The overwhelming consensus is the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors will be the first teams in league history to meet in three consecutive NBA Finals, playing the rubber match of their series after splitting the past two titles.But guess what? ESPNs Basketball Power Index (BPI) says that the matchup is not likely to happen.And almost any other statistical projection will reach a similar conclusion.Why isnt a rematch a sure thing? Bryce Love Youth Jersey . Q: Team Canada announces their Olympic roster three weeks from today. Who is general manager Steve Yzerman watching? LeBrun: Over the last 48 hours, hes taken in the home-and-home between the Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche with Jamie Benn and Matt Duchene being the obvious targets. Clinton Portis Redskins Jersey . A big centre with all the tools to be an elite player, Johansen paced the Blue Jackets with a standout game Saturday night. He had a goal and two assists for a career-high three points as Columbus beat the New York Islanders 5-2 to snap a five-game losing streak. https://www.redskinssportsgoods.com/Womens-Clinton-Portis-Inverted-Jersey/ .05 million next season unless Graham and the Saints subsequently agree on a long-term deal. The designation was released Monday after the deadline passed for NFL teams to use franchise or transition tags on players becoming free agents. Terry McLaurin Womens Jersey . The defence is doing its part, too. Drew Brees threw a pair of touchdown passes in the first half and the guys on the other side made sure that was enough, sending the Saints to a 17-13 victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday night. Joe Theismann Jersey .Y. -- Buffalo Bills coach Doug Marrone has drawn on his Syracuse connections once again by hiring Rob Moore to take over as receivers coach. TORONTO -- Edwin Encarnacion advanced Toronto to the AL Division Series in the Blue Jays familiar manner -- with a big home run.Encarnacion hit a three-run drive in the 11th inning off Ubaldo Jimenez , and Toronto beat the Baltimore Orioles 5-2 in Tuesday nights AL wild card game to advance to a Division Series matchup against old foe Texas.It was a very special moment and a very special opportunity, Encarnacion said through a translator.Jose Bautista also homered for the Blue Jays , who open the Division Series on Tuesday at Texas. Encarnacions homer brought back memories of the tiebreaking, three-run shot that Bautista hit in the seventh inning of Game 5 of last years AL Division Series win over the Rangers, a shot punctuated by a memorable bat flip.And the Blue Jays won their last World Series title in 1993 on Joe Carters walkoff home run .I was looking for a fastball and I was trying to put the barrel on it, get a little bit in front because the infield was playing in, and I actually got it, Encarnacion said through a translator.Jimenez relieved Brian Duensing with one out in the 11th, and Devon Travis singled in a 1-1 pitch. Reigning AL MVP Josh Donaldson singled on the next pitch, and Travis went all the way to third as left fielder Nolan Reimold bobbled the ball.Encarnacion sent the following pitch, a 91 mph offering, soaring into the second deck in left. Encarnacion immediately knew it was gone and raised both arms in triumph, index fingers pointed skyward.The crowd of 49,934 chanted Eddie, Eddie! as Encarnacion circled the bases before being greeted by a mob of teammates. Encarnacion matched his career-best with 42 home runs in the regular season.Jimenez said he was trying to throw a low slider and induce a double play.It didnt do anything, Jimenez said. It stayed up.Orioles closer Zach Britton, who was perfect in 47 save chances during the regular season, never got in the game.Nobody has been pitching better for us than Ubaldo, Baltimore manager Buck Showalter said . It didnt work out.Britton warmed up three times but didnt leave the bullpen.Its frustrating but its not my call, Britton said. It was just frustrating to have to sit there and watch.Francisco Liriano retired five straight batters on four groundouts and a strikeout for the win after closer Roberto Osuna left with a sore shoulder .The doctor told me that I was going to be fine, I just need a couple of days, Osuna said. Ive been pitching a lot lately. Theey think its just fatigue from the last couple of weeks.ddddddddddddToronto beat Texas in five-game Division Series, sparked by Bautistas memorable homer. The teams brawled in May this year when Bautista was punched in the face by Rangers infielder Rougned Odor following a play at second base.Its going to be a very interesting series, and were looking forward to it, Encarnacion said.The roof was open at Rogers Centre, formerly SkyDome, where all 24 previous postseason games had been played with it closed.Bautista led off the second against Chris Tillman with his fifth postseason homer. Mark Trumbo, who led the major leagues with 47 home runs, gave Baltimore a 2-1 lead in the fourth with a two-run homer off Marcus Stroman .Ezequiel Carreras RBI single chased Tillman in the fifth.When Toronto pinch-hitter Melvin Upton Jr. flied out to the warning track in left field to end the seventh, Orioles outfielder Hyun Soo Kim was nearly struck by a can that was thrown from the stands. Center fielder Adam Jones angrily gestured toward the seats, and Showalter came out to register his displeasure with the umpires.Its tough when you have that many people in the ballpark and one person does something that reflects poorly on all of them, Showalter said. It can happen in any ballpark. I dont like anything that puts our guys in harms way.Blue Jays fans tossed bottles and debris on the field during game 5 against Texas last year, upset at the call that let Odor score from third after catcher Russell Martins throw back to the mound deflected off Shin Soo Choos bat.Jones wasnt as diplomatic as his manager.That is about as pathetic as it gets, he said. I hope they find the guy and press charges.Blue Jays spokesman Erik Grosman said the fan was not ejected because he took off before police had a chance to get him. Police are investigating.FOR STARTERSStroman allowed two runs and four hits in six innings, struck out six and walked none. Tillman gave up two runs and four hits in 4 1/3 innings.WEB GEMKevin Pillar made a diving catch on Manny Machados liner to right-center in the fourth .EXTRA, EXTRA!This was the second extra-inning wild card game. Kansas City rallied to beat Oakland 9-8 in 12 innings in 2014.ROBBIEHall of Famer Roberto Alomar, who starred for the Blue Jays and Orioles, threw out the ceremonial first pitch. ' ' '

In the end Winx made the $3 million Cox Plate a one-horse race.The champion mare made it back-to-back wins in Australias greatest weight-for-age race: the first in a record time, the second by a record margin.Its a dream, as simple as that, declared trainer Chris Waller after Winxs 13th win in a row.Winx turned what was billed as a showdown with top gelding Hartnell into a one-horse show. She was simply too good.It was also a dream for part-owner Debbie Kepitis, and the 26,000-strong crowd at Moonee Valley who all seemed to be cheering Winx on.My dad (Bob Ingham) once said to win a Cox Plate is an absolute thrill. To win two Cox Plates is an absolute dream.Winning three Cox Plates is now firmly on the agenda for Winx.Shell be back next year, Waller said.Waller remembers watching - in awe - another champion mare Sunline make it consecutive Cox Plate victories in 1999 and 2000.Now he is in awe as Australia embraces a new champion, albeit one he knows will never get to the same legendary status as Phar Lap or undefeated sprinter Black Caviar.Black Caviars freakish - what she did, undefeated, that will never happen again.But as the great judges will say generations make champions and I was thinking this morning: Phar Lap, how do you eclipse what he did?To be even thought about at that echelon is pretty special.Sunline did it for a number of years, constantly at the top. Were getting there with these two Cox Plates firmly putting her right up there.Whether Winx follows Sunline in racing overseas remains to be seen.We respect the Australians and they respect her, Waller said.Maybe the world will come to us if were good enough.Wherever she goes if shes in that zone well beat anything in the world.Henry Plumptre, head of global racing powerhouse Godolphins Australian operations, admits to having a sneaking suspicion Winx was that good, even with second favourite Hartnell in top form.I mean obviously our camps disappointed to be beaten by that far, but is it any disappointment to be beaten by a champion?We werent unlucky. We were just beaten by an absolute champion. Patrick McCaw Jersey . 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. Alen Smailagic Jersey . Carey Price didnt, but he still came out on top against one of his rivals for the No. 1 job at the Sochi Games. The Anahim Lake, B.C., native was stellar in making 39 saves in his home province and Lars Eller got credit for a bizarre short-handed winner as the Canadiens defeated the Canucks 4-1. https://www.warriorsrookiesshop.com/Andre-Iguodala-City-Edition-Jersey/ .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. Nick Young Jersey . The injury bothered Bledsoe in the Suns victory over the Clippers on Monday and he sat out the teams home loss to Memphis on Thursday night. Kevon Looney Jersey . 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. MONROE, La. -- Garrett Smith fired a touchdown pass to Marcus Green, then ran for another score as Louisiana Monroe broke open a close game after halftime while defeating Southern 38-21 Saturday night.Smith hit Green with a 28-yard pass, bumping the Warhawks lead to 21-12, Craig Ford added a 24-yard field goal and Smith scored from the 13, pushing the lead to 31-15. Smith hit 20 of 33 passes for 208 yards.The Warhawks (1-0) led 14-12 at the half afteer Southerns Raul Albuquerque capped a long drive with a 38-yard field goal in the final minute before the break.dddddddddddd Albuquerque nailed field goals of 42, 38 and 28 yards but missed a point-after kick in the first half. Southern is 0-1.Austin Vaughn capped the scoring with a 6-yard run in the final minute of play. ' ' '

DALLAS -- When the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Dallas Stars meet Saturday night at American Airlines center, they will do so coming off distinctively different results earlier in the week.Columbus (1-2-0) got its first win of the season Friday night, defeating the Chicago Blackhawks, 3-2 at Nationwide Arena, the perfect way to leave town to start a four-game road trip.We needed this one, Columbus forward Nick Foligno told the Columbus Dispatch. We needed to win at home. This has got to be a tough place for people to come into, and we didnt make it tough enough on the first two opponents. We had a whole week to think about it and really let it stew. There were a lot of guys with a little bit of a chip on the shoulder tonight.Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 32 of 34 shots for the Jackets to earn his first win of the season.But the Columbus netminder was quick to credit his teammates for those two points.I thought we played great, Bobrovsky told Fox Sports Ohio. We started really good. We put lots of shots on net. We just went after them. It was fun to watch. We played with some confidence, it was a great game.However, this win came with a notable asterisk as defenseman Ryan Murray left the game in the first period with an upper-body injury and did not return. Columbus coach John Tortorella said postgame that Murray likely wouldnt travel with the team, meaning either Scott Harrington or Dalton Prout will replace Murray at the blueline.Columbus also recalled forward Sonny Milano, the 16th pick in the 2014 draft after the game. Milano, 20, has three games of NHL experience from a stint in Columbus last spring.Tortorella would not name a starting goaltender for Saturdays game following the win against Chicago, meaning he could go with Bobrovsky for a second straight night or give the nod to Curtis McElhinney, which would be his first action of the season.Dallas (2-1-1) heads into Saturdays game still stewing a bit over a disappointing 4-3 overtime loss to the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday, a rough way to start a three-game homestand.We didnt win enough puck battles, we didnt get above the puck, we didnt play well enough defensively to win a hockey game, Stars coach Lindy Ruff said of the loss to the Kings after practice on Friday.The Stars lost two forwards to injury in that game, Patrick Eaves and Patrick Sharp. Eaves picked up a lower-body injury late in the second period and did not return for the third period while Sharp experienced concussion-like symptoms after a hard hit into the boards during the second period.Ruff said Eaves might be able to play on Saturday but said Sharp was placed on injured reserve and will not.One player who will be returning to the ice for Dallas on Saturday is veteran forward Ales Hemsky, who will likely make his season debut against the Blue Jackets.Hemsky has missed the first four games recovering from a groin issue he picked up during training camp. And after skating for the past few weeks, he is happy to say he now feels ready to return.Definitely feel better, I feel stronger, Hemsky said after practice on Friday. Again, I had a good week and hopefully Im ready for a game. So well see what theyre thinking and what will happen tomorrow (Saturday).Ruff also has a decision to make in net of whether to start Kari Lehtonen, who largely performed well in the loss to the Kings or go back to Antti Niemi? Both veteran goalies have started two games thus far. San Diego Padres Pro Shop . -- Running backs Darren McFadden and Rashad Jennings were back at practice for the Oakland Raiders on Wednesday despite being hampered by hamstring injuries. Custom San Diego Padres Jerseys . The head of USA Boxing came out swinging Tuesday with an open letter to Tyson -- a former Olympic hopeful himself -- that accuses the former heavyweight champion of trying to poach fighters who might be candidates for the U. https://www.cheappadresjerseys.us/ . The CFLs leading rusher kept adding to his gaudy numbers this season and scored the winning touchdown with just over two minutes to play. 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BATON ROUGE, La. -- Alabama players, assistants and staffers gathered around Nick Saban as he stood in the middle of the visitors locker room inside Tiger Stadium late Saturday night.They whooped and hollered for their coach who turned 65 years old a week earlier on Halloween.But while beating No. 13-ranked LSU to remain unbeaten was thrilling, this was a different kind of celebration.Ed Marynowitz, who was a key part of Alabamas personnel department from 2008-12 and returned to the program before the start of this season, clapped as he stood to Sabans left. Then he signaled to his coach with his hands: two-zero-zero.Two hundred! Marynowitz said.On Saturday, Saban became the third-fastest coach to reach 200 wins in major college football history. He needed only 261 games to get there.You have to tip your hat to Coach Saban, said sophomore running back Damien Harris. What hes done not only for us, but for college football ... its something we may never see again.It took Saban 17 years as an assistant to land his first head-coaching job. And a couple of brief stints in the NFL not withstanding, he has never looked back.Along the way, from his first win to his 200th, he has evolved into arguably the greatest coach of his generation.Career win No. 1 Sept. 8, 1990: Toledo 20, Miami (Ohio) 14On the road, Toledo runs the ball well, doubles Miamis time of possession and cruises to a win. Saban is happy. Well, sort of. The 28-year-old rookie head coach suffered a mess of a game on special teams. An extra point was blocked. A snap sailed over his punters head. A kickoff was returned 92 yards for a touchdown. After gaining 224 yards in the first half, Toledo manages just 74 yards in the second. Im a perfectionist, Saban tells reporters, and we certainly werent perfect. For the first time, he invokes the 24-hour rule. After that time is up, the celebration is over and its on to the next chore.Al Bohl understood he didnt have the prestige of an Alabama or a Florida State to lure his next head football coach at Toledo. So the former athletic director had to sift through clues from less established coaches.Bohl looked over Sabans résumé as an assistant at Kent State, Syracuse, West Virginia, Michigan State and Ohio State, and liked that he would already be acquainted with Toledos recruiting footprint. And his two seasons as an assistant in the NFL helped, too.Then he aced the interview, beating out Joe Tiller for the job.If you play chess, he was the master, Bohl said.Dean Pees remembers flying into town to start his new job as Sabans assistant. He picked up a copy of Sports Illustrated, he said, and was shocked when he read coaches chastising the move to fire the