INDIANAPOLIS -- Atlantas Jeff Teague demolished the Pacers grand playoff plan. As his teammates set up around the 3-point line, Teague simply blew through open lanes to the basket repeatedly. The Pacers didnt have an answer. Teague scored a playoff career-high 28 points, Paul Millsap added 25 and the eighth-seeded Hawks won their first road playoff game in three years, shocking top-seeded Indiana 101-93 to take a 1-0 lead in the first-round series. "I just wanted to win," the Indianapolis native said after beating his hometown team. Perhaps thats why Teague finally cracked a hesitant smile in the locker room before stepping to the podium. Or it could be that Teague remembers the frustration Indiana caused when it clinched last years 4-2 first-round win on Atlantas home court. As one of the few remaining links to that team, Teague wasnt about to let something like that happen again. This time, surrounded by a mostly new group of 3-point shooters, a first-year coach and a game plan that the Pacers never adapted to, Teague kept getting to basket. He wound up 9 of 19 from the field and 9 of 10 from the free-throw line with five assists and three rebounds on a night the Hawks snapped an eight-game road losing streak in the playoffs and became the first team to beat Indiana on its home court twice this season. Atlanta won its first road playoff game since Game 1 of the 2011 Eastern Conference semifinals at Chicago, and theyll have a chance to do it all again Tuesday in Game 2 before the best-of-seven series movies to Atlanta, where the Pacers have won only two times since December 2006. "I think getting off to such a good start against such a good team is important," coach Mike Budenholzer said after his fifth win in six games. "Its really not something we talked about. Theyre the No. 1 seed for a reason." Meanwhile, the Pacers stunning struggles showed no sign of abating. Indiana was just 5 of 19 from the field in the decisive third quarter and shot just 35.6 per cent in the second half, a 24-minute span in which it spent most of the time trying to dig out of a double-digit hole. Paul George had 24 points, 10 rebounds and five assists, while Lance Stephenson finished with 19 points and seven rebounds and George Hill added 12 points. But the Hawks ability to spread the floor essentially nullified All-Star centre Roy Hibbert, who had eight points and eight rebounds, and David West, who had eight points and three rebounds. And Indiana wasted no time in giving back the home-court advantage it spent the entire season chasing. "Its frustrating. Its frustrating, but its a long series," George said before explaining he believes the Pacers can regain the upper hand -- if they figure out how to defend better. "Its just one game and thats the way we have to look at it." That wont be easy against this team. Atlanta set a franchise playoff record with 30 3-point attempts and matched the franchises second-highest playoff total for 3-pointers made (11). Both were set May 10, 1996, when the Hawks were 12 of 27 on 3s in a 26-point loss to Orlando. "I thought our ball movement was great," Kyle Korver said after scoring 12 points. "Thats one of the things weve tried to play to all year and tonight it kind of worked out." They made it look easy, too. Korvers buzzer-beating putback, following an Indiana turnover in the closing seconds of the first half, tied the score at 50. Atlanta then opened the third quarter with eight straight points and when the Pacers rallied to get within 60-58, Teague and Millsap took control. Millsap opened the decisive 14-0 run with two free throws. Teague followed that with a driving layup, his only 3 of the game, another layup and two free throws. And when Millsap ended the run with a three-point play, the Pacers trailed 74-58. They couldnt even cut the lead to single digits until Stephensons 3 made it 99-91 with 33.6 seconds left and by then it was too late for the leagues best home team to rally. "All year, weve encouraged Jeff to be aggressive," Budenholzer said. "When hes aggressive, it just creates opportunities for himself and opportunities for his teammates." And headaches for everyone else. Notes: Atlanta made eight of its first 12 shots in the third quarter. ... Indiana hasnt reached the second round of the playoffs in consecutive years since 2003-04 and 2004-05. ... The Game 1 winner has won each of the five previous playoff series between Atlanta and Indiana. ... Hawks forward DeMarre Carroll has 12 points and 10 rebounds. Custom Philadelphia 76ers Jerseys .C. -- The Bobcats announced theyve signed centre Justin Hamilton to a 10-day contract. Philadelphia 76ers Pro Shop . He even addressed his group of relievers Sunday morning. Dustin McGowan made those worries a nonfactor, at least for a day. McGowan pitched three-hit ball for seven innings, Colby Rasmus hit a grand slam and Melky Cabrera added a two-run homer as the Blue Jays beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 7-2. https://www.cheap76ers.com/ . The rest of the team was already on the field stretching before batting practice while Puig was getting dressed in the clubhouse. He had been slated to start in right field for the afternoon game against the San Francisco Giants, who beat the Dodgers 8-4. 76ers Jerseys 2019 . 3 Ohio State. Amedeo Della Valle had 15 points, Marc Loving scored a career-high 13 and the bench provided 38 points as the Buckeyes sprinted past Nebraska 84-53 on Saturday. Stitched 76ers Jerseys .ca. Kerry, In the first period of Saturdays Montreal-Ottawa game, Brendan Gallagher is called for goaltender interference. Craig Anderson is outside the blue paint trying to make the save.Charlotte, NC (SportsNetwork.com) - Carolina Panthers running back DeAngelo Williams will miss his second straight game because of a broken bone in his right hand. Williams was among the Panthers inactives for Sundays game against Tampa Bay. He also missed last weeks contest against New Orleans. Jonathan Stewart is expeccted to start for Williams, who will miss an eighth game this season because of injuries.dddddddddddd He had a sprained ankle earlier this year. The Panthers, of course, are also missing quarterback Cam Newton, who had already been declared out because of injuries he suffered in a car accident on Tuesday. ' ' '
MISSISSAUGA, Ont. -- Sam Reinhart spent plenty of time growing up in Vancouver playing hockey in an upstairs playroom with brothers Max and Griffin. The sons of longtime NHL defenceman Paul Reinhart broke a few windows, but it was worth it as they grew up in the game. Max was a third-round pick of the Calgary Flames in 2010, but it took Sam seeing Griffin put on a New York Islanders jersey as the fourth overall pick in 2012 to start to visualize what his draft-day moment could be like. Thatll come June 27 in Philadelphia as Sam Reinhart is expected to be one of the top three picks. Once that sinks in and Reinhart goes about preparing for his first NHL training camp, he will draw from the experience he had in early May with Canadas world hockey championship team. The Kootenay Ice forward thinks hes ready for the pros because he joined Team Canada for its training camp and exhibition game against Switzerland in Zurich. "I got a little taste of it at the international level for a couple days in Switzerland," he said Friday at the NHLs annual scouting combine. "It was pretty amazing to see how I handled practice one compared to practice three and really picked up the pace and felt comfortable pretty quick out there." Reinhart had to think quick well before he ever stepped onto the ice. He got the call from Hockey Canada on Friday night and needed to decide whether to get on a plane to Europe Saturday afternoon. "It was a pretty quick turnaround to kind of drop everything and go over there," the 18-year-old centre said. "It was a tough decision at the time but really turned out to be a positive experience. Its really paying off right now." Reinhart didnt have much more to prove. He had represented Canada the under-18 world championships twice, winning gold in 2013, and then was on this past years world-junior team. Named WHL player of the year for putting up 105 points in 60 games with the Ice, Reinhart is third among North American skaters in NHL Central Scoutings final rankings. But it didnt hurt Reinhart to show what he could do surrounded by players who will soon be his peers. He already knew Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Morgan Rielly, Flames centre Sean Monahan and Canucks defenceman Jason Garrison, but being on the ice with them in that environment was a different story. "He didnt look out of place," Team Canada coach Dave Tippett said in a phone interview Friday afternoon. "He carried himself like a pro player. He picked up the things we were trying to do in the drills very well. The biggest thing you could tell, and its probably a little bit because of his upbringing -- he wasnt intimidated by the situation at all and just jumped in there and played." Even though Reinhart was an extra forward for the exhibition game, Tippett liked how he made the most out of his eight or nine minutes of ice time. Had an injury occurred before the team left Zurich, there was some discussion about adding Reinhart to the team, which wouldve made him the youngest by two months over Nathan MacKinnon. Reinhart worked to show what he could do if that happened. "Youre not going in with the mind-set that youre coming home in a couple days," he said. "You know obviously the odds are you will. But you never know what happens at that point." Ultimately, Reinhart got sent home while the Canadian team went on to Minsk. But not before he made a positive impression on Tippett and his staff. "Hes a mature kid," Tippett said. "Obviously I think being from a family that has grown up around pro hockey, that helps the situation. You could tell that he wasnt in awe of the situation at all. He just got in there and got to work and fit in well with the group." Reinhart is part of a bigger group at this weeks combine outside Toronto as one of 117 of the top prospects going through interviews and then fitness testing Saturday. Along with Kingston centre Sam Bennett and Barrie defenceman Aaron Ekblad, though, Reinhart is part of the small faction of potential No. 1 selections, whether the Florida Panthers keep or trade the pick. The six-foot-one, 186-pound playmaker is known for his hockey sense and vision. Of course there are things he feels like he needs to get better at, including lower-body strength. "It just doesnt happen over a summer, Ive been focusing on it for a long time now and I feel confident with it," Reinhart said. Another question is his speed, but if Reinhart himself was at all worried, Zurich made him feel better. "I felt with the pace over there I kept up pretty well," he said. "I felt really confident with it, leading into the next day and it was amazing how much you improved." Yeezy Boost 350 v2 Fake For Sale . Selected by the Titans in the 2007 NFL Draft, Johnson rejoined the club last season after a five-year stint with Indianapolis. Cheap Air Max 90 China .C. -- Marcus Paige and his North Carolina teammates have endured so many wild swings -- big wins, surprising losses, NCAA drama -- that no one can blame their Hall of Fame coach for wondering whats next. http://www.fakeyeezyscheap.com/wholesale-air-max-270.html . - Vince Wilfork has played only two career games in Kansas City. Fake Yeezys Cheap . Snedekers best result so far this year is a tie for eighth place at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in March. He sits 113th in FedEx Cup standings and has dropped to 31st in world rankings — not the results expected from a player ranked fourth in the world only two years ago. Yeezy Boost 350 Fake China . LOUIS -- Julius Randle had 19 points and 15 rebounds, Aaron Harrison finished with 18 points and No. CHICAGO -- Roman Josi and Nashvilles dangerous defencemen did it all against the Chicago Blackhawks. That is why Pekka Rinne believes the blue-liners are the biggest key for a strong finish to the Predators disappointing season. Josi had three assists, and Ryan Ellis scored in the third period to lead the Predators to a 3-2 victory over the Blackhawks on Friday night. "If we win or lose, usually its the D-men," said Rinne, who made with 31 saves. "The talent we have on the back end, were pretty fortunate to have that kind of depth in the defence." Shea Weber also had his team-best 27th assist as Nashvilles defencemen combined for five points in the Predators third consecutive win. Weber also leads the team with 43 points, and Josi jumped into a tie with Patric Hornqvist for second on the team with 21 assists. "Thats the strength really of our group, our D-men," coach Barry Trotz said. "Theyre all young and talented. Were the youngest team in the league by three years on the blue line. The future is really bright for us there. Now weve got to work on trying to get those elite forwards like the Blackhawks have." It was the second straight loss for Chicago, which is struggling to keep up with the top contenders in the rugged Western Conference. The reigning Stanley Cup champions dropped to 10-8-7 in 2014. Jonathan Toews and Peter Regin scored for the Blackhawks, and Corey Crawford made 26 saves in his 200th NHL game. "Were putting ourself in tough situations by not starting well and getting away from our team game," Toews said. "Not much of an explanation, but we know we need better right now. We need to get out of this trend were in right now." Mike Fisher and Hornqvist also scored for Nashville, which has won two of three against Chicago this season. Ellis fourth goal of the season came right after the Predators killed a holding penalty on the defenceman that carried over into the third. He jumped out of the box, got a long pass from Josi and beat Crawford on a breakaway to make it 3-1 just 45 seconds into the period. "I was just fortunate enough to time it right," Ellis said. "Josi made a great pplay with a blocked shot then a tape-to-tape pass through the zone.dddddddddddd" Regins tip-in got the Blackhawks within one again at 11:28, but they were unable to tie it. Regins second goal with Chicago came after Toews sent a wide-open opportunity off the left post 4:40 into the third. Toews also had an open tip go wide with 36 seconds left. "We knew they were going to make a push," Josi said. "With that team theyve got a lot of skill, but Peks was great again." Chicago controlled the action at the start, but Nashville began to pressure Crawford midway through the first. Nick Spaling shot wide right on a prime opportunity with about 7 1/2 minutes left. Fisher put the Predators in front when he pushed a rebound over Crawfords left leg for his 17th goal at 15:33. Nashville used a big slap shot by Weber to open a 2-0 lead with 69 seconds left in the first. Crawford stopped the drive by the big defenceman, but Hornqvist swept in the rebound for his 13th. Crawford hopped up and slammed his stick down as the Predators celebrated Hornqvists first goal since March 4. "Tough to watch the last part of the first period," Chicago coach Joel Quenneville said. "I thought that was as bad as weve probably played for any stretch all year." The two-goal deficit seemed to wake up the Blackhawks for a bit. Toews stole the puck from Josi and passed it to Kris Versteeg, who passed it back to the captain for his 26th goal with 14 seconds remaining. Chicago carried the momentum into the second, but Rinne was there each time. He used his left pad to deny Patrick Sharp on a 1-on-1 opportunity, and he got some help from teammates when the Blackhawks had the puck in front during a power play at the end of the period. Crawford also used his glove to grab Craig Smiths shot with 5:46 left in the second. NOTES: Blackhawks F Marian Hossa (upper body) participated in the morning skate and is hoping to return Sunday at home against Detroit or Tuesday at Philadelphia. He has missed five games. ... Predators F Viktor Stalberg received a warm ovation when he was shown on the video board in the first period for helping Chicago win the Stanley Cup last season. ' ' '
HALIFAX -- Nikolaj Ehlers scored two goals and assisted on two more to lead the Halifax Mooseheads to their third straight win, 5-1 over the Charlottetown Islanders in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action on Wednesday. Jacob Jacques, Andrew Ryan and Jonathan Drouin also scored for Halifax (37-18-3), who outshot the Islanders 40-26. Kevin Darveau stopped 25 shots. Bradley Kennedy had the lone goal for Charlottetown (18-33-5), which has nine losses in its last 10 games. Eric Brassard started in net for the Islanders, but was pulled after giving up three goals on 13 shots through the first period. Mason McDonald stopped 25 of 27 shots in relief. --- DRAKKAR 3 VOLTIGEURS 2 DRUMMONDVILLE, Que. -- Charles Hudon scored his 23rd goal of the season with 15 seconds left as the Drakkar broke a 2-2 tie to edge the Voltigeurs. Jeremy Gregoire had a goal and an assist and Valentin Zykov also scored for Baie-Comeau (40-14-4). Hudon chipped in with an assist on Gregoires goal for a two-point night. Christophe Lalancette had a goal and an assist and Charles-David Beaudoin also scored for Drummondville (34-20-3). Drakkar goalie Philippe Cadorette stopped 21 shots for the victory, while his Voltigeurs counterpart, Louis-Philip Guindon shouldered the loss after making 20 saves. --- OCEANIC 9 PHOENIX 3 RIMOUSKI, Que. -- Alexis Loseau scored four goals and assisted on two more, and Michael Joly had seven points on a goal and six assists to power the Oceanic over the Phoenix for their fifth win in a row. Peter Trainor had a goal and three assists, Patrik Zdrahal scored one and assisted on another, and Jan Kostalek and Samuel Courtemanche also scored for Rimouski (34-15-7), which outshot Sherbrooke 38-23. Jean-Francois Lavoie, Jeremy Roy and Chase Harwell scored for the Phoenix (15-34-7). Oceanic goalie Philippe Desrosier made 23 saves for his 22nd win of the season. Francis Derosiers started in net for Sherbrooke, giving up four goals on 21 shots before being replaced by Maxime Lagace, who stopped 17 of 22. --- TITAN 4 TIGRES 2 VICTORIAVILLE, Que. -- Jacob Brennan stopped 35 shots and the Titan got goals from four different skaters en route to a victory over the Tigres. Jake Primeau, Raphael Lafontaine, and Vytal Cote also scored for Acadie-Bathurst (17-34-6), and Alexandros Soumakis added an empty netter with 13 seconds to go as the Titan picked up their eighth win in 10 games. Philippe Hudon and Jan Mandat replied for Victoriaville (29-21-6), who outshot Acadie-Bathurst 37-22. Cameron Yardwood chipped in with two assists. Tigres goaltender Brandon Whitney made 18 saves in the losing effort. --- OLYMPIQUES 4 WILDCATS 3 GATINEAU, Que. -- Martin Reway had a short-handed goal and chipped in with an assist to lead Gatineau over Moncton. Elie Berube, Vincent Dunn, and Alexis Pepin also scored for the Olympiques (35-19-4), who snapped a two-game losing streak. J.C. Campagna and Ivan Barbashev each had a goal and an assist for the Wildcats (30-26-3), and Christophe Lalonde added a power-play goal with 18 seconds left in the game. Robert Steeves stopped 19 shots in the Gatineau victory, while Alex Dubeau took the loss for Moncton with 24 saves. --- FOREURS 3 HUSKIES 2 ROUYN-NORANDA, Que. -- Julien Gauthiers second-period goal held up as the winner and Antoine Bibeau made 31 saves as red-hot Val-dOr edged Rouyn-Noranda. Anthony Richard scored a power-play goal and Maxime Presseault also scored for the Foreurs (37-18-2), who have won six in a row. Marcus Power and Jason Fuchs replied for the Huskies (31-21-5), who failed to score on five opportunities with the man advantage. Rouyn-Norandas Alexandre Belanger made 25 saves in the losing effort. NHL Jerseys . The club says Fridays surgery was successful. Holiday, a former Eastern Conference All-Star acquired from Philadelphia last summer, has not played because of the shin injury since Jan. NHL Jerseys 2020 .S. -- Carl-Antoine Delisle snapped a tie in the third period with his second goal of the game to lead the Tigres past Cape Breton 4-3 in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action Wednesday as Victoriaville won its eighth in a row. https://www.cheapnhljerseysjustwholesale.com/ . J.J. Hardy drove in a run for the Orioles, who bounced back from an 8-4 loss in the series opener on Friday. Fresh off the 15-day disabled list, Derrek Lee went 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Jake Arrieta (7-3) gave up three runs on five hits over six innings to pick up the win. Authentic NHL Jerseys . - Playing a road game against a division rival raises the intensity for linebacker Clay Matthews. Cheap NHL Jerseys .Y. -- In a span of three days, Shabazz Napier and Connecticut knocked out both Philadelphia schools in the NCAA tournament.OAKLAND, Calif. -- Stephen Curry scored 33 points, including a tiebreaking 3-pointer, and the Golden State Warriors used a closing run to beat the Memphis Grizzlies 100-93 Friday night. Klay Thompson added 14 points as the Warriors beat the Grizzlies at home for the first time in six meetings. Thompson had a pair of clinching free throws. Marreese Speights scored 15 and Jermaine ONeal added 10 points for the Warriors, who moved two games ahead of the Grizzlies for the sixth seed in the Western Conference. Zach Randolph scored 21 points for Memphis, which won eight of their previous 10 games. Mike Conley added 20 points. Randolphs reverse layup gave Memphis a 93-86 edge with four minutes left. But the Warriors scored the games final 14 points, with Curry nailing a 3-pointer with 1:21 left to make it 96-93. Golden State carried a 79-76 lead into the fourth quarter after falling behind by eight.dddddddddddd The Warriors went on a 21-8 run during the third. The Warriors held an early seven-point edge, the largest lead by either team through the first half, which had four lead changes and was tied six other times. Currys driving layup in the final two seconds gave the Warriors a 53-52 advantage at halftime. NOTES: Warriors C Andrew Bogut sustained a pelvic contusion in the first quarter and did not return. ... Warriors F David Lee missed the game with a strained right hamstring. ... The Grizzlies were 5-0 in the state of California entering play Friday night. ... The Warriors recorded their 74th consecutive sellout. ... The Grizzlies lead the league in fourth-quarter field-goal percentage since the All-Star Break. ' ' '
