Nashville, TN (SportsNetwork.com) - Malik Zaire and Everett Golson each saw time under center for Notre Dame, and both helped lead the Irish to a win in the Music City Bowl on Tuesday at LP Field. Zaire and Golson each had a hand in Notre Dames final drive, a 14-play, 71- yard march, that Kyle Brindza capped with a 32-yard field goal as time expired for a 31-28 win over No. 22 LSU. Golson picked up a pair of first downs through the air, while Zaire used his legs, picking up a few first downs on the ground to set up the winning kick. Zaire, a redshirt freshman making his first career start, was named the starting quarterback for the game on Monday after a lackluster season from Golson. The duo combined for 186 yards passing with Zaire tossing a touchdown to William Fuller. Zaire also rushed for a team-high 96 yards on 22 carries with a score for Notre Dame (8-5), which snapped its four-game losing streak. We had that mindset that we had to do this for the team, Zaire said of splitting time with Golson. Leonard Fournette did all he could to help the Tigers (8-5) in this one, supplying 264 total yards with three touchdowns. Fournette set Music City Bowl records with a 100-yard kickoff return as well as an 89-yard rushing touchdown. He finished with 143 yards rushing on 11 carries. Zaire, who played a majority of the second half after splitting most the time with Golson in the first, had to sit out a play when his helmet popped off after a first-down run with just over four minutes to play. Golson came on and Irish coach Brian Kelly chose to leave the redshirt junior in for a few plays. Golson hooked up with Fuller for a 14-yard gain on 2nd-and-15. Zaire relieved him and proceeded to pick up the first down with a 3-yard run. Golson then hit Ben Koyack and Tarean Folston later in the sequence for 12 and 16 yards, respectively, prior to Zaires 8-yard scamper that moved the chains again for Brindza. This is a matchup that we had wanted at Notre Dame and we know LSU feels the same way, said Kelly. Really the mantra for us was get this to the fourth quarter and find a way to win. After accounting for just 18 passing yards in the first half, Anthony Jennings opened the second by tossing a play-action pass to a wide open John Diarse for a 75-yard TD, also a Music City Bowl record, to tie the game at 21-21. LSU had another explosive play later in the third when Fournette continued his monster day with an 89-yard touchdown run to give the Tigers their first lead of the day with 6:14 left. The Irish got it back on their next touch as C.J. Prosise rushed around the right end, broke a tackle and bolted into the end zone for a 50-yard touchdown. Isaac Rochell blocked Trent Domingues 40-yard field goal to keep the game tied with under 12 minutes left in the fourth. On Notre Dames opening drive, Zaire scrambled for a first down on 4th-and-9 at the Tigers 28. Two plays later, Fuller took a short pass along the left hash, picked up a couple of blocks and leaped into the end zone. LSU stopped the Irish on fourth down in its territory on the next drive, and responded with an 8-play drive that Fournette capped on an 8-yard touchdown run. Golson started the Irishs ensuing possession and hooked up with Chris Brown early in the second quarter for a 29-yard gain to the LSU 23. Zaire was then inserted back in two plays later, and after a couple of runs, his 7-yard scamper into the end zone gave Notre Dame a 14-7 edge. That margin did not hold, though, as Fournette took the kickoff 100 yards untouched for a score. The quarterback carousel continued for the Irish as both contributed to another score. Golson was crushed in the backfield, but managed to get a fluttering pass off to Fuller for an 11-yard gain and a first down. Zaire then zipped a pass to Fuller for 17 yards on 3rd-and-11 two plays before Folston barreled into the end zone for a 6-yard TD. LSU chewed up six minutes of clock to close the half. After Jennings was stopped on three consecutive plays from inside the 10, the field-goal unit was sent out with seconds remaining. Holder Brad Kragthorpe bolted for the end zone from the 2 and was inches from the goal line before getting brought down. Replay showed the ball just crossing the plane, however, video evidence was inconclusive. Game Notes Zaire had 96 yards passing on 12-of-15 efficiency, while Golson went 6-of-11 for 90 yards ... The last kick return for a score against Notre Dame occurred against Michigan State in 2009 ... Early in the third quarter, a bad exchange with Jennings and Fournette led to the games only turnover. Jennings went 7- for-14 passing for 151 yards and a touchdown ... Notre Dame, which ended the season with a 4-0 mark on neutral fields, now leads the all-time series with LSU, 6-5. The Tigers took the last meeting, a 41-14 decision in the 2007 Sugar Bowl ... Fuller, who had 57 yards on five catches, finished the season with 15 touchdown receptions ... The Irish outgained LSU, 449-436 and held the ball 14 minutes longer than their counterpart. Replica Vapormax China . Notes on Bergeron, Marchand, Gorges, Vanek, Gaborik, Doughty, Hiller and more. BRUINS STORM BACK TO TAKE GAME TWO The Boston Bruins rallied from a 3-1 deficit, scoring four unanswered goals, to win Game Two, 5-3 over the Montreal Canadiens. Air Vapormax Flyknit Fake . Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports reports that the Raptors have traded forward Steve Novak along with a second-round pick to the Utah Jazz in exchange for guard Diante Garrett - who will then be waived. http://www.outletvapormaxireland.com/air-foamposite-wholesale-china.html . Inter moved five points behind fourth-place Fiorentina and eight points behind third-place Napoli, which visits relegation-threatened Sassuolo on Sunday. Vapormax Flyknit Ireland . Quarterback Drew Willy appeared to injure his throwing hand on the third last play of practice Thursday. Vapormax Off White Fake . The 90-plus minutes of play are about trends and approach.KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Watching from the bullpen as journeyman Collin McHugh carved up the Kansas City lineup, Astros reliever Tony Sipp only wished he had a bucket of popcorn and a soda. "Its like watching a good movie," Sipp said, "and you dont want to mess up the ending." After McHugh held the light-hitting Royals at bay over seven innings, Sipp and Chad Qualls provided an appropriate ending. They worked the final two innings without allowing a hit in a 3-0 victory Tuesday night that gave Houston its first four-game winning streak since September. The Astros own the worst record in the AL, but have won four in a row on the road for the first time since taking six straight away from Minute Maid Park last May 29-June 3. "I mean, I think were playing hard," said McHugh, who is already on his third big league team in three seasons. "Were coming to play every day, and were putting together a few games here." Houston rookie George Springers homer streak ended at four games. He hit two flyballs to the warning track and finished 1 for 4. Matt Dominguez hit an RBI single in the fourth, and the Astros tacked on two more runs against Tim Collins in the eighth. "Thats what you call an extremely well-played baseball game," Houston manager Bo Porter said. McHugh (3-3) scattered five hits while striking out nine without issuing a walk to earn his first win in five starts. He stranded a runner at third base in the second inning and runners at second and third in the fifth, but otherwise cruised through the Kansas City lineup. The only run Jeremy Guthrie (2-4) allowed came when Dominguez followed up a pair of one-out walks to Dexter Fowler and Jason Castro with a single in the fourth inning. Guthrie left after allowing seven hits and three walks in six innings. The right-hander dodged plenty of trouble, inducing doubble-play grounders in the third and fifth, but still got stuck with his fourth straight loss.dddddddddddd. His last win came April 9 against Tampa Bay. During a nine-start winless streak, Guthrie has allowed just one run on three occasions. The Royals lost for the sixth time in their last eight games, and their pop-gun offence has had a lot to do with the futility. Kansas City has been held to three or fewer runs in four of its last five games, including the 9-2 pounding that Houston dished out on Monday night. Royals manager Ned Yosts frustration boiled over in the sixth inning. He went out to check on Guthrie with the bases loaded and two outs, and was returning to the dugout after their discussion when plate umpire Kerwin Danley met him near the mound. After saying something to Danley, Yost was immediately ejected. "I got frustrated on some calls I thought Jeremy should have got. Its mostly my fault," said Yost, who was tossed for the second time this season. Meanwhile, McHugh continued to slice up the Royals batting order. He struck out designated hitter Billy Butler twice, silenced Eric Hosmers bat and retired the last eight hitters he faced. It was the fourth time the Royals have been shut out this season. "You dont lose confidence, but youre definitely frustrated," Hosmer said. "We definitely should be putting up a better fight. As an offence as a whole, we should be putting up a better performance than that. Were not getting the job done." NOTES: Royals RHP Yordano Ventura will miss his next start due to a valgus extension overload, a condition that causes pain in the elbow. He left Monday nights game in the third inning. An MRI on Tuesday came back negative. ... The Astros left 11 runners on base. ... Houston RHP Jarred Cosart is slated to start Wednesdays series finale. LHP Danny Duffy is on the mound for Kansas City. ' ' '

