CHICAGO -- Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts had dinner with president of baseball operations Theo Epstein in Arizona around the start of spring training.If Epstein had any doubt about a contract extension, it ended right there. And on Wednesday, it became official.Chicago announced a five-year extension, rewarding Epstein for an overhaul that has the long-suffering franchise eyeing its first championship since 1908.He started it off by saying some really nice things about me that might have hurt his leverage a little bit, and then I returned the favor by telling him that even if we couldnt work out a contract it would get awkward because I would just keep showing up to work, Epstein said. As an employee, I will. I kept ruining my leverage.The deal comes with the Cubs wrapping up one of the greatest seasons in franchise history and their fans believing this just might be the team to end the 108-year World Series title drought.Chicago reached 100 wins for the first time since 1935 and was a major league-leading 101-56 heading into Wednesdays game at Pittsburgh. The Cubs clinched the best record in the majors with more than a week left in the regular season.In the five years under Theos leadership, he has brought in a strong executive team and acquired and developed some of the best players in the game, Ricketts said. Now, the results are on the field.Terms were not disclosed.It looks like Epstein isnt the only Cubs executive with a new deal. He said contract extensions for general manager Jed Hoyer and senior vice president of scouting and player development Jason McLeod will probably be announced in the next day or two.Epstein, who was in the final season of a five-year deal when he left Boston in October 2011, had repeatedly said a new contract was a formality, that there were more immediate priorities. Ricketts had echoed that and indicated in the spring that he was prepared to make him one of the highest-paid executives in baseball.There was never any real drama throughout the summer, said Ricketts, adding the agreement was finalized a few days ago.What took so long?We sat down at spring training, had a nice dinner, talked about getting an extension done, Ricketts said. Basically, I told him I thought he was the best in the game at what he did. He told me no matter what I paid him he wasnt going to leave Chicago, so we were off to a good start. We checked back in on it a couple times during the summer. There was no real time pressure.The new deal is a reward for a striking transformation that began with the arrivals of Epstein along with Hoyer and McLeod -- his friends from Boston -- following the 2011 season.The Cubs tested some fans patience by taking the long approach rather than going for a quick fix, but they have seen the benefits the past two years. Chicago is eyeing even bigger things after breaking out with 97 wins and reaching the NL Championship Series last season.When you have great leadership at the top, it usually filters through the rest of the group, manager Joe Maddon said. A successful organization has that. We have that. I was very happy to hear the news. Im very happy for Theo and his family and of course, us. It is great. Its a feel-good story. He deserves it. Hes earned it. Im very happy for him.High draft picks such as 2015 NL Rookie of the Year Kris Bryant made big impacts, as did a number of trade acquisitions, including last seasons NL Cy Young Award winner Jake Arrieta, All-Star first baseman Anthony Rizzo and potential Gold Glove shortstop Addison Russell.The hiring of NL Manager of the Year Joe Maddon and signing of starter Jon Lester before the 2015 season showed just how serious the Cubs were about jumping into contention. And the additions of three-time Gold Glove outfielder Jason Heyward, pitcher John Lackey and veteran infielder Ben Zobrist along with the re-signing of outfielder Dexter Fowler this past offseason added to an already deep roster.Throw in the emergence of Kyle Hendricks as a Cy Young candidate, and the Cubs are widely considered a postseason favorite.There were missteps along the way, but the Cubs are in a far different and far better place than they were five years ago. And if they win it all under Epstein, it wont be the first time he helped end a long championship drought.Before he took aim at the Billy goat curse, he took down the Bambino.Epstein oversaw two World Series winners in nine seasons as Bostons general manager.In Chicago, Epstein parted with high-priced veterans and loaded up the minor league system while expanding the teams scouting and analytics operation as part of an overhaul that saw the organization get stripped to its studs.The Ricketts family also invested heavily in infrastructure in recent years, including new training facilities in the baseball-rich Dominican Republic and the spring training home in Arizona. They are also overhauling Wrigley Field and the surrounding neighborhood.There