PHOENIX -- The Arizona Diamondbacks avoided arbitration with reliever Joe Thatcher on Friday, agreeing to a one-year contract worth $2,375,000. The 32-year-old left-hander was 3-2 with a 3.20 ERA in 72 appearances with the Diamondbacks and San Diego Padres last season. Arizona also swapped arbitration figures with outfielders Mark Trumbo and Gerardo Parra. Trumbo asked for $5.85 million, while the Diamondbacks were at $3.4 million. Parra asked for $5.2 million, compared to a $4.3 million proposal by the team. Arizona acquired Trumbo from the Los Angeles Angels in a three-team trade in December. The slugger hit .234 with 34 home runs and 100 RBIs last year. Thatcher came to Arizona as part of the July 31 trade that sent right-hander Ian Kennedy to the Padres. Since 2007, Thatcher ranks third among major leaguers in the percentage of inherited runners to score at 19 per cent. He has a career record of 8-12 with a 3.34 ERA in 309 games over seven seasons with San Diego and Arizona. Los Angeles Lakers Store .ca. In Sundays Blackhawks-Penguins game, Pittsburgh defenceman Brooks Orpik laid a huge hit on Chicagos Jonathan Toews. Now in my view, Orpik can be clearly seen leaving his feet while delivering a moderately high hit. Kostas Antetokounmpo Lakers Jersey .C. -- The Carolina Hurricanes used a strong third period to extend their winning streak to three games. https://www.lakersjerseycheap.com/721j-zelmo-beaty-jersey-lakers.html . The St. Louis Cardinals were scheduled to arrive in Boston in time for a workout on Tuesday afternoon. Much of Mondays discussion focused on Bostons lineup considerations as the series progresses, specifically when the venue shifts to St. Metta World Peace Jersey . An in-person hearing allows for Garbutt to be suspended for five games or longer as per the leagues Collective Bargaining Agreement. Garbutt delivered a high hit to Penner in the second period of Sundays game. Bob McAdoo Jersey . The incident occurred at 6:28 of the first period in Anaheims 6-3 home win over Dallas on Sunday. Garbutt left the penalty box and skated at Penner before leaving his skates to deliver a check.HOUSTON -- The Houston Astros have agreed to a one-year contract with left-hander reliever Tony Sipp. Sipp will earn $500,000 this season if he remains in the majors and $100,000 in the minors. There is $200,000 in performance bonuses in the major league deal. He will earn an additional $25,000 each for appearing in 35, 40, 45 and 50 games and $50,000 each for 55 and 60 games. The 30-year-old Sipp was pitchinng for San Diegos Triple-A affiliate before requesting his release on Thursday.dddddddddddd Sipp has a 4.30 ERA with 21 strikeouts in 11 games in Triple-A this season. He was 3-2 with a 4.78 ERA in 56 appearances in the majors last season with Arizona. Houston optioned right-hander Paul Clemens to Triple-A Oklahoma City and transferred right-hander Jesse Crain to the 60-day disabled list. ' ' '
TORONTO - As Rudy Gay took to the Air Canada Centre court for the first time since being traded, moments after being introduced to a chorus of tepid boos, he approached each Raptors starter, slapping hands with his former teammates. They reciprocated, but none of them initiated the round of pre-game pleasantries. On the teams bench sat a quartet of former Sacramento Kings, but you wouldnt know it. Their focus mirrored that of the starters. They meant business. "We all have friends on that team," acknowledged Patrick Patterson, one of the former Kings that came to Toronto in the seven-player trade completed on December 9. "Going into this game, we have to treat it as if theyre the enemy. We have to treat them like theyre the villain and were the superhero, pretty much. We cant be friendly with them. As soon as the game starts, you have to put your hard hat on." The Raptors learnt that lesson the hard way. A month earlier, the two teams faced off in Sacramento, their first meeting since the early-season swap. "I thought the way that we approached the game last time was too friendly, too cool, too lackadaisical, too laid-back," Patterson said, looking back at his return to California. Emotions were high, on both sides, as players embraced their friends and old teammates prior to tip-off, laughing and joking around, having also shared a meal the night before. Only the Kings were laughing 48 minutes later. Embarrassed, the Raptors - a post-trade feel-good story - left with their tail in-between their legs. Dwane Casey questioned his teams disposition and professionalism, Chuck Hayes called it their worst performance since the trade and John Salmons conducted his entire post-game interview head down after a 109-101 loss. Round two would be different, Casey promised leading up to the rematch in Toronto on Friday. From the moment his club took the floor, coming face-to-face with Gay and the Kings, it was clear that message had been received. "I thought the roles were reversed this time," Patterson after his new team closed out their 99-87 win. "I thought we came out the right way, with the right intensity." "Guys were professional, very professional, workman-like, not disrespecting their friends on the other team, but yet still knowing we had a job to do when you walk out between those lines," Casey echoed. "After the game is over you can shake hands, hug, kiss, whatever you want to do, but once the game starts those guys have a different colour jersey and weve got to have that razor-like focus every time we walk on the floor." Like the Kings had done in Sacramento, the Raptors jumped on the visitors right out of the gate, taking a 29-19 lead into the second quarter. Although the Kings dominated the paint and lived at the free throw line once again, Toronto neutralized their best player early. DeMarcus Cousins, who has owned the Raptors over his career, played just eight first-half minutes, saddled with foul trouble. After losing some ground in the second frame, the Raptors came out in the third quarter and - like they did in the first - outscored Sacramento 29-19, effectively repaying their old friends for last months debacle. "I think we let go of the personal stuff," said Salmons, who has been preaching forgiveness over the last couple days. "We thought we were doing that the first game, clearly we didnt. This time we just let it go and played basketball." Returning from an ankle injury, Terrence Ross scored half of his team-leading 18 points, hitting half of his six threes in the third. Patterson also added seven of his 15 points in the quarter. "Ill tell you what, hes been a godsend for us, as far as stretching the floor," Casey said of Patterson, who hit three of his four attempts from long range Friday. "Not only that, just his intensity, his work ethic, how hard how plays. Hes got a reputation around the league of playing hard. Hes one of our best pick-and-roll defenders because he uses his quickness and then he can go down and stretch the floor out. Its a big plus, not a lot of guys can do that and he does an excellent job of doing it. The boos for Gay were faint, mostly, but consistent every time he touched the ball. The former Raptors forward scored 15 points on 5-of-13 from the field, a shooting percentage reminiscent of his time spent in Toronto. Gay has shot 50 per cent or better in 23 of 38 games as a King after doing so just once in 18 contests with the Raptors this season. Again, the Raptors won as a team. They got double-digit scoring from five players and although DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry struggled from the field - shooting a combined 6-for-24 - the Raptors backcourt duo totalled 13 assists, one fewer than the entire Kings team. Salmons added eight points off the bench, Greivis Vasquez chipped in with four and, although Hayes was scoreless in 10 minutes, his defence on Cousins changed the game in the third quarter. "He has that old man stretch," Casey said of Hayes. "Youve got to be strong to hold your ground against Cousins. Hes a beast in there and now they bring Reggie Evans in, two of the strongest guys in the league. So I thought his brute strength helped him hold his position." With their 34th victory, the Raptors matched last seasons win total in just 60 games. Vapormax Plus Günstig . General Manager Sam Presti said the three-time All-Star had knee swelling that would not subside, and the procedure was intended to solve the problem. He said doctors determined that a loose stitch was to blame for the swelling, that Westbrooks lateral meniscus has healed properly and the procedure was successful. Nike Air Max 95 Damen Sale . Not sure yet. #livetweetingthegreatuntangle — Strombone (@strombone1) April 17, 2014 Stage three, coping: I feel like I could use a cigarette or something. http://www.shopairmaxschweiz.com/air-max-plus-fake-kaufen.html .NYCFC confirmed to The Associated Press on Saturday that this week Lampard signed a contract to start in July — midway through the new teams first season in MLS. Nike Air Max 720 Schweiz . The three goals bring Messis career tally for Barcelona to 371 in all games -- including friendlies -- breaking the club record of 369 held by Paulino Alcantara since 1927. The 26-year-old Messi was already the clubs all-time leading scorer in official games. Messi assured Barcelonas fans they will enjoy his goals for years to come, saying "as long as people want me, I will stay here. Nike Air Max Tn Damen Sale . Siddikur, who led on all four days and took a four-stroke lead going into the final day, bogeyed four out of six holes starting at the sixth and continued a forgettable last round in which he returned a three-over 75 to finish with a 14-under 274.Sasha Banks is back on top of the Raw Womens division. The Boss beat Charlotte in a spellbinding main event on last weeks edition of the red brand to claim the Womens Title for the second time having shipped it to The Nature Girl at SummerSlam.Charlotte has been granted a rematch at Hell in a Cell on October 30, so how will champion and challenger prepare for that scrap? Find out from 1am tonight on Sky Sports 5. Braun Strowman will be hoping for, in his words, some real competition in Oakland, having defeated each opponent placed in front of him since he was separated from The Wyatt Family during Julys WWE Draft.The powerhouse has demanded that Raw General Manager Mick Foley find him a challenge, so who will the Hardcore Legend select? Braun Strowman wants some real competition For all that, plus the latest twists and turns in Kevin Owens rivalry with Seth Rollins and action from the cruiserweight division, watch WWE Raw at 1am tonight on Sky Sports 5 (Tuesday morning).Watch WWE Hell in a Cell, live on Sky Sports Box Office at mmidnight on Sunday, October 30 (Monday morning).ddddddddddddYou can also follow the pay-per-view on skysports.com and Sky Sports mobile and iPad apps with our live blog.WWE Hell in a Cell booking detailsONLINE (from Tuesday, October 18): Visit this link: https://my.sky.com/orderboxoffice/PHONE (from Tuesday, October 18): UK viewers can call 03442 410 888 to book WWE Hell in a Cell, while customers in the Republic of Ireland should call 0818 220 225. (There may be an additional charge for telephone bookings).REMOTESky+: Press the box office button on your remote, then click the sports tab followed by WWE Hell in a Cell.Sky Q: Press Home on your Sky Q remote, select TV guide, then Box Office and the WWE Hell in a Cell. Enter your TV Pin if prompted. (Only bookings via Sky TV remote are recordable using Sky Plus).Sky TV residential customers only. Commercial customers contact Sky for price and to order. Sky Box Office terms apply. Cable customers should contact their local cable operator. Also See: Banks wins Womens Title WATCH: Raws Top 5 Moves - Oct 3 WWE on Sky Sports Follow @SkySportsWWE ' ' '
The Pittsburgh Penguins have acquired forward Spencer Machacek from the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for forward Paul Thompson. The Penguins announced the move on Thursday. Machacek, 25-years-old, had nine goals and 19 points in 34 games with the Springfield Falcons this season. He will report to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the AHL. He has two goals and nine points in 25 career NHL games with the Winnipeg Jets and Atlanta Thrashers. He has not appeared in the NHL since the 2011-2012 season. In Thompson, the Blue Jackets receive a 25-year-old right winger. Thompson had three goals and three assists in 15 games with the AHLs Penguins this season. He has never appeared in an NHL game. Thompson will report to the Springfield Falcons. Stitched 76ers Jerseys . The (14-15-5) Jets are seventh in the Central Division with 33 points. They trail sixth place Nashville and fifth place Dallas by two points. Philadelphia 76ers Store . Head coach Lindy Ruff confirmed on Sunday that his starting goalie has a head injury and the team will take it day by day. https://www.cheap76ers.com/ . - Gary Kubiak is John Elways No. 76ers Jerseys China . - Justin Turner is at his best with runners in scoring position, and he delivered again in a big spot for the Los Angeles Dodgers. 76ers Jerseys 2020 . -- Aaron Rodgers isnt out for revenge in Green Bays season opener.(SportsNetwork.com) - There hasnt been a better starting pitcher this postseason than St. Louis right-hander Michael Wacha. The Cardinals will need their rookie to be sharp once again if they want to avoid going home in an 0-2 World Series hole. St. Louis and Wacha try to even the best-of-seven Fall Classic at a game apiece tonight when they play Game 2 versus the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. The 2012 first-rounder, who was the compensation pick the Cardinals received from the Los Angeles Angels when Albert Pujols left as a free agent, has been absolutely magnificent this postseason. He outdueled Los Angeles Clayton Kershaw twice in the NLCS and has won all three of his postseason starts, while pitching to a 0.43 ERA. "I want the ball in big situations," Wacha said. "Theres none bigger than the World Series." Since closing the regular season with 8 2/3 no-hit innings, Wacha, the NLCS MVP, has pitched 21 postseason innings, limiting the Pittsburgh Pirates and Dodgers to one run on eight hits. "He throws hard," Boston outfielder Shane Victorino said. "Thats about all I know. Ill watch some video, see what he features. I understand hes good. Thats why he was NLCS MVP, not for any reason besides the fact that hes good." St. Louis will need him to be on his game Thursday after it was shut down by Jon Lester in Game 1. Lester limited the Cardinals to five hits and struck out eight over 7 2/3 scoreless innings as Boston took Game 1, 8-1. The Red Sox jumped on Adam Wainwright early via Mike Napolis three-run double in the first inning, and David Ortiz added a home run and three RBI in the rout -- Bostons ninth straight World Series victory. St. Louis did not record an extra-base hit against Lester (1-0), committed three errors and lost All-Star slugger Carlos Beltran to a right rib contusion in the second inning when the right fielder robbed Ortiz of a grand slam. "We had a wake-up call," said St. Louis manager Mike Matheny. "This is not the kind of team that weve been all season. And theyre frustrated, Im sure embarrassed to a point. Youre going to have games like that periodically. But if you begin to accept that, then this could really not go anywhere." X-rays and a CT scan came back negative, and Beltran is considered day-to-day.dddddddddddd Wainwright (0-1) only lasted five frames after getting touched for five runs -- three earned -- on six hits for the NL champs, whose only offense came on Matt Hollidays home run in the ninth. "We went right after them. We pounded them in," said Lester, who became the third pitcher in World Series history to post scoreless starts in his first two Fall Classic outings. "We wanted to set the tone and get them swinging." History could be on the Red Sox side as nine of the last 10 and 14 of the previous 16 Game 1 winners have gone on to win the series. Also, since 1993, every home team to win Game 1 has gone on to win the World Series. Boston will turn to another battle-tested veteran in Game 2 in John Lackey, who hasnt pitched in the World Series since Game 7 in 2002, when -- as a rookie -- he led the Angels to their first championship. "It is a big game," Lackey said. "Theres no running from that. And its something youve got to embrace. Its something youve got to enjoy." If anyone doubted whether or not Lackey was fully recovered from Tommy John surgery they need to look no further than his Game 3 performance against the Detroit Tigers that saw him outduel Justin Verlander and give control of the ALCS to the Red Sox. Lackey, who will be pitching on eight days rest Thursday night, tossed 6 2/3 scoreless innings in that one and is 2-0 this postseason with a 3.00 ERA. "This is a veteran with a lot of success in the past, including postseason success," said Red Sox skipper John Farrell. "Given the challenges hes come through in the time hes been in Boston, were glad hes not only come back from Tommy John, but regained the form he had pre-injury." Lackey has pitched to a 3.10 ERA in 91 postseason innings, but has never faced the Cardinals at any point in his 11-year career. "Theyre good," said Lackey, who had a 2.47 ERA at home this season. "Theyre in the World Series. Theres no bad teams left. Theyve got a really good offense. Its really deep. Really similar to an American League lineup, for sure." Game 3 of this series is scheduled for Saturday at Busch Stadium. ' ' '
