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PENTICTON, B. Evan Engram Womens Jersey .C. -- Johnny Gaudreau has a single NHL game under his belt, but hes already earned a very catchy nickname. Known as "Johnny Hockey" in an homage to Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel and the "Johnny Football" brand, the slick Calgary Flames prospect is turning heads because of his moves, and his moniker. "(The nickname) is kind of cool, unless youve got (teammates) tweeting from my Twitter that I am Johnny Hockey and no one knows its them tweeting it," said Gaudreau. "Thats probably one of the downfalls of it, but other than that its something special and unique." Generously listed at five foot nine and 160 pounds, the native of Carneys Point, N.J., is special and unique in his own right, and those talents were on full display at the recent rookie tournament hosted by the Vancouver Canucks. The shifty Gaudreau caused a minor uproar in the hockey world with an outrageous goal against the Winnipeg Jets prospects where he undressed a helpless defenceman before roofing a spectacular backhand. A video of the play was posted online within minutes and had social media buzzing. "Its something special you get to have," Gaudreau said modestly. "I made a nice little play there and got the shot off. I was fortunate to have it go in the net and have a whole bunch of people talk about it." Drafted 104th overall back in 2011, Gaudreau took a different route than many prospects at the rookie tournament -- which included prospects from the Edmonton Oilers, Flames, Canucks and Jets. He played three years at Boston College, finishing with an eye-popping 36 goals and 44 assists in just 40 games last season to win the Hobey Baker Award as the top collegiate player in the U.S. The 21-year-old has great vision on the ice and seems to have the puck on a string at times, but said his size has always been an issue. "With every small player you definitely need to show people you can play," said Gaudreau. "Because youre a smaller guy youre at a disadvantage and you need to be better offensively, defensively, at making plays and stuff like that. Its every small guys problem." Other players at the rookie tournament took notice of his talents, including Oilers draft pick Leon Draisaitl, who played against Gaudreaus U.S. team as a member of the German squad at the world championships this spring. "Hes small, tiny, and probably one of the most skilled guys Ive ever seen," said Draisaitl. "That game we played against him he had four points against us and was by far the best player on the ice." A fan of the Philadelphia Flyers growing up, Gaudreau said he was inspired by the likes of Daniel Briere and Martin St. Louis because of how they excelled in a big mans game. "Its hard not to have them as your favourite players when theyre successful in the NHL as smaller guys," said Gaudreau. "Its someone you look up to and you watch in your career and want to become like." Gaudreau, who scored a goal in his only NHL game at the end of last season, said his stature worked against him a lot more when he was growing up. "I got cut when I was younger a lot ... it sucks but its something you need to overcome," said Gaudreau, who should be at Flames training camp when it starts Thursday. "Every players been there, whether youre playing in bantam or in the NHL. Everyone needs to overcome it at some point. "As the years went on I felt like I was getting closer and closer. Im pretty fortunate to be here with a ton of great players." Adirondack Flames head coach Ryan Huska led Calgarys prospects team in Penticton and said Gaudreau brings something special every time he touches the puck. "Hes got this ability where youre amazed," said Huska. "He slows the game down in a positive way. Everybody talks about speeding the game up and how we want to play faster, but theres something to be said for a player that can slow it down. "Hes one of those players ... hell bring people to their feet and energy to his bench." Added linemate and 2014 fourth overall pick Sam Bennett: "Its amazing. Hes an unbelievably skilled player. Any time you get a chance to play with a guy like that, good things are going to happen." Sean Monahan, the sixth overall pick in 2013, made the Flames last year and it remains to be seen if Gaudreau, Bennett or another Calgary prospect can crack the roster this year for a franchise that is rebuilding and has not made the playoffs since 2009. "Its one of the organizations you want to be a part of as a younger guy," said Gaudreau. "Management says theres open spots so youve got to go into camp thinking that youre going to be in one of those spots and just try to prove that you belong there. "Whether I play in the AHL or the NHL, either or, Im just going to do the best I can and see where that goes." Wayne Gallman Jersey . The Spanish champions decision not to sign a defender during the January transfer window may have backfired after Valencia took advantage of a lethargic, uninspired effort by its hosts at the Camp Nou, where former Spain coach Luis Aragones -- who previously coached the Catalan side -- was honoured after his death on Saturday. Davis Webb Jersey . On Saturday night, Winnipegs strong offense was again accompanied by some fantastic pitching which gave the Fish a commanding victory.CALGARY - The Grey Cup arrived in Calgary in one piece. It was the Stampeders who looked worse for wear.Quarterback Bo Levi Mitchells eyes were half-open and the voice of head coach and general manager John Hufnagel cracked as players and coaches rolled off a pair of buses at McMahon Stadium on Monday just past noon.The Stampeders had claimed the 102nd Grey Cup less than 24 hours earlier in Vancouver, where Calgary defeated the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 20-16 at B.C. Place.The team flew in the morning via charter from the West Coast to frosty Calgary, where they were greeted by fans, including one dressed as Santa Claus, and their snow-covered cars in McMahons parking lot.The historic silver trophy that had separated into two pieces during post-game celebrations was intact again and hoisted repeatedly. The cup was back on its base and the players were hazy on the details of its reassembly.How did we fix it? I have no idea how they fixed that, said Mitchell, the Grey Cups MVP. They had some tape on it at first. I dont even know what happened to it. Hey, its a hundred years old right?The City of Calgary will host a downtown celebration for the Stampeders on Tuesday.The Stampeders have compiled the CFLs best regular-season record over their seven seasons under Hufnagel at 88-37-1. Calgary has posted the best single-season record in the CFL, or tied for it, five times.That hassnt often translated into playoff success. Dalvin Tomlinson Womens Jersey. Calgary won a Grey Cup in Hufnagels first year at the helm in 2008, but after that the Stampeders were defeated Saskatchewan in three division finals (2009, 2010, 2013). The Stampeders also lost the 2012 Grey Cup to the host Toronto Argonauts.Ive only had one other Grey Cup win as the head coach, Hufnagel told assembled media. This is for the players. They went through way too much stuff from you guys, believe me, from you guys. Im very pleased they were able to exorcise all that.It was an exciting day, an exciting night. You cannot understand how pleased I am for the players.The Stampeders went 15-3 in the regular season to match a franchise record. Calgary downed the Edmonton Eskimos 43-18 in the West final to advance to this years Grey Cup.Its a satisfying feeling putting all that work in for six months in the off-season and five months during the season, Mitchell said. Hopefully its the first chapter in a very long book. Thats what Im really hoping.The quarterback estimated hed slept half an hour since winning the Grey Cup, linebacker Juwan Simpson said an hour and running back Jon Cornish managed about 90 minutes. Most of that shut-eye was on the flight back to Calgary.Once the plane landed, guys got right back energized, Simpson said. I expect it will be an interesting few weeks in Calgary. Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys From China Cheap NFL Jerseys Authentic Wholesale Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys China NFL Cheap Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys ' ' '
