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Each week, The Reporters put their thumbs out to the good and the bad in the world of sports. Ron Greschner Rangers Jersey . This week they discuss the a Roy Halladay, a Cooperstown conundrum, Robinson Cano and a certain Washington football club. Bruce Arthur, National Post: My thumb is up to the Washington football team with the racist name and the sitcom stylings, which continue to delight those who rightly root for it to fail. This week alone, there were reports that head coach Mike Shanahan was trying to get fired, Costanza-style, so he could collect his money and flee and that shameless expired peanut-selling owner Dan Snyder was unwilling to fire him, and that quarterback Robert Griffin III - who in true Dan Snyder-fashion once let fans buy him wedding gifts - was a pawn between them as he was benched for the season. What a swamp: backstabbing, greed, admissions of serial falsehoods, remarkable misuse of assets, and a toxic snowball of failure. Its clear, now more than ever: this is the team that Washington deserves. Steve Simmons, SUN Media: My thumb is down to the meaningless one-day contract Roy Halladay signed with the Toronto Blue Jays this week, thus announcing his retirement from baseball wearing Canadian colours. This is the same Roy Halladay who asked to be traded from Toronto, demanded it be to a contending team and even suggested that the team train close to his Florida home. If Halladay wanted to retire a Blue Jay, he could have done the simple thing and finished his career here. Dont get me wrong. Halladay had a marvelous career, Im not questioning that. But his last pitch was thrown for the Philadelphia Phillies, the team he threw a perfect game and a playoff no-hitter for. Never mind ceremony, he retired as a Philly. Michael Farber, Sports Illustrated: My thumb is down to the MLB Veterans Committee for again excluding the late Marvin Miller from the Baseball Hall of Fame. While Joe Torre, Bobby Cox and Tony La Russa are worthies, the legacy of the former Players Association executive director dwarfs that of any manager. Along with Babe Ruth and Jackie Robinson, Miller is part of the holy trinity of baseball titans. The despicable reserve clause, which bound a player to his team in perpetuity, was struck down on his watch. The average salary rose from $16,000 to $250,000 under Miller, who built the strongest union in the United States. Some owners still revile him, but Cooperstown truly is incomplete without him. Dave Hodge, TSN: My thumb is down to Robinson Cano – and to his poor choice of words. Specifically, one word … the word "respect". Cano claims he was driven to sign a 10-year, $240 million deal with the Seattle Mariners because the New York Yankees showed him no "respect" with their offer. It was for only seven years at a measly $175 million. There isnt another human on this planet who would say that amounted to "disrespect". Cano should have thanked the Yankees for being willing to go that high so that the mariners felt the need to go higher and then he should have thanked Seattle for doing exactly that, and then he should have said nothing more about a lack of respect, unless he wanted to admit his own for the fans who are tired of hearing the complaints of spoiled, far too rich athletes. Henrik Lundqvist Rangers Jersey . Galatasaray said in a statement on its website Monday that Mancini signed a three-year contract and will be paid 3.5 million euros for the upcoming season, with his salary upped to 4. Brian Leetch Rangers Jersey .Y. -- Marcell Dareus and the Buffalo Bills defence made life miserable for Super Bowl MVP Joe Flacco.http://www.therangersfanshop.com/Oscar-Lindberg-Jersey/ . Toronto has dropped games to Indiana and Miami since a five-game winning streak and closed out a three-game road trip at 1-2.DURBAN, South Africa -- The Sharks say they have signed former England and British Lions prop Matt Stevens for two years and the front-rower will return to Durban to play in this years Currie Cup. The Sharks say Stevens, who was born in Durban, will join in August. Sharks chief executive John Smit says Stevens "versatility" makes him "a great acquisition too our squad. Walt Tkaczuk Rangers Jersey. " He will provide backup for the Sharks in the Currie Cup when Springboks front-rowers Tendai Mtawarira and Jannie du Plessis are likely to be on international duty. Now with Saracens, the 31-year-old Stevens played 44 tests before retiring in 2012. He was banned for two years from 2009-11 after a positive drug test for cocaine. Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys From China Cheap NFL Jerseys Authentic Wholesale Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys China NFL Cheap Jerseys Cheap Soccer Jerseys ' ' '
TORONTO -- Former top-ranked fencer Sherraine Schalm is retiring after 26 years in the sport. Luis Robles Red Bulls Jersey . The four-time Olympian from Brooks, Alta., captured Canadas first world championship fencing medal -- a bronze in individual epee in 2005. She topped that in 2009, claiming a silver. Schalm made her Olympic debut in 2000 in Sydney. Her best Olympic result was fourth in the team event in 2004 in Athens, and her best individual result was ninth in epee in 2008 in Beijing. "Fencing changed my life, only and entirely for the better, forming my family and life trajectory in a way I could have never predicted but for which I am extremely grateful," Schalm said Friday in a statement. Schalm lives in Verona, Italy, with her husband Matteo Ortolina and their daughter Gaia. She chronicled her international fencing career in her 2005 book entitled "Running with Swords." "Sherraine Schalm is a tremendous athlete who has had an enormous impact on the sport of fencing in Canada," said Canadian Fencing Federation president Brad Goldie. "She has been an inspiration for many and her legacy will continue to impact the sport in years to come." Matt Miazga Jersey . "I wrote 36 on my sheet at the beginning of the game," the Cincinnati coach said, referring the yard line the ball would need to be snapped from. Felipe Red Bulls Jersey . Ibaka equaled a career high with 20 rebounds, adding four blocked shots and 15 points as the Thunder smothered the Milwaukee Bucks offence in a 92-79 victory Saturday night. http://www.redbullsmlsshop.com/Authentic-Marius-Obekop-Jersey/ . First off, the fans ripped the Cubbies introduction of a fuzzy new kid-friendly mascot named "Clark".ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Its been obvious for quite some time that the Los Angeles Angels werent going to the playoffs. Now its official. The Angels beat Seattle 6-5 Saturday night for their 21st victory in 28 games, but this surge came way too late. Earlier in the day, they were mathematically eliminated from post-season contention. After starting the year with big expectations, boosted by the winter signing of former MVP Josh Hamilton, the injury-plagued Angels didnt spend one day atop the AL West after winning their season opener at Cincinnati. The Angels have been no fewer than nine games out of first place since the All-Star break. This is their fourth straight year without a post-season berth, after winning five division titles. "I think the one word that still lingers out of all this clubhouse and how we all feel is certainly frustration," manager Mike Scioscia said. "I dont think theres been any way to sugarcoat it. Its obviously not a good feeling when you dont accomplish your goal. "Theres been some nonperformance on our club, some injuries and some depth issues. But I think weve gone a long way in the past month to show the kind of baseball we can play, particularly on the pitching side. Hopefully well temper that frustration and finish strong," he said. Collin Cowgill homered and also stole home for the Angels. Rookie Grant Green hit a three-run double to help Jerome Williams win his fourth straight start. Cowgill walked and scored in the second inning and hit a solo homer in the fourth. He tripled to open the seventh, then broke for the plate as Andrew Romine squared around to try a suicide-squeeze bunt, and scored when left-hander Joe Saunders pitch sailed to the backstop. Williams (9-10) allowed one run, five hits and five walks in 5 2-3 innings. He left after No. 9 hitter Henry Blanco snapped an 0-for-32 drought with a bloop single. "I always want to go out there and do my best," he said. "Ive had a couple of rough stretches, and now I just want to finish strong and end this season on aa good note. Chris Duvall Red Bulls Jersey. " Ernesto Frieri got three outs for his 36th save in 40 attempts despite giving up Raul Ibanezs 300th career homer. Ibanez and Ted Williams are the only players to hit 29 home runs during the season in which they were 41 years old. "I feel fortunate to have the opportunity to be in this situation," Ibanez said. "Anytime youre in the company of the great Ted Williams -- and its just this one thing that I have in common with him -- its a great blessing. I read his book when I was in high school, and he was the greatest hitter that ever lived." What made this milestone even sweeter for Ibanez was that it came with the Mariners, the team he began his big league career with in 1996. This is his third stint with the club. "Ive always considered myself a Mariner," said the 17-year veteran, who hit a career-high 34 homers in 2009 with Philadelphia. "This is the organization that first game me the opportunity. So to do this in a Mariners uniform, I feel very fortunate." Saunders (11-16) tied the Astros Lucas Harrell and the Cubs Edwin Jackson for the most losses in the majors. Saunders gave up six runs and six hits over seven innings and tied a career best with nine strikeouts. The 32-year-old left-hander threw 125 pitches, one short of his career high. Abraham Almonte scored Seattles second run on a seventh-inning balk by rookie Cory Rasmus. NOTES: Last year, the Angels post-season hopes ended with two games left on the schedule. ... LHP C.J. Wilson, who goes into Sundays start with a 17-6 record and a string of nine straight winning decisions, was presented with the fifth annual Nick Adenhart memorial award as the Angels top pitcher of the season during a pregame ceremony. Jered Weaver won it the first four years. ... Justin Smoak was hitless in three at-bats against Williams, and is 1 for 19 lifetime against him with seven strikeouts. ... The Mariners are 0-68 this season when trailing after eight innings, and 6-221 during Eric Wedges three years as manager. Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys From China Cheap NFL Jerseys Authentic Wholesale Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys China NFL Cheap Jerseys Cheap Soccer Jerseys ' ' '
