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Swansea head coach Francesco Guidolin has signed a new two-year contract. Seth Jones Blue Jackets Jersey . The Italian joined the club in January when they were just two points above the relegation zone and has since guided them to 11th place in the Premier League.A board meeting was held at the Liberty Stadium on Wednesday to discuss the 60-year-olds future and it has now been confirmed Guidolin will remain in the role. The Italian members of Guidolins backroom staff - Gabriele Ambrosetti and Diego Bortoluzzi - have also been offered new contracts. Francesco Guidolin has signed a new two-year deal with Swansea Im pleased to confirm that we have reached an agreement with Francesco on a new two-year contract, chairman Huw Jenkins told Swanseas official website.Francesco fully deserves the chance to continue his good work into the new campaign. He was prepared to come into the club at such a difficult time and put himself in a pressure situation with the club fighting for survival.He has achieved the goal of securing top-flight football for this club with plenty to spare and has earned the right to start afresh next season.Its going to be another challenge for everyone, but we are looking forward to seeing how far he can take this squad of players over a full season. Swansea beat West Ham 4-1 at the Boleyn Ground on Saturday There has obviously been a lot of speculation over recent weeks about a possible change of manager, but the board has been impressed with the way he has quietly gone about the job of improving performances and results since January.Jenkins later spoke to Sky Sports News HQ, where he explained further why the board felt Guidolin should be offered a new deal.The timing was right to make sure things are settling down well to make sure we can plan and get things right for the new season, to get Francesco signed up and to move things on, said Jenkins.We felt the clubs he worked for [in the past] were similar to Swansea. We are a smaller club in the Premier League challenging big clubs and he has done that well in Italy.We are looking forward to him having the full preparation of pre-season, to get everything prepared in the right way, and we can all look forward to the season ahead.There was a lot of speculation in the press as to whether we were talking to other managers.We had discussions, and Francesco is aware of that, but the decision to go down this route is the right one for the club.Jenkins also confirmed US investors looking to buy the club had no input into Guidolins appointment. Swansea City chairman Huw Jenkins said improved performances persuaded them to offer Guidolin a new contract Guidolin said he was honoured to be given a new deal.It is an important day for me, and I am honoured to be given the chance to continue managing this wonderful club, he told Swanseas website.I came into the club at a difficult time, and it was my first experience of the Premier League. Now, I have the possibility to start my work at the beginning of a new season; something Im excited about.I would like to thank my players first of all, plus the staff and our fans. It was very emotional for me to hear them sing my name after the game at West Ham, and Ive had nothing but good wishes from everyone Ive met on the streets of Swansea.The possibility for me to work with them and for them again is very important to me. Its an honour, and I am grateful to the chairman and the board for giving me this opportunity.Swansea host Manchester City in their final match of the season on Saturday, when they will look to finish their campaign with three victories in a row, following their 3-1 win over Liverpool and Saturdays 4-1 victory against West Ham. Also See: Guidolin unsure over future West Ham 1-4 Swansea QUIZ: Old football grounds Get a ￡10 free bet! Pierre-Luc Dubois Blue Jackets Jersey . -- Miami Dolphins defensive co-ordinator Kevin Coyle defended the management style of coach Joe Philbin in the wake of the teams bullying scandal. Cam Atkinson Blue Jackets Jersey . The Arena das Dunas in the northeastern city of Natal sustained minor damage during the protests, but demonstrators stayed away on Sunday and officials said the stadium passed its first test, with only minor adjustments needed going forward. ASHBURN, Va. -- Mike Shanahans plan to restore order, professionalism and consistent success to the Washington Redskins disintegrated quickly in 2013, costing him his job Monday a day after the team finished a 3-13 season. Shanahan was fired after a morning meeting with owner Dan Snyder and general manager Bruce Allen at Redskins Park, a formality expected for several weeks as the losses mounted and tension rose among Shanahan, Snyder and franchise player Robert Griffin III. Shanahan went 24-40 in four seasons in Washington and had one year remaining on his five-year, $35 million contract. Snyder will now be seeking his eighth head coach for his 16th season as an NFL owner -- a span that includes just four winning seasons, two playoff victories and seven last-place finishes in the NFC East. "Redskins fans deserve a better result," Snyder said in a statement. "We thank Mike for his efforts on behalf of the Redskins. We will focus on what it takes to build a winning team, and my pledge to this organization and to this community is to continue to commit the resources and talent necessary to put this team back in the playoffs." Shortly after his meeting with Snyder, Shanahan made a five-minute statement thanking fans, players, reporters and Snyder. Shanahan did not take questions, and he defended his efforts in rebuilding the Redskins while repeating his assertion that an NFL-levied salary cap penalty hindered his ability to improve the roster even more. "Were better off today than we were four years ago," Shanahan said. Shanahans career regular-season record is 170-138 over 20 seasons with the Los Angeles Raiders, Denver Broncos and Redskins, but his two worst years have come in Washington -- 5-11 in 2011 and this years 3-13. He captured Super Bowls titles with quarterback John Elway and the Broncos after the 1997 and 1998 seasons, but he won only one playoff game over his final 10 years in Denver and was fired after the 2008 season. The selection of Heisman Trophy winner Griffin with the No. 2 overall draft pick and a season-ending seven-game winning streak propelled the Redskins to 10-6 record in 2012, their first division title in 13 years. But Griffin was injured in the playoff loss to the Seattle Seahawks and required major knee surgery days later, setting the stage for a year of conflict as the quarterback vowed to return in record time and felt empowered enough to openly challenge some of his Shanahans deccisions. Cam