PORTLAND, Ore. Kendell Beckwith Jersey . -- Damian Lillard couldnt believe when he got a clear look at the rim. With the final buzzer about to sound, he took his shot. "I got my feet squared up and it felt real good leaving my hands," Portlands point guard said. "Once I saw it on line, I said, Thats got a chance." Lillards shot fell and the Trail Blazers stunned the Houston Rockets 99-98 to take their playoff series in six games and advance to the Western Conference semifinals for the first time in 14 years. In the frenzied postgame celebration, Lillard took the public address microphone and shouted "Rip City!" The hometown crowd roared. Portland, making its first playoff appearance since 2011, had been eliminated in the first round in its last six trips, and hadnt advanced to the second round since 2000. "Its a great feeling," said fellow guard Wesley Matthews. "Im excited for Portland, of course excited for us. The grind of the season: Youre a competitor, you want to win, you want to play, you want to advance, you want to be a champion. ... Its unbelievable." Dwight Howard made four consecutive free throws to tie the game at 91 before making a bank shot that put Houston ahead with 3:04 to go. Robin Lopez scored on a tip shot to give the Blazers a 94-93 lead with 2:15 left, setting up a wild finish. Howards layup and foul shot put the Rockets back up 96-94 before Nicolas Batums fadeaway jumper tied it again with 39.9 seconds left. Chandler Parsons scored on a reverse layup with 0.9 seconds left to give Houston the lead. Lillard prevented the series from going back to Houston with his 3-pointer as time ran out. He finished with 25 points. The Trail Blazers said Lillard is the first player to make a buzzer-beating shot to win a playoff series since John Stocktons 3 that led Utah over Houston in 1997s Western Conference finals, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. "He made a hell of a shot," Rockets coach Kevin McHale said of Lillard. Portland will face the winner of the series between San Antonio and Dallas. The Mavericks forced a deciding Game 7 with a 113-111 victory over the Spurs on Friday night. There are five first-round playoff series that have gone to seven games. LaMarcus Aldridge led the Blazers with 30 points and 13 rebounds. He averaged 29.8 points during the series. After losing the opening two games in Houston, then claiming one of a pair in Portland, the Rockets staved off elimination with a 108-98 victory on Wednesday night to narrow Portlands advantage in the series to 3-2. Howard had 22 points and 14 rebounds, and Jeremy Lin redeemed himself from a poor performance in Game 4 with 21 points off the bench. James Harden led the Rockets on Friday night with 34 points. Howard had 26 points and 11 rebounds as Houston -- which earned the nickname "Clutch City" back in the mid-1990s when the team won back-to-back NBA championships -- failed to become the ninth team to come back from a 3-1 deficit in a best-of-seven playoff series and advance. "It hurts," Howard said. "When you put everything youve got on the floor and somebody hits you with a dagger like that, its a tough pill to swallow." After Lillards 3, Howard went over to congratulate his friend and told him he was proud of him and to go win the title. Aldridge helped the Blazers steal the first two games in Houston, scoring 46 points in a 122-120 overtime Game 1 win, then 43 in a 112-105 victory. The Rockets claimed the first of two in Portland, 121-116 in overtime, led by Harden with 37 points. The series third OT game ended in a 123-120 Blazers win. Aldridge gave the Rockets credit for making the Blazers better. "We felt like they definitely helped us grow. Were so young in the playoffs, but they definitely helped us grow and we feel we should be better for the next round," Aldridge said. "Were happy now, but were not satisfied." NOTES: The Blazers honoured former coach Jack Ramsay, who led the team to its lone NBA championship in 1977, in a moving pregame ceremony. Ramsay died Monday after a long battle with cancer in Florida. ... A fan at the game held a sign reading: "Play like its 1977." ... Lillard has multiple 3-pointers in six straight playoff games, a franchise record. ... It was the first time that the Blazers had defeated Houston in the post-season after three previous meetings. O. J. Howard Buccaneers Jersey . PETERSBURG, Fla. Chris Godwin Jersey . And he said Sunday that players believe nobody in Sterlings family should be able to own the Los Angeles Clippers if hes gone.The clock ticked towards the 94th minute. On the side of the pitch, the pair bounced around with joy desperate to hear the full-time whistle. There they were together, two key players dressed in the black and white of Newcastle, no training top on, smiling and gesticulating almost as much as the man in the suit next to them. For anyone whod not seen Newcastle for a while, watching Hatem Ben Arfa and Papiss Cisse in this manner, deep into injury time of a game, theyd be perfectly right to presume the pair had left the match and were simply close to the bench having already done their hard work and been substituted. The clock ticked towards the 95th minute. Cisses number nine then went up and on the striker ran. Eighteen seconds later, the final whistle was blown and Newcastle had won another game. The mercurial Ben Arfa hadnt gotten across the white line while Cisse was nothing more than a time-wasting tool. The man in the suit raised his arms, saluted the home fans and walked back down the tunnel. This was no one elses Newcastle United but Alan Pardew. The win over West Brom meant the manager had guided his team to a fourth straight victory in the Premier League, becoming just the second team to do so after Arsenal. It had been a remarkable turnaround. Exactly two months earlier, Pardew was in the away dressing room at Goodison Park on a wet Monday night facing a real crossroads as manager of Newcastle United. He had watched his team get thumped 3-0 in the first half and defensively, they were a shambles. In the first five and a half matches of the Premier League season, they had scored five goals and conceded 11. The game was lost and seven points from six games meant his team were heading down the path of last season, rather than the season previous. Pardew, desperate to find a way of seeing his team play like the one that finished fifth in 2011-12, knew he had to do something different. Bringing on a not-so fully fit Yohan Cabaye was the easy decision. Removing Ben Arfa was not. Cisse, who had started each of the first five games, had already tested the managers patience and started the game on the bench for the first time. Without Cisse and Ben Arfa, and inspired by Cabaye, Newcastle started the second half at Everton in fine form and would go on to lose the game, 3-2. (photo: fourfourtwo.com - Click For Larger Image) "We have let the fans down but have gained a tiny bit of respect back for our performance in the second half," said Pardew that night. In training the week following the loss, Pardew drew a line on their campaign and asked his team to start their season again. Dating back to the start of last season, they had gained just 48 points from 44 matches. In the summer between the years, his team had been ridiculed by the national media following the hire of director of football, Joe Kinnear, who embarrassed himself and the club in a radio interview where he mispronounced the names of some of the Newcastle players. It was reported by many that Kinnears hire, by owner Mike Ashley, added pressure on Pardew, who, despite having been given a staggering eight-year contract extension in September of 2012, had lost one of his supporters at the club when Kinnear replaced managing director Derek Llambias. If Pardews detractors needed an excuse to push him out of the door, the way the team under-performed for the majority of the first six matches handed them the card they needed. Chief scout Graham Carr had helped Pardew assemble a good, if not great, Premier League squad by signing many French players, available in the transfer market for a very reasonable price compared to the cost of home-grown English players. Last season, they struggled badly with Europa League demands testing their squad beyond its limits and had used 32 players in 38 Premier League games on the way to finishing a miserable 16th place on 41 points. This season, there was no excuse. Pardew, with his contract running up until 20220, was running out of time. Chris Godwin Youth Jersey. It was the biggest test of his managerial skills. He responded by making big calls tactically and with personnel. Moussa Sissoko and Yoan Gouffran were asked to play wide, where they can provide attacking prowess and work hard on the flanks defensively, in a four-band tactical system that flipped between 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1. There was no room for the part-time genius Ben Arfa. Cisse was also sat down and Loic Remy was given the number one striker role and would keep it, even when he went through a long stretch without a goal. Pushing aside two big personalities was a big call for Pardew to make but he knew he no longer could carry two passengers in the hope they might do something. With the pair on the bench, success followed for Newcastle. A win at Cardiff, a draw against Liverpool and a narrow loss to rivals Sunderland represented an improvement in October and then in November, the Magpies beat Chelsea, Tottenham, Norwich and West Brom. Twelve points from a possible 12 in October and, in total, 16 points from a possible 21 since the loss at Everton. "Since the second half at Everton, we looked at ourselves and said come on, this aint us, we had some difficulties last year, injuries, Europa League, but we are together this year, we are ready, lets not make the errors we are making. We won the second half at Everton and since weve been really strong," reflected Pardew after the win against West Brom. (photo: fourfourtwo.com - Click For Larger Image) The three points had come from a side that had a genuine belief that they would win. When Chris Brunt leveled the game at 1-1 eight minutes after the break, the visitors went on to have their best period of the match. Yet, during this period, Newcastle scored the games final goal. They had found a way to succeed when things were going against them. A magnificent November has been followed up by an excellent December that featured three more wins, including one at Old Trafford, and a positive performance against Arsenal on