BELLEVILLE, Ont. Patrice Evra France Jersey . -- Ken Appleby made 32 saves for his first shutout of the season to lead the Oshawa Generals to a 2-0 win over the Belleville Bulls on Wednesday in Ontario Hockey League action. It was Oshawas (30-12-4) fourth win in a row. Michael Dal Colle opened the scoring for the Generals with his 29th goal of the season on a power play at 8:43 of the first period. Justice Dundas scored the games other goal a little over two minutes later. Charlie Graham made 23 saves for Belleville (13-28-4). Oshawa was 1 for 2 on the power play, while the Bulls were 0 for 7. --- FRONTENACS 6 67s 4 OTTAWA -- The Kingston Frontenacs used a four-goal second period to open a 5-0 lead before holding off the 67s. Six players shared in the scoring for Kingston (25-17-4) with Corey Pawley getting the Frontenacs on the board first. Goals by Michael Moffat, Spencer Watson, Slater Doggett and Lawson Crouse made it 5-0 in the second period. Henri Ikonen added an empty netter with two seconds left in the game after Ottawas fourth straight goal cut the margin to 5-4. Ryan Van Stralen scored twice for the 67s. Brett Gustavsen and Travis Konecny got the other Ottawa (15-26-4) goals. Konecnys goal made it a one-goal game at 14:34 of the third. Matt Mahalak made 23 saves for Kingston, which ended a four-game losing streak. Philippe Trudeau was lifted after allowing his fifth goal on 19 shots at 14:11 of the second period. Liam Herbst went the rest of the way and turned back all 15 shots he faced. The Frontenacs were 0 for 3 on the power play, and the 67s were 1 for 4. Anthony Martial Jersey .Y. -- Sabres defenceman Tyler Myers had no intention of changing his hard-hitting style before taking part in a disciplinary hearing for his illegal check to New Jersey forward Dainius Zubrus head. Thierry Henry France Jersey . Patrice Bergeron and Daniel Paille scored 20 seconds apart a few minutes after Stamkos was taken off the ice on a stretcher with a broken right leg, and the Bruins beat the Lightning 3-0 on Monday afternoon. http://www.officialfrancesocceronline.com/world-cup-nabil-fekir-football-jersey/ .C. United of Major League Soccer. United chose the defender in the second round of the 2013 MLS re-entry draft.MONTREAL -- The Montreal Alouettes re-signed Canadian linebacker Marc-Olivier Brouillette to a three-year deal Wednesday. The six-foot, 222-pound Montreal native was slated to become a free agent Feb. 15. The Alouettes selected the former Montreal Carabins quarterback in the third round, 23rd overall, in the 2010 CFL draft. "This is a huge signing for the organization," Montreal GM and head coach Jim Popp said in a statement. "Marco has fastt become one of the most versatile players in the CFL. Mathieu Debuchy France Jersey. "He will always be in competition for a starting job but his value to the team is in his intelligence, leadership, and work ethic. He is a great role model and an employee that any business would be fortunate to have working for them." The 27-year-old has also played safety with Montreal and last year forced four fumbles, two of which were returned for touchdowns. Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys From China Cheap NFL Jerseys Authentic Wholesale Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys China NFL Cheap Jerseys Cheap Soccer Jerseys ' ' '
For the first time in more than 30 years, Canada officially has a medal drought at the World Junior Hockey Championship. Robbie Rogers Jersey . Canada dropped the bronze medal game to Russia by a score of 2-1 on Sunday, marking the first time it has failed to win a medal in back-to-back tournaments since the Program of Excellences inception in 1982. Russia stormed out to an early 2-0 lead over Canada on Sunday thanks to first period goals from Mikhail Grigorenko and Eduard Gimatov. It would provide the basis for a lead Russia would never surrender. Canada would get on the board mid-way through the third with defenceman Josh Morrissey giving the Canadian team some life, but it would not be enough as the Russians would beat Canada to claim bronze for a second straight year. Andrei Vasilevski turned away 28 of the 29 shots Canada threw at him on Sunday, improving his all-time World Junior record to 11-4 over the course of three tournaments. He was named Russias Player of the Game. Aaron Ekblad was named Canadas Player of the Game. Canadian goalkeeper Zach Fucale took over as starter after Canadas preliminary round loss to the Czech Republic and stopped 30 of the 32 shots he faced in the semifinal. The Montreal Canadiens draft pick expressed disappointment with the result despite his strong play. "This is absolutely not about me," he told TSN in a post-game interview. "This is just about the team winning and we came here for a reason and we didnt get it done." Canada has now gone five tournaments without bringing home World Junior gold. Their last gold came in 2009 when they claimed their fifth consecutive tournament, winning on home ice in Ottawa. The loss sets Canada up for a tough group at the 2015 World Juniors that will be hosted in Toronto and Montreal. With the fourth-place finish, Canada is set to once again be drawn with the United States. They will also be joined by defending gold medalists Finland as well as Slovakia and Germany. "For guys coming back next year its good motivation," said forward Curtis Lazar, who finished third in team scoring with three goals and four assists in seven games. "Its Canada, you want to get back on top. Its a tough tournament to win, thats the bottom line," Lazar added. This Canadian team has 11 players that would be eligible to play in next years tournament, including Lazar. However, 17-year-olds Sam Reinhart and Aaron Ekblad are projected to go first and second in the 2014 NHL Draft and their availability for next years team would be questionable. It was a tough tournament for Canada, as the team surrendered the first goal in all but one of their games. But the bronze medal game saw a better overall effort for Canada than the one they put forth in the semifinal loss to Finland. "In this particular game you could make a case that Team Canada deserved a better fate but in the bigger picture of where they finished in the tournament I dont think you could say they deserved anything more than what they got, which is a fourth-place finish," TSN Hockey Insider Bob McKenzie said. "In a difficult game to play, they had more emotion, they had more commitment and more chances to score and generated a lot more than they did in the semifinals against Finland, where they generated only three shots in the third period," McKenzie added. The tournament also saw head coach Brent Sutters perfect World Junior record shattered after Canada lost its preliminary round game to the Czech Republic 5-4 in a shootout. Sutter had gone 6-0 and won gold in both his previous coaching tenures in the 2005 tournament in Vancouver and Kelowna and the 2006 tournament in Grand Forks, North Dakota. McKenzie believes Canadas troubles may have less to do with Canadas on-ice personnel and more to do with the mental approach the team takes to the high-profile competition, especially the knockout games. "Its more along the lines of [being] terrified to lose than [they] are determined to win," McKenzie observed of three years worth of semifinal defeats. Fucale would also acknowledge the weight of high expectations after the defeat. "Here its all about results," said the 18-year-old. "Canada expects more, we expect more from ourselves and you know we didnt get it done." Custom Los Angeles Galaxy Jersey . With Parker having a quiet game for once, Nicolas Batum and Boris Diaw provided the scoring as France won its first major basketball title by beating Lithuania 80-66 on Sunday. It was a victory that ended a decade of frustration for Parker and a talented French generation, which lost the final against Spain two years ago and took bronze in 2005. Bradford Jamieson Jersey . - Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie never doubted he would bring back coach Dennis Allen for a third year despite back-to-back 4-12 records. http://www.galaxymlsshop.com/Authentic-Donovan-Ricketts-Jersey/ . Peter Gammons, an analyst for Major League Baseballs network and website, drew the ire of hockey fans on Sunday when he criticized the two NHL teams on Twitter for their physical game the night before.BEREA, Ohio -- For the second straight day, the Browns ended the season for one of their running backs. Montario Hardesty was placed on injured reserve Tuesday with a knee injury, the latest medical setback for the former third-round pick whose promising NFL career has been sabotaged by injuries. The move with Hardesty came one day after the Browns put running back Dion Lewis on season-ending injured reserve with a surgically repaired left leg. The loss of Hardesty and Lewis hurts Clevelands depth and may force the Browns to sign a player before the Sept. 8 season opener. Lewis was supposed to be the change-of-pace back behind starter Trent Richardson. Lewis had passed Hardesty on the depth chart during training camp, and now Cleveland will be without both players in 2013. Also, the Browns released fullback Owen Marecic, a fourth-round pick in 2011, as they trimmed their roster to 75 by the leagues 4 p.m. deadline. Teams must have their active rosters to 53 players by 6 p.m. on Saturday. In addition, the Browns were awarded linebacker Paul Hazel from Jacksonville and punter Colton Schmidt from San Francisco. The Browns also waived linebacker Kendrick Adams, offensive lineman Dominic Alford, wide receiver Dominique Croom, defensive lineman Nicolas Jean-Baptiste, offensive lineman Ryan Miller and tight end Travis Tannahill. Miller sustained a concussion during the first week of training camp. Miller was knocked out during a blocking drill, and had to be carried off the field on a stretcher. He entered the leagues concussion protocol program before being cut. Rookie offensive lineman Chris Faulk was also placed on the reserve/non-football injury list. He is also done for the year. Hardesty was slowed by a hamstring injury during training camp and returned to ppractice a few weeks ago only to dislocate his right thumb while trying to catch a direct snap from centre. Los Angeles Galaxy Jersey. He underwent arthroscopic surgery on his knee on Aug. 15. Hardesty missed his rookie season in 2010 after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament in the final exhibition game. He sat out part of 2011 with a calf injury, but was healthy last season and rushed for 271 yards and a touchdown in 12 games. Hardesty showed good explosiveness on several runs and the Browns were encouraged that he was able to stay healthy. Now, his career could be in jeopardy since hes going to miss another full season. If he does return, it could be with another team since hes in the final year of his contract with Cleveland. Marecic made six starts over two seasons for the Browns, who selected the former Stanford standout after acquiring the No. 124 overall pick in the draft-day trade with Atlanta. The Falcons sent the Browns five picks to move up and select wide receiver Julio Jones. Marecic lost his job as Clevelands primary fullback this summer to Chris Ogbonnaya, who converted from tailback. NOTES: Browns coach Rob Chudzinski said its possible the starters could play "10 to 12 reps" in Thursdays preseason finale at Chicago. Chudzinski will reveal his plans on Wednesday. ... Chudzinski said Oneil Cousins has the "edge" over rookie Garrett Gilkey to start the season at right guard. Cousins got the chance to win the job after Shawn Lauvao and Jason Pinkston sustained ankle injuries. ... Backup QB Jason Campbell sat out practice with an unspecified illness. WR Davone Bess sat out to rest his knee. He didnt play last week because of tendinitis. ... TE Jordan Cameron did not participate in team drills as he recovers from a strained groin. Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys From China Cheap NFL Jerseys Authentic Wholesale Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys China NFL Cheap Jerseys Cheap Soccer Jerseys ' ' '
DENVER - The Colorado Rockies will retire former first baseman Todd Heltons No. Nemanja Vidic Jersey . 17 on Aug. 17. The club announced its promotional schedule Thursday and it includes a three-day weekend honouring Helton, who retired at the end of last season. Helton will be honoured in a ceremony on Aug. 17 before the Rockies play the Cincinnati Reds. Also, Root Sports announced former Rockies outfielder Ryan Spilborghs will join its Rockies broadcast team this season. Spilborghs played a key role in the Rockies 2007 World Series run and had considered resuming his career with the Rockies on a minor league contract this season before deciding to retire and go into broadcasting. Hell be a part of the teams pregame and postgame shows. Stevan Jovetic Inter Milan Jersey . The Clippers were angry about blowing a big lead; the Kings didnt like being in that kind of hole and nearly digging themselves out only to lose. Nemanja Vidic Inter Milan Jersey . He was followed closely by David Clarkson, donning red, seconds later. Clarksons actions one night earlier, leaping off the bench in defence of Kessel during a pre-season game against the Buffalo Sabres, will cost him the first 10 games of the regular season. http://www.intermilanfcteamshop.com/Authentic-Eder-Jersey/ . The Vancouver coach and an announced sellout crowd of 18,910 watched in dismay as the Canucks lost 7-4 to the New York Islanders on Monday night by squandering a 3-0 lead in the third period.This Barclays Premier League season was billed as the year of the Big Three before a ball was even kicked. Champions Manchester United, along with Manchester City and Chelsea were projected by just about everyone to duke it out at the top of the table. The best of the rest were merely playing for spots in Europe and posed no serious threat on the big threes aspirations of winning the title. May the best side win. Through four matches, it hasnt exactly been a stroll for the bookmakers favourites. All three sit on a respectable seven points apiece; yet have shown the type of frailties that dont come with any easy solution. Meanwhile Liverpool, Arsenal, and Tottenham are the top three teams in the League. Early season luck? Merely poor starts for the favourites? Or is there substantial evidence to suggest the big three can be broken atop the table? This topsy-turvy start to the season makes for great viewing/listening and intrigue. Each of the big three have already lost away from home and there is a greater belief the three horse race now includes other thoroughbreds making their own claim as worthy title contenders. There simply doesnt appear to be a clear cut favourite any longer. Its only been a month, but its certainly worth questioning apparent weakness in United, City and Chelsea that the rest of the league can take advantage of. Its easy to see top players at Old Trafford, the Etihad and Stamford Bridge and assume the cream will rise to the top. An undervalued characteristic of all three, no matter the players, is they are each operating under a new manager. With new managers come new expectations, different approaches, alternative training, changes in squad selection and greater unknown. David Moyes, Manuel Pellegrini and Jose Mourinho are blessed with payroll, sizeable squads and requisite talents. To say each team is complete however would be misleading. And there will be a feeling out period before each team find its form and becomes a true reflection of their manager. For the purposes of this conversation, we will focus on the aforementioned six teams and their respective title credentials. Thats not to take anything away from the likes of Everton and Swansea City, who will most certainly be in the conversation for European spots. As well as the likes of Cardiff and Aston Villa who have already proven capable of notching victories against tough opponents already this season. But from the looks of it, the big three, as well as Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham are making the biggest waves and are worthy of sizing up their title chances. Liverpool – Its been an unexpected bright start for Liverpool without their top player Luis Suarez, still out through suspension. The Reds came back down to earth Monday with a 2-2 draw at Swansea. A well-earned point, but the way Liverpool were manhandled in the second 45 is a little disconcerting. Not withstanding Mondays finish, the shape of the team gives reason to believe theyll be a more consistent winner than last. 13 draws in league play was a massive letdown. There will be some concern the team is a bit light in the attacking midfield positions, especially with Philippe Coutinho out until at least the end of October with a shoulder injury. Although bringing in Victor Moses on-loan was one of my favourite moves of transfer window, giving Liverpool exactly what they need in another creative, pacey, athletic attacking threat, I still dont think its quite enough to keep pace with the big boys of the Premier League. Pundits were all over the Liverpool bandwagon a week ago. Sober second thought may have most jumping back off. Dont get me wrong, there is plenty to like. But this year is better seen as another year of growth under Brendan Rodgers. As his young players grow into the side and team identity is cemented, better things will come. This is a work in progress. Verdict - Its hard to see this team doing better than a fifth place finish, best-case scenario. Arsenal – The opening day loss at home to Aston Villa seems a distance memory. Mesut Ozil added the quality Arsene Wenger desperately needed in his side. And aside from the German International, the teams top performer has been centre-midfielder Aaron Ramsey. The much-maligned Welshman has finally grown into his own skin, brimming with confidence and becoming a force in tandem holding midfield role. It seems like hes been around forever, yet hes only 22 and coming into his own. His intelligence and ability to read the game has been the biggest improvement. Ramsey used to run wild on the pitch, often exposed at inopportune times. Now, it seems he picks his spots and is playing within himself. Thats the good news. The biggest concern for Arsenal is mounting injuries and the threat of more to the already thin squad. If Olivier Giroud ever succumbs to injury, it seems Arsenal will have to resort to playing a false nine. This could be problematic. And Im really not sure the team has proper steel and composure in the back four and at goalkeeper. Verdict - Despite clear improvement and prospects for progress, I still think they will be hard pressed to secure a Champions League spot this year, something theyve done 16 straight seasons. Top four will again be seen as a victory. Ozil expects trophies – and I dont think its the Capital One Cup he has in mind. Tottenham – If there is ever a team built to break up the top three, it has to be Spurs. Losing Gareth Bale to Real Madrid could have ended in disaster. But the way Tottenham worked through the madness is an example to all clubs on how to balance ambition with the harsh economic realities of the game. Spurs accumulated top players before selling Bale: shrewd business attracting players of value giving the team better depth and proper additions in positions of need. Chairman Daniel Levy gets shtick for driving a hard bargain, but the end result this time around proves the worth of his diligence. Roberto Soldado is the top striker they lacked a season ago. And building midfield depth, not only in number but quality will keep players fresh with healthy battles for spots in all competitions. Christian Eriksen is a wonderful player and at a cost of £11.5 million was an absolute steal. Eriksen, along with Erik Lamela and Paulinho are instant starters in the side. Young players like Andros Townsend and Danny Rose have returned from loan spells as better players and dont give up a step. The team has quality and depth at goalkeeper as well. Other than possible questioons about how the back four will hold up, theres a whole lot to like. Mauro Icardi Jersey. Squad balance, size, and technical ability are plain to see. It will come down to how this team deals with being the hunted rather than the hunter as the season progresses that will determine their eventual fate. Verdict - A finish outside the top four would be a disappointment. I see them getting back into the Champions League. And call me a sucker, but I truly believe they have enough to compete for the league title. It may not come this year, but Spurs will be right there to the end. Manchester City – It has been a stale start for Manchester City under Pellegrini. I questioned the thought process behind their summer purchases in the transfer window. The players purchased all look decent, but theres nothing spectacular. Pellegrini bought safe, and paid out the nose to acquire. Jovetic, Navas and Fernandinho are good