previous coach and bring in Saban. He remembers thinking, Everyone hates us.But Saban was undeterred. Thanks to his tutelage under legendary coach Don James, he already had a detailed plan of how to run the program.I was so impressed from the first staff meeting we had that, This is how were going to do the winter program, heres when were going to start and finish, Pees said. Everything was dated and timed and laid out. Its the same way on the football field. Theres no gray area.It paid dividends immediately.The talent we had at Toledo Nicks year was basically the same as the year before, Bohl said. What Nick did was change the attitude.Toledo finished 9-2 (after going 6-5 the previous year), but Bohl insists it could have been an undefeated season if not for a couple of fourth-quarter losses.In the midst of all the excitement, Saban slipped out the back door and returned to the NFL to serve as an assistant under Bill Belichick with the Cleveland Browns.Bohl included in Sabans contract a buyout for another college job but forgot the NFL.I was learning, too, Bohl said. Thats the mistake I made.Career win No. 25 Oct. 4, 1997: Michigan State 31, Minnesota 10Michigan State is off to the best start of Sabans tenure in his third season leading the program. After going into Notre Dame and winning 23-7 two weeks earlier, the Spartans return home 3-0. Todd Schultz lights up the Minnesota secondary for 304 yards and three touchdowns. Minnesota coach Glen Mason sees the genius of his former fellow assistant back in the 80s at Ohio State. But he sees a changed man, too, a more serious coach than he remembers sharing a beer with on the road recruiting. At Big Ten spring meetings hell tell Saban, Geez, youre so uptight. Mason says Saban told him, I dont have time for that anymore.After four years with the Browns, Michigan State came calling.It was the perfect opportunity for Saban. Not only would he have the resources of a Power 5 job, but he already had plenty of familiarity with the program, having been an assistant from 1983-87.But the transition to big-time college football wasnt easy. Michigan and Ohio State dominated the conference and Michigan State would win six games in each of Sabans first two seasons.It wasnt for a lack of trying. Or, for that matter, a lack of coaching acumen.Former assistant Mark Dantonio described Saban as extremely determined, a tireless worker and tireless recruiter.But it was a slow build, mining the Midwest for talent. Former assistant Gary Tranquill called Saban a bulldog on the recruiting trail, finding gems such as Plaxico Burress, Renaldo Hill and T.J. Duckett.Although the quality of the roster improved the first couple of years, the product on the field wasnt making significant strides. Saban was still living and dying with every win and every loss. There was no big picture.Michigan State would finish 7-5 and sixth in the conference in 1997. The lackluster showing was punctuated by a four-touchdown loss to Washington in a bowl game.Two years later, Michigan State beat Ohio State, Notre Dame and Michigan en route to a 9-2 regular-season record. The Spartans would go on to play in the Citrus Bowl, but Saban had already left.He was off to LSU. None of his assistants joined him.Career win No. 50 Nov. 11, 2000: LSU 20, Ole Miss 9To lure Saban from Michigan State, LSU made him the first million-dollar coach in the SEC West, and receivers coach Stan Hixon remembers reading the headlines in the paper questioning what theyd paid for. But he and everyone in the building knew there would be growing pains. We lost some good players and had to kick a few off, Hixon said. But despite an inexplicable Week 4 loss to UAB, things are starting to come together. After losing 41-9 at Florida, LSU wins three straight at home before going on the road to face Ole Miss and its star running back Deuce McAlllister. But the defense holds McAllister to 48 yards on 24 carries and instead its LSUs Domanick Davis who dominates, rushing for two touchdowns as Saban wins the first road game at LSU since September 1998.ddddddddddddIts hard to think of Saban without a national championship.But as he arrived in Baton Rouge, his only trophy as a head coach was a Mid-American Conference championship Toledo shared with Central Michigan.He had a lot to prove, said LSU quarterback Josh Booty.Booty said Sabans initial message to the team was straightforward: Were going to build a championship team here, and Im not meaning on our side of the division.Everything Saban learned at Michigan State was amplified in Baton Rouge. He built a staff from scratch, including offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher and tight ends coach Derek Dooley.Saban called Hixon on Christmas morning to offer him the receivers coach position, and they hit the ground running.Hixon remembers being in the staff meeting room where Dooley had set up the recruiting board. The board was big, the names were small and everything looked good to Hixon. Then Saban walked in and told Dooley, Were not getting this done right.The next week, the board took up the entire wall.Whether it was Xs and Os or mental conditioning, Saban wanted LSU prepared. He even had the players do karate during spring practice.Listening to Booty talk about the lack of experience on that 2000 team, its a wonder LSU went 8-4.Saban was a little rougher around the edges than he is now, but Booty could see what was coming after he left that season.He was developing that formula, Booty said. He knew it was going to work. He was going to stick to his guns. ... We just caught it at the beginning.Career win No. 100 Oct. 18, 2008: Alabama 24, Ole Miss 20 While Sabans return from the NFL was expected to wake a sleeping giant at Alabama, no one knew it would happen so quickly. Year 1 was a struggle with a number of close losses, but Sabans philosophy known simply as The Process had taken hold and a bowl win bolstered players belief. We had a different mentality about us, said veteran QB John Parker Wilson. We were fed up with mediocrity. Spring and fall camp had a sense of focus, a stellar freshman class came in ready to play and Alabama started out 2008 with guns blazing, beating No. 9 Clemson in Atlanta. The Tide won seven straight before hosting Ole Miss, where they trailed for the first time all season. The deficit lasted all of 75 seconds before Wilson threw a 26-yard touchdown pass. Alabama scored all 24 of its points in the first half, letting the defense take it from there.Its eerie how Sabans first few years at LSU parallel that of his time at Alabama.There were monumental upsets in the first season (UAB beats LSU, Louisiana-Monroe beats Alabama), and a quick jolt in Year 2 with double-digit wins.It took four seasons at LSU to win a national title. At Alabama, it took three.The emphasis, as usual, was placed on winning the line of scrimmage. The offense was powered by big running backs and the quarterback served as the game manager. A stout, dominant defense would take care of the rest.Recruiting, as always, was priority No. 1. With his first full signing class at Alabama, Saban signed a murderers row of future pros, including Mark Ingram, Julio Jones, Donta Hightower, Marcel Dareus, Mark Barron and Courtney Upshaw.In 2008, Alabama learned how to win, reeling off 12 straight victories to start the season. And against Florida in the SEC championship game, it also learned how to lose.It was still building the thing, Wilson said. Building up the players and building the program. A lot of that had to do with discipline and making sure everyone is rowing the same direction, and not just on the field but the coaches, the staff, everybody in the same building.The road is paved now, but when I was there back then, it was rocky. We had a lot of changing we had to make, a lot of things.Career win No. 200 Nov. 5, 2016: Alabama 10, LSU 0It was an unceremonious return to Baton Rouge, as chants of F--- you, Saban rang throughout Tiger Stadium before kickoff. But this wasnt the Saban they adored in purple and gold. It wasnt even the Saban they got to know early on at Alabama. He has overhauled his offense and for the first time in his career is starting a true freshman at quarterback. Jalen Hurts struggled, but both QB and coach keep their cool. On fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line, Saban does something unimaginable five years ago and leaves his kicker on the sideline. Hurts doesnt score, but a couple of drives later he runs in the go-ahead touchdown. It wasnt pretty, Saban says of the 10-0 win. But hes proud, especially of the way the defense held Leonard Fournette to 2.1 yards per carry and didnt allow a point.John Parker Wilson laughs at the idea of a more mellow Nick Saban.He agrees the facade of his former coach is a little less rough around the edges these days.Every now and then you see him smile now, Wilson said, so thats changed.After building program after program and leaving before the lease was up, its understood now that Saban has firmly planted his roots in Tuscaloosa, where hes in the midst of his 10th season with no end in sight.He has managed to maintain his historic success because hes married to his principals while being open to change. While he has maintained core values such as the ability to win the line of scrimmage and be physical at the point of attack, he has overhauled the means of attack.The team that won the 2009 title is almost unrecognizable from the one that won it all last season.Maybe the most tangible evidence of Sabans forward-thinking was his most recent choice of offensive coordinator: Lane Kiffin. Saban brought in the star-crossed coach following the 2013 season and let him run the show. Saban was OK with going all-in on the spread and even pushed Kiffin to run more no-huddle.?And none of that has come at the cost of defense, as shown by Saturdays shutout of LSU.But that defense has also morphed over time. Big-bodied linebackers like Courtney Upshaw and Donta Hightower are no longer required. The days of a 350-pound nose guard like Terrance Cody are over. Rather, its 230-pound athletes like Tim Williams and Rashaan Evans rushing off the edge.College football became a passing game and now Alabama is on pace this season to more than double the number of sacks it had in all of 2008.The biggest thing he does better than everybody is he adapts, Wilson said. He changes.What he does next is anyones guess.The only question is how much longer hes willing to do it.While Nick enjoys playing golf ... I dont see him being able to retire easily, said Robert Witt, the recently retired Alabama chancellor. Hes just too used to the intensity. So I think were going to be blessed with a few more years. ' ' '

Some of the sports stories The Associated Press is covering Thursday. A full Sports Digest will be sent by about 3 p.m. All times EDT:- LOS ANGELES -- Jon Lester takes the mound for the Chicago Cubs against rookie Kenta Maeda of the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 5 of a tied NLCS. Lester won Game 1, allowing one run in six innings. Game starts 8:08 p.m.- CLEVELAND -- This sports year in Cleveland has been like no other. First, the Cavaliers ended the citys championship drought after 52 years. Now, the Indians are in the World Series for the first time since 1997.- LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- The NCAA accuses Louisville of four violations stemming from its investigation into allegations that a former basketball staffer hired escorts and strippers for sex parties with recruits and players.- GREEN BAY, Wis. -- The Packers, trying to get their passing game going with Aaron Rodgers, play the Bears in the NFLs oldest rivalry. Green Bay (3-2) faces a Chicago team that is 1-5 and coming off two tough losses. Game starts 8:25 p.m.- HOUSTON -- As much as Oakland Raiders owner Mark Davis wishes otherwise, a decision on whether to allow his team to move to Las Vegas isnt likely to come soon. Thats not to say it wont happen.- MINNEAPOLIS -- The Minnesota Lynx try to win back-to-back titles and match the WNBA record with their fourth championship, when they host the Los Angeles Sparks in the decisive Game 5 of the finals. Game starts 8 p.m.- BOISE, Idaho -- In the only Top 25 college football game Thursday night, No. 14 Boise State plays BYU. Game starts 10:15 p.m.- TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Texas A&M quarterback Trevor Knight was a redshirt freshman for Oklahoma when he picked apart Alabamas defense in the 2013 Sugar Bowl. He faces the top-ranked Tide on Saturday.- The Cleveland Cavaliers know what it feels like to enter the season as Eastern Conference favorites. They begin this one with an entirely unfamiliar label -- defending champions.- PITTSBURGH -- The Penguins and Sharks meet four months removed from Pittsburghs victory over San Jose in the 2016 Stanley Cup Final. The Penguins are off to a 2-1-1 start while the Sharks are 3-1. Game starts 7 p.m.- NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Why arent more SEC basketball teams in the mens NCAA Tournament? The conferences coaches count the reasons: weak scheduling, backlash for football dominance, poor recruiting, coaching turnover.- NYON, Switzerland -- The Champions League final could be taken outside Europe, the new president of the European soccers governing body tells the AP.- SOELDEN, Austria -- Lara Gut, the first overall World Cup champion from Switzerland in more than two decades, begins her title defense Saturday. U.S. star Mikaela Shiffrin could be her closest challenger. Colorado Rockies Gear . In the lead up - which seemed to begin the moment Mike Geiger blew the whistle in Houston last Thursday night - the Impact rumour mill went into overdrive. The speculation went into meltdown mode, of the golden nugget variety. Fake Rockies Jerseys . 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. https://www.cheaprockiesjerseys.us/ .J. -- Marshawn Lynch said Thursday it will be good to get back to football after the Seattle quiet talking running back wrapped up his final mandatory media session of Super Bowl week. Colorado Rockies Shirts . LOUIS -- Lance Lynn was one of the more enthusiastic participants as the St. Rockies Jerseys 2020 .Y. -- The Buffalo Sabres have recalled forward Kevin Porter and defenceman Chad Ruhwedel from the minors as part of a five-player roster shuffle made by the NHLs worst team. CHICAGO -- Portland Trail Blazers forward Al-Farouq Aminu is active for their game against the Chicago Bulls after being sidelined by a left calf injury.Coach Terry Stotts says Aminu will be restricted to around 20 minutes Monday night depending on how it goes.Aminu starrted the first eight games of the season before he got hurt Nov.dddddddddddd 8 against Phoenix. He is averaging 6.4 points and 6.6 rebounds. ' ' '