SAINT-QUENTIN-EN-YVELINES, France -- In his French Open debut, Kevin Stadler shot a bogey-free 7-under 64 to lead by a stroke after the first round on Thursday. The American golfer, who won the Phoenix Open in February and shared eighth place at the Masters in April, made seven birdies on a punishing golf course that will host the Ryder Cup in 2018. Marcel Siem of Germany was in second place, one stroke clear of Stephen Gallacher of Scotland. Jamie Donaldson of Wales and Felipe Aguilar of Chile were tied for fourth at 4 under. Defending champion Graeme McDowell (70) and U.S. Open champion Martin Kaymer (72) stayed in contention while Padraig Harrington (74), Thomas Bjorn (76) and Victor Dubuisson (76) will need a good performance in the second round on Friday to make the cut. Comprar Vapormax Baratas .Y. - Matt Harvey wants to make sure hes on the mound in late October — if the New York Mets get there for the first time since 2006. Nike Air Max Plus Tn Baratas . - Mathew Barzal scored 3:47 into overtime as the Seattle Thunderbirds downed the visiting Everett Silvertips 4-3 on Tuesday in Western Hockey League playoff action. http://www.vapormaxbaratas.com/air-max-tn-baratas-venta.html .Y. - Everyone expected Clayton Kershaw to pitch a shutout, and he did — a unanimous choice for the NL Cy Young Award. Zapatillas Nike Just Do It Blancas .com) - His team lost in the round of 16 of the FCS playoffs, yet Northern Iowa football coach Mark Farley says his team has made a strong case to be voted to the top 5 in the final rankings. Nike Air Vapormax 95 Baratas . Scrivens stopped 48 shots and captain Andrew Ference scored in overtime as the Oilers pulled off a 4-3 upset of the Anaheim Ducks on Friday.Each week, The Reporters put their thumbs out to the good and the bad in the world of sports. This week they discuss the decision to stop the NFL concussion settlement, the medias indifference to a big boxing match in Montreal, the maturity of Anthony Bennett and NHL outdoor games. Bruce Arthur, National Post: My thumb is up to U.S. federal judge Anita Brody, who this week halted the NFLs concussion settlement with former players. Judge Brody was concerned that with fixed dollar awards for specific ailments for ex-NFL players - a ghoulish list that specifies, for example, up to $3.5 million for Alzheimers, or up to $5 million for ALS - and a $765 million cap on the settlement fund, the money could run out, since its designed to cover 20,000 men over 65 years. Yes, there are ex-players who need help right now, and this could hurt them. But given the seriousness of the settlement, its potential ramifications, and what we still have to learn about what football does to peoples brains, it seems like the least you can do is to double-check the math. Steve Simmons, Sun Media: My thumb is down to us - those of us in mainstream sports media in English Canada - who have ignored the rich and electric Quebec boxing scene. Saturday night, at a sold out Bell Centre, two former world champions, adopted Montrealers Jean Pascal and Lucien Bute, boxed a 12-rounder that most of us outside Quebec and the United States didnt pay any attention to. "This is the Super Bowl of boxing in Canada," said Pascal, the winner, but what he should have said is: this is the Super Bowl of boxing in French Canada. The bout was available live on HBO in the U.S. but not offered live and free across Canada. And not covered by anyone in Canada outside Quebec.dddddddddddd We failed here on a major event: when it comes to boxing in Quebec, we always fail. Michael Farber, Sports Illustrated: My thumb is up to Anthony Bennett for uncommon maturity. The surprising first pick in the NBA Draft says he will not object if the Cavaliers send him to the Development League to straighten out his game. Certainly some tidying up is in order. In about 10 minutes a night, the 20-year-old Torontonian has averaged two and a half points and shot a miserable 27 per cent. This is the worst start for a No. 1 overall selection since… well, ever. Most top picks would resist a demotion. Laudably Bennett, who has had his 6-8 frame parked on the bench, has parked his ego at the door. Dave Hodge, TSN: I will need both of my thumbs -- one is up to the NHL for the obvious success of the outdoor games, another of which we can talk about here next week as the Ducks and the Kings play on Saturday at Dodger Stadium. Thatll be followed by the Rangers and Devils at Yankee Stadium next Sunday. And all the hockey fans in the stands at two of baseballs most famous stadiums will be having a great time at a hockey "event". Not so much the TV watchers. So let me say "thumbs down", to the viewing experience at home. The New Years Day game in Detroit could be measured this way, I think -- the fans in Ann Arbor were as excited as the fans at home were bored for much of the time. The excitement level will be the same at the LA and NY "events". The boredom level is liable to increase for the rest of us, because to expect what could be called a good hockey game is to expect too much. ' ' '

MILWAUKEE -- Jason Hammel threw a sinker early in counts to try to entice groundball outs against an aggressive lineup and mixed things up with a fastball in the low 90s. It was an overwhelming combination for the short-handed Milwaukee Brewers. Hammel had a season-high seven strikeouts and allowed three hits in seven scoreless innings, Starlin Castro hit two solo homers and the Chicago Cubs snapped a four-game losing streak with a 4-0 win Sunday. Hammel, one of the few bright spots in a dismal April for Chicago, made his impressive work sound easy afterward. He hasnt given up more than five hits in each of his five starts. "I featured a pretty good sinker down in the zone early to get a lot of ground balls and just attacked the zone," he said. "So, thats really all it was today." Hammel (4-1) didnt allow a hit until Carlos Gomez doubled down the left-field line with one out in the sixth. He then got into trouble after walking Scooter Gennett and making an errant pickoff throw to put runners at second and third. But the righty got a strikeout before Aramis Ramirez bounced out to end the threat. "Great, great job. Mixed all his pitches well. Stayed down," manager Rick Renteria said. Chicago improved to 8-16, the last team in the majors to get to eight victories. Chicago scored twice in the second on Castros first homer and Darwin Barneys RBI fielders choice with the bases loaded off Brewers starter Wily Peralta (3-1). Castros second shot in the eighth off reliever Brandon Kintzler barely cleared the wall in the left-field corner. Castro had his second career multi-homer game in nearly three weeks, having going deep twice April 8 against Pittsburgh. His second-inning homer also just cleared the wall 400 feet away in dead centre and evaded the leaping Gomezs outstretched glove. On the mound, Peralta pumped his right arm in front of his waist in frustration. He thought the Gold Glove-winning Gomez might have had a shot at robbing the homer. "Always," Peralta said. "When GoGo runs back, you think he has a chance to make the catch." Gomez said he had the perfect timing, "but its not even close." He went 1 for 4 on his bobblehead day. Peralta, a right-hander with a 96-mph fastball had trouble spotting pitches in the second. Ramirez stepped on third for an out on Barneys grounder but his throw trying to get Nate Schierholtz at home bounced up the first-base line to allow the run to score. Despite not having his best command, Peralta still just gave up three runs on eight hits in seven innings. He struck out six. "If hes not going to be sharp and thats what he does, its pretty good," manager Ron Roenicke said. Having Ryan Braun and Jean Segura could have helped, but both Milwaukee stars missed the game with injuries. Braun sat with a slight chest muscle strain, while Segura had a partially closed right eye and bruised right cheek after being accidentally hit during a practice swing by Braun on Saturday. Segura said after the game he hoped to return this week during the Brewers seven-game road trip to St. Louis and Cincinnati. Braun might miss three to five days. The remaining Brewers were overmatched by Hammel, who stayed low and away from the Brewers remaining potent right-handed bats. Hammel was lifted after allowing pinch hitter Rickie Weeks single to lead off the bottom of the eighth. Pedro Strop and Hector Rondon held the Brewers hitless the final two innings. Notes: Despite the win, the Cubs lost the three-game series to the Brewers and extended the teams string of winless series to 13 dating to last season. Chicago