appeared to have found their QB in the win over Michigan State

NEW YORK -- Take that, Pokemon. On Sunday, the Japanese prime minister turned up at the Olympics closing ceremonies to promote the 2020 Tokyo games dressed up as Mario , the eponymous hero of the popular video game series created in 1985.Who is Mario and how did he come by his global appeal? Heres a closer look.---WHY SUPER MARIO?Japanese animation and game characters from Hello Kitty to Pac Man also made appearances in the closing ceremonies. But none of them may have the global reach of Super Mario, the game franchise that was a hit when Nintendos video game system and Game Boy burst onto the scene in the 1980s.Prime Minister Shinzo Abes appearance as Super Mario was a crowd-pleasing reminder of how much the game helped spur on the videogame revolution in the U.S. and globally. Abe emerged from a green pipe in a big red Super Mario cap and costume, holding a glowing red ball kicked to him by famed manga soccer star Captain Tsubasa.---HOW DID SUPER MARIOS APPEARANCE COME ABOUT?Tokyo 2020 organizers said in a statement that the Super Mario idea came up during a brainstorming session. Staff at Nintendo would say only that the government asked to borrow the character for the show.---MARIOS BACKSTORYThe franchise began in 1981, when Donkey Kong debuted as an arcade game. Donkey Kong soon became the hottest selling arcade game in the business. In that game, a character called Jumpman, similar to Mario, tried to save a damsel from a big ape. Super Mario came a long four years later, packaged with the Nintendo Entertainment System, popularizing the side-scrolling videogame format.Marios first job was carpentry, but later he became a plumber, and in many games he travels up and down in a world of underground pipes. In his book Game Over: How Nintendo Conquered the World, David Sheff wrote that Mario was named after Nintendos U.S. landlord, who was demanding back rent from the companys fledgling U.S. arm. Nintendo doesnt confirm or deny the story.---BY THE NUMBERSThere are more than 100 games, for various gaming systems, ranging from Donkey Kong to Super Mario Kart, in which Mario is the primary character, and many more in which he makes appearances. Mario Brothers is the best-selling video franchise of all time, with more than 490 million units sold since 1995, according to research firm NPD. Comprar Nike Classic Cortez SP Nylon Negro/Blanco . The 25-year-old Japanese star has officially been posted by his club team, the Rakuten Golden Eagles. Nike Pegasus 33 Mujer . -- Washington Redskins tight end Fred Davis was charged Thursday with driving while intoxicated, a day after he was suspended for an NFL substance-abuse policy violation. http://www.siyaguna.com/nike-cortez-ultra-moire-baratas-zapatillas-rojas-blanco.html . The deal is pending a physical, assistant general manager Bobby Evans said. Traded from Seattle to Baltimore on Aug. 30, Morse also can play first base and right field to give manager Bruce Bochy some flexibility in writing his lineup. Nike Cortez Ultra Moire Negro/Negro-Blanco . Manuel was offered a position the day he was fired. He accepted earlier this week and the team made the announcement Friday. Comprar Nike Classic Cortez SP Nylon Gris/Blanco . "We have always prided ourselves on the way we play defence. Having two big pieces back is going to be a key for us moving forward for years to come," said Knighthawks head coach Mike Hasen. Wait. Do not -- repeat, do not -- eliminate the losers of Week 5s biggest games.Unless its Clemson. (More on that in a bit.)The Pac-12, ACC and Big Ten will take center stage as each league features a game between top-10 undefeated teams, but none of those teams playoff hopes are walking a tightrope this week like the Tigers. Clemsons chances of returning to a semifinal will sink like Howards Rock if they lose at home to Louisville.A one-loss team isnt doomed in October, you argue. True. Look back at the first two years of the CFP: Six of the eight teams lost a game, and some of them were ugly. Thats why Stanford, ?Wisconsin, Michigan (and maaaaybe Louisville) could all survive a loss this weekend.Clemson might not be so fortunate.Heres a deeper look at whats at stake in the three biggest games of Week 5:No. 8 Wisconsin at No. 4 Michigan (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC) What it means for the winner:?A Wisconsin win would further legitimize the Badgers playoff hopes and should convince more people to buy into them as a serious contender in the Big Ten. Even after wins against LSU and Michigan State, Wisconsin is still playing in the shadow of the Big Tens East Division. This would be its second straight road win, though, against one of the Easts best teams. For Michigan, it would be the first win against a ranked opponent, which the Wolverines résumé needs after playing just one team so far (Colorado) with a winning record. If Michigan wins this one, though, it should be 7-0 heading into Michigan State on Oct. 29 and in a great position with the committee.The road back for the loser:?Both could certainly rebound to win their respective divisions and possibly meet again in the Big Ten championship game, but the margin of error shrinks drastically. Michigan still has road trips to East Lansing, Iowa and Ohio State -- the latter being the only game on its schedule that ESPNs