CINCINNATI -- Anthony Rizzo saw the ball ricochet across the outfield and kicked his legs into high gear, deciding he was going to try to touch `em all. His sides were aching by the time he slid safely into home plate.Rizzo legged out his first inside-the-park homer on Wednesday -- a fitting final touch to a series full of unusual moments -- and the Chicago Cubs beat the Cincinnati Reds 9-2 for a three-game sweep that put them back on solid footing after a rough stretch.They were on top of it, man, after a long one last night, Chicago starter Kyle Hendricks said.The Cubs went 1-6 last week, hurt by an injury-depleted lineup and a balky bullpen. With thousands of Cubs fans in the stands at Great American Ball Park for each game, they pulled off an invigorating sweep.The NL Central leaders won the opener 11-8 as Kris Bryant became the first major leaguer with three homers and two doubles in a game. They won 7-2 in 15 innings Tuesday night in a game that featured Javier Baezs grand slam and three relievers playing left field alternately.Manager Joe Maddon went with a lot of his young backups after the long night. They piled up a dozen hits and made impressive plays all over the field.A bunch of babies played in that game today, Maddon said. They were inexperienced, they were young, and they came out and played hard and played well.There was more wackiness, too.Rizzo drove in three runs in the first inning off left-hander Cody Reed (0-2) with the Cubs first inside-the-park homer since 2011, when Tony Campana circled the bases against Cincinnati. Left fielder Adam Duvall cut in front of center fielder Billy Hamilton but couldnt get to the ball, which deflected off Hamiltons cheek.Rizzo couldnt remember the last time he circled the bases that way.Maybe Little League? he said. Nothing like that. Ill take it.Hamilton left the game to get tested for a concussion. He missed a week earlier this month after suffering a concussion when he slid into third base and got hit in the head.We both called for it at the same time, Duvall said. I thought we were going to collide. I didnt take my eye off the ball, but I mightve flinched a little bit. It hit him pretty good. It ended up rolling pretty far.Hendricks (6-6) gave up Duvalls 22nd homer and went 6 2/3 innings, throwing 117 pitches to rest a bullpen worn out from pitching and playing the outfield. He also drove in a run with a squeeze bunt.Hendricks didnt get to play the outfield, though -- not this time, anyway.The way things are going, you never know, he said.Addison Russell and Albert Almora Jr. had solo shots for the Cubs, who hit 10 homers during the series. Baez had three more hits on Wednesday. Rizzos homer gave him a 10-game hitting streak during which hes gone 17 for 36.The Cubs have the major leagues best record at 51-26. Theyre 9-1 against the Reds this season and have won 12 of their last 13 against their NL Central rival.The Cubs 27 runs in the series matched their second-highest total of the season for a three-game stretch.They also turned in more good defensive plays. Right fielder Ben Zobrist threw out Joey Votto at the plate as he tried to score from second on Jay Bruces single in the third.SLAMMEDResearch into Baezs 15th-inning slam found that it was the latest by inning in Cubs history. Also, it was only the third in baseball history to happen in the 15th inning or later. New Yorks Tino Martinez hit one in the 15th in 1996, and Bostons Clyde Vollmer hit one in the 16th inning in 1951, according to STATS information provided by the team. The Cubs hadnt scored five runs so late in a game since 1927.TRAINERS ROOMCubs: Maddon gave LHP Travis Wood the day off after he played left field and pitched in relief Tuesday night.Reds: 2B Brandon Phillips was in the lineup despite getting hit in the ribs and taking a foul off his left ankle Tuesday night. He had a single in four at-bats.UP NEXTCubs: RHP John Lackey (7-4, 3.29 ERA) opens a four-game series at New York against the Mets. Hes coming off his worst outing of the season, when he allowed seven runs in 4 1/3 innings of a loss at Miami last Saturday.Reds: LHP Brandon Finnegan (3-6, 3.83) opens a four-game series at Washington. He has lost his last two starts, giving up seven earned runs in 11 2/3 innings. The Reds dont play at home again until July 15.---Follow Joe Kay on Twitter: http://twitter.com/apjoekay Cheap Marlins Jerseys . The Browns coaching search remains incomplete. Miami Marlins Pro Shop . The showiest items on Calgarys lot were forwards Mike Cammalleri and Lee Stempniak. Both will be unrestricted free agents this summer. https://www.cheapmarlinsjerseys.us/ . - 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. Marlins Jerseys 2020 . Third-seeded Murray had the easiest path to victory on New Years Eve, barely breaking a sweat during his 6-0, 6-0 win over 2,129th-ranked Qatari wildcard recipient Mousa Shanan Zayed. Miami Marlins Store . -- James Young couldnt wait to apply those tweaks to his jump shot, and the first one he made against UT Arlington told him it could be a good night. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Shakayla Thomas scored 16 points, Imani Wright had 13 points and nine rebounds, and No. 12 Florida State beat Jacksonville State 73-62 on Friday in a season opener for both teams.Wright, a transfer from Baylor, gave Florida State a 19-point lead early in the fourth quarter. Jacksonville State pulled to 69-61 with 2:32 left, but Thomas answered with a basket and the Seminoles led by double figures the rest of the way.Ivey Slaughter and Brittany Brown each added 10 points for Florida State, which has won 16 consecutive season-opening home games. Chatrice White, a transfer from Illinois, had eight points and eight rebounds.dddddddddddd It was Slaughters 49th career game scoring in double figures.Florida State coach Sue Semrau started her 20th season and coached in her 600th game.Briana Benson made 6 of 9 3-pointers and scored 21 points for Jacksonville State, which played against a ranked team for the first time since 2010. Gretchen Morrison added five 3-pointers and 16 points as the Gamecocks hit 13 of 25 shots from distance.Jacksonville State missed 11 consecutive shots in the first half, but only trailed 36-34. ' ' '

The opening tee shot of The Open will be shown live for the first time as part of Sky Sports round-the-clock coverage of golfs pre-eminent Major. Sky Sports will dedicate an entire channel to the Championship, offering 10 days of programming including live coverage of all four days play and practice rounds, evening highlights of each days play plus a host of documentaries and shows exploring the unique allure of The Open.The channel launches on July 11, when Sky Sports 1 HD becomes Sky Sports The Open. Skys live coverage of The 145th Open at Royal Troon will begin on July 14, ahead of the opening tee shot at 6.35am which will be shown live for the first time on television in the UK and Ireland. The Championship continues until July 17. Sky Sports managing director Barney Francis said: The Open is the pre-eminent golf Major and Sky Sports will offer the Championship the coverage it deserves. With all four Majors and the Ryder Cup in 2016, theres never been more golf on Sky Sports With a dedicated channel, we will offer viewers the complete story live from Royal Troon, from the opening tee shot to the final putt. Were excited and honoured to be covering the event and cant wait for it to begin.R&A chief executive Martin Slumbers said: The Open is a true celebration of world-class sport. We are delighted with the comprehensive and innovative coverage that Sky Sports will deliver from the build-up to the Championship at Royal Troon through to the crowning of the Champion Golfer of the Year. Royal Troon last hosted the Open Championship in 2004 The Open holds a special place in the hearts of sports fans who appreciate the unrelenting challenge that is presented to the worlds best players, and we know that Sky Sports will broadcast the Championship with great insight and expertise.Coverage will feature commentary and analysis from some of the biggest names in golf including Paul McGinley, Butch Harmon and Colin Montgomerie. Sky Sports award-winning golf production team will utilise some of the latest broadcast technology, including virtual analysis of the course and selected player swings. Zach Johnson claimed the Claret Jug in a three-man play-off last year Skys coverage of The Open will be a highlight of another unmissable summer of sport on Sky Sports, which includes live England Test cricket against Sri Lanka and Pakistan, every Formula 1 Grand Prix, including Silverstone, and Englands rugby union tour of Australia. Then in August, there will be 126 live Premier League games, with more top picks and Friday night matches for the first time,This year, Sky Sports is the only place to watch all four Majors and the Ryder Cup. The full schedule is available to those that subscribe to Sky Sports and to non-subscribers through online streaming service NOW TV, available on 60 devices, which offers access to seven Sky Sports channels for £6.99 a day or through a week pass at £10.99. The clubhouse at Royal Troon Golf Club On the same day that Sky Sports The Open launches, Sky Sports channel numbers will change, with Sky Sports News HQ moving to Sky electronic programme guide (EPG) number 406, with Sky Sports 1 becoming 401.Sky Sports channel listings from July 11401 - Sky Sports 1 (Sky Sports The Open)402 - Sky Sports 2403 - Sky Sports 3404 - Sky Sports 4405 - Sky Sports 5406 - Sky Sports News HQ407 - Sky Sports F1Watch the Open throughout the week from July 11-17 live on Sky Sports - your home of golf Also See: Open Championship news All four majors live on Sky Recap: Johnsons 2015 victory Golf live on Sky Sports 4 Tarik Cohen Womens Jersey . -- Patrick Reed got an early start in golf. Dick Butkus Jersey . The deal is pending a physical, assistant general manager Bobby Evans said. Traded from Seattle to Baltimore on Aug. 30, Morse also can play first base and right field to give manager Bruce Bochy some flexibility in writing his lineup. https://www.bearssportsgoods.com/Womens-Anthony-Miller-Inverted-Jersey/ . The 18th player to shoot 60 on the tour, Jamieson settled for par on the final hole when his 15-foot birdie chip grazed the edge of the hole and stayed out. After opening with rounds of 66 and 73 to make the cut by a stroke, he had 11 birdies in the bogey-free round. Mike Ditka Womens Jersey . With the short-handed Warriors needing help from someone -- anyone -- to stop a three-game skid, ONeal returned from right knee and groin injuries that had sidelined him for four games and put up season highs with 18 points and eight rebounds. It was just enough to help lift Golden State to a 102-101 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday night. Brian Urlacher Jersey . "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. Bristol have added to their options in the backs with the signing of Siale Piutau until the end of the current campaign.Piutau, brother of Ulsters Charles, will arrive in January and will bring international experience to their battle against the drop. He has made 24 appearances for Tonga and will bolster their midfield options.I know Siale from his time at Wasps and hes a big presence in the midfield who carries hard and is a reliable defender, Bristol coach Mark Tainton said. He comes into the environment in the New Year and it will give the squad a boost in a crucial period of the campaign.Siale bringss the necessary intensity and physicality required to make an impact in the top flight and that abrasive style will benefit our style of play.ddddddddddddPiutau added: I thoroughly enjoyed my time in the Aviva Premiership with Wasps, so Im relishing the chance to play in the competition again.Its a hugely challenging league, so Im arriving with a focus of performing well and helping Bristol Rugby on the field. Its a Club with a strong reputation and Im exciting to get started. ' ' '

Birmingham, Ala. -- The cross country programs of the Southeastern Conference return to action on Friday, traveling to four locations across the country to participate in the NCAA Regional Championships.The NCAA South Regional takes place in Tallahassee, Fla., the NCAA South Central Regional is slated for Fayetteville, Ark., the NCAA Southeast Regional will be held in Charlottesville, Va., and the NCAA Midwest Regional will take place in Iowa City, Iowa.The top two teams and the first four finishers in the race not associated with those two teams will automatically advance to the NCAA Championship race, which will be held Nov. 22 in Terre Haute, Ind. Additionally, there will be 13 at-large team bids for each gender.Led by the sixth-ranked Arkansas men, four SEC squads are ranked among the nations top-25 teams according to the latest U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association National Coaches Poll entering Fridays NCAA Regionals.The University of Arkansas men and women swept the 2016 SEC Cross Country Championships, which took place Oct. 28 at Agri Park in Fayetteville, Ark. The Razorbacks Alex George and Missouris Karrisa Schweizer took home the mens and womens individual crowns, respectively.The NCAA Cross Country Championships will take place Saturday, Nov. 19 in Terre Haute, Ind.NCAA South Regional (Tallahassee, Fla.; Women 8:30 a.m. ET, Men 9:30 a.m. ET) Alabama Auburn Florida Georgia Ole Miss Mississippi State Tennessee VanderbiltNCAA South Central Regional (Fayetteville, Ark.; Women 11 a.m. CT, Men 12 p.m. CT) Arkansas LSU Texas A&MNCAA Southeast Regional (Charlottesville, Va.; Women 11 a.m. ET, Men 12 p.m. ET) Kentucky South CarolinaNCAA Midwest Regional (Iowa City, Iowa; Women 11 a.m. CT, Men 12 p.m. CT) Missouri Adidas Nmd r2 Dame . -- There were so many positives from the Orlando Magics first victory of the season that it was hard for coach Jacque Vaughn to stop praising his players. Adidas Nmd r1 Herre Danmark . A statement from the worlds top-ranked player says all checks "were satisfactory and showed positive evolution" regarding the injury, which contributed to his loss to Stanislas Wawrinka in the final in Melbourne. http://www.dknmdskotilbud.com/adidas-basketball-sko-outlet-danmark.html . Miikka Kiprusoff had just announced his retirement after a decade-long run in Calgary and it would be up to Berra and Ramo to fill the void. Adidas Nmd r1 Herre Tilbud . Parker had 26 points and eight assists and San Antonio beat Toronto 112-99 Monday night. "We won that game because of Tony Parkers aggressiveness," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "His juice; his aggression all night long. Yeezy Powerphase Danmark . - Chris Tierney snapped a tie with a power-play goal late in the third period as the London Knights rallied from a 3-0 deficit to beat the Erie Otters 5-3 in Ontario Hockey League action on Wednesday. NUREMBERG, Germany -- Simona Halep won her first WTA title when she beat Andrea Petkovic 6-3, 6-3 to win the inaugural Nurnberger Versicherungscup. The seventh-seeded Romanian had six aces and broke for a 2-0 lead in the second set of the clay-court final. She fought off two break points in the last game before closing out the match with two forehand winners to wwin the first of four career finals.dddddddddddd Petkovic, a German wild card, was in her first final in more than 20 months after injuries and was seeking her third title. A former top-10 player, Petkovic is on the comeback trail. "Simona played incredibly and I was a little tired," Petkovic said. "Still, I had a good week." ' ' '

Ireland captain Rory Best insists big one-off performances, that are not backed up, are no longer good enough for Joe Schmidts side on the eve of their rematch with New Zealand.Ireland ended their 111-year wait for a maiden victory over the All Blacks with the 40-29 win in Chicago on November 5, and are now primed for a furious backlash in Dublin on Saturday.Best knows full well the anger the back-to-back world champions will throw into their Dublin revenge mission - and has challenged his side to scale new heights in performance to pull off another victory.This week well need a performance thats up there with the best weve ever produced in an Ireland shirt, said Best, who will win his 99th Test cap this weekend.Its about us being consistent with our performance levels, thats the most important element. Big one-off performances and then a drop-off isnt acceptable any more with this group of players.?New Zealand have been able to summon fit-again lock duo Brodie Retallick and Sam Whitelock for the Dublin showdown. Retallick has recovered from concussion while Whitelock has finally beaten ankle trouble, to allow the All Blacks to restore one of the games most potent double acts.Best accepts that Ireland must raise their set-piece work even higher than in Chicago in order to counter the influence of New Zealands all-new second row pairing.They are going to be hurting a little bit and they will come after us there, in the set-piece, said Best. We looked back on Chicago and we were fairly hard on the defensive elements in our performance.