players but not really the type of difference makers needed to put them over the top. Alvaro Negredo has the makings of potential super-sub status, but other than that, Im not sure how improved this team will actually be from the team finishing second and eleven points adrift a season ago. Good news for City is Vincent Kompany returned midweek in the Champions League and seems fit ahead of this weekends Manchester derby. The team is off-kilter and lacking confidence in the back without their captain. Ill give it some time before casting final thoughts on City. Week to week they may be world-beaters. But I see frailties in the team. Fernandinho and Yaya Toure in the middle need to get on the same page. And the team almost needs a stabilizing influence when things arent going their way. There will be no worry in attack as long as David Silva is pulling the strings. The system around him and is what I question. And well see if Joe Hart can prove the critics wrong and regain top form. Verdict - Right now, I just dont see this team winning the Premier League. City is the most likely of the Big Three to fall in the table. Manchester United – All seems right again at United. A league win, although assisted by the harsh sending off of Crystal Palace midfielder Kagisho Dikgacoi, and a thorough Champions League win with Wayne Rooney putting in another stand out performance has the team finding confidence before playing rival Manchester City Sunday. Rooney took the headlines for the wrong reasons in recent months. But his start of the season shows no residue of distraction or out of form performances that plagued the end of last campaign. When healthy, Rooney has unquestionably been Uniteds top performer. His movement off the ball, and willingness to play off and around Robin van Persie is as good as it gets. The rest of the team is coming together, as Moyes starts to take the training wheels off his new toy. Marouane Fellaini, an absolute underrated signing that was criticized because of the method, settles the midfield. Playing alongside the class Michael Carrick in a defensive midfield role allows Uniteds skilled players to do what they do best – attack with purpose and precision. Shinji Kagawa moving into the side Tuesday adds another layer, where the Japanese International doesnt have to play as an out and out left sided midfielder. He regularly came inside, allowing the impressive Patrice Evra to get up the flank. It creates somewhat of an imbalance on the field, which is okay, with a more stay-at-home back in the mold of Chris Smalling or Phil Jones deputizing at right back until Rafaels return, to play in a more traditional fullback role. It all seems to be coming along smoothly. And we havent seen the likes of Wilfried Zaha and a regular dose of Adnan Janusaj yet either. The bevy of options to change shape based on the occasion will be a test for Moyes. Squad rotation will be all-important, something Moyes hasnt been tasked with to this extent before. Its all looking a-ok for United post-Ferguson. Just dont tell too many people. Its a better headline when controversy clouds Old Trafford. Verdict - This is still Uniteds title to lose. No other team has the experience and competitive make-up of this team. Chelsea - Two losses in a row for Jose Mourinho at Chelsea (three if you include the Super Cup), including a home loss to FC Basel of all teams. Say it aint so!? So whats gone awry? It almost seems Mourinho has too many options at present time and hes trying to figure out how each piece of the puzzle fits. Unfortunately, hes taken out a key piece to that puzzle, failing to recognize its importance. Juan Mata was Chelseas top player the past two seasons. His creative intelligence and ability to change the shape of matches cannot be ignored. Yet Mourinho is resistant to starting or playing the Spanish wizard for the full 90. The overlook reeks of ego and must come to an end. Chelsea needs Mata. His misuse thus far has been nonsensical. The new additions to the squad will come along, if they are given proper chances and clearly defined roles. This is up to Mourinho. What type of system does he want to play and who best fills those roles? That has yet to be determined. The good news is they are still creating chances, and lots of them. Some may point to the loan move of striker Romelu Lukaku to Everton as being a misstep. I dont think thats accurate. This team works best with decisive and calculated movement off the ball. Lukaku still has much to learn in this area. Samuel Etoo will be a good fit. Its not about him adapting to the Premier League. Its about him gaining comfort with his teammates and growing with the system, whatever that may be. It will be intriguing to see how much patience Mourinho has for David Luiz. The Brazilian is a top talent, but he plays where he wants on the field and drifts out of position. Mourinho prefers the safer, reliable option at the back. Luiz is not that. Does Luiz find himself in the doghouse sooner rather than later? His sloppiness and positional laziness is already responsible for goals against. Verdict - Chelsea is the team with the best players in the league. But they have much to prove before they can be called the best team. Mourinho is a calculated tactician. And it wont be long until we see the fiery Mourinho return. This laid back version wont cut it. Look for Chelsea to regain their ways as the managers fire returns. A lock for the Champions League, look for Chelsea to push United to the end. You can reach Gareth at gareth.wheeler@bellmedia.ca or follow him on Twitter, @WheelerTSN Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys From China Cheap NFL Jerseys Authentic Wholesale Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys China NFL Cheap Jerseys Cheap Soccer Jerseys ' ' '
BOSTON - Max Scherzer will have to make at least one more start before reaching 20 victories. Joe Nieuwendyk Jersey . Bostons Jon Lester outdueled Scherzer as the Red Sox edged Detroit 2-1 on Tuesday night, ending the Tigers right-handers chance to become just the second pitcher to open a season with a 20-1 record. "Weve got two of the top teams in the American League. Weve got great pitchers on both sides going at it. This is whats going to happen," Scherzer said. "Unfortunately I made one mistake and it cost us." Will Middlebrooks hit a two-out single in the fifth, driving in the only runs Boston scored all game. It was just enough offence for Lester (13-8), who allowed one earned run and eight hits with a season-high nine strikeouts and no walks over seven innings. Scherzer (19-2), who won his first 13 decisions, lost for the first time since July 13 when the Texas Rangers beat him 7-1. On Tuesday, he allowed two runs and five hits, three of which came in the fifth inning. He struck out eight and walked three. "He pitched terrific. Early on, I thought he was as sharp as hes been all year," Detroit manager Jim Leyland said. Roger Clemens is the only pitcher to start off at 20-1 and ended up 20-3 with the New York Yankees in 2001. Rube Marquard was the only other pitcher with a 19-1 record, but lost his next decision in 1912 with the New York Giants. Jose Iglesias doubled in a run in the second in the matchup of division leaders. Koji Uehara pitched the ninth for his 17th save in 20 opportunities and extended his scoreless streak to 25 innings as Boston won for the eighth time in 10 games. The Tigers lost for the second time in six games despite the return of Miguel Cabrera, who missed three games with abdominal and groin problems. Last years Triple Crown winner and this years AL leader in batting average and RBIs went 0 for 4. Scherzer rebounded from his worst start of the season before leaving with runners at first and second and no outs in the eighth. In his previous outing, he avoided his second loss when Torii Hunter hit a game-ending three-run homer for a 7-6 victory over the Oakland Athletics. Scherzer allowed a season-high six runs in five innings. On Tuesday, he struck out the side in the first, allowed a single in the second and then pitched two perfect innings. He started the fifth by striking out Mike Carp before Jonny Gomes singled. Stephen Drew followed with a ground-rule double that went into Bostons bullpen in right-centre field on one hop. Scherzer struck out David Ross for the second out, but Middlebrooks then put Boston ahead 2-1 with a single to centre. "Its how you pitch with runners on base," Scherzer said. "I was able to get a big strikeout in that situation, but I wasnt able to get out of that inning and thats what cost the game." The Tigers got base runners against Lester in four of the first six innings, but he worked out of three of those jams. In the second, Omar Infante singled and reached third on a two-out single by Brayan Pena. Iglesias then lined a double to left-centre that drove in Infante, but Pena was thrown out easily when he tried to score. Lester retired the next seven batters, four on strikeouts, before Pena reached first on a fielding error by third baseman Middlebrooks with one out in the fifth. Iglesias struck out before singles by Austin Jackson and Hunter loaded the bases. But Cabrera grounded to shortstop Drew for a force out at second. "He was totally different than the first time we faced him," Hunter said. "He was a little stronger. He was the Jon Lester of old." Detroit threatened again in the sixth when Prince Fielder singled and took second on a one-out single by Infante. But Lester struck out Matt Tuiasosopo for the third time and retired Pena on a fly out. NOTES: Boston starters have allowed three runs or fewer in 13 of its past 14 games. ... Detroits Victor Martinez extended his hitting streak to 10 games with a single in the eighth. ... Red Sox CF Jacoby Ellsbury missed the game with a sore thumb. ... Rick Porcello (11-7) pitches for Detroit against Ryan Dempster (7-9) in the finale of the three-game series on Wednesday night. Mike Vernon Flames Jersey .ca NHL Power Rankings for the second straight week, ahead of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Colorado Avalanche. Sean Monahan Flames Jersey . Tests earlier this week revealed a Grade 2 left hamstring strain for Sabathia, who was hurt in last Fridays start against San Francisco. Its an injury that will require about eight weeks to heal. He finished a disappointing campaign just 14-13 with a career-worst 4.http://www.hockeyflamesfanshop.com/ . -- Three close looks at the bucket, three misses. PORTLAND, Ore. -- The semifinal victory over the rival Seattle Sounders was barely over when Portland Timbers supporters