Sunday, despite a narrow 1-0 loss. "Weve come out if it with our confidence renewed, even though weve lost," said a smiling Pardew. The 52-year-old knew it was time to think about the bigger picture. Exactly a year ago, the Magpies were exposed against Arsenal and been battered 7-3. This time, they were a much more organized unit, playing with a 4-3-3 shape that won at Manchester United and will prove to be difficult to break down for all of the top teams in the division. (photo: fourfourtwo.com - Click For Larger Image) A shape that once again left Cisse and Ben Arfa on the bench. For the first five-and-a-half games this season, the pair had combined to play 815 minutes of Premier League football (82 per cent). In the 13-and-a-half games since, they have combined for just 621 minutes, a dramatic drop off to just 25.5 per cent. Without them, Newcastle is a different team and Pardew is a different manager. He is far more relaxed in interviews than he once was, allowing his personality and his intelligent football brain to shine through. Three months ago, his job at the club, and subsequently his reputation as a manager at a big club, was hanging by a thread. Now the second longest tenured manager in the Premier League looks as comfortable in the job as he ever did. With enormous shadows in Kinnear and Ashley hanging over him, no one deserves the credit more for that than himself. Whether or not he stays until 2020, as the contract suggests, remains a real question mark in the turbulent position of a football manager but as one of just four English managers in the Premier League, Pardews turnaround in success at Newcastle is sure to have turned some heads at the FA. The way he is going, it is no longer laughable to suggest Pardew could be England manager come 2020. Whether or not hell have the talent like Cisse and Ben Arfa to put on that bench is a different story altogether. Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys From China Cheap NFL Jerseys Authentic Wholesale Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys China NFL Cheap Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys ' ' '
The Ottawa Redblacks garnered the most attention with their trades during the CFL Draft Tuesday night, but the Edmonton Eskimos also made a significant move to land a solid, veteran player. Samaje Perine Youth Jersey . As part of their return for sending the third overall pick to the Toronto Argonauts, who used it to select running back Anthony Coombs, the Eskimos received veteran offensive tackle Tony Washington. Washington spent the past two seasons with the Argonauts after starting his career in Calgary, helping the Double Blue win the 100th Grey Cup in 2012. The move reunites Washington with head coach Chris Jones, Torontos defensive coordinator the past two seasons. Along with Washington, the Eskimos also received Torontos first and second round picks, selecting wide receiver Devon Bailey and running back Aaron Milton, defensive back Otha Foster, and a negotiation list player. As part of the deal the Eskimos also sent their third round pick to Toronto, with the Argonauts using it to select defensive lineman Jaskaran Dhillon. Ryan Anderson Redskins Jersey . In this space, I will be writing new and unique pieces about the team that you wont be able to find anywhere else. So naturally, in an attempt to come up with a fresh topic about the Ottawa Senators, I am going to start with a piece about their goaltending. Jonathan Allen Jersey . Cain departed in the fourth inning of a 10-5 loss to the Pirates on Thursday. X-rays on Cains bruised forearm were negative. He was hit when Sanchez led off the fourth with a groundout. SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Memphis Grizzlies point guard Mike Conley is playing like an All-Star lately. Soon hell find out if he gets to be one. Conley had 27 points and 10 assists as the Grizzlies won their fourth straight by beating the slumping Sacramento Kings 99-89 on Wednesday night. One night after outplaying Portland guard Damian Lillard in the Grizzlies impressive 98-81 victory, Conley backed it up with an even better game against the Kings. Conley, who will find out Thursday if he will be picked as one the Western Conference reserves, made 8 of 14 shots, hit two threes, and had two steals. He scored nine points in the fourth quarter. "I wont let it bother me at all if I dont make it. Its something I cant control," Conley said. "If it happens, it happens. Im just playing ball right now. Im playing at a high level and doing what my team needs me to do to do. Im just playing to win." And the Grizzlies are doing plenty of that lately, winning for the ninth time in 10 games. They put their latest win away in the fourth quarter, getting six steals and converting several of them into easy layups. Memphis shot 11 of 18 and made 7 of 8 free throws in the fourth quarter in pulling away from the Kings, who cut the lead to four points at the 5:20 mark. The Grizzlies had nine of their 24 assists in the fourth quarter. Conley got plenty of help at the offensive end with Zach Randolph scoring six points and Tayshaun Prince getting six, all in the final three minutes. "Our chemistry right now is as good as Ive ever seen it," Memphis coach David Joerger said. "Our confidence is high and were really trying to stay in the moment." Isaiah Thomas scored 24 points and Rudy Gay had 23 for the Kings, who have lost five straight and seven of eight. DeMarcus Cousins, the Kings leading scorer and rebounder, missed his fourth straight game with an ankle sprain. The Kings are hoping to have Cousins back for Fridays game in Dallas. Gay, a former Memphis player, had missed the previous three games with an Achilles strain. He made a turnaround jumper in the fourth quarter to surpass 10,000 career points. However, Gay was limping some in the fourth quarter and also after the game in the locker room. But he expected to play against Dallas. "I kind of tweaked my foot a little bit more. But it doesnt matter. I still feel that we could have won the game," Gay said. "I was a little rusty. Im not used to being out. Ive actually been hurt one time in my career that actually made me miss more than one game. "So it was a little tough on me. Its going to happen." Kings coach Michael Malone has been critical of his teams defence for much of the season and Wednesdays game was no different. "I told our team afterward that I am goingg to start playing guys who are willing to defend," Malone said. Jonathan Allen Youth Jersey. "And if are not ready to defend ... I can no longer be a hypocrite. Ive been a hypocrite the whole year. I got the job in June and I preached defence and thats what I believe in. Were one of the worst defensive teams in the league." Randolph had 18 points for the Grizzlies, who won their fifth straight road game and have a 12-7 record away from home. Marc Gasol had 12 points and Mike Miller scored 11. Its no coincidence the Grizzlies strong play has coincided with the return of Gasol, last years Defensive Player of the Year who missed 23 games with a sprained knee. A protector of the rim, creative passer and reliable scorer, Gasol has been instrumental in the Grizzlies 7-1 record since his return. In the past two-plus week, the Grizzlies have beaten Phoenix, Houston twice, and Oklahoma City. Memphis finishes its three-game road trip Friday night in Minnesota. "Ever since we got Marc back weve been playing better," Prince said. "You can see our confidence coming back. He helps us so much on defence. He has a real presence back there. When he was out we couldnt get stops regularly like we are now." After making a corner jumper, Prince stole the ball from Gay and converted with a driving layup to give Memphis a 92-85 lead. A basket by Conley and a layup by Prince increased the lead to nine. Randolph came up with a loose ball and fed Davis for a dunk at the other end, concluding an 11-4 run and putting Memphis up 82-71. But the Kings came back and cut the lead to three on Thomas 3-pointer at the 4:35 mark. Conley had 11 points in the third quarter when the Grizzlies outscored Sacramento 21-17 and took a 69-63 lead into the fourth. "I thought out defence was the key. There are very good offensive team that can score in bunches and has a lot of firepower, Conley said. "Were getting two, three, four stops in a row. Were not a high-octane team. But our defence is always consistent." Gay had a strong second quarter with 10 points and was difficult to stop in the third as well. He came up with a loose ball near midcourt and sprinted toward the basket for an emphatic dunk that brought the crowd to its feet and put the Kings ahead 61-59. Gasol scored eight points and the Grizzlies shot 52 per cent and led 48-46 lead at intermission. Both Gay and Thomas had 12 points for the Kings. NOTES: Conley moved past Gay for the all-time franchise record for games played (480). ... Kings public address announcer Scott Moak was sick and missed his first game behind the mic in 12 years. His replacement was Jamie Coffee, a longtime Sacramento radio DJ. ... Memphis reserve forward Miller scored seven points in a 61-second span late in the second quarter.Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys From China Cheap NFL Jerseys Authentic Wholesale Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys China NFL Cheap Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys ' ' '