really wasnt anything important to me besides finding common ground, making sure that we could stay and see this thing through, Epstein said. Our mission has not been accomplished yet. http://www.falconsrookiestore.com/Hats/ .C. -- Al Jefferson joked that he feels he can score from anywhere on the court. http://www.falconsrookiestore.com/Falcons-Grady-Jarrett-Jersey/ . Thousands of Southern California fans enveloped the Trojans to celebrate an improbable win secured by an interim coach, an inconsistent kicker and a thin defence that wouldnt break. http://www.falconsrookiestore.com/Falcons-Alex-Mack-Jersey/ .J. Ellis hit two-run homers and the NL West champion Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the San Diego Padres 4-0 Saturday night. http://www.falconsrookiestore.com/Falcons-Levine-Toilolo-Jersey/ . -- Adam Snyder returned to the San Francisco 49ers this season because the offensive lineman thought it was his best opportunity to win a championship. http://www.falconsrookiestore.com/Falcons-Taylor-Gabriel-Jersey/ . 10 Texas Rangers jersey for one last time. Young formally announced his retirement Friday after returning to Rangers Ballpark, his baseball home for all but the last of his 13 major league seasons. WICHITA, Kan. -- Oklahoma State guard Jeffrey Carroll looked around at 15,004 fans in Intrust Bank Arena and knew.He knew why Wichita State was undefeated all-time in six games at its second home and understood this was the type of environment that caused his Cowboys to wilt last season.Not Saturday night. Oklahoma State dominated Wichita 93-76 behind 22 points each from Carroll and Jawun Evans.I think we were more calm, Carroll explained. Last year, if teams made a big run, we would kind of give in. Now we just fight all the time.The Cowboys (9-2) were 14 of 28 from the 3-point line and shot 52.5 percent for the game. Leyton Hammonds scored 12 for Oklahoma State, and Phil Forte added 11.Darral Willis had 24 points and 13 rebounds for Wichita State (9-3).Markis McDuffie had 14 points and Zach Brown added 10.Kudos to Oklahoma State, Shockers coach Gregg Marshall said. They were tough, finished at the rim, hit their 3-pointers. . If they play like that all season, theyll be in the NCAA Tournament and make a run.Oklahoma State took apart a defense that has been one of the nations best this season. The Shockers entered the day third nationally in field goal percentage defense (34.6) and 10th in scoring defense (59.5.)The Cowboys became the first team to score 80 against Wichita State this season -- and did it with 7:59 still remaining.The onslaught started quickly, with Evans leading the way to a 10-1 lead. Even after Evans went to the bench with foul trouble, Carroll heated up.He scored six straight Cowboys points, giving Oklahoma State a 30-13 lead with 8:54 to go before halftime.Carroll came off the bench to make all six of his first-half shots on his way to a game-high 16 points before halftime, helping Oklahoma State to a 49-33 lead.I was just taking what my teammates gave me and convertiing them, Carroll said.dddddddddddd I was just feeling it.Wichita State could not close the gap in the second half. Two three-pointers from Hammonds and another from Carroll put Oklahoma State ahead 61-41 with 16:41 to play, and the Shockers never threatened again.BIG PICTUREOklahoma State: The Cowboys get their best victory -- on the road against an NCAA Tournament quality team -- just in time to provide momentum for Big 12 play.Wichita State: On the verge of a national ranking, the Shockers were overmatched at times in a loss that could haunt Wichita State and the Missouri Valley Conference on Selection Sunday.BENCH MATCHUPEntering the game, Wichita State used its bench for 47.4 percent of its minutes, the most nationally. Oklahoma State was ninth at 43 percentThe Shockers averaged 48.4 points from its reserves (second nationally); the Cowboys 40.7 (fifth).On Saturday night, led by Carroll, Oklahoma States bench won that matchup, 42 points to 22.That was a focus going into the game, Cowboys coach Brad Underwood said. If we could win the battle of the benches and outrebound them, we thought we could beat a very good team.NON-SHAQ ATTACKUnderwood thought his team did a good job taking Wichita State out of its offense. The biggest proof was the Shockers Shaquille Morris going 1 of 2 from the floor for four points in 16 minutes.I was scared to death coming into the game of big Shaq getting the ball in the post and going to the basket, Underwood said.UP NEXTOklahoma State gets a final pre-conference tuneup by hosting Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Thursday.Wichita State plays its final non-conference regular-season game against visiting South Dakota State on Thursday. Cheap Jerseys From China Cheap NFL Black Jerseys Wholesale NFL Gear Cheap Stitched Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys 2018 Wholesale Nike NFL Jerseys White NFL Jerseys Cheap ' ' '