Partick skipper Abdul Osman has signed a new two-year contract with the Scottish Premiership club. The former Gretna, Northampton and Crewe midfielder moved to Firhill in 2014 and has impressed during his time at Thistle. And the 29-year-olds decision to stay at the Glasgow club comes a day after manager Alan Archibald and his assistant Scott Paterson signed new three-year deals with the Jags.A statement on the official Partick Thistle website read: We are delighted to announce that Abdul Osman has signed a two-year extension to his contract which will keep him at Firhill until the end of the 2017/18 campaign.Abdul has been an important player for Alan Archibalds side since joining from Crewe Alexandra in the summer of 2014 and has made 74 appearances for Thistle to date.Abdul, who was appointed Thistle captain last summer, has been consistently excellent in midfield for the Jags this season, missing only three games all season.All at Firhill are delighted that Abdul has pledged his future to Partick Thistle and look forward to seeing more of the midfield enforcer in the next two seasons. Also See: Scottish Premiership video Fixtures Table Live on Sky Get Sky Sports Randy Coffield Jersey Retro . Speaking Thursday on TSN 1050 Thursday, the Leafs GM also touched on the questions surrounding the teams leadership and the struggles of his big-name free-agent signing. “Its not from lack of effort from the coaching staff. Myron Pryor Jersey Retro .J. Jefferson has been charged with assaulting his girlfriend. https://www.cheapjerseyslines.com/curtis-deloatch-jersey-retro/ .Y. -- Buffalo Bills coach Doug Marrone has drawn on his Syracuse connections once again by hiring Rob Moore to take over as receivers coach. Lloyd Harrison Jersey Retro . The Nashville Predators were glad their captain was still on their side. Weber had a goal and two assists, and Roman Josi scored the shootout winner to lift the Predators to a 4-3 win over the Flyers on Thursday night. Stan Olejniczak Jersey Retro . Barcelonas entertaining victory ensured the defending Spanish champions retained their share of the league lead with Atletico Madrid two rounds ahead of their meeting in the capital. Real Madrid needed a late goal by substitute Jese Rodriguez to earn a 3-2 victory at Valencia to stay in third place and three points behind its title rivals. DENVER -- The rampaging Chicago Cubs begin a nine-game, 10-day road trip with three against the Colorado Rockies beginning Friday.Chicago, which is coming off a four-game sweep of Milwaukee, has won 18 of its past 21 games. The Cubs (77-43, 32-24 on the road) are 34 games above .500 for the first time since Sept. 27, 2008, when they were 97-63 on the next-to-last-day of the season.Kyle Hendricks, who is 11-7 with a 2.19 ERA -- the third-lowest ERA in the majors, has allowed three or fewer runs in each of his past 15 starts for Chicago, dating to May 22. In his last start Saturday against St. Louis, Hendricks allowed two runs and five hits in seven innings with no walks and 12 strikeouts but wasnt involved in the decision as the Cubs lost 8-4.Hendricks is 3-6 with a 3.43 in 10 road starts this season. The Rockies handed Hendricks his only loss in 13 games (12 starts) at Wrigley Field this season April 15 when he allowed four runs (two earned) and seven hits in six innings of Colorados 6-1 victory. In two starts at Coors Field -- both Chicago victories -- Hendricks is 1-0 with a 4.38 ERA.Left-hander Tyler Anderson, who makes his first career start against the Cubs, is 4-4 with a 3.42 ERA -- the lowest ERA for a Rockies starter through his first 12 starts in franchise history.In his last start Saturday in Philadelphia, Anderson was ejected by home plate umpire Eric Cooper for hitting Maikel Franco with a pitch to begin the fourth inning. That outing ended a streak of eight straight starts in which Anderson had pitched at least six innings.In eight starts at Coors Field, Anderson is 4-1 with a 3.04 ERA. Because the Rockies were off Thursday, Anderson will pitch with five days of rest.Charlie Blackmon and DJ LeMahieu, the first and second hitters in Colorados lineup, have been on offensive tears lately.Blackmon has a 12-game hitting streak, during which he is batting .481 in 54 at-bats with five doubles, one triple, nine homers, 15 RBI, a 1.111 slugging percentage and a 1.637 OPS. During his streak, Blackmon raised his average 23 points to .322..ddddddddddddeMahieu, who began his career in the Cubs organization and played 37 games for them in 2011, had hits in eight straight at-bats and reached base in 10 consecutive plate appearances before both streaks ended on his second at-bat Wednesday. He has hit safely in 14 of 16 games this month, going .483 in 60 at-bats with two doubles, one triple, three homers, nine RBI, a .483 on-base percentage and a 1.281 OPS. During the month, LeMahieu has raised his average 23 points to .343, one point behind National League leader Daniel Murphy of Washington.Blackmon and LeMahieu have helped the Rockies weather the losses of Trevor Story, who last played July 30, and Mark Reynolds, who last played Aug. 11, to season-ending injuries. Also, Carlos Gonzalez has started only five of the past 14 games because of an ankle sprain Aug. 3 that he later re-aggravated.Both guys have really upped their game, Rockies manager Walt Weiss said of Blackmon and LeMahieu. Both are getting on base at a really high rate. Theyre a big reason why our offense has performed better even with some key pieces out. Even on the road where weve struggled historically, its performing and (that) has a lot to do with those two guys.In Chicagos 9-6 victory Thursday against Milwaukee, Kris Bryant went 5-for-5 with a double, two homers and five RBI. Hes hitting .296 with 30 homers, 78 RBI and a .956 OPS. With his second five-hit game of the season, Bryant tied Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado for the National League lead in home runs.Anthony Rizzo, who went 2-for-5 with two doubles and two RBI on Thursday, is hitting .291 with 25 homers, 86 RBI and a .956 OPS. With six weeks remaining in the regular season, Rizzo and Bryant along with Murphy are the leading contenders for the NL Most Valuable Player Award.Weve obviously put ourselves in a good position to have that chatter, Rizzo said. But weve still got to go out and play every day and do what we do. ' ' '

WASHINGTON -- Max Scherzers bid for a third career no-hitter has ended in the seventh inning when the Washington Nationals pitcher gave up a one-out single to Francisco Lindor.Scherzer struck out nine of the first 20 Cleveland Indians batters he faced Tuesday night before Lindors clean base hit up the middle.Center fielder Ben Revere had preserved the no-hit bid in the sixth with a leaping catch against the wall to rob Roberto Perez of extra bases.After allowing Lindors single, Scherzer committed a two-base error on a pickoff attempt and then allowed a run-scoring double to Jose Ramirez and a bloop RBI single to Lonnie Chisenhall as Cleveland took a 2-0 lead.Scherzer threw two no-hitters last season, against the Pirates on June 20 and the Mets on Oct. 3. He tied a major league record this year with 20 strikeouts May 11 against Detroit.Scherzer was trying to become the sixth pitcher in major league history to toss three no-hitters. Jerry Rice Jersey . "It was nerve-wracking, but we pulled through," said Collaros, who threw four touchdown passes to lead the Toronto Argonauts (8-4) to a 33-27 win over the Calgary Stampeders (9-3) in front of 28,781 fans at McMahon Stadium. John Brodie Jersey . Pirlo limped out of Sundays 1-0 win over Udinese after just 13 minutes. Juventus says Pirlo underwent tests on Monday which revealed he has "a second-degree lesion to the collateral medial ligament in his right knee. http://www.custompatriotsjersey.com/custom-larry-schreiber-jersey-large-1261f.html . Robredo, ranked No. 16, bounced back from an upset loss to Leonardo Mayer in the second round of the Royal Guard Open in Chile last week to down Carreno Busta in 1 hour, 25 minutes. On a day filled mostly with qualifying matches, fifth-seeded Marcel Granollers of Spain also entered the second with a 7-5, 3-6, 6-2 win over Aljaz Bedene of Slovenia, while Guido Pella of Argentina defeated Guillermo Garcia-Lopez of Spain 7-6 (6), 6-4 to advance. Kevan Barlow Jersey . Halifax beat the Saint John Sea Dogs 7-5 on the strength of two goals apiece from Nikolaj Ehlers, Matt Murphy and Brent Andrews. Jonathan Drouin also scored and had three assists while Zachary Fucale made 17 saves for the Mooseheads (16-8-0), who led 6-1 after two periods. Wholesale Custom Patriots Shirts . Anthony Davis had 31 points and 17 rebounds in his seventh straight game with more than 20 points, but that was only enough to keep the Pelicans competitive into the final minutes. Andrew Bogut had 10 points and 15 rebounds for Golden State, which rebounded from a loss a night earlier in Oklahoma City and snapped a two-game skid. SEVILLE, Spain -- No Sevilla player felt as relieved as Luciano Vietto after the hosts beat Lyon 1-0 in the Champions League on Tuesday.The newly transferred striker helped set up Sevillas winner by Wissam Ben Yedder in the 53rd minute. But Vietto failed to add to the lead with three clear chances -- including a 69th-minute penalty kick way over the crossbar -- keeping the French visitors in the Group H game until the end.The win leaves Sevilla tied on four points with Juventus, which won 4-0 at Dinamo Zagreb. Sevilla had earned a draw at Juventus in the teams opener. Lyon remains with three points after its opening win over Dinamo Zagreb.Vietto, who arrived this season on loan from Atletico Madrid, had a shot from close range saved in the 64th and another cleared by a defender on the goal line in the 77th.I didnt have a great night, the 22-year-old Argentine said. I just have to keep trying. I wanted to have scored, but we needed the victory and thats what we got in the end.Vietto headed a cross back across the area for Ben Yedders winner in front of the goal at the packed Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium.Ben Yeedder, who has six goals in 10 career games against Lyon, was going to take the second-half penalty kick but Vietto asked to do it instead.ddddddddddddSevilla had 15 attempts in the second half.We played much better than the result showed in the second half, Sevilla coach Jorge Sampaoli said. We hope that in the next matches we dont miss so many scoring chances because it can be costly in this type of competition.Lyon also had plenty of opportunities, including shots that hit the crossbar by Nabil Fekir in the 11th and Corentin Tolisso in the 76th.The French club opened its Champions League campaign with a 3-0 home win over Dinamo Zagreb, but it has lost five of its 10 games overall this season.Sevilla, the Europa League champion in the last three seasons, had lost four of its five games against French teams.Spanish media said there were confrontations between local police and Lyon fans on the streets of Seville before the match. There were no reports of serious injuries or arrests. ' ' '