Atkinson Blue Jackets Jersey Authentic. Griffin returned for Week 1 of the regular season -- just as he said he would -- but he wasnt the same dynamic player who won the NFLs Offensive Rookie of the Year award in 2012. The Redskins also struggled on defence and special teams, with Shanahan repeatedly citing the handicap of the two-year, $36 million salary cap penalty imposed by the league for the way Washington restructured contracts during the uncapped year of 2010. Shanahan eventually benched Griffin for the final three games of the season. Even though Griffin was medically cleared to play, the coach said the move was best for the organization because it was important for the quarterbacks development that he be healthy for the upcoming off-season. Griffin was clearly unhappy with the decision. Snyders search for a new coach presents plenty of intrigue. Hes tried nearly every angle: the hot college coach with no NFL experience (Steve Spurrier), the franchise icon (Joe Gibbs), the promising youngish co-ordinator (Jim Zorn) and the established demand-control-over-everything big names (Marty Schottenheimer and Shanahan). Snyders hands-on reputation and history of developing close relationships with star players have made candidates wary of the job, and his ties with Griffin did nothing to help matters this year. "We are going to take a smart, step-by-step approach to finding the right coach to return the Redskins to where we believe we should be," Allen said. "We will analyze accurately and honestly all of the decisions that were made over the past year." Shanahan demanded -- and received -- contractual control over all football matters when he joined the Redskins, and he repeatedly emphasized the need to run a disciplined organization with a sense of decorum. Snyder met Shanahans requests to upgrade the Redskins Park facility, spending millions on a new practice bubble and other amenities. Shanahan weeded out the disgruntled players -- most notably Albert Haynesworth -- but ultimately was unable to stymie what he called the "circus atmosphere" that has permeated the Redskins under Snyder. Leaks, rumours and power struggles were just as bad as before, as were the losses. The Redskins 2013 record was their worst since 1994, and the season-ending eight-game losing streak is their longest in more than 50 years. Shanahan leaves with the same regular-season winning percentage (.375) in Washington as Spurrier and Zorn. 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 ' ' '  

CHICAGO - Patrick Kane had a power-play goal and two assists, leading Antti Raanta and the Chicago Blackhawks to a 4-0 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Sunday night. Ron Hextall Jersey .The Blackhawks played with a CR decal on their helmets after assistant equipment manager Clint Reif died earlier in the day. The team said it was deeply saddened by the loss and declined further comment while asking for respect for the privacy for Reifs family and friends.Coach Joel Quenneville, fighting back tears during his pregame media availability, said it was a tough day.Raanta made 31 saves for his second shutout of the season, helping Chicago rebound from a 3-2 shootout loss Saturday night in Columbus.Patrick Sharp had three assists as the Blackhawks won for the 14th time in their last 17 games.James Reimer made 30 saves in Torontos third straight loss following a six-game winning streak.AVALANCHE 2, RED WINGS 1, SODETROIT (AP) — Jarome Iginla scored in the ninth shootout round to lift the Avalanche to the victory.Iginla got a wrist shot past Petr Mrazek, who had turned away six straight Avalanche shooters. Nathan MacKinnon and Matt Duchene also scored in the tiebreaker as Colorado ended a three-game road trip with five points.Gustav Nyquist and Tomas Tatar had shootout goals for Detroit, which fell to 1-7 this season in the tiebreaker.Detroit had a 22-12 shots advantage five minutes into the third period and finally cashed in when Pavel Datsyuk wristed a power-play shot past Avalanche goalie Calvin Pickard for his 13th goal.The Avalanche tied it with 4:15 left in regulation when Erik Johnson scored on the power play for his eighth of the season.RANGERS 1, HURRICANES 0NEW YORK (AP) — Ryan McDonagh scored in the first and Cam Talbot made 18 saves, leading New York to its sixth consecutive win.The Rangers completed a sweep of the home-and-home weekend series against the Eastern Conference-worst Hurricanes, who lost for the eighth time in nine games.Talbot is 3-3-1 this season backing up Henrik Lundqvist, with all three of his victories being shutouts.McDonagh scored his second goal of the season 4:10 into the game. He slapped the puck past goaltender Anton Khudobin, who has yet to win this season (0-8-2).BRUINS 4, SABRES 3, OTBOSTON (AP) — Loui Eriksson scored 2:14 into overtime, and the Bruins rallied for the victory.Dougie Hamilton scored twice for Boston, including a tying goal with 1:31 left in the third after the Bruins pulled goalie Tuukka Rask. Chris Kelly also scored for Boston, and defenceman Zdeno Chara had two assists.Buffalo couldnt quite hang on after holding a 3-2 lead for most of the third period on Tim Schallers first NHL goal. Schaller was recalled from Rochester earlier in the day and played his third career game 50 miles south of his hometown of Merrimack, New Hampshire.Andrej Meszaros and Rasmus Ristolainen also scored for the Sabres, who were outshot 37-28.STARS 6, OILERS 5, SOEDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — Tyler Seguin had two goals and an assist, and then scored in the shootout to help Dallas to its fourth consecutive win.Shawn Horcoff had the winning score in the eighth round of the tiebreaker, and also collected his fifth goal in the first period. Erik Cole and Jamie Benn also scored in regulation for the Stars (14-13-5), who have won five of six.Taylor Hall and Mark Arcobello each had two goals for the Oilers (7-20-7), who blew a 5-2 lead.Edmonton has lost seven straight and 18 of 19. Ron Hextall Flyers Jersey .Carla Fontes hadnt cut her hair since intermediate school, but her coach at Waiakea High School, Stan Haraguchi, thought the locks flowing below her waist were interfering with the sport. Brayden Schenn Jersey .com) - Guess whos back, back again? Josh Gordons back, tell a friend.New York, NY (SportsNetwork.com) - Mississippi State and Florida State remained the top teams in the latest Associated Press college football poll, but big wins for Baylor, Arizona State and Ohio State allowed those three teams to move up in the rankings. Mississippi State had no trouble in its rout of UT Martin on Saturday in advance of next weeks mammoth showdown with Alabama in Tuscaloosa, while Florida State rebounded from a tough first quarter to pull away