(Defence coach) Andy Farrell expects us to go out and deliver. Hes focused on our systems and how we stop these tries. For us we looked back at some of the scores, some of the breaks, theres a lot of improvements we can make in our systems.Weve had three weeks together now so we should be better than we were in Chicago. Defensively we should be better and we need to be better. China Jerseys Wholesale . PETERSBURG, Fla. China Jerseys Cheap . The Celtics closed out their first preseason under Stevens on Wednesday night with a 101-97 victory over the Brooklyn Nets, who rested a lot of their lineup including former Celtics Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce. https://www.chinajerseyscheap.us/ . LUCIE, Fla. Cheap Jerseys From China . There are some early surprises in the race for the Hart Trophy, but two of the contenders are the leagues biggest stars over the past decade. There are many more players in contention for the awards than just the three that Ive named, and a good or bad week can easily alter the landscape, but through the first 20 or so games of the NHL season, this is how the awards races look to me. Fake China Jerseys . PETERSBURG, Fla. Apologies to Dana Evans, who headlines Louisvilles No. 1 class heading into the NCAAs early signing period for womens basketball. Likewise to Duke, which is expected to welcome an outstanding 2017 recruiting class. And even to Delaware, which is expected to sign the tallest Top 100 recruit in 6-foot-5 Katherine Cain. But the most significant D in this years A-to-Z guide to signing week is drama.Heading into a week that normally features pens going to predictable places, four of the top five prospects in the espnW HoopGurlz Top 100 and six of the top 10 remain undeclared.So while we wait to find out where No. 1 Megan Walker, No. 2 Evina Westbrook, No. 3 Rellah Boothe, No. 5 Sidney Cooks, No. 6 Chennedy Carter and No. 10 Michaela Onyenwere are mailing their letters, we present you with 26 of our own, A to Z:A: ACC. Starting with Louisville at No. 1, six of the top 20 recruiting classes heading into the early signing period are in the ACC. Following the Cardinals are Syracuse at No. 6, Duke (8), Miami (15), Georgia Tech (18) and Notre Dame (19). The Pac-12 and SEC are tied for second with five each in the top 20.B: Baylor. One of just two Big 12 teams ranked in the top 20, the Bears are following up an outstanding 2016 recruiting class with another gem in 2017. Coach Kim Mulkey has verbals from four players, including three in the top 100. Deauzya Richards, a 6-1 guard ranked 16th; Alexis Morris, a 5-6 point guard ranked 18th; and Cara Ursin, a 5-6 point guard ranked 64th, are expected to sign national letters of intent this week.C: Chasity Patterson. Texas has dibs on the lone player in the top five who has announced her destination. Chaz Patterson, a 5-6 point guard and the No. 4 prospect in the country, is simply electric. Shes got a quick release and long range. If that sounds like a dangerous combination, its because it is. As a junior at North Shore (Houston), Patterson averaged 24.5 points, 4.6 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 5.2 steals per game.D: Since weve set up the drama up top, well slide Duke -- and dang! -- into this spot. As in Dang, what a class, Duke! The Blue Devils are expected to get four national letters of intent this week from four VIPs. The first is Jade Williams, a 6-4 forward, the No. 13 prospect in the class and a bronze medalist with Team USA in 2015. Next up is Mikayla Boykin, a 5-9 guard who could be ranked higher than 20th if not for two knee injuries. Then theres Madison Treece, a 6-3 post player who gets things done in the paint. Finally, theres Jayda Adams, a former teammate of UConn sophomore Katie Lou Samuelsons and the current sister of USC senior Jordan Adams. If youre looking for coach Joanne P. McCallie, shell be camped out by the mailbox.E: Evina Westbrook. Whos it going to be? The No. 2 prospect in the nation lists her finalists as Maryland, Notre Dame, Oregon State, USC and Tennessee. Westbrook is keeping us in suspense for the first day of the early signing period. She is scheduled to announce her decision Thursday. Heres what we know: The 6-foot guard from South Salem (Oregon) has a sweet shot and uncanny court awareness. Somebody is going to be celebrating come Thursday. Big time.F: Foreign flavor. And theres a lot. Starting with Chantel Horvat, a 6-1 guard from Australia and the No. 15 prospect in the class, who is headed to sunny UCLA. There are four other international players ranked among the top 50 prospects: Digna Strautmane (Syracuse), Julia Reisigerova (undeclared), Hailey Brown (Michigan) and Louise Forsyth (Gonzaga).G: Gamecocks. Coach Dawn Staleys Gamecocks are residing right near the top of all the preseason polls. Ditto for her 2017 recruiting class. Its all led by Elisia Grissett, a 6-1 wing ranked 24th in the nation. Trust us when we tell you that youre going to get to know the outgoing Grissett, who prefers to go by LeLe. Also headed the Gamecocks way are LaDazhia Williams, a 6-2 forward ranked 47th; Bianca Jackson, a 5-11 wing ranked 54th; and three-star guard Haley Troup.H: Huskies. Connecticut already gets an A for its 2017 class. But an A-plus is still a possibility because the Huskies are on the short list for No. 1 Megan Walker. With a class that already includes Mikayla Coombs, a 5-foot-10 guard ranked 14th; Lexi Gordon, a 5-11 wing ranked 29th; and Andra Espinoza-Hunter, a 5-10 guard ranked 37th; the addition of a No. 1 would be truly epic.I: Irish. Speaking of epic ... Notre Dame is the only team that is still in the running for both No. 1 Megan Walker and No. 2 Evina Westbrook. Coach Muffet McGraw already is expecting letters from No. 30 Danielle Patterson and No. 90 Mikayla Vaughn. If a couple of surprises make their way to her mailbox? Lets just say there would be a whole lot of jigging going on in South Bend.J: Jackrabbits. Were talking the Long Beach Poly Jackrabbits, who have a trio of Top 100 recruits who could seal envelopes this week. Ayanna Clark, ranked 17th, has given a verbal to USC. Danae Miller, ranked 87th, is expected to sign with UC Santa Barbara. Jasmine Jones, ranked 50th, remains undeclared. Long Beach Poly isnt the only high school team with multiple Top 100 players signing this week. St. Francis (Alpharetta, Georgia) has Maya Dodson penning a letter to Stanford and Kasiyahna Kushkituah writing to Tennessee. Also, Miami Country Day stars Channise Lewis (Illinois) and Kelsey Marshall (undeclared) could be doing some higher education communication this week as well.K: Konawaena. Yup, were taking you all the way to beautiful Hawaii. Why? Its where Celena Molina resides. Shes a 5-9 three-star guard who is expected to sign with Washington State this week. Her big sister, Chanelle Molina, did pretty much the exact same thing at the exact same time a year ago. And -- who knows? -- it could be same time, same place with baby sister Cherilyn Molina next year.L: Louisville. Leading. Lindsey. Loretta. And Dana? OK, so the L theme kind of falls apart there at the end. The point is, Jeff Walz has struck again. The Cardinals coach has the No. 1 recruiting class heading into the early signing period. Lindsey Duvall, a 5-9 guard and the No. 22 prospect, is a big part of that. As is Loretta Kakala, a 6-3 post player ranked 25th. And then theres Dana Evans, the 5-6 point guard and one of just four top-10 prospects who has declared.ddddddddddddM: Megan Walker. Consider this our drum roll: Last years No. 1 prospect, Lauren Cox, is about to debut at Baylor. The year before that it was Katie Lou Samuelson signing with UConn. In 2014 Aja Wilson waited until the spring to sign with South Carolina. In 2013, it was Mercedes Russell signing with Tennessee. Where will this years top pick land? Her finalists are Connecticut, Notre Dame and Texas. The 6-1 guard and premier prospect in the class is scheduled to explain her decision Thursday at 6 p.m. on ESPNU.N: None. The wait-to-decide epidemic is not just affecting the top 10. Theres a whole of Nones in the College column in the espnW HoopGurlz Top 100. In all, 18 players have yet to declare. For those who arent math majors, thats 18 percent of the class that has yet to announce a decision. Is that a trend we see? Hate to state the obvious (again), but only time will tell.O: Oregon State. Could it be the age of the Beavers? Oregon State made its debut trip to the Final Four a year ago and landed arguably the best recruiting class in school history soon thereafter. And the good news doesnt end there. Coach Scott Rueck has landed two Top 100 recruits -- No. 27 Taya Corosdale and No. 63 Aleah Goodman -- and is in the running for a third, in-state superstar Evina Westbrook.P: If it werent for three pesky letters -- ACC -- we could be talking about the best recruiting season out West. Stanford goes into the early signing period with the second-best class in the country. UCLA is ranked ninth, USC 11th, California 12th and Oregon State 13th. An honorable mention goes to Arizona, which falls just outside the top 20 but features an incredible five-player class.Q: Quentin Hillsman. This Q is on fire. Hillsman, who guided Syracuse to a runner-up finish a year ago, is expecting his mailbox to be full of good news this week. Digna Strautmane, a versatile and agile 6-foot-2 forward who is ranked 23rd, is expected to send a letter postmarked from Latvia. Maeva Djaldi-Tabdi, a three-star 6-2 forward, is sending hers from France. Approximately 3,000 miles closer to home, Amaya Finklea-Guity, a 6-4 post player who is ranked 42nd, also is expected to sign with Syracuse. Keeping the theme of Hillsmans global domination, Nikki Oppenheimer, a 5-9 point guard from Illinois who represented Puerto Rico over the summer at the FIBA Americas U18 championships, also is expected to sign with Orange ink.R: Really, really good Rellah Boothe. Shes the No. 3 prospect, a USA Basketball gold medalist, and shes undeclared. The 6-1 forward with jaw-dropping talent plans to choose Friday night. Its apparently down to Florida, LSU, Texas and Ohio State. Think a few folks are holding their breath? No need to answer that.S: Sidney Cooks. The No. 5 prospect in the country intends to announce her decision a bit later in the signing period. The 6-4 forward from Saint Joseph Academy (Kenosha, Wisconsin) apparently is thinking Big Ten or Pac-12. Her finalists are Michigan, Michigan State, Purdue, Wisconsin and UCLA.T: Tennessee class. Ta-da! A year after getting shut out in the early signing period, Tennessee is back among the best. A lot of that is thanks to in-state superstar Anastasia Hayes of Riverdale (Murfreesboro, Tennessee), who is expected to sign with the Lady Vols this week. Coach Holly Warlick also will be awaiting official word(s) from Kasiyahna Kushkituah, the No. 55 prospect who has verbally committed to the Lady Vols. No. 2 Evina Westbrook, No. 10 Michaela Onyenwere and No. 21 Rennia Davis?have Tennessee listed among their finalists.U: UCLA: Coach Cori Close landed the top class in the country in 2014. Could she pull off an encore? Shes got a chance. Her three-player class, featuring two players in the Top 100, already is ranked in the top 10. But when you consider that No. 5 Sidney Cooks and No. 10 Michaela Onyenwere are both considering the Bruins, well ...V: VanDerveer. How sweet it is for coach Tara VanDerveer and Stanford. The Cardinals four-player class includes three Top 100 recruits. Point guard Kiana Williams is ranked eighth. Wing Maya Dodson is ranked 11th. Wing Estella Moschkau is ranked 44th. Forward Alyssa Jerome is a three-star prospect. Even somebody who isnt a member of Nerd Nation can see that adds up to all kinds of impressive.W: Wheres Waldo? Make that, wheres the Big Ten? A year after Maryland landed the top class in the country, you wont find any Big Ten teams ranked in the top 20 recruiting classes heading into the week. Thats not to say there arent some big-time stars headed that way -- Canadian standout Hailey Brown is expected to sign with Michigan, Jaelynn Penn is headed to Indiana and Taylor Kissinger is staying put in Nebraska -- but no team has the depth required to make the top-20 cut. Of course, the ink is far from dry. Maryland is in the running for Evina Westbrook and Ohio State is a finalist for Rellah Boothe. Sidney Cooks could wind up at Purdue, Wisconsin or either one of the Michigans.X: X factor. And not just because were suffering from a shortage of the 24th letter. Cross our hearts. Dorie Harrison has the power to truly turn the tide at Kentucky, which suffered from a rash of departures a season ago. The 6-3 post player from Nashville, Tennessee, who has battled through injuries, has both the skill and the pedigree to shine in the SEC. Her sister, Isabelle Harrison, was a standout at Tennessee. Her brother, David Harrison, had a four-year career in the NBA.Y: Yellow Jackets. MaChelle Joseph is at it again at Georgia Tech. The winningest coach in Georgia Tech womens basketball history had a winning season on the recruiting trail, landing two Top 100 prospects -- No. 51 Kierra Fletcher, a 5-9 guard; and No. 56 Daijah Jefferson, a 6-2 forward.Z: Zags. Coach Lisa Fortier and Gonzaga are rubbing elbows with some bigwigs on the recruiting trail. The class, firmly among the top 20 in the country, includes two Top 100 prospects in 6-foot Canadian guard Louise Forsyth, who is ranked 48th, and 5-11 guard Jill Townsend, ranked 97th. Twin sisters Jenn Wirth and LeeAnne Wirth, three-star forwards, also are heading Gonzagas way. ' ' '

CLEVELAND -- As he watched TV reports of violence and athletes kneeling or raising fists in silent protest during the national anthem, Indians manager Terry Francona felt a need to do more.Something was pushing him, maybe his age, maybe a deeper belief he has a greater purpose. Hes not certain.Francona, though, decided to act.On a trip to Chicago, he spoke to some police officers he has gotten to know over the years and Francona talked to his players to see if there was a cause they could get behind.The Indians are donating $1 million to help troubled inner-city youth in Cleveland, a gesture the 57-year-old Francona described as one of the proudest things he has done in his career.All it is, he said, is really to in some way help inner-city kids. Thats really all it is, just to help. Dont care what color, just help.The Indians have created the Larry Doby Youth Fund, named in honor of the Hall of Famer who broke the color barrier in the American League with Cleveland, to assist underprivileged kids in Cleveland. Its a deed that has deeply moved Francona, who won two World Series with Boston before joining the Indians, the team his father, Tito, played for from 1959-64.Before the Indians hosted the Red Sox in Game 2 of the AL Division Series, Francona spoke passionately about the gift he hopes can make a difference to kids with little hope.You turn on the TV and you see so much, these kids in the inner city, they have no chance, he said. How are they supposed to be the next generation when theyre not getting an education or theyre either scared to get an education or they go to school and theyre afraid theyre going to get shot? Somebody has to start caring about them. I dont understand it.It has to get better if were going to get better.Francona said he spoke to outfielders Coco Crisp, Rajai Davis and other players about his idea and received immediate support.They were like, `Thats pretty cool. So then we got our entire team together, because that was the only way it was going to work. And every single player, every coach, every trainer, every clubhouse guy, donated. ... One thing led to another and I thought, what a way for us to be unified into doing something constructive, kind of putting our money where our mouth is.The Indians also got donations from the front office before owner Paul Dolan kicked in the rest to get the figure to $1 million.Francona said the money will be placed in a trust and the team is forming a committee with players and Dolan to decide where the money should go.In the grand scheme of things, its small, he said. But its something.When Francona first announced the trust earlier this week at the start of a press conference, he said it was difficult for him to convey the meaning of the gift because of nerves.I think it was the proudest moment Ive had in my entire baseball life, he said.Francona is equally proud of the way that his team willingly sacrificed for a cause that has bonded them. They are more united.Just the way that the guys rallied together and did it, man, he said. Thats not an easy thing to do. And its not my place to tell guys how to spend their money. I dont think thats fair. I told them, `Hey, theres no wrong here. I just said I think were in a position where we can do some good, and they were incredible. I mean incredible. Like I said, it was probably the proudest moment Ive ever had. Nike NFL Jerseys China . He said Tuesday thats a big reason why he is now the new coach of the Tennessee Titans. Whisenhunt said he hit it off quickly with Ruston Webster when interviewing for the job Friday night. NFL Jerseys China . -- Ty Montgomery had 290 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns, and fifth-ranked Stanford held on to beat No. https://www.chinajerseysnfl.us/ . Brazilian national coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has confirmed that the veteran goalkeeper is set to join Toronto on loan, saying it will help him be ready for the World Cup. Nike NFL Jerseys Cheap . Pettersen, winner of last years Evian Championships, had nine birdies and three bogeys, holding off a series of challengers led by Marion Ricordeau of France. The second-ranked Norwegian made her season debut after missing the LPGA Tours opening event last month in the Bahamas because of a shoulder injury. Wholesale NFL Jerseys China . Thats not a comment on the suspension that banished the Portland Winterhawks general manager and coach from his Western Hockey League teams bench for most of the 2012-13 season.Jamie Carragher believes Arsenal need to win all of their remaining games to have any chance of winning the Premier League. The Gunners 4-0 thumping of Watford on Saturday lifted them to eight points behind leaders Leicester with seven games left to play.And Carragher says anything less than a 100 per cent finish to the season will not be enough for Arsene Wengers side. I think Arsenal have to win every single game if theyve got any chance, Carragher said on Saturday Night Football. Leicester would still have to lose three games, they could if the nerves kick in and there are tough games at the end of the season. But can Arsenal win every game? Leicester are currently four points clear at the top of the Premier League Fellow Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp added: Its uncharted territory not just for Leicester but Tottenham. Are Arsenal back in the equation now? Youd have to say yes.Redknapp also bbelieves that if Leicester can beat Southampton at the King Power Stadium on Super Sunday, the title will be there for the taking after Tottenham slipped up against Liverpool.ddddddddddddIf Leicester win you have to think they have to win the title, its theirs to lose, he said. But you cant rule Tottenham or Arsenal out. Tottenham striker Harry Kane (right) celebrates after scoring against Liverpool Carragher also insisted that he fully expects Leicester to win the league from here.People still cant quite believe Leicester are going to win the Premier League, he said.If Arsenal were in that position, or Manchester United, Chelsea or teams youd associate with winning the league, youd say its over. [People will] just expect Leicester to throw it away. I dont know why when theyve only lost three games and are doing things that title winners do like winning games 1-0. I fully expect them to go on and win the title. ' ' '

