-run home run off of Hamels in the fourth inning after he had not hit a home run since May 6. Next inning, Dexter Fowler's sacrifice fly with runners on second and third made it 4–0 Rockies.


2009 National League Division Series, Philadelphia vs. Colorado, Game 2
Hamels was then told his wife was going into labor and lifted for a pinch-hitter in the bottom of the fifth inning. The Phillies would fight back in the sixth. After consecutive hits by Shane Victorino and Chase Utley put runners on first and second with nobody out, Ryan Howard hit a line-drive double into the right field corner making the score 4–1 Rockies. Jose Contreras relieved Cook as Raúl Ibañez hit a one-out single to center field scoring two runs to cut the score to 4–3 Rockies.


2009 National League Division Series, Philadelphia vs. Colorado, Game 2
Pedro Feliz's single loaded the bases, but Carlos Ruiz grounded into an inning-ending double play. Charlie Manuel would use potential Game 3 starters Joe Blanton and J.A. Happ in the seventh, with Happ only throwing four pitches and leaving with an injury after being hit on the leg with a line drive. The Rockies loaded the bases off of them before Fowler's sacrifice fly off of Scott Eyre made it 5–3 Rockies. Jayson Werth hit a home run in the eighth inning off of Rafael Betancourt to once again close the Rockies lead to one, but Huston Street retired Shane Victorino with two runners on base with two outs in the ninth inning to send the series to Colorado tied 1–1.


2009 National League Division Series, Philadelphia vs. Colorado, Game 3
Game 3 was originally scheduled for October 10 at 9:37 p.m. Eastern, but was postponed due to snowy weather in the Denver area. The city received two inches of snow by Saturday morning, and forecasts called for a game-time temperature of 26 °F (−3 °C). The October 10 low was 17 °F (−8 °C), breaking a record set in 1905. This normally would not have been a problem due to Coors Field's underground heating system, and the Rockies have played in freezing conditions before.


2009 National League Division Series, Philadelphia vs. Colorado, Game 3
However, MLB began giving serious thought to postponing the game after hearing that the temperature would barely make it above freezing, and reports of icy roads and numerous accidents clinched the decision. This pushed Game 4 back to October 12, with Game 5, if necessary, to be played the next day in Philadelphia with no travel day.


2009 National League Division Series, Philadelphia vs. Colorado, Game 3
The temperature at game time (10:07 pm Eastern; 8:07 pm local) was 35 °F (2 °C) and it dropped over the course of the game, which ended after midnight local time. At 4:06, this was the longest nine-inning postseason game ever (breaking a record set four days earlier by the Dodgers and Cardinals.)


2009 National League Division Series, Philadelphia vs. Colorado, Game 3
Chase Utley's two-out home run off of Jason Hammel made it 1–0 Phillies in the first, but in the bottom half, Todd Helton's RBI groundout after back-to-back leadoff singles off of J. A. Happ tied the score. After a single and strikeout, Garrett Atkins's RBI single put the Rockies up 2–1. In the third, Helton drew a leadoff walk and scored on Atkins's double to make it 3–1 Rockies, but in the fourth, a leadoff walk and single was followed by Ryan Howard's RBI single.


2009 National League Division Series, Philadelphia vs. Colorado, Game 3
Hammel then walked two to load the bases and force in another run to tie the game. After a double play, Carlos Ruiz's RBI single put the Phillies up 4–3, but Carlos Gonzalez's home run in the bottom of the inning off of Joe Blanton tied the game. In the sixth, back-to-back one-out walks off of Jose Contreras were followed by Ruiz's RBI single that put the Phillies up 5–4.


2009 National League Division Series, Philadelphia vs. Colorado, Game 3
In the bottom of the seventh, Scott Eyre allowed a leadoff double and subsequent single before being relieved by Ryan Madson, who allowed a one-out sacrifice fly to Troy Tulowitzki to tie the game. In the ninth, Ryan Howard's sacrifice fly with two on off of Huston Street put the Phillies up 6–5. Brad Lidge pitched a scoreless bottom half despite allowing two walks to give the Phillies a 2–1 series lead.


2009 National League Division Series, Philadelphia vs. Colorado, Game 4
Game 4 was originally scheduled to start on Game 3's date and start time, but due to the Saturday postponement was pushed back to Monday with first pitch at 4:07 Mountain Time.


2009 National League Division Series, Philadelphia vs. Colorado, Game 4
With an extra day of rest, both teams pitched their aces in a rematch of Game 1. The Phillies quickly struck in the first, as the second batter of the game, Shane Victorino, hit a home run into the Rockies bullpen. Jimenez would settle down, virtually matching the Phillies' Cliff Lee the rest of the way, his only other run coming on a Jayson Werth homer in the sixth. Lee wasn't as dominant as he was in Game 1, but held the Rockies at bay until the sixth when Troy Tulowitzki doubled home Todd Helton to cut the Phillies lead to 2–1.


2009 National League Division Series, Philadelphia vs. Colorado, Game 4
Jimenez pitched seven innings before giving way to Franklin Morales. The Phillies would load the bases in the eighth with one out, but Rafael Betancourt would get a pop out and strikeout to keep Philadelphia from adding to their lead. With one out in the bottom of the inning, Lee walked Dexter Fowler. Helton then bounced what looked like a tailor-made double play ground ball to Chase Utley. Fowler, to avoid running into him, jumped and hurdled over Utley, whose throw to second was wide and an error.


2009 National League Division Series, Philadelphia vs. Colorado, Game 4
Lee was pulled and a double switch was made, Ryan Madson in to pitch, Ben Francisco in left field. Tulowitzki promptly stepped up and hit a shallow fly to left that Francisco made a diving catch on to rob the Rockies of the potential tying run. Jason Giambi pinch hit, and on the first pitch punched a game-tying single to left. Yorvit Torrealba followed by hitting a two-run double over the head of Victorino, giving the Rockies their first lead.


2009 National League Division Series, Philadelphia vs. Colorado, Game 4
In the ninth Colorado again turned to Street, the losing pitcher in Game 3. This time he opened the inning by striking out pinch hitter Greg Dobbs, prompting Ryan Howard to tell his teammates to "get me to the plate, boys." Jimmy Rollins, though, as he did the previous night, singled. After Victorino bounced into a fielder's choice that saw Rollins forced out at second, Utley stepped up and went down 2–2 in the count. He would, however, work a walk to bring go-ahead run Ryan Howard to the plate. On a 2–1 pitch, Howard belted a double to the wall in right field, tying the game. Werth followed with a bloop single to shallow right on a 2–2 pitch as the Phillies matched the Rockies' three-run rally with one of their own to retake the lead.