started chanting "Beat Salt Lake!" Making their first trip to the playoffs, the Timbers held off the late-charging Sounders 3-2 Thursday night to advance to Major League Soccers Western Conference final. The Timbers, who won the semifinal series against the rival Sounders 5-3 on aggregate, will face Real Salt Lake in the first of the two-leg conference final on Sunday in Salt Lake. RSL defeated the two-time defending MLS Cup champion Los Angeles Galaxy 2-0 Thursday night to win the series 2-1 on aggregate. "Now were locked in," Timbers midfielder Will Johnson said. "Were in the zone." The victory extended Portlands winning streak at Jeld-Wen Field to 16 games. The Timbers went 11-1-5 at home in the regular season with their lone loss on March 9 to Montreal. They had an MLS record 11 shutouts at home this season. Portland pressured Seattle goalkeeper Michael Gspurning from the start. Rodney Wallace booted a shot that went just wide in the third minute, and Darlington Nagbe came close but went wide again in the 15th. Portland broke through when Johnson converted a penalty kick in the 29th minute to go up 1-0. Diego Valeri, who had appeared to injure his shin when he was fouled hard by Seattle defender Marc Burch, came back a few minutes later to score from a seemingly impossible angle just before the break. Valeri, who blew kisses to the crowd after his goal, was Portlands top scorer this season with 10 goals and 13 assists. "We were hoping to get out of the first half at 0-0," Seattle coach Sigi Schmid said. "That one coming right before halftime, the goal right before halftime, the goal right after halftime, is what killed us at the end of the day. For the first 45 minutes, hats off to them, they were much better than us." Futty Danso added a header for Portland in the 47th minute. The Sounders put up a fight, and DeAndre Yedlins goal in the 74th minute avoided the shutout. Eddie Johnson aadded another three minutes later to close the gap. Miikka Kiprusoff Flames Jersey. The Sounders have been to the playoffs in each of the last five seasons. The Timbers, who joined MLS in 2011, are making their first trip. "Were getting closer," Portland coach Caleb Porter said. "And this team genuinely believes we have a realistic shot at this." The intense rivalry between the two clubs dates to 1975 when both were part of the North American Soccer league. For nearly a decade the teams have battled with the Vancouver Whitecaps for the supporter-created Cascadia Cup. While it was sweet to defeat the Sounders, Johnson said the Timbers didnt pay much attention to the hype. "To us, it was just another team that was in our way of getting to the next round," Johnson said. In the opening game on Saturday in Seattle, Ryan Johnson flicked in a header early in the first half and Nagbe added a goal in the second for the Timbers. Osvaldo Alonso scored late for the Sounders, who needed to win Thursday by at least two goals to become the fourth team to accomplish the comeback since the league went to the two-leg, aggregate-goal format for its conference semifinals in 2003. Seattle was without forward Lamar Neagle due to yellow card accumulations, but Yedlin started despite an ankle injury and forward Obafemi Martins was listed as a reserve after struggling with a groin injury. The Timbers finished the regular season in first place in the Western Conference at 14-5-15 overall. Their 23-point improvement from last season is the biggest turnaround in MLS history. The Sounders, who were 15-12-7, defeated the Colorado Rapids in the knockout round to advance to the semifinals. Schmid said he was aware that some Seattle supporters were calling for a coaching change. "I dont want to walk away. I know theres probably people out there that would like me to walk away," he said. "I think theres a good base of talent, theres a good base of people we can work with next year, but theres improvements, and theres changes we have to make." Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys From China Cheap NFL Jerseys Authentic Wholesale Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys China NFL Cheap Jerseys Cheap Soccer Jerseys ' ' '
MONTREAL -- Montreals newly elected mayor, who has a proven knack for getting in the news, has already had his first public spat with the local hockey team. ED Belfour Jersey . Denis Coderre, the former federal MP who was elected mayor on Nov. 3, has drawn the ire of some Montreal Canadiens. During last nights game he tweeted: "Hello? Can we get a one-way ticket to (minor-league) Hamilton for David Desharnais please..." It was a rather run-of-the-mill remark for a regular hockey fan. Countless numbers of them tweet running commentary on Habs games and many have criticized the play of the struggling forward. But this one drew a little more attention, coming from the mayor. The team was pushing back at Coderre on Monday. Max Pacioretty, a longtime linemate of Desharnais, was particularly fuming and when asked about the remark he unloaded on the mayor. "Im very, very upset about that," Pacioretty said. "What, do you think hes gonna coach our team tomorrow? Thats embarrassing... "To bring down a player -- such a great person, such a great player, such a hard worker ... Daveys a true competitor and hes a great player and a great teammate, and thats just so uncalled for... Its only going to make matters worse." Defenseman Josh Gorges said its wrong to kick someone when theyre down. And coach Michel Therrien may quietly agree with Coderres assessment of Desharnais play, given that hes been handing him less icetime lately. But he doesnt welcome the remark. "I really believe this is inappropriate from our mayor," said Therrien, weighing his words carefully. Coderres outspokenness and penchant for grabbing the spotlight is a distant cry from the citys last elected mayor -- the understated, Harvard-educated Gerald Tremblay, who was eventually felled by a controversy over corruption at city hall. The first week alone has demonstrated that in abundance. Since Coderre won the election, he has already had a run-in with the Parti Quebecois provincial government over its religion charter; with the powerful mayor of Quebec City over a perceived slight to him; and now with the Montreal Canadiens. He also encouraged embattled Toronto mayor Rob Ford last week to switch to "Diet Coke." Jonathan Toews Jersey . They hope to persuade the other team owners and commissioner Roger Goodell to put pressure on Redskins owner Daniel Snyder to drop the nickname they find offensive. "Given the way the meeting transpired," Ray Halbritter, an Oneida representative and leader of the "Change the Mascot Campaign," said Wednesday, "it became somewhat evident they were defending the continued use of the name.Artem Anisimov Blackhawks Jersey . Ivanovic was leading 7-5, 1-0 when Hantuchova withdrew after falling 0-40 behind in the second game. The match started slowly for Ivanovic, who surrendered her first two serves as Hantuchova took a 5-3 lead. http://www.blackhawkshockeyjerseys.com/Bobby-Hull-Jersey/ . -- If this was Aaron Gordons final home game at Arizona, and it almost certainly was, then he went out in style.In preserving Bruins forward Shawn Thorntons 15 game suspension on appeal, Commissioner Gary Bettman concluded that the attack on Penguins defenceman Brooks Orpik was "a bad act with a bad result, and neither will be tolerated in our game." Bettman very clearly confirms that protecting the brains of players is of paramount importance, and decisive action will be taken to discourage excessive and unnecessary force that may result in irreversible brain damage. Thornton will now have seven days to appeal Bettmans decision to an independent arbitrator. This is brand new under the CBA and has never been done. So if we do see an appeal, we will break new ground (and/or ice). The Hearing: Who Was There? The hearing was held at the law firm Proskauer Rose LLP. Thats the firm that acted for the NHL during the lockout. Very good law firm. Apart from Thornton appearing at the hearing, his agent Anton Thun, NHLPA representatives Roman Stoykewych, David Sinclair and Maria Dennis, and Boston General Manager Peter Chiarelli were all in attendance. Thun and Chiarelli were called by the Union to testify. On the NHL side were members of the League office, including Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly, David Zimmerman, Julie Grand and Brendan Shanahan (who was called to testify), as well as Joseph Baumgarten from Proskauer Rose. While Thornton has an agent, the NHLPA handles the hearing. The agent can help with arguments, but ultimately the Union is in charge of the appeal and does the talking. NHLPA: What They Argued The NHLPA did not dispute that a suspension was warranted, but rather argued that the suspension was too long. So the NHLPA focused on length and not whether a wrong was committed. In fact, at the hearing, the NHLPA and Thornton acknowledged that the act was "quite serious", "harmful", and resulted in "significant" injury. Bettman writes that the NHLPA was aiming for a suspension closer to 10 to 12 games. In doing so, the Union relied on the leagues past practice for similar incidents, Thorntons clean record and the act lacking premeditation. Overall, the NHLPA argued that the "punishment was excessive." Bettman Disagrees In preserving the length of the suspension, Bettman relied heavily on the intentional nature of the act together with its "highly dangerous nature" and the "extent of the injury." As per the NHL CBA, the league considers a number of factors when determining the length of a suspension, including the following: (1) the excessive and unnecessary nature of the act, (2) the injury sustained, (3) whether the player has a rap sheet or is a repeat offender, and (4) the circumstances of the game. The league can also consider any other relevant surrounding circumstances. Bettman ruled that Thornton engaged in intentionally excessive force. He skated the length of the ice, slew footed Orpik, dragged him to the ice from behind and punched him multiple times in the face. Orpik, Bettman writes, "never had a chance to fairly confront his opponent, much less an opportunity to defend himself.. Keith Magnuson Jersey. " As well, Orpiks injury was also key in maintaining the suspension. Bettman noted that there was still no "definitive date for his return" and that there is "uncertainty as to his future condition." Bettman also ruled that the act constituted "retribution" for Orpik declining Thorntons invitation to fight after Orpiks hit on Louis Eriksson. For the Commissioner, that