When the Toronto Maple Leafs selected Auston Matthews with the No. Cheap Patriots Jerseys Online . 1 pick of the 2016 draft, the center -- widely considered the best American prospect in a decade -- instantly became the presumed savior of the Original Six team, which is looking to end its 49-year Stanley Cup drought.Those are weighty expectations for anyone, never mind an 18-year-old. But Matthews has never shied away from defying expectations. Born in Northern California and raised in Scottsdale, Arizona, he blazed a non-traditional path to the league and starred for the U.S. national under-18 team. Then, rather than play college hockey or in the?Canadian junior leagues, he signed a one-year contract to play in the Swiss?National League A?for the?ZSC Lions and test himself against professional players.Matthews, who has also been named to Team North Americas roster for the upcoming World Cup of Hockey, understands well the expectations hell face as the franchise center of the future for the Leafs. Hes an otherworldly talent, to be sure. Hes also a pretty interesting guy off the ice. Here, in his own words -- and impeccable handwriting -- Matthews dishes to ESPN.coms Craig Custance about his secret fear, favorite athlete, celebrity crush and more.If I could change one thing about hockey it would be ...The actor Id want to play me in a movie is ...Id do anything to avoid ...The best advice I ever received was ...If could go to dinner with one person, dead or alive, it would be ...My dream job (if I wasnt an athlete) would be ...My favorite athlete growing up was ...My favorite sports memory is ...My favorite sports movie is ...My celebrity crush is ...My last meal on earth would be ...The last thing I read was ...I never leave the house without ...If I could give my younger self one piece of advice, it would be ...My secret talent is ... My biggest regret is ... Cheap Patriots Jerseys . -- The Portland Timbers and Real Salt Lake played to a 0-0 tie Saturday night that left the top of the Western Conference standings unchanged. Wholesale Patriots Jerseys Free Shipping . -- 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. http://www.wholesalepatriotsjerseys.com/ . Pierce was ejected in the third quarter of Indianas 103-86 win Monday. George Hill stole a bad pass and was going in for a layup, and Pierce hustled back and appeared to be trying to wrap him up.(Sports Network) - Nobody was happier to see the calendar turn to August more than Toronto right-hander Josh Johnson. On Thursday, Johnson tries to put a miserable month of July behind him when the Blue Jays begin a four-game set with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Angel Stadium. Johnson hasnt been particularly effective in any month this season, but July was especially brutal for the one-time Cy Young Award candidate. He lost all five starts in July and pitched to a 7.71 ERA in doing so. "Hes scuffling. Thats an understatement," said Blue Jays manager John Gibbons. "Hes feeling it. Hes human. You feel for the guy. He hasnt struggled a whole lot in his career. Hes trying to settle in, hes trying to contribute, (but) it hasnt gone well for him." Johnsons most recent loss came to hapless Houston on Saturday, as he was ripped for seven runs and seven hits in 5 2/3 innings, dropping him to 1-7 on the year to go along with a 6.08 ERA. "This game will definitely test you," Johnson said. "(My confidence is) not real high, but you have to stay positive. (Youve) got to find a way to stay positive ... find a way to get through it and be better because of it." Johnson has never faced the Angels, but is 0-4 with a 7.66 ERA in five starts away from home this season. Toronto enters this series playing well, despite the faact that it still sits in last place of the American League East, 14 games behind the division- leading Boston Red Sox. Youth Braxton Berrios Jersey. The Blue Jays won for the fifth time in seven tries on Wednesday, as Jose Bautistas RBI double in the top of the 10th inning helped them beat the Oakland Athletics, 5-2. "I thought we played a good game," Gibbons said. Los Angeles, meanwhile, is certainly happy to be heading home after suffering three straight walk-off losses to the Texas Rangers. It was the first time that the team dropped three consecutive games in that fashion. In fact, the last team to get swept in a three-game series on three walk-off homers was the Montreal Expos -- now the Washington Nationals -- from May 10-12, 1999, against the Arizona Diamondbacks. "Obviously this last week has been rough for some guys in the pen, but were going to keep going," said Angels manager Mike Scioscia. "Things will get better as we move forward. Some guys who have been pitching a lot need to recharge a bit." Getting the call for the Angels on Thursday will be righty Garrett Richards, who is 2-4 with a 4.33 ERA. Richards did not get a decision on Saturday in Oakland, but pitched well, scattering three hits over five scoreless innings in his teams 3-1 loss. The Blue Jays and Angels split their eight meetings last season. Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale China Jerseys Wholesale China NFL Jerseys White Cheap Jerseys Wholesale Youth NFL Jerseys Wholesale NFL T-shirts From China ' ' '