2009 National League Division Series, Philadelphia vs. Colorado, Game 4
Colorado would threaten again in the ninth against Scott Eyre. With one out, Carlos Gonzalez singled, tying him with Dante Bichette for the club record for hits in the Division Series at ten. Following a Fowler lineout, Helton singled up middle. Brad Lidge was again summoned from the bullpen and faced Tulowitzki in a rematch of the previous night's final at-bat. Having looked at two sliders, and barely checked his swing on another, Lidge threw Tulowitzki a 2–2 slider.


2009 National League Division Series, Philadelphia vs. Colorado, Game 4
This time Tulowitzki could not check his swing, striking out to end the game, and sending the Phillies to the NLCS with a three-games-to-one series victory. It also marked the first time in Division Series history that all four series winners clinched on the road, as the Dodgers, Angels and Yankees all had completed sweeps on the road previously.


2009 National League speedway season
The 2009 National League speedway season was the third tier/division of British speedway and was contested by ten teams. Bournemouth Buccaneers were champions. It was the first season under the new name after previously been known as the Conference League.


2009 National League speedway season, Final table
PL = Matches; W = Wins; D = Draws; L = Losses; BP = Bonus Pts Pts = Total Points


2009 National League speedway season, Final table
SCORING SYSTEMHome loss by any number of points = 0Home draw = 1Home win by between 1 and 6 points = 2Home win by 7 points or more = 3Away loss by 7 points or more = 0Away loss by 6 points or less = 1Away draw = 2Away win by between 1 and 6 points = 3Away win by 7 points or more = 4


2009 National League speedway season, Play Offs
Top four teams race off in two-legged semi-finals and final to decide championship. The winner was Bournemouth Buccaneers who defeated the Plymouth Devils in the final.


2009 National League speedway season, National League Knockout Cup
The 2009 National League Knockout Cup was the 12th edition of the Knockout Cup for tier three teams but the first under its new name. Bournemouth Buccaneers were the winners.


2009 National Liberation Party presidential primary
A primary election was held among the members of Costa Rica’s then ruling National Liberation Party (PLN) on June 7, 2009 in order to choose the PLN’s nominee for presidency in the 2010 general election. The two main candidates for the nomination were then vice-president Laura Chinchilla and San José Mayor Johnny Araya. Former security minister Fernando Berrocal also ran a basically testimonial candidacy. PLN’s main rival party, PAC, ran its own convention a month before.


2009 National Liberation Party presidential primary
PLN primaries, known as National Conventions (Convención Nacional Liberacionista) were common place since the Party’s foundation, yet in the previous election of 2006 PLN’s nominee former president Óscar Arias seeking re-election ran unopposed and was designated by the party’s National Assembly. Unlike its rival PAC, PLN's election was an open primary and as such every Costa Rican could vote as far as pledge written membership to the party (PLN holds open primaries since the 70s). Debates among PLN and PAC’s candidates respectively were organized in different colleges, NGOs and news networks.


2009 National Liberation Party presidential primary
Former minister Antonio Álvarez Desanti had recently return to the party expressing his interest in the nomination, yet party regulations prevent his candidacy due to his recent participation in another party. Desanti dropped from the race supporting Chinchilla. While Chinchilla was seen as close to then incumbent president Arias and his faction, Araya was endorsed by his brother and previous candidate Rolando and by his uncle former president Luis Alberto Monge. The final results were 55% for Chinchilla, 41% for Araya and 2% for Berrocal. Chinchilla will also win the presidential race in 2010.


2009 National Liberation Party presidential primary
Araya would maintain his political aspirations and would run unopposed in the next election cycle as other aspirants like Rodrigo Arias (former Prime Minister and Oscar Arias’ brother) and José María Figueres (former president) dropped their candidacies for the 2014 election, which was lost by Araya against PAC’s candidate Luis Guillermo Solís.


2009 National People's Congress
The 2nd Session of the 11th National People's Congress is the annual meeting of the highest legislative body of the People's Republic of China, which was held in March 2009 at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. The event began on March 5 and lasted until March 13. The Congress was followed closely because of the possible impact any policy changes would have on the Chinese and world economy. Major issues discussed at the Congress include the global financial crisis, industrial revitalization, curbing unemployment, and social welfare.


2009 National People's Congress
Highlights of the Congress included Premier Wen Jiabao's expression of confidence in the growth of China's economy in 2009, conciliatory remarks towards Taiwan from Beijing, NPC Chairman Wu Bangguo's reiteration that China will not adopt Western-style democracy, and Wen's expressed doubts about U.S. treasury securities. The main issues raised by delegates included a strategy to adopt to face the current economic slowdown, the ways to continue to improve population's life standards (jobs, health), and continue efforts against corruption.


2009 National People's Congress, Background
The 2009 NPC takes place alongside the 2009 session of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), a political advisory body with little practical power. In recent years, however, there has been a marked rise in the amount of debate within both bodies. This year's congress is especially important because it takes place in the backdrop of the ongoing global financial crisis, the first such crisis of this proportion China has faced since economic liberalization under Deng Xiaoping in 1978.


2009 National People's Congress, Background
A day prior to the Congress, the government announced a 14.9% increase in the Chinese defense budget, 3% less than the previous year. There was also speculation of the unveiling of another stimulus package, which affected trading on global stock markets on March 4. The event's timeline was shortened this year because of the ongoing global financial crisis.


2009 National People's Congress, Premier's Work Report
The Premier, Wen Jiabao, delivered the annual Government Work Report on March 5, 2009. This annual speech details the government's policy and legislative agenda for the past and coming year (roughly analogous to the State of the Union address and Throne Speeches in some other countries). While acknowledging the deepening financial crisis, Wen declared that China would aim for a GDP growth of 8% in the coming year. Wen revealed that the central government deficit hovers around 750 billion yuan ($US109.63 billion), 570 billion yuan more than last year. The total deficit will amount to 950 billion yuan ($US139 billion) as local governments plan to issue 200 billion yuan worth of government bonds. Although this is a relatively large deficit by Chinese standards, it only accounts for less than 3% of the GDP.