DETROIT -- The Detroit Red Wings have recalled centre Cory Emmerton from the Grand Rapids Griffins of the AHL. ArDarius Stewart Jets Jersey . The 25-year-old Emmerton has appeared in 43 games with the Griffins this season, scoring 14 goals with 21 assists. He has two assists in 11 games for the Red Wings. Emmerton has played in 132 NHL games since 2010-11, scoring 12 goals with nine assists. The Red Wings play at Columbus on Tuesday night and host Edmonton on Friday. ArDarius Stewart Jersey . Even that couldnt slow them down against the New Orleans Hornets. Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook scored 31 points apiece and the Thunder overcame injuries to two key backups to beat New Orleans 101-93 Monday night for their 10th straight home win. Marcus Maye Jersey .ca presents its latest weekly power rankings for the 2013-14 Barclays Premier League season. PHILADELPHIA -- Welcome back, R.J. Umberger. The Philadelphia Flyers acquired Umberger and a fourth-round pick in the 2015 draft from the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for Scott Hartnell on Monday. Umberger makes a return to the Flyers after spending the past six seasons with Columbus. Last season, Umberger had 18 goals and 16 assists in 74 games to help the Blue Jackets reach the playoffs. "Hes a versatile player, a good skater, a good two-way player," Flyers general manager Ron Hextall said. "He plays all three positions and can kill penalties. He is an attractive guy for us moving forward." The Flyers also made another move, signing centre Brayden Schenn to a multi-year contract. Umberger began his NHL career with the Flyers in 2005-06 and had 49 goals and 67 assists in 228 games over three seasons from 2005-2008. He was traded to Columbus on June 20, 2008, after helping the Flyers reach the Eastern Conference finals that spring with 10 goals and five assists in 17 playoff games. "It was apparent that the team was ready to play thee younger guys here," Umberger said. Marcus Maye Womens Jersey. "Last few years they got some great young talent and the young guys deserved to play. Some are waiting to come in next year. It was understandable and from a business side." Umberger gives the Flyers some cap relief. He has three years left on his contract at $4.6 million per year while Hartnell has five years remaining at $4.75 million per. The popular Hartnell appeared in 517 games for the Flyers over seven seasons with 157 goals and 169 assists. He was acquired from Nashville on June 18, 2007. "He has hockey left in him," Hextall said. "Versatility, length of contract, and speed are the main points we thought about here." Schenn had a career high in points (41), goals (20) and assists (21) in 82 games this past season. The Blue Jackets made another move by re-signing backup goalie Curtis McElhinney to a one-year extension. He was 10-11-1 with a 2.78 goals-against-average, .909 save percentage and two shutouts in a career-high 28 games last season, his first with Columbus. Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys ChinaCheap Jerseys From China Cheap NFL Jerseys Authentic Wholesale Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys China NFL Cheap Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys ' ' '
MARCOUSSIS, France -- Canada tied England 13-13 to secure a semifinal berth at the womens rugby World Cup on Saturday. Eddie Vanderdoes Raiders Jersey . Karen Paquin of Quebec City and Kayla Mack of Saskatoon had the tries for Canada while Magali Harvey of Quebec City added a penalty. The Canadian squad will face France in semifinal action on Wednesday (TSN, 2:30pm et/11:30am pt). England will face Ireland in the other semifinal. The English and Canadians finished with identical 2-1 records in Pool A but England got the nod based upon a better points differential. Emily Scarratts penalty earned England a 6-5 half-time advantage. Canada went ahead 10-6 on Macks try before English captain Sarah Hunter scored a try that Scarratt converted to put England ahead 13-10. But Harvey tied the contest with a late penalty. Marshawn Lynch Youth Jersey . -- LaMarcus Aldridge returned to the Trail Blazers lineup, happy to know that things didnt go awry without him. Gareon Conley Jersey . -- Detroit shortstop Jose Iglesias says he has stress fractures in both legs and isnt sure when hell be able to play again, leaving the Tigers two weeks to fill his spot for opening day and perhaps a lot longer. NASHVILLE -- The Tennessee Titans have agreed to terms with Chiefs running back, receiver and kick returner Dexter McCluster, said a person familiar with the situation. The person spoke on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press on Tuesday because the deal had not been announced minutes after NFL free agency started. The Titans had no immediate comment, but McCluster wrote on Twitter, "Very excited to join the (at)TennesseeTitans." McCluster was switched between wide receiver and running back early in his career but flourished in 2013 as a slot receiver and punt returner for new Kansas City coach Andy Reid. The former second-round pick out of Mississippi caught a career-high 53 passes for 611 yards and two touchdowns, and also had two punt return touchdowns, earning his first trip to the Pro Bowl. That production was a big reason why Kansas City went from two wins in 2012 to 11-5 and the playooffs last season. Gareon Conley Youth Jersey. But that also made McCluster too pricy for the cash-strapped Chiefs to bring back. His versatility could be why the Titans want him for new coach Ken Whisenhunt. McClusters best year as a running back came in 2011 when he averaged 4.5 yards per carry on 114 rushes, and he has been much more consistent as a receiver with at least 46 catches in each of the past three years. He also offers an option on special teams with his three career TDs on punt returns. ESPN.com first reported the deal. This deal could put the Titans closer to a move with Chris Johnson, due $8 million this season with three years left on the $53.5 million contract extension he signed Sept. 2, 2011. He is coming off his second-worst rushing performance with 1,077 yards and a career-low 3.9-yard average, and the Titans also have Shonn Greene and recently signed Jackie Battle to a new deal. Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys From China Cheap NFL Jerseys Authentic Wholesale Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys China NFL Cheap Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys ' ' '
Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - The following is a list of inactive players for todays NFC Championship Game. Wayne Gallman Youth Jersey . GREEN BAY PACKERS AT SEATTLE SEAHAWKS, 3:05 PM (ET) Green Bay - LB Carl Bradford, DT Bruce Gaston, C Garth Gerhart, CB Demetri Goodson, RB DuJuan Harris, WR Jeff Janis, TE Justin Perillo Seattle - OT Justin Britt, CB Marcus Burley, QB B.J. Daniels, TE Cooper Helfet, SS Jeron Johnson, DE David King, OL Keavon Milton INDIANAPOLIS COLTS AT NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS, 6:40 PM (ET) Indianapolis - None New England - NoneEvan Engram Womens Jersey . Others describe it as taking the parrot for a walk. Dalvin Tomlinson Womens Jersey . Next up, the Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Cleveland Browns in the AFC North. Baltimore Ravens In 2014, the 8-8 season that the Baltimore Ravens experienced was to be expected.COLUMBUS – Where Phil Kessel has gone the past two seasons so, too, has James van Riemsdyk. But its now with Joffrey Lupul sidelined indefinitely (with yet another unfortunate injury) that the Maple Leafs need their ever-improving 24-year-old to become a force without Kessel. In light of balance concerns, Randy Carlyle opted to split the duo even before the injury to Lupul – a broken right hand – but its now especially, with the 31-year-old likely out weeks, that van Riemsdyk has to emerge from the shadow of his fellow American winger and offer Toronto a consistent secondary threat. I dont control who I go out there and play with, said van Riemsdyk of the split from Kessel earlier this week. [But] if were a better team this way, then obviously thats great. The pair has been almost inseparable since van Riemsdyk joined the Leafs from Philly in the summer of 2012. In fact, more than 80 per cent of the nearly 2000 even-strength minutes van Riemsdyk has accumulated in Toronto have come with Kessel. Theyve been a mostly terrorizing offensive force, scorching together even beyond the NHL shores. Representing the U.S. at the Sochi Olympics, van Riemsdyk and Kessel finished 1-2 in scoring. The Leafs battled depth concerns even with Lupul in the lineup and they will no doubt need more pop from the likes of Nazem Kadri, David Clarkson and the rest of the depth they added this offseason. But van Riemsdyk is perhaps the only talent on the roster besides Kessel who may have the gifts to drive a line himself. Hes big. Hes fast. Hes powerful. And hes certainly talented enough to give the Leafs a real second threat beyond Kessel, someone to make the opposition think twice about. I know that James has played to a higher level and he can continue to grow as a hockey player, Carlyle said before a 4-1 win over the injury-depleted Blue Jackets on Friday. Hes done very, very well in the situations that weve put him in. Van Riemsdyk played the part of triggerman with Kessel – a scorer yes, but underrated playmaker, too – feasting on the openings and opportunities he creates. Usually when