from Virginia. The Bulldogs received 48 first-place votes -- three more than last week -- and a total of 1,488 points from a nationwide media panel to keep the top spot, while the Seminoles lost three No. votes and now have 12. Oregon jumped past Alabama into third after a win over Utah, while the Crimson Tide gutted out a victory at LSU and stayed fourth. TCU also moved up one spot into fifth after a blowout of Kansas State in Fort Worth. Baylors surprisingly easy win at Oklahoma moved the Bears four places from 10th to sixth and Arizona States victory over Notre Dame pushed the Sun Devils four spots from 11th to seventh. Ohio State vaulted five places from 13th to eighth after outscoring Michigan State in East Lansing. Auburn tumbled six spots from third to ninth after a 41-38 home loss to Texas A&M, a setback that will likely cost the Tigers thheir spot among the top four teams in the College Football Playoff rankings when they are announced Tuesday. Bill Barber Flyers Jersey. Ole Miss rounds out this weeks top 10, while Nebraska starts the second 10 and is followed by Michigan State, Kansas State, UCLA, Notre Dame, Georgia, Arizona, Clemson, Duke and LSU. Michigan State dipped five places from seventh after its home loss and K-State dropped four spots from ninth after losing at TCU, while the Fighting Irish had the biggest drop within the poll, falling seven spots from eighth after its loss in Tempe. LSU tumbled six places from 14th after the overtime loss to Alabama. The last five teams ranked this week are Marshall, Wisconsin, Colorado State, Georgia Tech and Utah. The Utes dropped five spots after losing to Oregon. Colorado State and Georgia Tech are this weeks newcomers. The Rams are 9-1 with eight straight wins, while the Yellow Jackets are 8-2. Oklahoma and West Virginia dropped out of this weeks rankings. The Sooners were 16th and the Mountaineers were 24th. In addition to this weeks battle between Mississippi State and Alabama, three other ranked matchups are on the docket. Auburn will visit Georgia in the SEC, while first place in the Big Ten West is up for grabs when Nebraska travels to Wisconsin. 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MONTE ZONCOLAN, Italy -- Nairo Quintana virtually clinched the Giro dItalia title Saturday with a strong ride up the demanding Monte Zoncolan, while Michael Rogers benefited from a fan interruption to post his second stage victory of the race. Nelson Cruz Jersey . Quintanas 3:07 lead ahead of fellow Colombian Rigoberto Uran remained unchanged entering Sundays final stage. "Its 99 per cent done," said Quintana, who shed some tears during the podium celebration. "They were tears of happiness. Ive achieved one of the big goals in my life." Francesco Manuel Bongiorno was right on Rogers wheel with three kilometres (two miles) to go when a fan pushed him hard enough on the back that he had to break to avoid hitting Rogers and took his left foot off the pedal. "Im very bitter," Bongiorno said. "On a climb like that when you lose your balance its impossible. ... Maybe this incident will be good for the future. The fans give us strength but they need to (learn)." By the time Bongiorno got going again on a stretch of road where the gradient was 15 per cent, Rogers had already opened up a significant lead. "I wasnt aware," Rogers said. "Im sorry for Bongiorno. Hes a good kid and rode hard. I tried to drop him many times. ... Unfortunately this happens often." Rogers, an Australian with Tinkoff-Saxo, clocked 4 hours, 41 minutes, 55 seconds over the 167-kilometre (104-mile) leg, which started in Maniago. Franco Pellizotti finished second, 38 seconds behind, and Bongiorno crossed third, 49 seconds back. Quintana finished 17th in the stage, 4:45 back, with Uran right behind him. Quintana was runner-up to Chris Froome in last years Tour de France and this would be his first Grand Tour victory. "This year I dont think Ill be at the Tour but next year well probably try it," Quintana said. The Movistar rider was then asked if he would consider riding both the Giro and Tour next year. "Its possible," he said. "Weve talked about it with the team manager. Well evaluate both options." Rogers, a three-time time trial champion, was recently cleared after a doping accusation and also won the 11th stage. Last month, the UCI accepted that meat Rogers ate in China probably caused his positive test last year. Clenbuterol is widely administered to Chinese livestock to build muscle and reduce fat. Days later, Rogers tested positive at the Japan Cup. The UCI disqualified Rogers from the Japanese race but consulted the World Anti-Doping Agency before deciding he should not be sanctioned any further. "The last kilometres were a dream," Rogers said. "Ive always dreamed of winning an uphill stage like this and this is the first time Ive been able to." The race ends Sunday with a mostly flat 172-kilometre (107-mile) leg from Gemona del Friuli to Trieste. Luis Sardinas Jersey . LOUIS -- Julius Randle had 19 points and 15 rebounds, Aaron Harrison finished with 18 points and No. Norichika Aoki Mariners Jersey .J. - Pete Carroll is in support of the NFL looking further into whether medicinal marijuana could beneficial for players.FRANKFURT - The German Football Federation says it is not unduly concerned about a technical finding that the vanishing spray used in free-kick situations could be a health hazard.Germanys technical inspection agency says the spray that was used at the World Cup in Brazil contains parabens that are suspected of being hormonally active. The agency inspects products ranging from elevators to toys for safety.Parabeens are often used as preservatives in cosmetics. Luis Sardinas Mariners Jersey. The federation says it had not been aware of the study commissioned by Germanys biggest-selling newspaper, and it had been in talks with several other manufacturers of the spray. The current spray made in Argentina is considered expensive.The spray, used in several European leagues, is due to be introduced in the Bundesliga in October. 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 ' ' ' 