2009 National People's Congress, Premier's Work Report
Wen pointed to improvements in cross-strait relations between mainland China and Taiwan, and declared that the two sides have entered a "peaceful period". He remarked that new agreements on economic cooperation will be signed in the coming year. To address reconstruction after the deadly Sichuan earthquake in May 2008, the central government will allocate 130 billion yuan to accelerate recovery in hard-hit areas in Sichuan province. In health care reform, Wen stressed that governments at all levels will allocate an additional 850 billion yuan in the next three years, including 331.8 billion yuan directly from the central government.


2009 National People's Congress, NPC Standing Committee Work Report
The Chair of the NPC, Wu Bangguo, delivered his report on the work of the National People's Congress over the past year. He spoke on the continuing reconstruction of the Sichuan earthquake and progress of relief work, and empathized with the victims. On the economy, he touched on the slowing economy due to the 2008 financial crisis, increased unemployment and risk to social stability if proper oversight is not increased in areas of food safety, standards and reporting.


2009 National People's Congress, NPC Standing Committee Work Report
The NPC standing committee chairman also stressed oversight of the economic stimulus package through the legislature, increased domestic consumption, and upgrading industry and competitiveness in this difficult economic period.


2009 National People's Congress, NPC Standing Committee Work Report
Wu also stated China cannot indiscriminately copy western political concepts such as multi-party governance, separation of powers namely the executive, legislative and judicial branch, or turning the NPC into a bicameral system. China's political reforms rest with improving and developing the socialist political system which includes the NPC.


2009 National People's Congress, President of the Supreme People's Court Work Report
China's top judicial official, Wang Shengjun reported the continuing efforts to educate judges on judicial work ethic and root out corruption. Wang mentioned judicial corruption severely undermined the credibility of the judicial system and led to social repercussions.


2009 National People's Congress, President of the Supreme People's Court Work Report
A total of 712 judicial officials from courts throughout China were prosecuted for violations of the laws in 2008, Wang said. Out of the 712, 105 faced criminal prosecutions. He indicated, in 2008, the Supreme People's Court dealt with over 10,000 cases, up nearly 30 percent from 2007. Local courts processed over 10 million cases, up nearly 11 percent.


2009 National People's Congress, Prosecutor General's Work Report
China's Prosecutor-General Cao Jianming stated the central government will step up the inspection of prisons, with more resources and surprise checks, to prevent inmates from being bullied or tortured. The main points that came up from Cao's work report are:


2009 National People's Congress, Prosecutor General's Work Report
Cai acknowledge in 2008, the total number of arrest came up to 952,583 suspects for numerous crimes and 1,143,897 were prosecuted. This was an increase of 3.5 percent and 5.7 percent from the last year.


2009 National People's Congress, Prosecutor General's Work Report
There were 33,546 cases relating to corruption, misconduct and violation on people's human rights investigated. This involved 41,179 people. The total prosecuted were 33,953 people involved in 26,684 such cases. Out of the total there were 17,594 serious corruption cases, 3,211 major cases of misconduct and violations on people's human rights, and 2,687 officials at all levels of public office.


2009 National People's Congress, Prosecutor General's Work Report
The prosecutor general also indicated 10,315 cases of commercial bribery committed by government officials were investigated. This involved a total sum of more than 2.1 billion yuan.


2009 National People's Congress, Premier's press conference
On March 13 Premier Wen Jiabao held the annual NPC press conference to a gallery of domestic and international reporters. Wen remarked that the international financial crisis is an extraordinary situation. China has over half of its estimated $2 trillion of foreign exchange holdings in United States Treasury securities and other U.S. government debt and Wen remarked, "We have lent a huge amount of money to the U.S. Of course we are concerned about the safety of our assets. To be honest, I am definitely a little worried."


2009 National People's Congress, Premier's press conference
Wen asked the U.S. to "maintain its good credit, to honor its promises and to guarantee the safety of China’s assets". In particular, Wen was confident that China's economy would continue to grow at a rate of 8% in 2009. Wen played down speculation that the 1.18 trillion Yuan of central government stimulus is not completely directed to new investments, and that the government was ready to make new stimulus plans if need be in the future. Wen also mentioned his aspiration to visit Taiwan.


2009 National Pro Fastpitch season
The 2009 National Pro Fastpitch season was the sixth season of professional softball under the name National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) for  the only professional women's fastpitch softball league in the United States. From 1997 to 2002, NPF operated under the names Women's Pro Fastpitch (WPF) and Women's Pro Softball League (WPSL). Each year, the playoff teams battle for the Cowles Cup.


2009 National Pro Fastpitch season, Milestones and events
In November 2008, the Rockford Thunder named as field manager James Sherwood, who replaced Javier Vela. Vela resigned after four seasons.


2009 National Pro Fastpitch season, Milestones and events
Akron Racers named a new field manager, Barb Sherwood, who replaced Shonda Stanton.


2009 National Pro Fastpitch season, Milestones and events
Before the 2009 season, Washington Glory ceased operations for financial reasons. Subsequently, NPF and United States Specialty Sports Association(USSSA) began a partnership, which resulted in the expansion team USSSA Pride inheriting the Glory's player contracts. The Pride named J.Y. Davis and Margaret Davis as coaches.


2009 National Pro Fastpitch season, Player acquisition, College draft
The 2009 NPF Senior Draft was held February 10, 2009, at the Cambria Suites Akron-Canton Airport location. Three-time First-Team All-American outfielder Kaitlin Cochran of Arizona State was selected first by the Akron Racers, after a draft-day trade.


2009 National Pro Fastpitch season, NPF Championship
The 2009 NPF Championship Series was held at Firestone Stadium in Akron, Ohio August 19–23. The top four teams qualified and were seeded based on the final standings. The first seed played the fourth seed on a best-of-three series, and the second seed played the third seed in another best-of-three series. The winners played each other in a best-of-three series that determined the champion. Day one of play was rained out, forcing the four teams to play doubleheaders on day two, August 21.


2009 National Soccer Hall of Fame Induction Class
These are the results for the voting for the National Soccer Hall of Fame 2009 induction class. Jeff Agoos and Joy Fawcett were selected for the player category.