youre playing with Phil, hes going to have the puck a lot of the time, he said. Im more going to the net and trying to bang in rebounds, that sort of thing. He scored 19 goals at even-strength last year, adding 13 in 48 games the year prior. Many of those came off the rush and if theres a subtle shift in the style of whats now the Leafs second line – though they led the team in ice-time against Columbus – its that. With Clarkson taking the place of Kessel alongside van Riemsdyk and Tyler Bozak, the unit is likely to become more conservative in terms of the chances it takes in transition, increasing its emphasis instead on the cycle game. Previously just an intriguing experiment, the Leafs now need van Riemsdyk to emerge sans Kessel. Carlyle couldnt say Friday morning how long hed keep the pair apart, but given the injury to Lupul and need for balance, it seems likely to go on for at least the immediate future. Van Riemsdyk, who finished last season with a career-high of 30 goals and 61 points, has been quieter so far this fall. Unable to find the scoresheet Friday, hes tied for third in Leaf scoring, totaling six points in 10 games. Five Points 1. Lupuls Luck Joffrey Lupuls odd and unfortunate injury history as a Leaf added another chapter. At practice Thursday in Toronto, Lupul fell on his stick and jammed his right hand rather innocuously. Or so he thought. The 31-year-old finished the final 40 minutes or so of the session and came to the rink Friday night prepared to play against the Blue Jackets. But then the results of an x-ray taken in the Columbus area came back and revealed that a bone was indeed broken – Carlyle didnt learn hed be unavailable until 6:10pm. The severity isnt yet known. Lupul was admittedly in some shock after yet another fluky injury. I dont know what to say really, its part of the game, but it certainly is tougher mentally than it is physically I will say, he said, appearing noticeably upset. Kind of just…right now a little bit shocked. Hopefully its not something thats going to keep me out too long. Hes had a stretch of bad luck, theres no question about it, said Leafs general manager, Dave Nonis. Theres nothing he couldve done different. It was a freak accident. The list of injuries Lupul has suffered as a Leaf is wide and varied. The Injury Bug Date Injury Games Missed Mar. 2012 Dislocated Right Shoulder 16 Jan. 2013 Fractured Right Forearm 25 Apr. 2013 Concussion 5 Oct. 2013 Bone Bruise, Right Foot 2 Nov. 2013 Groin Tear 7 Apr. 2014 Knee Surgery 4 Oct. 2014 Broken Right Hand Indefinitely 2. 500 Daniel Winnik was asleep when he was drafted by the Phoenix Coyotes nearly 10 years ago. A centre for the University of New Hampshire, Winnik had to be shakenn awake by his parents, his agent calling that Sunday morning with the good news. Wayne Gallman Womens Jersey. I was like oh great! What round? Fourth? Fifth? the now 29-year-old recalled of the conversation. Ninth, his agent responded. And I was like what? It was a bit of a shock that I went that late. Fast-forward to Friday night in Columbus and Winniks 500th career game in the NHL, quite a feat for a player picked 265th overall. I think I always thought I had the chance to do it, Winnik said of hitting 500 games, but obviously my position being drafted – ninth round – it probably looked pretty grim. He had quite the performance against the Blue Jackets on what was a momentous night. Replacing Lupul alongside Kadri and Kessel on the teams top line, Winnik potted his first goal as a Leaf and 50th overall – sneaking behind the Blue Jackets defence – also adding two assists. Earlier in the day, Winnik spoke to his versatility as the main reason hes made so far in the NHL, that trait on display again on this night. Hes been a welcome addition to our group so far, said Carlyle. 3. Kadris Luck The possession numbers were strong for Nazem Kadri heading into the Leafs final game of October, but the luck numbers, well, not so much – his PDO was the lowest among Toronto forwards. Paired with Kessel for the second straight night, that luck started to change against the Blue Jackets. Kadri posted his first assist of the season in the 4-1 win, adding his first goal in seven games in the final period on a tap-in from Kessel. As for luck, Kadri agrees, he wasnt getting much of it. I definitely did feel that, yeah, because normally some of those pucks are in the back in the net, he said. Its finally nice to find the back of the net and just get a road win. 4. Without Kessel II No player – with either the Bruins or Leafs – has spent more time on the ice (and perhaps off it) with Kessel than Bozak, the third wheel of whats now a second line featuring van Riemsdyk and Clarkson. Bozak has basically played with no one else but Kessel since he joined the Leafs from the University of Denver, a rotating cast of left wingers running shotgun with the duo over the years. You lose a pretty dynamic player obviously, Bozak said of Kessel. I think Davids a great player, too. He gets in there on the forecheck and creates a little space for us. So I guess my role changes a bit, Ill have the puck a little bit more when Im not playing with Phil whereas when I am with him, Im trying to get him the puck as quick as I can. Like van Riemsdyk, he too, noted the lines stylistic changes without Kessel. Me, James and Phil were more of a rush line and creating opportunities like that, said Bozak, but I think with me, James and Dave, well try and get some pucks deep and get in on a cycle. I think youre a little bit more apprehensive to make a change when you know theres been a long history with the two players, but its not about two players, its about our hockey club, Carlyle said. We have a team and youve got to make decisions that are in the best interest of the team. Bozaks numbers, historically, have dipped considerably in those rare instances when hes played without Kessel. And it will indeed be curious if he can maintain production – he entered Friday tied for the team-lead in scoring – without him. The Leafs, meanwhile, improved to 5-0-0 when Kessel records a point. The 27-year-old had three points Friday in just 12 minutes and 39 seconds – his lowest as a Leaf – now with 13 points in 10 games this season. 5. The Road Actually quite strong for the most part at home a year ago despite talk of nerves and the like recently, Toronto finished last season as one of the worst road teams in the Eastern Conference. They had a goal differential of minus-29 away from the ACC and their 14 victories topped only the lowly tandem of Florida and Buffalo. So far this season, its been just the opposite. The Leafs picked up just their second home win in six tries on Tuesday, winning for the third time in four trips on the road Friday in Columbus. Jonathan Bernier, who was impressive in victory, improved to 2-0-1 in such trips, boasting a .954 save percentage in three road starts. Stats Pack 6 – Games without a goal for Nazem Kadri, who broke that spell against the Blue Jackets. 9 – Games without an assist for Kadri, who registered his first of the season on Friday. .954 – Save percentage for Jonathan Bernier on the road in three starts this season. 50th – Career goal for Daniel Winnik in his 500th career game Friday. 12:39 – Ice-time for Phil Kessel against Columbus, his lowest as a Leaf. 5-0-0 – Leafs record this season when Kessel records a point. Special Teams Capsule PP: 1-2 Season: 18% PK: 3-4 Season: 84.2% Quote of the Night Probably Nazzies thanking him because he saves his butt too many times. -Randy Carlyle, speaking on Nazem Kadris admitted admiration for Daniel Winnik and his poised all-around play. Up Next The Leafs return home to face the Blackhawks on Saturday. Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys From China Cheap NFL Jerseys AuthenticWholesale Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys China NFL Cheap Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys ' ' '
The Als couldnt have found more polar opposites when hiring their new “coaching consultants. Malik McDowell Jersey .”