With $27 Diana Ross billion in sales Staplesserves

With $27 infers billion in aint no mountain high enough devises sales, Staplesserves businesses of all sizes and consumers in 27 countries throughout Northand South America, Europe, Asia and Australia. In July 2008, Staples acquiredCorporate Express, one of the world`s leading suppliers of office products tobusinesses and institutions. Staples invented the office superstore concept in1986 and is headquartered outside Boston. Forward-Looking StatementsCertain information contained in this press release constitutes forward-lookingstatements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions of The Private SecuritiesLitigation Reform Act of 1995, including the statements regarding our intentionto issue notes and our expected use of proceeds. These statements relate tofuture events and can generally be identified by words such as "expects" and"intends" Forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain. The success ofthe offering and the sale of the notes are subject to a number of conditions,not all of which are within Staples' control. There is no assurance that Stapleswill successfully complete the proposed offering or apply the proceeds of theoffering as presently intended.

Actual results may differ materially from thoseindicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of risks anduncertainties, including but not limited to changes in national or regionaleconomies, changes in the interest rate environment and other factors discussedor referenced in our most recent quarterly report on Form 10-Q filed with theSEC, under the heading "Risk Factors" and elsewhere, and any subsequent periodicor current reports filed by us with the SEC . In addition, any forward-lookingstatements speak only as of the date such statements are made arne ness . While we mayelect to update forward-looking statements at some point in the future, wespecifically disclaim any obligation to do so baby love . Staples, Inc.Media Contacts:Paul Capelli/Owen Davis, 508-253-8530/8468orInvestor Contacts:Laurel Lefebvre/Chris Powers, 508-253-4080/4632 Copyright Business Wire 2009 chain reaction . You can't see past them You can't get around them. You can't shoot over them."Them," of course,refers to the Syracuse Orange defense that hassmothered its first two opponents into submission. The defense has had two of its best games in terms of efficiency since Ken Pomeroy began keeping track in 2004.The Syracuse defense put up an astounding 53.1 defensive rating (.531 points per possession) against Albany and approximately a 67.7 Wednesday against Robert Morris (official numbers will come in overnight).Those numbers are remarkable.

Maybe not for programs like Memphis, Kansas, and Louisville known for their defense, but certainly for a team like Syracuse, who hasn't been a superior defensive team since 2005.That's finally changing this season because of the incredible length Syracuse has from players one through 10 on the depth chart.Naturally, Syracuse was bound to have a size advantage against Albany and Robert Morris, but this reshaped roster is teaming with length that should put the Orange near the top of the country in relative height.Size doesn't always mean success when playing a man-to-man defense, and the same goes for the 2-3 zone, but in the zone, length and athleticism decreases the gaps and shooting lanes.With a frontline that features 6'9'' Arinze Onuaku in the center with 6'10'' Rick Jackson and 6'7'' Wesley Johnson on the wings, players don't have room tomaneuver near the basket.Repeatedly in the first two games of the season, opponents would take the ball baseline . In years past, SU wings struggled at closing out the baseline, allowing the opposition to take the ball one-on-one to the basket with only the center to defend come see about me . That development allows another play to slip through the lane for an easy pass and bucket.This year, Rick Jackson, Wesley Johnson, and Kris Joesph?the first forward off the bench?have closed out the baseline extremely well diana roos . This has allowed Onuaku to double the ball on the baseline which leads todisastrous results for the offense. This adjustment, as well as more actively interrupting the passing lanes has forced 60 turnovers in the first two games (32 for Albany, 28 for Robert Morris).To put that into perspective, Syracuse has forced a turnover on 36 percent of its defensive possessions diana supremes . In 2009, that number was 18.8 percent and the 'Cuse hasn't pushed 20 percent since 2006.The Orange has also been able to extend the 2-3 zone because Andy Rautins, Scoop Jardine, and Brandon Triche have been more active on the perimeter, but also have great size for guards. Numerous times during the first two games, they've deflected passes thrown over their heads.

That rarely ever happened with last year's backcourt of Eric Devendorf and Jonny Flynn.The most promising sign for the Orange is probably the fact that Robert Morris is the kind of mid-major that usually gives Syracuse fits . Throughout the last handful of years, the 'Cuse has struggled to blow out mid-majors because the 2-3 zone typically allows good shooting teams to stay in the game.The Colonials' offense revolves around the three-pointer and when they played the Orange in 2008 in the NIT, they drilled 16 three-pointers in a six point loss.Wednesday night, Syracuse forced RMU into an abysmal shooting performance?not only from behind the arc (6 of 23), but everywhere else as well (22 of 62).With a California team that led the nation in three point shooting last season looming in the semifinals of the Coaches vs do you know where you re going to lyrics . Cancer Classic next week, Syracuse might finally have a way to protect itsonce vulnerable Achilles heel.For more updates and observations on college basketball, follow Jameson on Twitter. every day is a new day . * Citigroup slides after brokerage venture plan Stocks  |  Bonds  |  Global Markets  |  Funds News  |  ETFs News * Alcoa due to post earnings after bell; stock falls * For up-to-the-minute market news, click [STXNEWS/US] (Updates to early morning) By Ellis Mnyandu NEW YORK, Jan 12 (Reuters) - U.S . stocks fell on Monday,hurt by diminishing appetite for riskier assets due to fearsthat fourth-quarter earnings might spotlight furtherdeterioration in the economy. Concerns about the prospect for more financial sectorlosses stemming from the mortgage slump added to the negativetone, with shares of Citigroup (C.N) sliding nearly 8 percent,and JPMorgan Chase (JPM.N) off more than 3 percent.