2009 National Soccer Hall of Fame Induction Class
The Hall of Fame inducts individuals in three categories, Player, Veteran and Builder. The Hall of Fame also selects individuals for special awards including the Colin Jose Media Award, Eddie Pearson Award and a Medal of Honor.


2009 National Soccer Hall of Fame Induction Class, Player
To be eligible in this category, a player must have been retired at least three years and not more than ten. Voting began on November 3, 2008 and ended December 3, 2008. Any player who was named on at least 66.7% of the ballots cast was selected for induction. Any player who received less than 5% of the ballots was dropped from the player eligibility list and will be placed on the Veterans eligibility list when they meet the criteria for that list.


2009 National Soccer Hall of Fame Induction Class, Player
On January 16, 2009, the Hall of Fame announced the results of the player ballot. The announcement came on live television, a first for the Hall of Fame, broadcast from the annual NSCAA convention in St. Louis, Missouri.


2009 National Soccer Hall of Fame Induction Class, Player, Voting results
Voters cast 159 votes. The balloting was tight with only two individuals exceeding the minimum of 66.7% required for induction.


2009 National Soccer Hall of Fame Induction Class, Player, Eligible players
The following individuals were also declared eligible for induction in 2009, but were not among the top vote getters.


2009 National Soccer Hall of Fame Induction Class, Veteran
On February 2, 2009, the Hall of Fame announced that none of the sixteen veteran candidates had received enough votes for induction into the hall. The top five candidates are as follows:


2009 National Soccer Hall of Fame Induction Class, Veteran
The Veterans Screening Committee had selected the following sixteen candidates from a pool of over 300 eligible players.


2009 National Soccer Hall of Fame Induction Class, Builder
On February 2, 2009, the Hall of Fame announced that none of the sixteen builder candidates had received enough votes for induction into the hall. The top five candidates are as follows:


2009 National Soccer Hall of Fame Induction Class, Builder
The Builder's Screening Committee had selected the following fifteen candidates from a list of over 50 eligible candidates.


2009 National Society of Film Critics Awards
The 44th National Society of Film Critics Awards, given on 3 January 2010, honored the best in film for 2009.


2009 National Society of Film Critics Awards, Winners, Best Picture
1. The Hurt Locker2. Summer Hours (L'Heure d'été)3. Inglourious Basterds


2009 National Society of Film Critics Awards, Winners, Best Director
1. Kathryn Bigelow – The Hurt Locker2. Olivier Assayas – Summer Hours (L'Heure d'été)3. Wes Anderson – Fantastic Mr. Fox


2009 National Society of Film Critics Awards, Winners, Best Actor
1. Jeremy Renner – The Hurt Locker2. Jeff Bridges – Crazy Heart3. Nicolas Cage – Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans


2009 National Society of Film Critics Awards, Winners, Best Actress
1. Yolande Moreau – Séraphine2. Meryl Streep – Julie & Julia and Fantastic Mr. Fox3. Abbie Cornish – Bright Star


2009 National Society of Film Critics Awards, Winners, Best Supporting Actor
1. Paul Schneider – Bright Star (TIE)1. Christoph Waltz – Inglourious Basterds (TIE)3. Christian McKay – Me and Orson Welles


2009 National Society of Film Critics Awards, Winners, Best Supporting Actress
1. Mo'Nique – Precious2. Anna Kendrick – Up in the Air2. Samantha Morton – The Messenger


2009 National Society of Film Critics Awards, Winners, Best Screenplay
1. Joel Coen and Ethan Coen – A Serious Man2. Olivier Assayas – Summer Hours (L'Heure d'été)3. Quentin Tarantino – Inglourious Basterds


2009 National Society of Film Critics Awards, Winners, Best Cinematography
1. Christian Berger – The White Ribbon (Das weiße Band - Eine deutsche Kindergeschichte)2. Barry Ackroyd – The Hurt Locker3. Jan Troell and Mischa Gavrjusjov – Everlasting Moments (Maria Larssons eviga ögonblick)


2009 National Society of Film Critics Awards, Winners, Best Production Design
1. Nelson Lowry – Fantastic Mr. Fox2. Rick Carter – Avatar3. Henry Selick – Coraline


2009 National Society of Film Critics Awards, Winners, Best Foreign Language Film
1. Summer Hours (L'Heure d'été)2. Everlasting Moments (Maria Larssons eviga ögonblick)3. 35 Shots of Rum (35 rhums)3. Police, Adjective (Polițist, Adjectiv)


2009 National Society of Film Critics Awards, Winners, Best Non-Fiction Film
1. The Beaches of Agnès (Les plages d'Agnès)2. Tyson3. Anvil! The Story of Anvil


2009 National Twenty20 Cup
The 2009 RBS Twenty-20 Cup was the fifth edition of the RBS Twenty-20 Cup, a domestic Twenty20 tournament in Pakistan. It was held in Lahore from 25 to 29 May 2009. The Sialkot Stallions won their fourth overall and consecutive title by defeating the Lahore Lions in the final.


2009 National Twenty20 Cup
This tournament was held immediately before the 2009 ICC World Twenty20, which Pakistan won.


2009 National Twenty20 Cup, Results, Teams and standings
The top team from each group qualify for the semi-finals.


2009 National Women's Cup
The 2009 USASA National Women's Cup was the 14th edition of the annual national soccer championship, won by the Chicago Eclipse Select with a 3-1 victory over the New York Athletic Club. The Eclipse beat NYAC in the semifinals of the 2008 Women's Amateur the previous year as well before losing to the Turbo D'Feeters in the Amateur final.


2009 National Women's Cup, Regional Phase, Region I
NYAC beat Danubia in the final, with the Classic Crush (of Massachusetts) and the Peninsula Aztecs as the losing semifinalists.


2009 National Women's Cup, Regional Phase, Region II
Six teams were divided into two groups, with the group winners facing off for Region II's national semifinal slot. The Chicago Eclipse Select won their group and then beat the Kentucky Wanderers to move forward. The group runners-up were J.B. Marine S.C. and Women's SC United, followed by FC Indiana and the AAFC Elite.


2009 National Women's Cup, Regional Phase, Region III
The Houston Challengers won a three-team group, with runners-up Triad United Aces and third-place Lynch's Irish Pub.


2009 Nations Cup (women's rugby union)
The second Nations Cup tournament was played at Appleby College, Oakville, Canada, in August 2009. An Under-20 version also took place in England a month before. The second tournament again included Canada, England and the USA, but these nations were joined by France for the first time.