? Don Matthews was, for a time, the winningest coach in CFL history, while Turk Schonert, the longtime NFL QB and assistant coach who went to two Super Bowls with the Bengals, had no idea so much motion was allowed pre-snap after attending Alouettes practice for the first time. “Just soaking it in, its strange for me to come in and watch football and be quiet and just observe,” admitted the 57-year old former 1980 NFL Draft pick, now head coach Tom Higgins designated “fly on the wall.” Matthews, a former Grey Cup Champion head coach with the Als in 2002, who spent time with the club last season and took great satisfaction in watching his prodigy Noel Thorpe contact high-risk high-reward blitzes worthy of “The Don.” Schonert was in the mix to join the Alouettes a year ago, having interviewed with GM Jim Popp and owner Robert Wetenhall for the teams head coaching position before the ill-fated hire of Dan Hawkins. His number one task at the moment is finding ways to help the struggling offense.? “Its not just the quarterback...hes talented,” Schonert pointed out.? “He (Troy Smith) was in the UFL when I was coaching at Sacramento he was with Omaha. ?I know Bart Andrus (the former Argos head coach) and he said a lot of great things about Troy. “You know hes talented -- he won the Heisman Trophy, and you know about his athleticism, so Troy has to keep working and improving, but everybody around him has to keep working and believing.” Smith welcomes the new set of eyes, even if the first impression was coloured by the “fly on the wall” approach. “I was around him all day and he didnt say one word so it gives you an eerie feeling,” admitted the former Ohio State hero under fire in Montreal now that his passing efficiency rating has dropped to ninth in the league. Still, Higgins admitted Schonert didnt know about the 20-second play-clock pace the Als practice with in order to replicate game speed.? So how can a man with no CFL experience help a struggling starting QB? “Sounds like me,” Smith chuckled with an infectious laugh.? “Theres different things he brings to the table and hopefully hell help us out.” If Schonert isnt able to get Smith and the offence on track, former Als recently-retired greats Anthony Calvillo and Ben Cahoon are waiting in the wings for the opportunity. Delano Hill Jersey .com) - Former New York Mets general manager Omar Minaya is joining the Major League Baseball Players Association staff as a senior advisor to executive director Tony Clark. Delano Hill Womens Jersey . He just didnt expect them to be this good. Darrun Hilliard scored 19 points to lead No. 6 Villanova to a dominating 77-59 victory over Georgetown on Saturday, preserving the Wildcats hopes of a No.Richard Cockerill admitted Leicesters defensive problems were not fixed despite their comfortable 34-13 Aviva Premiership home win over Worcester. The Tigers parted company with Scott Hansen this week as the defence coach, who came from New Zealand with head coach Aaron Mauger last season, paid the price for his side conceding 30 points or more in three of their opening five games.Leicester conceded just one try against Worcester and scored four for a bonus-point win which keeps them in fourth place after the first phase of Premiership matches. Cockerill, Leicesters director of rugby, said: The players needed to front up and they did that.But I thought that, at times, we still struggled defensively. With respect to Worcester, against better sides we would have been punished. Its certainly not all fixed. Its about standing in a line and tackling a bloke with a ball! Richard Cockerill We need to keep working hard and improve. I am always a big believer that if players want to tackle they will, if they dont they wont. We were better today.Cockerill said Leicester parted company with Hansen because the one thing you cant do is do nothing.He said: Unfortunately, we have not defended as well as we should have. We have been a bit too easy to play against.Cockerill said he and Mauger would handle defensive duties for the time being, adding: We have got four pretty experienced coaches. Its about standing in a line and tackling a bloke with a ball! Richard Cockerill was reasonably content with the Tigers performance against Worcester Leicester, who led 20-0 at half time, scored four tries through Tom Brady - playing his second game since signing from Sale - Telusa Veainu, LogoviI Mulipola and Graham Kitchener, with Jaba Bregvadze replying for the Warriors.Cockerill was happieer with the performance after last weeks shock defeat at Sale. Malik McDowell Seahawks Jersey. He said: Its job done. Worcester are not a poor side, they have given other sides a lot of trouble.We rested a couple of guys, we have got a few missing, but you take the five points. It wasnt spectacular but it was a good win.Flanker Mike Williams, a recent call-up to the England squad, withdrew after getting a bang on the arm he broke last year during the warm-up. Watch NOW TV Watch Sky Sports for just ￡6.99. No contract. Cockerill said he did not know whether it would keep him out of Leicesters European Champions Cup clash at Glasgow next weekend, adding: He has some nerve issues. We will have it scanned and see where hes at. Hopefully its just a bit of nerve irritation.Worcester have not won in 14 visits to Leicester going back to 1895 and never looked like breaking that sorry record.They are struggling near the bottom with just nine points and head coach Carl Hogg said they paid the price for allowing Leicesters back three to run back at them. Worcester Warriors head coach Carl Hogg has seen his side pick up just nine points this term He said: We fed their very dangerous back three. And they profited from it. We wanted to come here and express ourselves, we didnt want to get into an arm wrestle.So we came with the ambition to play but we did not get the high field position in the first half, and we struggled with ball in hand.You can watch Englands tour of Bangladesh, plus Premier League football and the Japan Grand Prix on Sky Sports. Upgrade now and enjoy three months at half price! Also See: Match report Premiership table Fixtures and results Rugby Union on Sky Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys From ChinaCheap NFL Jerseys Authentic Wholesale Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys China NFL Cheap Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys ' ' '
Hope. Quincy Wilson Womens Jersey . Thats all Toronto FC supporters have asked for. Wins have been priority, too but its true, unmitigated hope of positive direction thats been desired. Progress. Commitment. Hope. Hope has been fleeting before. Julian de Guzman, the clubs first designated player brought hope as did the addition of hometown hero Dwayne De Rosario. Toronto FC turning orange, the Dutch total football revolution under Aron Winter brought hope as well. But thats about it. Spare me hype surrounding some unknown international prodigy that has come and gone, or the legendary Mista. Genuine belief has been temporary and few and far between. Unfulfilled promise. Pandering of false hope. Rinse, wash, repeat. Then Wednesday happened. True hope came calling. As often the case may be, good things came in three; each story bigger in importance, potential impact and surprise. De Rosarios return to Toronto was publicly confirmed with a Thursday press conference ahead. My colleague Luke Wileman reported coveted Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe will land in Toronto this weekend with an expected Monday introductory press conference to follow, unveiling the prized acquisition. The bells and whistles surrounding Defoes arrival are said to be impressive. Lastly, the most audacious, unexpected news of all; a deal all but done to bring 26-year-old US international midfielder Michael Bradley to TFC in the absolute prime of his career. Surprised? Yes we are. Three signings dont get much bigger than this in MLS. Make it four with last months arrival of Brazilian Gilberto. If no curveballs are thrown and once the ink is dry, just like that, the inferior, miserable, beaten down landscape of Toronto FC forever changed. Toronto FCs new promo campaign, Its A Bloody Big Deal! – 01.13.14 couldnt ring more true. The YouTube video shows a bald-headed man spit take in shock, presumably about Defoes arrival. Well add another spit take for Bradley; the kind of choke on your coffee and have it pour out your nose sort of disbelief. In North American soccer circles, this is the kind of impact and magnitude were talking about. Defoe entering the fray isnt much a secret. The 31-year-old English international had fallen out of favour at White Hart Lane. The crafty forward still has pace and ability and could have a similar impact in MLS to Robbie Keane. Toronto FC spared no expense to convince Defoe Toronto was right for him. Flights, houses, family considerations - Toronto bent over backwards, realizing treatment and paycheck would be sufficient to supplant a Premier League caliber talent and bring him to Canada. Many expect Defoe to score 30 goals in Major League Soccer. Along with on-field expectations, off-field ambassadorship is expected. Defoe instantly becomes one of MLS top players. Ditto for Bradley. A work engine in the central midfield, the current AS Roma player is a warrior. The ferocity of Bradley, with ability to move forward in attack, would make him a special breed in MLS, where most central midfielders are either preferred attacking options or stay at home, hold the shape kind of players. Bradley is an all-action type player, and all-important for the US Mens National team and a move to MLS comes at a peculiar time with World Cup preparations first and foremost. US Mens National team head coach Jurgen Klinsmann was critical of Clint Dempseys move to Seattle last fall. So a return to North America comes as a shock. The story behind the potential move has yet to be revealed, but considerable dollars are at play. A rumoured salary ballpark of $6.5 million per year would do the trick, roughly six times his current salary. Playing time is also an issue. The arrival of Kevin Strootman last summer, along with last weeks signing of Radja Nainggolan put the writing on the wall at Roma: Bradley must leave. Cathal Kelly of the Toronto Star reports upwards of $100 million is being committed to Defoe and Bradley in transfer fees and salary. Its an incredible commitment for soccer in this city. These kinds of dollars cannot be justified by pure economics of the game alone. The MLS salary cap for 2013 before designated player commitments sat at just shy of $3 million. MLSE obviously has the funds but to make this kind of financial commitment to soccer and a team that had operating revenue in the ballpark of $4.5 million last season (according to Forbes) shows true ambition. This is what it takes to compete. For