also supported upholding the suspension. The fact that Thornton had no prior history of suspensions was recognized by Bettman. Indeed, the Commissioner expressed that it was "certainly possible" to argue for a more "severe punishment." So it looks like Thorntons clean record may have resulted in a shorter suspension. Bettman also relied on one more key factor: the human brain. It is recognized that players may suffer irreversible brain damage as a result of blows to the head. Consequently, the league must take active and decisive steps to safeguard the brains of its players. That includes imposing punishments that are designed to strongly discourage behavior that threatens the long-term health of its players. The league would argue that failing to firmly discipline players puts all players at risk. Hockey is an inherently dangerous sport and that will never change. Still, contact that is not part of the game will be scrutinized. Indeed, the 200 plus NFL concussion lawsuits, the NHL class action concussion lawsuit and the Derek Boogaard lawsuit weighed heavily on the decision making process. The league simply cannot be seen as soft on brain damage with this mass of litigation gathering around sports. So the legal side of this case was inescapably important. Some have argued that the nature of Thorntons act just doesnt match up with past lengthy suspensions because Thornton used his glove to punish Orpik rather than his stick or skate. This type of argument is a red herring and ignores the bigger issue at play: its not how the harm is delivered but rather what harm is inflicted. Times have changed and penalties must be aligned with evolving sensibilities. Indeed, Bettman wrote in his Decision that a player "who today blatantly flouts the rules in a manner that causes a head injury can and should expect to be severely disciplined." Why So Long For Bettman Decision? Thorntons hearing was on December 20. So it took 4 days for the Commissioner to issue his decision. In part, a reason for the delay was that the NHL wanted to get the decision just right given the possibility the case could be appealed to an independent arbitrator. The NHL wanted to make sure, in part, that its reasons were well-reasoned, considered and thoughtful. So Whats The Takeway? The extent of the harm delivered together with the weight of the concussion lawsuits and evolving sensibilities conspired to preserve Thorntons suspension. Bettmans decision was not only predictable, but it was also prudent and ultimately correct. And for these reasons, and as I wrote here, Thorntons chances of success on appeal to an independent arbitrator are bleak. Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys From China Cheap NFL Jerseys Authentic Wholesale Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys China NFL Cheap Jerseys Cheap Soccer Jerseys ' ' '
PHOENIX -- The Suns are getting energy from an unexpected source in their strong start to the season. Under Armour Basketball Shoes Singapore . Phoenixs reserves came up big again Friday night, with twins Markieff and Marcus Morris leading the Suns to a 114-103 over the Denver Nuggets. Markieff Morris scored 14 of his career-high 28 points in the fourth quarter as Phoenix came back from an 11-point deficit late in the third after leading by as many as 18 in the first couple of minutes of the second half. His effort was a big part of the 51 points scored by the Suns bench players. "Well take it," Suns coach Jeff Hornacek said. "They play with energy. Thats what we need them to do, is just continue to play as hard as they can. When theyre out there its a pretty small lineup, which I think makes them all think I have to go rebound and I have to help out and then theyre just much more active." Markieff Morris added 10 rebounds and made 10 of 13 shots. Marcus Morris scored 11 points and grabbed eight boards. The brothers combined for five steals, and reserve guard Ish Smith had eight and four assists in only 12 minutes, 27 seconds on the court. "Hes doing a nice job of not just floating around the 15- to 18-foot range looking for a jump shot," Hornacek said of Markieff Morris. "Hes playing under control. Markieffs not forcing anything." Phoenix (4-2) got 46 points from its reserves in a loss at San Antonio on Wednesday and in the three games prior, totalled 40, 35 and 35 points from its bench players. The Suns led 64-47 at halftime but got outscored 40-20 in the third quarter. Ty Lawson scored 21 of his 29 points in the period to vault the Nuggets back into the lead. "We cant give up that many points in a quarter," said guard Gerald Green, typically a reserve but pressed into a starting role Friday. "Our bench was huge. Were going to need that for the rest of the season to be one of those good teams in the West." The fourth quarter saw both teams matching baskets until Marcus Morris hit a jumper with 5:13 to play that gave the Suns a 100-95 lead and jump-started a strong finish. Starters Miles Plumlee added 18 points and 11 rebounds and Eric Bledsoe had 17 points and nine assists. Jordan Hamilton scored 19 points for Denver, which fell to 1-4. "The fourth quarter killed us again," Lawson said. "The third quarter we were up 10 and I should have managed the game better. We took a lot of quick shots and turned the ball over." The Suns trailed 87-76 before closing out the third quarter with an 8-0 run. Smith converted a three-point play and Markieff Morris made a layup off a steal. Phoenix got off to a quick start. Plumlee scored 10 points in the first quarter, including a pair of three-point plays when he twice took Denver big man Timofey Mozgov off the dribble for a basket and a foul. The Suns made 14 of 24 first-quarter shots, one of them a high-flying dunk by Green on a lob from P.J. Tucker. Phoenixs 35 points marked its most in an opening period this season. Phoenix went ahead 57-45 on a pick-and-roll layup by Plumlee. The Suns took their largest lead of the half when Markieff Morris leaped to grab the high carom from a missed free throw and slammed the ball home for a 64-46 lead. "I told our team we lost that game in the first half," Nuggets coach Brian Shaw said. "We gave up 65 points in the first half and 35 points in the first quarter. Low energy once again. "I am at a loss of words from the lack of energy from some of our rotation guys. ... I will go down the bench and find the guys who want to play." NOTES: The Suns played without starting guard Goran Dragic, who warmed up before the game but is still dealing with a sprained left ankle. Dragic has now missed the past three games but could be ready as soon as the Suns next game against New Orleans on Sunday. Green started in his place. . Hornacek is the first Suns head coach to begin his tenure 3-0 at home since Scott Skiles in 1999-2000. The Suns opened 3-0 at home for the first time since the 2009-2010 season. Under Armour Curry 1 Singapore . The 17-year-old native of Marystown, N.L., pulled out of Skate Canada International last month in Saint John, N.B., with the same problem. Under Armour Curry 2.5 Singapore . 10 Texas Rangers jersey for one last time. Young formally announced his retirement Friday after returning to Rangers Ballpark, his baseball home for all but the last of his 13 major league seasons. http://www.underarmoursg.com/under-armour-basketball-shoes-singapore/ua-clutchfit-drive-2-for-sale.html . Having already announced that the race will start May 9 with three stages in Northern Ireland and Ireland and finish in Trieste on June 1, the rest of the route was unveiled Monday. TAMPA, Fla. -- Less than five seasons are declaring Josh Freeman was the future of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the struggling franchise is tying its hopes to another rookie quarterback. Coach Greg Schiano benched Freeman in favour of untested Mike Glennon, two days after insisting the former first-round draft pick remained the starter because he gave the Bucs the best chance to win. On Wednesday, Schiano said several times Glennon now gives the Bucs the best chance to win. The coach said he changed his mind after meeting Tuesday with general manager Mark Dominik, and later discussing the situation with ownership -- which signed off on the move. "This is a performance-based decision," Schiano said after practice Wednesday. "Were not getting the job done on the field." The winless Bucs have lost their first three games, two on field goals in the closing seconds. Freeman has completed just 45.7 per cent of his passes for 571 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions. Dating to last season, theyve dropped eight and nine games, and the offence hasnt played well throughout the stretch. "There are a lot of reasons for it. Its not just one guy," Schiano said of Freeman, the franchise career completions leader who is in the final year of the contract he signed as a rookie. "Buts thats a critical piece of it. ... The quarterback touches the ball every play." The Bucs did not make Freeman, whos 24-35 as a starter, available for interviews. Glennon was drafted in the third round out of North Carolina State, where he spent part of his college career as a backup to Russell Wilson. He will make his first pro start Sunday at home against Arizona. The 23-year-old did not make a push to unseat Freeman during the preseason, however he feels hes continued to grow while riding the bench and is ready to make the next step. "This is what I prepared my whole life for. Im excited about it. Cant wait," Glennon said. "Ive prepared ever since I can remember. Growing up, this is what I dreamed of doing, this is what I worked for. Im really excited about it." Glennon ran a pro-style offence at North Carolina State, and both he and Schiano believe that experience will help him. "I have five years of an NFL-like offence under my belt. Not the same terminology, not the exact same plays, but as an 18-year-old, I was running NFL concepts," the rookie said. "You watch college football, and thats not as common nowadays. So I was very fortunate." At 6-foot-6, Glennon is slightly taller than Freeman but lacks the overall size (248 pounds), strength and mobility of the player hes replacing. Schiano is confident, though, that Glennon can manage the offence and is capable of making all the throws necessary to be a successful pro. "Im not going to get into comparisons with what Josh can doo, and what (Glennon) can do," Schiano said. Stephen Curry Shoes Singapore. "What I will tell you is that Mike is a smart, tough football player. I think he works extremely hard, I think he will go out and try to do what were