2009 Nations Cup (women's rugby union), Under 20 Nations Cup 2009 (Brunel University, London), Final Table, Points scoring
4 points awarded for a win, 2 points for a draw, no points for a loss. 1 bonus point awarded for scoring four or more tries and 1 bonus point for losing by less than 7 points.


2009 Nationwide Tour
The 2009 Nationwide Tour was the 20th Nationwide Tour season. It ran from February 5 to October 25. The season consisted of 29 official money golf tournaments; six of which were played outside of the United States. The top 25 players on the year-end money list earned their PGA Tour card for 2010.


2009 Nationwide Tour, Schedule
The table below shows the Nationwide Tour's 2009 schedule. The numbers in parentheses after winners' names show the player's total number of wins on the Nationwide Tour including that event. No one accumulates many wins on the Nationwide Tour because success at this level soon leads to promotion to the PGA Tour.


2009 Nationwide Tour, Leading money winners
The table shows the final top 10 money winners for the 2009 Nationwide Tour season. For the list of the top 25 golfers, given PGA Tour memberships for the 2010 season, see 2009 Nationwide Tour graduates.


2009 Nationwide Tour, Leading money winners
There is a full list on the PGA Tour's website .


2009 Nationwide Tour graduates
This is a list of players who graduated from the Nationwide Tour in 2009. The top 25 players on the Nationwide Tour's money list in 2009 earned their PGA Tour card for 2010.


2009 Nationwide Tour graduates
*PGA Tour rookie in 2010#Michael Sim received a battlefield promotion to the PGA Tour in 2009 by winning three tournaments on the Nationwide Tour in 2009. On the PGA Tour in 2009, he played in 3 tournaments and made 3 cuts, including one top 25. T=tiedGreen background indicates the player retained his PGA Tour card for 2011 (won finished inside the top 125). Yellow background indicates the player did not retain his PGA Tour card for 2011, but retained conditional status (finished between 126–150). Red background indicates the player did not retain his PGA Tour card for 2011 (finished outside the top 150).


2009 Natomas Men's Professional Tennis Tournament
The 2009 Natomas Men's Professional Tennis Tournament was a professional tennis tournament played on outdoor hard courts. It was the fifth edition of the tournament which was part of the 2009 ATP Challenger Tour. It took place in Sacramento, California, United States between 5 and 11 October 2009.


2009 Natomas Men's Professional Tennis Tournament, Singles main draw entrants, Other Entrants
The following players received wildcards into the singles main draw:


2009 Natomas Men's Professional Tennis Tournament, Singles main draw entrants, Other Entrants
The following player received a Special Exempt into the singles main draw:


2009 Natomas Men's Professional Tennis Tournament, Champions, Doubles
Lester Cook /  David Martin def. Santiago González /  Travis Rettenmaier, 4–6, 6–3, [10–5]


2009 Natomas Men's Professional Tennis Tournament – Doubles
Brian and Dann Battistone were the defending champions, but did not compete this year. Lester Cook and David Martin defeated Santiago González and Travis Rettenmaier 4–6, 6–3, [10–5] in the final.


2009 Natomas Men's Professional Tennis Tournament – Singles
Donald Young chose to not defend his 2008 title. Santiago Giraldo won this tournament. He won against Jesse Levine 7–6(4), 6–1 in the final.


2009 Nature Valley Grand Prix
The 2009 Nature Valley Grand Prix was the 9th edition of the Nature Valley Grand Prix stage race. It took place from June 10 through June 14 as part of the USA Cycling National Racing Calendar. The winner was Australian rider Rory Sutherland of OUCH–Maxxis who won the race on the final criterium. The race included an Individual Time Trial, two road races and three criteriums.


2009 Navy Midshipmen football team
The 2009 Navy Midshipmen football team represented the United States Naval Academy as an independent in the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Midshipmen, led by second-year head coach Ken Niumatalolo, played their home games at the Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.


2009 Navy Midshipmen football team
On November 7, 2009 athletic director Chet Gladchuk announced that Navy had accepted an invitation to play in the Texas Bowl on Thursday, December 31 at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas against the Big 12 Conference's Missouri Tigers. This mark was the first time that Navy had gone to bowl games in seven straight seasons. Navy won the 2009 Texas Bowl, 35–13, and finished with a record of 10–4.


2009 Nazran bombing
The 2009 Nazran bombing occurred on 17 August 2009, in Nazran, the largest city of the Republic of Ingushetia in the Russian federation. A suicide car bomber attacked police headquarters, and at least 25 people were killed and 164 injured. It was the most serious terrorist attack in Ingushetia in the early 21st century, where there had been social and political unrest related to independence movements. The militant Islamist Caucasus Emirate claimed responsibility for the attack.


2009 Nazran bombing, Attack
At 9:08 a.m.(MSK) on 17 August 2009, an unidentified militant drove a GAZelle truck into the gates of a police headquarters building in Nazran, Ingushetia's largest city. The attack occurred as police officers were lining up nearby for a morning briefing. Policemen fired at the car, but were unable to stop it. The blast, which reportedly had the force of 400 kg of dynamite, created a crater 4 metres (13 ft) wide and 2 metres (6.6 ft) deep, damaged the police headquarters building and nearby apartments. It also caused ammunition stored in the police headquarters to explode. Twenty people were reported to have been killed and 138 were injured. The toll later rose to 25 killed and 164 wounded, with 15 of the dead being Russian policemen and 10 being Ingush.


2009 Nazran bombing, Attack
According to the Republic's Deputy Interior Minister Zyaudin Dourbekov, police had received information on August 15 that a vehicle of this type was going to be used in a suicide bombing, but were unable to prevent the attack.


2009 Nazran bombing, Aftermath
The Ingush authorities announced a three-day mourning period. They promised to pay 100,000 rubles ($3,000 USD) and 50,000 rubles ($1,500 USD) in compensation to the families of those killed or injured. Russia's Ministry of Emergency Situations dispatched a plane to Ingushetia carrying medical specialists and aid for the victims. Following the attack, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev sacked Ingush Interior Minister Ruslan Meiriyev, saying that the attack could have been prevented. "This is the outcome not only of the problems related to terrorist attacks, but also of the republic law enforcement agencies' unsatisfactory work," Medvedev said. German Chancellor Angela Merkel offered condolences to those affected by the attack.


