LaDainian Tomlinson rushed for two touchdowns and Philip Rivers threw for a pair of scores to guide San Diego to a 31-23 victory over an Eagles squad that couldn’t overcome three lackluster quarters.

Tomlinson rushed for a season-high 96 yards on 24 carries, while Rivers was an efficient 20-of-25 for 231 yards for the Chargers (6-3), who have won four straight to tie Denver atop the AFC West standings. The Chargers play in Denver next Sunday.

Mike Tolbert and Legedu Naanee each caught a TD pass for San Diego, which chewed up nearly seven minutes on the clock during a 12-play, 66-yard drive late in the fourth quarter to all but seal the victory.

Donovan McNabb had a good statistical game, finishing with 450 yards and a pair of fourth-quarter touchdown passes for the Eagles (5-4), who were coming off a 20-16 loss to Dallas last weekend.

McNabb, who connected on 35-of-55 throws, threw two balls in the end zone in the waning seconds, with the latter getting intercepted by Antonio Cromartie as time expired.

Brian Westbrook returned to the field after a two-game absence but sustained his second concussion in four weeks during the loss.

Jeremy Maclin’s five-yard reception in the left corner of the end zone pulled the Eagles within 28-16 with 14:12 remaining in the game.

San Diego went three-and-out and the Eagles moved the ball with relative ease against the Chargers’ prevent defense. Brent Celek kept the drive moving with a 17-yard reception on 4th-and-4 from the San Diego 28, and the tight end caught a six-yard TD pass to make it a one-score affair.

The Chargers took over with a little over seven minutes left and held the ball for 6:42 thanks to a pair of third-down conversions, the latter an 18-yard reception by Naanee that put the ball at the Philadelphia 15.

That was the last first down for the San Diego offense, but the Eagles had no timeouts following the two-minute warning. As time ticked down, Nate Kaeding booted a 29-yard field goal with 30 seconds left to make it 31-23.

McNabb moved the Eagles 32 yards with a pair of completions, but his last- second bullet to the end zone went directly into the arms of Cromartie.

The hosts went up 7-0 midway through the opening frame when Rivers hit Tolbert with a dump pass in the middle of the field that turned into a 20-yard score.

With the Eagles sputtering on offense, San Diego embarked on a 10-play, 82- yard drive that culminated with Tomlinson’s three-yard TD run four minutes into the second quarter.

Philadelphia twice penetrated the red zone later in the half but only came away with field goals each time. A defensive pass interference penalty gave the Eagles the ball at the San

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Sports Betting

You don’t have to hang up your soccer cleats or trade in your tennis racket when your school days are over. By choosing a career in a sports-related field you can stay in the game indefinitely.

People who love athletics can work in areas as diverse as medicine, management, marketing, manufacturing and many other sports-occupational areas. Prospects are increasing as more people play and watch sports. With the explosion of sports for women and girls, entire industries have sprung up, such as women’s clothing and equipment. In other careers–like sports journalism and sports administration and sports training–opportunities for women to participate in previously male-dominated have, if not leveled the playing field, at least greatly expanded it.

There are over six million jobs in sports-related careers, according to Donna Lopiano, executive director of the Women’s Sports Foundation. While many of these jobs take special education and training, entry-level positions exist for young men and women willing to work their way up.

Careers in sports take many forms. While many young athletes dream of making it to the professional ranks, the reality is that very few make it that far. In other sports-related careers the news is more encouraging. From educators to architects, facilities managers to fitness instructors, physical therapists to professional athletes, there are positions to fill.

Below is a sample of jobs with suggested education and/or training requirements for breaking into the field.

Sports Journalist

Sports journalists report on the news of the sports world to the public. A four-year degree in journalism and/or equivalent writing experience is recommended. Job opportunities exist in newspapers and magazines, radio, and television. Most beginning journalists begin as interns on college newspapers, radio, or television stations or as general reporters on small-town newspapers. Curiosity, writing, and interviewing skills and the ability to work within deadlines are characteristics of successful journalists.

College Coach

College and university coaches are responsible for getting athletic teams ready to play in competition. In smaller colleges they may coach several sports, while in larger institutions they are mainly responsible for just one team. Duties include recruiting players, developing game strategies, and teaching skills. Most college coaching positions require a minimum of four years of college. A typical career path might begin as an athlete, followed by becoming an assistant coach at the high school or college level.

Exercise Physiologist

An exercise physiologist studies how the stress of exercise affects the body. The most common areas in which exercise physiologists work are prevention–teaching healthy lifestyle habits–and rehabilitation–helping to restore function following an accident or debilitating illness. They may manage a wellness center, teach, or conduct research. Most jobs require a minimum of a master’s degree with an expertise in exercise physiology

Sports Agent

A sports agent acts as a professional athlete’s representative in negotiating contracts, salaries, endorsements, and other business arrangements. Education includes a four-year college degree in business or a related major, often followed by a law degree. Negotiating skills, sales ability, and ability to work under stressful conditions are all traits of the successful sports agent.

Sports Official

A sports official is the field-of-play arbitrator of rules at an athletic event. The ability to make instantaneous decisions, resolve conflicts, and deal with stress and pressure, as well as the fitness level to keep up with the game are keys to success in this field. Men and women are needed to officiate in every sport and at every level from youth to professional leagues. Most people start by studying the rules of the sport and attending clinics, followed by officiating at youth and recreational levels. From there, dedicated officials can advance into high school and college sports. Officiating at the professional level is like playing in the pros—only a very few of the finest, most ambitious make it.

The areas with the most opportunities during the next five years are estimated to be new business development, sports apparel, internet marketing, coaching and athletic administration, and officiating.

Tips to getting started in a sports career:

• Assess your skills and determine how to translate them into a career in sports.

• Set goals. Think about what interests you and what you have to offer. Career planning is a process.

• Seek the advice of guidance counselors and do career research to create an educational program to fit your needs.

• Follow the educational or training plan you’ve developed.

• Get experience. Internships, work-study, part-time and summer jobs, and volunteering can help you prepare for a career and allow employers to assess your talents.

• Enter the job market, looking for entry-level positions or jobs that match your experience and that can be paths to your career goal.

• Network. Join professional organizations, attend conferences, volunteer for leadership positions. Seek a mentor—someone who can assist you on your career path.

While it’s not enough just to love a particular sport or sports in general, your passion can help you chose a career that combines business and pleasure.

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Sidebar:

Sports-Related Careers

Massage therapy

Physical education/coaching

Physical recreation

Public relations

Retail sales of sporting goods products

Sports administration

Sports architecture

Sports broadcasting

Sports equipment management and maintenance

Sports facilities management and maintenance

Sports information

Sports journalism

Sports law

Sports management

Sports marketing

Sports medicine

Sports nutrition

Sports photography

Sports promotion

Sports psychology

Careers also exist as:

Acupuncturists

Clothing designers

Curators in sports museums

Equipment designers

Historians

Officials and referees

Personal trainers

Physical therapists

Professional athletes

Professional or college scouts

Sports officials

Statisticians

Web-site designers

End sidebar

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Journalist, publisher, author Penny Hastings lives in Santa Rosa, California, and is the co-author of \\\”How To Win A Sports Scholarship\\\” and author of Sports For Her: A Reference Guide for Teenage Girls. She has written numerous articles for newspapers and magazines. She is the owner/publisher of Redwood Creek Publishing.