Liam Firus, a 21-year-old Vancouverite with an enviable slip across the ice, can see an opportunity: one of those three Olympic spots that Canada has earned for men. DJ LeMahieu Jersey . He wants to seize that opportunity. The trouble is, Firus has had more bumps on the road to Sochi than most. Last year, Firus had the skate of a lifetime in the short program at the Canadian championships when he landed his first triple Axel in competition and finished third in a stacked field. He surprised himself, because he had been battling a groin injury in the weeks leading up to the event. The skate of a lifetime doesnt usually happen after such impediments. And it was a painful injury, too. He had endured six tortuous injections of a sugar solution into his injury, meant to inflame the site, bring blood to a bloodless area and help the healing. He and coach Lorna Bauer had considered withdrawing from the Canadian championships, but only the Sunday before the event, they decided to go. And because Firus really wasnt trained, the long program slipped out of his control and he dipped to fifth overall. It was still his best finish at the senior national level. His problems werent over, by any means, when he went home. He immediately set to work with choreographer Mark Pillay to design two new programs for the Olympic season and then he didnt set foot on an ice surface for months. He got six more injections, a week apart. He went to physiotherapy three to four times a week. His life revolved around rehabilitation. He didnt get back onto the ice again until June. "It was tough," he said. With the Olympics coming, he wanted to train like a fiend, but he knew that wasnt smart. "I knew that if my groin was bothering me while I was training for the Olympics, I dont think I would have a shot," he said. "It was just so painful and so mentally hard, too." So restrain himself, he did. He didnt start jumping again until late July, and that didnt mean full-out triple Axels. It meant doing doubles, half a year before the Sochi Olympics. By the middle of August, he slowly introduced triples back into the mix. By the beginning of September, he was finally doing full programs. With five months to the Olympics, his training finally began in earnest. He decided to step things up, by leaving Vancouver to train full time in Colorado Springs with Christy Krall, Damon Allen and Eric Shultz, coaches hed visited sporadically for four or five years. It meant leaving his first and only coach, Lorna Bauer, behind. Visit Skate Canada to read the rest of this story. DJ LeMahieu Rockies Jersey . -- LeBron James warned the Orlando Magic to stop double-teaming him and ignoring James Jones. Todd Helton Jersey . -- The Los Angeles Clippers chose not to speak publicly about owner Donald Sterling before they faced the Golden State Warriors for Game 4 of their first-round series Sunday.The spotlight will be on figure skating in Ottawa as the Canadian Tire Centre hosts the 2014 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships. You can watch coverage on TSN, TSN2 and CTV beginning today at 3pm et/Noon pt. The championships will feature approximately 250 of Canadas best figure skaters in senior, junior and novice as they vie for spots on the national team, international assignments and will act as the final step in the 2014 Olympic qualification process. On Sunday, Jan. 12 at the conclusion of the senior events, Skate Canada will nominate the 17-member Olympic figure skating team to the Canadian Olympic Committee for selection to represent Canada at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia. Defending Olympic gold mmedalists Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir return as the defending ice dance champions but Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje will look to challenge them for the national title and lock up one of the three ice dance spots for Sochi. Charlie Blackmon Rockies Jersey. . Three-time world champion Patrick Chan, who finished second at last months ISU Grand Prix Final, will look to clinch one of three Olympic berths in the mens competition. Kaetlyn Osmond is back to defend the crown she won last year with hopes of breaking through on the Olympic stage with Canada having two spots in the ladies competition. Defending pairs champions Meagan Duhamel and Eric Radford look to fine tune their program and wrap up an Olympic berth, one of three in the competition. 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 ' ' ' 

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. Ichiro Suzuki Jersey . -- England and Honduras drew 0-0 in a fiery and physical final World Cup warm-up match that saw Honduras defender Brayan Beckeles sent off at Sun Life Stadium on Saturday. The weather was as wild as some of the action on the pitch in Miami Gardens, with the game halted midway through the first half for 45 minutes due to a lightning storm. England struggled to create scoring chances even with a man advantage, and the pressure will grow for Ross Barkley to start in Brazil after the 20-year-old midfielder raised the tempo when he came on at half time. "If you look at the chances we had the better, but were quite frustrated," captain Steven Gerrard said. "The ref was poor, the game was interrupted, there was a big one in the first half and they were doing stupid fouls. There was no rhythm. Were frustrated but relieved at no injuries. "There were some horrific tackles for a friendly. I got caught with a bad one." Beckeles, who had been booked for a lunge on Danny Welbeck, was shown a second yellow card in the 66th minute after catching Leighton Baines face with his elbow. "The lesson is we cant play with 10, we need to be more careful," Honduras coach Luis Fernando Suarez said through a translator. Honduras kicks off its World Cup campaign next Sunday against France, a day after England opens against Italy. The hot and humid conditions were exactly what England came to Miami for, but not the storm that worsened during the opening 20 minutes. Before the disruption, Wayne Rooneys free kick was spilled by Noel Valladares but no England player was primed to exploit the goalkeepers shakiness. And, when Rooney set up Daniel Sturridge, the striker struck wide on the turn. Warning messages flashed up on stadium big screens urging fans to first leave their uncovered seats, and then for the players to go off the pitch. "We were just about to slice through them and it was a great relief for them when the rain came," England goalkeeper Joe Hart said. When they returned, Emilio Izaguirre was fortunate not to be sent off for tripping Sturridge and then kicking the striker as he was on the ground. The defender was only booked by Ricardo Salazar. "I dont understand refs seeing balls slammed into players chests," Gerrard said. "Its a clear red card." England was more threatening after the break when Rooney and captain Gerrard were replaced by the youthful legs of Barkley and Jack Wilshere. Barkley quickly unleashed a shot from outside the penalty area, and later burst forward unchallenged to feed Sturridge, who chipped wide. It was surprising that it took until the 66th for a red card to be shown, but England could not exploit its man advantage. Although Barkley was adding energy and pace with his runs, Sturridge squandered another opening when he headed wide from Glen Johnsons cross. "It was a real stop-start game, one of the most frustrating Ive been involved in for a long time," England coach Roy Hodgson said. "We had a long stoppage, I thought we dealt with it and in the second half it was attack vs. defence. "They got their men behind the ball and we didnt take our chances. We attempted to make them but this is a game I will soon forget. I will take the draw and that we got away without injuries and that we have experience against Central American opposition." Miami Marlins Dustin McGowan Jersey . -- Jimmie Johnson has a sixth NASCAR championship in hand and two legends within reach. Martin Prado Jersey . 