LAS VEGAS -- Chicago Bulls?coach Fred Hoiberg still cant speak publicly about the acquisition of Dwyane Wade since it hasnt become official, but Hoiberg?admits he and his staff have started watching film to see how new point guard Rajon Rondo will fit around All-Star swingman Jimmy Butler and Wade, the former Heat star.As a staff, were in the process of watching a lot of film, going back to how certain teams played when certain players were on the floor, Hoiberg said before the Bulls first summer league game. I played on a team in Minnesota with Kevin Garnett, Latrell Sprewell and Sam Cassell. You had three guys who could go get you a bucket at any time. Depending on what the matchup was, thats who we went to. It worked. It was a little shaky at first. I think we were .500 after 20 games. But once we figured out, we really took off. The thing Im really excited with our team next year is the amount of playmakers were going to have. Thats what the offense is all about, having guys who can get in the paint and spray it out. We still will try to get as much shooting on the floor as we can. But Im excited about this team.Specifically, Hoiberg seems excited to coach the enigmatic Rondo. Hoiberg said he and Rondo watched film together during the point guards visit to Chicago and affirmed he is looking forward to working with the point guard.Im really excited about Rajon, said Hoiberg, who is entering his second year as the Bulls coach. Hes a guy who can get into the paint and make plays. Obviously, being a guy who led the league in assists last year, averaging almost 12 and 12. What Im excited about is how smart and cerebral a player he is, how he can survey the floor and make the right read coming down. The more playmakers you have and the more guys who can get into the paint, the better off you are.The Bulls surprised many around the league with the additions of Rondo and Wade, but Hoiberg and the Bulls front office are at least outwardly confident that the pair will work together alongside Butler. Along with the front office, though, Hoiberg didnt want to publicly commit to Butler as the leader of the team when given the opportunity.Its a team sport, Hoiberg said. Were not talking golf or tennis here. Weve got to have five players on the floor out there meshing together. Jimmys one of the top players in the world right now, and I know hes excited about the moves that we made this offseason. Hes excited to get out there. He has a great opportunity in front of him these next couple months with Team USA, and hes excited to get to Chicago after that and get to work with his teammates. So yeah, its a team game.After the Bulls dealt Derrick Rose to the Knicks before the NBA draft, Bulls GM Gar Forman said his team needed to get younger and more athletic. Two weeks later Forman and the Bulls stunned many around the league by adding the two high-priced veterans. When he was hired last season, Hoiberg was sold as an offensive innovator who would get the ball moving up and down the floor. By adding Rondo and Wade, the Bulls added two of the worst 3-pointing shooting guards in the league. Still, Hoiberg is hopeful that he will find a way to make it all work.I think thats what coaching is all about, is to figure out what the best system is based on the talent of your players, Hoiberg said. When I was in college, I had a lot of fifth-year transfer kids and guys who were in there for one year. The big thing we tried to do is make the style fit the personnel. I played a different style pretty much every year I was there, at least the first three. Its about molding your system and philosophy to whos going to be on the floor and hopefully play unselfishly. Its still predicated on ball movement. And again, if you have multiple playmakers, that helps everybody. Dennis Schroder Jersey . Shot outdoors against the stunning backdrop of Banff, Alta., the networks 30-minute original production airs tonight at 8pm et/5pm pt on TSN2. The four All-Star teams will play for $100,000 in prize money during TSNs annual skins game, airing live this weekend on TSN from The Fenlands Banff Recreation Centre. Alton Lister Jersey . Irving scored 23 points, Tristan Thompson had 20 points and 10 rebounds and the Cavaliers beat the Denver Nuggets 117-109 on Friday night. https://www.cheapthunder.com/1321h-steven-adams-jersey-thunder.html .J. Ellis hit two-run homers and the NL West champion Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the San Diego Padres 4-0 Saturday night. Kevin Durant Jersey . -- Jonathan Drouin gave Halifax the boost it needed to edge host Sherbrooke Phoenix 3-2 in a shootout in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action. Cheap Thunder Jerseys . PETERSBURG, Fla. A look at whats happening all around the majors Saturday:---CHECK HIMThe Orioles will see how All-Star center fielder Adam Jones is feeling, a day after he left a game at Yankee Stadium because of a strained left hamstring. Jones had exited Thursday night in the ninth inning at Washington because of hamstring cramps. He is batting .275 with 24 home runs and 74 RBI.MOTOWN ON THE MOVEThe Tigers try for their sixth straight game when rookie Michael Fulmer (10-4, 2.58 ERA) takes on the Angels at Comerica Park. Detroits surge into the AL wild-card race has been powered by Justin Upton, who has homered four times during this five-game winning streak.ALMOST READYRockies second baseman DJ LeMahieu could return to the lineup after missing three straight games because of a wrist injury. He worked out before Friday nights game in Washington and manager Walt Weiss said he anticipated LeMahieu was ready to return. LeMahhieu is second in the NL batting race at .dddddddddddd344 -- Daniel Murphy of the Nationals leads at .346.OK TO GO?The Mets might know more about lefty Steven Matz, whos been sidelined by tightness in his pitching shoulder. He was scheduled to toss on the side this weekend. Matz is eligible to come off the disabled list Tuesday, but its not certain if hell be able to start vs. Miami in a matchup of NL wild-card contenders.WELCOME BACKCatcher Dioner Navarro could rejoin the Blue Jays after they got him from the White Sox in a trade for minor league lefty Colton Turner. The switch-hitting Navarro spent two seasons with Toronto before signing with Chicago last December. He was hitting just .210 with six homers and 32 RBI in 85 games. The Blue Jays are hosting Minnesota this weekend. ' ' '

PITTSBURGH -- Pitcher Jake Arrieta and catcher Miguel Montero?arent the only Chicago Cubs players who want to move past the spring training feel to the final days of the regular season -- they are just the most vocal.Both bristled Wednesday night at the decision to remove Montero from the game while Arrieta was still pitching. The Cy Young Award winner had just given up three runs to the Pittsburgh Pirates in the fourth inning when manager Joe Maddon pulled Montero in favor of Willson Contreras.Maddon said it was a predetermined move to give the rookie Contreras an inning with Arrieta in case that combination is together in a postseason contest. Arrieta wound up giving up three more runs in the fifth.They all knew what was going to happen before that game, Maddon said Thursday afternoon. There were no surprises. And theres been no surprises.But thats not what Arrieta indicated earlier in the day during his own radio show on ESPN 1000 in Chicago.Going into the game, I was really unaware we were going to go with a catching change, Arrieta said.Maddon shot back in his take on Arrietas night, in which he gave up a season-high 10 hits.I dont think it was attributable to a spring training attitude as much as the Pirates had a good approach last night, Maddon said.Even general manager Jed Hoyer chimed in, also on ESPN 1000.Its a difficult balance, Hoyer said. We mostly get it right, maybe yesterday [Wednesday] we didnt.In the long run, the disagreement probably will matter little as the regular season has just three days left, which means only three more days of meaningless games.Its a little weird at this time of the year to be doing that, Ben Zobrist said. I understand. I get it. Were preparing for something else than today. Its odd because [normally] at this time of the year, youre playing one game at a time and pushing.In other words, teams normally are not treating games like its a second spring training. To be fair, even the players who want to play more get what Maddon is trying to do. The strategy may prevent shortstop Addison Russell from getting to 100 RBIs, but he wasnt about to get upset.It would be nice to have the starters out there doing their thing, Russell said. People getting rest is OK and giving the bench guys a chance to see how they handle the pressure is good, too.When informed some players were griping about the atmosphere that Maddon laid out to them after they clinched a playoff spot, the manager had an answer ready to go.Were 7-2 in our last nine games, so I dont see any kind of negative pattern right there, Maddon said before Thursdays 1-1, six-inning tie with the Pirates.Furthermore, Maddon wont change much in the final three games in Cincinnati. Hes not pushing anyone more than he has over the past couple of weeks.The relief pitchers are still going to be choreographed, Maddon said. The team on the field, guys [will get] three to four at-bats. Its still going to be scripted.That might not be great news to hear for a regular starter, but that doesnt mean its the wrong move.Its been a little weird here knowing these games dont matter for either team, but at the same time they matter for the individuals to get their work in, Zobrist said. Its a place nobody is usually in.Its new for all of us. They have to do the best job they can to keep everyone healthy and at the same time keep everyone sharp. Thats a difficult task.As for spring training, the Cubs already have had one. They dont need another. Its time to get serious again.It does feel like spring training, Zobrist said. We want to get away from that as quick as we can and get back to playing competitive baseball. Armen Gilliam Jersey . -- Quarterback Will Finch threw for 252 yards and three touchdowns, and Yannick Harou rushed in two scores as the No. Dennis Johnson Jersey . Coach Mike Munchak says Fokou stretched ligaments in his left knee Oct. 13 against Seattle, which could keep out up to five weeks even though the linebacker didnt need surgery. https://www.cheapsunsonline.com/869z-shawn-marion-jersey-suns.html . LOUIS -- Alexander Steen scored a power-play goal with 59. Dick Van Arsdale Jersey . First off, the fans ripped the Cubbies introduction of a fuzzy new kid-friendly mascot named "Clark". Walter Davis Jersey . Bradwell was scheduled to become a free agent Tuesday. Born and raised in Toronto, Bradwell is entering his sixth CFL season, with all six played for his hometown Argonauts. Dwyane Wade grabbed the headlines when he signed with Chicago in the summer, but Jimmy Butler is reminding everyone that hes a force for the Bulls.The 6-foot-7 Butler has put Chicago on his shoulder the past week. The Bulls have won five of their last six games overall, and they are 3-1 on their current road trip, which continues Tuesday night in Denver against the Nuggets.Butler continued his strong play with 40 points, seven rebounds and six assists in Sundays 118-110 win over the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center. It capped a week in which he averaged 27.3 points, 9.3 rebounds and 3.8 assists.It earned him NBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week honors.Overall, Butler is averaging 25.1, 6.6 rebounds and 4.1 assists this season and has blossomed with the departure of Derrick Rose as well as the addition of Wade.Hes playing with a tremendous amount of confidence, Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg told The Chicago Sun-Times. He feels like every time he steps on the floor that hes the best player out there. More often than not hes right.Butler has helped Chicago (9-5) dig out of an early hole this season to provide a challenge to the world champion Cleveland Cavaliers in the Central Division. He has taken to his expanded role and is learning from his new teammate and three-time world champion with Miami.Im talking to D-Wade before the game and hes just telling me how I have to approach the game, Butler told CBSSports.com. You go out there with a killer instinct every night. Make them adjust to you. Go out with a full head of steam and show theem why you are one of the best players on the floor.dddddddddddd Thats what I try to do every single night. If its coming from him, there has to be some truth to it.The Bulls have a chance to finish 5-1 on their road trip that wraps up in Philadelphia on Friday. First theyll have to get past the Nuggets (5-8), who have won two of their last three and are getting strong play off the bench from Wilson Chandler.Chandler, who missed all of last season following hip surgery, is averaging 22 points and eight rebounds over the last four games. The Nuggets have also started to get good production from rookie guard Jamal Murray. He had a team-high 18 points in the win over Utah on Sunday and is starting to feel more comfortable after a tough start.He just continues to grow in front of our eyes, Denver coach Michael Malone said. When he gets confident and he puts that ball up I think its going in every time he shoots it.The Nuggets are getting healthier, too. Guard Will Barton returned against the Jazz after missing nine games with a sprained left ankle. He had seven points in 19 minutes and is still feeling his way after missing so much time.I knew going in he wasnt going to be the Will Barton we love and want back because hes been out for so long, Malone said.Bartons presence will be needed against the Bulls, who rested Wade against the Lakers. The key to winning might be to stop Butler from having another great game. ' ' '