coaching him to do," Schiano said. "Youre not going to be perfect, no one is. But I think hes going to try to do it to his ability, which is what were asking him to do in the game plan." The Bucs need an offensive jolt. After setting single-season team records for passing yards and points scored in 2012, Tampa Bay has scored just three offensive touchdowns through three games -- none in the past seven quarters. Freemans completion percentage and quarterback rating (59.3) are last in the league, and Tampa Bays had trouble scoring points despite having proven playmakers in running back Doug Martin and receivers Vincent Jackson and Mike Williams. The fifth-year pro, once touted by Dominik as a franchise quarterback, has thrown for four TDs vs. 12 interceptions in the last six games. "Its not the end of his career. Hes got a lot of football left," guard Davin Joseph said, while also expressing confidence in Glennon taking over. "Starting quarterback is a hard job to keep and a hard job to get," Joseph added, "and I think Mike is up to the challenge." The switch caps a tumultuous month in which Freeman missed a team photo shoot on Labor Day, was not voted a team captain for the first time in three years and refuted reports that he was seeking a trade. Throw in his quarterback rating and completion percentage, plus a couple of last-second losses in games in which he and the offence did not perform well, and hes back on the bench. And, perhaps headed out of Tampa Bay, with the trade deadline being five weeks away. Its been a gradual, but consistent slide toward his possible exit. Freeman became the first 4,000-yard passer in team history last season, but his inconsistency down the stretch contributed to the Bucs losing five of final 6 games to finish 7-9 and miss the playoffs for the fifth straight year. The 25-year-old Freeman was the third quarterback selected in the 2009 draft behind Mark Sanchez and Matthew Stafford. He made his first NFL start -- a win against Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers -- after Tampa Bay began his rookie season with seven consecutive losses. The former Kansas State star followed with a breakout season in 2010, when the Bucs went 10-6 but failed to make the playoffs. Freeman threw for 25 touchdowns and just six interceptions that year, and the future appeared bright -- for him, the team and former coach Raheem Morris. Inconsistent play has dogged him and the Bucs since. Morris was fired after going 4-12 in 2011, leaving Freeman to learn his third offensive system in four seasons when Schiano was hired last year. 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SAN JOSE, Calif. Donovan Ricketts Jersey . -- Logan Couture scored on a power play 3:28 into overtime to give the San Jose Sharks a 3-2 win over the Phoenix Coyotes on Saturday night. Coutures winner gave the Sharks their second victory of the preseason just 32 seconds after the Coyotes were called for having too many men on the ice. Oliver Ekman-Larsson gave the Coyotes a 1-0 lead with 9:52 left in the first when he got a wrist shot past Harri Sateri. Just 52 seconds into the second, the Sharks capitalized on a four-minute double-minor penalty to Chris Brown and tied it up when Freddie Hamilton quickly scored on a power play. Jason Demers gave San Jose a 2-1 lead when he scored on a power play with 8:23 remaining in the second as he was able to skip the puck past Mike Smith. Phoenix evened the score with 31 seconds left in the second when Andy Miele converted a power play. Sateri is trying to win a spot on San Joses roster as the backup to regular goalie Antti Niemi. He made 24 saves and Smith had 23. Jack McBean Jersey . Scott Kazmir allowed four hits in seven shutout innings, Michael Brantley hit a two-run homer in a three-run first inning and the Indians maintained their hold on an AL wild-card spot with a 4-1 win over the Houston Astros on Saturday night. Los Angeles Galaxy Jersey . -- Timbers coach Caleb Porter didnt stray from his business-like approach to the season even after Portland downed the two-time defending league champion Los Angeles Galaxy to gain crucial playoff position. http://www.galaxymlsshop.com/Authentic-Leonardo-Jersey/ . Isner, ranked No. 14, won his eighth career singles title and took the title in New Zealand for the second time after his victory in 2010. The match was similar to Isners quarterfinal victory over fifth-seeded Philipp Kohlschreiber which went to three sets, all tiebreaks and contained no breaks of serve.CLEVELAND -- The Indians closed out their relationship with Chris Perez. The team released the colorful closer Thursday following a season in which he performed below his All-Star abilities, got arrested and surrendered his job in the final week as Cleveland tried to clinch a playoff spot. Also, the Indians re-signed veteran slugger Jason Giambi, who provided leadership last season along with some clutch hits. A two-time All-Star, Perez spent five seasons in Cleveland. And while he saved 124 games, Perez often was at the centre of turmoil that overshadowed his pitching. He angered Indians fans last season for saying they didnt support the team like they should, and he rankled Clevelands front office by criticizing trades and stating the Indians werent spending enough to win. "We just finished out team meetings and made the determination that Chris was not a fit on our roster," general manager Chris Antonetti said in announcing Perezs release. In June, Perez was arrested after drug agents followed a package containing marijuana to his home in Rocky River, Ohio. He and his wife pleaded guilty to a misdemeanour charge. Perez, who was never shy about voicing his opinion on any subject, didnt talk to the media for months before breaking his silence on the final day of the regular season in Minnesota when the Indians secured a wild-card berth. Antonetti denied the notion that Perez was a distraction. "I think we were able to handle any issues," Antonetti said. "In the end, we won 92 games with him serving as our closer for the majority of the season." Perez was eligible for salary arbitration this winter, and based on his statistics and was in line for a raise from his $7.3 million salary this year. But Perezs struggles, along with his tempestuous past, resulted in the Indians cutting ties with him a day after the World Series ended. In 54 games, Perez went 5-3 with a 4.33 ERA and 25 saves in 30 attempts. But he scuffled after Aug. 1 as his ERA ballooned to 7.52 ERA and he allowed six runs in his final two appearances. Antonetti said Perez, who had a stint on the disabled list this season with a sore shoulder, is healthy and feels hell bounce back -- just not in Cleveland. "On balance, Chris was a very meaningful contributor to our teams over the last few years," Antonetti said. "He had a tough stretch at the end of the season, but all players go through upss and downs. Ignacio Maganto Jersey. I think Chris will respond well and pitch well for his next team." After he gave up four runs in the ninth inning of a win over Minnesota late in the season, Perez walked into manager Terry Franconas office and told him he didnt want to cost the team a possible playoff berth. Francona promptly pulled him from the closers role, and there was speculation Perez would be left off the post-season roster. However, Perez was on the active roster for the wild-card loss to Tampa Bay. With Perez gone, the Indians need a closer and will look to fill the spot internally with either Cody Allen or Bryan Shaw, two reliable relievers last year. Antonetti said the club could pursue a closer in free agency, but his preference is to use a pitcher on the roster. Giambi was a consummate team player from the moment he arrived at training camp last spring training, and the Indians were thrilled to have him back. "There is no better way to start our off-season than to re-sign Jason Giambi," said Antonetti. "He made a huge impact on our team last season." The 42-year-old, who was a finalist for Colorados managerial job last year, batted just .183 with nine homers and 31 RBIs in 71 games. But it was contributions inside Clevelands clubhouse as a mentor to the teams younger players and a conduit for Francona that helped the Indians get back to the playoffs for the first time since 2007. Giambi also had a flair for the dramatic. He twice became the oldest player in history to hit a walk-off home run. He broke the record set by Hank Aaron on July 29 against Chicago and then bettered his own mark on Sept. 24 with a two-run, pinch-hit homer with two outs in the ninth to beat the White Sox, a shot that helped propel the Indians to a 10-game winning streak to end the season. "When you get a guy like that, sometimes it can be once in a lifetime," Franconia said. "Hes changed people in the organization. Hes made me better. Hes made everybody he touches better. Thats a very special person." The Indians signed Giambi to a minor league contract, a deal with minimal risk in case he decides to retire. Cleveland also made a minor trade with San Diego, acquiring left-hander Colt Hynes from the Padres for cash considerations. The 28-year-old reliever spent the second half of last season with San Diego, posting a 9.00 ERA in 22 relief outings. 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SEOUL, South Korea -- Top-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska rallied from a set down on Sunday to beat Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-7 (6), 6-3, 6-4 and win the Korea Open.Jaromir Jagr Jersey . Radwanska hit five aces and took advantage of 10 double-faults by the third-seeded Russian player to win her third title of the year and 13th overall. "It was a very close match, tight sets, all of them," Radwanska said. "But I was just a little bit better in the important moments today." Pavlyuchenkova rallied from 3-0 down in the first set and fought off four set points in her 5-6 service game before taking a one-set lead. But the momentum shifted when Radwanska won the first three games of the second set. The Pole stayed on serve with Pavlyuchenkova through the first nine games of the third set before one last break to close out the match in 2 hours, 45 minutes. "Its tough losing this match after fighting so long and coming so close," Pavlyuchenkova said. "Its difficult and frustrating, but in tennis you can be up then down." Radwanskas previous two titles this year came in the first two weeks of the year, in Auckland and Sydney. She is the fourth player to win three or more titles so far this season, after Serena Williams (9), Simona Halep (4) and Victoria Azarenka (3). Radwanska, No. 4 in the world rankings, improved to 3-1 in head-to-head matches against Pavlyuchenkova, who is ranked 32nd. Tie Domi Rangers Jersey . Burris threw two TD passes, including a key 15-yard fourth-quarter strike to Bakari Grant that effectively countered a Toronto comeback bid and led Hamilton to a 33-19 victory. Rod Gilbert Jersey . Jay Feely kicked a 41-yard field goal in overtime, and the Cardinals edged the Tennessee Titans 37-34 in overtime after blowing a 17-point lead late in the fourth quarter.http://www.therangersfanshop.com/Wayne-Gretzky-Jersey/ . 