MIAMI -- Defending champion Cruz Azul of Mexico will open CONCACAF Champions League play in Group 6 with Alajuelense of Costa Rica and Chorrillo FC of Panama. Cruz Azul won its record sixth title in April, beating fellow Mexican club Toluca. Also Wednesday, Major League Soccer champion Sporting Kansas City was drawn into Group 2 with Saprissa of Costa Rica and Real Esteli of Nicaragua. The groups will be contested in a round-robin, home-and-away format from August to October. The eight group winners will advance to the quarterfinals. The groups: Group 1: Pachuca (Mexico), Real Espana (Honduras), Municipal (Guatemala). Group 2: Sporting Kansas City (U.S.), Saprissa (Costa Rica), Real Esteli (Nicaragua). Group 3: New York Red Bulls (U.S.), Toronto FC or Montreal Impact (Canada), FAS (El Salvador). Group 4: Tauro FC (Panama), D.C. United (U.S.), Waterhouse FC (Jamaica). Group 5: Olimpia (Honduras), Portland Timbers (U.S.), Alpha United (Guyana). Group 6: Alajuelense (Costa Rica), Cruz Azul (Mexico), Chorrillo FC (Panama). Group 7: Leon (Mexico), Isidro Metapan (El Salvador), Belmopan Bandits (Belize). Group 8: Comunicaciones (Guatemala), Club America (Mexico), Puerto Rico Bayamon FC (Puerto Rico). What is the best Chinese web site for cheap Jerseys .One day after winning her record 63rd World Cup race, Vonn posted to her Facebook account Tuesday that she was happy Woods surprised her by coming to the race, and that she felt terrible that his tooth got knocked out. What is the best site to buy team jerseys from China . Louis still looking for a way out of Tampa Bay, the 38-year-old NHL veteran isnt showing his cards. https://www.wheretobuycheapjerseys.com/ . He was attracted by the punishing defence, the strong running game and a coaching staff he trusted. The 49ers announced Thursday that Manningham had signed a two-year deal to join the team he helped knock out in the NFC championship game two months ago in their latest offensive upgrade at wide receiver. What is a good website to buy sports jerseys .Y. - Major League Soccer is prepared to start its season this weekend even if there isnt a labour deal with its referees and other on-field officials. How to Buy Cheap Jerseys . However, the 38-year-old is in no hurry to sign with another team. "Im not in a rush. This will be my last contract, so I want to do it right," said Burris on Thursday. VALLADOLID, Spain -- Levante drew 1-1 at Valladolid on Friday to extend its unbeaten streak to seven straight games in the Spanish league. Before the rest of the 25th round of matches are played this weekend, Levante moved provisionally into seventh place. Valladolid remained in the relegation zone with only one win in its last nine games. Levante struck first at Jose Zorilla Stadium when former Mallorca forward Victor Casadesus headed in Andreas Ivanschitzs free kick in the 25th minute. The Valencia-based team didnt allow the hhosts a clear scoring chance until striker Javi Guerras deflected shot bounced past goalkeeper Keylor Navas in the 52nd.dddddddddddd It was Guerras team-leading 12th goal in league play this season. "It is a very good point for us," Casadesus said. "Our goal this season is to make sure we stay up and this point will help us." Midfielder Mohamed Sissoko debuted for Levante as a second-half substitute. Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid are level on points at the top of the standings. ' ' '
CALGARY - Flames goaltenders Reto Berra and Karri Ramo faced a daunting task at training camp last September. Miikka Kiprusoff had just announced his retirement after a decade-long run in Calgary and it would be up to Berra and Ramo to fill the void. It was a tall order and the Flames struggled at the start of the season. But there finally appear to be signs that the team may be ready to turn things around. Berra and Ramo have helped Calgary to a 5-4-2 record in its last 11 games, with three losses coming in close games against league heavyweights Pittsburgh and Boston. Berra entered the holiday break on a high after helping the Flames to a 4-3 shootout win Monday over the surging St. Louis Blues. He made 32 saves and stopped all three shots in the shootout to improve to 5-8-2 on the season. Berra is also a perfect 3-0 in shootouts, an area in which Kiprusoff historically struggled (23-37). "Overall Im happy with where I am," he said. "For my first year over here, Ive played solid, Ive played calm and Ive played my game. "I want to have more wins but sometimes you cant control that." Once described by former Flames general manager Jay Feaster as the “best goaltenders not playing in the NHL,” Berra and Ramo are still adjusting to the league since coming over from Europe. The ice surface is smaller and there is more traffic in front of the net. "One thing Ive been working on is trying to track the puck and follow it with my body," said Berra. "Also, guys here shoot perfect shots so you cant just go down and hope it hits you, you have to read the shot. Thats a big part of where Im way better than at the start of the season. "I can read the shots and where theyre coming." Ramo, who spent the last four seasons in the KHL, is more familiar with the North American game than his teammate. The 27-year-old native of Asikkala, Finland spent three seasons in the Tampa Bay organization after being selected by the Lightning in the sixth round of the 2004 entry draft. "Im trying to be quicker with my positioning so I can get set and see more pucks," said Ramo. "If you can play a little bit more outside the crease and still be quick, thats always better. Berra, a 26-year-old native of Bulach, Switzerland, said he has also noticed a big difference in the number of blocked shots. One of the trademarks of the Flames blue-collar style of play, Calgary has blocked 688 shots this season, second only to Montreal (725). Individually, defencemen Kris Russell (105), Chris Butler (100) and Ladislav Smid (83) all rank in the top 10. "I think the guys would jump face first into shots, they have so much commitment to the Flames," Berra said with a laugh. "They play like a goalie. Sometimes if theres not many shots, its hard to get into the game and Ill be thinking, Hey, let it through, I want to save something too." Flames coach Bob Hartley has been pleased with how his two goaltenders have improved. "Very happy with their progression," Hartley said. "Theyre two great guys. They want to learn, they want to contribute to the team success. They get along great together. Were trying to give them streaks where if they play well, we ride them." Berra started 11 of 12 games in one stretch, starting with a spectacular 42-save win in his NHL debut in Chicago. Lately its been Ramos turn, as he has started eight of the last 12 and is playing his finest hockey of the year. Hes gone 4-2-2 in that span with a 2.06 goals-against average and .925 save percentage. On the season, Ramo is 6-6-3 with a 2.79 GAA and a .904 save percentage. He attended Finlands Olympic orientation in July, but thinks there is little chance hell be in Sochi this February given the countrys depth at the goaltending position. Its unclear if Nashville netminder Pekka Rinne will be ready for the Games as hes still recovering from a hip infection. However, Finland is still loaded with other options, including Bostons Tuukka Rask, San Joses Antti Niemi and Kari Lehtonen of Dallas. "With Finland and the goalies, pretty easy decisions for the people who are selecting," said Ramo. "Theyve been well known for so long in Finland and played in the NHL for so long and have been so good." Its a different scenario for Berra. After a strong showing last May at the world championships, he fully expects to be in the mix on the Swiss team. "For sure," Berra said. "Plus Ive made my next step personally by now playing in the NHL." The Flames, who sit 11 points out of a playoff spot in the Western Conference, return to action Friday against the visiting Edmonton Oilers. Fake Vans For Sale . Not to be outdone, Atletico Madrid bettered its title rivals by demolishing 10-man Getafe 7-0 with Diego Costa returning from injury to score with a brilliant bicycle kick. "It was an almost perfect night," Atletico coach Diego Simeone said. Fake Vans Cheap .com) - Novak Djokovic captured a mens Open Era-record fifth Australian Open title on Sunday by defeating rival Andy Murray in the final in Melbourne. https://www.vansfake.com/ . Thats what he did over the past 2 1/2 years with the Washington Wizards. Wittmans approach helped turn the Wizards from pushover to playoff winners. Fake Vans 2020 .Mallais and his team out of Saint John defeated James Grattan 5-4 in Fredericton.The 2015 Tim Hortons Brier from Feb. Fake Vans . - Steve Kerr of the Golden State Warriors will coach the Western Conference in the All-Star Game on Feb. DALLAS -- Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks cant seem to turn comfortable leads into easy wins, even with their playoff fate on the line against teams going nowhere. They avoided what would have been a damaging letdown against Sacramento on Saturday night. Nowitzki scored 19 points, including eight in the fourth quarter when the Mavericks wiped out a five-point deficit after leading by 17 in the first half and held on to beat the Kings 103-100. "Its unfortunate its been part of our DNA, and I just feel like were going to snap out of it," said coach Rick Carlisle, whose team has lost six games after leading by at least 16 points this season. "And I know we have to. So Im a very positive thinker on this." The Mavericks beat Sacramento at home for the 20th straight time in the regular season, the longest against any opponent in franchise history. Dallas (44-30) is in a virtual tie with Memphis (43-29) for eighth place in the Western Conference, a half-game behind Phoenix. The Mavericks have eight games left and finish the regular season at the Grizzlies. Rudy Gay scored 30 for the Kings. Monta Ellis had 17 points and six assists and Sam Dalembert added 15 as Dallas avoided a second loss to a West also-ran on a franchise-record eight-game homestand that ends Tuesday night against Golden State, the fourth likely playoff-bound opponent in five games. "Weve got to push it," Dalembert said. "We have to go out every night and fight, try to get anything we can get and see if we can get that second chance." The Kings were up 89-84 after a jumper from Jason Thompson when Jose Calderon started a 10-0 run with a 3-pointer and Nowitzki hit a pair of free throws for a tie. Shawn Marion made two more free throws to put Dallas back in front, then knocked down a 3-pointer from the right corner for a 94-89 lead. Marion finished with 14 points. Sacramento had a chance to tie in the final seconds after Ellis missed two free throws, but Travis Outlaws 3-pointer was short just before the buzzer. "We played a lot harder, a lot more physical, in the second half," Sacramento coach Michael Malone said. "But we dont want to be having to get down by 17 to doo it.dddddddddddd" Gay, who had 35 points in another close loss at the Mavericks in January, led Sacramentos push for its first regular-season win in Dallas since Feb. 27, 2003. The Kings won a playoff game in Dallas in 2004 when they eliminated the Mavericks in five games in the first round. Gay tipped in his own miss for the Kings first lead at 81-80 with 7:26 remaining in the game and muscled in a bucket after Ray McCallum missed a layup. Gay also had seven rebounds. With Kings point guard Isaiah Thomas missing his third straight game with a right thigh contusion, McCallum became the first NBA player this season to go the full 48 minutes. He has played six straight quarters over two nights after going the entire second half of a loss at Oklahoma City. McCallum, who had 16 points and eight assists, was briefly the only guard available when fellow rookie Ben McLemore left with what he said was a mild knee injury in the third quarter before returning in the fourth. "I felt fine the whole entire game," said McCallum, who has averaged 45 minutes per game in his three career starts with Thomas sidelined. "I knew with Isaiah being out, I would play more. I took a challenge to keep the team in the game and run the offence." McLemore had ice on both knees and his left shoulder after the game, but said he was fine. Nowitzki led the Mavericks with seven rebounds and tied Calderon for the team lead with seven assists. Reggie Evans had a season-high 18 rebounds for Sacramento, and DeMarcus Cousins finished with 17 points, seven rebounds and five assists despite sitting most of the third quarter with four fouls. NOTES: Kings coach Michael Malone said Thomas might play Monday at New Orleans. ... Kings F Jason Thompson got a technical for complaining about a foul called against him on a three-point play by Marion. It contributed to a seven-point spurt in just 26 seconds that gave Dallas a 50-33 lead late in the first half. ... Ellis has been willing to take charges all season, never better illustrated that early in the third quarter when the 6-foot-11, 270-pound Cousins dribbled the length of the floor before plowing through the 6-3, 185-pound Ellis under the basket. ' ' '
FRISCO, Texas -- Bradley Wright-Phillips scored in the 71st minute to help the New York Red Bulls beat FC Dallas 1-0 on Sunday. New York extended its unbeaten streak to four games to improve to 3-2-5, and FC Dallas dropped to 5-3-1. Thierry Henry assisted on the goal with a through ball from the top of the penalty box to Wright-Phillips, who fired a shot into centre of the net from 6 yards. Wright-Phillips scored his sixth goal of the season and his fifth in the last three games. "Its one of those things when you are scoring you get the luck of the green," Wright-Phillips said. "Im just trying to get in the right spot and focus and hit my target." The Red Bulls played most of the game with a one-man advantage after Dallas Je-Vaughn Watson was given a red card in the 10th minute for a hard foul on New Yorks Tim Cahill. Watson kicked Cahill in the lower stomach. "It was a karate kick, I see those once or twice a year," Cahill said. After the game in the locker room Cahill showed the red scratches on his stomach from the foul. The two teams combined for four yellow cards on top of the red card. "It was a combination of things," New Yorks Dax McCarty said. "It was a stone-cold red card, extremely chippy play in the first half. In the second half it seemed the ref swallowed his whistle. I thought Dallas was very physical and did a lot of stuff off the ball that you dont necessarily want to see." The game was the 100th career game for Henry, who registered his third assist of the season on the goal. "Im not thinking of the 100th game, today we did enough to win," Henry said. " They (Dallas) played better than us with only 10 men, its difficult because Dallas did not deserve to lose." Red Bulls goalkeeper Luis Robles made a diving save to his right side to stop Blas Perezs penalty attempt in the 58th minute. FC Dallas was awarded the penalty shot after Cahill was called for a foul on Danny Garcia. Less than two minutes later, Robles made a two-handed leaping stop to prevent a goal by Garcia. Garcia made his MLS debut in the game. Robles finished with three saves and FC Dallas goalkeeper Raul Fernandez also finished with three saves. "Very heartbroken and very disappointed," Dallas coach Oscar Pareja said. "On a day that we couldnt put a lot of things together, we end up losing against New York, a team that took advantage of their one opportunity in the second half. Disappointed to play 80 minutes with 10 men, its hard." Dallas played the game without Zach Loyd and Michel because of yellow card accumulation suspensions. Loyd and Michel had both started the last five games for FC Dallas. Air Max 90 Saldi . Viewers in the Jets region can watch the game on TSN Jets at 6:30pm ct/7:30pm et. The game is also avialable on TSN Radio 1290 in Winnipeg at 7pm ct. Air Max 270 Saldi . Team officials travelled to Los Angeles on Thursday night to meet with the free agent, a person with knowledge of the plans said. http://www.scontatescarpenikeoutlet.it/italia-saucony-offerte.html . A receiver doesnt make the catch on a passing play and instantly motions to the ref – and everybody else – for a pass interference flag. Air Force 1 Scontate . -- LeGarrette Blount wasnt satisfied with three short touchdown runs, not against a team coming off the second greatest comeback in playoff history. Yeezy 700 Outlet . - Florida State has suspended Jameis Winston for the entire game against Clemson on Saturday, extending its initial punishment of one half after the quarterback made offensive and vulgar comments about female anatomy earlier this week.Francesco Guidolin wants Swansea to treat their last seven games of the season like finals despite a 1-0 victory over Aston Villa easing their relegation worries. Federico Fernandez scored the only goal as the game finished 1-0 to take Swansea to 36 points, 11 clear of the bottom three.However, Guidolin is keen to ensure that he players to not ease off before the end of the campaign and assume that the job is done. Norwich won and the relegation zone is far but we have to play with freedom now but like a final, he told Sky Sports.This evening we didnt play very well in the first half but it was like a final game and we won. Now for the seven games in the last weeks of this season we have to play like a final game.The Italian was also full of praise for the impact of Leon Britton and the role he played in the teams improved second half showing after coming on as a half-time substitute.I know this situation and in the second half we needed a player like Leon to win the ball, take the second balls and to play the first pass right, Guidolin added. He played very, very well and the whole team was improved.Guidolin was also keen to stress the importance the result could have on Swansea in the long-term. Swanseas Leon Britton told Saturday Night Football that he was delighted with his sides 1-0 win over Aston Villa This is the match I was waiting for, a nervous match and we didnt play well in the first half but in the second half we improved, Guidolin said.ddddddddddddI think at the end it is a good victory, three points, very important and the most important thing is for the future and not having to play a game in this situation.Our season has been down, up, down, up and in the last part of the season we need points. It is important for the club and the team for the future to have the possibility to play without nerves but simple, easy - it is better for our players, this club and for me, as well! Also See: Villa near drop after defeat As it happened Swansea fixtures Bet ￡5 Get ￡20 Free ' ' '
PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Penguins were glad to be back at Consol Energy Center after their longest road trip in three years. Recently, though, theyve felt right at home against the Washington Capitals regardless of where they play. Marc-Andre Fleury made 32 saves for his fifth shutout of the season, leading Pittsburgh to a 2-0 victory over Washington on Tuesday night. Jussi Jokinen and Sidney Crosby scored for the Penguins, who swept the teams home-and series one night after beating the Capitals 3-2 in Washington. Pittsburgh has beaten its longtime rivals a franchise-record eight straight times. "Every time we play them, its pretty intense," said Fleury, who has 28 career shutouts. "Its always a close game and a hard-fought game, so its nice to get the W." The Penguins have also won three in a row and picked up at least a point in eight of their last 10 games. Pittsburgh was at home for the second time since the end of the Olympic break, having travelled more than 6,000 miles in playing five games over three time zones the previous 10 days. Jaroslav Halak stopped 32 shots in his third start for Washington. Alexander Ovechkin was held without a point for the fourth consecutive game as the Capitals lost for the fourth time in their last five. Fleury tied his career high for shutouts in a season while winning his sixth straight start against the Capitals, whom the Penguins swept the season series from for the second year in a row. "We created a lot more chances than last game and more shots, and that was something we wanted to improve on," Crosby said. "But defensively we were pretty good." Pittsburgh widened its lead in the Eastern Conference to three points over the idle Boston Bruins and also increased its Metropolitan Division bulge to 16 points over the New York Rangers. Unlike Fleury, Halak was played both games on consecutive nights between the teams. Acquired in a trade from the Buffalo Sabres last week, Halaks first three starts with the Capitals have come over a four-day span. Jokinen beat him at 16:41 of the first. Left unchecked by Capitals defenceman Mike Green while skating through the slot, Jokinen offered a deft re-direct of Matt Niskanens shot from the right point for his 17th goal of the season -- but first since Jan. 30. Evgeni Malkin earned the second assist on the play, extending his assists streak to five games. Crosby scored for the second straight night against Halak, this time with a low wrist shot to the stick side with 5:48 left in the game after skating swiftly down the right wing. Halak said he was surprised by the shot -- he was expecting Crosby to pass it to Chris Kunitz. "I just tried to look to pass as long as I could," Crosby said, "just to see if hed bite and try to hold him there." Lee Stempniak had the only assist on the goal in his home debut for Penguins after he and fellow forward Marcel Goc were acquired in trade-deadline day deals last week. Eleven minutes into the second period, the Capitals came the closest to scoring when rookie Evgeny Kuznetsov flipped a shot from just to the right of Fleury that clanged off the post before deflecting off of Fleurys left pad as he sprawled out. "If we tie the game there," Ovechkin said, "maybe its a little bit different game." Largely untested and forced to make just 12 saves through two periods, Fleury faced the brunt of the Washington onslaught during the third. "The first period, they controlled the game," Ovechkin said. "The last 30 minutes, we played our game, got the puck deep, started to cycle. Maybe we were just a little bit tired, maybe we were just a little sleepy. We just werent ready for the first period. The Capitals No.2 NHL power play had two opportunities over the games final 12 minutes, plus an extended 6-on-5 with Halak pulled over the final 90 seconds. But Fleury denied chances by Mark Chimera, Troy Brouwer and Marcus Johansson for some of his best third-period saves. "The first and second, there werent too many shots," Fleury said. "The third was crazy -- but it was fun though. You get a good sweat and get a win." Washington dropped into 11th place in the Eastern Conference standings and dropped three points out of the final playoff spot. "(The desperation level) needs to be a little more from everybody," Halak said. "Now, its do-or-die for us." NOTES: Kunitz missed a shift after crashing violently into the goal post during the third period. Bylsma said the contact was not directly to Kunitzs knee. ... Washington C Brooks Laich did not make the trip to Pittsburgh because he continues to be hampered by a groin injury. Laich has missed two of the past four games. ... Early Tuesday, the Capitals recalled C Casey Wellman and D Patrick Wey from their American Hockey League affiliate in Hershey. Wey, a native of a Pittsburgh suburb, was a healthy scratch. ... Before the game, Penguins coach Dan Bylsma said that D Kris Letang has been skating and working out in Pittsburgh. Letang has not played since suffering a stroke Jan. 29. He remains out indefinitely. Discount Jerseys Custom . - Pete Rose didnt want it to be about him, not on a day when four new members were elected to baseballs most exclusive club. Discount Jerseys For Sale . Bryant underwent an operation in December to correct an irregular heartbeat. His season ended with four games left because of a rapid heartbeat, a condition he has known about for several years and had been treated for in the past. https://www.discountjerseysonline.com/ . Top-ranked Rafael Nadal was also taken to three sets but emerged with a 6-3, 6-7 (3), 6-3 win over Tobias Kamke of Germany, while second-seeded David Ferrer joined Murray in making an early exit after a 6-4, 7-5 loss to Daniel Brands of Germany. Discount Jerseys League . One out away from finishing off an impressive shutout, they let a must-win game slip away. Discount Jerseys Online . Brandon Morrow allowed five runs on six hits over three innings. He struck out two, walked one and hit a batter. Edwin Encarnacion had a two-out, bases loaded two-RBI double in the third inning.EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Retaining coach Tom Coughlin for 2015 was only the start of what promises to be a busy off-season to-do list for ownership, the coaching staff, and general manager Jerry Reese.Co-owner John Mara said Tuesday that re-signing unrestricted free agents Jason Pierre-Paul and Antrel Rolle and continuing the rehabilitation of the 22 players who wound up on injured reserve were among the biggest needs for the franchise.While expressing pleasure about the season-ending 3-1 stretch, Mara left no doubt that much energy will be expended to avoid another 6-10 disaster.This has been a very difficult year for our fans, and an even more difficult year for me, Mara said. I havent stomached this very well. Its going to be a long off-season. But I think there is reason for optimism. I think well be a better team next year, but just talking about it right now isnt very convincing. Not coming off this type of season.Shoring up a defensive line that generated one of the leagues weakest pass rushes the first 11 games of the season will be a priority. Re-signing Pierre-Paul, whose nine sacks over the last five games gave him a team-high 12 1/2 for the season, will be a decision wrought with salary cap consequences. But Mara was cautiously optimistic about keeping him in the Meadowlands.Ill be surprised if hes not a Giant next year, Mara said.But he also said he wont break the bank for him.Id like him back, but for the right price, Mara said, adding that slapping the one-year, $9.04 million franchise tag on him is also an option. He had a great finish.Reese said he met with all the teams unrestricted free agents Monday, but has yet to engage in any negotiations with Pierre-Pauls representatives. How he weighs the defensive ends finish against the rest of his season could decide his future.The guy has the ability to be a game-changer, and we didnt see that the first half of the season, Reese said. Hes had some injury problems. Weve seen the guyy be a dynamic player, and hes still a young player.dddddddddddd So now we have to have a conversation with John (Mara) and his agents and see what makes sense for everybody.Reese said regardless of Pierre-Pauls or Rolles status, he did not plan on equaling the $116 million he spent on free agents last year.It wont be wholesale changes. Last year we had to turn the roster over, Reese said. Well definitely do something to upgrade our roster. Weve got a good corps of people coming back, regardless. You cant turn your roster over every single year.Although quarterback Eli Manning has one more year left on his contract, Mara said they could discuss an extension. Mara said he believes Manning still has a championship left in him, and that the organization would like to see him retire as a Giant. But it depends on what theyre asking for, Mara said.Continuing the rehabilitation on the vast list of injured players that included starters such as wide receiver Victor Cruz, linebacker Jon Beason, cornerbacks Walter Thurmond and Prince Amukamara, and offensive lineman Geoff Schwartz will be another off-season concern.Im very frustrated about the number of injuries weve had, Mara said. Its been two years in a row now that weve led the league in putting players on the IR. We cut down on the number of soft-tissue injuries, and all of a sudden theres broken bones and torn tendons and torn muscles.If we just get half of them back healthy next year, well be a much better team.The Giants must also find a replacement for quarterback coach Danny Langsdorf, who after just one season to become the offensive co-ordinator job at the University of Nebraska.Despite all the ifs and uncertainty facing the Giants, Coughlin believed 2015 will be a success, even if it does take a long, arduous off-season to accomplish it.Were going to be better next year, an animated Coughlin said. Why am I here? You think Im in my office with my feet up? Were here to win! ' ' '
PORTLAND, Ore. -- Former Portland Timbers forward Eddie Johnson is suing the Major League Soccer team for $9.9 million, alleging that he was allowed to practice while he still had concussion symptoms. The lawsuit was filed Wednesday in Multnomah County Circuit Court. It names the Timbers ownership group, Peregrine Sports LLC, and members of the teams medical staff. Johnson sustained a concussion before a game Aug. 3, 2011, and another one 11 days later, prompting the team to rule him out for the rest of the season. The lawsuit alleges that when he returned for the MLS preseason in 2012, he was still experiencing symptoms. The native of Chester, England, retired that April after another head injury. The lawsuit claims that the Johnson suffered "serious and permanent traumatic head and brain injuries" that caused headaches, memory impairment, impaired balance, blurred vision, dizziness and other conditions. "Johnson has and will continue to suffer loss of function and ability, pain, discomfort, mental suffering, anxiety, and inconvenience and interference with his normal and usual activities," the lawsuit said. The Timbers said in a statement released Thursday that they would not comment specifically on the lawsuit, but said the team follows all MLS health-related protocols for players. "Additionally, we approach head injuries with extra caution and err on the side of conservatism above and beyond official protocol when dealing with them," the team said. "We have an expert staff of physicians and trainers and stand by them and their evaluations," the teams statement said. Johnson played professionally in England and the United State for more than 10 years. His career started with Manchester United and he appeared with the first team during the 2003-04 season. He played for several English clubs before moving to the United States in 2009. He was one of the first four players signed by the Timbers for their inaugural MLS season in 2011. He appeared in seven league matches and had a goal during his time in Portland. Authentic Jerseys For Sale . -- Jane Kish stopped all 25 shots she faced as the Weyburn Gold Wings blanked the Sudbury Lady Wolves 3-0 on Friday to advance to the gold-medal game at the Esso Cup. Discount Jerseys For Sale . - Regan Smith had the checkered flag in sight at Daytona a year ago and a freight train of cars in his rearview mirror. https://www.jerseysforsalechina.com/ .C. -- Marcus Paige and his North Carolina teammates have endured so many wild swings -- big wins, surprising losses, NCAA drama -- that no one can blame their Hall of Fame coach for wondering whats next. Jerseys For Sale Outlet . The group of Slava Fetisov, Igor Larionov, Vladimir Konstantinov, Sergei Fedorov, & Slava Kozlov were a dominant force for The Wings at one point in the 90s. Cheap Jerseys For Sale . This week, topics cover the World Series champion Red Sox, John Farrell and what to look forward to this off-season.TORONTO -- With teammate Kyle Lowry ailing, DeMar DeRozan put the Toronto Raptors on his shoulders Wednesday night. DeRozan had a career-high 40 points to rally the Raptors to a 93-85 home win over the Dallas Mavericks, their first victory in three games. And with fellow guard Lowry struggling with the stomach flu -- he went 0-for-10 from the field, including 0-for-6 from beyond the arc -- it was DeRozan who led Toronto to its third straight decision over the Mavs. "Once I saw Kyle with his head hanging down and holding his stomach, I knew he wasnt feeling too well," DeRozan said. "This loss wouldve hurt and we didnt want to lose three in a row. "I just told myself to try do as much as I can to win, try to pull this one off and keep my team in it." DeRozan finished 15-of-22 from the field, nine-of-14 from the free-throw line and hit the only three-pointer he tried. He put an exclamation point on his outstanding performance by recording the steal and going the length of the court to score and give Toronto (21-20) a 92-85 lead with 1:48 remaining. "He got into the flow of the game," Raptors coach Dwane Casey said. "In the first quarter we werent getting those flow shots. "After that we started getting into our offence, we ran the pick and rolls. They started blitzing them and he (DeRozan) did a good job finding others and the ball found him. It was growth on his part from being double-teamed and being patient enough to get the ball back and be able to score." Although Lowry only managed three points -- off free throws -- Casey praised his guards contributions in other areas of the game. "Kyle didnt stop playing," Casey said. "He dove on the floor, go his hands in there defensively on loose balls. "He affected the game without scoring. You dont expect him to go 0-for-10 but he affected the game." Grievis Vazquez scored 17 points and Jonas Valanciunas added 12 for Toronto, which rebounded from a horrid start as Dallas stormed out to a 34-15 first-quarter lead. "After the first quarter I thought it was going to be a blowout," Casey said. "But in the second half we got the game back under control and got defence in the game. "You get in a free-flowing game with a great offensive team like that and youre in trouble. Our starts are concerning . . . but for us to score only 15 points is alarming." Monta Ellis had 21 points for Dallas (25-19) while former Raptors Jose Calderon and Vince Carter had 13 and eight points, respectively. Brandan Wright also had 13 points as all-star forward Dirk Nowitzki (rest) was inactive despite scoring 17 points in a 102-97 road win over Cleveland on Monday night. Dallas head coach Rick Carlisle said DeRozan was tough to pin down. "He was doing a little bit of everything," he said. "He was driving and he was making shots. "They got in transition a lot because of turnovers and hes a really good transition player." Dallas committed 21 turnovers, including nine in the fourth quarter, and Toronto took advantage with 25 points off the Mavericks miscues. The Raptors improved to 11-2 when holding an opponent to under 90 points. "Yes, too many turnovers," said Carlisle. "We played two good quarters and they played three good quarters..dddddddddddd. "Its a 48-minute game and we have to do it for four quarters and thats the story. Carter spent his first six-plus NBA seasons with the Raptors, winning the 98-99 top rookie award and slam dunk contest (2000) while with the club. But the player dubbed Air Canada for his high-flying performances while in Toronto was routinely booed every time he touched the ball on Wednesday but had a thunderous first-half dunk over DeRozan. "It surprised me, I wasnt expecting it," Carter said. "I said sorry, I didnt know it was still possible." Added DeRozan: "He said he didnt know it was me, if he knew it was me he wouldve tried a layup but he got me. I was kind of upset with that a little bit but he got me." Calderon received a solid ovation in the pre-game introductions. He spent eight years with the Raptors before being dealt to Detroit last January and ultimately signing as a free agent in the summer with Dallas. "We couldnt match their intensity," Calderon said. "Then they made their run and we couldnt keep up with that." DeRozans layup and free throw put Toronto ahead 85-82 with 3:38 left before Amir Johnsons three-pointer with 2:59 remaining gave the Raptors an 88-84 advantage. Valanciunass field goal with just under five minutes left put Toronto ahead 82-81, their first lead of the contest since early in the first. DeRozans 15-point outburst in the third pulled Toronto to within 73-68 of the Mavericks heading into the third. Vazquezs three-pointer with under a minute remaining cut Dallass lead to 71-68 but Elliss field goal rounded out the scoring and gave the visitors their five-point advantage. Vazquezs 11 points helped Toronto outscore Dallas 31-17 in the second to cut the Mavericks half-time advantage to 51-46. After failing to register a three-pointer in the first, the Raptors were 4 of 6 from the arc in the second to turn a game Dallas led by 21 points at one time into a much closer affair. DeRozan led the way for the home side with 16 points while Calderon and Carter had 12 and eight points, respectively, for the Mavs. Calderon and Carter helped stake Dallas to its 19-point lead after the first, scoring 10 and five points, respectively. Calderon anchored a 13-0 run with eight points that put the Mavericks ahead 21-8 before Derozan -- who had 12 of Torontos points -- scored the Raptors first basket in nearly five minutes. Carter added insult to injury with the dunk over DeRozan and subsequent free throw that put Dallas ahead 24-10. The Mavericks shot 14 of 24 (58.3 per cent) from the field and 3 of 5 from the arc while Toronto was 0-for-5 from three-point range and 5 of 19 (26.3 per cent) overall. NOTES -- Carter, who averaged 23.4 points per game in his 403 career appearances with Toronto, turns 37 on Sunday . . . Calderon remains Torontos all-time leader in assists (3,770) and free-throw percentage (.887) . . . Raptors head coach Dwane Casey spent three seasons as an assistant with Dallas under Carlisle, helping the squad capture the 2011 NBA title. Casey improved to 3-2 as a head coach versus his former team . . . Also on Dallass roster is veteran centre Samuel Dalembert, a native of Haiti who grew up in Montreal and is in his 11th NBA season . . . Toronto entered action having made 105 three-pointers this month, third-most in the NBA. ' ' '