CLEVELAND -- This is why Ben Zobrist came back home. And this is why manager Joe Maddon wanted him so badly.The Cubs needed a veteran in the clubhouse to teach their seemingly endless supply of budding young stars, someone whod been there. Whod done that. Who cared little about curses or droughts. Who knew what Maddon wanted and how to translate it.Zobrist, fresh off a World Series title with the Kansas City Royals, was searching for a place to spend the final years of a consistently fine career. What better place to do it than a 2-hour drive from where he grew up in central Illinois?And there he was early Thursday morning, standing in the batters box in the top of the 10th inning in Game 7, facing a two-strike count with two runners on. Then the 35-year-old switch-hitter did something that may have encapsulated everything Maddon loves about him.Zobrist shortened his swing. He fouled off one pitch to stay alive. The next provided the biggest blow in Chicagos season-long bout with the weight of its own history, a double inside third base that scored pinch-runner Albert Almora Jr. with the go-ahead run in an 8-7 win that gave the Cubs their first championship since 1908 and earned Zobrist the World Series MVP award.Its a team game and I cant believe I get the opportunity to hold this trophy, he said.Cleveland reliever Bryan Shaw intentionally walked Chicago slugger Anthony Rizzo to get to Zobrist, who entered the game hitting .391 in the Series but had gone hitless in four at-bats. Shaw quickly got ahead 1-2 before Zobrist -- batting left-handed -- poked a foul ball down the third base line past a diving Jose Ramirez. The next pitch was more of the same. In a situation where some of his teammates would have swung for the outer reaches of Progressive Field, Zobrist settled for making contact.The normally understated Zobrist pointed toward the sky after his 10th and final hit of the series as the blue-clad fans who spent hundreds if not thousands of dollars to turn portions of the Indians home field into an eastern suburb of Wrigleyville roared once more.I know he threw a pretty hard cutter, Zobrist said. I just barely hung in there and fortunately he put one just close enough to the plate where I could slap it down the line.By the time Zobrist went to the dugout to fetch his glove and ran back out to his spot in left field, the lead was two. Barely 10 minutes later, Zobrist was sprinting to join the dogpile in the infield after Kris Bryant threw to good friend Anthony Rizzo at first for the final out, the second time in as many years Zobrist found himself awash in the joy.Last fall he helped the Kansas City Royals beat the New York Mets in five Series games. When he went looking for a job, there was really only one place to go: Chicago.Ben is a winning baseball player, Cubs President of Baseball Operations Theo Epstein said the day Zobrist signed a four-year, $56 million deal last December. His offense, his defense, his baserunning. Hes been one of the more valuable players in the game for a long time.One who also came to Wrigley Field without an ego. Maddon moved the player he cultivated a close relationship with while the two were in Tampa Bay around like a kid with a new toy. Zobrist played primarily at second base but also spent time in left and right field. Always without complaint. Always with the greater goal in mind.A goal that was realized after Clevelands Rajai Davis tied the score with a stunning two-run homer off Chicago closer Aroldis Chapman in the eighth. After the ninth inning ended, there was a 17-minute rain delay. And then the Indians dared Zobrist to be the difference.Just as he has whenever the Cubs called on him this season, he was. Red Schoendienst . But now that hes in the NHL, the Calgary Flames centre showed big improvement in that department by scoring the winner in the eighth round of a 5-4 shootout victory over the Winnipeg Jets on Monday. John Brebbia . Oyama had six birdies and two bogeys at Kintetsu Kashikojima in the event also sanctioned by the Japan LPGA Tour. "I have been having this neck ache thats been affecting my golf recently," Oyama said. http://www.custommlbcardinalsjersey.com/custom-matt-wieters-jersey-large-1111q.html . Burke is expected to miss two to three months after breaking a finger in the teams third preseason game. Tinsley, a 10-year veteran, spent the last two seasons in Utah, where the point guard averaged 3. Gussie Busch . Thousands of fans at Mosaic Stadium will be cozying up to each other in an effort to stay warm in chilly temperatures and block the Prairie wind that locals say can knock your socks off. Paul DeJong . "Hes going to have hip surgery on Jan. 7, and hell be expected to rehabilitate for four to six months beyond that," Canucks general manager Mike Gillis said Friday in an interview. BALTIMORE -- Peter Pujals passed for three touchdowns and 240 yards and Holy Cross pulled away from Morgan State to win 51-24 on Saturday in the season opener for both teams.Morgan State stuck around for a while -- the Bears led 17-14 midway through the second quarter on Orlando Johnsons 1-yard touchdown dive, his second TD of the game.But Holy Cross benefited from a poor snap that ended as a safety and after the two-pointer, the Crusaders travelled 67 yards in nine plays, culminating with Diquan Walkers 3-yard plunge. On the eensuing drive, Morgan State was stopped on fourth-and-14 on a sack at the Bears 42 with 1:21 left in the half.dddddddddddd Pujals then led a quick scoring drive, hitting Teddy Capsis from the 3 with 18 seconds to go.Two Holy Cross third-quarter touchdowns -- a 12-yard run by Gabe Guild and Pujals 12-yard toss to Lucas Nikolaisen -- put it out of reach. Guild and Walker both rushed for two touchdowns. ' ' '

KINGMAN, Ariz. -- Authorities have released the names of four Chinese nationals who died when their van collided with a Dallas Cowboys staff bus along a northwestern Arizona highway.Arizona Department of Public Safety officials said Wednesday that the four were from the Guangdong province of China but couldnt immediately provide the cities where they lived.They say 52-year-old Guang Xiang Li was the male driver of the van, while the female passengers were 52-year-old Suiqing Ou, 52-year-old Sangqin Bi and 19-year-old Yuetong Li.The DPS says theyre related, but their relationships werent immediately clear.Authorities say the van failed to yield the right of way at a stop sign Sunday and the bus broadsided it.Nobody was injured on the bus headed to a preseason promotional stop in Las Vegas. No players were aboard. Austin Romine Jersey . The Montreal Canadiens announced on Friday that the veteran forward will return to the teams line-up on Saturday night when the Habs visit the Nashville Predators. Aaron Hicks Jersey . - Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco is not a fan of his teams use of the wildcat formation, saying "it makes you look like a high school offence. http://www.customyankeesjersey.com/custom-james-paxton-jersey-large-1484i.html . The 31-year-old Spain midfielder hasnt played since Madrid lost in the Copa del Rey final to Atletico Madrid in May due to back and foot injuries. Custom Lou Gehrig Jersey .J. Jefferson has been charged with assaulting his girlfriend. Raul Mondesi Jersey . Jim Rutherford, President and General Manager of the Carolina Hurricanes, announced Wednesday that the team would assign Swedish forward Elias Lindholm to his nations team for the upcoming tournament. Editors note: Maura Healey, the attorney general of Massachusetts who played womens college basketball at Harvard, pays tribute to Pat Summitt.Like many, I awoke this week to the news that legendary Tennessee Lady Vols basketball coach Pat Summitt had died. Throughout the day, I exchanged texts with fellow hoopsters, coaches and friends, all saddened by the news. I was moved by the tributes and stories chronicling her career and impact. Pat Summitt is rightly hailed as a pioneer, a trailblazer, a role model and an inspiration. She got the most out of her players, put womens hoops on the map and profoundly changed the perception of gender across American sports culture. She broke records, pushed teams and players beyond what they even imagined was possible, and she showed that girls can play.Coming into coaching just after Title IX went into effect, she made the most of that opportunity, and over the course of her career blew doors open to advance gender equity and became the winningest basketball coach in NCAA Division I history to boot.I didnt know Pat Summitt and I didnt play for her. But for me, like so many, Pat Summitt was a big-time influence on my life. Sadly, its in her passing that I find myself appreciating all that she meant.In a hot July summer when I was 15 years old, I made a trip to Knoxville, Tennessee. I was on my way home to New Hampshire with my coach following play in the national AAU tournament in Oxford, Mississippi. We came in fifth place and I took home an All-American award.I was excited and determined to visit the playground and classroom of a coach I hoped to play for someday. Because if you were a young girl growing up then, the coach you knew, the one you wanted to play for, the ultimate destination, was Pat Summitt. When I did my ball handling, shooting and zigzag drills in cold winter gyms and outdoors on playground hard-top under pelting summer sun, when I did fingertip pushups and sit-ups in my bedroom calculating that Id play on four Olympic teams before I was done, my eye was on Pat Summitt. Because when you were a young girl with big hoop dreams, when you thought you could do and be anything, you dreamed of playing for Pat Summitt in a Lady Vols uniform.So when we pulled up to the athletic complex that day, I felt like I was visiting the promised land. Maybe it was because of my wide eyes -- or maybe it was our funny accents -- the kind receptionist who looked like shed seen this movie before took pity on us and said that Coach Summitt was on the road recruiting, but that I could meet with one of her assistants. A short while later, out came assistant coach (and current Tennessee head coach) Holly Warlick.Holly had been a super player and a point guard like myself, so I was immediately pumped. (In retrospect, I can imagine that poor Holly had to deal with this scenario many times each week.) She walked us around the facility and showed us the trophies and Lady Vols memorabilia. I was like a kid in the candy store; I bought a Lady Vols T-shirt at the campus store and we hit the road. After, Coach Warlick sent me a nice letter and told me to keep in touch -- a gracious touch but one I now realize was extended to probably thousands of girls who showed up similarly unannounced at the door. But I was pumped and returned to New Hampshire fired up.Later on, I got invited to try out for the national team. I went to the trials and was promptly cut after the first couple of sessions. Before I did, I had the chance to scrimmageunder the watchful eye of Pat Summitt, who was helping scout for the team. And for those few hours one day, I felt like a champ, getting to share the hardwood with Pat Summitt.dddddddddddd.I remember at the end, before heading home, I wanted to go up to her and tell her how great she was. Instead, I got shy and merely mumbled something like, Thanks for having me. I learned a lot. But, Ill never forget, she looked at me with those steely blue eyes, and said, Just keep working hard. That was it. No fuss, no muss. That was