2009 Nazran bombing, Aftermath
On 18 August Alexander Bastrykin said that the Federal Security Service (FSB) received information about the organizers of the attack. He refused to name the suspects at this stage, but said that they belonged to the same groups that had conducted similar attacks in recent years. Bastrykhin assured that the FSB was doing everything it can to solve the crime.


2009 Nazran bombing, Aftermath
President Medvedev put Deputy Interior Minister of Russia, Colonel-General Arkady Yedelev in charge of all security and police operations in Ingushetia. The pro-administration President of Ingushetia, Yunus-bek Yevkurov, who had survived an assassination attempt in June 2009, said the rebels' goal was to "destabilise the situation and spread panic" in Ingushetia and claimed that the West had a hand in the escalation in the North Caucasus with the aim to prevent Russia from reviving "its former Soviet might".


2009 Nazran bombing, Aftermath
On 19 August, President Dmitry Medvedev said that the continuing attacks against Ingush leadership, law enforcement officials and civilians must be dealt with severe punishment. He said that although external factors such as foreign funding for Islamist terrorists are also a concern, for the most part North Caucasus' security problems are the results of internal reasons such as corruption and socio-economic problems.


2009 Nazran bombing, Aftermath
"The roots are in the structure  of  our  life, in unemployment, clans who could not care less about people and whose only concern is to how to divide the money poured in here,  to get a contract and to settle scores with one another later, as well as corruption, which has really become very widespread among law enforcement authorities."


2009 Nazran bombing, Aftermath
On 21 August, the militant Islamist Caucasus Emirate group claimed responsibility for the attack.


2009 Nazran bombing, Background
In 2009, the violence grew in the North Caucasian republics of Russia and terrorist attacks became more frequent. Although Chechen separatist activity was confirmed to be diminished due to the heavy-handed security measures undertaken by Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov, violence in Chechnya has been replaced by Islamic insurgency in the neighbouring republics, Dagestan and Ingushetia.


2009 Nazran bombing, Background
After the June attempt on President Yevkurov's life, there had been several incidents just days before the Nazran attack on 17 August. Several other leading Ingush officials have been assassinated since June 2009, including Deputy Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Aza Gazgireeva, former Deputy Prime Minister Bashir Aushev, the head of the Forensics and Investigations Center Magomed Gadaborshev, and Construction Minister Ruslan Amerkhanov.


2009 Nebelhorn Trophy
The 2009 Nebelhorn Trophy was held between September 23 and 26, 2009 in Oberstdorf, Germany. It served as the final Olympic qualifier to the 2010 Winter Olympics. Skaters competed in the disciplines of men's singles, ladies' singles, pair skating, and ice dance. The compulsory dance was the Tango Romantica.


2009 Nebelhorn Trophy, Olympic qualification
This competition served as the final Olympic qualifier to the 2010 Winter Olympics. Eligible skaters qualified a spot to the Olympics for their country in order of their placement at this competition; there was no individual skater qualification. Countries who had already qualified a spot to the Olympics at the 2009 World Figure Skating Championships were not eligible to qualify more spots here, and their results were discounted from the overall results when allotting spots to countries. Unlike at the World Championships, where countries could qualify more than one spot depending on the placement of the skater, at this competition, countries who qualified were allotted only one spot to the Olympics, regardless of placement.


2009 Nebelhorn Trophy, Olympic qualification
There were six Olympic spots available in men's singles, seven in ladies' singles, four in pairs, and five in ice dance. There were originally only six spots available in the ladies event; however, Georgia gave up one of its ladies spots before the competition, which allowed a seventh spot to become available.


2009 Nebelhorn Trophy, Olympic qualification
If a country later declined to use one or more of its qualified spots, the vacated spot was awarded using the results of the Nebelhorn Trophy in descending order of placement.


2009 Nebelhorn Trophy, Olympic qualification, Qualified countries
The following countries qualified an entry to the Olympics. In the event that a country chooses not to fill a spot, the next alternate in line is allotted the spot.


2009 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team
The 2009 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team represented the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Cornhuskers played their home games at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska and were led by head coach Bo Pelini. The Cornhuskers finished the season 10–4, 6–3 in Big 12 and were Big 12 North Division champions and represented the division in the Big 12 Championship Game, where they lost to Texas 13–12. Nebraska was invited to the Holiday Bowl, where they defeated Arizona 33–0.


2009 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Before the season
The 2009 Cornhuskers began the regular season on Saturday, September 5, 2009 against the Florida Atlantic Owls. The Cornhuskers were led by second-year Head Coach Bo Pelini. Pelini previously served as Defensive Coordinator for LSU and Oklahoma following a season as Nebraska's Defensive Coordinator in 2003, and was brought back to Nebraska to lead the football program by Nebraska's former Head Coach and current Athletic Director, Tom Osborne after the conclusion of the 2007 season.


2009 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Game summaries, Florida Atlantic
This was the first time Nebraska had met the Florida Atlantic Owls, who, in 2008, finished 6–6 (4–3) for a 3rd place tie with Arkansas State in the Sun Belt Conference and finished with a 24–21 victory in the 2008 Motor City Bowl against Central Michigan. Nebraska entered the contest with a 4-game winning streak after defeating Clemson in the Gator Bowl. Nebraska decisively defeated the Howard Schnellenberger-led Owls, 49–3.


2009 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Game summaries, Florida Atlantic
Nebraska's Roy Helu Jr. rushed for 152 yards and three touchdowns, while Zac Lee, in his first start as quarterback at Nebraska, threw for 213 yards and two touchdowns, along with one interception. The FAU offense did produce good yardage, gaining 122 yards rushing and 230 yards passing. However, they were unable to score a touchdown, with their only points coming from a 21-yard field goal by Ross Gornall in the second quarter. A large part of this was because of 5 turnovers by the Owls. This win extended the Cornhuskers season-opener win streak to 24 games, the nation's longest.


2009 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Game summaries, Arkansas State
Cornhusker QB Zac Lee passed for over 340 yards and four touchdowns as the Cornhuskers had little trouble defeating Arkansas State in Lincoln 38–9. Nebraska's defense struggled for consistent performance but still managed to hold the Red Wolves out of the end zone except for a single touchdown and field goal, while the Cornhusker offense was consistently able to gain yardage. This was the first time Nebraska had met the Arkansas State Red Wolves, who finished the 2008 season 6–6 (4–3) for a 3rd place tie with Florida Atlantic in the Sun Belt Conference, although they were not invited to a postseason bowl game.