OKLAHOMA CITY -- Thunder fans who braved ice, snow and single-digit temperatures got a special treat -- a look at the old Russell Westbrook. The three-time All-Star scored 26 points to lead Oklahoma City past the Charlotte Bobcats 116-99 Sunday night. He was 10 of 12 from the floor in 25 minutes in his fifth game since returning from right knee surgery. He has steadily improved and is looking more like the player he was before he missed 27 games. "He was aggressive all night, playing downhill on the pick and rolls," said Thunder forward Kevin Durant, who finished with 28 points. "He was just great tonight. That was good to see." Westbrook said he needed time to get comfortable again. "The more I play, the more rhythm Im able to catch and the more rhythm Im able to get," he said. Reggie Jackson scored 17 points and Serge Ibaka had 15 points and 10 rebounds for the Thunder, who won their second straight after losing their first three games following the All-Star break. Oklahoma City outrebounded the Bobcats 44-29. Durant made just 8 of 24 field goals, but sank all 12 of his free throws. He also had six rebounds and five assists. "I get a lot of shots, man," Durant said. "Theres going to be nights when I feel like that. Its a part of the game, and I think thats the beauty of the game -- just trying to fight through the obstacles, do what I can to help my team." Al Jefferson scored 25 points and Anthony Tolliver added 17 for the Bobcats, who had won four straight before losses to San Antonio and Oklahoma City. The Thunder made 13 of 24 shots in the fourth quarter to outscore the Bobcats 31-18. Charlotte coach Steve Clifford said his team had the wrong mindset to close the game. "I think through three quarters we did a good job, but we came out in the fourth, and again, particularly when they brought their starters back, we just couldnt contain the ball and couldnt keep the ball out of the paint, which has been something weve been good at all year," he said. Westbrook scored 17 points on 7-for-7 shooting in the first half to help the Thunder take a 61-55 lead at the break. "He set the tone the first half," Clifford said. "He always plays with high energy, and if hes going to make all the shots, then theyre going to be hard to beat." Jefferson had 15 points on 7-for-9 shooting. The Bobcats shot 54 per cent in the first half, but were outrebounded 20-13. The Bobcats started off hot in the second half. A 3-point play by Gerald Henderson trimmed Oklahoma Citys lead to 61-60. The Thunder responded with a 6-0 run, including two putback baskets by Steven Adams, to take a 67-60 lead. Westbrook showed some of his explosiveness after a steal. He drove down court, then extended his right arm and elevated for a powerful one-handed throwdown to give the Thunder a 77-67 lead. "Tonight, he was phenomenal," Durant said. "He was great. That dunk capped it off." The Bobcats hung tough and trailed just 85-81 at the end of the third quarter. Charlotte cut the deficit to 86-84 early in the fourth quarter, but the Thunder responded with an 8-2 run. A perfectly executed pick-and-roll ended with Durant scoring on a pass from Westbrook, and Ibaka scored on the next possession to give the Thunder a 104-92 lead and put the game out of reach. Westbrook, who also had five assists, dominated from the start. "I thought Russell really had a great command of the game," Oklahoma City coach Scott Brooks said. "I think it is good to see him continue to get his game legs under him. I give the staff a lot of credit. They have put him in a position to get better day by day." NOTES: Oklahoma City general manager Sam Presti announced before the game that Thunder guard Thabo Sefolosha would miss four to six weeks with a left calf strain. Sefolosha left Fridays game against Memphis in the first half and didnt return. ... Several Oklahoma City players, including Durant and Westbrook, travelled to Stillwater, Okla., Saturday night to watch Oklahoma State upset No. 5 Kansas. ... Presti said new acquisition Caron Butler will be with the team Monday after the Thunder signed him Saturday. ... Durant was called for a technical foul in the first quarter after being whistled for a carry and disagreeing with the call. Toronto Raptors Store . -- Get a flow chart ready to follow the Packers quarterback situation. Raptors Jerseys 2020 . Malone will become an unrestricted free-agent and as per the collective bargaining agreement, the Lightning will be responsible for two-thirds of the remainder of his contract over twice the length of the rest of the deal. https://www.cheapraptors.com/ . This game was inside. Adrian Peterson was missing. The stage was set for another step toward the playoffs. Toronto Raptors Pro Shop . Ibrahimovic put PSG ahead when he got in front of his marker to neatly flick in Lucass cross in the 59th minute. New signing Yohan Cabaye came on as a second-half substitute and headed Ezequiel Lavezzis cross against the post in the 87th. Moments later, Lucas set up another goal from the right when fellow countryman Alex turned in his corner with a strikers finish. Custom Toronto Raptors Jerseys . Coming off a 6-0 drubbing at Chelsea on Saturday, Arsenal endured another demoralizing result after rallying for a 2-1 lead -- only to concede a fluke equalizer.Got a question on rule clarification, comments on rule enforcements or some memorable NHL stories? Kerry wants to answer your emails at cmonref@tsn.ca. Hi Kerry, Welcome back! Im sure you heard Peter Forsbergs comments last week regarding Canadian referees in the gold medal game. Seems to me that he was questioning the integrity and impartiality.Did you think there was anything peculiar about this decision? Thanks,Ed Hi Ed: I am thrilled that NHL hockey is back and we can all adjust our watches back to the North American time zone! Initially, I was surprised by the expletive-deleted comments Peter Forsberg made the day before the Gold Medal game and following the IIHFs selection of four North American NHL officials to work the Canada-Sweden game. Even though the officials nationality and residency slanted exclusively toward Canadian soil, the timing of Forsbergs comments (the day before the puck was dropped) caused me to pause and consider the Swedish general managers motives. Ive seen plenty of "gamesmanship" from general managers and coaches during Stanley Cup playoffs and finals, but Peter Forsbergs public comments rank up near the top of the list in attempting to gain an advantage and competitive edge. Peter was not only a world class player but I also know him to be a very intense competitor. That being said, Peter is not a stupid man and made a calculated move in hopes of gaining some advantage for his players against a highly skilled Canadian team. I believe Peters comments were designed to put the IIHF on notice in the event he felt the need to complain post-game but most importantly to plant a seed in the head of each game official hoping his team might receive the benefit of the doubt when one could be offered. It also became a story the day before the game designed to deflect some of the pressure away from Team Sweden players. I dont believe that Peter Forsberg would honestly question the integrity and impartiality of the NHL Officials that were assigned to work the game. Kelly Sutherland, Brad Meir, Derek Amell and Greg Devorski were selected on the merit of their work during the Olympics and weere regarded as the very best! They are professionals in the true sense of the word.dddddddddddd The players have more confidence in the NHL officials ability than their International counterparts. Swedish team captain Niklas Kronwall of the Detroit Red Wings believed that both teams would benefit from North American officials when he was quoted as saying, "We are used to having referees from USA and Canada in the NHL. We know their standards so I think its easier for us too if the referees are from there." And teammate Erik Karlsson of the Ottawa Senators agreed. Prior to 1998, the IIHF would not assign an official to work a game in which his country of nationality was participating in. Only neutral officials were assigned. That changed in Nagano with the inclusion of NHL players and officials. The best officials were assigned to the games regardless of their country of nationality or residency. In response to Peter Forsbergs comments, IIHF officiating manager Konstantin Komisarov issued the following statement on the selection process; "The main factor of the selection of these officials has most of all to do with their experience officiating in high-level competitions. These include Stanley Cup playoffs, World Championship competitions and Olympic competitions. Their nationalities arent considered as factors nor should they be, we want the best officials working the medal games. We are fully confident that with their experience and professionalism these officials will do their job well and preserve the integrity of the game." Good for Konstantin Komissarov and the IIHF officiating committee for selecting the best officials to work the Gold Medal game. The officiating crew did an outstanding job and preserved the integrity of the game as Konstantin was confident they would. Last Sunday, the game was played on Olympic ice in Sochi and not in the media. Peter Forsbergs silver medal-winning Swedish team was beaten fair and square by Canada to take Gold. The officiating was a complete non-factor; regardless of county of nationality. NHL officials are clearly the best in the world. ' ' '
SEATTLE -- Richard Sherman celebrated by dancing with cheerleaders, Marshawn Lynch cut, plowed and strolled his way to three touchdowns, and Pete Carroll got one rousing birthday gift. The awaited NFC West showdown between the Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers was a one-sided rout. Lynch scored on touchdown runs of 14 and two yards, and added a seven-yard TD reception in the second half, Seattle flustered Colin Kaepernick into his worst passing game as a starter, and the Seahawks dominated in a 29-3 win Sunday night. "Every game we feel like we should dominate, and we did," Seattle safety Earl Thomas said. The game was delayed 60 minutes late in the first quarter when thunderstorms blew through the area. The highly anticipated matchup was sloppy as opposed to sensational, but Lynch more than did his part. Lynch finished with 135 total yards, including 98 yards rushing, to make up for quarterback Russell Wilson hitting on just two of his first 10 throws and Seattles receivers struggling to get open. His TD run on the first drive of the second half gave the Seahawks a 12-0 lead. His TD catch pushed the advantage to 19-3 early in the fourth quarter. "We are dedicated to running the ball and we are going to keep working until we really own it, and we dont own the running right now like we can. Well get better at it," Carroll said. This wont be a game noted for efficiency or execution by either side. There were careless turnovers and untimely penalties. But that was expected between these nasty rivals and the favourites not just in their division but as potential NFC representatives in the Super Bowl. And it was the Seahawks getting an early, important advantage over the 49ers. "We did what we expected to. I think you guys expected something different. I think you guys expected something a little more Kaepernick-y," Sherman said. "We didnt expect any of that. We expect guys to play discipline ball." Kaepernick failed to get anything going in the passing game, unable to break down Seattles stellar secondary. He was intercepted in the end zone in the first quarter when Earl Thomas hauled in a deflected pass intended for Vernon Davis. That was the only time the 49ers threatened to score a touchdown. Kam Chancellor intercepted Kaepernick midway through the fourth quarter, returning the pick to the San Francisco 2 and leading to Lynchs third TD. Then there was Sherman, Seattles ultra-confident All-Pro, who intercepted Kaepernicks deep sideline pass for Davis with about 13 minutes remaining. He celebrated his first interception of the season by dancing with the Seahawks cheer squad. Steven Hauschka kicked a 37-yard field goal, and the Seahawks lead was 22-3 with 11:31 left. "He should probably stay at cornerback," Seattle wide receiver Golden Tate joked about Sherman. "I dont see a future in that." And just because Carroll cant stop competing, he challenged and won the Seahawks another turnover following a kickoff fumble with 4:15 left and the Seahawks leading by 26. Wilson finished 8 of 19 passing for 142 yards, one of the worst games in his young career. Kaepernick was 13 of 28 for 127 yards passing, and he ran for another 87 yards. His three interceptions matched his entire season total from 2012. Frank Gore was held to just 16 yards on nine carries, and Anquan Boldin, who tortured Green Bay last week for 13 catches and 208 yards, was targeted just once in the first three quarters. His only catch came with 9:40 remaining. Boldin was shadowed most of the night by Sherman. It was a request Sherman made following Boldins big day a week ago and with the Seahawks minus their other starting cornerback Brandon Browner. "I asked Coach for the challenge," Sherman said. "I wanted to follow him. There were a lot of things said this week." The 49ers finished with five turnovers and no TDs in a game for the third time since the start of 1979 season. "I dont think any of us are proud of our performance," San Francisco coach Jim Harbaugh said. Leading 5-0 at halftime after a wacky first half of delays and points coming via safety and a field goal, Seattle started the second half going to Lynch. He carried on the first four plays, and when Seattle faced third-and-12, Wilson scrambled and bought time for Doug Baldwin to get open downfield for a 51-yard reception to the 20. After a penalty backed up the Seahawks to the 14, Lynch took an inside handoff and darted nearly untouched for his first touchdown of the season. Seattle extended the lead later in the half thanks to a careless personal foul penalty from Aldon Smith, slapping the helmet of Seattles Breno Giacomini behind the play after Zach Miller and the Seahawks were stopped short on third-and-28. Given another chance, Wilson stayed in the pocket against blitzing safety Craig Dahl on third-and-4 to find Lynch wide open in the left flat. Lynch took a few steps toward the end zone, stopped and waited, and finally crossed the goal line, pushing the lead to 22-3. "He was saying he just took a couple of seconds off the clock," Wilson said. Notes: Seattle played the final three quarters without starting left tackle Russell Okung, who was out with a toe injury. Carroll said he didnt know the severity. ... San Francisco lost nose tackle Ian Williams (ankle) and safety Eric Reid (head) to injuries. Davis also injured a hamstring. ... Seattle held San Franciscos three running backs who carried the ball to 13 total yards on 11 attempts. ... The crowd of 68,338 was the largest for a Seahawks game at CenturyLink Field. Corey Dillon Jersey .com) - Novak Djokovic captured a mens Open Era-record fifth Australian Open title on Sunday by defeating rival Andy Murray in the final in Melbourne. Devin McCourty Jersey . -- Canadian freestyle skier Roz Groenewoud isnt letting surgery to both of her knees deter her expectations for the Sochi Olympics. https://www.patriotsjerseysale.com/1981p-randy-moss-jersey-patriots.html .Bacca took advantage of Cristian Alvarezs hesitation to head a lobbed pass over the goalkeeper and then used his feet to roll the ball into an empty net in the eighth minute. The Colombia strikers 10th goal pulled him level with Lionel Messi as the leagues third-leading scorers, far behind Cristiano Ronaldos runaway tally of 23 goals. Fake Patriots Jerseys . Vargas (8-3) allowed four singles and two walks while striking out five, allowing only two runners from a diluted Twins lineup to reach second base. Mike Moustakas and Jarrod Dyson hit RBI singles in the second inning against Kevin Correia (4-10), and that was all Vargas needed. Mike Haynes Jersey . But defending champion Elena Vesnina of Russia held off a strong challenge to beat Shuai Peng of China 6-3, 6-4, and there was another hard-fought victory for 2012 runner-up Angelique Kerber of Germany, who defeated Alison Riske of the United States 7-6 (6), 6-4.MILWAUKEE -- The Brewers have activated right-handed pitcher Brandon Kintzler from the disabled list, reinforcing a bullpen off to a strong start. Kintzler had been sidelined since April 9 with a strained rotator cuff. Manager Ron Roenicke said he will likely ease Kintzler back into his role as one of his primary setup men. Milwaukee had the second-lowest bullpen ERA in baseball entering Thursday at 2.52. Kintzler is 1-0 and hasnt allowed a run in his five appearances this year.dddddddddddd The Brewers optioned right-hander Alfredo Figaro to Triple-A Nashville to make room. Figaro pitched once, going three innings Tuesday and allowing Chase Headleys homer in the 12th inning of a 2-1 loss to San Diego. The Brewers are off Thursday and open a three-game set Friday with the Chicago Cubs. ' ' '
Arlington, TX - Malcome Kennedys touchdown catch in overtime helped No. 6 Texas A&M survive a scare with a 35-28 win over Arkansas. The Aggies (5-0, 2-0 SEC) trailed by two touchdowns entering the fourth, but touchdown grabs by Edward Pope and Josh Reynolds rallied Texas A&M, Reynolds 59-yard score tied the game with 2:08 left to set up overtime. Texas A&M began overtime with the ball and the first play saw Kenny Hill rifle a pass over the middle where Kennedy caught the ball and ran it in for a 35-28 lead. Arkansas (3-2, 0-2) quickly faced a 4th-and-1, but Alex Collins was stuffed at the line and the Aggies held on for the win. Authentic NFL Jerseys . -- Houstons All-Star tandem of James Harden and Dwight Howard refused to let the Rockets give in to fatigue. Cheap MLB Jerseys . The Nuggets leading scorer, Lawson is characterized as day to day by the team. Hes averaging 17.9 points and 8.9 assists. 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Scherzer allowed two hits and struck out seven, and the Tigers backed their star right-hander with three early homers in an 8-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday night.TORONTO -- Almost three weeks after its last league outing, Toronto FC returns to action Friday night against the New York Red Bulls as the MLS season resumes with a vengeance following a World Cup break. After just two league games in June, Toronto (6-4-1) will go on to play seven in July plus a friendly against Tottenham. Five of those contests are against Eastern Conference opposition, meaning valuable points in the playoff race are on the line. Manager Ryan Nelsen gave his players eight days off following the 1-0 win over visiting San Jose on June 7. They have been training ever since, albeit with sessions pushed forward a little bit to allow players to watch the World Cup in the afternoon. There are different allegiances, although the team is rooting for both Brazil and the U.S. given the presence of TFC goalie Julio Cesar and midfielder Michael Bradley at the tournament. Canadian international Jonathan Osorio is pulling for Colombia, where his parents came from. The U.S.-Ghana game pitted the 12 Americans on the Toronto roster against Ghana-born forward Dominic Oduro. Massage therapist and acupuncturist Marcelo Casal is cheering for Uruguay. The public relations department is still mourning the exit of Italy. While his players enjoyed time off, albeit with a prescribed gym regimen, Nelsen and his coaches were at work planning training sessions. "We might have worked around a nice glass of red," said Nelsen, whose business holdings include a winery back home in New Zealand. Nelsen is expecting a hard contest Friday against the Red Bulls (4-5-6) who are one point behind fourth-place Toronto in the East despite having played four more games. Toronto defeated New York 2-0 when they met in May at BMO Field, with Jermain Defoe scoring early and Luke Moore scoring late. "I think that game was a big game for us," said Nelsen. "We had a few guys out (injured) and wed justt come back from the West Coast after 120 minutes (in an Amway Canadian Championship game in Vancouver) and it was a really, really good performance.dddddddddddd. "New York will have a lot of motivation, in all honesty, to put one back on us. Its at their home field. Ive got a real sense that everybodys desperate to play a game after the break. "Its nice to have a break but everybody wants to get back on the field. I can sense this games going to be a really good one, a good tough one. Im looking forward to it." The host Red Bulls will also be well rested. Star striker Thierry Henry, fresh from a stint as a BBC World Cup analyst, and Colombian defender Jamison Olave have not played since May 27 at Sporting Kansas City, skipping artificial turf games June 8 in New England and June 14 against the New York Cosmos (in U.S. Open Cup play). The Red Bulls Australian star Tim Cahill is slated to be back from the World Cup and could make an appearance Friday night. Cahill did not see action in the Socceroos 3-0 loss to Spain on Monday but scored two goals earlier at the tournament including a highlight-reel volley against the Dutch. "Were expecting them to play," Nelsen said of Cahill and Henry. While hes a Kiwi, Nelsen was raving about Cahills strike against the Dutch while saying it had not got the publicity it deserved. "For me, if a Brazilian did that, or an Argentinian, or a big-country-type player did that, theyd be raving about that for years to come. ... It was of such quality that I didnt think they gave him the credit he really deserved for an over-the-shoulder left-foot volley." "But thats Timmy," he added. "Timmys been scoring those type of goals his whole career. Thats why New York is so lucky to have him." Toronto has two injury concerns in winger Daniel Lovitz (concussion) and Brazilian striker Gilberto (hip flexor). ' ' '