my first and only interaction with Pat Summitt.Years later, after I had the chance to play college ball for a great coach and an even better person, Kathy Delaney-Smith at Harvard, I watched and rooted for Pat Summitts teams. It was visceral. I couldnt exactly explain why I felt that way, but I did. Even as the New England favorites UConn Huskies -- a great program with great players and a great coach -- came to dominate, I still always rooted for Pat.Im older now. I still play, but very poorly. But I think I better understand.Pat Summitt made it OK for girls like me to compete, to play hard, to bring it with sweat, conviction and emotion. To dream big, even foolishly, but to dream. She made us believe in ourselves and value ourselves as women competing in sport. But, importantly, she made America sit up and take notice -- to recognize that women bring as much to any endeavor as their male counterparts.I think that what I was also tuning into -- but I didnt know it at the time -- was the power of leadership. Basketball is a team game; success depends upon getting five players to work together in sync on the court, and for the entire team to get those on the court in the best position to succeed and win at any given time. Leadership is about recognizing the skills and talents -- and limitations -- of all the players and then figuring out how to maximize their efforts in a way that gets collective results.Pat Summitt was willing to lead, to take chances, to advocate. And she trusted her players and her coaching staff. She put the right people in place in the right time and got them working together. She also was tough. And tough is good. Because if somethings worth doing, its worth doing with intensity and intent.Look at clips of her coaching from the sidelines. With just one piercing, penetrating look, Pat Summitt could convey to a player that she wasnt doing enough. But look at the same time, at the hand extended, a hand that says I believe in you. I encourage you.Leaders inspire and push people to be their better selves. And thats what I took from watching Pat Summitt -- taking whatever skills you bring to the dance and making that work for the team and getting people together to get it done.Look, I didnt have the opportunity to play for her, so this is only what I observed. Pat Summitt was a leader. You could put her on any battlefield, in any board room, and she would make you a winner. Great coaches know how to inspire, they know how to push people beyond where they think they can go, and they know when to give a high five, a hug, or a stern talking to.Pat Summitt was a genius. She knew how to do it. She changed the face of what it meant to be a female athlete. To compete, to work hard, to sweat, to get angry, to rally, to win. She knew defeat and she knew victory, and she knew the difference that mattered. The country is a poorer place with her gone. I never got to tell her this: She mattered to me, and a whole bunch of people. And thats a great legacy. Touching people you never knew you touched.Well before orange was the new black, we had Pat Summitt.Its a playbook to follow. ' ' '

Corey Seager won the NL Rookie of the Year award unanimously.Michael Fulmer took the AL honor -- and that vote wasnt all that close, either.Seager and Fulmer were announced as the winners Monday night, when votes from the Baseball Writers Association of America were made public. Seagers victory was almost a foregone conclusion after he hit .308 with 26 home runs and 72 RBI this year for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Fulmer, on the other hand, had to hold off a late challenge from New York Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez, who hit 20 home runs in only 53 games.Fulmers season-long contributions for Detroit won out. The right-hander went 11-7 with a 3.06 ERA in 26 starts for the Tigers. He ended up receiving 26 of 30 first-place votes from the BBWAA, outdistancing Sanchez by a total of 142 points to 91.Im really happy and blessed to receive this award, Fulmer said on a conference call. I knew that both Gary and Tyler (Naquin) had outstanding years, and I hope to play against them for a long time.Naquin, a Cleveland outfielder, finished third in the AL race.Seager received the maximum 150 points in the NL vote. The Los Angeles shortstop finished well ahead of Washington outfielder Trea Turner (42) and Dodgers pitcher Kenta Maeda (37).Seager is the 17th Dodgers player to earn Rookie of the Year honors -- easily the most of any team -- but the franchise hadnt had a winner since Todd Hollandsworth in 1996.Its obviously awesome to win it in general, but to bring it back to L.A. -- it hasnt been there for a while, and theyre known as an organization for winning all those Rookie of the Years with Tommy Lasorda and all them, Seager said. So its pretty cool to be able to be connected to all the guys that came before you.The Dodgers, of course, had the first Rookie of the Year when Jackie Robinson won in 1947. They also had four winners in a row from 1979-82 and five in a row from 1992-96.Seager was the second player in a row to win NL Rookie of the Year unanimously. Kris Bryant of the Chicago Cubs did it last year. Seager joins a list of Dodgers Rookie of the Year winners that includes luminaries like Robinson, Fernando Valenzuela (1981) and Mike Piazza (1993).A first-round draft pick by the Dodgers in 2012, Seager made his big league debut in 2015, hitting .337 in 27 games. He came into this season with high expectations and produced a phenomenal year. He is one of three finalists for Thursdays NL Most Valuable Player announcement, joining Bryant and Washingtons Daniel Murphy.Seager indicated that accolades like this were the furthest thing from his mind coming into the season.I didnt expect to win anything, he said. Its a tough game, you dont take anything for granted, you dont expect anything to be given to you.Fulmer is the fifth Tigers player to win Rookie of the Year, joining Justin Verlander (2006), Lou Whitaker (1978), Mark Fidrych (1976) and Harvey Kuenn (1953). Verlander is now a mentor to Fulmer in the Detroit rotation.I remember back in spring training where I was kind of nervous to come up to him, Fulmer said. I watched him -- ever since he was a rookie, he was one of my favorite pitchers in the game.Detroit acquired Fulmer in 2015 from the Mets in the trade that sent Yoenis Cespedes to New York. Fulmer made his big league debut this April and lifted the Tigers with a sensational stretch leading up to the All-Star break. From May 21 through July 6, he went 7-1 with a 0.63 ERA.Sanchez made his own bid with his torrid hitting down the stretch, but that wasnt enough to close the gap on Fulmer.What he did this year was unbelievable -- for him to hit 20 home runs in 53 games, Fulmer said. Its really cool to see guys like that, see young guys do that. Just to be nominated with him is a big honor.---Follow Noah Trister at www.Twitter.com/noahtrister Colorado Avalanche Gear . Peter Holland and Brad Staubitz were sent to Toronto on Saturday as the Maple Leafs traded defenceman Jesse Blacker and draft picks to the Anaheim Ducks. Avalanche Jerseys 2020 . Three came down to the fourth quarter while quarterbacks continued to shine in all four games; so important to the overall quality of the game. https://www.cheapavalanche.com/ . The giant slalom world champion slipped during her first run in the morning, landing on her back and then twisting forward before getting her leg caught in the protective material on the side of the slope. Custom Colorado Avalanche Jerseys .Y. - Nelson Mandela will be honoured by the New York Yankees with a plaque in Monument Park. Fake Avalanche Jerseys . Each of Houstons starters scored in double figures as the Rockets improved to 2-0 against the Spurs this season, with both victories coming on the road. They also moved within 3 1/2 games of San Antonio (22-7) for the lead the Southwest Division. LAS VEGAS -- Rodney Simeon scored 24 points and Alabama State made 8 of 9 free throws in overtime to defeat Cal State Fullerton 76-67 in the Global Sports Classic on Saturday.Fullerton, which outscored the Hornets by 10 from the line in regulation, made just 2 of 4 down the stretch, allowing Tony Armstrong to score in the lane with four seconds left to tie the game 62.Armstrong opened the overtime with a tip, giving Alabama State (1-5) its first lead since late in the first half. The Horrnets had a one-point lead when Armstrong scored again to make it 70-67 with 1:46 to play.dddddddddddd With Fullerton forced to foul in the final minute, the Hornets made all six from the line, four by Simeon.Torloft Thomas had 16 points and Armstrong 11 with 15 rebounds for Alabama State.Tre Collins had 19 for the Titans (2-4), but went 1 of 12 from distance. ' ' '

as they have run out to a flawless 6-0 mark in conference play thus far.

LOS ANGELES -- The Latest on jury selection in a rape lawsuit against NBA star Derrick Rose (all times local):5:45 p.m.Derrick Roses civil rape trial got underway in a Los Angeles courtroom, and the NBA star was halfway across the country saying he planned to win the lawsuit.Rose told reporters Tuesday in Houston before the New York Knicks exhibition opener that he hasnt settled the claim because he did nothing wrong and it will be OK once he tells his side of the story.A lawyer for the woman suing him complained in court that Roses comments violate a gag order that his own attorney requested.Jury selection ended for the day without a single juror picked to hear the case. It resumes Wednesday.The woman accuses Rose and two of his friends of raping her while she was incapacitated in 2013. The three deny the claims and say the woman willingly had sex.---12:15 p.m.Defense attorneys in the rape lawsuit against NBA star Derrick Rose have complained about the lack of black people in the Los Angeles jury pool.An attorney for Roses two co-defendants said Tuesday that only two of the 50 prospective jurors were African-Americans. All three defendants are black.Rose and two friends deny accusations of gang-raping an incapacitated woman, saying she consented to sex.Roses lawyer noted that 15 of the first 27 possible jurors were Hispanic, the ethnicity of the woman.The judge says the jury pool is selected at random from a diverse population.The woman who brought the lawsuit was previously identified only as Jane Doe but was named in court for the first time Tuesday.The Associated Press generally doesnt name people who say theyre victims of sexual assault.---11:25 a.m.Potential jurors in a $21 million rape lawsuit against NBA star Derrick Rose are filling out questionnaires asking them what they have heard about the case and whether they can set aside their own sexual morals and biases.Rose wasnt in the Los Angeles courtroom Tuesday, the same day the New York Knicks preseason begins in Houston. But his two friends and the woman the trio are accused of gang-raping appeared for the start of jury selection.Rose and the unidentified woman had dated on and off in the two years prior to the August 2013 incident at her apartment. Rose and his friends denied the allegations and said the sex was consensual.The woman has wanted to remain anonymous because she says she was harassed online after her name was leaked.---9:25 a.m.NBA star Derrick Rose is due in a Los Angeles courtroom to fight a $21 million lawsuit by a former girlfriend who accuses him and two friends of gang raping her three years ago when she was incapacitated.The start of jury selection in the trial Tuesday in U.S. District Court conflicts with the Knicks preseason opener in Houston and its not clear which Rose will attend.Lawyers for the player have said he probably wont appear in court for jury selection, though hes expected later.The woman, identified only as Jane Doe, says Rose and two friends had sex with her without her consent in 2013 after she passed out following a night of drinking.Rose and his friends deny the allegations and say the woman invited them into her apartment and willingly had sex.Rose had dated the woman during the previous two years. Ken Willard 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. Custom Patriots Jersey China . The defending champion beat Gael Monfils of France 7-6 (6), 6-3, while second-seeded Andy Murray of Britain dispatched Edouard Roger-Vasselin, also of France, 6-3, 6-3. Making his first appearance since injuring his wrist a month ago, Del Potro had difficulty with his service games in the first set. http://www.custompatriotsjersey.com/custom-jimmy-johnson-jersey-large-981f.html . 