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.BALTIMORE -- It was one of those rare days when everything went right for the Houston Astros. Houston took an early lead and added to it late. The starting pitching was solid. The bullpen was nearly perfect. The result was a 5-2 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday that enabled the young Astros to avert a three-game sweep. "Overall, a good team win," manager Bo Porter said. Jason Castro and Marc Krauss homered to account for all of Houstons offence, and Jarred Cosart (2-3) allowed two runs over six innings for the Astros, who had lost seven of eight before ending Baltimores five-game winning streak. Castro hit a three-run homer off Chris Tillman (3-2) in the first inning, and the Astros made the advantage stand up. "When we can come out and score early, thats really when were at our best," Castro said. "It kind of gives some of the young staff a little bit of a breather from the beginning." It was 3-2 before Krauss connected against T.J. McFarland with a runner on in the seventh. "Those are the runs we have not been able to get," Porter said. "Those tack-on runs that give you an extra cushion, make it a three-run lead instead of a one-run lead. That was a huge home run." Houston is 11-11 when it hits a home run and 1-15 when it doesnt. Although the Astros bullpen came in with a 6.21 ERA, Tony Sipp struck out five in two perfect innings and Chad Qualls worked a hitless ninth for his second save. "I have confidence no matter who they put in behind me that they can get the job done," Cosart said. Jose Altuve had three hits for the Astros, who improved to 6-12 against the Orioles -- including 2-10 at Camden Yards. Everything seemed to fall into place for the team with the worst record in the major leagues. "Weve played some good baseball the last two days," third baseman Matt Dominguez said. "Pitched the ball well, got some timely hits. Hopefully that can give us a jumpstart." Adam Jones drove in both Baltimore runs, giving him 501 RBIs in 981 career games. Tillman gave up three runs, four hits and a season-high five walks in fivee innings. Dee Gordon Marlins Jersey. The right-hander settled down after issuing three walks and a home run in the first inning, but needed 105 pitches to get 15 outs. "It was a struggle for me. Fastball command wasnt there for me from the get-go," Tillman said. "It was a battle all day." Before the game, the Orioles activated Chris Davis (strained left oblique) from the 15-day disabled list and put catcher Matt Wieters on the DL with a strained right elbow. Davis went 2 for 4 in his first game since April 25. "Felt good," Davis said. "Timing is a little off, little in-between. But it was definitely good to be in there, moving around again." Houston took a 3-0 lead before Tillman retired a batter. After Altuve and Dexter Fowler walked, Castro hit the right-handers next pitch over the centre-field wall. Tillman has yielded seven first-inning runs this season, his most in any inning. "He kept us in the ballgame and threw some zeros up after that," manager Buck Showalter said. "But it wasnt what hes capable of or what weve come to expect. Or more importantly, what Chris has come to expect." Jones hit a two-run single to get Baltimore to 3-2 in the third. A double by Davis in the fifth put two runners in scoring position, but Jones struck out before Nelson Cruz flied out. NOTES: The Orioles were denied consecutive three-game sweeps for the first time since 2005. They won three in a row at Tampa Bay before facing the Astros. ... The game drew 45,944 fans, the second sellout of the season at Camden Yards. ... Baltimores Nick Markakis singled in the third inning to extend his hitting streak to 18 games, one short of his career high. ... Tillmans 399th and 400th career strikeouts came against George Springer in the first and third. ... Houstons Alex Presley snapped an 0-for-14 skid with a sixth-inning single. ... Bud Norris takes the mound for Baltimore on Monday night in the opener of a three-game series against Detroit. The Astros return home to face Texas. ... Since coming to Houston from the Padres organization, Sipp has retired all 12 batters hes faced with seven strikeouts. 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 ' ' '  

Indianapolis, IN (SportsNetwork. Addison Reed Jersey .com) - Roosevelt Jones had 19 points, seven rebounds and seven assists to lead No. 15 Butler in a 93-51 win over Kennesaw State. Kelan Martin posted 17 points while Kellen Dunham gave 13 and Kameron Woods scored 11 for the Bulldogs (8-1), who have won four straight. Yonel Brown scored 14 points while Orlando Coleman and Delbert Love each gave 11 points for the Owls (3-7), who have lost three straight. Final Score: (20) Miami-Florida 70, Savannah State 39 Coral Gables, FL (SportsNetwork.com) - Angel Rodriguez and Manu Lecomte each made four 3-pointers as No. 20 Miami-Florida handled overmatched Savannah State, 70-39, on Monday night. Rodriguez finished with 17 points, while Lecomte and Sheldon McClellan added 15 apiece for the Hurricanes (9-1), who made better than half their shots (21-of-41) after shooting at a 32.8 percent clip in Saturdays loss to Green Bay. Demarcus Bryant netted nine points on the strength of three 3-pointers, but the Tigers (3-7) could not overcome Miamis hot shooting and a 19-2 discrepancy in made free throws. Yoenis Cespedes Mets Jersey . Both the top-seeded Djokovic and sixth-seeded Fish took relatively easy paths, with the Serb winning when opponent Jo-Wilfried Tsonga retired in the second set with a sore arm and Fish dominating Janko Tipsarevic in two quick sets. David Wright Mets Jersey .Y. - The Philadelphia Eagles game at Green Bay against the Packers on Nov.Burnley have signed Johann Berg Gudmundsson and Nick Pope from Charlton Athletic. Goalkeeper Pope, 24, has signed a three-year deal at Turf Moor, with a further years option in the clubs favour, and joined the Clarets a few hours after Addicks team-mate Gudmundsson. Sky Sports Fantasy Football Who makes your XI this season? Pick your team here to win the ￡25k jackpot. The former Ipswich Town trainee is delighted to have joined a club