MONTREAL -- Rene Bourque scored in the second period to give the Montreal Canadiens a 2-0 victory over the Flames on Tuesday, ending Calgarys five-game win streak in the process. Carey Price made 27 saves for Montreal (30-21-6) for his fourth shutout of the year and second in four games. David Desharnais added an empty netter for the Canadiens. Reto Berra stopped 25 shots for Calgary (21-28-7). Bourque, in only his second game against his old team, scored the winner for the Canadiens at 16:15 of the second period. Bourque was rather fortuitous on the play, notching his eighth goal of the year when a Brandon Prust pass banked off his left leg and beat Berra. The Flames have now lost four straight on the road. The Canadiens, meanwhile, have yet to lose in regulation this year when leading after two periods (25-0-3). After a scoreless first period, the Flames gave Montreal a scare with a full two-minute, two-man advantage early in the second. With Tomas Plekanec in the box for roughing, as well as Lars Eller for handling the puck on the ensuing faceoff, Calgarys struggling power play took three shots on Price -- none too threatening. The Habs have now killed off 27 straight penalties. They last allowed a goal while playing shorthanded on Jan. 24 against Detroit. NOTES: Mike Cammalleri made his return to Montreal, playing against his old club for the first time since being traded to the Flames in 2012. ... Berra got the nod in nets in place of Flames starting goaltender Karri Ramo (lower body). Ramo was injured in the first period of Calgarys 4-3 overtime win over Minnesota on Saturday. ... Dale Weise, 25, made his Canadiens debut playing on the fourth line with Ryan White and Michael Bournival. Weise was traded to Montreal from Vancouver for defenceman Raphael Diaz. ... The Habs cap their four-game homestand against the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday, while the Flames play the New York Islanders. 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Discount Jerseys Team .C. -- After a listless first half, the Washington Wizards used a big third quarter run to beat the Charlotte Bobcats Bradley Beal scored 21 points and the Wizards used a 17-0 run in the third quarter to take control of what had been a close game and beat the Bobcats 97-83 on Tuesday night.STANFORD, Calif. - Toronto FC midfielder Michael Bradley was named to the United States 23-man roster for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, while American career scoring leader Landon Donovan was among seven players cut on Thursday. Bradley, 26, has appeared in eight matches, registering two goals for Toronto FC in all competitions this season. Bradley has earned 83 caps to date for the U.S. team and has scored 12 goals. His most recent cap came on Apr. 2 in a friendly match against Mexico, where he started the match, registered a goal, an assist, and played the full 90 minutes in a 2-2 draw. Bradley was a member of the U.S. 2010 World Cup squad. He has also represented the U.S. at two CONCACAF Gold Cup tournaments, winning gold in 2007 and finishing as runners-up in 2011. Bradley also played in the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup, where the U.S. finished as runners-up to Brazil. The 32-year-old Donovan, bidding to make his fourth World Cup, was bypassed by U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann in favour of Aron Johannsson and Chris Wondolowski, who joined Jozy Altidore and Clint Dempsey as the forwards. Aside from Donovan, defenders Brad Evans, Clarence Goodson and Michael Parkhurst, midfielders Joe Corona and Maurice Edu, and forward Terrence Boyd were also cut. Donovan has 57 goals in 156 international appearances and has been the face of American soccer for thhe past decade, both with the national team and with Major League Soccer, where he has won five titles.dddddddddddd Donovan was a mainstay of the national team before he took a sabbatical of about four months after the 2012 season, spending part of the time in Cambodia. Klinsmann said Donovan would have to earn his spot back. He restored Donovan to the roster for last summers CONCACAF Gold Cup, where Donovan excelled, and played Donovan for World Cup qualifiers later in the year. But Klinsmann kept him out of the starting lineup for last months exhibition against Mexico, saying Donovan practiced poorly because of a knee problem. Donovan said this week his knee was OK. "Im very confident in my abilities and I think Im deserving to be a part of the squad, but I have to prove that and I have to earn it," he said Monday. When Klinsmann announced his 30-man preliminary roster on May 12, he said he viewed Donovan more a forward than a midfielder. "I dont have that youthful energy and excitement that I did in 2002, but I see the game and I see the situation a lot more clearly now, so Im able to I think enjoy it more in that way," Donovan said. "When youre younger, youre just sort of going crazy to do whatever it takes to make the team and you forget to enjoy it, And now Im actually getting to enjoy it." ' ' '
MILWAUKEE -- With slim hopes of avoiding the NBAs worst record, the Milwaukee Bucks are making the most of their late-season opportunity. Chris Wright, in the midst of his second 10-day contract, scored an energetic 14 points off the bench to help the Bucks hold off the Cleveland Cavaliers 119-116 on Friday night. The victory moved the Bucks to within two games of Philadelphia with three games remaining for each team. The 76ers lost at Memphis earlier in the night. "I said before, Chris is a guy that I really liked on that first 10 days," said Bucks coach Larry Drew. "It was tough getting rid of him. He did some really good things. He played well. Hes got a tremendous spirit about him when hes out on the floor. " Dion Waiters had 23 points for Cleveland, while Jarrett Jack added 21 and Tristan Thompson 18. Starting guards Brandon Knight scored 24 points and Ramon Sessions added 20 for the Bucks, who also got 15 points and six rebounds from reserve forward John Henson. Knights jumper from the right wing put the Bucks up for good at 107-106 with 4:09 remaining. Two free throws by Kyrie Irving pulled the Cavaliers to 111-110, but a basket by Khris Middleton and two free throws by Zaza Pachulia put the Bucks ahead five with 1:44 remaining. "Obviously with the moment with us, that we are in, being eliminated from the playoffs , guys struggle with the whole, We are playing for nothing type thoughts," Jack said. "You are playing against a team who has struggled all season. But you have to tip your cap to them. They came out regardless of what their record was and played the necessary basketball to get the win tonight." The 6-foot-8 Wright, undrafted out of Dayton in 2011, spent most of this season with the Maine Red Claws of the D-League, averaging 19.5 points and 8.1 rebounds in 38 games. His only other NBA stint was 24 games with Golden State in the final half of the 2011-12 season, when he averaged 2.9 points and 1.9 rebounds. "Just staying ready, and knowing when your number is called, youve got to be ready," said Wright. "Thats what coach always tells me: When I put you in there, go out there and bring energy, you play defence, you run the floor. Now, with me being here, thats my role on this team, to go out there and bring energy." Milwaukee trailed 69-62 at the half, but Knight scored seven points to pace a 10-0 run that put the Bucks up 90-86 with 1:47 left in the third quarter. Cleveland scored the first nine points of the fourth quarter to take a 96-92 lead on Jacks 3-pointer. The Bucks led 37-32 after the first quarter, surpassing their previous season high of 36 points in the opening period. Wright was 4 for 4 in the first quarter, including a couple of alley-oop dunks. "I thought his athleticism the first half was very needed," Drew said. "He got out on a couple of breaks and we were able to get him a couple of lobs. He has that ability." Waiters scored 11 points to lead a 19-2 run by Cleveland midway through the second period. Jacks 3 put the Cavaliers up 55-41 with 6:26 left in the half. There are a lot of areas during the course of the game where we did not play good basketball," Cavaliers coach Mike Brown said. "Give Milwaukee credit, but I tell you what we did not play the game the right way to start the game and we did not play the right way to finish the first half." Bucks forward Jeff Adrien, averaging 10 points and seven rebounds since being acquired in a trade with Charlotte in February, is another player making the most of increased late-season playing time. "This trades a blessing in disguise," said Adrien, who had a team-high nine rebounds against the Cavs. "The outcomes are not what I was used to in Charlotte every game, but I think the effort is there and thats what matters for us." NOTES: Although G Waiters has moved back into the Cavaliers starting lineup, Brown believes Waiters should still be in the running for Sixth Man of the Year. "He should deserve some credit, some recognition for Sixth Man of the Year," Brown said. "He was giving us a big lift coming off the bench. He can be effective in a lot of different roles for a team. Obviously, hes been effective for us as a starter, but he was huge for us coming off the bench throughout the course of the season. Hopefully, hell get recognition for it." ... Irving entered the game averaging 26.4 against the Bucks, his most against any opponent, but he was held to just 12 points. ... The Cavaliers became just the fifth team to lose two games to the Bucks this season. The Lakers, 76ers, Celtics and Magic are the only other teams the Bucks have beaten twice this season. Cheap Nike Air Max Outlet . - The Cleveland Indians will place centerfielder Michael Bourn on the disabled list before their opener at Oakland on March 31. Wholesale Nike Air Max From China .com) - Stephen Currys jumper with 3. https://www.wholesalenikeairmaxshoes.com/ . -- The defending Canadian womens curling champions squandered an opportunity to take sole possession of first place in the standings Tuesday at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts. Nike Air Max Sale . The Extreme Heat Policy was enacted at Melbourne Park just before 2 p.m. Thursday, suspending all matches on outer courts until the early evening and requiring the closure of the retractable roofs at Rod Laver and Hisense arenas before play could continue on the show courts. Cheap Air Max 270 .com) - P.K. Subbans power-play goal 4:08 into overtime sent the Montreal Canadiens into the All-Star break with a 2-1 win over the Nashville Predators on Tuesday.(SportsNetwork.com) - The Memphis Grizzlies return home to the FedExForum with a three-game winning streak, but will face a tough test Saturday night in the form of the Portland Trail Blazers. The Grizzlies have won three in a row and three straight at home. They swept a two-game road trip against the Brooklyn Nets and Orlando Magic, including a 106-96 victory Friday night in Orlando. Jeff Green made his presence known in his second game with the Grizzlies, scoring 12 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter to lead Memphis. Green, acquired in three-team deal on Monday, threw down a thunderous dunk over Victor Oladipo in the third quarter and added two more slams after the Magic cut their deficit to four down the stretch. Hes learning how to play off other guys, said Grizzlies coach Dave Joerger. Hes a really good cutter ... thats kind of where he made his money tonight. All five Memphis starters finished in double figures. Marc Gasol filled the stat sheet with 12 points, 16 rebounds and eight assists, while Zach Randolph chipped in with 18 points and 12 boards. Tony Allen had 17 and Beno Udrih, starting in place of Mike Conley, finished with 15. Orlando cut the deficit to four with under two minutes to play, but Green answered with a slam off a nice pass from Gasol, and after Orlandos Elfrid Payton missed from long range, Green went baseline on Oladipo for a second time and finished it with anotther dunk to all but seal the win.dddddddddddd Conley has two sprained ankles and theres no timetable for his return. Fridays game was his first missed contest of the season. Memphis begins a five-game homestand Saturday and will welcome the Dallas Mavericks, Toronto Raptors, Philadelphia 76ers and the Magic on this residency. The Blazers have dropped two straight and the slide started Wednesday at home against the Los Angeles Clippers. They opened a brutal weekend road trip with a 110-96 loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Friday. Portland couldnt handle the returning Kawhi Leonard, who scored 20 points in his first action since a 15-game absence with a hand injury. LaMarcus Aldridge tallied 24 points with eight rebounds and Damian Lillard, who scored 43 points in the 129-119 triple overtime win on Dec. 19, went for 23 points and five assists in this one. We didnt do a good job keeping them off the boards, said Aldridge. We didnt do a good job of finding bodies. Well learn from it. San Antonio held a 49-32 edge on the glass and the Blazers only compiled 20 assists. Portland did shoot 50 percent from the field. C.J. McCollum chipped in 17 off the bench and Meyers Leonard added 12 for the second unit. The Grizzlies defeated the Blazers by 13 in Portland on Nov. 28 and have taken six of the last seven in this series. The Grizzlies are 4-1 in their last versus the Blazers in Memphis. ' ' '
The role of the football pundit is in flux. It has traditionally been a position of great influence over public perception, and remains so to a certain degree. Educated opinion from larger than life talking heads help shape judgment on performance, tactical execution, while taking sides in moments of controversy. The voice of the pundit remains a respected one, afforded the platform to educate and inform. But the definitive voice of reason, they (we) are not. Times have changed where the final word doesnt belong to the television analyst, newspaper columnist or online journalist. It belongs to Twitter, where everyone is an analyst. Millions of voices sharing opinion. Voices that cannot and should not be silenced. Frustrated with a player or manager? Disagree with an analysts take? Infuriated with a refereeing decision? Want to praise a special performance where fitting tribute hasnt been paid by a commentator? Twitter allows these conversations to be had. Get on your soapbox and make your stance known. We all form alternative opinions while watching. Very seldom do we all see eye to eye on the way the game plays out or the calls that are made. There is no right or wrong, just opinion. Twitter has brought the pub into your own living room. A place we agree to disagree. Where non-sensical and over the top bias meets reasonable discourse. This is a good thing. Yet Twitter reaction remains an issue of contention among football analysts coming out of Sundays Manchester derby. Prominent and well respected journos have taken aim at the online response and behaviour after Manchester Citys eventful 1-0 win over 10-man Manchester United. The match was marked by a tepid refereeing performance, flash-points, and controversial decisions. The merits and failures of each talking point was debated on Twitter. As Mark Ogden of The Telegraph described, the unpleasant trend of football supporters launching social media witch-hunts broke new ground during and after the 168th derby between City and United. Shared pictures and Vines of Joe Harts head-butt on referee Michael Oliver and Marouane Fellaini spitting on Sergio Aguero were moments Ogden claimed were skewed by bias, efforts to weaken their rivals through mob rule online and tribalism gone too far. Strong words, yet seem to be perpetuate his agenda by downplaying on-field controversy by blaming the masses for fanning the flames. The fire was ignited on the field, not on Twitter. Other columnists believed the negative online discussion was symptomatic of the trend focusing too much on the referees performance than the actual game. Its difficult to argue the focus should not have been on Oliver. Although his sending off of Chris Smalling was a no-brainer, his other decision-making left much to be desired. Three denied penalty claims stood prominent in the aftermath. Its an unenviable task taking charge of a derby as such. The job of a referee is difficult enough without the heated rivalry as subplot. A referee doesnt have the various angles and benefit of replay we the viewing public are afforded. The implementation of instant replay, added officials along the touchline or even an additional referee in the middle of the park would be progressive steps by the FA to ensure the highest quality of officiating possible. But even if these conditions were met, it is unlikely we would achieve public consensus on refereeing decisions. The rules of the game are built for interpretation. Its the same in every sport. Whether its pass interference in American football, interference in hockey or a foul in basketball, the level of indiscretion varies based upon the individual. The perception of every call is based upon personal experience, bias, or level of understanding. There is nothing objective about it. There is nothing straight-forward either. It happens in football, at all levels, everywhere. When Canadian goalkeeper Erin McLeod held on to the ball for 10 seconds against the US women at the 2012 Olympics, she was technically breaking Law 12 of the FIFAs Laws of the Game. Goalkeepers are not supposed to hold on to the ball for more than six seconds after gaining control. The rule is completely discretionary. Yet referee Christiana Pederson ruled it appropriate to call. Rules of the game - discretionary, arbitrary guidelines to be used ultimately with common sense and within reason. We bring these moments that enrage