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. Roger Craig Jersey . The Brazilian goalkeeper signed a loan deal with the Major League Soccer club on Friday as he looks to get playing time ahead of this summers World Cup in his home country. Matt Cassel Jersey . Blackwood, 28, has played the last three seasons in the San Diego Padres system, including the past two summers with Class AA San Antonio of the Texas League. Mankad gets India off the markIndia v England, Madras, 1952India had played 24 Tests before February 1952, drawing 12 of them and losing the rest. The first win arrived at Chepauk, in Indias 20th year as a Test side, and it came courtesy Vinoo Mankad, whose 8 for 55 in Englands first innings had, according to Wisden, seldom been bettered in Test cricket when it is considered that the pitch gave him little assistance. Five months previously, at Lords, Mankad had scored 72 and 184 and taken five wickets, only for India to lose by eight wickets.This performance, though, would not go in vain, as India took a first-innings lead of 191 courtesy centuries from Pankaj Roy and Polly Umrigar, and 61 from Dattu Phadkar. They did not have to bat again, as Mankad and Ghulam Ahmed bowled India to a win by an innings and 8 runs, and gave England a taste of the trials by spin they would go on to endure on future tours of the country.By Karthik KrishnaswamyPataudis men break overseas duckNew Zealand v India, Dunedin, 1968Of all the Test grounds in all the towns in all the world, the southern-most Test venue, in a place cricketers consider the coldest, Dunedins Carisbrook, was to warm Indian crickets hearts because it had taken their team 36 years and 43 attempts to bring up its first overseas Test victory.After a rough tour of Australia, MAK Pataudis Indians found the pitches slower and friendlier and the opposition gentler. On their first tour to New Zealand, India were a team packed with versatile allrounders and led by an imaginative and ambitious captain.They took a narrow first-innings lead courtesy half-centuries from Ajit Wadekar -- he would make another in the second innings -- and Farokh Engineer, and a tenth-wicket partnership of 57 between Bishan Bedi and Ramakant Desai. New Zealand lent them a helping hand by dropping eight catches.In what turned into a second-innings shootout on a soft, wearing pitch, Indias spinners came into their own, Erapalli Prasanna leading the way with 6 for 94 in 40 overs. India needed 200 to win and Chandu Borde and ML Jaisimha took them home just after lunch on the final day. India went on to win the series 3-1, with Prasanna taking 24 wickets at 18.79. Three years later came the heady summer of 1971, but for generations to follow, Dunedin 1968 was the first sighting of Indian crickets holy grail.By Sharda UgraSunny days in TrinidadWest Indies v India, Port of Spain, 1971There was little expectation from the India side that travelled to the Caribbean in 1971, until Dilip Sardesai made a double-century in the first Test at Kingston. At 31, many believed his career was dead, that he was lucky to have even been picked, only for him to play the innings of his life. In the same way,, India werent given a chance against West Indies, and they ended up winning the series 1-0.dddddddddddd No wonder Sardesai was called the Renaissance Man. Along the way, Indian cricket gained a new batting mainstay, Sunil Gavaskar. He made his debut in the second Test, in Port-of-Spain, and played a key role in Indias seven-wicket win with half-centuries in both innings.It was the spinners, though, who started it all -- Bishan Bedi, Erapalli Prasanna and S Venkataraghavan toppling West Indies for 214 after they had chosen to bat first. Sardesai helped himself to a hundred and later said, I was scoring runs at will. I had figured out how to get on top of their bowling. A time comes when you feel nobody can get you out, and I had that feeling all through that Caribbean tour. India gained a lead of 138. Venkat worked his way through West Indies line-up in the second innings to pick up 5 for 95, while Salim Durani chipped in with the crucial wickets of Garfield Sobers and Clive Lloyd. Indias target was 124 -- eminently gettable, especially with Gavaskar at the helm. He would go on to score 774 runs in the series, still a record for a debutant.By Alagappan MuthuChandra works his magicEngland v India, The Oval, 1971Having just beaten West Indies on their turf, Ajit Wadekars upbeat bunch arrived in the UK. The first two Tests were drawn, and England, who had just won the Ashes 2-0 in Australia, took a 71-run first-innings lead at the Oval. They were unofficially the worlds best team at that point, but India had in their ranks the unorthodox skills of Bhagwath Chandrasekhar. Brought on early, Chandras whirring legbreaks and googlies had England three down for 24. With the steady S Venkataraghavan keeping the pressure on at the other end, and a predatory close-in cordon surrounding them, England had nowhere to hide. Chandra ripped through with figures of 6 for 38, and England were bowled out for 101. India needed 173 to complete their first win on English soil, and got there slowly -- taking 101 overs to do so -- but surely, with Wadekar and Dilip Sardesai rebuilding after the early loss of both openers, and Gundappa Viswanath and Farokh Engineer steering them towards the finish.As Abid Ali struck the winning boundary and ecstatic crowds poured into the ground, the man who had led India to their triumphs here and in the West Indies was fast asleep. I went to sleep when I came back to the dressing room after being dismissed, Wadekar said. I was nudged awake by Ken Barrington, the England manager, who told me that we had won. I said to him that I always knew wed win.By Gaurav Kalra ' ' '

GOTHENBURG, Sweden -- Team USA needs to decide which goalie will be its No. 1 starter.Team Canada has some questions on defense.Team North America is loaded with dynamic and exciting young talent but lacks veteran leadership.The Russians havent had much success on the international scale of late.Team Europe is a group of players without a country.Finland also has to settle on its starting goaltender.The Czechs have been slashed with injuries to key players.So what are the issues for Team Sweden? Absolutely nothing.The Swedes, fresh off a silver medal at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, are solid in every aspect of the game. Its chemistry, depth, talent and consistency are four reasons Team Sweden will win the World Cup of Hockey in Toronto.Its more than just a gut-check prediction.Each of these eight teams in this tournament are loaded with the best players in the world, so it shouldnt take long for every team to mesh during training camp. But after scouting Team Sweden for the first three days of camp, its as though this group has been playing together forever. In some cases, many of these players have, especially on the international level. The majority of this roster played in the last Olympics, and combined its players have 815 games with the national team.Theres a calm demeanor about Sweden. Its players collectively ooze a quiet confidence.Obviously, we want to win it, said forward Nicklas Backstrom. Ultimately, thats our goal. Were striving for that, but we know there are a lot of good teams out there, so we really have to play our best.Theres no blah-blah-blah to this teams chemistry.Its huge, Backstrom said. If you look at teams that have been successful, its always the team that really gets together and plays as a team. Its so important. Weve got to get everything together. Its been good so far, but were starting games [Thursday], so itll be interesting.Henrik Lundqvist is the No. 1 goalie now and for the foreseeable future, until he decides to give up his throne. Coach Rikard Gronborg can still be flexible with his lines and defensive pairings, but things appear pretty much set. Special teams looked fantastic during the first week of training camp. The players are focused and jovial as they prepare for a pair of preseason games against Finland on Thursday and Saturday before both teams travel to Washington, D.C., to continue the World Cup pre-tournament season.Sweden is the poster child for consistency -- and conformity.Everyone knows their role from the get-go, said defenseman Victor Hedman. We had a couple of meetings during August in Stockholm and went through the way we want to play and whos going to play where, so we had time to prepare. Its on everyone to bring their best to every game. Thats something were really looking forward to, and well try to play at our best when the World Cup starts.It starts in net.Lundqvist, who will not play in the first pre-tournament game against Finland, has been working hard in practice. Hes been getting plenty of reps and is fighting for every puck, even those third and fourth chances during drills. There was some concern that he could miss time after he took a puck to the ribs in practice last week, but he said he will play through the soreness because it doesnt affect his game.Its likely he will play in the second pre-tournament game against Finland on Saturday at Scadinavium in Gothenburg. Theres no doubt hes focused on the task at hand.This past month, Ive been skating harder than Ive done before just to prepare for this and prepare for the new season with the?New York Rangers. I feel like its an important year, Lundqvist said.Swedens special teams are potent. The first power-play unit features?Loui Eriksson, Henrik Sedin and Daniel Sedin, along with defensemen Erik Karlsson and Oliver Ekman-Larsson. If that lineup doesnt scare you, Sweden follows with forwards Backstrom, Patric Hornqvist, Gabriel Landeskog and Filip Forsberg, with Anton Stralman running the back end. And dont be surprised to see Karlsson play the majority of the minutes on the power play because of his striking offensive ability.A major strength for Sweden is its ability to control the puck. These players are known for their hockey sense and can slow the game down and turn it into a thinking persons game. Eriksson is a master at doing this, and playing alongside the Sedins should allow him to make it even more difficult on his opponents.Each day after practice, Swedens centers have worked on faceoffs for more than 30 minutes. A team with such strong puck-possession skills needs to control faceoffs.Well, we recognized -- when we sat down and looked at our faceoff percentage last year for our centermen in the National Hockey League -- [that] its obviously not very good, Gronborg said. Its a big emphasis for us. And in a puck-possession game, theres no better way to gain possession of the puck than to win the faceoffs. It would be stupid for us not to work on it and emphasize it in practice, so thats what were trying to do.Before training camp, Swedens roster took a hit, losing captain Henrik Zetterberg, goalie Robin Lehner, defenseman Niklas Kronwall and forward Alexander Steen. Replacments were forwards Rickard Rakell, Mikael Backlund, goalie Jhonas Enroth and defenseman Hampus Lindholm. Backlund and Lindholm will not dress for the first pre-tournament game against Finland, Gronborg announced Wednesday.Even as Sweden prepares to compete on the international stage, the memory of its loss to Canada in the gold-medal game in Sochi is still fresh. Despite their professed one-game-at-a-time mentality, theres no doubt the Swedes would love another shot against Canada.Everybody who comes here, everybody who sits here, wants to win, Karlsson said. We dont want to go to have fun and not win. We want to go there have fun, play hard and win. That rubs off on the rest of the people in our nation, and theyre starting to expect it as well.Despite the underdog classification, Karlsson said it wouldnt be a surprise if Sweden beat Canada. In fact, you cant consider Sweden a long shot. Its the top team in the tournament.Weve beaten them before and we can beat them, Karlsson said. We know we can beat them. If we do, which I hope we do, if it ever comes down to it, it wont be a shock, but it would definitely be a big thing. Air Force 1 Basse Homme . -- Golden State Warriors coach Mark Jackson asked his players a simple question during Fridays morning shootaround: How many of them had ever been on a team 14 games over . Air Force 1 Just Do It Pas Cher .5 million, one-year contract on Friday. Hawkins, who turns 41 in December, will compete with Rex Brothers for the closers role at spring training. http://www.siteairforce1pascher.fr/air-force-1-low-soldes.html .com) - Manchester City midfielder David Silva is expected to miss the next four weeks because of a calf problem. Air Force 1 Haute Femme .875,000, avoiding arbitration. Clippards deal Monday means all eight Nationals players who filed for arbitration wound up settling before a hearing. Nike Sf Air Force 1 Pas Cher .25 million option on reliever Jose Veras. JOLIET, Ill. -- Richard Childress Racing has hired Daniel Hemric to drive full-time in the Xfinity Series next season.Childress made the announcement at Chicagoland Speedway on Saturday, a day after Hemric finished second in the Truck Series race to earn a spot in the Chase for the championship.The 25-year-old Hemric has no wins and eight top-five finishes in 42 races over parts of four seasons in the Truck Series. Hell enter the playoffs next wweek as the No.dddddddddddd. 