1 position. The Mustangs (6-0), who beat Queens 50-31 last weekend, earned 17 first-place votes and 287 points in voting by the Football Reporters of Canada. Western was last ranked first in the country in October 2011.This could have been a column on why Cristiano Ronaldo should win the Ballon DOr. But it isnt. That has been done, many times, including by myself in January. For similar reasons I had a year ago, I believe Ronaldo should win it this year, but a year is a long time in sport and, although my opinion on who should win it hasnt changed, my opinion on the award certainly has. I no longer care one bit. I should point out that I have never been a big fan of individual awards in team sports. For me, important accolades, awards and trophies are won within the sporting arena and anything else is precisely what most sports are not - arbitrary; placed in the hands of a democracy who may or may not be informed enough to reach the correct decision. On the face of it, the task of finding the best player of the year should be a relatively simple one. In fact, it is so simple some inside the sport of baseball are wondering if they should have such an award, instead of their Most Valuable Player honour. In that sport, the best player in the game, Mike Trout, an outfielder for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, has finished runner-up in the American League the last two years in the MVP race, simply because his team didnt make the playoffs and were not as good as the Detroit Tigers, the team, Miguel Cabrera, the winner, played for. If a Ballon DOr existed in baseball, Trout, who has an astounding 20.4 WAR the past two seasons, would already be a two-time winner. So is it time to change their sports main individual award? ESPNs Buster Olney and Tim Kurkjian, two of the baseballs finest journalists, debated this very topic on a podcast recently: Olney said: "A really smart executive in baseball said to me, you know it would be a real shame if the best player in baseball for the first five years of his career didnt win (the MVP) because he had bad teammates and I hope, although I dont think it will happen, that the (voters) baseball writers would define MVP and just pick the best player." Kurkjian disagreed: "I like it the way it is because it creates the debates. The word valuable is a very subjective term and its up to the voters to determine who the best player is based on the word valuable." Make no mistake, Cabrera is a marvellous hitter, but Trout, a superior overall player, has been even better the past two years but lost out on the award simply because of the word "valuable," with many voters believing Cabrera played in more valuable games than Trout because the Detroit Tigers were in a playoff position in September. As a lover of baseball, I have sat back the past two Septembers and watched/listened ad nauseam to networks debate who is more deserving, rather than talk about the actual baseball games taking place at an incredibly exciting time of their season. The debates might be good for media shows and the sport which wants as many people talking about it as possible, but the truth is when the decision is finally made, it doesnt make knowledgeable baseball fans think any differently about Cabrera, with two MVPs, or Trout, with none. And that is exactly the same with the Ballon DOr. From 1956 to 2009, it was an award with history that meant (a small) something, but it still had major flaws. It was only given to European players until 1995, meaning all-time greats like Pele and Diego Maradona didnt win a Ballon DOr. Zinedine Zidane did win one, as well as three FIFA World Player of the Year awards, but is that what you think of when you think of Zidane? Of course, not. Ninety-nine per cent of the games biggest fans couldnt tell you exactly how many awards he won, but they could tell you about his brilliant performance in the 1998 World Cup final and the breathtaking goal he scored in the 2002 Champions League final. And that is how it should be. As we view sporting events that take place in our time, we are trusted, as the guardians of that current footage, to ensure that history will tell the story it should. After Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi retire and your kids or grandchildren ask you about them, you should not tell them how many Ballon DOrs they won. However, with column inches to fill and shows to accommodate, the worlds media have spent the best part of this international window talking about this award, rather than the games being played. Even when Ronaldo produced one of the finest individual performances, guiding Portugal to the World Cup, much of the talk was still on whether or not he should win the Ballon DOr. His performances on the field, which ultimately define him as a player, is what people need to focus on and not because it should decide whether or not he wins an award at a glamorous FIFA ceremony in January. Since 2010, when FIFA got their grubby hands on the award and merged it with the World Player of the Year honour, the award has lost its lustre while gaining more and more media attention. Phil Esposito Jersey. Previously open to the worlds finest media members to vote, FIFA extended the Ballon DOr voting process to captains and coaches of the national teams around the world. Each voter is asked to come up with a top three from a 23-man shortlist. With 2010 a World Cup year, many eyes were on the tournament in South Africa, leaving the likes of Wesley Sneijder, Andres Iniesta and Xavi as real threats to Ronaldo and Messi at the top of the game. The last three years, however, there has been no reason for anybody to believe a player has been better than Ronaldo, let alone, Messi. And that includes Franck Ribery. Ribery was thought to be among one of the favourites to win the award in January because he was the best player on the best team, Bayern Munich, this year. This, however, is just another example of people over thinking the award. Ballon DOr does not go to the games best player, it goes to the games best player of that year, but even that should rule out Ribery. Yet, just this very week, a very respected Spanish writer suggested Ribery would be a worthy winner because Messi hadnt won anything in 2013. This is a man who covers the game extremely well and is paid to watch two of the greatest players the game has ever seen, each week, yet he would have no problem with Ribery winning the award? A man who plays in the German Bundesliga for a team the writer has probably watched fewer than a dozen times in 2013? That writer, like you and me, will not have seen enough of Ribery to know if he is on Messi and Ronaldos leve,l but if he believes the Frenchman could be, what chance does that leave footballers who see far fewer matches than media members? The result? Just a bunch of voters guessing or picking their own personal favourites or friends. Now, you have likely never heard of Jaffar Khan. He is the captain of the Pakistan national team. In 2011, Khan voted for Thomas Muller to win the Ballon DOr with Andres Iniesta second and Bastian Schweinsteiger third. No Messi or Ronaldo. In 2012, Khan voted for Iker Casillas to win the Ballon DOr with Andres Iniesta second and Xavi third. No Messi or Ronaldo. Khan is a goalkeeper. He is also a man who should never be allowed to vote ever again. This is not about personal opinion, folks. It is not like looking for a political party that matches your values. For the past three years, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have been hands down better than any footballer on the planet. Yet, Khan wasnt alone in leaving them off his ballot in 2012. Many other examples were revealing, including Austrias Christian Fuchs naming Mario Balotelli (who would finish 23rd of 23 nominees) third and ahead of Ronaldo and Messi and Tomas Danilevicius of Lithuania selecting Wayne Rooney ahead of the duo. If you are looking for names more recognizable in the game when searching for questionable votes, they are scattered all over the revealed ballots. Dutch skipper Sneijders choice? Dutchman Robin van Persie. Spanish skipper Casillas? He chose Real Madrid and Spanish teammate Sergio Ramos, placing club teammate Ronaldo second and Messi outside of the top three. Chinese coach Jose Camacho, who managed his native Spain in the 2002 World Cup, picked three of his countrymen on his ballot - Iniesta, Xavi and Casillas. German boss Joachim Low? Germans Mesut Ozil first and Manuel Neuer second. Spanish boss Vicente Del Bosque? All three players from Spain. It is not fair to hammer the likes of Del Bosque and Low, after all they know the mental state of their players and if they think it can give them an edge by picking them on their ballot, then they are just doing their job. The point is the voting process is a farce and this week it become even more farcical. On Tuesday, FIFA decided to re-open this years voting process for Ballon DOr nominees following rightful criticism it received in originally enforcing a deadline of November 15th on its voters before key World Cup qualifiers had been played. This means Ronaldo will likely win in January, as he should. However, the timing of the announcement - just hours after Portugals win over Sweden - brought the attention once again back on FIFA and their award. In an era where peoples attention spans are lesser than ever, the great thing about this game is just how much you need to watch it to make judgments. There isnt a baseball box score or a fantasy football ticker available to show you who had a good game. It is down to your eyes and your insight and it is on those that you will rely when you look back at the great careers Messi and Ronaldo have. Dont let FIFA and their annual Mickey Mouse parade every January alter that. Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys From China Cheap NFL Jerseys Authentic Wholesale Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys China NFL Cheap JerseysCheap Soccer Jerseys ' ' '