Football Power Index does not project the Wolverines to win. Wisconsin has a bye week to recover from a loss and will need it -- to prepare for Ohio State. Of the three games featuring undefeated teams, this one would be the easiest to recover from because it is cross-divisional.No. 3 Louisville at No. 5 Clemson (8 p.m. ET, ABC) What it means for the winner:?A Louisville win puts the Cardinals atop the Atlantic Division standings and changes the balance of power in the ACC, where Clemson and Florida State have been the leagues lone national title contenders in recent years. Louisville already throttled Florida State 63-20, but thats only half the equation. A win in Death Valley would leave no doubt Louisville is the ACCs new king. A win for Clemson, and the ACCs three-way tiebreaker doesnt seem so far-fetched anymore. If Clemson wins, and then Florida State beats Clemson in Tallahassee on Oct. 29 -- and none of them lose again -- the ACC would then turn to SportSource Analytics to break its tie.The road back for the loser: If Clemson loses, the three-way tiebreaker goes out the window, along with the Tigers playoff hopes. Clemson would then need Louisville to lose twice, and Dabo Swinney has a better chance of throwing a pizza party for Florida State fans than that happening. Check out the rest of Louisvilles schedule: The only ranked opponent remaining is a Thursday night road trip to Houston. Its a tough game Louisville could certainly lose, but not one that would keep it out of the ACC championship game. Louisville plays the Coastal Divisions two weakest teams this year in Duke and Virginia. ESPNs Football Power Index projects the Cardinals to win every remaining game. Clemson would need Louisville to have a complete meltdown to get back in the ACC race. If Louisvillle loses, it would need Clemson to lose twice -- another long shot, as Clemsons toughest remaining opponents are FSU and Pitt.ddddddddddddIt also could still hope Florida State beats Clemson and it wins the three-way tiebreaker. Bottom line: The loser of this game no longer controls its position in the playoff picture.On the playoff bubbleNorth Carolina at No. 12 Florida State (3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN) Playoff plotline: The Tar Heels are heading to Tallahassee confident off a win against Pitt, and FSUs playoff hopes are already on life support. An upset here, and the Noles are done.No. 22 Texas at Oklahoma State (Noon ET, ABC) Playoff plotline: The Longhorns had a bye week to recover from their devastating road loss to Cal, but they havent even played a conference game yet. Texas has no margin for error, but if it can win out, it can get back in the CFP debate.Oklahoma at No. 21 TCU Playoff plotline: The Sooners can still win the Big 12, but TCU is in a better playoff position because it has only one loss, which was in double overtime to Arkansas. Even if OU wins the league, it will have a difficult time getting into the top four with two losses and no league title game to help compensate for it.No. 11 Tennessee at No. 25 Georgia Playoff plotline: The Vols asserted themselves as the team to beat in the SEC East with last weeks win over Florida, but if they come out flat and stumble in Athens, its anyones game. Instead of appearing to have a serious playoff contender, though, the East will again look average, with little hope of upending the West champ.Week 5 superlativesMost intriguing mascot battle: Zippy the Kangaroo vs. Flash the Golden Eagle. Psst, hey Kent State, want to know a secret? Kangaroos cant walk backward. Look it up. Get her on her heels and you might win ...Upset watch: Tennessee at Georgia. The Bulldogs havent looked great this season, struggling against Nicholls, being fortunate to escape Mizzou with a win, and then losing to Ole Miss, but we havent seen Tennessee respond to success yet, and Nick Chubb might want to make a statement against the team he tore his ACL against -- that is, if he has recovered from a sprained ankle.Can-miss game: Alcorn State at Arkansas. Poor Alcorn State, the rebound date for Arkansas after it lost to Texas A&M. ESPNs FPI gives Arkansas a 99.5 percent chance to beat the 1-2 FCS team.Player in the spotlight: Wisconsin QB Alex Hornibrook. The Badgers appeared to have found their QB in the win over Michigan State, but Michigans defense has pressured opposing quarterbacks on 42 percent of their dropbacks this season, second-highest rate in the Power 5.Matchup to watch: Louisvilles offensive line vs. Clemsons defensive line. Its the nations No. 1 offense against the No. 3 defense, and it all starts up front. Clemson, led by Christian Wilkins, Carlos Watkins and Dexter Lawrence, ranks in the top 10 nationally in tackles for loss (38) and is giving up fewer than 100 rushing yards per game.Under the radar: Utah at Cal. This matchup was a thriller last year, when the Utes won 30-24. This time, the Bears are averaging 45.5 points per game, and the Utes are allowing just 15.8. Somethings gotta give.Must-win game: Too many. Texas, Florida State, TCU, Clemson, Louisville -- theyre all likely eliminated from the CFP conversation with a loss.Dont forget about: Ole Miss lost to Memphis last year. The Rebels certainly didnt forget. Memphis is off to a 3-0 start under first-year coach Mike Norvell, but ESPNs FPI pegs the Rebels chances at earning revenge at 86 percent. ' ' '