he feels is on the way up, as it will further progress his career and enable him to learn from Tom Heaton and Paul Robinson. He said: I want to develop as a goalkeeper and with the keepers that are already here I definitely feel I can learn from them.Theyve both experienced the England set up and its only a good thing for me to be around them day to day in training and at games. Im really looking forward to it. Gudmundsson tangles with Englands Harry Kane during Euro 2016 Burnley is a club on the way up so they are two of the main reasons amongst many, many more.Sky sources reported last week that the Clarets had agreed a £2.5m fee for winger Gudmundsson, who is on his summer break after starting every game of Icelands run to the quarter-finals of Euro 2016.Gudmundsson, 25, has been at Charlton since movving from Dutch club AZ Alkmaar in July 2014, scoring 16 goals in 81 appearances, but he is also looking forward to embarking on a new chapter in his career. Steven Matz Jersey. He told Burnleys website: It feels like a family club and everyone is tight to each other. Gudmundsson in action for Charlton against Burnley last season The atmosphere around the club is fantastic, and playing against the team last season, I saw just how good the club was - I definitely wanted to join.The team spirit in the Iceland team seems to be similar to here where everybody is working for each other and its a tight group.Thats what football is about, its a team sport and everyone works hard for one another here.Manager Sean Dyche has been looking to add more creativity to his midfield ahead of the Clarets top-flight return and is pleased to have Gudmundsson on board.Johann, we feel, is a quality player who we saw last season playing at Charlton in a tough time and we liked the quality he showed, he said.It helps to see a player in the European Championships with that kind of company and he did well there so it was one we all agreed would be a good acquisition for the club and we look forward to working with him going forward. Also See: Burnley start with win Mee signs new Burnley deal Transfer Centre LIVE! Pre-season fixture guide 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 ' ' '  

The Ottawa Senators made a low-risk investment, both in terms of picks and contract, in an effort to boost their offence. Carlos Ruiz Phillies Jersey . Numbers Game looks at the Senators getting Ales Hemsky from the Edmonton Oilers for a pair of draft picks. The Senators Get: RW Ales Hemsky. Hemsky, 30, is not the two-time 70-point scorer that he was earlier in his career, but there are some factors working in his favour, at least in terms of producing more offensively. For one thing, he has good possession numbers while facing high-quality opposition and starting an unsually-low (43.9%) percentage of his shifts in the offensive zone. If the Senators plug Hemskys playmaking skill alongside Jason Spezza and Milan Michalek, that would have to be considered a much better situation for an offensive player than Hemskys role in Edmonton this year, where his most common centre was checker Boyd Gordon. The Senators are in tough to try and get into the playoffs -- four points out with 20 games remaining -- but its not impossible and adding Hemsky does give them a decent chance to have a second productive scoring line. Perhaps the real coup of the deal for the Senators is that they convinced the Oilers to retain half of Hemskys salary and while thats not a huge deal for a pending unrestricted free agent, it makes for a cheap addition of a top six forward. The Oilers Get: A fifth-round pick and 2015 third-round pick. The net return on this deal is remarkably little for the Oilers. Cumulatively, a fifth and third-round pick brings approximately a 36% chance of landing an NHL player, and that player is likely not going to be in the league for three or four years, at least. Its one thing to roll the dice on a few picks, but to also pick up half of Hemskys cap hit is a tad generous, but this is likely a function of how the Oilers have used Hemsky this season. If he was played in an offensive role throughout the year and put up points, there would be greater demand for his services which would obviously bring a better return. Since Hemsky was effectively playing on the Oilers third line, there is room to plug in the likes of Ryan Jones or Jesse Joensuu to fill the spot. Presumably there will be an attempt in the offseason to find a more suitable top nine forward to fill the void created by Hemskys departure. In any case, the Hemsky Era in Edmonton is over, after 477 points in 652 games, and hes going to have a decent shot to rehabilitate his offensive image before hitting free agency in the summer. Scott Cullen can be reached at Scott.Cullen@bellmedia.ca and followed on Twitter at http://twitter.com/tsnscottcullen. For more, check out TSN Fantasy on Facebook. Dave Hollins Phillies Jersey . -- Detroit Tigers third baseman Miguel Cabrera has a broken bone below his right eye after being struck by a bad-hop grounder, sidelining the star slugger for at least a week with opening day on deck. Juan Samuel Jersey .com) - Marc Gasol and the Grizzlies withstood 18 Dallas 3-pointers, as Memphis took control in the third quarter and fended off a Mavericks rally en route to a 114-105 win in a Southwest Division showdown.ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Philip Rivers threw two touchdown passes to Eddie Royal in leading the San Diego Chargers to a 22-10 win over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday. Malcom Floyd had two catches for 98 yards, and the Chargers overcame the loss of running back Danny Woodhead, who hurt his right ankle in the first quarter. Donald Brown stepped in and finished with 31 carries for 62 yards and five cattches for 27 yards. Frank Herrmann Jersey. . Rivers was 18 of 25 for 256 yards. The Chargers are off to a 2-1 start for the third time in four years. They built on the momentum of last weeks 30-21 home win over the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks. Fred Jackson scored on an 11-yard catch for Buffalo (2-1), which blew an opportunity to get off to a 3-0 start for only the third time since 1993. 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 ' ' '  

