Gear

KABUL - As the pace of the drawdown of U.S. troops from Afghanistan picks up in 2012, military planners are trying to figure out how to ship huge quantities of alliance vehicles, weapons and other equipment out of the mountainous, landlocked country. The operation requires the removal of $30 billion worth of state-of-the-art military gear by the end of 2014, when U.S. and other coalition troops are to end their combat role, a senior U.S. official said yesterday. Most of the American equipment will be shipped to military depots in the United States for refurbishment and then redistributed to bases around the country.

EvoGear.com is a collection of snowboard, ski, skateboard and wakeboard gear from a company with a conscience. The site's evoTRIP section lists international ski, snowboard and surf trips. This winter, there are trips to Japan, Switzerland and Bali. A 14-day excursion to South America in September combines skiing and boarding with surfing. Need to save money on gear? Don't miss the "Super Closeouts" for brand names at discounted prices. Many are more than half off. This site is not all about winter wear, either; it offers gear for wakeboarders and skaters, too. Each product has ratings and user reviews (or the option to review it yourself)

Regardless of how you might be feeling right now about the Flyers as a hockey team, you've got to admit that their charitable arm is a winner, giving more than $700,000 annually to great causes like Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philabundance and the Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation, among others. Along with big marquee fundraisers, the Comcast-Spectacor Charities ( fondly known as the Flyers Charities) also run a little souvenir kiosk at Flyers games. Look for it outside the Cure Club bar area in section 116. Items for sale include Hartnell Down T-shirts and caps (including Wayne Simmonds "Wayne Train" gear)

RE "STUCK in Traffic" editorial (Sept. 22): Since the Police Department is obviously overburdened with work and cannot effectively enforce many of the traffic laws, I say give more responsibility to the Parking Authority. As far as the new "block the box" law goes, it has to be one most unenforced traffic ordinances in the city. In fact, the way it works now, it is a joke. The city should move the stop line back another car length from the light - and the really start enforcing the law. Too many intersections in Philadelphia are total gridlock at all hours of the day. Gerald Jackson, Philadelphia Wake up, California!

Lacrosse equipment will be collected at Cingular Wireless retail outlets in the area today through Monday as part of an initiative to promote youth lacrosse programs in Philadelphia. The telephone company, an official sponsor of the NCAA and its men's championships being held at Lincoln Financial Field this weekend, wants sticks, balls, pads, goggles, jerseys and cleats - new or used, for girls or boys. The donations will help the Inner City Lacrosse Development Program, a joint initiative of the Philadelphia Lacrosse Association and the Black Women in Sport Foundation.

The stick and glove Sidney Crosby used to give Canada its Olympic gold medal are back where they belong. Crosby's missing gear was on its way to the Pittsburgh Penguins star yesterday. Hockey Canada says the gear was misplaced rather than stolen, with both items ending up in the wrong place in the process of packing and shipping equipment after the Olympic final. The stick and glove got lost in the shuffle after the frenzy of Crosby's overtime goal for a 3-2 win against the United States at the Vancouver Olympics on Feb. 28. "I'm grateful to everyone who took the time and effort to get my equipment back for me," Crosby said on the Penguins' Web site.

LIKE A MANAGER who has been to the postseason before, Chris Achilefu felt comfortable that he knew just what to expect at his Forman Mills store on Grant Avenue in the Northeast. After all, he had been through this before when the Eagles went to the Super Bowl. Sort the World Series merchandise. Set up the table where the items would go. And then move his staff and the World Series champion apparel into position once the game ended. "Before we knew it, the game was over and in the next half-hour, we were mobbed," Achilefu related yesterday, still going on fumes after pulling an all-nighter.

For two women tennis pros, coming back to their car last night after dinner at a Center City restaurant was worse than a straight-sets drubbing on the tour. The station wagon that had contained their equipment, personal belongings and $1,500 in cash had been broken into and everything stolen, said Barry "Butch" Heffernan, a tennis instructor who was escorting the two touring pros, Amy Schwartz, 16, of Miami, and Akemi Nishiya, 21, of Japan. Someone had smashed the station wagon's rear side window and taken the possessions.

The Phillies and some viewers were upset Wednesday after a Web site - phillyburbs.com - offered merchandise making fun of the Brett Myers situation. Myers, a Phillies pitcher, was charged last Friday with domestic assault and battery. From about 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, readers of phillyburbs.com were offered merchandise for sale that included T-shirts, thongs and even shirts for their dogs that had "wife beater" and "39" written on them. Myers wears No. 39 for the Phillies.