or puzzle to our preferred social media platform to share our frustration. Its a natural reaction to want to vent. Its difficult (however) to tell the full story through 140 characters or less, six seconds of video, and/or still-framed shots. They fail to tell the entire story. A head-butt, spit, or potential penalty call is better explained through a live lens than merely a couple frames. But that doesnt mean the snippets dont have value. They promote discussion and encourage further deliberation. Its utilitarianism at its finest, making do with what we have. Storytelling 101. The ability to tell the story is no longer solely in the hands of the broadcaster or columnist. Interpretations are there to be had and freely expressed. How many times have we all watched games and wondered why the director hasnt shown another replay or the halftime conversation hasnt gone in-depth on the issue we perceive as most important? Twitter is the solution and fills the cracks where traditional coverage either wont or fail to go. So when the focus of Twitter conversation revolves around Oliver, it reflects what the viewer took out of the match. Oliver was a clear target because of his struggles and not because of any so-called witch-hunt. Its worth noting Oliver should never have been assigned the Manchester derby to begin with after butchering his previous match, awarding Victor Moses of Stoke City a penalty after a clear dive against Swansea City. Swans manager Garry Monk branded Olivers decision disgraceful and disgusting. The penalty remained a talking point all week. Its no wonder Oliver called a hesitant match, failing to award penalties in Citys favour on three separate occasions. While only one of the three potential penalties was a no-doubt spot-kick, its hard to believe another official without the distraction of a botched penalty call the week previous would have ruled the same. City fans had reason to be upset, and providing visual evidence on Twitter validates the complaints. Rare consensus was achieved on Twitter in stripping down of United defender Chris Smalling for his mindless play that saw him sent off in the first half. Those who criticize the conversation on Twitter cant have it both ways - you cannot hit out at Twitter reaction when it comes to controversial officiating while agreeing with Tweets chastising an over-zealous defender. United fans didnt argue Smallings sending off. They did argue City goalkeeper Hart could have been sent off even before Smalling was issued his second yellow. Earlier in the first half Hart rushed towards Oliver in animated protest and met heads with the referee. Media analysts regularly denounce players who get in the face of referees. Hart not only argued, but made head-to-head contact with Oliver. It was a head-butt. Not a forceful put-your-head-through-the guy type of blow, but the type of weak head-to-head contact weve seen between players all too often that seemingly end in a player getting sent off. Mind you, the player receiving the blow usually dramatically throws his head back, conning the refereeing in the process. Oliver had to feel the contact made by Hart and froze in the moment. Twitter blew up as the visual evidence spread. United fans felt hard done-by as Oliver let off Hart, scot-free. Another referee may have sent off the player. We have seen red cards given for similar dissent towards officials. Thiago Silva of Paris Saint-Germain was sent off last year for trying to hold up an official in protest. It wasnt even a push, more of a stop-right-here kind of touch. Silva was dismissed. Harsh? Maybe. But it provides further evidence that the rules of the game argument cannot be applied to everything. Twitter suggesting Hart was lucky to stay on is no witch-hunt. It is an opinion. In fact, when television coverage failed to adequately highlight the incident, it became incumbent on the online world to share the incident. Should Hart have been sent off or not? It was a fair question to ask. The conversation made for lively discussion. There is nothing wrong with United and City supporters, as well as neutrals weighing in. The referees inaction gave every reason to put him in the spotlight. A referee has an incredible amount of power dictating the proceedings. Olivers decision to not take action against Hart gave City a lifeline. Smallings sending off gave them the points. As previously mentioned, City fans as well had good reason to gripe. No fewer than three penalty claims were denied by Oliver. The clearest Marcos Rojo taking down Yaya Toure on the stroke of halftime: a more than reasonable penalty shot and potential red card. The replays were damning. Was Twitter wrong for highlighting the injustice of these decisions? Of course not. Television networks and news outlets use former officials to analyze decisions. Twitter analysts may not have the experience of taking charge of a match, but one assumes one has watched enough football to formulate some kind of rational opinion. Professional playing or refereeing experience should not be prerequisite to weighing in. Experience certainly helps and is an asset to educating. Its food for thought to help sway opinion. But by no means is the be-all, end-all. If television finds it necessary to weigh in on refereeing decisions, so should Twitter. City fans also jumped all over Fellaini for an alleged spitting incident. In another first half incident, Fellaini kicked Aguero inside the 18-yard box. The Argentine went down but Oliver unsurprisingly denied the claim. Fellaini charged back to Aguero on the ground in a fit of rage. Vines soon-thereafter spread showing saliva coming from the mouth of the Belgian. The natural assumption on Twitter was that Fellaini had spit on Aguero. Did he spit? Yes. Was it because Fellaini was a spit-talker? Most likely. This was not a Francesco Totti hork-on-a-player type scene. But the emotional response on Twitter suggested such a crime committed. Is this fair on Fellaini? Probably not. But Fellaini put himself in a position to be criticized, engaging with Aguero instead of playing on. No sympathy for Fellaini. The online noise in this case was just that; noise. It will fan the flames for some while roll the eyes of others. Such is Twitter. In cases as such, its easy to ignore. Again, this is a good thing. Extra analysis, whether its skewed or not is a positive. Make your own conclusion. Passionate engagement should be encouraged. As long as threats, racial/personal attacks, and foul language is left out of it, added material should be embraced and has become part of the overall experience of consumption. To ignore sentiment is to disregard the pulse of the people. If a story is being discussed or debated, we as professionals must engage, not discourage. Football is game made for debate, discussion and disagreement. Analysts telling fans how they should feel or react to a play or controversial moment is a thing of the past. The preachy nature of the business has been a long-standing turn-off for many. Its easier to take when the fans can have a proper say. We in the media should never talk down to fans and how they react to the game. Our job is to inform while providing our personal interpretations as to what happened. There is no right. There is no wrong. Twitter on Sunday gave people the platform to voice their dissatisfaction at the way the game was officiated. Human error will continue to exist. But that doesnt mean the mistakes shouldnt be pointed out. A higher standard is required. The future of our industry is engagement, not polarization. The musings of Ogden and others does little to facilitate the two-way conversation that is demanded. If the conversation being had is about controversy, officiating, and mistakes, then so be it. It may be called the beautiful game. But beauty is in the eye of the beholder. We are here for the fans. They determine the beauty of the narrative. Not us. 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An offseason trade acquisition from Kansas City, Greinkes National League debut was delayed by a non-baseball injury in the spring, and he was 0-1 after dropping an 8-0 decision at Atlanta in his initial appearance with the Brewers on May 4.CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. -- Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw allowed two runs and six hits in five innings during Wednesday nights injury rehabilitation stint with the Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts. A 29-pitch first inning kept Kershaw from being dominant, but he still finished with nine strikeouts. "I would like to have gotten through six or seven innings, but I had a good time working with these guys," Kershaw said. "Its tough when pitch counts are in the back of your mind. Obviously the main goal of why I was here was to get my pitch count up and be ready for 100-plus pitches in the big leagues. "At the same time, youre trying to compete, too. Fortunately for me, I am kind of done with that and can go pitch now." Kershaw threw 86 pitches Wednesday after tossing 56 Friday during his first rehab stint at Rancho Cucamonga of the Class A California League, when he allowed two hits in five scoreless innings. He opened this season getting a win for the Dodgers over Arizona in Australia on March 22 but went on the disabled list for the first time in his career several days later with a strained upper back. "Ive learned I dont like it," Kershaw said of his DL stint. "As much as yyou try and be a part of this team, our team is playing right now while Im in Chattanooga.dddddddddddd Its a weird process for me, and you kind of feel isolated a little bit. Hopefully I never have to do it again." Kershaw said he feels healthy but didnt know when he would be joining his big-league teammates. John Andreoli drew a leadoff walk for the Smokies in the first inning, and Dustin Geiger drove in the first run off Kershaw with a two-out double to left. Geiger singled to left in the fifth inning to score Andreoli again. Kershaws appearance resulted in a sellout crowd of 6,318. "I think its pretty great for this city to get to see Clayton Kershaw, one of the great pitchers in the game doing a rehab assignment," Dodgers player development director DeJon Watson said. "Its a great opportunity for them to see our overall brand of baseball and having Clayton Kershaw as a model of what we do from an organizational standpoint. Were trying to get him in the best position to get him prepared to get him back in the big leagues, and coming here kind of worked out the best. "The competition level is pretty good here, and he was forced to execute good pitches in key counts." ' ' '
SEATTLE -- Texas manager Ron Washington is tired of talking about all of the Rangers injuries. The latest is to third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list Friday with a herniated disk in his lower back. Fortunately for the Rangers, Adrian Beltre was ready to return from his quadriceps injury and was activated from the DL before Texas played the Seattle Mariners. And the lingering question remains outfielder Shin-Soo Choo, who tested out his sore heel for the first time since getting injured earlier in the week. "Its a situation you just cant do anything about. Everyone around here knows that theyre trusted and you just keep going," Washington said. "Thats all you can do. Theyre not going to stop our schedule. Youve just got to keep going. At some point this testing that is happening to us will stop and well get healthy and we can go. But until then weve got to keep going with what weve got." Kouzmanoff left Tuesdays game in Oakland with back tightness. He had been outstanding in place of Beltre, hitting .362 with two homers, six doubles and 10 RBIs in 13 games since his contract was purchased from Triple-A Round Rock. Kouzmanoff was the American League player of the week April 14-20. Now theres uncertainty about when he might be able to return after he was examined by a back specialist in Texas earlier Friday. Beltre was placed on the disabled list April 13, retroactive to April 9, with a strained left quad. He was hitting .286 with four RBIs in eight games before getting injured. He was looking forward to getting back in time to face buddy Felix Hernandez on Saturday night. Beltre has learned how to manage issues with his hamstrings in the past and said he likely wouldnt push himself the first week back from the quad injury. Choo and the Rangers believe hell be able to avoid the disabled list. Choo got hurt Monday night in Oakland when he landed awkwardly while extending his leg to beat out an infield single. He hit in the indoor cage and did some running on the field Friday. Choo said there were no problems when he hit, but said he continued to feel pain in the heel when he ran. Still, Choo believes the progress hes made from when the injury first happened should keep him from needing to be out for 15 days. Washington said if Choo felt OK on Saturday he would go through batting practice on the field. "I dont want to go on the DL and Im positive before 15 days Ill feel better," Choo said. Nike Air Max 90 Off White Schweiz . Its like being on Broadway, everything you do matters. Id want to be good though! I couldnt play here if I wasnt very good. #83217388 / gettyimages. Nike Air Max Tn Billig . In taking its goal tally to 99 in all competitions already this season, City delivered another demonstration of its lethal firepower at Etihad Stadium to set up a fourth-round match at home to another second-tier team -- Watford. http://www.shopairmaxschweiz.com/vapormax-fake-kaufen/vapormax-plus-billig.html . A-Rod is also disqualified from any post-season play. So at the tender age of 38, he will miss all of next season. As a result of missing the coming season, hes also out $25 million (which coincidentally is my hourly rate). Nike Air Max 270 Damen Günstig Kaufen . The Canadian skicross racer appeared to have the bronze medal locked up in the mens final at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, only to wipe out while trying to make a pass in the biggest moment of his career. Air Max Fake Kaufen . - Titans quarterback Jake Locker will miss the rest of the season with a Lisfranc injury to his right foot, leaving Tennessee trying to rally with Ryan Fitzpatrick.LOS ANGELES -- San Francisco 49ers linebacker Aldon Smith will not face charges related to his arrest earlier this year at Los Angeles International Airport. The city attorneys office said in a statement Tuesday that it declined to charge the 24-year-old but will require him to come to a meeting to discuss what happened and be admonished about applicable laws. Smith was taken into custody April 13 after authhorities said he became belligerent during a random security screening and threatened that he had a bomb.dddddddddddd The Los Angeles County district attorneys office subsequently referred the case to the city attorneys office for misdemeanour consideration. In May, Smith pleaded no contest in San Francisco to three felony weapons charges and two misdemeanour counts of driving under the influence. ' ' '
(SportsNetwork.com) - It may not be a big divisional matchup, but Saturdays AFC playoff matchup between the Baltimore Ravens and hosting New England Patriots figures to be a good one. After all, it appears you cant go wrong with Joe Flacco and Tom Brady in the postseason. The Patriots and Ravens rank first and second in the NFL in victories since 2008, with New England amassing 88 in that span. Baltimore has 82, a number it increased with last weekends 30-17 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in an AFC Wild Card round clash. The Ravens went into that game 0-3 in Pittsburgh in the postseason, but sacked Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger five times to highlight a solid defensive effort and got a pair of passing touchdowns from Flacco. Flacco threw for 259 yards and he teamed with head coach John Harbaugh for their seventh playoff victory together. Thats playoff football. Thats Joe Flacco, a jubilant Harbaugh beamed. Hes the best quarterback in football. Well take him any day of the week, twice on Sunday...or Saturday night, if that be the case. Baltimore is 10-4 in the playoffs under Harbaugh with a Super Bowl win and the Ravens have handed the Patriots two of their four all-time losses in 19 home playoff games. Baltimore beat New England in a 2009 wild card matchup and again in the 2012 AFC Championship game prior to winning Super Bowl XLVII. The Ravens shut Brady and the Pats out in the second half of that game to rally for a 28-13 and avenge a loss to New England in the previous AFC title game. This is the fourth postseason battle between the clubs, with each taking place in Foxborough, though Brady doesnt factor home-field advantage that much into the matchup. It always goes to execution and how well you play because theres nothing that the crowd can do to help you make the plays that youre supposed to make, he said. I think there are things that -- the communication and the ability to communicate late in the play clock is a strong advantage for the offense. New England is making its sixth straight postseason appearance, but hasnt won the Super Bowl since 2004 or reached the championship matchup since 2007. A victory in this game, though, would make the Patriots only the fifth team to reach four straight conference championship games. The Pats won the AFC East with their third straight 12-4 season, securing the top seed in the conference. They have advanced to the Super Bowl in three of the previous four seasons they have claimed the top seed. New England head coach Bill Belichick comes in having won 19 postseason games, tied with Don Shula for second most all-time and one back of Tom Landrys NFL-leading 20. WHAT TO WATCH FOR Saturday could become a milestone day for Brady after he passed for over 4,000 yards with 33 touchdowns in the regular season. Bradys 43 postseason touchdown passes rank third in NFL history and he comes in just behind second-place Brett Favre (44) and the all-time leader Joe Montana, who had 45. Brady also is one of two quarterbacks with at least 6,000 passing yards in the playoffs and no other quarterback has recorded as many postseason wins as his 18. While the Ravens had success last weekend in getting to Roethlisberger, Brady and his ability to move the ball quick present a different challenge. Its different because Ben scrambles a little more and hes a little stronger shrugging off tackles and things like that, noted Harbaugh. Neither one of them really scramble to run; both of them scramble to throw. Tom does a great job of getting the ball out quick. Theyre both excellent before the snap. New England did get 13 rushing touchdowns this season, but none of its players ran for more than Jonas Grays 412. However, receivers Julian Edelman and Brandon LaFell combined along with tight end Rob Gronkowski for 248 receptions and 23 touchdowns. Gronkowski, limited to seven games and none in the playoffs last season due to a knee injury, led the Pats with 12 touchdown catches and should provide an added offensive punch New England did not have when it lost to Denver in the AFC Championship Game. Hes a real key to our offense, Brady said of his tight end. Hes a very talented player and weve got to find ways to get him the ball. Hes got to be a big factor. Were all excited to be out there this week. The Pats are likely to have Edelman back in action to. He led the team with 92 receptions to go along with 972 yards and four TDs, but missed the final two regular season games due to a concussion. Anytime you dont get to go out and play with your teammates its very tough, especially