HOYLAKE, England -- Rory McIlroy was not the only winner at the British Open on Sunday. Jose Cruz Astros Jersey . The BBC said McIlroys father, Gerry, and three of Gerrys friends placed a combined bet of 400 pounds (now $680) in 2004 on McIlroy winning the British Open before he turned 26. McIlroy was 15 at the time of the wager and is now 25. The odds were 500-1, so the syndicate looks to collect 200,000 pounds ($340,000) now that McIlroy has lifted the claret jug. He won by two strokes over Sergio Garcia and Rickie Fowler. Jose Cruz Jr. Jersey . -- Novak Djokovic benefited from an erroneous call and claimed he didnt realize he had broken the rules. Norichika Aoki Jersey . LOUIS -- Julius Randle had 19 points and 15 rebounds, Aaron Harrison finished with 18 points and No.WINNIPEG -- Players arent the only people on the field who will be held to a higher standard this season, as the CFLs new vice-president of officiating says the men in stripes will also be held to account. "We want to make sure that the officials are as prepared as they can be," Glen Johnson said Wednesday. "Were improving all of our training and development efforts. Were trying to evaluate them more consistently. Were going to make officials accountable for their performance." He said those who perform the best on the field will work the most, and the evaluation wont just include the usual crop of retired officials but will also include selected groups of coaches asked to provide feedback. Johnson spent 24 years as a referee and head referee in the league before being appointed to this new position in December. The leagues board of governors will be voting May 8 on proposed new rules this season and Johnson is currently touring all CFL cities to meet with teams and discuss those as well as other issues, such as a move to codify infractions more clearly in simple language. He said officials, players and coaches will know with more certainty what is and what isnt going to draw a flag. The proposed rule change that has drawn the most attention so far is a plan to make defensive pass interference subject to challenge and review by video replay but Johnson says there are many more. "Theres player-safety related ones where were eliminating some illegal low blocks. I think thats going to have a really positive impact on the game. Keeping players safe and healthy and having them play more is a good thing." Others are designed to improve game flow, such as not stopping to allow defensive substitutions if theere are no offensive substitutions. Houston Astros Jerseys. . "I think youre going to see a higher tempo," says Johnson. "Youre going to see more offensive output and more plays in a game, which I think just continues to add to our exciting game." Many quarterbacks in the league also may be happy with a proposal to allow them to use their own teams balls. "Were going to allow quarterbacks to condition and use their own footballs. . . Theyll be league-supplied footballs that they can condition, practice with during the week then they can bring them to the game and, as long as they meet a new ball standard, that quarterback can use his own balls during the game." As an example, he said some like to remove the new-ball finish while others may like to use a tack cloth on their ball. They must still be inspected by the referee to ensure they havent been doctored beyond league standards, but both teams will have their balls stamped so they remain separate during the game. The host team will supply balls for kicks that both teams will use. There will also be stricter curbs on taunting and objectionable conduct, including the verbal abuse of officials. Besides making pass interference subject to coaches challenge and review, there will be automatic reviews of all turnovers. The leagues board of governors must vote on all the proposed changes but Johnson says, historically, they have usually given their approval. But the one that did not get approved unanimously by the rules committee was the change regarding pass interference. Johnson says its one of the hardest calls for an official to make, given that theyre often far away from the spot where the play is being made and their view is sometimes blocked. 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 ' ' '  

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil -- The younger brother of Ivory Coast players Yaya and Kolo Toure has died in Britain, the Ivory Coast Football Federation says. Kole Calhoun Jersey . Ibrahim Toure died Thursday aged 28, the Ivorian federation said in a statement on its website, and Yaya and Kolo were informed soon after Ivory Coasts 2-1 loss to Colombia at the World Cup in Brazil. The IFF did not give a cause of death but said Ibrahim died in Manchester, where Yaya plays his club football for English champions Manchester City in the Premier League. British media reported that Ibrahim had died after a battle with cancer and had been receiving treatment in Manchester. "A tough day for the Toure brothers. Just hours after the (Colombia) match ... Kolo and Yaya have learned of the death of their younger brother," the IFF said in its statement. "The entire Ivorian delegation in Brazil supports them in this painful circumstance." Yaya captained the team against Colombia in Brasilia, while Liverpool defender Kolo was on the bench. The federation didnt say if the brothers would now leave the World Cup, where Ivory Coast is second in Group C behind Colombia and has a good chance of qualifying for the second round for the first time. Manchester City, where Kolo also used to play, released a statement saying "the thoughts of everyone connected with City are with the Toure family at this most difficult time. "Ibrahim was a regular visitor to Carrington (training ground) and was a popular figure among the staff and players and was extremely close to his two older brothers," the club said. Yaya, the current African player of the year, is a pivotal player in midfield for the West Africans. Ibrahim Toure played professional football himself, most recently for Lebanon club Al Safa. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Ricky Nolasco Jersey . The underachieving franchise finished 17th in the 19-team league with a 6-17-11 record this season. "Our soccer team is absolutely in complete disarray," said Leiweke, drawing laughs during an Empire Club luncheon speech about the future of MLSE teams and plans to improve them. Los Angeles Angels Hoodie . So he and his Toronto FC teammates say they will have no problem getting up for their Amway Canadian Championship final against rival Montreal Impact, even if the result doesnt count toward Major League Soccer standings. ST. LOUIS -- Pinch-hitter Greg Garcia was just looking for some way to reach base in the 12th inning Tuesday night. He did it the hard way, getting hit by a pitch from Justin Grimm with one out and the bases loaded to force in the winning run in the St. Louis Cardinals 4-3 win over the Chicago Cubs. "I knew Grimm threw hard," Garcia said. "I just tried to put the ball in play anyway I can." Jhonny Peralta led off the 12th with a single for his third hit. Grimm (1-2) retired Matt Holliday on a popup, but walks to Allen Craig and Yadier Molina loaded the bases for Garcia. Garcia