last won a series after taking two of three from Cincinnati in September. ... C John Baker went 2 for 4 that ended an 0-for-18 stretch. ... Ron Roenicke said the club would hold off on making any roster moves while Braun and Segura continue to be evaluated. ... The Brewers travel to St. Louis to start a seven-game road trip, with Yovani Gallardo (2-0) getting the start Monday. Chicago begins a three-game set in Cincinnati and sends Jeff Samardzija (0-2) to the mound. Cheap Jerseys From China . The NFL announced Friday that the Texans sixth-year veteran offensive lineman will replace Philadelphia Eagles tackle Jason Peters in the Jan. Fake Jerseys 2020 . Four years after winning gold on home ice in Vancouver, the Canadians will get a chance to make it two in a row Sunday against Sweden after beating the United States 1-0 in the Olympic semifinals Friday at Bolshoy Ice Dome. http://www.jerseyscheapcustom.com/ . made a diving catch in left field for the final out in a 1-0 victory over the Miami Marlins in a regular-season finale Sunday. Zimmermann (14-5) allowed only two baserunners, finishing with 10 strikeouts and one walk in the fifth no-hitter in the majors this year. Fake China Jerseys . On Saturday, the paths of Drew Tate and Kevin Glenn cross again as opposing quarterbacks. Cheap Fake Jerseys Free Shipping . "There are a lot of things that are going very well in this organization. Im not coming in here to rip things apart," Nicholson told reporters Friday. "I know what Hockey Canada was when I started, and I know where this (Oilers) organization is today.KUUSAMO, Finland - Johannes Rydzek of Germany was the strongest in a seven-man group to win the opening event Saturday at the Nordic Combined World Cup.Rydzek beat Austrias Bernhard Gruber by one second, finishing the 10K skiing event in 25 minutes, 32.9 seconds.Czech Miroslav Dvorak was in a good position for a while and was in liine for his maiden win, but finished third, 6.dddddddddddd1 seconds behind the 22-year-old Rydzek, the runner-up in the World Cup overall last season.Olympic silver medallist Akita Watabe of Japan was fourth, and Olympic winner Jorgen Graabak of Norway finished fifth after rising from 25th place after the ski jump. ' ' '

LOS ANGELES -- The Minnesota Wild rallied twice from one-goal deficits and pulled out a victory against the Los Angeles Kings, who rarely give up late leads. Matt Moulson and Mikko Koivu scored 62 seconds apart early in the third period, and Zach Parise connected during a power play for the Wild, who snapped the Kings six-game winning streak with a 3-2 victory on Monday night. "You dont want to be behind, but this shows that we believe in what were doing," Koivu said. "Even though we were down, we felt we were right there and we were able to create things offensively. "It was big for our confidence, to get a win over a team like L.A., because theyre deep. They have a lot of experience." Ilya Bryzgalov made 18 saves for the Wild. It was the second time in eight games the Kings lost in regulation after leading following two periods -- something that happened only once in 138 games dating to April 4, 2009. Minnesota won for the seventh time when training after two. "Keeping the lead in the third period is usually our teams forte," Kings defenceman Drew Doughty said. "But we didnt play very well in the second, and then we had a little collapse in the third. They got two goals really quick, and we couldnt get it back. "We knew that if we let them back in the game it would be tough to win it." Alec Martinez and Justin Williams scored for Los Angeles, both capitalizing on turnovers by defenceman Jared Spurgeon in the Minnesota zone. Jonathan Quick stopped 17 shots. "Weve had a tendency this last week or so to give up leads in the third period, and thats very uncharacteristic of us," Williams said. "We need to rectify that in these last five or six games, because were a team that shuts it down once we get the lead." The Kings were 0 for 2 on the power play and have gone consecutive games without a power-play goal for the first time since a five-game drought Jan. 21-28. Minnesota is 19-9-4 when they are short-handed fewer than three times in a game. The Wild came in with the NHLs fourth worst penalty-killing percentage, but are averaging the sixth fewest penalty minutes. "Its important whenever you can limit power plays," Moulson said. "There are a lot of skilled guys in this league that can hurt you on the power play if they get a bunch of chances." Moulson tied it with 16:06 remaining, using Martinez as a screen and beating Quick for his 22nd goal. Koivu made it 3-2 with his 10th on a one-timer from the top of the left circle. "We talked about making sure we were sticking to our game plan no matter what and pull out the two points," Moulson said. "We did a great job taking it to them in the third. Our goal was to make sure we got pucks in deep and get the forecheck going, and I thought we did a very good job of that." Williams put the Kings ahead 2-1 at 11:49 of the second with his 19th goal. Spurgeon had the puck behind his net and tried to clear it around the boards, but Willie Mitchell intercepted it and took a shot that struck Minnesota defenceman Ryan Suter before Marian Gaborik got control and set up Williams at the left of the crease. Martinez opened the scoring 6:30 in with his seventh goal in 15 games and 11th overall. "We were better in the third than we were in the first," Kings coach Darryl Sutter said. "We turned a lot of pucks over in the neutral zone. It had nothing to do with third period, it was all first period. "Its not about defence, its about checking. Its puck battles and tough parts to the game that we have to be able to control, and we werent doing that. I feel like a lot of guys werent into that." Parise tied it at 3:37 of the second period, 36 seconds into Tanner Pearsons hooking penalty. Mikael Granlund got the puck in the slot from Koivu for a one-timer that Parise redirected past Quicks glove. Minnesota left wing Dany Heatley, struggling through a 12-goal season and currently in a 14-game drought, was a healthy scratch for the second straight game. NOTES: Quick was 11-2 with a 1.67 goals-against average in his previous 13 games. ... Minnesota D Jonathon Blum, born in Long Beach, Calif., played in his 100th NHL regular-season game. In 2007, he became the first player born and raised in California to be selected in the first round of the draft (No. 23 by Nashville). ... The Kings were 11-4 in March, tying the franchise record for wins in a month set in January 2002. NMD Skor Rea . The Force had two men, including former Wallabies No. 8 Ben McCalman, in the sin-bin in the dying minutes of the match, but were able to resist a late Highlanders surge to post a four-try, bonus point win. Adidas NMD Sverige . The same for both the Calgary Flames and the Edmonton Oilers. http://www.nmdsverige.com/yung-96-adidas-skor.html .Connor Graham, Alex Lintuniemi and Sam Studnicka also scored for Ottawa (11-8-2). Liam Herbst made 21 saves for the win.Brendan Lemieux had both of Barries (10-10-2) goals. Adidas Falcon Rea . Its the second time this season that Milan has been sanctioned by the league judge, after fans also subjected Napoli supporters to discriminatory chants. The ban will come into effect for Milans next match, against Udinese on Oct. Adidas Superstar Sverige . The club announced Friday that Mauro Biello will be kept on as an assistant to coach Jesse Marsch when the Impact join the MLS in 2012.Gordie Howe scored 801 NHL goals and they called him Mr. Hockey. Wayne Gretzky came along and scored 894 NHL goals and they called him The Great One. John Tavares, a superstar in Canadas other officially designated national sport, joined them in an elite echelon of athletic achievement by scoring his 800th pro indoor goal on Saturday. "Hes the epitome of lacrosse as a player and as a person," says Buffalo Bandits teammate Anthony Cosmo, who has been reunited with Tavares after sharing Mann Cup triumphs while keeping in shape with him in summer amateur play. "Hes Mr. Lacrosse to me. Hes an amazing leader, an amazing lacrosse player. Its been an absolute pleasure playing with him." Tavares is 45 and in his 23rd season with the Bandits of the National Lacrosse League. Hes originally from Toronto, hes in a classroom weekdays teaching high school math in Mississauga, and he is an uncle of the NHL player of the same name. He scored his 800th goal in Buffalo on Saturday at 13:49 of the third quarter. Tavares scored his 800th on a power play at the 13:49 mark of the third quarter in Buffalos 16-13 loss to Calgary on Saturday. He had the ball to the left of Roughnecks goalie Mike Poulin, stepped towards the middle of the floor, and bounced a ball into the net from just outside the crease late in the third quarter, lifting most of the 16,606 spectators out of their First Niagara Center seats. "The nice thing about scoring the 800th is that theres no pressure for the next 99," he quipped afterwards. Hes also amassed in excess of 1,700 points. All of his numbers are NLL career scoring records. "I really dont care for milestones