NOVE MESTO, Czech Republic -- Martin Fourcades domination of the mens biathlon World Cup continued Sunday with the defending champion and overall leaders victory in the 15-kilometer mass start.Dropping to 14th after missing one target at the second shooting range, the Frenchman didnt waste time in overcoming one penalty lap. He pulled away after the next shooting to cross the finish line in 36 minutes, 18.9 seconds.Germanys Simon Schempp finished 8.3 seconds behind in second, while Anton Babikov of Russia was third, 9.4 back.Fourcade also won the sprint on Thursday and pursuit on Saturday and claimed seven of the individual eight races this season.Fourcade has a 158-point lead over Russias Anton Shipulin in the overall standings. Cheap Royals Jerseys . The All-Pro lineman got the leg bent under him while trying to make a tackle during the first half of a 22-20 overtime loss at Miami on Thursday night. The medical staff initially thought hed torn the ligament, and the test a day later in Cincinnati confirmed it. Kansas City Royals Pro Shop . The 29-year-old Baines has established himself as one of the top attacking full backs in the country and was the subject of two bids from United during the last off-season. Everton manager Roberto Martinez says that keeping Baines at the club is a "massive boost and exciting for the future" because he brings "maturity and football knowledge in a very specialized position on the pitch" and an "infectious and positive influence to the rest of the squad. https://www.cheaproyals.com/ .com) - The Edmonton Oilers and Vancouver Canucks both take aim at their first wins of the season on Saturday, as the Canucks open their home slate at Rogers Arena. Kansas City Royals Shirts . Murray beat Sam Querrey 7-6 (5), 6-7 (3), 6-1, 6-3 to clinch Britains opening-round victory against the United States on Sunday at Petco Park. "Im proud of the way Im playing just now, because I had to do a lot of work to get back to where I want to be," Murray said after celebrating with his teammates on the red clay court in a temporary stadium in left field of the downtown home of baseballs San Diego Padres. Royals Jerseys 2019 .C. -- When North Carolina freshman Ryan Switzer reported to training camp in August he was a little miffed to learn he was third on the depth chart at punt returner. MILAN -- Roma won the battle for second place in Serie A as it beat AC Milan 1-0 on Monday to move three points clear of the Rossoneri and four behind league leader Juventus.Radja Nainggolan scored the only goal shortly after the hour. Roma goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny saved a first-half penalty from MBaye Niang.Roma visits Juventus on Saturday.What was important was to win and we showed character because Milan was well organized, Nainggolan said. Last year maybe we didnt win these kind of games, even if we played better. But this year we have more character, we have an aim and we want to believe in ourselves.Well have to fight also in Turin and well play to win.Milan, which is one point above fourth-placed Napoli, hosts Atalanta in the next round.Its an undeserved defeat, Roma was lucky, Milan coach Vincenzo Montella said. But we are on the right path. And we are at a good point: the Europa League is our aim.Montella had mixed thoughts over the failed penalty.Before the match I repeated to the team that (Niang) would still be the penalty taker, because I think hes the one who shoots the best, he said. Who will take the next one? Theres time, well see.Both Roma and Milan were locked on 32 points going into the match in Rome, which got off to a frantic start. Milan goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma had his gloves stung by a rocket from Edin Dzeko, while Milan went close too on the counter.Roma was dominating while Milan appeared content to sit back and try to surprise the home side on the counter. That tactic almost paid off in the 27th minute.Gianluca Lapadula ran onto Andrea Bertolaccis pass, prodding it as Szczesny came for the ball and the Roma goalkeeper took his ankles instead, resulting in a penalty.Niang had seen his penalty saved by Crotone goalkeeper Alex Cordaz in the last round but the Frenchman stepped up again, only for Szczesny to redeem himself by blocking the spot kick.Dzeko almost gave Roma the lead in the 36th as he beat the offside trap to run onto Antonio Rudigers long ball but sent his efffort wide of the far post.ddddddddddddRoma broke the deadlock in the 62nd when Kostas Manolas headed a ball down to Nainggolan, who raced toward goal before curling a delightful effort into the left side of the net from just outside the area.The final stages of the match were played out at a furious tempo but without any real goalscoring opportunities.The only negative note for Roma was the sight of Bruno Peres being stretchered off in tears toward the end of the first half after injuring his left leg.---FIORENTINA 2, SASSUOLO 1Nikola Kalinic ended his goalscoring drought at the Stadio Artemio Franchi in style with a first-half double to propel Fiorentina to victory over Sassuolo.Kalinic had scored twice for Fiorentina at home in the Europa League this season but all his six goals in the league had come on the road. The Croatia forward hadnt found the back of the net at the Franchi in Serie A since a 2-1 defeat to Juventus in April.Kalinic scored his first in the 10th when he sprung the offside trap and found himself in lots of space to hook a volley over Sassuolo goalkeeper Andrea Consigli and into the far top corner from 12 yards (meters).Sassuolo continued to press but was thwarted several times by fine stops from Fiorentina goalkeeper Ciprian Tatarusanu.Kalinic doubled his tally five minutes from halftime when he cheekily backheeled Federico Chiesas low cross in off the inside of the post.Sassuolo got back into the match in the 75th with a chaotic goal following a corner. Tatarusanu saved one effort and others were blocked by the Fiorentina defense before the ball fell to an unmarked Francesco Acerbi, who fired into the bottom right corner.Fiorentina moved into seventh place, but has played a match less than most other teams. Its game at Genoa was suspended after 27 minutes on Sep. 11 at 0-0 because of heavy rain and the remainder of the 90 minutes will be played on Thursday. ' ' '

Houston Rockets starting shooting guard Patrick Beverley might have surgery on his left knee, according to a source.Beverley has missed the past four preseason games with knee irritation.Rockets coach Mike DAntoni told reporters Tuesday that he is not counting on Beverley for the season opener against the Los Angeles Lakers on Oct. 26.Beverley will undergo further evaluations this week before a final determination is made.DAntoni had plans to start Beverley alongside James Harden in the backcourt this season.With Beverley sidelined, DAntoni has used K.J. McDaniels and Eric Gordon in the backcourt with Harden. Dan Hampton Jersey . -- Jaye Marie Green shot a 4-under 68 on Thursday to increase her lead to five strokes after the second round of the LPGA Tours qualifying tournament. Ha Ha Clinton-Dix Youth Jersey . - Goaltender Philippe Desrosiers of the Rimouski Oceanic has broken a shutout record that was only three months old in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. https://www.bearssportsgoods.com/Womens-Gale-Sayers-Inverted-Jersey/ . The incident occurred at 19:56 of the second period of the Kings 4-2 road win over Edmonton on Sunday. Nolan punched Oilers forward Jesse Joensuu in the jaw in front of the Kings goal during a scrum. William Perry Womens Jersey . -- Team after team passed on Andre Ellington in the draft. Jim McMahon Jersey . A forerunning sled crashed into the worker Thursday at the Sanki Sliding Center. The unidentified worker broke both legs and was airlifted to a nearby hospital. (STATS) -- Look at it this way with the Missouri Valley Football Conference: even recently struggling Missouri State has a 2-0 record to surpass last years win total.Weve suggested the nations strongest FCS conference will become the first to put six teams in the playoff field this year.Through two weeks of the season, its looking quite possible. All 10 teams are at least 1-1, with Missouri State, a mere 1-10 last season, the surprise among the 2-0 teams that also include top-ranked North Dakota State, Illinois State and Western Illinois.The Missouri Valley won its mini-battle with the Big Sky over the weekend, capturing three of the four matchups -- NDSU over Eastern Washington and Western Illinois over Northern Arizona within the Top 25 and South Dakota over Weber State. Only Northern Iowa, which has beaten Iowa State, was a loser, falling to Montana.Last years five playoff teams -- NDSU, Illinois State, Northern Iowa, South Dakota State and Western Illinois -- have done nothing to suggest they wont be back again, even with the upcoming conference schedule so brutal. All but WIU from that group are ranked in the Top 10, and Illinois State, the two-time defending Valley champ with NDSU, has an FBS win like UNI, taking down Northwestern on Saturday.Youngstown State is the other viable playoff candidate. Coach Bo Pelinis team has an solid win over Duquesne and a credible loss to West Virginia. The Penguins are improved.Six playoff teams is a number other people say wont happen. Thats all MVFC teams usually have to hear.---=SECOND AND 10=Ten more observations from the FCS weekend:1.) In addition to Illinois States win, Eastern Illinois scored one as well as the two head to the 105th meeting of their rivalry next Saturday. EIU beat Miami of Ohio 21-17 on Mitch Kimbles 7-yard touchdown pass to Devin Church with 56 seconds remaining. The Panthers withstood a 2-hour, 45-minute weather delay to give third-year coach Kim Dameron his first non-Ohio Valley Conference win after nine losses.2.) The team of the week is MEAC favorite North Carolina A&T, which went four overtimes to outlast Kent State 39-36 for its first win over an FBS team. Both teams scored in each OT, but the difference in the final one was Kent State kicked a field goal and the Aggies followed with Oluwafemi Bamiros 15-yard TD pass to Denzel Keyes. Coach Rod Broadway used three different quarterbacks who threw at least 12 passes and All-America running back Tarik Cohen totaled 251 yards from scrimmage. With a trip to Tulsa next Saturday, the Aggies can go for another FBS win.3.) The almost team of the week was Nicholls in defeat. A visit to FBS No. 9 Georgia appeared to be a lopsided FCS-FBS matchup, but the Southland Conference squad continued to show improvement under second-year coach Terry Rebowe as 92,746 watched a tight game in disbelief in Athens. The Colonels, in their season opener, had a 14-13 lead midway through the third quarter. But after closing within 26-24 with 3:42 left in the game, they never got the ball back. Freshman Chase Fourcade threw two touchdowns and Jeff Hall had a 91-year interception return in the loss.4.) SWAC teams usually take a beating against the FBS and the last one from the conference to beat an FBS opponent was Grambling State in 1985 (23-6 over Oregon State). The Tigers had an opportunity to end the drought Saturday night at Arizona, but their 21-3 halftime lead wilted in the desert to a 31-21 loss. Coach Broderick Fobbs squad lost the turnover battle 6-0.5.) The Southern Conference lost its two standout quarterbacks after last season -- Chattanoogas Jacob Huesman and Western Carolinas Troy Mitchell -- but two new staandouts are emerging.dddddddddddd Chattanooga junior Alejandro Bennifield and Samford sophomore Devlin Hodges have each thrown eight touchdowns for their 2-0 teams. Bennifield has completed 79 percent of his attempts and also rushed for a touchdown. Hodges, the next big standout in the conference, has completed nearly 74 percent of his attempts and has led a big win at Central Arkansas.6.) Eastern Washington must hope All-America wide receiver Cooper Kupps shoulder injury -- considered a sprain that sidelined him for the second half against North Dakota State -- doesnt linger this season. Of course, no team has the incredible depth at the position quite like the Eagles, including Kendrick Bourne, Shaq Hill and breakout sophomore Stu Stiles.7.) The Big Sky has the feel of a conference headed for another wild, deep title race, but three of the teams expected to be in the mix are off to 0-2 starts. Northern Arizona was the preseason favorite and North Dakota and Weber State took big steps last season. NAU and Weber State have been outscored a combined 66-7 in the fourth quarter, with Weber letting a 21-point lead slip away at South Dakota. All three teams will play their first home game next Saturday and expect to get into the win column.8.) Towson rallied from 28-10 down for a 35-28 win over Saint Francis and it might have found its quarterback, and perhaps its not Oregon transfer Morgan Mahalak, who suffered a shoulder injury and was in a sling afterward. Backus Ellis Knudson led the rally, looking the most to wide receiver Christian Summers, who totaled 232 receiving yards and two touchdowns (94 and 43 yards) on only six catches.9.) Have to wonder how the off-the-field mistakes at Charleston Southern are affecting fourth-year coach Jamey Chadwells stock in the coaching profession. Hes created an FCS power in a short time at the Big South school and is a young, articulate, innovative coach who should be rising. But to add his upcoming one-game suspension for an assistants impermissible social media contact with a high school player on top of the 32 one-game player suspensions in the book scandal, its drawn a lot of negative attention nationally.10.) The NFL season kicks off with Week 1 active rosters full of 140 FCS players, an increase of seven from one year ago. Each of the 32 NFL teams consisted of at least one FCS alum, with the New York Jets 11 players leading the way and followed by Buffalo, Arizona, Detroit, Indianapolis and the New York Giants with seven each. Among FCS schools, Montana led the way with seven players, followed by Delaware and North Dakota State with six apiece, and Harvard, Northern Iowa, Samford and South Carolina State with five each. Another 39 FCS players were added to practice squads.---=A LOOK AHEAD=Top-ranked North Dakota State will put its five-game winning streak against FBS competition on the line at Iowa next Saturday.Coastal Carolina will visit Jacksonville State and Northern Iowa will head to Eastern Washington in games matching nationally ranked teams. The list also will include Towson at Villanova in the CAA if the visiting Tigers re-enter the Top 25 on Monday.Eastern Illinois will go to Illinois State for the Mid-America Classic, Western Carolina and East Tennessee State will play a Southern Conference game at Bristol Motor Speedway, and Stephen F. Austin at McNeese is a good Southland game. James Madison has an FBS matchup at North Carolina.Also, the later-starting Ivy League will kick off its season with eight games, including Penn at Fordham. ' ' '