"Daily News Live" will kick off Comcast SportsNet's lineup of extensive coverage of the World Series tonight. "DNL," with host Michael Barkann and broadcasting from Florida, begins at 5 p.m., followed by "Phillies Pregame Live" at 6 o'clock and "SportsNite" at 6:30. "Phillies Postgame Live" airs immediately after Game 1, with a replay of the show to follow. CSN will air World Series coverage as part of "Daily News Live" weeknights and "SportsNite" every night. "Phillies Pregame Live" will air before every game and "Phillies Postgame Live" airs immediately after each game, featuring live news conferences, interviews and analysis.

The softball career of Winslow Township pitcher Callia Abbott turned around because of a cellphone. Growing up, Abbott had issues controlling her emotions in the circle. One bad pitch led to another, and possibly tears if she couldn't turn things around. "I would get so frustrated with myself because I'm such a perfectionist," said Abbott, whose habits still apply to the organization of her homework and school projects. "Every little thing has to be there. " After Abbott reached her lowest point in the eighth grade, her father made her an offer: She could get a cellphone if she made it through a season without crying.

"Andy and Tammy Reid are having a 'moving sale' and you're invited!" states a news release from Harriton High School in Rosemont. Eagles running back LeSean McCoy will also sign autographs as part the Saturday morning fund-raiser at the school attended by the five children of the ex-Eagles coach and his wife. Proceeds benefit Laurel House, a shelter and anti-domestic violence agency, and Harriton High football, with those donations made in the name of the Reids' son Garrett, who was found dead of a heroin overdose in his dorm room at Eagles training camp in August 2012.

Breyer treated in bike accident    WASHINGTON - Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer is in a Washington hospital after shoulder replacement surgery following a bicycle accident. Court spokeswoman Kathy Arberg says the 74-year-old Breyer is expected to make a full recovery following the operation Saturday. Breyer injured his right shoulder in a fall Friday near the Korean War Veterans Memorial. The justice previously broke his collarbone in an accident in 2011 and sustained broken ribs and a punctured lung in a bicycle mishap in 1993, before he joined the court.

For the Simon Gratz boys' track team, Saturday's Great Valley R. Joseph Kellerman Relays were the final rehearsal before the Penn Relays. If the Bulldogs can carry over their momentum, this coming week could be filled with a good amount of success. Despite below-average temperatures and a gusty wind, Gratz won the 4x200-meter relay in 1 minute, 31.58 seconds and finished third in the 4x100. "The more confident you are, the better you run," Bulldogs coach Robert Massie said.

PHILLY RUNNING groups plan on showing solidarity with Boston Marathoners by doing what they do best: They'll run. Ryan Callahan, outreach coordinator for athletic store Philadelphia Runner, said Tuesday that after he brainstormed ways to support the victims along with the local chain's owner and a colleague, they came up with the idea of bringing together the area's disparate running clubs for a citywide run on Thursday. The Fishtown Beer Runners, the South Philly Striders, the Fairmount Running Company, the Bryn Mawr Running Club, the Philly Runners - in short, everybody - will participate, he said.

LITTLE EGG HARBOR, N.J. - Opening Day had all the usual signs of a good time for youth baseball and softball for the Bay Shore Athletic Association here Saturday. The weather was nice - 50s and sunny - the mayor threw out the first pitch, teams raced onto the field for the opening ceremony, "Call Me Maybe" boomed from the loudspeakers, and volunteers grilled burgers and franks. But there was something extra this year: boxes full of free helmets, gloves, hats, cleats, and other equipment donated by a Harleysville, Pa., nonprofit that is helping youth leagues affected by Hurricane Sandy.

When it comes to the Merion Golf Club in June, the U.S. Open is expected to generate more than $100 million in revenue for local businesses from SEPTA to chiropractors, but one local labor union is angry that its members are being shut out. The United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners lambasted the U.S. Golf Association this week for not hiring local labor to build most of the staging for the event. Edward C. Coryell, business manager of the Carpenters' Metropolitan Regional Council of Philadelphia and Vicinity, released a statement describing the decision as "unconscionable.

Kentucky's primary goal against Delaware will be like all Blue Hens' opponents: try to keep all-American Elena Delle Donne from taking control of the game. It's not the first time this season the Wildcats have faced one of the sport's best players. Kentucky (29-5) coach Matthew Mitchell believes his team learned from its experience against the game's most imposing player - 6-foot-8 Brittney Griner - in an 85-51 loss to Baylor. The 6-5 Delle Donne presents a different challenge; she rebounds, is a willing passer, and averages 25.8 points - but she can dominate from the perimeter.

Regardless of how you might be feeling right now about the Flyers as a hockey team, you've got to admit that their charitable arm is a winner, giving more than $700,000 annually to great causes like Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philabundance and the Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation, among others. Along with big marquee fundraisers, the Comcast-Spectacor Charities ( fondly known as the Flyers Charities) also run a little souvenir kiosk at Flyers games. Look for it outside the Cure Club bar area in section 116. Items for sale include Hartnell Down T-shirts and caps (including Wayne Simmonds "Wayne Train" gear)