but, obviously, its a huge achievement to score 800 in the league for the number of games (293) that Ive played," he says. Buffalos Memorial Auditorium, where he scored his first two goals in a 1992 game against the defunct New York Saints, was razed long ago but Tavares is playing as if he could be around for a while yet. His 2014 season has been inspiring to everybody who has watched. Hes scoring as frequently as he was 10 years ago. "Im not trying to beat Gordie Howes record," he replies when asked if he could play until hes 52, like Howe. "No way. I have to run. Im not wearing skates out there." Tavares has been a key contributor this season. The Bandits are 8-6 so far in their 18-game schedule. "It makes it a lot more fun when youre winning," he says. Edmonton GM-coach Derek Keenan was a teammate of Tavares on that first-year Bandits outfit back in 92. Tavares showed exceptional talent right from the start of his rookie season as he was helped along by veteran teammates such as Kevin Alexander. "It was jaw-dropping how talented he was," says Keenan. Still is. The other night, he leapt with one hand on his stick in an attempt to score from behind the net and just missed. "John always morphed his game to suit his age or injuries," says Keenan. "He was an exciting inside player who dove the crease 10 times a game and played in the dirty areas. He rarely missed around the net when he had a chance in tight. He did that for a long time. Now his outside shooting is just unbelievable. "Thats been going on for 10 years. That started in his late 20s." The intensity level has never diminished. "Hes a competitor," says Keenan. "He can be nasty. Hes as tough as nails, and fearless. You wont come across a tougher competitor." Tavares pondered quitting after the disappointments of 2013 but opted to forge ahead. "My kids are always telling me, Daddy, one more year, one more year," he explains. The brass urged him to continue, too. "People like (GM) Steve Dietrich still felt I had something left in me so I came back." New coach Troy Cordingley gives him plenty of mminutes on the green carpets of the NLL.dddddddddddd "Hes the ultimate team player," says Cordingley. "Hes not worried about his goals or assists, hes worried about wins. "Hes unbelievable. Hes a great leader in our dressing room. He is not one bit worried about any individual stats. Hes just concerned about wins and thats the best kind of leader to have on your team." Cordingley was an assistant coach with the Bandits when they last won the NLL championship in 2008, he was a defenceman in Buffalo during his playing days, and he coached against him when he stood behind benches in Calgary and Toronto, so he knows Tavares well. "Hes a smart player," says Cordingley. "You have to try to outsmart him, which is pretty difficult. He knows where to go in open spaces. Hes a little bit slower than he was but hes so smart. He does other things off ball, too, to create space for other guys." Jim Veltman was a pro teammate of Tavares from 1992 through 1996, when they won a third title together. Veltman then captained the Toronto Rock to five championships in seven years through 2005. Meanwhile, they were summer teammates winning Canadian amateur titles with teams in Brampton, Ont., and in Victoria, when they last played together in 2003. "It was a thrill Ill never forget," Veltman says of hoisting the Mann Cup with Tavares in 03. "Just to be able to play with John again was a big reason why I played that year in Victoria." They shared a lot of laughs. "He makes the game fun," says Veltman, who retired in 2008. "He sees the game in a whole different light than most players. "Hes one of those guys you play with and you see him do something special and you
think, Wow, Ive never seen anything like that before. Hes like a kid in a playground. Most guys never tried some of the stuff he tried because theyd be afraid the coach would yell at you, but not John." Veltman recalled a trick Tavares used early in his career. A teammate would carry the ball behind the opposing teams net. Tavares would manoeuvre to the front of the crease and fall to his knees as if hed been hit. Hed hold his stick up in front of his chest. The teammate behind the net would hit the target with a pass and Tavares would score from his knees. Some of his antics off the floor were hilarious. During that 03 Mann Cup series, "Wed lost one of the games and everybody was feeling the pressure," Veltman recalls. "Guys were saying, Weve got to win, weve got to win and John came to the rink in womens underwear or whatever it was to loosen things up." It worked. Longtime NLL coach Bob Hamley was another 92 teammate. "He has been able to do what he has done because of his lacrosse IQ and his compete level," says Hamley. "I consider lacrosse players to be competitive people but John was and is at another level when it comes to competing. You combine this with his on-floor intelligence and it made him what he is today. His drive and intelligence are unmatched." Paul Day was on that 92 Buffalo team too. Day grew up in Peterborough and played against Tavares in his youth. "John already had an unbelievable stick when he was 12 years old," recalls Day, who is an assistant coach with the Rochester Knighthawks. "I remember slashing him a few times in junior, trying to get under his skin, and he wouldnt even look at you because you couldnt rattle him." There is much more to Tavares game than piling up scoring points. Day remembers a game when they had just turned pro in which Tavares laid out an opponent. "He hit a guy at centre, an open-floor hit that was one of the best ones Ive ever seen in lacrosse," he recalls. "What can you say about him now? Hes the best of all time, the best Ive ever seen." ' ' '

Boston, MA (SportsNetwork.com) - Jarrett Jacks late jumper helped seal the Brooklyn Nets impressive 109-107 comeback victory over the Boston Celtics on Friday afternoon. Jack finished with 27 points, seven rebounds and five assists, Alan Anderson scored 15 off the bench and Mason Plumlee had 14 points and 12 boards for the Nets, who have won three straight games. Jeff Green had 22 points and five assists, Jared Sullinger contributed 19 points and eight boards and Avery Bradley netted 17 points for the Celtics, who have lost three in a row. The Nets battled back in the fourth quarter. Andersons layup and 3-pointer and Bojan Bogdanovics layup got Brooklyn within 97-95 and Jacks pullup jumper made it a 99-99 game with 4:15 to play. The two teams traded baskets as Sullingers shot was answered by Joe Johnsons layup and Sullingers triple was countered by an Anderson 3 for a 104-104 game with 1:38 to play. Jack pulled down Sullingers miss and hit a jumper to give the Nets the lead with 27.5 seconds remaining. Green and Evan Turner were both off the mark and Brooklyn got the ball with 8.1 seconds to play on a turnover. Jack sank a pair of free throws after grabbing an inbounds pass, but Bradley made a 3-pointer to make it a 108-107 game with 1.8 seconds left. Johnson split a pair of free throws and Sullingers jumper rang off the rim at the buzzer. The Celtics held a 29-28 lead after the opening 12 minutes and the game remained close in the second quarter. Back-to-back treys from Bradley and Marcus Smart started a 10-2 Boston run. Bradley scored six points during the surge and his driving layup made it a 50-46 game with 3:31 remaining in the half. Brooklyn scored five of the final seven points and Plumlees slam with 9.5 seconds to play made it a 56-56 game at the break. Smarts pullup jumper ignited an 11-2 spurt that ended with a Tyler Zeller layup for a 74-64 advantage with 5:34 remaining in the third. Deron Williams hit a turnaround jumper at the buzzer, but Boston took an 86-79 lead into the final stanza. Game Notes The Nets have won three straight games for the first time since April 4-8 ... Smart made his second career start ... Williams had eight points, four rebounds and four assists off the bench after missing two games with a strained right calf ... Brooklyn outrebounded Boston, 43-37. Black Vapormax Womens Uk . Diego Costa headed in Gabis corner seven minutes from time to secure victory ahead of the return match in Madrid on March 11. "We know that at Madrid it will be another game, which will also be important and very difficult," Milan coach Clarence Seedorf said. Nike Vapormax Womens Uk . Each day, TSN.ca provides the latest rumours, reports and speculation from around the NHL beat. Duck Calling With several marquee centres available via trade and expected to be available via free agency, the Anaheim Ducks could be primed to be big players in the coming days. http://www.vapormaxwholesaleuk.com/wholesale-vapormax-mens-trainers/vapormax-flyknit-cheap-uk.html . Sources tell TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger that the team is quietly gauging interest on the Senators captain, though Spezza has a limited no-trade clause and carries a large contract. Clearance Nike Vapormax .DeMarco Murray got his 20th carry late in the fourth quarter with a 10-point lead, not long after Dez Bryant made his final catch of the day.Sure enough, a 