7 seed in the eight-team Chase field.Childress said Ty Dillon would almost run a full season in the Xfinity Series next season and other announcements would follow. Its possible Dillon will move to the Sprint Cup.RCR said a primary sponsor and crew chief for Hemric will be announced later. ' ' '

PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Steelers will be without right tackle Marcus Gilbert and veteran reserve Ryan Harris on Sunday when they face the New York Jets.Both players were ruled out on Friday. Gilbert is dealing with a left ankle injury while Harris has a leg injury. Chris Hubbard will make his first career start in place of Gilbert. The Steelers will likely promote Matt Feiler from the practice squad to add depth.Linebacker Ryan Shazier will miss his second straight game with a right knee injury. Cornerback Justin Gilbert is also out after leaving practice with a knee injury earlier this week. Safety Robert Golden (hamstring) and wide receiver Eli Rogers (toe) will also miss their second straight game.---AP NFL websites: www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed: http://twitter.com/AP-NFL Stitched Flames Jerseys . For the Wild it was their first win of the season and they now have a record of 1-1-2 while the Jets fall to 2-2. Jets start a six game home stand Friday with another divisional game, home to the Dallas Stars. Wholesale Flames Jerseys . -- Quarterback Will Finch threw for 252 yards and three touchdowns, and Yannick Harou rushed in two scores as the No. https://www.cheapflames.com/ . In what the team had called a retirement, Ryan said Thursday that he is resigning as chief executive of the Rangers in a move effective at the end of this month. Flames Jerseys 2020 . The Montreal Canadiens announced on Friday that the veteran forward will return to the teams line-up on Saturday night when the Habs visit the Nashville Predators. Fake Flames Jerseys .com) - Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray and Roger Federer were easy first-round winners Tuesday at the Australian Open. CHICAGO -- Minnesota manager Paul Molitor acknowledged he cant wait until the season is over. And that was before having to watch Carlos Rodon tie an AL record by striking out the first seven Twins and Tim Anderson flirt with the cycle for the White Sox.I think a lot of people are looking for a chance to kind of put this one to rest, he said.Hours later, after the Chicago White Sox cruised to a 7-3 victory Friday night, the Twins had their most losses since the franchise moved to Minnesota: 103.You kind of get what you deserve, a subdued Molitor said.The Twins couldnt hit Rodon to start and couldnt get Anderson out while fuming at his home run celebration. Its the most losses for the franchise since the Washington Senators went 50-104 in 1949. The Twins, who moved to Minnesota in 1960, are 57-103 with two games left.Thats tough to swallow, right-hander Tyler Duffey said. But its part of the game, part of learning and part of getting better.Duffey (9-12) gave up five runs in two-plus innings to ensure Minnesota wont have a 10-game winner in their miserable season.Rodon quickly set the tone for Minnesotas dubious night that topped the 102-loss Twins of 1982.The 23-year-old lefty fanned Brian Dozier, Jorge Polanco and Robbie Grossman on sliders in the first. He got Miguel Sano on a fastball, Kennys Vargas on a changeup and saw Eduardo Escobar chase a slider in the dirt in the second.When John Ryan Murphy was caught looking at a 97 mph fastball to lead off the third, Rodon tied the AL record for strikeouts to start a game set by Joe Cowley of the White Sox on May 28, 1986, at Texas.Youve just got to throw strikes, go right at them, Rodon said.Logan Schafers ensuing double left Rodon one strikeout shy of the major league record to start a game shared by the Astros Jim Deshaies and the Mets Jacob deGrom.Rodons strikeout streak was 10 when figuring in the final three hitters he faced while fanning 11 in a victory Sunday at Cleveland. The last pitcher to strike out 10 in a row was Eric Gagne of the Dodgers over four ggames in May 2003.ddddddddddddDuffey gave up six hits while getting six outs. Omar Narvaez hit his first career homer in the fourth off Pat Dean as the White Sox built a 7-0 lead.Anderson, a rookie, finished a double shy of the cycle and irritated Duffey after hitting a two-run homer in the third inning.I mean he backpedaled out of the box. Stood there and enjoyed it, Duffey said. Its just one of those things. Its one thing to hit a homer. I gave up a 500-foot homer to Nelson Cruz and he jogs around the bases.Ryan ORourke threw behind Anderson in the eighth and both benches were warned. Anderson then grounded to third to end his chances at the cycle. He tripled and scored in the first and singled in the sixth.I wanted to hit a double. I did it in Double-A, Anderson said. When everything is clicking for you, I feel real great.Rodon (9-10) was dominant until a 31-pitch sixth inning when he gave up three runs -- two earned -- to end his night. He allowed three hits and three walks while striking out 10 in Chicagos sixth win in seven games.TRAINERS ROOMTwins: 1B Joe Mauer (quadriceps) remained out. ... Molitor said veteran C Kurt Suzuki has taken a beating and wont catch again this season. Suzuki is in the last year of his contract. Its probably been as awkward a month for him as anybody in that clubhouse when youre potentially playing out into your free agency as a catcher in your early 30s, Molitor said.White Sox: Tests showed 2B Tyler Saladino has a herniated disk. He had an epidural Monday and doesnt believe hell need surgery. It was kind of crippling for a little bit, he said.DOZIER BACKReturning from his first off day since May 24, Dozier extended his slump to 1 for 32 before singling and scoring in the sixth. He remained at 42 homers and 99 RBI.UP NEXTWhite Sox RHP James Shields (6-18, 5.82 ERA) closes a tough season Saturday night against Twins LHP Hector Santiago (12-10, 4.87). ' ' '

They smiled, they waved, they danced, they took selfies and front and centre was Australian cycling legend Anna Meares.Australias Olympic team made a rousing entrance at the opening ceremony, with the beaming two-time gold medallist leading the way.Dressed stylishly in pin-striped blazers, the contingent of 100 or so athletes and officials soaked in every moment in a slow lap around the Maracana stadium.The majority of Australias 421-strong team were back in the Olympic Village, resting ahead of early competition.But that mattered little to those able to take part.Meares said leading the Australian team was an amazing experience.Coming through the tunnel I could see the lights and the colour and the crowd and then the team did an `Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Meares told AAP.I just turned to Kitty (Chiller) and said thank you.Australias Olympic team tweeted it was the ultimate honour (for the) ultimate champion.While tennis star Daria Gavrilova described the march as the best experience ever.They were among an impressive group of Australian women who took part, including London 2012 silver medallist in canoe slalom, Jessica Fox and Beijing bronze medal diver Melissa Wu.Among the Aussie men, basketballer Cameron Bairstow simply tweeted a picture with his arms spread wide and Rugby Sevens captain Ed Jenkins described it as an incredible experience.Memories for a lifetime, he said.The march of athletes came mid-way through the spectacular ceremony driven by a pulsating Samba beat, that invited the world to join the party.Low-tech in comparison to London and Beijing it no-less delighted the 50,000 strong crowd who swayed to its infectious vibe.A similar beat also backed another rowdy group of Australian athletes who had their own unofficial march earlier on Friday, taking to Ipanema Beach in their official uniforms where they attracted a crowd of appreciate locals.Weve just got a 15-minute window to come out and wear the uniform on opening ceremony night, road cyclist Rachel Neylan said.Rio are really putting on a show so far.Rower Will Lockwood said it was fantastic to get out and see some of the city.Its such a good vibe, just Rio turning it on along the beach, its been awesome, he said. Marcell Ozuna . Robredo, ranked No. 16, bounced back from an upset loss to Leonardo Mayer in the second round of the Royal Guard Open in Chile last week to down Carreno Busta in 1 hour, 25 minutes. On a day filled mostly with qualifying matches, fifth-seeded Marcel Granollers of Spain also entered the second with a 7-5, 3-6, 6-2 win over Aljaz Bedene of Slovenia, while Guido Pella of Argentina defeated Guillermo Garcia-Lopez of Spain 7-6 (6), 6-4 to advance. Mark McGwire . They had already blown a double-digit lead, fans were hitting the exits, and a long seven-game road trip waited at the end. http://www.custommlbcardinalsjersey.com/custom-michael-wacha-jersey-large-771q.html . Didier Drogba gave away the penalty that put Senegal one goal away from a major upset, but the veteran striker will get another chance -- probably his last -- at the World Cup after Salomon Kalous injury-time strike sealed the Ivorians place in Brazil next year. Dizzy Dean . Newcastle dominated in the early stages but City weathered the storm and then raised its game in extra time. Negredo broke the deadlock from close range after a simple move in the 99th minute before Dzeko took the ball round goalkeeper Tim Krul to seal the victory in the 105th. Lou Brock .ca look back at each of the Top 10 stories of 2013. Today, we look back at Boston Strong - a citys recovery from tragedy. Tom Brady started his 262nd career game on Sunday (including playoffs), and as has become commonplace over the past 16 seasons, he left the field with his team on top. Add up all of Bradys wins, and youll now get 201, more than any other quarterback in the history of the NFL, surpassing Peyton Mannings NFL record of 200.?How did he do it? Lets dive into the numbers.The quarterbacks he beat the mostBrady has collected more than one-fifth of his victories -- 43 of 201, or 21 percent -- against six opposing quarterbacks. That includes 11 victories against Peyton Manning, four more than Brady has claimed against any other starter. Manning, Philip Rivers and Ben Roethlisberger are on the list as fellow AFC starters with great staying power. Ryan Fitzpatrick, Chad Pennington and Mark Sanchez appear as current/former AFC East rivals.Andrew Luck just missed the cutoff for appearing on this list; Brady is 5-0 against Lucks teams. That makes Luck and Rivers