The average club golfer might have nightmares about topping one off the first tee or missing an 18-inch putt, but what goes through the minds of PGA Tour stars when theyre trying to get a good nights sleep? Sky Sports commentator Wayne Riley quizzed a number of professionals on the subject during this weeks Valspar Championship and received a surprising number of honest confessions.Theres Louis Oosthuizen dreaming about a tree in the way of his backswing and Boo Weekley having a nightmare every time I show up on the course, while Henrik Stenson admitted to a fear of having to play with Radar himself. Graeme McDowell revealed he lived his nightmare last week, making an eight on one hole at Doral, and Ernie Els hopes his dream of a wayward tee shot hitting his wife on the backside never comes true.And then theres Padraig Harrington, who finds that eating too much red meat often leads to an interesting dream... Padraig Harrington enjoys a chuckle at his answer when he joined us in the commentary box Watch the video at the top of the page to find out what gives these PGA Tour professionals nightmares. Also See: Willett under the Radar Inside the Snake Pit If you were President ... Golf live on Sky Sports 4 Nike Air Max 720 Rebajas . According to a report from the Vancouver Province, the Lions are expected to replace former DC Rich Stubler with defensive backs coach Mark Washington. Air Max 2019 Baratas . Bryant, who signed a five-year, $34 million contract as a free agent with Cleveland in March, reported symptoms on Monday morning, a team spokesman said. http://www.tiendasairmaxbaratas.com/zapatillas-air-max-95/max-95-hombre.html . DAmigo scored twice in regulation and added the shootout winner as the Toronto Marlies edged the San Antonio Rampage 5-4 in American Hockey League action. Nike Air Max 98 Rebajas . Isner, ranked No. 14, won his eighth career singles title and took the title in New Zealand for the second time after his victory in 2010. The match was similar to Isners quarterfinal victory over fifth-seeded Philipp Kohlschreiber which went to three sets, all tiebreaks and contained no breaks of serve. Nike Air Max 720 Baratas . No. 13-seeded John Isner and No. 21 Philipp Kohlschreiber were among six players who dropped out of the tournament on Tuesday, joining No. 12 seed Tommy Haas and two other players who withdrew on Monday. West Coast recruit Lewis Jetta is a good chance to make his AFL return for Friday nights crunch AFL clash with Hawthorn at Domain Stadium.Jetta has been dropped three times already this season following an inconsistent run of form since crossing from Sydney.The 27-year-old last played for the Eagles in round 16, when he tallied just nine disposals in a home win over North Melbourne.But strong WAFL performances over the past fortnight have thrust Jettas name back into the selection mix.Jetta has posted tallies of 23 and 24 disposals in his past two WAFL games.And with Eagles youngster Simon Tunbridge facing a three-match suspension, the door is open for Jetta to return.Jetts has had such a tremendous attitude, Eagles coach Adam Simpson told Perth radio station 6PR.Obviously hed be feeling a bit of the pressure. He wants to be playing seniors.So to front up and plaay the way he did on the weekend, were really pleased with.ddddddddddddFormer Lion Jack Redden will find it tough to earn a recall after tallying just nine disposals in the WAFL.West Coast kept their top-four hopes alive when Nic Naitanuis last-gasp goal gave them a one-point win over GWS last week.Eagles runners did their best to let West Coast players know how much time was left on the clock in the dying minutes.But they might need to also relay the scoreboard info next time.Strangely enough, I dont reckon the guys knew the score. I reckon some of the guys thought it was a draw after the game, Simpson said with a laugh.So trying to stay in tune with whats happening with the scoreboard, let alone the time left, is always a challenge. ' ' '

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Indiana finally took advantage of its opportunities Saturday night and delivered a signature Big Ten win for coach Kevin Wilson.Richard Lagow caught one touchdown pass and threw for two more. The Hoosiers forced Michael Geiger to try a 49-yard field goal after back-to-back sacks. And after Griffin Oakes missed his third field goal of the game, a leaping call against No. 17 Michigan State gave him a second chance and he made a 20-yarder two plays later to complete an improbable come-from-behind 24-21 upset over the Spartans.The exuberant Hoosiers ran down the field to get their hands on the Old Brass Spittoon, the series trophy that they hadnt won since 2006.Theyre excited about winning, Wilson said. I think they knew if we played hard and got into the fourth quarter that wed have a chance and we did.Indiana (3-1, 1-0 Big Ten) won its s first overtime game in six years and got its second win in 26 tries over a ranked foe, but it wasnt easy.The Hoosiers nearly won it in regulation with a goal-line stand, after a replay review overturned a tying TD run by the Spartans. Instead, Michigan State quarterback Tyler OConnor found a wide open Josiah Price for a 2-yard TD pass with 11 seconds to go to tie the score.In overtime, after Geiger pushed his kick to the left, Oakes also missed his to the left before the leaping call on Drake Martinez.Michigan State (2-2, 0-2) has lost back-to-back games for the first time since November 2012 despite holding the usually prolific Hoosiers scoreless until the final minute of the third quarter.Great drive at the end of the game to tie it up, but not very good in overtime -- thats for sure, coach Mark Dantonio said. We were sacked twice, we jump over the pile. Very disappointed. Now we have to claw our way back into things.THE TAKEAWAYMichigan State: The Spartans knew they faced a big challenge after Connor Cook & Co. graduated. But nobody in East Lansing could have expected a 0-2 start in conference play. Now the defending Big Ten champs no longer control their own destiny, either, falling two games behind No. 2 Ohio State, No. 4 Michigan and unbeaten Maryland in the East Division.Indiana: The Hoosiers turnaround continues. After making the postseason for the first time since 2007 last year, they now have two trophies -- the Old Oaken Bucket and spittoon -- on campus for the first time since 2001.POLL IMPLICATIONSMichigan State: The Spartans will likely slide out of the rankings this week and will find it tough to make it back in without an upset of the Wolverines or Buckeyes -- or both -- later this season.Indiana: The Hoosiers victory may garner some votes but probably not enough to move into the rankings.BIG PLAY SPARTANSOConnors 86-yard TD pass to R.J. Shelton was the longest by an opponent in Memorial Stadium, breaking the previous mark of 82 yards set by the Spartans in 2008. It also was the fourth-longest pass play against the Hoosiers, matching the length of a TD pass Kirk Gibson caught in 1978.INJURY REPORTThe most significant injury was to Michigan State cornerback Darian Hicks, who left with what appeared to be a hip or waist injury. Dantonio did not provide an update after the game. The Spartans had several players leave during the game but the others to be serious. Michigan State played without linebacker Riley Bullough for the second straight week. Indiana didnt appear to sustain any additional injuries but played again without right tackle Dimitric Camiel (back) or right guard Dan Feeney (concussion).UP NEXTMichigan State: Next weekend, the Spartans host BYU but they cant afford another slip up. They need to start building momentum for the Big Ten race.Indiana: The Hoosiers visit No. 2 Ohio State next weekend, a team theyve challenged in recent years but still havent beaten since 1990 -- or in Columbus since 1987.---Online:AP college football coverage at www.collegefootball.ap.org Nike Air Max Wholesale . PAUL, Minn. Cheap Nike Air Max Tn Australia . 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. http://www.outletairmaxaustralia.com/ . Vettel, who has already clinched his fourth straight F1 title, enters the finale with a chance to equal Michael Schumachers 13 victories in a year and match the record of nine consecutive wins by Alberto Ascari in the 1952 and 1953 seasons. Nike Air Max Fury Australia . 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. Air Max 97 Plus Australia . Anthony Calvillo, through 20 CFL seasons, was frequently invincible and largely stoic in the heat of competition. But underneath the professional exterior he was, and is, compellingly human.ROCKVILLE, Md. -- Two-time champion Lee Janzen has been knocked out of U.S. Open qualifying for wearing metal spikes at a golf course that doesnt allow them. Janzen was at Woodmont Country Club for a 36-hole qualifier and opened with a 75 on the North course when it was discovered he was wearing metal spikes. All players were informed in a May 20 letter from the Michael Cumberpatch of the Mid-Atlantic Golf Association, the official in charge of the Woodmont qualifier. The second item -- right before the item that says shorts are allowed -- said steel spikes were not allowed for the qualifying rounds or even the practice rounds. Cumberpatch later said in an interview with Golf Channel that all but two sectional qualifying sites ban metal spikes for the qualifier. The exceptions were in Columbus, Ohio, and Memphis, Tenn., where the majority of PGA Tour players were competing. Metal spikes are allowed on the PGA Tour and the major championships, even at the U.S. Open. Janzen said on Twitter he received the spikes rulle in an email.dddddddddddd "More concerned about my game. 71 1st round put me way back anyway," he tweeted. Only eight players from the Woodmont qualifier advance to the U.S. Open next week at Merion in suburban Philadelphia. Janzen won the 1993 U.S. Open at Baltusrol and the 1998 U.S. Open at Olympic Club. Asked if there might have been confusion about the spikes because Janzen played a Web.com Tour event in the Washington area, Cumberpatch told Golf Channel, "The only confusion would be you didnt read the documentation youre required to read." "Youre responsible for knowing the conditions under which youre playing," Cumberpatch said. Janzen was disqualified for the metal spikes nearly eight years after a short-lived debate about spikes on the PGA Tour. A petition in August 2005 sought support from the Player Advisory Council to get rid of the metal spikes. Janzen was quoted in a story in USA Today as saying, "Its got no chance. You cant ban metal spikes." ' ' '

I needed some help. That much was clear.My normal day for writing this column is Wednesday. Its an all-day and sometimes all-night affair between me, my computer and a copious amount of diet cola. Its not pretty but somehow, someway, it gets done.Except this week, Field Yates, Stephania Bell and I did a live performance of the Fantasy Focus 06010 podcast Wednesday night in Boston. While its always really fun and gratifying to go meet fans and do the show live, it also means my time to write was severely truncated. I spent Tuesday night doing the Loves and the Hates, but for the intro this week, I knew I needed help. So I called my dear friend Michelle Beadle. Beadle, of course, is the host of SportsNation, weekdays at 4 p.m. ET on ESPN, as well as the new host of NBA Countdown on Wednesdays and Fridays (a well-deserved gig that shell totally crush).She also happens to be one of my favorite people on the planet.I called her and made the pitch. I have an idea for my next column. Youve interviewed thousands upon thousands of people in your career, from all walks of life. Youre great at it. So I want you to interview me. Send me any 10 questions, nothing is off limits, ask me anything you want and Ill answer it in my next column. Be funny, serious, whatever you want. What do you think? Beadle said she was game and so here, now, is Michelle Beadle with the definitive Matthew Berry interview.Beadle: Im honored that you asked me to do this. First time, long time.Berry: Thanks for doing it. Whatcha got?Beadle: Los Angeles media star Steve Mason had a large role in launching you into the fantasy stratosphere; how did you pay him back?Berry: Yeah, he really did. Mason, of course, is part of the popular Mason & Ireland radio show on ESPN 710 in L.A., and also does a ton of other stuff. In terms of how Ive paid him back, well, I wrote about his kindness and support in my book, Ive done a weekly segment on his radio show for about 10 years now, I give him advice on his fantasy team ... and uh, yeah. This is awkward. Not nearly enough. Maybe Ill send candlesticks. Candlesticks always make a nice gift.Beadle: When you were writing Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles, were you afraid of winning too many Oscars?Berry: Well I co-wrote it, of course. When we finished the draft, I re-read it and I realized that if we didnt change something, this third sequel of a 16-year-old movie would sweep the Oscars. Then would come instant fame, riches, women and then next thing you know Im coked out of my mind on a year-long bender with Charlie Sheen. Dodging that was of the utmost importance.Jokes aside, Ive written about that experience a lot but one tidbit Ive never mentioned is that -- and this will shock you because it shocked me -- in 1987, Paul Hogan was actually nominated for an Oscar for best original screenplay for the first Crocodile Dundee. Which he would remind us of all the time when we would, um, let me try not to get sued here, uh, when we would disagree on the creative merits of his suggestions. Nightmare. Hey Croc 3 bought me my first house, so its like I always tell the kids: If youre gonna sell out, sell out big.Beadle: Congratulations on the new album. What was the thinking behind naming the band The Maypoles?Berry: Thanks. Dancing around the Maypole was something I enjoyed as young boy growing up in England.Now normally I would just go along with the joke, but I already get mistaken for The British Matt Berry often enough. If anyone from SAG-AFTRA is reading this or any one of Matts representatives, can you help me? I continually get residual checks and statements for Matt that arent mine. Ive literally sent 15 emails and made 10 calls and no one will get back to me or fix this. So I just send the checks back and then they keep getting sent back to me. So, yo, British Matt Berry, I keep getting residual checks and official mail for you. Next one I get, Im buying a pony.Beadle: Youve made cameos across multiple platforms. Have you ever turned anything down?Berry: Well, I passed on a supermarket opening in Osk Kosh but that was more of a scheduling conflict, so no. I havent. Loved you in Sharknado 3, by the way.Beadle: If you could trade places with anyone at ESPN, who would it be and why?Berry: Actually a great question. And a tough one. Truthfully, I think I got the best job in America. But theres definitely a few at ESPN I would be happy to switch with. I mean obviously Jesse Palmer. When you said switch places, I get to keep his hair, right? And wardrobe? And crazy genetics? His play-by-play and Good Morning America gigs are pretty good too. I always really admired Bill Simmons role with Grantland when he was with us. Im an entrepreneurial guy, so I feel that would be awesome to have a hand in a bunch of different things, work with a specific group of folks, while continuing TV and podcast duties. But, if I have to pick just one... Im gonna say Marcellus Wiley. Gets to do a radio show in L.A. -- I love L.A. and L.A. sports, loved working for 710 a little while -- gets to do a show with you every day where you guys just laugh and laugh; so jealous of that. And gets to live in L.A., which I miss terribly. So yeah, if Marcellus decided to retire, I want that job.Beadle: Youre a New York Times best-selling author. So is Khloé Kardashian. More of a statement than a question.Berry: And Snooki! Dont forget Snooki! Shes a best-seller too! Im of two minds about of it. On the one hand, yes, you could argue having pop culture names like that as N.Y. Times Best-Selling Authors cheapens it a bit, but I prefer to think of it this way: Regardless of if you personally are a fan of a Kardashian or not, the fact is a ton of people are. And that they paid good money to get a book that has that persons name on it means something. So I dont have an issue with it.A 12-year-old emailed me last year and asked to interview me for his school paper. I said OK but he had to come do it on our podcast, which he did. Got a tour of ESPN, the whole deal, had a great time. And he asked me during it what one professional accomplishment I am most proud of, and I said the book. There were so many naysayers when I was working on it. Your audience only likes you because its free; they like you because of fantasy advice; they like you because of ESPN; youll never get people to actually pay money for something that has no fantasy advice in it, that isnt affiliated with ESPN; only women buy books. I feel its the best thing Ive ever written. It was just me and the screen alone for two long years, and for it to be well-reviewed and then get on the list for about two months meant so much to me, you have no idea. So there, Beadle. I took your snarky question and made an earnest answer out of it. Plus, I got to make a Snooki reference. That, young readers, is what we in the writing biz call a win-win.Beadle: Have you ever had that feeling when youre floating above yourself as you give serious advice to strangers about fake teams theyve drafted and thought, What the hell am I doing?Berry: Only every day of my life. I tweeted this out on the Fourth of July this year and 100 percent meant it: Truly blessed to live in a country where I can make a living wearing makeup and talking about fake football on TV.Beadle: When did you decide it was safe to give up any backup plan?Berry: Yeah, heres the weird part. This job is the backup plan.Beadle: Who are you voting for in the upcoming election?Berry: So I didnt know Beadle in high school, but I know exactly what she was like. She never got in trouble. Teachers pet. But what she would do is, when teacher wasnt looking, would whisper to some dumb kid Hey, you know what would be funny? You should ... and then the dumb kid would invariably do whatever it was to impress Beadle, shed laugh and the kid would get detention. Michelle is totally that girl. The