44-17 win over Washington didnt change Dallas post-season position. Discount Vapormax . -- One shot came out of bottom of a cactus, the other from the base of a desert bush with rocks scattered around it.DURBAN, South Africa -- Such is the nature of his touchy back that Louis Oosthuizen has planned his golf schedule only up to the Masters in April. Problems with his lower back last year forced Oosthuizen to miss more events than he wanted to, and to withdraw after three rounds of the Byron Nelson Championship, after a first-round 75 at the U.S. Open, and most disappointingly to him, after six holes in the British Open, an event he won in 2010. That began a layoff of almost three months until he returned for the International team at the Presidents Cup in October. He played all four of the European Tours season-ending events and managed a best finish of 15th in Shanghai. While Oosthuizen is not prepared to look beyond the Masters, where he was runner-up to Bubba Watson in 2012, he has prepared a busy schedule starting with his defence this week of the Volvo Champions title on home turf at Durban Country Club. This is his first of eight tournaments in the next nine weeks, spread over Africa, the Middle East, and the United States. "I had some injections in my lower back last October that seem to have helped," Oosthuizen said on Wednesday. "The good thing is I am playing pain-free and I am doing a lot of things to get it better. But the pain iis definitely still there and its not going to go away, and its going to take a lot of time.dddddddddddd "Its meant Ive had to cut down my practice on the range, and while Im taking the occasional antiinflammatory, its just one of those things I have to deal with." Oosthuizen must wish he had the constitution of Miguel Angel Jimenez or even Darre Clarke. Jimenez returns to competition after turning 50 last Sunday and looking to again break his "oldest ever" tour record he re-set last month in capturing a third Hong Kong Open title. "Yes, I turned 50 a few days ago and I look in the mirror and still see the same guy," the Spaniard joked. "So I come here looking to win, win, win as that is my continuing motivation. For me, coming to play on the tour is not just to get a salary. If so, I would stay at home." Clarke, 14 years older than Oosthuizen at 45, has lost around 40 pounds since October in a bid to rekindle his form. He hasnt won anything since the 2011 British Open. "In a short time Im already twice as strong because most people who lose weight, they lose strength, as well," Clarke said, showing off a trimmer figure. "Ive gone the other way. Ive lost weight and gone twice as strong." ' ' '

FLIMS, Switzerland - Canadas Kelsey Rocque defeated the United States 8-4 to move into a first-place tie in the womens division at the world junior curling championships. Canada (5-2) is tied with Korea, Switzerland and Russia for top spot. Rocques rink from Edmonton led the Americans 6-4 after eight ends and scored two in the ninth to cement its third straight win. Canada finished the round-robin Sunday with games against Scotland (2-5) and Denmark (0-7). In mens action, Winnipegs Braden Calvert earned two wins, including a 6-5 decision over previously unbeaten Norway. "I guess well take the win after a game like that," said Calvert. "We got off to a bad start. I threw a really bad rock in five and we had to come back from that. "Luckily, we did and we pulled through." Canada gave up consecutive steals to tail 3-0 at the break. But Calverts rink rallied in the sixth as she made a tricky angle-raise double to score two. He followed that up with a steal of two in the seventh to go ahead. "That was huge in terms of the momentum we got from that shot," Calvert said of the sixth. "We gained a lot of confidence and basically got back at them." Canada also beat Switzerland 7-2 to improve its record to 4-3, leaving it in a three-way tie for third. "Were starting to get on a bit of a roll," said Calvert. "Were starting to gain some momentum and confidence. "We were really sharp out of the gate tonight and grabbed an early deuce. That was definitely the turning point in the game and we kept fighting and were able to pull it off. All the teams here are tough and each game is going to be a battle." Canada finishes the round-robin Sunday with games against the United States (2-5) and Austria (3-4). Vapormax Flyknit Vente . As each game passes (each has played close with the exception of last night) it becomes clearer just how evenly matched these two teams are and how one mistake, or one bad inning, is likely to sway the result. Basket Vapormax Blanche . -- Stanley Johnson scored all 18 of his points in the second half, T. http://www.vapormaxsolde.fr/basket-vapormax-noir-grossiste.html . Venus Williams advanced to the ASB Classic final in Auckland on a walkover when fellow American Jamie Hampton withdrew from their semifinal Friday with a right hip injury. Nike Vapormax Femme Black Friday . The first baseman hit a two-run homer in the top of the ninth inning to lead the Mets to a thrilling come-from-behind 3-2 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers. Vapormax Flyknit Noir 2020 . -- EJ Manuel followed the worst game of his career with the best.Its early in the season, but the goaltenders for Californias teams have been on fire. Its early, but Jonathan Quick is once again the gold standard in netminding numbers. Despite being lifted in his first game, Jonathan Quick has been outstanding - dominating in three of four straight Kings wins while facing 40 or more shots in three of his five games. He is in mid-season form, boasting a 3-1-1 record with 1.86 goals-against average and a .951 save percentage with one shutout. Right now, Quick is the best in the game at tracking pucks. A lot of times when we talk about a goalie who is seeing the puck well, this is exactly what we mean. Its his ability to find pucks through bodies, arms and any other traffic jams that are going on in front of him. We all know of his flexibility, his lateral movement and his competitiveness. Hes putting it to good use by finding pucks other goaltenders are unable to track consistently right now. Coming into the season, we knew Anaheim was deep in goal. But all the talk was of John Gibson and his ability to be a No. 1 keeper. Lost in the shuffle was Frederik Andersens ability and skill set. Not only did he show people what hes capable of, but Andersen also joined former Boston goalie Ross Brooks as the only two goalies in NHL history to win 25 of their first 30 career starts. The Great Dane is enjoying elite company when it comes to career-starting stats. Andersen has started the year 5-0 with a 1.38 goals-against average and a .950 save percentage, improving to 25-5 in his short career. And he aalready has a shutout to his credit, blanking the St.dddddddddddd. Louis Blues on Oct. 19. Andersens strengths are his size, his positioning, his quick feet (especially for a big man), his calm demeanour and his excellent puck-handling. His only knock so far in his career is that he doesnt have a ton of experience. And thats why going into the season, Anaheims goalies were rated lower. It was not based on talent, but on experience. If he keeps this up and plays a high-end brand of game for 50-plus games, hes on the road to becoming an elite starter in the league. A bit further north, San Joses goalies have also been rock solid. Antti Niemi is always under fire as a weak link for the sharks. He has a Stanley Cup from a season when people believed that Chicago outscored his issues in the playoffs. His stumbles in last years playoffs - as well as in the 2011-12 postseason - didnt help his cause. But his regular season consistency is always there and its hard to criticize someone who had 39 wins last year and has started the year 3-1 with a 2.70 goals-against average, a .920 save percentage and one shutout. He has put up regular season dominance behind a great regular season team. Alex Stalock had a rough night against the New York Rangers on Sunday, but has been hot in the early going. Hes 1-1-1 with a 2.27 goals-against average and a .933 save percentage and one shutout and will push for more starts as the year goes on. Theres no deeper division - at least in net - than the Pacific, based on these goalies starts to the season. ' ' '