a combined 0-11 against Brady. Their cumulative record against all other QBs? 145-96 (.602).The teams he beat the mostBrady has a 68-19 starting record against the AFC East, including 26-3 against the Buffalo Bills. Those records are phenomenal, but Brady has not necessarily padded his victory total by beating up on weak division rivals. He has done better against the NFC North (.875), AFC South (.846), NFC South (.813) and AFC North (.800) than he has done against his own division (.782).The 26-3 mark against the Bills is still remarkable, especially when considering that one of the three defeats carries an asterisk. Buffalos victory over the Patriots to close out the 2014 regular season came when New England removed Brady at halftime to rest for the playoffs. Fitzpatrick and Drew Bledsoe are the only Bills starters to beat a Brady-led Patriots team that was actually trying to win the game. Brady tossed four picks in each of those defeats.Bradys success in high-scoring gamesNFL teams have won just 23.6 percent of the time since 2001 when they gave up 21-plus points. Bradys 66-50 record in these higher-scoring games equates to a .569 winning percentage -- a whopping 2.4 times better than the league average. No other QB with 50 games played since 2001 has won even half of those tough-to-win games. Brady remains on top as the scoring bar climbs even higher.dddddddddddd He is a league-best 20-29 (.408) when the other team scores 28-plus points, far above the .151 league average.Mile High has not been his friendBradys 6-9 starting record against the Broncos is his only losing record against an opponent. That includes 1-6 from 2001 to 2009, but the venue could be more important than timing in the series. Brady is 4-2 at home against the Broncos and 2-7 when playing in Denver. That includes 2-0 at home against Manning and 0-3 on the road against him. Brady has a .500 record against five teams -- Giants (3-3), Packers (2-2), Seahawks (2-2), 49ers (1-1) and Cardinals (1-1) -- and a winning record against the remaining 26 franchises.Dominant no matter the locationBradys road winning percentage (.675) is better than the home record for a long list of prominent quarterbacks over the same span, including Brett Favre (.674), Rivers (.652), Cam Newton (.625), Drew Brees (.622), Tony Romo (.606) and Kurt Warner (.596).Bradys home winning percentage (.857) is the highest, by far, of any quarterback with at least 50 home starts since 2001. Peyton Manning is next at .772. Seattles Russell Wilson could be a long-term threat. He has a home winning percentage of .878?in 41 games (36-5).Postseason prowessBrady has more postseason victories since 2001 than Peyton Manning (14) and Aaron Rodgers (seven) combined -- and hes tied for the most Super Bowl wins in NFL history by a quarterback (four). Bradys postseason winning percentage (.710) trails only Eli Mannings .727 among quarterbacks with at least 10 postseason starts over that span.Comeback kingTied or trailing by eight points or fewer in the fourth quarter or overtime? Brady is your man. His 50-43 record and .538 winning percentage in these situations leads the league since 2001, among players with at least 50 total games played. Quarterbacks, on average, win about one-third of these games.Brady remains on top even in more desperate situations, having posted a 20-41 record (.328) when trailing by nine to 20 points after halftime. Wilson (.313) and Luck (.276) are next, followed by Romo (.256) and Peyton Manning (.246). ' ' '

MONTREAL - Mark Calcavecchia likes the tree-lined fairways at Richelieu Valley Golf Club and hopes he can master them for a second straight year on the Champions Tour. The 53-year-old won the Montreal Championship by four strokes last year and will try to do it again when the US$1.6-million tournament returns to Richelieu Valley Sept. 6-8. "Its a course I like, and that helps," he said Monday during a promotional visit. "Ill be optimistic that I play well again." Organizers said 2010 champion Larry Mize and 2011 winner John Cook have also confirmed they will play in the 54-hole seniors event. So to will tour leader David Frost, Fred Funk, Kenny Perry, Brad Faxon and Rocco Mediate. Last years event was played on the Vercheres course at Richelieu Valley while the 2013 competition will be on the Rouville layout. Calcavecchia got a look at both on his last visit says hes comfortable with the entire course. "Right when I first drove in knew I liked it," he said. "I just liked the look of the clubhouse and the trees and where the range was and the whole setup of the facility. "I do like tree-lined courses like that." And it seems he likes playing in Canada. The Laurel, Neb., native won the 2005 Canadian Open at Shaunessy in Vancouver and finished second to Steve Jones in 1989 and Nick Price in 1994, both at Glen Abbey in Oakville, Ont. He also won the 1997 Greater Vancouver Open at Northview in Surrey, B.C. "Im a northerner," he said. "Ive had some good success over the years, even in the early days at Glen Abbey. "But when I came here, I knew I was playing well. I putted great all week. That generally happens when you win." Calcavecchia has participated in all 11 Champions Tour events this year and will play again this week at Glenview, Ill. He expects to play them all. The Montreal tournament was held in mid-summer in its first three editions, but has been moved to September. It now falls a week after a new tournament in Calgary, the Shaw Charity Classic at Canyon Meadows from Aug. 30 to Sept. 1. Calcavecchia, the 1989 British Open champion and a 13-time PGA Tour winner, has won twice on the Champions Tour. He feels he should have won more. "A lot of guys say the same thing," he said. "Any time you finish in the top three or four, youre that close to winning. "Its a few things here and there. You dont quite make enough putts on Sunday or whatever. Overall, Im very happy with the way Ive performed but Im about four wins short of where I should be. But you never know. You can get hot, win a few and all of a sudden youre right where you want to be." Calcavecchia watched the best in the world struggle with the nasty rough and killer greens at Merion in the U.S. Open last weekend. He laughed when asked if he encountered those conditions on the Champions Tour, which is for players 50 and older. "If you put us old guys in that kind of rough it would be ugly," he said. "There would be some guys who would play good, but thats one of the good things about the Champions Tour — the courses generally dont beat us up too bad. "We play three or four tournaments with pretty thick rough, but thats about it. We play some courses that are pretty long. Thats one of the big misconceptions. People think every hole is driver-wedge. Thats not the case. Our pin placements are a little easier as a whole. And the lack of rough week in and week out is probably why we shoot such good scores." Kelvin Ransey Jersey . - After leading the Saints to a fourth playoff appearance in five seasons, Drew Brees expressed confidence in the direction of his team and, perhaps more importantly, showed a willingness to listen to contract proposals if the team needs his help getting under the NFLs salary cap. Wayne Cooper Jersey . -- The Bishops Gaiters are showing they belong among the countrys top varsity football teams. https://www.cheapblazersonline.com/108i-alvin-williams-jersey-blazers.html . Pence singled in the winning run with no outs in the ninth inning to give the Giants a 7-6 victory over the San Diego Padres on Sunday. Cliff Robinson Jersey . -- Chicago Bears cornerback Tim Jennings was selected Monday to his second straight Pro Bowl, while guard Kyle Long made it after a solid rookie season. Mychal Thompson Jersey . -- Yogi Ferrell orchestrates pretty much everything in Indianas offence. A look at whats happening all around the majors Saturday:---SALES PITCHChris Sale goes for his major league-leading 15th win when the White Sox host Detroit. The AL All-Star starter, Sale (14-3, 3.18 ERA) Sale pitched one-hit ball over eight scoreless innings against Seattle in his previous start.NO LEAKE HEREMike Leake has struck out at least 10 and walked none in each of his last two starts for St. Louis joining Bob Gibson as the Cardinals to accomplish the feat in consecutive games. Leake will try to extend his streak when he faces the Dodgers at Busch Stadium.TOUGH TWIRLERSBeaten by Baltimore ace Chris Tillman on Thursday, the Yankees went into a weekend set vs. the Giants set to face Madison Bumgarner, Jeff Samardzija and Johnny Cueto. Tillman and those San Francisco stars had combined for a 46-14 record going into the series.VIVA VOTTOReds first baseman Joey Votto tries to extend his torrid streak since the All-Star Game. His three-run homer in the first inning on Friday night against Arizona gave hiim a seven-game hitting streak since the break.dddddddddddd It was his third homer during that span.MAINTAINING CONTROLCleveland right-hander Josh Tomlin (10-2, 3.34 ERA) faces Baltimore at Camden Yards in a matchup of AL playoff contenders. Tomlin can attribute his success in part to throwing strikes -- he ranks second in the majors (behind Clayton Kershaw) with an average of one walk per nine innings. Hes also 6-0 in nine road starts. Kevin Gausman (1-7, 4.05) will start for the Orioles, who own the best home record in the big leagues.NEAT MATCHUPMarlins All-Star Jose Fernandez (11-4, 2.53) is scheduled to start at home against Mets righty Jacob deGrom (6-4, 2.38), who pitched a one-hit shutout against the Phillies in his most recent outing.If youre a baseball fan and you love the game, Saturday nights game is a game youd want to come and see, Mets manager Terry Collins said. ' ' '

Unlike former Texas Gov. Rick Perry, Laurie Hernandez will be performing for at least another week on Dancing with the Stars. The two-time Olympic medalist won an immunity challenge on Monday night -- not that she really needed any extra help or anything -- and was able to enjoy Tuesdays show without the threat of elimination.Hernandez and her partner, Val Chmerkovskiy, are the overwhelming front-runners this season, and if you have yet to see them perform, please watch their tango from this week to see why.Despite being the favorite, the ever-humble Hernandez seemed genuinely thrilled to have won the challenge and have another week on the show.I had fun channeling my inner quesadilla today?? all jokes aside, Im so grateful to have immunity from tonights dance and be able to have another week with @iamvalc ??? #dwtsA photo posted by Laurie Hernandez (@lauriehernandez_) onSep 26, 2016 at 8:13pm PDTNever change, Laurie.See something entertaining on social media that you think deserves to be shared? Let me know on Twitter, @darcymaine_espn. Discount New Balance . Andreas Johnson had a goal and two assists while Jacob de la Rose also scored for Sweden (2-0-0). Esa Lindell and Rasmus Ristolainen replied for Finland (1-1-0) Lindell opened the scoring for Finland just 41 seconds into the game, but the hosts quickly regained their composure and tied the score less than four minutes later on Wennbergs first of the game. Cheap Vans Australia . According to a report from the Winnipeg Free Press, the Bombers will name Acting GM Kyle Walters to the post full time. http://www.discountaustraliashoes.com/cheap-air-max-97-fake.html . -- San Francisco 49ers linebacker Ahmad Brooks was fined $15,570 by the NFL on Wednesday for his hit on Saints quarterback Drew Brees last Sunday. Air Max 97 Outlet . Deulofeu injured a muscle in his right leg in Evertons 4-1 win over Fulham in the English Premier League on Saturday. Barcelona says that its team doctors will "co-ordinate" with Evertons medical staff as Deulofeu recovers. Air Max 95 Outlet Australia . Brad Jacobs and his Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., team took control of the game early. This story appears in ESPN College Football 2016, on newsstands now. Order online today!Leonard Fournette,?Nick Chubb,?Chad Kelly,?Myles Garrett?