had a 1-2 count when he was plunked by Grimm. "I saw the pitch out of his hand and knew it was in," Garcia said. "When it got close to the plate I saw it had a chance to hit me. Ill take that one 100 per cent of the time." Seth Maness (1-2) tossed a scoreless 12th for the win. Both teams used seven pitchers. St. Louis manager Mike Matheny said he had not planned to use Maness, who had pitched the last three games. "We were planning on staying away from him if possible, but it turned out we needed him," Matheny said. Trailing 3-2 going into the ninth, Chicago rallied to tie it off closer Trevor Rosenthal on Emilio Bonifacios RBI single with two outs. The blown save was the first for Rosenthal in 11 opportunities. "Thats tough, and you could feel it,," Matheny said. Reggie Jackson Jersey. "But they just put their head down and kept playing. That would have been a tough one to lose." Matt Adams and Matt Carpenter also drove in runs for the Cardinals. Luis Valbuena hit a two-run homer off Cardinals starter Adam Wainwright as part of a three-hit night. "The guys ended up fighting, doing the best they could," Cubs manager Rick Renteria said. "We just fell a little short." The Cardinals took a 3-2 lead in the sixth after Peter Bourjos led off with a bunt single against Carlos Villanueva. Bourjos went to second on a grounder, stole third on ball four pitch to pinch-hitter Jon Jay and scored on Carpenters grounder. Peralta added an RBI single. Cubs starter Jake Arrieta went four innings, allowing one run on four hits and five walks. But he helped himself when he led off the third with a single and scored on Valbuenas homer. St. Louis got one of those runs back in the bottom of the third on a two-out, RBI infield single by Adams. NOTES: The Cubs are 3-15 in games decided by two runs or less. ... Carpenter went 0 for 5 and is hitless in his last 13 at-bats. ... Pat Neshek made his team-high 20th appearance for the Cardinals, and pitched a scoreless 11th inning to extend his scoreless streak to 13 1-3 innings. ... The Cubs Jason Hammel (4-1) opposes Michael Wacha (2-3) on Wednesday. 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 ' ' '  

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Kevin Durant scored 33 points, Russell Westbrook had a triple-double, and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Memphis Grizzlies 120-109 on Saturday night in Game 7 of their first-round Western Conference playoff series. Curt Schilling Diamondbacks Jersey . Westbrook had 27 points, 16 assists and 10 rebounds. His assist total tied the franchise record for a playoff game set in 1987 by Nate McMillan when the team was still in Seattle. The gritty Grizzlies, playing without leading scorer Zach Randolph because of a suspension, led by 11 points in the first half before the Thunder overwhelmed them and shot 66 per cent after the break. Marc Gasol led Memphis with 24 points. Grizzlies point guard Mike Conley had 20 points and nine assists while playing with a strained right hamstring. It was Westbrooks second triple-double in the past three games. He made 10 of 16 shots from the field, both of his 3-pointers and five of his six free throws. Durant, slowed for much of the series, looked like his normal self. The regular-season scoring champion made 12 of 18 field goals and all five of his 3-pointers after struggling from long range throughout the series. Guards Tony Allen and Mike Miller started for the first time in the series in place of Randolph and Tayshaun Prince, and the Grizzlies beat the Thunder at their fast-paced game in the first quarter. Memphis shot 60 per cent in the opening period to take a 36-27 lead. Oklahoma City chipped away in the second quarter, and the Thunder finally took a 51-50 lead on a 3-pointer by Durant. Durant hit another 3-pointer with 3.7 seconds left to give the Thunder a 61-58 lead at the break. He scored 21 points in the first half and Westbrook had 13 points and eight assists. Gasol scored 15 points in the first half, but he and Allen both had three fouls at the break. The Thunder opened the second half on a 10-2 run. Durant hit a 3-pointer to give Oklahoma City a 71-60 lead. Durant hit another 3 that gave Oklahoma City a 78-63 advantage and led to a Memphis timeout. Back-to-back 3s by Derek Fisher and Westbrook and a breakaway dunk by Caron Butler gave the Thunder a 92-76 lead, and Oklahoma City took a 94-81 edge into the fourth quarter. Notes: Allen sustained an eye injury Friday in Game 6, but played anyway. He scored 15 points in 36 minutes. ... During the morning shootaround, Grizzlies coach Dave Joerger wouldnt comment on the NBAs decision to suspend Randolph for punching Thunder centre Steven Adams in the jaw late in Game 6. Adams got a loud ovation when he entered the game in the first quarter. ... Oklahoma City committed seven turnovers in the first quarter and 20 in the game. ... Butler got his second start for the Thunder, and his first in front of the home crowd. He finished with 15 points. Arizona Diamondbacks Jorge De La Rosa Jersey . The Italian football federation announced the appointment, three days after new president Carlo Tavecchio was elected. Tavecchio and Conte spoke on the phone early Thursday. Welington Castillo Jersey . In a matter of days, he went from unwanted to wanted, from fired to hired, from discarded by the Philadelphia Eagles with reputation tarnished to rock star treatment and a new fat contract from the Washington Redskins.LOS ANGELES -- Anze Kopitar scored the tiebreaking goal early in the third period, and Jonathan Quick made 27 saves in the Los Angeles Kings 2-1 preseason victory over the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday night. Justin Williams had a power-play goal and an assist for the Kings, who beat their Southern California rivals twice in the preseason. Hampus Lindholm scored a power-play goal and Viktor Fasth stopped 31 shots for the Ducks. Kopitar put the Kings ahead on a give-and-go with Dwight King, chipping the puck past Fasth for his second preseason goal. Los Angeles is hoping for a bounce-back season from Koppitar, who led the Kings in scoring last year despite the lowest goals-per-game and shots-per-game averages of his career. Luis Gonzalez Diamondbacks Jersey. Willie Mitchell played his second preseason game for the Kings in his comeback from two serious knee surgeries. The veteran defenceman missed all of last season. Lindholm scored his third goal of an impressive preseason just 6:09 in. The 19-year-old Swedish defenceman was the sixth overall pick by the Ducks in 2012. Williams scored on a power play late in the second period, rattling a shot into the cage behind Fasth after a pass from Alec Martinez. 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 ' ' '