SAN DIEGO -- The San Diego Padres struggling offence finally had a breakout performance -- 37 games into the season. Jedd Gyorko hit two home runs off Jose Fernandez, including a grand slam, in the Padres 10-1 rout of the Miami Marlins on Friday night. Gyorko had a career-high six RBIs as the majors worst offence scored its season high in runs and had its first genuine laugher. "Im trying to think, have we had one?" Padres manager Bud Black asked. "Those type of games happen and its rare that we have only had one. There are two ways to look at it for me. On the positive side, there is more of that to come." For Gyorko, the win had more meaning coming less than 24 hours after his key error preceded Giancarlo Stantons go-ahead two-run homer in the 11th inning of the Marlins 3-1 win Thursday night. "That was probably one of the lowest points of my career, to be honest," Gyorko said. "To pretty much cost your team a game, its good to bounce back. Its good to show that resiliency." Gyorko, who came into the game hitting just .146, connected for a two-run shot in the second and a grand slam in the sixth. "Hopefully, a game like this can jump-start an offence," Gyorko said. "Its still to be determined." The Padres hope this game can spark the 25-year-old Gyorko, whom they signed to a five-year, $35 million contract extension last month. "Guys are capable of those types of performances," Black said. "Not that Jedd is going to hit two homers and hit a grand slam, but hes capable of knocking in some runs." The Padres, who came in averaging a major league-low 2.6 runs per game, snapped a three-game losing streak. It was their highest-scoring game since a 12-2 victory over Arizona last Sept. 25. San Diego sent 11 men to the plate during a six-run sixth inning that broke it open. The Padres previous high for runs in a single game this season was six. The run support was not lost on starter Tyson Ross (4-3), for whom the Padres had scored more than three runs just twice in his previous seven starts. "Its huge early in the game," he said. "The hitters did a great job with their approach. They had some good at-bats early and got on the board and really broke it open." Fernandez (4-2) was charged with six runs on six hits in five-plus innings. The right-hander, who won the NL Rookie of the Year award last season, was 2-0 with a sparkling 0.60 ERA in his previous four starts. "It was a tough one," Fernandez said. "I was trying to do what I do, go out there and compete. But mostly my stuff wasnt there today, my fastball really wasnt there." Miami manager Mike Redmond knew it right away. "It just wasnt his night. You could tell from the first inning on he was up in the zone and they hit some balls hard off him," Redmond said. "We really didnt get anything going offensively either and we didnt help him there." Ross was working on a shutout before Marcell Ozuna homered in the seventh inning. The righty allowed four hits and struck out eight in seven innings. Tim Stauffer and Kevin Quackenbush each pitched an inning to close out the combined four-hitter. San Diego won for just the third time in 10 games and snapped the Marlins five-game winning streak. Gyorkos fourth homer in the second came after Yasmani Grandal reached on a throwing error by first baseman Garrett Jones. Everth Cabrera sparked the Padres biggest inning of the season with a leadoff single in the sixth. Seth Smith singled and Grandal walked to load the bases for Gyorko, who turned on a 2-0 fastball and hit it into the second deck of the Western Metal Supply Building down the left-field line. It was Gyorkos second career multi-homer game and his second grand slam. Fernandez had beaten the Padres in two previous starts by giving up just five hits in 14 2-3 scoreless innings with 18 strikeouts. NOTES: Marlins RHP Carlos Marmol was struck in the back by a ball off Kyle Blanks bat while stretching during San Diegos batting practice. Marmol said he was fine. ... Barring an injury, Padres 3B Chase Headley (strained right calf) will be activated from the 15-day DL on Saturday. Headley was scheduled to play Friday night with Single-A Lake Elsinore. ... The San Diego State mens basketball team that won the Mountain West Conference regular-season title and reached the Sweet 16 in the NCAA tournament was honoured before the game. ... Marlins RHP Nathan Eovaldi (2-1, 2.78 ERA) opposes Padres LHP Eric Stults (1-3, 5.40) on Saturday night. Scarpe Adidas Springblade Offerta .Y. -- AJ Allmendingers journey is almost complete. Scarpe Nmd Nere Outlet . Catch the game on TSN starting at 7pm et/4pm pt. Tampa Bay currently holds the last of the Atlantics three automatic bids to the playoffs, but the Maple Leafs are just one point behind. http://www.scarpenmdscontate.it/scarpe-nmd-human-race-outlet.html . -- Dane Fox scored his 61st and 62nd goals of the season and Brendan Gaunce had a goal and three assists as the Erie Otters downed the Kitchener Rangers 7-3 on Saturday in Ontario Hockey League action. Stan Smith Outlet .Boston beat the Nashville Predators 5-3 on Tuesday night and celebrated consecutive wins for the first time in more than a month. Nmd Uomo Ingrosso . Pironkova, who was ranked outside the top 100 despite reaching the Wimbledon semifinals in 2010, beat three top 10 players in Sydney, 2012 French Open finalist Sara Errani, 2011 Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova and Kerber.SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico -- A day after learning what it felt like to be humbled, No. 10 Virginia Commonwealth learned how to benefit from the experience. After being virtually beaten at its own fast-paced style in a loss to Florida State, the 10th-ranked Rams found a way to win with their late-game toughness in a 73-67 victory over Long Beach State in the consolation bracket of the Puerto Rico Tip-Off. Rob Brandenberg scored 19 points and helped ignite a rally that proved to be too much for a 49ers team that lost its fifth straight game. The Rams (4-1) trailed by eight early in the second half before reeling off that 13-0 run to take back control. "I was just trying to stay aggressive and just try and help my team any way I can," Brandenberg said of the spurt. "I realize that we had to play with some urgency at that time. It worked out." The victory earned the Rams a matchup Sunday with Georgetown, the team it beat in the second round of the 2011 NCAA tournament to first land VCUs program on the national stage. VCU had four players in double figures, including Juvonte Reddic with17 points and 10 rebounds, and Briante Webber with 15 points. Rams coach Shaka Smart called it a "hard-fought win." "I thought we responded well," Smart said. "Last night was a humbling game. And thats a good thing. Losing not a good thing, but its good to be humbled because it reminds you that you have a long way to go and we have to get better. " Long Beach State handled VCUs pressure well at times, committing only 10 turnovers. But it shot just 7 of 19 on 3-pointers. It was the first of VCUs five opponents this season that didnt have at least 20 giveaways. Branford Jones led Long Beach State (1-5) with 19 points and Mike Caffey added 15. But where VCUS defensive pressure failed it in the first half, the Rams began to succeed in speeding up the 49ers in the final 20 minutes of the game.dddddddddddd It didnt always produce turnovers, but it did force Long Beach State into quick shots. A string of misses triggered the 13-0 spurt that put the Rams up 55-50 with under 12 minutes to play. Long Beach State coach Dan Monson said it was a run they didnt have an answer for. "I thought we controlled the tempo and were able to dictate the tempo for 35 minutes," Monson said. "Thats all it took, just that two or three minutes against a team that dangerous, that explosive. Our margin for error was very small and we used it in that three-minute thing and we couldnt get a rebound or that next play to get us back in it." Long Beach State got the lead back at 58-57 on a 3-pointer by A.J. Spencer, but another quick burst by the Rams put them back in front 68-60 with 2:45 remaining. A 3-pointer from the wing by Jones and another 3 by Caffey with 16.5 seconds left cut it to 72-67. Long Beach State was aggressive in the opening 20 minutes and led 36-35 at the break. Both teams were up and down the floor in a half that featured nine ties and eight lead changes. The 49ers werent intimidated by the Rams pressure and turned it over only three times. VCU was shakier with the ball with six giveaways. The Rams were just 14 for 31 from the field, but had five 3s to keep pace. Smart said he likes the direction his team is trending in during its stay in San Juan. "Our guys are only human and theres been a lot of things said about them the last couple of months. Then they get that little number next to their name," he said. "But theres a process that goes into winning and theres a process into getting better. And I think last night reminded us of that. "The way we responded tonight was pretty good." ' ' '