instigator. Of course she knows I cant answer that question because my editor has gently and patiently explained to me in great detail what hed do to me if I tried to insert politics into my column. Nice try, Beadle. But obviously, Im writing in a vote for President Jim Bob Cooter and Vice President Boaty McBoatface.Beadle: How much do you regret asking me to do this?Berry: Not nearly as much as my editor regrets approving this idea.Lets get to it. Thanks to Michelle Beadle -- watch SportsNation every day at 4 p.m. ET on ESPN! -- and to Thirsty Kyle Soppe of ESPN Fantasy for his help with this column. As always, this is not a start-sit column but rather about players I feel exceed or fall short of expectations. For my thoughts on start/sit, see my rankings, which are updated throughout the week, with the last update at 12:15 p.m. ET on Sunday, after the early inactives are announced. Also, tune into Fantasy Football Now, Sunday mornings at 11 a.m. ET on ESPN2.Quarterbacks I love in Week 7Matt Ryan, Falcons: In four of the past five seasons, Ryan has ended the month of September as a top-five fantasy QB. He has never finished the season as a top-five QB, though. Now, he does have two top-seven finishes in the past four seasons (we are in the middle of Year 5), so its not all bad. But the fact remains he has always dropped off after September. Im here to say ... not this season. I believe, baby. If anything happens to Julio Jones, I get to change my mind, but right now, Ryan is locked in as a must-start. Only Tom Brady comes in higher for me this week against a banged-up San Diego secondary that is 18th against the pass during the past four weeks. Amazingly, on Ryans run to the current No. 1 QB in fantasy, he has played only two home games. But traditionally, he is even better at home, and this season, hes averaging almost 30 points a game there. Two first names ... always a crowd pleaser.Andy Dalton, Bengals: The Red Rifle was on the love list last week, and he stepped up, so you know he earns a repeat appearance with the Browns up next. Cleveland has allowed three touchdown passes in four straight games, and Dalton is playing terrific, completing a career-best 67.4 percent of his passes this season. Coming off back-to-back 21-point performances, Dalton makes it three straight against a Browns squad that is giving up 21 fantasy points a game to opposing quarterbacks.Philip Rivers, Chargers: It has been an inconsistent season for Rivers, who already has 13 points or fewer in three different games, but Im team #gonnabeashootoutinthedome this week. Sure, the Falcons managed to corral Paxton Lynch and a less-than-100-percent Russell Wilson, but this is a bit different. I think Ryan has a big game here, which means Rivers is gonna have to chuck it himself -- both teams are top three in the NFL in pass attempts per game. Jameis Winston and the Panthers duo (Cam Newton and Derek Anderson) combined for 618 yards and seven passing scores in the two home games against the Falcons this season. With extra time to prepare (the Chargers played last Thursday), expect Rivers to come out throwing and go pass for pass with the Falcons. Hes a clear top-10 play for me.Kirk Cousins, Redskins: After a shaky start, Kirk has righted the ship with multiple touchdown passes in three of his past four games, and he has thrown at least 260 yards passing in five of six. Heading now to Jim Bob Cooter Stadium in Detroit -- I just assume theyre gonna rename it that soon, so might as well start saying it now -- where the Lions are allowing opponents to complete a league-high 73 percent of passes (17 touchdowns and just three interceptions). No team allows more fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks, and you know the age-old fantasy football rule: If Case Keenum can throw for 321 and three scores against a defense, so can Kirk. And hes still available in nearly 30 percent of leagues, by the way.Others receiving votes: Over the past two weeks, the No. 1 QB in fantasy is ... Marcus Mariota, thanks in part to the most designed runs of any QB in that time frame. I worry a bit that the Titans just run all over the Colts here, but Indy has allowed multiple touchdown passes in three straight. ... I generally hate traveling teams on Thursday night, but you can throw on the Packers (theyve given up at least 17 points to opposing QBs in three of the past four games), and Brian Hoyer now has four straight games of more than 300 yards passing. The Packers secondary continues to be banged up, and I dont see either team running that effectively here. ... It didnt look good last time we saw Jameis Winston, thats for sure, but the Bucs are coming off the bye and will face a 49ers team that has allowed multiple touchdown passes in five straight games (including the likes of Drew Stanton and Tyrod Taylor).Quarterbacks I hate in Week 7Russell Wilson, Seahawks: 11, 11, 13, 24, 10. Those are the point totals by week for Wilson. Hes getting healthier, and by the end of it, hell be among the elite fantasy QBs, but I dont see it starting this weekend. You can actually run on Arizona (17th against the run the past four weeks), but they have the third-lowest completion percentage against and a league-high nine interceptions. Wilson has recorded just 12 carries for five yards in his past three games, and the Seahawks seem to be taking it easy on him with the rushing, keeping his ceiling lower. Hes outside my top 10 this week.Carson Palmer, Cardinals: Podcast fans know how I feel about Palmer, who has just two touchdown passes and five interceptions in his past three games. He scored a total of 26 points in those three weeks. For comparison, six different QBs scored at least 26 in Week 6. Palmer has been looking old and skittish recently. His yards per attempt are down significantly this season (not good on an offense that thrives in chucking it), and he should be under pressure often -- only five teams in the NFL have more sacks than the Seahawks. The days of Palmer being an elite fantasy starter every week appear over. It was fun while it lasted, Carson.Carson Wentz, Eagles: Remember when Carson Wentz was a thing? Well, he looked like a flustered rookie against Washington and was pressured repeatedly last week. The QB was sacked five times and hit 11 times as the Eagles really missed Lane Johnson. Now here come the Vikings, off a bye, with only two teams in the NFL having more sacks (and the Vikes have played just five games). The Vikings are allowing just 12 fantasy points per game to opposing QBs (that includes games against Cam Newton and Aaron Rodgers), so Im not sure Wentz is even worthy in 2-QB leagues this week. Hes outside my top 25.Running backs I love in Week 7LeVeon Bell, Steelers: Just putting him here in case you were all panicked about Ben Roethlisberger missing this game and potentially more. Stop it. Yes, going from Ben to Landry Jones is a downgrade, but the talent of Bell plus the volume of touches keeps him as a rock-solid RB1. Dont get cute.Jacquizz Rodgers, Buccaneers: This is mostly based on the matchup. The 49ers are allowing 5.0 yards per carry while coughing up 164 rushing yards more than any other team this season. Its worth noting that the last four running backs the 49ers have faced are LeSean McCoy, David Johnson, Ezekiel Elliott and Christine Michael. But still, Rodgers actually looked decent on Monday night in Week 5, and hes going to get all the carries in this one. The 49ers are allowing a league-high 3.29 yards per carry before contact, so Rodgers is a legit RB2 this week.Spencer Ware, Chiefs: By the time the Chiefs fully ease Jamaal Charles back into the role, hell be retired. They are taking lots and lots of precaution with their 29-year-old running back who has had two ACL surgeries (hmm, when I say it like that, it actually makes a lot of sense), so Ware has continued to play a larger role in this offense. The best way to defend Drew Brees is to keep him off the field, playing ball-control offense, which you should see a lot of Sunday. Ware is averaging 7.1 yards per touch, so he should have no issue getting into the end zone against a Saints team that has allowed a league-high 11 rushing touchdowns, including multiple such scores in three straight games.C.J. Anderson, Broncos: Hey, I hear ya, OK? I hear ya. Its been tough sledding recently. But I actually found some positives in last weeks game. For all the Devontae Booker talk, Anderson outsnapped Booker 57-15 in that game. He also had one catch, 47 total yards and a touchdown called back by penalty on three plays. If that doesnt happen, his final numbers would have been 17 touches for 118 total yards and a score. The narrative changes quite a bit if that happens. It didnt, of course, and thats part of fantasy football. Bad luck will be a part of it, but I still expect him to get the majority of snaps against a Texans team that has allowed more than 105 rushing yards to running backs or a rushing touchdown in every game this season. Anderson represents a solid play and someone who will be low-owned in DFS tournaments.Others receiving votes: In the two games Tom Brady has started this season, James White is outsnapping LeGarrette Blount 73-54 and is tied with DeMarco Murray as the ninth-best RB in fantasy in standard scoring (seventh-best in PPR). Now he gets a Steelers team that has already allowed eight scores to opposing running backs and gives up the third-most receptions to opposing backs. ... Like Kirk Cousins, Matt Jones has looked like a different guy recently, with more than 130 total yards in two of three games and at least 16 touches four straight weeks. Hell take on a Lions team allowing the third-most yards per rush before first contact. ... If youre truly desperate, I expect Mike Davis to get the start over an injured Carlos Hyde this weekend against a Bucs team that has coughed up 440 rushing yards and six rushing scores to opposing RBs over the past four games.Running backs I hate in Week 7Matt Forte, Jets: Traveling on a short week, the Jets offense looks like a hot mess, and Forte isnt even the running back playing the most; Bilal Powell has outsnapped him 127-126 the past four games. Averaging just 2.8 yards per carry in his past three, Forte just doesnt look great from the eye test. He scored three touchdowns in Week 2 but hasnt scored in any other week. During the past four weeks, no team has allowed fewer rushing yards per game than the Baltimore Ravens. Im looking around for better options if I can find them.Jordan Howard, Bears: Its always dangerous putting the Thursday guys in the column, because if he scores or has a big game, Friday morning is rough. But heres my concern. Last week was the first week KaDeem Carey got some real work. It was still the Jordan Howard show, but look closer. Carey gained 16 more rushing yards on six fewer carries (while Howard played 54 snaps to Careys 26). Howard rushed 15 times for 34 yards, averaging just 2.3 yards per carry, whereas Carey rushed nine times for 50 yards, or 5.6 yards per carry. Maybe it was just a game flow thing, trying to get a spark out of their run game, but ... maybe not? You could certainly see a scenario in which they split touches here, and Green Bay presents a tough matchup, giving up just 0.74 yards before first contact per carry this season (second-best is 1.77). The Bears just lost former Packer and three-time Pro Bowl left guard Josh Sitton, a terrific run blocker, to injury. So that hurts, too. Given the state of running backs this season, you probably dont have better options, but Howard is a low-end RB2 for me this week, not the top-10 guy he has been the past few weeks. Oh, and if you own Howard, pick up Carey.Isaiah Crowell, Browns: Part of the appeal here was the volume, and its just not there recently. Crowell has outsnapped Duke Johnson just 100-97 the past three weeks. Crowell is averaging a mere 1.73 yards per carry the past two games, and its clear the Browns miss left guard Joel Bitonio, a terrific run blocker who is out for the year after suffering a Lisfranc injury. The Bengals have been run on recently, first by Zeke Elliott and then last week by the Patriots, but Crowell isnt going to get that kind of workload or blocking. Hes merely a TD-dependent flex this week.Raiders running backs: I dont care if Latavius Murray is back or not. Whoever starts will be in a committee going against a surprisingly solid Jags run defense. Jacksonville is ninth-best in rushing yards allowed per game during the past four games, is in the top 10 in fewest fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs and has kept opposing runners below 70 yards in the three of five. Youre hoping for a touchdown here, and the Jaguars have given up just three in five games. But given how many Oakland RBs touch the ball, its hard to say who ends up getting the score. The dreaded west coast team traveling east for a 1 p.m. ET game ... this smells like a trap to me. No thanks.Wide receivers I love in Week 7Antonio Brown, Steelers: See Bell, LeVeon. Im putting him here because Ive seen too many people panic about the Roethlisberger injury. My Twitter timeline filled with people freaking out and quoting stats from last year when Ben was out (which were not good) and the fact that Brown has never caught a touchdown in his NFL career from anyone but Ben Roethlisberger. OK, much of last season when Brown struggled was with Michael Vick at QB and, frankly, he had no business being in the NFL at that point in his career. There was only one game -- ONE - in which Landry Jones situation was similar to what it is this week. That is, Jones knows he is going to be the starter from the start of the week and gets all the first-team reps with the ones ... and then goes on to both start and finish the game. That was last season in Kansas City (not an easy opponent), and Brown had six catches (on eight targets) for 124 yards. Yes, its a crazy-small sample size, but its all we have to go on and, frankly, in this instance its all we need. It proves what we need to: that weve seen Brown be successful with Jones as the starting QB. Now, we will see if it continues, and certainly theres a chemistry Brown and Roethlisberger have that isnt there with Jones, not to mention this is a tough matchup with the Patriots. But Browns elite talent, the offensive scheme and his high target floor keep him as a WR1 for me this week and every week Big Ben is out. That may seem obvious to you, but man you should have seen my Twitter feed the night Bens injury news came out.Marvin Jones, Lions: Im putting him here because a lot of people are asking if Golden Tate has surpassed him, and because Im not worried about Josh Norman in this one. Jones is the only wideout with at least seven fantasy points in all six games this season (no other WR has a streak of more than three games), he has four TDs in his past four games and then you look at Washington. The opposing WR1 has averaged six catches for 88 yards against the Redskins, with three touchdowns. I have Marvin as a top-10 play this week.Alshon Jeffery and Cameron Meredith, Bears: See Howard, Jordan. With the Bears struggling to run the ball, expect them to throw, throw, throw against a banged-up and struggling Packers defense. Eddie Royal already has been ruled out, so these two and Zach Miller should see double-digit targets each against a secondary that has allowed opposing wideouts an average of 188 yards per game and eight TDs this season.Tyrell Williams, Chargers: The 6-foot-4 Williams has matched or outscored Travis Benjamin in four straight games and he leads the Chargers in red zone targets with nine (the same total as Antonio Gates and Hunter Henry combined, though Gates has missed some time). I expect Desmond Trufant to be on Benjamin more often than not and you know I expect this game to be a shootout, so Williams is a high-end WR3 this week.Others receiving votes: I realize how brutal Jeremy Maclin has been, but Im back in for one more week at home against a Saints team that has given up more than 200 receiving yards to wide receivers in four out of five weeks this season. ... Youre already starting Allen Robinson, but I like Allen Hurns this week, as hell see a lot of burnable D.J. Hayden in a matchup the Jaguars should be able to move the ball in. ... The Steelers are allowing the fourth-highest completion percentage on passes 15 yards or deeper, so the thinking is this might be the week Chris Hogan gets deep for one. ... The Rams have allowed the slot receiver to catch at least seven passes in five of six weeks this season, making Sterling Shepard a viable consideration this week for three-WR leagues.Wide receivers I hate in Week 7Jordan Matthews, Eagles: Matthews is banged up and as Carson Wentz has started spreading it around more, Matthews has seen his targets drop to just 4.7 a game during the past three games. Going against a Vikings defense that has allowed just two wide receiver touchdowns all season long (and none from the slot), Matthews is an easy sit.Willie Snead, Saints: Aside from the obvious Drew Brees