2009 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Game summaries, Virginia Tech
The Huskers fell to 2–1 against the Hokies in the final seconds, having split the series with a 41–21 Nebraska victory in the 1996 Orange Bowl and a 30–35 Nebraska home field loss in non-conference play in 2008. Nebraska was poised to win its first touchdown-free game since 1937 on PK Alex Henery's career-high five field goals, but Virginia Tech escaped the home loss when Hokie QB Tyrod Taylor found a receiver on 3rd and goal from the 11 with just 21 seconds remaining to play.


2009 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Game summaries, Virginia Tech
Statistically Nebraska outperformed the Hokies on offense, as Virginia Tech was held to just 11 first downs, only 4 first downs after the first quarter, pinned Hokie QB Taylor to -22 yards on the ground, and outgained Virginia Tech 343–278. 112 of the 278 Hokie yards were acquired on just three key plays.


2009 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Game summaries, Louisiana Lafayette
This was the first time Nebraska had met the Louisiana–Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns, who finished 6–6 (5–2) for a 2nd-place finish in the Sun Belt Conference in 2008. This game was also Nebraska's 300th consecutive sellout of Memorial Stadium (an ongoing NCAA record), and the Cornhuskers wore 'throwback'-style uniforms based on the team's 1962 appearance from when the NCAA-record streak began, to commemorate the milestone.


2009 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Game summaries, Louisiana Lafayette
Nebraska smothered Louisiana Lafayette in front of an all-time Memorial Stadium record crowd, piling up 55 points while posting their first shutout since a 56–0 pasting of Troy in 2006. Nearly all of Nebraska's active roster found playing time, as the game was decided early.


2009 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Game summaries, Missouri
In a game that nearly was canceled twice—once by torrential rains, possible lightning hazards, and potential flooding, and again when a power outage darkened the stadium less than an hour before kickoff—Nebraska tied an all-time 4th-quarter comeback record, previously set in 1966, when the Cornhusker offense overcame the weather and penalties to roll off 27 unanswered points.


2009 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Game summaries, Missouri
Missouri QB Blaine Gabbert was hobbled early in the game with an apparent ankle injury, but Tiger Head Coach Gary Pinkel opted to keep him in the game. Both teams struggled in heavy rain conditions to produce offensive output early on. The teams combined for 11 punts and two fumbles in the first half, with Missouri's safety early in the second quarter and a last-second touchdown just before halftime for the only points on the board.


2009 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Game summaries, Missouri
With electrical problems persisting and scoreboards remaining dark throughout the night, the Cornhuskers attempted to regroup during the half in a locker room without lights.


2009 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Game summaries, Missouri
The third quarter continued the scoring struggle, with Missouri still holding Nebraska off the scoreboard while only managing a field goal. In the fourth quarter, however, Nebraska managed to score with three touchdowns in 3:22, thanks in part to two turnovers forced by the Cornhusker defense. Protecting an 8-point lead, and with the stands quickly emptying of rain-soaked Tiger fans, Nebraska tried to run the ball for short gains in order to let the clock tick down. They did, however, score another touchdown with 56 seconds remaining to put the game out of reach.


2009 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Game summaries, Missouri
The road win against #24 Missouri was Nebraska's first win against a ranked opponent since a 28–27 win against Texas A&M in 2006. This was Nebraska's first win in Columbia since 2001. Nebraska improved their series lead against Missouri, dating back to 1892, to 64–36–3. Although it was not known at the time the game was played, this would be the last conference meeting at Faurot Field in Columbia, Missouri between these teams. Nebraska would leave the Big XII conference for the Big 10 in 2011.


2009 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Game summaries, Texas Tech
Nebraska's hopes for redemption following last year's heartbreaking loss in Lubbock against the then-#7 Texas Tech Red Raiders fell short as the Cornhuskers never found a groove in their offensive output, even after changing quarterbacks for much of the second half. The Cornhusker defensive effort was outstanding, holding the unranked Red Raiders to just 259 yards, less than half of their season average. Although the offensive unit outgained Texas Tech with 285 total yards of its own, penalties and miscues took a heavy toll that could not be overcome.


2009 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Game summaries, Texas Tech
Nebraska's abrupt move to the Big Ten Conference would take effect for the 2011 season, leaving this series under the control of the Cornhuskers at 7–4.


2009 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Game summaries, Iowa State
Although the Iowa State Cyclones have historically fared poorly in the previous 103 meetings with Nebraska, the Cyclones entered Memorial Stadium without their leading quarterback and rushing threat and subsequently played an error-free game. The solid effort was enough to put up 9 points in the first half to lead Nebraska by 2, which concluded the game's scoring. The 9 points turned out to be sufficient to win against the poor Cornhusker offensive effort, which turned over the ball a school-record eight times (including four inside of Iowa State's five-yard line). The turnovers negated Nebraska's 362–239 edge in yards gained.


2009 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Game summaries, Iowa State
The Cyclones moved up to 5–3 (2–2) after a 2–10 (0–8) record the previous season and enjoyed their first win in Memorial Stadium since 1977. First-year Iowa State Head Coach Paul Rhoads said about the game, "When you don't win in a stadium on the road since 1977, it's big." Overall, Nebraska leads the series 85–17–2.


2009 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Game summaries, Baylor
As part of the effort to provide a spark to its nonproductive offense, true freshman quarterback Cody Green made his first start and notched his first win against the Bears in Waco. Although highly touted Nebraska DT Ndamukong Suh had been making the most noise over the course of the season, to the point of generating early Heisman talk, it was DT Jared Crick who dominated Baylor, racking up seven additional tackles for loss and a school record five sacks, for a total of 13 tackles (10 solo), as well as a fumble recovery.


2009 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Game summaries, Baylor
Baylor's own defense was also stubborn, only allowing the Cornhuskers 20 points in the first half before shutting them out in the second. Baylor managed a single field goal and a defensive touchdown off of an interception a short time later in the third quarter to end the scoring. The final score was 20–10 and gave Nebraska the road victory.


2009 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Game summaries, Baylor
Just as with the Texas Tech game, it was not known at the time that this would be the last conference meeting between these teams, and the regular series drew to a close with Nebraska in command 11–1.