TORONTO -- Jay McClement missed the Maple Leafs game against the Colorado Avalanche, but he had a very good reason. McClements wife gave birth to the couples first child Tuesday, according to Toronto coach Randy Carlyle. "Jay McClement is now a proud father of a baby boy, him and his wife," Carlyle said after a 2-1 loss. "Everythings supposedly went well." Carlyle said after McClement missed the teams morning skate that with no control over the forwards wife giving birth, "all we can wish for is the mother and expected child are healthy." The good news is that they are. Without McClement, the Leafs dressed Jamie Devane, who played just 4:51 against Colorado and finished with a minus-1 rating. Torontos other fourth-liners, Troy Bodie and Trevor Smith, each played under six minutes. But Carlyle was not willing to concede that the Leafs, missing Nikolai Kulemin with an ankle injury and Frazer McLaren with a broken finger, were banged up. "Youre going to have to deal with adversity throughout the course of the season and injuries and birth of children, family illness," Carlyle said. "All those things roll into the things that you have to deal with." Mitchell Trubisky Bears Jersey . - After sewage backups, toilet overflows and foul smells surfaced the past two years, nothing at the Oakland Coliseum surprises the home team anymore. William Perry Jersey . 1 and reigning champion Caroline Wozniacki was among Thursdays third-round winners, while second- seeded Victoria Azarenka pulled out of the draw at the $4. http://www.bearsrookiestore.com/Bears-Tom-Waddle-Jersey/ . He wants to seize that opportunity. The trouble is, Firus has had more bumps on the road to Sochi than most. Last year, Firus had the skate of a lifetime in the short program at the Canadian championships when he landed his first triple Axel in competition and finished third in a stacked field. Tom Waddle Jersey . Watching them over the past year - and in some cases, two years - has given us a starting point for this seasons Craigs List. Akiem Hicks Womens Jersey . Cellino was ordered by a judge to pay a 600,000 euro ($800,000) fine for evading import taxes on a yacht he purchased in the United States and brought to Italy, the ANSA news agency reported.BROOKLYN - As the Raptors opening round series shifts back into quasi must-win territory on Sunday, their playoff lives could rest on the shoulders of a 23-year-old sophomore, who is already having a tough time adjusting to the pressure of his first postseason. Through three games with the Nets, Toronto has yet to play its best basketball, the easiest explanation for their 2-1 series deficit. Its under-performing starting small forward, Terrence Ross, has been a primary factor. Stepping in for the traded Rudy Gay early in the season, Ross played an under-appreciated role in the Raptors turnaround and push to the playoffs. From Dec. 8 onwards, the second-year guard-turned-forward averaged 12.2 points, nearly doubling his pre-trade scoring mark while logging an addition 10 minutes a night. He shot the three-ball at an impressive 40 per cent clip and became Torontos most relied upon perimeter defender. Since making his playoff debut a week ago, Ross has looked like a fish out of water. Despite starting all three games and playing an average of 21 minutes, hes hit just three of his 16 jumpers while looking overwhelmed on defence against Brooklyns bigger, more physical wing players. Overall, the Raptors have gotten just 4.7 points per game from the small forward position, good for last among the NBAs 16 playoff teams by a wide margin. With Fridays 102-98 loss in the back of his mind, Dwane Casey wouldnt rule out the possibility of a lineup change for Sundays crucial Game 4. "Were still going to look at that," Casey said following a Saturday afternoon practice on the campus of a nearby university in New York City. "The decision hasnt been made but we will look at it. Right now we dont want to do anything drastic." "Its not panic time, but we do have to look at that position and get more productivity out of that spot." Its been the most problematic conundrum Casey has had to wrestle with in this series. The Raptors do not have an easy answer for Joe Johnsons unique combination of size, strength and finesse. The Nets crafty veteran - listed at 6-foot-7, 240 lbs - has had Torontos number in nearly every facet of the game. He can beat you from midrange, post-up smaller players and hes deadly from beyond the arc. "We have been double teaming him and blitzing him and hes been getting a lot of his [points] in those one-on-one situations," Casey pointed out. Defensively, Landry Fields has had the most individual success against Johnson. Casey turned to the sparingly used forward in Game 2, a well-received lineup adjustment that helped neutralize Johnson in the fourth quarter and spark Torontos comeback victory. Johnson would go on to lead the Nets with 29 points in Fridays Game 3 but was held scoreless, missing both of his shots, in seven first-half minutes with Fields guarding him. However, Fields was limited to just eight minutes in the loss. This time the Nets had prepared for him. Anticipating his reluctance to shoot, Brooklyn used Fields defender to apply even more pressure to DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry. With Jonas Valanciunas in foul trouble, Fields shared the floor with Tyler Hansbrough - another player the defence can afford to overlook - and the Raptors offencce took an immediate hit.dddddddddddd "Its give and take," Casey said in regards to utilizing Fields in this series. "You sacrifice some offence for defence. I thought he did a heck of a job [defensively] but you do suffer in your spacing." John Salmons returned to the rotation, scoring four points in 12 minutes on Friday after sitting out in Game 2. The 35-year-old has battled lingering back pain while struggling with his jumper. He too has been exposed by Johnson. "Weve got to find ways to get them the ball," Casey said of Fields and Salmons. "Whether its cutting, screening, running the floor, so that we get something from that spot [and] they cant just load up and go 5-on-4 at the defensive end. We want to make sure we do get something offensively out of that position." Their best chance is to get Ross going. Fields moves well without the ball and gives you consistent effort on defence, Salmons brings a certain veteran savvy that has been useful in the past but Ross - when right - is the two-way contributor Toronto desperately needs to gain the upper hand in this series. For the young Ross, boosting his confidence could be the key to unleashing the natural ability he has displayed throughout his second season. It could be something as simple as seeing an early shot fall, getting a big first-quarter stop or throwing down one of his trademark slam dunks. "Hes still the same Terrence," DeRozan said Saturday. "We all understand everybodys not going to have their best night [all the time]. We all understand that. Our job is to keep everybodys confidence high." Through three playoff games, Ross and fellow sophomore Jonas Valanciunas - who leads the Raptors in turnovers - have the worst +/- on the team. Toronto has allowed 24 more points than its scored with Ross on the floor, outscored by 21 with Valanciunas on the floor. The Raptors are the only playoff team to feature two second-year players in their starting lineup. Their inexperience and overall importance to the future of this franchise is largely responsible for the leash theyve been given. "If they werent young guys, if that wasnt our future, our direction, they probably wouldnt be in there with some of the mistakes theyre making," Casey admitted. "But, theyre our guys. Theyve got to learn, its their first playoffs. I expect most of their mistakes. Were going to ride with them in those situations." "Its tougher, but a big part of the reason were here is because of their play. Im not blind to the fact they are our future and the only way were going to learn is to go through it. The amount of time might be a little shorter, but theyve got to get out there." Regardless of his role, Ross will continue to play. Yes, win or lose this is a valuable learning experience for the 23-year-old but more than anything else, Casey knows how quickly the complexion of this series could change if Ross shots begin to fall. For Ross, the player, that would mean more confidence and likely a more engaged defensive effort, even if he cant guard Johnson one-on-one. For the team it could aid their spacing, take the pressure off Lowry and DeRozan and breathe life into their suffocating offence. ' ' '

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Quinton Coples is back -- much sooner than many expected. The New York Jets outside linebacker will make his regular-season debut Sunday against the Buffalo Bills, a month after having surgery on his fractured right ankle. Coples was listed as probable on the teams injury report Friday. "Thats probably a story in itself," coach Rex Ryan said. "A young man thats coming off surgery, what, three or four weeks ago? I dont know what to say. I dont know how hes doing it, but hes done it. "Well see what he can do." Coples hurt his ankle during the teams second preseason game against Jacksonville on Aug. 17 and had surgery to repair a hairline fracture three days later. He was originally listed as being out indefinitely, with many wondering speculating as to whether Coples would even practice before the midway point of the season. But he practiced for the first time Wednesday, and the ankle responded well this week. "Is he going to play every snap? No, hes not going to play every snap," Ryan said. "I dont anticipate that, but if he couldnt run out there and take care of himself and be at or near 100 per cent, then he wouldnt be out there. "We feel probable that hes going to play. In other words, hes playing." Coples, who led the team as a rookie last season with 5 1/2 sacks, is expected to bounce between playing outside linebacker and defensive end in Ryans defence this season. Hell