home/road splits (the game is in Arrowhead ... ding!), the Chiefs have allowed just one score and an average of 51 yards a game to opposing slot receivers. When you are on the field with Brees you always have a chance to score, but as Coby Fleener and Michael Thomas continue to get more involved with the offense, Snead is a risky WR3/4 this week.Golden Tate, Lions: OK, so that was nice, but I am going to need to see it more than once. Dont look now, but since getting embarrassed by Antonio Brown in the Monday night opener (it happens to a lot of folks), the Redskins have allowed just two touchdowns to opposing wide receivers in five games. You know I already like Marvin Jones in this game, so I dont see both of them having big games here. I need to see it again from Tate before I trust him in my lineup.Tight ends I love in Week 7Delanie Walker, Titans: He has been bad or out in three of the past four weeks, but Im back on him this week as a top-five play. The Colts have given up at least 70 yards to opposing tight ends in three of the past four games and with them struggling to generate a pass rush (only two teams have fewer sacks), I expect Walker to run more routes in this one.Zach Miller, Bears: Thursdays game could be really awesome for me or really ugly. But again, I dont think the Bears will run that effectively here and that Brian Hoyer throws a ton. With Eddie Royal out, Miller should see a ton of targets. Since Hoyer took over in Week 3, Miller is the fourth-best tight end in fantasy (second best in PPR scoring), hes second in receptions, seventh in receiving yards and third in targets among tight ends. Ive been screaming about this guy since the preseason and yet hes still available in 25 percent of leagues. Miller has the team lead in red zone targets and now gets a Packers team that gives up the ninth-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends.Hunter Henry, Chargers: Two first names, still a crowd pleaser. He has scored in three straight, totaled 60 yards or more in four straight and while I wish he ran a few more routes, theres no question Rivers is looking for him. The Falcons are giving up the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends, including 95 yards or a score in five of the past six.Others receiving votes: Cameron Brate had a quiet game before the bye, but he has been much more involved since the team moved on from Austin Seferian-Jenkins. His upcoming schedule is ridiculously friendly to tight ends, starting with San Francisco on Sunday. Tight ends have caught at least seven passes against the 49ers in three of the past four games. Brate is available in more than 75 percent of leagues. ... If Dwayne Allen were to miss time, deeper leagues should look at Jack Doyle, who has become a reliable outlet for Andrew Luck (he has caught 87 percent of targets this season) and figures to see a lot more work, especially in the red zone.Tight ends I hate in Week 7Coby Fleener, Saints: I swear, this isnt just because he vultured a goal-line carry from Mark Ingram, whom I own in two leagues. Of course Fleener scores the first rushing touchdown by a Saints TE since 1976 (hat tip to Mike Triplett). OF COURSE. But nah, as you can tell Im down on the periphery of the Saints passing offense this week, especially as it relates to the middle of the field. You know I dont like Snead in part because of K.C.s success at defending the slot ... well, Fleener is second on the Saints in slot targets. The Chiefs have held the entire tight end position of their opponents to fewer than five points in three of the past four games. Fleeners scoring last week was very fluky (the rush, then the miscommunication with Snead where one of them got their routes mixed up. Supposedly it was Snead, but I still think it was Fleener and Brees is covering for him, because Im stubborn like that). Fleener is outside my top 10.Zach Ertz, Eagles: Yeah, so, this Vikings defense? Its good, and hasnt allowed a touchdown to a tight end this season. Meanwhile, Ertz is still finding his way with Wentz, as he has been targeted on just 11.1 percent of the passes since his return two games ago.Defenses I love in Week 7Cincinnati Bengals: In five of six weeks, the opposing defense has scored at least six points against the Browns. Cleveland may be without Terrelle Pryor in this one and after a tough loss to the Patriots, the Bengals come back home in a game they need to win. Cincys defense is inconsistent, but the Bengals have beaten up on the bad teams (19 total fantasy points against Miami and the Jets).Baltimore Ravens: Somehow they are still available in more than 50 percent of leagues, and now they will see Geno Smith under center for the Jets. I mean ... how much more do you need here?Others receiving votes: Everyone is starting the Vikings, but Phillys defense could be OK here as well. Sam Bradfords return to Philly? Yeah, the Eagles defensive players are very familiar with him from practice. ... The Patriots are always well-prepared and now get the Landry Jones experience. Even though I think LeVeon and Antonio are fine here, it doesnt mean I think Landry is.Defenses I hate in Week 7Los Angeles Rams: These London games are always so weird and Im not starting a team that already has allowed 11 passing touchdowns and is about to face Odell Beckham Jr.Houston Texans: The Broncos should go ball control here, running effectively and wearing down a defense that is tied for 29th against the run the past four weeks. That also means fewer opportunities for turnovers and sacks.Matthew Berry, The Talented Mr. Roto, sure is glad Beadle didnt ask him for his thoughts on pool noodle etiquette. He is the creator of RotoPass.com, a paid spokesman for DraftKings.com and one of the owners of the Fantasy Life app. Shaquille ONeal Cavaliers Jersey . But by the time the game started, the Toronto Raptors forward felt even worse. And, for three quarters, it showed as Gay shot a woeful three-for-13 from the field. Kyle Korver Jersey . The Australian is competing in his final season in Formula One and still looking for his first win this year. He will look to end Vettels run of six straight race wins on Sunday. Webber, who is fifth in the championship, earned his second pole from the past three races and 13th of his career. https://www.thecavalierslockerroom.com/Jordan-Clarkson-City-Edition-Jersey/ . On Mar. 16, coming off a "fight of the year" performance at UFC 154 the previous November, St-Pierre faced Nick Diaz at UFC 158 in what would be his eighth defence of the welterweight title. Using his superior athleticism, St-Pierre cruised to a five round, unanimous decision victory setting up a much-anticipated title defence against number one contender Johny Hendricks. George Hill Jersey . PETERSBURG, Fla. Alec Burks Jersey . Once again, DeLaet finished tied for second at a PGA Tour stop on the weekend, this time at the Waste Management Phoenix Open. The pride of Weyburn, Sask.Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane has confirmed that Gareth Bale will return to his sides squad for Saturdays La Liga game at home to Celta Vigo. Bale, 26, has not featured for Real since suffering a calf injury in January, and will be a significant boost to their ailing season.Gareth will be in the squad tomorrow, Zidane said at his pre-match press conference on Friday. It is very good news and it makes us very happy - and the fans, too.Bale had scored 13 goals in 17 games for Real this season before suffering his injury against Sporting Gijon in January, and in his absence their title campaign has faltered - they are currently 12 points behind Barcelona with nine games to go. And as well as Bale, Zidane will be boosted by the return of captain Sergio Ramos and Dani Carvajal from suspension, while Marcelo will also return to the squad from injury. Luka Modric is back in training, but Saturdays game comes too soon foor him.dddddddddddd Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane is pleased to see Bale back Modric will not be in the squad, though, but Marcelo will, said Zidane. I dont want to take risks as we have Tuesdays game [against Roma in the Champions League] and Luka is not yet ready.[Toni] Kroos is not in the squad tomorrow, either, as he has the flu, and is not ready.Watch highlights of Real Madrids La Liga clash at home to Celta Vigo at 9.30pm on Saturday on Sky Sports 3 HD. Also See: Get Sky Sports Real Madrid video Real Madrid fixtures Real Madrid stats Bet ￡5 Get ￡20 Free ' ' '

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- No. 18 Purdue currently has only eight healthy scholarship players. At this point in the season, it hasnt been a problem.Isaac Haas scored 14 points, Caleb Swanigan had 13 points and 10 rebounds and Dakota Mathias added 12 points on four 3-pointers, leading the Boilermakers to a 77-53 victory over Cleveland State on Saturday.Fifth-year graduate student point guard Spike Alnrecht (back) and sophomore forward Jacquil Taylor (foot surgery) are out indefinitely. However, Purdue is getting balanced scoring and solid defense from its eight healthy scholarship players.The Boilermakers (8-2) finished the first half on a 12-0 run to lead 41-20 and never were threatened thereafter, leading by as many as 27 points in the second half.That run to close the first half was huge, especially since they had started to make shots right before that and had a little momentum going, Mathias said. Coming out of that last media timeout, we had to close out the first half strong, so we did. We were aggressive and got into the passing lanes.It was a 5:15 stretch Cleveland State would like to forget.The run to close the first half was big for (Purdue) after we cut it to nine, Cleveland State coach Gary Waters said. We made some errors, they started hitting some shots and they picked up their defense. They are a great team, and thats what great teams do.Bobby Word had 14 points to lead Cleveland State (3-6), which shot only 26.7 percent (8 of 30) during the pivotal first half. Vikings leading scorers Word, Rob Edwards and Demonte Flannigan scored only 24 combined points on 9-of-35 shooting from the field.Vince Edwards added 11 points, six rebounds and four assists for the Boilermakers, who have won each of their past three games by at least 24 points. Mathias finished with six rebounds, seven assists and no turnovers to go with his 12 points in 26 minutes.Vince Edwards had a lot to do with that 12-0 run to close the first half, and right now, having the balance that we have is a really good thing, Purdue coach Matt Painter said. Our guys were ready to play today, including Dakota, who really did a nice defensive job on Edwards. We relaxed a little bit once we got a 20-point lead, but sometimes that happens.Edwards liked the way Purdue limited the Vikings to 31.3 percent shooting (20 of 64).Guys did a really good job on defense and with help defense, Edwards said. We were really helping each other out by scrambling on the floor. I think that made a big difference. We were active, and we also were getting on the glass.The Boilermakers outrebounded the Vikings, 44-34.BIG PICTURECleveland State: The Vikings, who came to Purdue having won two in a row, stayed close for a while by making seven 3-pointers in the first 24:04 but had no answer for Purdues 7-2 Haas and 6-8 Swanigan.Purdue: The Boilermakers once again featured a solid blend of interior and perimeter scoring to win for the seventh time in the past eight games. Purdue entered this game shooting 44.8 percent from 3-point range -- second best nationally -- and shot 43.8 percent from beyond the arc in the first half Saturday.POLL IMPLICATIONSHaving won three in a row by 34, 33 and now 24 points, Purdue likely has positioned itself to move up from No. 18 in the next AP Top 25. Purdue has been a Top 25 team in 24 consecutive polls.UP AND DOWN DAYSwanigan added another double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds but was not happy after making eight of the Boilermakers 15 turnovers.Its not on the team, its on me and Vince Edwards because the last game we had a lot of turnovers, but Vince cut his down to two, and I have to try to do that, Swanigan said.UP NEXTCleveland State: The Vikings play on Dec. 17, at Ohio University.Purdue: The Boilermakers will play No. 23 Notre Dame on Dec. 17 in Indianapolis Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Pittsburgh Pirates Pro Shop .In my heart and mind Im competing for India, luge competitor Shiva Keshavan told The Associated Press in an email interview. Every day Im flooded with messages from Indians all over the world telling me they are supporting me. Stitched Pirates Jerseys . -- Derrick Rose shook off poor shooting early to hit clutch shots late and Carlos Boozer had 20 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Chicago Bulls to a 104-95 preseason victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night. https://www.cheappiratesjerseys.us/ . 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. Cheap Pirates Jerseys . Siddikur, whose previous win on the circuit came in Brunei three years ago, finished his bogey-free round with a birdie on the 18th for a total of 17-under 199. Indias Shiv Chowrasia, who has finished runner-up in this tournament twice, was in second place after a 66. Custom Pittsburgh Pirates Jerseys . Both players have lower body injuries that will keep them out of the lineup until at least January 31, which is the first game they can be activated from IR. A lot of Chicago Cubs fans have waited a long time to see them win the championship. In this case, it feels like forever.How many people can say they went to the very first World Series game at Wrigley Field?That was in 1929, and future Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens was there. He was in the box seats behind third base a few Octobers later, too, and saw Babe Ruth call his shot.Very definitely, Stevens told The Associated Press this week by phone from Florida. He pointed his bat.Now, at 96 and outdating the ivy on the outfield walls at the cherished ballpark, Stevens planned to be at Game 4 Saturday night when his Cubs host the Cleveland Indians.And he had a playful wish. Well, beyond the obvious.Tossing out a ball from the mound at Wrigley, as he did in 2005. Only this time, at the World Series.Id love to, the veteran right-hander said. Id like to see if I can throw it over the plate again.Stevens said he was still on that bench, but added with a bright tone, I suppose theres a couple days left.The Cubs won 5-1 Wednesday night in Cleveland to tie things at one game apiece. The Series shifts to the city where Stevens grew up for Game 3 Friday night.Not since 1908 have the Cubs won the World Series. They were led by the Tinker-to-Evers-to-Chance double play combination that became famed in verse -- the same year, Take Me Out to the Ball Game was written.Born in 1920, Stevens said he has no recollection from his boyhood days of older friends and family members talking about that championship club.Of the some 7.4 billion people on the planet, no telling for sure if theres anyone around who would recall those Cubs.They are alive, but do they remember? said Robert Young, a senior consultant for gerontology for Guinness World Records. I think theres probably a few.Young estimates there are 4,000 people around the globe who were alive theen, most of them outside the United States.ddddddddddddIts amazing to me the Cubs franchise lasted that long without winning, he added.Before the World Series opener, Stevens had already formed his opinion on the outcome.I think the only question is whether it will be four straight or whether it will take five games for us to win it in Chicago, he said.And even though the Indians and their crowd have been waiting since 1948 for a crown, its been much longer on the North Side of Chicago.The Cubs are entitled to win in this one, I think, he said.Justice for the Cubs, so to speak.Stevens served on the Supreme Court from 1975 to 2010 and in his chambers he had an autographed photo of Cubs great Ernie Banks and a jersey of Chicago pitcher Mark Prior.Stevens also had a framed scorecard from the 1932 game when Ruth pointed. It was a gift long ago from a fellow law clerk, who knew Stevens had seen the Bambino that afternoon as a 12-year-old.As a kid, he followed the Cubs in the fledging days of radio. With more modern devices, Stevens rooted for them as often as he could this season.The Cubs began their drive to end the championship drought this year at spring training in the Phoenix suburbs -- in 1908, Arizona wasnt even a state.They led the majors with 103 wins, but Stevens wasnt about to celebrate early. After so many years of hope and so little success, this is their first World Series trip since 1945.Its hard to acknowledge, but it happened, he said.Just like Stevens imagined, sort of. Shortly before opening day, he told the AP he was anticipating big things from this new, talented bunch of Cubs.I dont think its a question of whether theyll win a championship, he said then. Its whether Ill still be here to see it. ' ' '