Bradley, whose father Bob is a former US National team coach, to choose a Canadian club no less over a US-based team speaks to the show me the money type mentality of the modern game. Credit Tim Leiweke. He said he would turn Toronto FC around, and quick. This is beyond the expected. Dion Phaneuf salaries to soccer players in Toronto will never make sense. But MLSE using its financial strength to turn an embarrassment into a pillar of the organization is money well spent. Many south of the border will question what a move like Bradleys says about the growth of MLS. Id argue it has less to do with MLS than it does Leiweke. With a network, resources and desire to win, hes what TFC desperately needed. MLS plays a big role in player acquisition and obviously contracts, which they control. Toronto FC failed to play nice in the sandbox regarding specific targets and team performance in recent years. Squabbling and the perennial disappointment of TFC, whose supporters are credited for league growth and expansion, was a black eye for MLS headquarters. Leiweke was an ideal buffer between club and league. Theres a history and understanding. It then made perfect sense to hire the young and bright Tim Bezbatchenko, an MLS staffer to take over as general manager - a calculated move, facilitating congruence with MLS to provide much needed stability. It has not been disclosed who is funding the transfers. MLSE stepping up assuming the cost would be seen as extending the olive branch. Leiwekes fingerprints are all over these transactions. They signal a donning of a new era for the organization. MLSE has a face. Its Leiweke, and all that comes with him. In a city with too few victories and forced tradition rather than substance, Leiweke is filling a void, one handshake and dollar at a time. These signings are an investment as will a stadium makeover in the coming years. Its part of a bigger plan, where reputation speaks for itself. For MLSE to gain credibility, they need to show they are serious about winning. No more talk; actions. No more wrangling with agents. No more disagreement with the league. No more ostracizing fans. Moves like these wins people over. This is how you win. This is how you sell hope. The cynic will remain. Signings alone dont equal results. Even more work is to be done to the roster. The heavy lifting is near complete. Toronto FC will be able to compete. True hope. Thats all it takes. Its a reasonable thought that the vibe, the fun, and actual winning football can all live simultaneously at BMO Field. We hope. @WheelerTSNgareth.wheeler@bellmedia.ca Tarell Basham Womens Jersey .Bekker was added Wednesday in exchange for allocation money after two seasons with Toronto. The native of Canada had 29 MLS appearances, including 16 starts. Hes also played in 13 games for the Canadian national team. Malik Hooker Womens Jersey .J. -- All those records, all for naught.MINNEAPOLIS -- Phil Hughes didnt come to Minnesota to be a saviour. He just wanted to throw strikes and help his new team win some games. On Sunday, he gave the Twins more proof they made a wise investment. Hughes won his third start in a row, Trevor Plouffe and Kurt Suzuki hit two-run doubles and the Twins beat the Baltimore Orioles 5-2. "It starts with the starting pitcher and he gave us a great opportunity against a very potent lineup," said Twins manager Ron Gardenhire, who was especially pleased with Hughes control. "You put guys on base, you miss a play and youll wind up killing yourself against those guys." Brought in as a free agent to help cure some of the Twins starting pitching woes, Hughes (3-1) again pitched like the ace the team hoped hed be. Hughes gave up two runs and six hits in 6 1-3 innings, walking none and striking out three. He became the first Twins pitcher to win three consecutive starts since Sam Deduno won three straight in July 2013. "I said in the off-season when they signed him I thought he was a really good sign," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. "He gives you a lot of confidence. (He can) go up and go away and let those guys who can really run the ball down run it down. He was effective. Hes added the cutter and a lot more." Hughes, who left the Yankees in the off-season to join the Twins, gave up four earned runs in each of his first three starts this season. He has given up a total of six earned runs and just one walk in 19 1-3 innings over his last three outings. The focus was on control the weekend after Twins pitchers issued 22 walks -- including 12 by their starters -- as the Dodgers swept three games at Target Field earlier in the week. Against the Orioles, the Twins walked just two batters in three games and took two of three in the series. "I always take pride in throwing strikes, making guys earn their way on base and not giving any free passes," Hughes said. "If were going to make mistakes in the zone and were going to get beat on aggressive pitches, so be it. Tarell Basham Jersey. But we dont want to let them on for free." After giving up a single to Nick Markakis to start the game, Hughes retired the next 14 batters. Nelson Cruz broke up Hughes shutout bid with two outs in the sixth, hitting a two-run shot for his ninth homer of the season. Glen Perkins pitched a scoreless ninth for his seventh save in eight chances this year. The Twins played most of the day without first baseman Joe Mauer, who left in the top of the third inning with lower-back spasms. Gardenhire said that Mauer underwent treatment throughout the game and said he thinks he could play on Monday. The Twins scored twice in the third, helped by the hustle of the Twins most slump-ridden hitter. Eduardo Escobar led off with a single off Miguel Gonzalez (1-3) and Pedro Florimon, who entered the game hitting .121, followed with a routine ground ball to second base. Running hard down the line, Florimon barely beat shortstop J.J. Hardys double-play relay to first base. Brian Dozier then singled and one out later, Plouffe lined a double into the left-field corner that scored both runners. Gonzalez walked the bases full with two outs, then walked Kurt Suzuki to force home a run. Reliever Troy Patton bailed him out of the jam by retiring Sam Fuld. The Twins tacked on two insurance runs in the seventh against reliever Ryan Webb. Chris Colabello hit a one-out double, Jason Kubel walked and Suzuki hit a double to left that scored both runners. Kubel slid home just ahead of catcher Matt Wieters tag, a call that was confirmed via an instant-replay challenge. NOTES: Plouffe leads the majors with 14 doubles. ... Minnesota wrapped up an eight-game homestand with a 3-5 record. RHP Kyle Gibson (3-2, 4.34) is scheduled to start on Monday when the Twins begin a four-game series at Cleveland. Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys From ChinaCheap NFL Jerseys Authentic Wholesale Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys China NFL Cheap Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys ' ' '
MILAN, Italy -- Clarence Seedorf signed a 2 1/2-year contract with AC Milan on Thursday and immediately went to the training ground to meet the players. O. J. Howard Jersey . Seedorf landed in Milan on Wednesday to replace Massimiliano Allegri, who was fired following a 4-3 loss at newly promoted Sassuolo on Sunday. Seedorf was contracted to June 30, 2016, Milan said in a statement. At the training ground, the first player to greet him was former teammate Daniele Bonera. The 37-year-old Seedorf spent 10 years as a player with Milan, helping the team win a number of trophies, including two Champions League titles and two Serie A titles. "You cant say Ive returned, because I never left," Seedorf said. "Its very important for me to see all this enthusiasm. We have a lot to do to take Milan back to the top. "At the moment theres a lot of emotion and a sense of duty. I have to give 100 per cent to rebuild and give enthusiasm to the squad. We can try to do important things for the fans. I left Milan in May 2012 at the end of a cycle. My job is to open another one." Seedorf also won the Champions League with Ajax and Real Madrid. Not only does Seedorf become the first Dutch coach in Serie A, but he is also only the third black coach after Jarbas Faustinho, who was in charge of Napoli in 1994, and Fabio Liverani, who managed Genoa for seven games this season. Kendell Beckwith Jersey .9 million deal Thursday. The 25-year McGinn had 19 goals and 19 assists in 79 games last season in helping the Avalanche tie a franchise record with 52 wins. Chris Godwin Jersey . The Canadian Football Leagues all-time passing leader said he has not made a final decision, but he will discuss his future with Montreal Alouettes owner Bob Wetenhall on the weekend.JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The Jacksonville Jaguars current and future quarterbacks took the field together for the first time Tuesday for the teams first of 10 off-season practice sessions. Incumbent Chad Henne and rookie Blake Bortles took the majority of snaps in Tuesdays OTA, with Henne working strictly with the No. 1 unit, Bortles directing the second team. Bortles was the No. 3 overall selection in the 2014 draft, but Jaguars ggeneral manager Dave Caldwell said at that time Henne would continue as the starter. Kendell Beckwith Youth Jersey. All but one member of the Jaguars 90-man roster participated in the voluntary practice. Veteran defensive end Chris Clemons was tending to personal family business, but coach Gus Bradley said he was hopeful Clemons would join the practices soon. Several other players were withheld from action due to previous injuries. Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys From China Cheap NFL Jerseys Authentic Wholesale Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys China NFL Cheap Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys ' ' '