provide a boost to a unit that has played well even without him through the first two games, ranking second in the league in overall defence. The only player listed as out for the Jets is rookie offensive tackle Oday Aboushi, who Ryan said dislocated a knee in practice Thursday but doesnt think its a serious injury. Wide receiver Jeremy Kerley, medically cleared after suffering a concussion in the season opener, is probable and will play. Also among those probable are: cornerback Antonio Cromartie (hip), defensive tackle Kenrick Ellis (back), wide receiver Santonio Holmes (foot), tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. (knee), and defensive linemen Sheldon Richardson (shoulder) and Muhammad Wilkerson (ankle). Vapormax 95 NZ . Compared to what hes gone through in recent weeks, that seemed like a breeze. Speaking to The Associated Press on Friday at an NBA Cares event, Silver said hes thrilled that the leagues attention can be on the championship series between the Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs -- and not, as it was for so much of the post-season, on the off-the-court matters involving the banishment of Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling and now the looming sale of that franchise. Nike Vapormax Wholesale China . - Loosening up for their first training camp practice, the Miami Dolphins high-stepped sideways up and down the field while House of Pains song "Jump Around" blared on the loudspeakers. http://www.airvapormaxnz.com/vapormax-off-white-sale-nz.html . - Dominika Cibulkova erased three match points in the second set Wednesday and beat Agnieszka Radwanska 3-6, 7-6 (5), 6-3 in the quarterfinals of the Sony Open. Air Vapormax 97 Mens . Julien coached the Bruins to the Stanley Cup championship in 2010-11 and is the longest serving coach in consecutive seasons in the teams history. Claude is one of the top coaches in the NHL and has consistently shown a passion for winning, general manager Peter Chiarelli said Sunday in announcing the signing. Vapormax Plus Women . The England international raised his middle finger toward Manchester City supporters during Saturdays game at Etihad Stadium, which Arsenal lost 6-3. The incident was not seen by match officials at the time but the FA charged Wilshere retrospectively after a study of video footage.PITTSBURGH - Phoenix Coyotes coach Dave Tippett says goaltender Mike Smith is "day to day" after injuring his right leg against the New York Rangers. Smith was hurt in the third period of Monday nights 4-3 overtime loss. He underwent tests Tuesday and will be evaluated when the team returns to Phoenix on Friday. Thomas Greiss will start in goal Tuesday when the Coyotes face the Metropolitan Division-leading Pittsburgh Penguins. Smith left the game with 7:43 remaining in regulation after being bowled over by New Yorks Derick&nbssp;Brassard.dddddddddddd Smith is one of the major reasons the Coyotes are battling for the final spot in the Western Conference playoffs. He is 27-21-10 with a 2.64 goals-against average and three shutouts. The Coyotes have recalled goaltender Mark Visentin from the AHLs Portland Pirates. Visentin, who has never appeared in an NHL game, he was selected in the first round, 27th overall, in the 2010 NHL draft. The Coyotes currently sit in the final wild card spot in the Western Conference, one point ahead of the Dallas Stars. ' ' '

MADRID - Rafael Nadal has criticized Spains female Davis Cup captain for feeding a false and absurd debate that started when his coach and uncle questioned whether a woman could coach in the mens game.Nadal says it seems strange to me, as Davis Cup captain, that instead of seeking union and harmony between players, captains and the federation, she has incited and fed a debate that is totally false and absurd.Last month, Toni Nadal questioned Gala Leons appointment as Spains first female Davis Cup captain by saying it was preferable that (the captain) is someone with a background in the world of mens tennis.Toni Nadals comments were labeled sexist by politicians and in the media.Leon has since met with some Spanish players, but not Rafael Nadal. Travis Zajac Jersey . -- Fantasy football owners and Denver Broncos fans can rest easy: Peyton Manning is back. Will Butcher Devils Jersey ... as usual. Even with the salary cap being set lower than many general managers expected and hoped for at $69 million and whats considered a shallow pool of top-end players available, this unrestricted-free-agent period figures to follow the familiar script of teams bidding up prices to keep up with each other. http://www.devilssale.com/authentic-mirco-mueller-devils-jersey/ . - Nikita Jevpalovs scored 6:22 into the second overtime as the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada edged the visiting Rimouski Oceanic 2-1 on Tuesday in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League playoff action. Jamie Langenbrunner Devils Jersey . Ronaldo netted his 14th goal of the season in Europes top competition to give Madrid a clear advantage ahead of next weeks quarterfinal return leg in Germany. But it came at a price as the Portugal forward, who came into the first-leg nursing a sore left knee, came off in the 80th minute. Martin Brodeur Devils Jersey . You can see all the action on TSN2 beginning at 7:30pm et/4:30pm pt. Chicago won two of three games during its stay at the United Center. The club began the homestand with a 5-1 win over Pittsburgh on March 1 and fell to Colorado on Tuesday before posting another blowout win in Thursdays tilt against Columbus.The Toronto Argonauts could be sold within a matter of weeks, either to Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment or its chairman, Larry Tanenbaum, according to multiple sources. Talks between David Braley and MLSE have heated up in recent months to the point that the MLSE board, which includes Tanenbaum as well as representatives from Bell and Rogers, was asked to vote during December on acquiring the CFL team. While the board could not agree on the matter, there remains the possibility that MLSE could revisit buying the team or that Tanenbaum himself may purchase it. An Argo purchase by MLSE or Tanenbaum makes potential sense from both ends of the deal. From the Argos perspective, the team is in desperate need of a new practice facility, having been told by the University of Toronto that its Mississauga campus can no longer house the football team. With three months until the opening of CFL training camps, a sale would presumably open the door to the Argos taking up residence at the KIA Training Ground, the practice home of Toronto FC which includes three full-size grass fields, four artificial fields and a 40,000 square foot field house in Downsview. Being sold to Tanenbaum or MLSE would make the Argos part of the plan for a redesigned BMO Field, thus solving their need to build a new home from scratch when they vacate Rogers Centre after the 2017 season. MLSE president and CEO Tim Leiweke has stated several times in recent months that the Argos could factor into future plans at BMO, a position in stark contrast to that of his predecessors, who saw the facility as soccer-only. From the perspective of Tanenbaum or MLSE, owning the Argos could be a chip towards the goal of securing a National Football League team, based on the NFL wanting assurance that moving a team to Toronto would nott kill the Argos or the CFL.dddddddddddd "(Tanenbaum) has always had an affection for them," said former MLSE president and CEO Richard Peddie. "Everything Im hearing is that that the NFL is telling them that if you want an NFL team, you better make sure the Argos are okay. I dont think its out of the realm that he may do it." As well, having the Argos as a second tenant at BMO Field could help MLSEs drive to secure investment from government to redevelop the stadium, which is a publicly-owned facility operated by MLSE exclusively for soccer at this time. "Ive got to believe that theyre thinking of the Argos in that facility," said Peddie. "Can you design a stadium with moveable sections and not lose the intimacy? Yes, you probably can." The Argonauts are currently owned by Hamilton businessman David Braley, who has been exploring options for a new stadium in the Greater Toronto Area in recent months.Though the Argonauts have consistently lost money at Rogers Centre, it is believed their business model could continue to improve with the right arrangement at BMO, combined with increased revenues from the CFLs new television deal which kicks in this season. This isnt the first time MLSE has looked at a potential Argo purchase. The Argos had been offered up to MLSE when the team was owned by David Cynamon and Howard Sololowski, who sold to David Braley in February of 2010. However, the ownership of MLSE and many of the dynamics within the citys professional sports scene have changed since those days, most notably with Liewekes arrival and the notion of trying to land an NFL team.In November, reports surfaced of Tanenbaum, Lieweke and rock star Jon Bon Jovi teaming up to pursue a future relocation of the Buffalo Bills to Toronto. ' ' '