at the end of the year where you are preparing for postseason, but all of that is in the past. Im looking forward to today and preparing for the Ravens and getting ready for this game, Edelman said. Brady will be going up against a Ravens team that ranked 24th against the pass, but was dominant in allowing only 88.3 rushing yards per game. And though they give up yardage, the Ravens can also wreck havoc on a quarterback thanks to linebackers Terrell Suggs and Elvis Dumervil. Dumervil set a single-season franchise record with 17 sacks and then picked up another two versus the Steelers. He was part of a pass rush that forced Roethlisberger into throwing a pair of interceptions. Then there is Suggs, who has had many battles with Brady and the Pats offense. He made six tackles and had a pick versus the Steelers and comes in with 12 career playoff sacks, tied with Reggie White for third all-time. Hes phenomenal. Hes (in his) 12th year; it looks like its his third year out there, said Brady of Suggs. Hes the leader of that defense, he makes great plays. I think theres the play thats called, and then what he actually does. So even though he has a certain responsibility, if he sniffs it out he takes a shot and goes for it. New England also may have some respect for Flacco, who has faced the Pats five times in Foxborough and has averaged 225.8 yards per game while throwing nine touchdown passes. His 92.8 passer rating is the beat by an opposing quarterback at Gillette Stadium since 2008 with a minimum of three games and he completed a trio of TD passes with no interceptions in the 2012 AFC Championship game. Flacco has thrown for 1,399 yards and 13 touchdowns with no picks over Baltimores current five-game playoff winning streak. Hes a good quarterback in all situations. Hes a good quarterback, period. I have a lot of respect for him, noted Belichick of Flacco. While Torrey Smith represents a deep, reliable threat for Flacco to look for -- with Smith leading the Ravens with 11 touchdown catches -- Steve Smith topped the team with 79 catches in his first season with the club and added another five receptions for 101 yards against the Steelers. Known for excellent hands, Steve Smith may see himself facing Pats cornerback Darrell Revis a lot in this game. Revis was credited with 14 passes defensed this season and picked off a pair of passes. Quarterbacks sometimes tend to avoid throwing to his side of the field, but Flacco said that limits an offense too much. I think as a play-caller, you have to just go out there, rely on your guys that you have that are out there, rely on the fact that they have ability. And as a quarterback, you have to go out there and just go through your reads. And if hes open, throw it to him; if hes not, dont, Flacco said. Linebacker Jamie Collins led New England with a career-high 115 tackles and was one of only three players this season with at least four sacks and a pair of interceptions. OVERALL ANALYSIS Its never easy, but the Ravens are one team that has been able to run with the Patriots in the playoffs, and obviously playing on the road does not bother the team. Baltimore is 10-5 all-time on the road in the postseason, but Harbaugh doesnt think that gives his club any added advantage. I dont think it really matters. Its a new game. Really, the past, the future -- Its just whoever plays best Saturday afternoon is going to be the team that wins the game. Its always that way. So, I dont think it makes any difference at all one way or the other, said Harbaugh. The Ravens combined a good defense with an offense that managed to put up points last weekend, but now they face a motivated Patriots team that has begun to see its window of success under Brady enter the latter stages. Were always trying to win the last game of the year. We set pretty high expectations and I think we all have high expectations but youve got to go out there and earn it, declared Brady. Its not easy and this is a first step for us. A lot of teams played last week, we didnt get a chance to do that. This is a week where we can really try to make an impact on this season. Weve worked pretty hard to get to this point. New England is going to have to work hard again this weekend and though Brady may take some shots, hell probably also have an opportunity to make some plays against a suspect secondary, with a healthy Gronkowski being the difference maker. Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Patriots 27, Ravens 24 New York Mets Shirts . Patton was placed on the restricted list testing positive for a banned amphetamine. Patton took Adderall, a drug commonly used to combat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, late in the 2013 season and then was given a random drug test. Howard Johnson Jersey .Corey Brewer had 19 points eight rebounds, five assists and five steals for the Timberwolves, who snapped a six-game losing streak and won for just the third time since Ricky Rubio went out with an injured ankle on Nov. https://www.cheapmetsjerseys.us/1030l-ron-darling-jersey-mets.html . Altidore strained his left hamstring in the Americans opener against Ghana on June 16 and didnt play in their next two games. "We dont know how much because we need to see how hes going, but hes available," U. Randy Niemann Jersey . Teams one through twenty competing in Englands top flight are each fatally flawed. A wide-open, highly competitive and mistake-filled season has followed. Mike Piazza Jersey . TSN2 December 18 Knicks at Bulls 8pm et/5pm pt TSN2 December 18 Thunder at Warriors 10:30pm et/7:30pt TSN2 December 21 Pacers at Timberwolves 7pm et/4pm pt. 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Portuguese sides Benfica and Porto also advanced to the last eight while Basel overcame an early red card to win 2-1 at Salzburg and progress from a last-16 second leg that was briefly suspended because of crowd trouble. Lyon, Valencia and AZ Alkmaar will also be in Fridays draw in Nyon, Switzerland, where the team to avoid will be Juventus -- even though the Italian champions made heavy work of their all-Italian last-16 match against Fiorentina. Having drawn 1-1 at home in the first leg, Juve was staring at elimination on the away-goals rule until Fiorentina defender Gonzalo Rodriguez was dismissed in the 69th minute for a second booking. From the resulting free kick at the edge of the area, Pirlo stepped up and whipped a brilliant strike into the top corner to seal a 1-0 win. The classy Italy midfielder shows no sign of decline at the age of 34 -- he scored a similarly sublime free kick for his team in a last-gasp league win over Genoa on Sunday, which kept Juve 14 points clear in Serie A and on course to defend its title. Juventus will be hosting the Europa League final on May 14 and the runaway Italian league leader may yet be playing in the showpiece match in front of its own fans. Sevilla overturned a 2-0 first-leg deficit courtesy of goals by Jose Antonio Reyes and Carlos Bacca, earning a 2-0 win that sent the match to penalties. Sevillas first spot kick by Vitolo was saved but Alfred NDiaye and Nono failed to find the target with Betis last two attempts, putting the two-time winners through 4-3 on penalties. Benfica remained on course for a return to the final after surviving a late fightback by Tottenham to draw 2-2 in their second leg and advance 5-3 on aggregate. Two goals in less than two mminutes by Nacer Chadli put Spurs 2-1 ahead on the night and gave them 11 minutes to score another, which would have forced extra time.dddddddddddd The English team missed a number of chances before conceding a penalty deep into injury time, converted by Lima. There was no repeat of the touchline spat between rival coaches Jorge Jesus and Tim Sherwood form the first leg -- Sherwood opted to sit in the stands and stay out of trouble. Portos 1-0 lead from its first leg against Napoli was wiped out by Goran Pandevs deft finish in the 21st minute. The Italian side dominated but was picked off on counterattacks through goals by Nabil Ghilas in the 69th and Ricardo Quaresma in the 76th. Quaresma, the mercurial playmaker, finished off a flowing move by jinking between two defenders and slamming a shot high into the net for the goal of the evening. Duvan Zapatas consolation goal earned Napoli a 2-2 draw but it exited 3-2 on aggregate, denying coach Rafael Benitez the opportunity to retain the title he won when in interim charge of Chelsea last season. Players were taken off the pitch by the referee for about 10 minutes midway through the first half of Salzburg-Basel after missiles, including fireworks, were thrown onto the field of play by Basel fans. The score was 1-0 to Salzburg at the time after Jonatan Sorianos competition-high eighth goal in the Europa League, while Basel was down to 10 men after Marek Suchys straight red in the ninth minute. However, Marco Streller and Gaston Sauro scored headed goals in the second half for the Swiss team and Salzburg also ended the match with 10 men after Alan received a second yellow card for trying a bicycle kick and hitting Basel defender Philipp Degen in the face. Lyon lost 2-1 at Viktoria Plzen but advanced 5-3 on aggregate, Valencia beat Ludogorets Razgrad 1-0 thanks to Paco Alcacers 59th-minute goal and advanced 4-0 on aggregate. AZ Alkmaar drew 0-0 at Anzhi Makhachkala for a 1-0 aggregate victory. ' ' '
DENVER -- As a kid, Nathan MacKinnon admired the game of his idol, Sidney Crosby. He even had posters on his wall of the Pittsburgh Penguins star. MacKinnon grew up with constant comparisons to his boyhood hero, especially since they were from the same hometown and had a similar scoring panache. Now, MacKinnon gets a chance to carve out his own identity after the teenager was the first pick of the draft by the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday. Much like Crosby eight years ago, MacKinnon will be counted on to turn around a franchise, one that finished last in the Western Conference in 2012-13 and missed the playoffs for a third straight season. No pressure, MacKinnon insisted. "I dont think anybody expects me to tear up the league and get 100 points as an 18-year-old," MacKinnon said at his introductory news conference on Monday. "I just want to help out and have a strong role and contribute as much as I can." To ease MacKinnons transition into the NHL, new Colorado coach Patrick Roy has already decided hes going to pair the rookie on the third line with Jamie McGinn and Steve Downie. That way, MacKinnon can be mentored by the veteran players. "I want him to have fun," Roy said. "Theres going to be enough pressure on him anyway. I know hes going to deal well with it. At the same time, its important for him to feel comfortable. "We need to give him time to adapt and just feel comfortable." Since being picked, MacKinnon has received congratulatory texts from teammates Matt Duchene and captain Gabriel Landeskog. Hes also heard from Crosby, the player he grew up respecting so highly. "That was so cool," he said. MacKinnon was the first player drafted No. 1 overall out of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League since Crosby in 2005. Fittingly, hes only the third 17-year-old taken No. 1 overall in the draft since 1988, joining Joe Thornton (1997) and Crosby. There was a time when MacKinnon constantly heard about how he was going to be the next Crosby. The last few years, though, the comparisons have slowed down. Either that or hes simply tuned them out. "I realize that I wasnt going to be Sid and I am going to be a different player than him," said MacKinnon, who turns 18 on Sept. 1. "I wanted to create my own path. Were from the same area -- if I wasnt from there those comparisons wouldnt be made." The 6-foot, 182-pound MacKinnon actually sees himself being more similar in style to Jonathan Toews, the Chicago Blackhawks captain who just led his team to the Stanley Cup crown. Like Toews, MacKinnon prides himself on being solid on both ends of the ice. Thats why Colorado was so drawn to the youngster, picking him over defenceman Seth Jones, who slid to No. 4 and was picked by Nashville. "(MacKinnon) wants to be a difference maker, and he is," said Joe Sakic, the executive vice-president of hockey operations whos in charge of the Avalanches restoration project. "I dont believe (pressure) is going to affect him one bit. Hes lived under pressure his whole minor hockey and junior career. Hes a hockey player -- he doesnt worry about pressure. "He cant wait to get on the ice and play to the best of his ability." He cant wait to get back on the ice, period, especially now that the draft is over. The last time MacKinnon picked up his stick was when he led the Halifax Mooseheads to their first-ever Memorial Cup last month. He had quite a tournament, too, recording 13 points on his way to being named the MVP. Asked if that performance at all swayed the Avalanche to use the top pick on him, Sakic said: "Anybody that watched him play there realized, on the biggest stage, he was by far the best player. "He was always rated right up there," Sakic added. "We did our homework. We had our internal meetings and thats the guy we all felt is a cant-miss kid, a guy thats a perfect fit for our organization." MacKinnon certainly doesnt rattle. Not on the ice or in the presence of two Hall of Famers. He posed for pictures standing between Roy and Sakic, hardly even intimidated by the moment. "That," he said, "was so cool." Now, its back home to work on his game. In a few months, he will be back in the Mile High City for training camp. Just where hes going to live as a rookie remains undecided. MacKinnon might reside with an Avalanche player to begin his career, the same way Duchene once shared a roof with Adam Footes family. But that hasnt been worked out yet. "This is the way I envisioned things all my life -- to play as an 18-year-old," MacKinnon said. "Pretty cool to hear that they have confidence in me, that I can make the jump and contribute. Its a big role as an 18-year-old. I have a lot to learn. I know that." NOTES: The Avalanche drafted seven players on Sunday, including five defencemen. ... Roy wants to play Ryan OReilly, Duchene and P.A. Parenteau on one line, along with Landeskog, Paul Stastny and newly acquired Alex Tanguay on another. Steve Balboni Jersey . Goodell said in an ESPN Radio interview Monday (http://es.pn/1gkbauy ) that participants played harder and made the game very competitive. Goodell says he had fun watching the game Sunday and thinks fans did, too. Fake Royals Jerseyshttps://www.cheaproyals.com/1647a-arnaldo-hernandez-jersey-royals.html . Instead, Nonis and Kessel were sorting through the fallout of a wild melee with the Buffalo Sabres, one that saw Kessel suspended for the duration of the pre-season. Kevin Seitzer Jersey . Those who impressed in each of the three events were asked to attend the main CFL Combine which begins Friday in Toronto. Denny Matthews Jersey . Terry came from Boston along with Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce but has appeared in just 35 games after a knee injury, averaging 4.5 points on 36 per cent shooting. Evans was a favourite of fans but not coach Jason Kidd, who used him in just 30 of their 51 games.MINNEAPOLIS -- The Memphis Grizzlies are making a move in the Western Conference and are doing it on the road. Zach Randolph had 26 points and 12 rebounds and Memphis overcame another strong effort by Kevin Love to beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 94-90 Friday night. Courtney Lee added 16 points for the Grizzlies, who have won five straight games and 10 of their last 11. Memphis has won six straight away from home, including a sweep of a three-game trip to Portland, Sacramento and Minnesota. "It feels good, we are still getting to where we want to get," Randolph said. One-half game behind Dallas for eighth place in the Western Conference, the Grizzlies are 13-7 on the road and 12-13 at home. "This is huge for us, especially for the goals we have as far as making that playoff push," Lee said. "It definitely builds momentum." The win could be costly because Memphis played the final 6:37 without starting guard Mike Conley, who sprained his right ankle when he landed on J.J. Bareas foot. Conley had 12 points on 4-of-14 shooting after scoring a combined 46 in his last two outings. He is to be re-evaluated Saturday. "I can put weight on it now," Conley said. "Tomorrow is looking iffy, but hopefully after some treatment tonight and the next day we will go from there." Memphis hosts Milwaukee Saturday. Playing on a sore left ankle throughout the second half, Love led Minnesota with 28 points and 16 rebounds. Kevin Martin had 14 points for the Timberwolves, who lost for just the second time in seven games. "We had our chances in the end and had some really, really great looks. We just didnt convert," Love said. Randolph did. He scored six points during a 9-2 Memphis run that turned a one-point deficit into a 91-85 lead with 59.6 seconds to play and later added two free throws. "Hes the man, hes the go-to player. Hes a proud man, hes an extremely competitive man," said Memphis coach David Joerger. "Think of all the banging those guys take night in and night out, year in and year out. When he got down there and got it done going 11 of 20 with some offensive rebounds, makes big free throws. Im really proud of him, really happy." With Minnesota trailing by one, Love scoreed on a fadeaway jumper and on a layup after a feed from Barea for an 83-80 lead midway through the fourth quarter.dddddddddddd Love hurt his left ankle when he collided with Marc Gasol on a drive with 2 minutes to play in the first half and landed on the foot of another Memphis player, yet gutted it out until halftime. "When I was moving it felt fine and I continued to keep it moving," Love said. "But right now it doesnt feel so good. We just need to do all we can before tomorrow night and hopefully be ready to go." Minnesota is at Atlanta on Saturday. Loves gimping was gone to start the second half much to the dismay of Memphis. With the Timberwolves trailing 59-43 early in the third quarter, Love scored 14 points during an 18-4 run to get them within two. His jumper with 12.8 seconds left in the quarter gave Minnesota its first lead of the game at 67-66. Love outscored the Grizzlies 18-16 in the frame. Ricky Rubio helped lead the comeback in the third with six assists, but did not get off the bench in the fourth as coach Rick Adelman thought Barea "was the best option for us to win." Rubio finished with six points on 2-of-7 shooting. "Its coachs decision and I respect it. He always does what he thinks is best for the team. Of course I wish I could play, but I respect my teammates and my coaches and what he decides," Rubio said. Early on, Memphis took advantage of Minnesota playing its second straight game without bruising centre Nikola Pekovic, who is out indefinitely with bursitis in his right ankle. Memphis had 36 points in the paint in the first half, and finished with 56. Gasol and Lee each had nine points in the first quarter as the Grizzlies shot 63.6 per cent from the field, and had 22 points in the paint in building a 30-22 lead. A putback by Randolph and a two-handed dunk by Ed Davis off a Minnesota turnover increased Memphis lead to 42-28 midway through the second quarter. NOTES: Minnesotas 37 first-half points were a season low. ... Memphis F Mike Miller, who was questionable after spraining his right thumb Wednesday, finished with five points. ... Minnesotas Gorgui Dieng blocked Davis twice in a 58-second span early in second. ... Joerger grew up in Staples, Minn. ' ' '
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