e Headley remains out of the lineup with a sore back. ... Th | Forum

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook will miss the first 4-6 weeks of the NBA season after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his right knee Tuesday. Stephen Hill Panthers Jersey . General Manager Sam Presti said the three-time All-Star had knee swelling that would not subside, and the procedure was intended to solve the problem. He said doctors determined that a loose stitch was to blame for the swelling, that Westbrooks lateral meniscus has healed properly and the procedure was successful. "Russell has been incredible in his work and rehabilitation," Presti said. "His performance levels have been tremendous, and hes looked great in the part of practice that hes been cleared to go through. So, we were very, very encouraged in that respect. But when the swelling wasnt subsiding, we made the decision to have the knee evaluated." Westbrook also had surgery in May to repair cartilage in his right knee after he was hurt in Game 2 of Oklahoma Citys first-round playoff series with Houston. He had had never missed a game in his five NBA seasons before the injury. Westbrook averaged 23.2 points and 7.4 assists per game last season, but he wound up watching the Thunders second-round playoff exit to Memphis from the bench. Westbrook was hurt on April 24 when Rockets rookie Patrick Beverley lunged for a steal as Westbrook stopped to call a timeout in the second quarter of Game 2. He remained in the game and it wasnt until two days later that the team announced hed miss the rest of the playoffs. Beverley has said he wasnt trying to hurt anyone and was simply trying to make a play. Last week, Westbrook said once hes fully recovered, he doesnt plan on changing anything about his playing style, including his ability to drive to the basket. Oklahoma City needs offensive help alongside Kevin Durant and Westbrook following the departure of Kevin Martin, who averaged 14 points per game last season. Some of the offence is expected to be picked up by third-year guard Reggie Jackson, who averaged 13.9 points in the playoffs after averaging just 5.3 during the regular season. Also, forward Serge Ibaka returns after averaging 13.2 points per game last season. Presti said losing Westbrook in the early going was worth it for the peace of mind. "Of course, both from the standpoint wed like to have him on the floor as soon as possible, but in this case, although we lose a little bit of time, we gained a tremendous amount of confidence in the actual progression and recovery process of the knee itself," he said. Greg Olsen Panthers Jersey . The move comes after the Canadiens were approached by the Buffalo Sabres for permission to speak to Dudley - a former Sabres player and head coach. "The Sabres called for permission and I appreciate that, Im flattered, Dudley told TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun of ESPN. Shaq Thompson Panthers 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. http:///...rdy-Panthers-Jersey/ .S District Court against Major League Baseball, the Office of the Commissioner and his own union, the MLBPA.SAN DIEGO -- A 21-game winner only two years ago, Ian Kennedy is starting to look more like his old self. Thats he doing it in San Diego has been a plus for the Padres. "Maybe I just needed a little change of scenery," said Kennedy, acquired in a trade from Arizona on July 31. "The coaching staff, the players, everyone has just made it really easy on me to feel comfortable." Kennedy beat an NL West opponent for the first time in 12 starts this season, pitching the Padres past the San Francisco Giants 4-1 Monday. Kennedy (6-9) gave up one run and five hits over six innings while striking out seven. He is 3-1 with a 4.04 ERA since arriving in San Diego. The right-hander improved to 1-5 with a 4.97 ERA in his starts against NL West teams this year. Huston Street worked a spotless ninth to earn his 26th save in 27 chances as the Padres snapped a three-game losing streak. "I felt like I could throw my fastball when I wanted to and when you work off that, that is how you have successful games," Kennedy said. Padres manager Bud Black noted that Kennedys strikes seldom got too much of the plate. "He got some fastballs in good spots and that was the key in a couple of big situations," Black said. "He had the fastball at the top of the zone and the fastball into the lefties, and the fastball away from them, too. His fastball was around the zone and that was what he had going today." "The changeup and curveball came into play, but not as much as weve seen him use it in other games. When he needed to throw a strike he did. When he needed an out, he got one." Barry Zito (4-11) lost his eighth straight decision. He has won only once in his last 20 starts. Zito was pulled after four innings, allowing four earned runs on four hits and three walks. He fell to 0-9 with a 10.00 ERA in his last 11 starts away from AT&T Park. "Its hard to narrow it down to one thing," Zito said of his road woes. "Normallly the splits arent really that bad in one direction. Trai Turner Panthers Jersey. " Giants manager Bruce Bochy said Zito started well, then lost his command. "He threw well in the first inning," Bochy said. "Then he had trouble finding the strike zone there and that caused all the problems. Thats what did him in." Kennedy drew one of Zitos three walks in the second. Ronny Cedeno hit an RBI single and Chris Denorfia singled home two runs. Nick Hundley hit his career-high 11th home run in the fourth when Zito elevated an 80 mph slider. "He didnt get it to where he wanted to," said Hundley, who stroked his third career home run off of Zito, his most against any pitcher. "You dont want to miss those kind of mistakes because you dont get them very often." The Giants scored in the fifth on Brandon Belts double. With runners on second and third, Buster Posey hit a two-out liner that third baseman Logan Forsythe reached high to snag. In the eighth, the Giants had the tying run at the plate, but Sandoval and Crawford failed to produce against reliever Luke Gregerson. "That was a little tap dance there, no doubt," Black said of Gregersons performance. "Sandoval is always a tough out, no matter how he is swinging or what the numbers are. Luke threw him an offspeed pitch and he had a big swing and it only went a couple feet. That was great." NOTES: Bochy said RHP Matt Cain will start Saturday against the Rockies after he threw a 90-pitch bullpen session on Monday. Cain has been on the DL with a bruised right forearm. ... LHP Jeremy Affeldt was to throw in a simulated game on Tuesday and Bochy said the team will determine his path after that. Affeldt has missed 41 games with a left groin strain. ... Padres 1B Yonder Alonso will undergo a MRI exam Tuesday on his ailing right hand. ... Padres 3B Chase Headley remains out of the lineup with a sore back. ... The Padres recalled RHP Burch Smith from Triple-A Tucson. 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 NFL Jerseys ' ' '