2009 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Game summaries, Oklahoma
The history of Nebraska's contests with the Oklahoma Sooners continued in this 85th meeting between these programs, with Oklahoma holding a 44–37–3 series lead. Oklahoma had defeated Nebraska in 2008 with a strong offensive output in Norman, which left Nebraska behind 0–35 in the first quarter.


2009 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Game summaries, Oklahoma
In 2009, the defenses took control of the game. Oklahoma made their way down the field but were stopped in Nebraska territory. Tres Way tried for his first career field goal but instead sent it flying to the left. Later in the first quarter Oklahoma made it way back down and tried for another field goal but this time Ndamukong Suh made sure the game stayed tied by getting a hand on the kick. Later on, Oklahoma QB Landry Jones was intercepted by Prince Amukamara of Nebraska, who returned it to the one-yard line.


2009 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Game summaries, Oklahoma
Nebraska's offense struggled most of the game, but they got the 1 yard they needed as Zac Lee connected to Ryan Hill for the game's only touchdown. Later Oklahoma and Nebraska exchanged field goals, and then Matt O'Hanlon got three interceptions in the fourth quarter to seal an important victory for the Nebraska Cornhuskers and keep Oklahoma from recording even a single touchdown.


2009 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Game summaries, Oklahoma
This game also turned out to be the unplanned final regular season conference meeting between these programs in their storied historical rivalry, and the Sooners and Cornhuskers parted ways with Oklahoma owning the series edge 44–38–3.


2009 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Game summaries, Kansas
The Nebraska offense tried to improve over their performance the previous week against Oklahoma. Chastised for playing close conservatively during the 10–3 win over Oklahoma, the Cornhuskers hit Kansas with a barrage of big plays to win in Lawrence for the first time since 2003. To start the game Niles Paul caught a Zac Lee pass for a 35-yard gain. Roy Helu Jr. ran for 156 yards and three touchdowns, and Nebraska used big plays on offense to beat Kansas 31–17 Saturday and take a share of the Big 12 North lead.


2009 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Game summaries, Kansas State
Roy Helu Jr. ran 26 times for 95 yards and a touchdown, and Nebraska defeated Kansas State 17–3 to win the Big 12 North. The win earned the Huskers a birth in the Big 12 conference championship game on December 5 in Arlington, Texas against the Texas Longhorns. The third-ranked Longhorns clinched the South Division with a 51–20 win over Kansas.


2009 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Game summaries, Kansas State
Kansas State (6–6, 4–4) ended its season with losses in three of its last four games. Because two of the Wildcats' wins were against lower-division teams, they needed to beat Nebraska to become eligible for a bowl game.


2009 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Game summaries, Kansas State
The Huskers' Zac Lee completed 13 of 19 passes for 166 yards and a touchdown. Helu gave Nebraska a two-touchdown lead early in the third quarter with his 14-yard run. Daniel Thomas ran 19 times for 99 yards for Kansas State, and Grant Gregory was 11 of 31 for 126 yards. The Wildcats failed to score a touchdown for the second straight game despite their offense spending most of the second half on Nebraska's side of the field.


2009 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Game summaries, Kansas State
Three scoring opportunities were lost when Keithen Valentine fumbled at the Nebraska 1 and Josh Cherry missed field goals of 51 and 32 yards. The Wildcats, trailing by two touchdowns, drove to the Nebraska 25 in the last 4 minutes, but Ndamukong Suh and Barry Turner teamed up to sack Gregory. The Wildcats turned the ball over on downs when Gregory led Brandon Banks too much on a ball thrown toward the end zone.


2009 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Game summaries, Kansas State
The Huskers took over with 3:41 left and were able to run out the clock for their fourth straight win after Lee sneaked for a first down on fourth-and-1 from his own 36. Kansas State's only points came at the end of the game's opening series, when Cherry kicked a 44-yard field goal.


2009 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Game summaries, Colorado
Nebraska ended Colorado's season by defeating the Buffaloes at Folsom Field. Colorado elected to receive to start, and the Cornhusker defense prevented them from getting further than their own 21-yard line on all four of their first-quarter possessions, setting the tone for the game. Nebraska's offense struggled at times during the game, and the Buffaloes gained some traction in the second half. Colorado's two trips into the red zone during the fourth quarter produced no points through the efforts of the blackshirts to turn them away. Nebraska moved the ball 80 yards in 13 plays to seal the game with seven more points, going up 28–14. The teams traded possessions again, before Colorado managed to punch in a final touchdown on the last play of the game.


2009 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Game summaries, Colorado
Nebraska, enjoying their fifth straight win, capped their regular conference schedule at 6–2, winning all league road games for the year. Colorado's season ended with no bowl game and a 3–9 record in coach Dan Hawkins' fourth year. Nebraska extended their series lead to 48–18–2.


2009 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Game summaries, Texas
This was Nebraska first trip to the Big 12 title game since 2006 and fifth time in the league's 14 years. Nebraska met undefeated #3 Texas for the 2009 Big 12 Championship Game as heavy underdogs, as 63 of 64 media predictions recorded by one source predicted a Texas victory. Nebraska hoped to upset the Longhorns and earn a BCS bowl game berth. The Longhorns sought to stay unbeaten and earn an invitation to the 2010 BCS National Championship Game.


2009 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Game summaries, Texas
The game was defined by dominant defenses on both sides. The Nebraska offense, still struggling to find a productive groove, was rendered ineffective by Texas, gaining only 106 yards on the day and scoring all 12 points on field goals. However, the highly productive Longhorn offense led by Heisman-candidate Colt McCoy found itself struggling to make progress against the blackshirts. McCoy was sacked nine times and intercepted three times, while Texas was held to just 202 yards of offense for the game. The 13 Longhorn points were the fewest they had scored in any game since a 7–12 loss to Texas A&M in 2006.


2009 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Game summaries, Texas
Late in the fourth quarter, with Texas holding a slight 10–9 lead, Nebraska came up with the most productive series of the night, going 43 yards in 8 plays to set up the go-ahead field goal putting Nebraska up 12–10 with just 1:44 to play. Texas faced their first loss of the season and the loss of an invite to the national championship. A poor kickoff following the field goal provided Texas with good starting field position, and a 15-yard penalty on Nebraska shortly thereafter put Texas in the outer reaches of field goal range.