Miami, FL (SportsNetwork. Mitchell Trubisky Womens Jersey .com) - The inaugural Miami Beach Bowl turned into a Miami Beach brawl. Before actual punches were thrown, Memphis beat BYU 55-48 in a double-overtime thriller on Monday, taking the lead on Paxton Lynchs 11-yard touchdown pass to Roderick Proctor, then sealing the win with an interception. But the Tigers celebration was interrupted by an ugly on-field melee in which players from both teams exchanged blows, leaving some bloodied and threatening to overshadow the first football game played inside Marlins Park. And what a game it was. BYU scored 17 straight points off turnovers in the fourth quarter to take a 45-38 lead, but Memphis tied the score on Lynchs 5-yard touchdown pass to Keiwone Malone with 45 seconds left in regulation. In the first overtime, BYUs Jordan Leslie was close to scoring a touchdown when he squeezed the ball against his right shoulder pad while falling into the end zone. But the ball touched the ground and the Cougars settled for Trevor Samsons 45-yard field goal. Lynch and the Tigers lost 12 yards on their first overtime possession before Jake Elliott hammered through a 54-yarder to tie the score. Proctors sliding catch in the right side of the end zone gave Memphis lead and the game ended on a turnover when DaShaughn Terry intercepted Christian Stewarts overthrown pass, sparking a celebration on the field. The brawl appeared to start with Memphis defensive lineman Martin Ifedi and BYU offensive lineman Tejan Koroma, but many other players were involved. In the clearest example of how bad it got, BYU defensive back Kai Nacua punched Memphis tight end Alan Cross from behind as Cross was being held by one of his coaches. The blow was captured live on the TV broadcast, which also showed that Nacua was bleeding from a cut below his left eye. Elsewhere, Memphis offensive lineman Chase Johnson was seen swinging his helmet at a BYU player and Cougars linebacker Harvey Langi appeared to throw several rapid punches at an opponent. Lynch accounted for all seven Memphis touchdowns, throwing for four of them and rushing for three. He passed for 306 yards and threw three interceptions, but the Tigers (10-3) won in their first bowl appearance since the 2008 season. Malone had two touchdown receptions and Cross caught the other as Memphis picked up its seventh consecutive win. Stewart passed for 348 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions for BYU (8-5), which fell to 6-4 in its 10th consecutive bowl game under coach Bronco Mendenhall. Leslie, Mitchell Juergens and Mitch Mathews had touchdown catches and Paul Lasike rushed for two scores. BYU trailed 17-14 after a back-and-forth first quarter but had a 28-21 lead at halftime after turning a Lynch interception into Lasikes 3-yard touchdown. Memphis took the lead with two touchdowns in the third quarter, including Lynchs 1-yard run on the opening possession. Later, Manoa Pikulas interception set up Samsons 23-yard field goal and the Cougars tied the score after Memphis return man Joe Craig was stripped on the ensuing kickoff and Lasike scored from seven yards out. They took a 45-38 lead on Zac Stouts 19-yard interception return with 7:48 left in regulation. Lynch had almost 10 seconds to make his game-tying throw, working his way toward the right sideline behind good protection before finding Malone near the middle of the end zone for the 5-yard score. Stewarts long pass to Leslie on the last play of regulation was knocked down by Andrew Gaines near the Memphis 5-yard line as time expired. Game Notes BYU fell to 13-19-1 in bowl games while Memphis improved to 4-3 ... It was the first-ever meeting between the teams. Mitchell Trubisky Bears Jersey . The D-Backs came into being in 1998 and appear destined to finish second in the AL West after the Tsunami that is the Los Angeles Dodgers swept over them. I thought it might be interesting to see what the D-backs have done over their 16 years compared to what the Blue Jays have done over their past 16 campaigns. Mitchell Trubisky Youth Jersey . Pistorius denied the allegation that he said to the close friend of the girlfriend he killed: "How can you sleep at night?" The accusation by Kim Myers provided a bizarre twist during the trial of the world-famous double-amputee Olympian, who is facing 25 years to life in prison if convicted of premeditated murder for shooting dead Steenkamp, a 29-year-old model, at his home last year.PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. - Martin Kaymer reached the top of golf and wondered how he got there. He won his first major at the 2010 PGA Championship. He reached No. 1 in the world six months later. And then he realized his game would not be good enough to stay there. Kaymer wasnt much different from Tiger Woods, who overhauled his swing not long after a record-setting performance in the 1997 Masters. Kaymer was concerned about being a one-dimensional player — his primary shot was a fade — especially if he wanted to contend at Augusta National and other majors. He just didnt realize it would take this long. Halfway through his victory at The Players Championship, he thought back to the time he put in on his game. "All that work, all the hours," Kaymer said. "When you are standing on the range for six, seven hours, hitting the same shot, the same drill, you feel like it should be enough. You just dont want to be there at one stage because its so much. And its a little boring as well. But you know long term, it will become something good." It paid off in a big way last week at The Players, the next best thing to a major. The 29-year-old German tied the course record with a 63 on Thursday and was never behind after any round the rest of the way. His biggest challenge Sunday was when he had to return from a 90-minute storm delay and finish four holes in which he had everything to lose. Even with a double bogey that cut his lead to one shot, he didnt feel as if the tournament were slipping away. About the only thing that annoyed him was that "soft egg" moment to the left the green on the par-5 16th. Kaymer had spoken all week about being confident enough in his swing to stop thinking about the mechanics and to start playing by feel. He talked about hitting the right shot — the brave shot — not the easy one. He kept using the word, "wimp," until he jokingly was asked the German word for it. "Weiches ei," he replied in his native language. And then he offered that polite smile and added the English translation. "Its soft egg." Instead of chipping on the 16th, Kaymer decided to use a putter. He didnt hit it nearly hard enough, so instead of having a ggood chance at birdie, he had to two-putt from over 30 feet just to make par and keep his one-shot lead. Mitchell Trubisky Jersey. He wound up with one of the craziest pars ever on the island green at the par-3 17th, which ended with a 30-foot putt that broke some 8 feet to the right. And he collected the crystal trophy, along with the $1.8 million check from the richest purse on the PGA Tour. But that wimpy decision on the 16th gnawed at him even in victory. He wants perfection. "Its not the right thing to putt it. Its a soft egg," he said. "The swing is all good. Im happy the way that it works out and the way I go. Everything is fine, and Im really happy about this. But those things ... on 16, I was not true to myself, and thats painful. It really is. Because its just not right. "You can think, I won the golf tournament. I should be happy," he said. "And Im very, very happy about this. But those are things I would like to improve for the future." His future again looks bright. Kaymer now has won 14 times around the world. Even as he was retooling his swing with longtime coach Gunter Kessler, he managed to win a World Golf Championship in Shanghai by closing with a 63. Having barely made a Ryder Cup team in 2012 when Europe would have been better off without him because of his form, Kaymer still had enough left to beat Steve Stricker in the match that assured Europe would keep the cup. And he won at the end of last year in South Africa. But it means more to have beaten one of the strongest fields in golf, and to have conquered a course on the TPC Sawgrass that punishes the slightest mistake. Kaymer never really flinched all week. He put his name out front and stayed there. Darren Clarke noticed it in the second round. Kaymer didnt hit it his best that day, but he scored. Thats the golf Clarke remembered. "Hes a proper golfer this one," Clarke said. "Hes a finely tuned engineer." Perhaps he is ready to take his place among the best in the game. The major season is just getting started. "Now its important that you dont stop," he said. "Its very easy to just be happy now, relax and let things happen. But now its a time we have to work even harder." Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys From China Cheap NFL Jerseys Authentic Wholesale Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys China NFL Cheap Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys ' ' '