-- the SEC is stacked with stars for 2016.But that makes the lesser-known supporting cast so much more important in getting a leg up on the opposition in the ultra-competitive SEC.Here are the 14 biggest X factors in the SEC for next year:East DivisionTennessee Volunteers: New defensive coordinator Bob Shoop?Tennessees defense never ranked higher than No. 7 in the SEC under John Jancek (2013-15), but Shoop has led top-25 units in total defense in each of the past five years, first at Vanderbilt, then at Penn State. He employs a more aggressive system, which should better leverage the Vols speed, especially with the returns of likely early-round draft picks cornerback Cameron Sutton and linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin. With a team that surrendered three double-digit leads last year, Shoops arrival in Knoxville is just what the scoreboard ordered.Georgia Bulldogs: DT Trenton Thompson?After registering just two sacks and 11.5 tackles for loss in 2015, Georgias defensive line desperately needs a playmaker. Thompson, a sophomore, looks ready to make that leap. His development slowed last year (just 2.5 TFLs and half a sack), but the former five-star prospect screams All-American under coach Kirby Smarts watch.Florida Gators: DT Caleb Brantley?The Gators invaded opposing backfields often in 2015, totaling 101 TFLs, and if that dominance holds steady this fall, Brantley likely will be the catalyst. He showed flashes of pure brilliance in 2015, most notably a five-game stretch in which he registered at least half a tackle for loss in each outing but wasnt always asked to do a ton. That will change in 2016, with Jonathan Bullard and his 17.5 TFLs and 6.5 sacks off to the NFL. Brantley might not be a stat machine (three sacks in 2015), but he is disruptive and athletic.South Carolina Gamecocks: DE Darius English?Coach Will Muschamps first order of business on defense will be to amp up South Carolinas pass rush. Opposing quarterbacks were sacked, hit or under duress on only 22.6 percent of dropbacks in 2015, a rate that put the Gamecocks just outside the Power 5s bottom 10. Be on the lookout for English, who could explode at the hybrid Buck spot. His 4? sacks led South Carolina last year, but allowing the senior to move around more and play standing up or squatting with his hand on the ground should up his value. While hes not the biggest end (6-foot-5, 240 pounds), English has enough straightaway speed to be dominant in his new rusher role.Missouri Tigers: WR Chris Black?The Alabama transfer might just be the dependable safety net that quarterback?Drew Lock needs to get Mizzou humming. Though he never caught fire in Tuscaloosa -- 25 catches for 290 yards in three seasons -- Black is a former 22nd-ranked ESPN 150 prep and is arguably the most talented wideout in Columbia. Consider: Missouri had neither vertical attack (16 catches of 25-plus yards in 2015, tied for 119th in the FBS) nor a single go-to receiver. The Tigers return no one with more than 30 catches or 350 yards last year.Kentucky Wildcats: New offensive coordinator Eddie Gran?Gran, a Cincinnati transplant, has his work cut out for him 86 miles down I-75 in Lexington. The Wildcats have not ranked higher than ninth in the SEC in total offense and scoring since 2010. Last year was especially egregious, with Kentucky throwing six more picks (16) than touchdowns (10). Unlike his predecessors, Gran is not an air-raid disciple, but his success running up-tempo, pass-heavy attacks at prior stops should excite the fans in Kentucky. Last year his Bearcats pass offense gained 359.9 yards per game, sixth most in the country.Vanderbilt Commodores: WR C.J. Duncan?Junior wide receiver Trent Sherfield was a pleasant surprise last season (six games with 50-plus receiving yards), but hell need a castmate. Enter Duncan, who returns after missing all of 2015 with a leg injury. The versatile junior can line up in the backfield, be used in motion or sit down as a normal receiver.ddddddddddddThat flexibility is gold, not just for Sherfield but for Vandys young quarterback. Kyle Shurmur started five games last year as a true freshman, and though he is certainly the most promising signal-caller of the Derek Mason era, his QBR was 17.3. Attention, C.J.: Shurmur needs playmakers to shoulder the load.West DivisionLSU Tigers:?The linebackers?Former Wisconsin defensive coordinator Dave Aranda and his attacking 3-4 base arrive in Baton Rouge for 2016. The Tigers will be transitioning from last years 4-3, and Arandas scheme, which draws up exotic blitzes from its linebackers, will ask more from the unit in 2016. Speedy defenders like seniors Kendell Beckwith (10 TFLs in 2015) and Duke Riley will help LSUs defensive ends attack the edges.Alabama Crimson Tide: New defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt?Other SEC programs made splashier hires (Bob Shoop to Tennessee, Dave Aranda to LSU), but bringing Pruitt back into the Alabama fold was a no-brainer for head coach Nick Saban. Pruitt cut his teeth in Tuscaloosa before moving on to direct defenses at Florida State (2013) and Georgia (2014-15), where his units ranked top 20 in the nation in scoring and yards per game each year. Alabama has signed 34 ESPN 300 defensive prospects since 2013, so hell have plenty of talent to help ward off any drop-off from the Kirby Smart era.Ole Miss Rebels: LB Rommel Mageo?Mageos decision to take up residence in Oxford as a graduate transfer (Oregon State) is welcome news for the Rebels defense. The linebacker led the Beavers with 87 tackles last year, so hell provide a critical, and immediate, boost to a linebacker unit that loses C.J. Johnson and Denzel Nkemdiche (18 starts and 96 tackles combined in 15) and that needs a playmaking complement to junior DeMarquis Gates.Texas A&M Aggies: The offensive line?In February, head coach Kevin Sumlin brought back Jim Turner for a second stint leading the Aggies offensive line, and hell be entrusted with overhauling a thin, inexperienced unit. Texas A&M surrendered 2.9 sacks per game in 2015, tied for 107th in the nation, so Turners ability to turn around a porous line might just be the key to the Aggies returning to form on offense. In its first year post-Johnny Manziel, A&M maintained a solid 6.3 yards per play (No. 26 in the FBS) but flatlined in 2015 with 5.6 (No. 69).Mississippi State Bulldogs: Defensive coordinator Peter Sirmon?Sirmon is the latest to cycle through the Mississippi State revolving door of defensive coordinators and is Dan Mullens sixth coach to hold the spot in eight seasons. The first-time defensive coordinator (he coached linebackers at Tennessee, Washington and USC) will mix in some 3-4 alignments with the Bulldogs 4-3 base, including a new hybrid end/linebacker spot he calls viper, which should leverage the teams wealth of defensive ends.Auburn Tigers: LB Tre Williams?All three starting linebackers from 2015 are gone (Kris Frost, Cassanova McKinzy, Justin Garrett: 593 combined tackles since 2012), so Williams returns to The Plains as the units most experienced Tiger. The departing starters predicted last year that Williams, who came up with 55 tackles and four TFLs in 2015, was ready to take over the D. Hell need to if Auburn has any hope of resurrecting a dormant rush defense. The Tigers allowed 4.5 yards per carry last year, 11th in the SEC.Arkansas Razorbacks: The running backs?Sophomore Rawleigh Williams III?is coming back from a scary neck injury, former QB and now-WR Damon Mitchell is still learning the intricacies of the position, and true freshmen Devwah Whaley and T.J. Hammonds are promising (2016 ESPN 300 preps) but unproven. That leaves senior Kody Walker to take on an expanded role after backing up Alex Collins last year. Walker rushed for at least one TD in four of Arkansas final seven games -- production that will be critical for a team that ran the ball on 57.8 percent of its plays in 2015 (No. 14 in the Power 5). ' ' '

Wolverhampton Wolves continued their fantastic start to the new season by beating Poole Pirates 55-35 at Monmore Green to go top of the table. The Pirates held an early lead after three heats when Hans Andersen and Adam Ellis combined for a 4-2 but it did not last long as the Wolves duo of Jacob Thorsell and Kyle Howarth recorded a 5-1 in the following heat. The home side grew from there, extending their lead to 12 points by heat nine.Neil Middleditch responded in the next heat sending out Bjarne Pedersen on a tactical ride but it was to no avail as Sam Masters and Howarth shut out the Pirates duo for another maximum. There were a couple of heat advantages to follow for the Pirates but a comeback never looked likely as the home side emphatically made sure of the result with a 5-1 in heat 14 from Mikkel Bech and Thorssell. Andersen won heat 15 but Wolves took a convincing 55-35 win. Howarth top scored for the home side with 11+3 whilst Andersen was scored 13 for the away side. Freddie Lindgren played a key role for the Wolves In the other meeting of the day, the Swindon Robins stunned the Coventry Bees winning 50-42 at Brandon.The scores had remained tight for the first seven heats with the Robins holding just a two-point lead but the away side came on strong in the second half of the meeting as Rohan Tungate and Justin Sedgmen raced to a 5-1 in heat nine before Alun Rossiters side added another in the following heat thanks to Jason Doyle and Charles Wright. Swindon Robins Jason Doyle was in good form for the Robins Gary Havelock sent Krzysztof Kasprzak out on a tactical ride in heat 11 but Nick Morris won for the Robins with the Pole in second and the Bees only pulled back two points. The meeting was all but over in the following heat when the Robins hit another 5-1 thanks to Tungate and Stefan Nielsen.The home side restored some pride in the latter heats as Kasprzak and Chris Harris took the chequered flag for a 5-1 in heat 13 but it wasnt enough as the Robins took all the points running out 50-42 winners. Tungate top scored for the Robins with 13 whilst Kasprzak was the Bees top man with 11. Discount Nike Air Max . The formidable trio of Canadian receivers -- individually known as Chris Getzlaf, Rob Bagg and Andy Fantuz -- will share the field at Mosaic Stadium one more time on Sunday. Cheap Adidas Shoes Wholesale . Defencemen Drew Doughty, Shea Weber and forward Ryan Getzlaf also scored for the Canadians, who started their gold-medal defence 2-0. Goalie Roberto Luongo, getting the call in place of Game 1 starter Carey Price, was solid when needed in making 23 saves for the shutout. http://www.brandshoescheaponline.com/wholesale-air-max-china/max-270-clearance-sale.html . Speaking Thursday on TSN 1050 Thursday, the Leafs GM also touched on the questions surrounding the teams leadership and the struggles of his big-name free-agent signing. “Its not from lack of effort from the coaching staff. Nike Air Max China Wholesale Paypal . -- Matt Ryan needed one of the best games of his career to lead the Falcons and their depleted offence out of their three-game losing streak last week. Vapormax 2019 Discount . Emery skated the length of the ice and fought an unwilling Holtby during the third period of the Flyers 7-0 loss Friday night in Philadelphia. He was given 29 penalty minutes, including a game misconduct. But Emery did not face even a disciplinary hearing with NHL senior vice president of player safety Brendan Shanahan because rules 46. ESTERO, Fla. -- Otis Livingstons deep baseline 3-pointer with 22 seconds remaining lifted George Mason to a 79-75 victory over Kent State in a consolation-bracket game at the Gulf Coast Showcase on Tuesday.Marquise Moore passed to Livingston alone in the left corner with the trey giving the Patriots (2-3) a 77-75 lead. Kent States Jalen Avery then drove through a crowd only to have his layup hit the side of the rim with three seconds left. Moore made a pair of free throws for the final score.Moorre finished with 23 points, 14 rebounds and five assists.dddddddddddd Livingston added 20 points, Jaire Grayer 14 and Justin Kier 10.Jimmy Hall had 20 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Golden Flashes (3-2). Deon Edwin also scored 20 points and Avery added 10.The game was tight throughout with neither team ahead by more than six points and lead changing hands 18 times. ' ' '