zgr123's blog
BARCELONA, Spain -- Carlos Vela scored a 75th-minute equalizer Saturday to give Real Sociedad a 1-1 draw at Elche in Spain, keeping the Basque side undefeated before it completes a critical playoff to reach the Champions League group stage. Michael Roberts Lions Jersey . Also, Espanyol fought back to beat Valencia 3-1 for its first victory of the Spanish league season, while Villarreal scored its second late winner in as many weeks to rally 2-1 over Valladolid. Early at Martinez Valero Stadium, Sociedad appeared to be looking ahead to Wednesday when it hosts Lyon with a 2-0 advantage heading into their second leg with Europes top tier club competition at stake. Elche struck two minutes in when Ferran "Coro" Corominas tapped in a corner kick earned from the hosts pressure that continued to cause Sociedad problems through the first half. Elche went close to scoring again through headers by Alberto Botia and Manuel del Moral on either side of halftime, and was on course for its first win in the topflight for 25 years after being promoted last spring. But Sociedad slowly pushed Elche onto its back foot, and Vela was left unmarked to volley in Xabi Prietos cross for his second goal in as many league games. The Mexico forward nearly took the full three points for Sociedad with a curling strike from outside the area that clipped the bar two minutes from time. "Given how the game went, a point isnt too bad, even though at the end we had a chance to win," said Vela. "The first half was theirs, but in the second we knew how to rectify the situation. The point is good and now we have to keep working to finish off the job of going to the Champions League." Espanyol created three clear scoring opportunities before Valencias Helder Postiga snatched the 10th-minute opener at Cornella-El Prat Stadium. The goal, however, didnt change the flow of the match, and Espanyol defender David Lopez headed in Simao Sabrosas corner kick in the 31st. Christian Stuani headed Espanyol in front two minutes after the break, jumping and redirecting a free kick by Juan Fuentes off the post and into the net. Forward Thievy Bifouma sealed the result in the 89th with his second goal in two games coming of Espanyols bench after an excellent dribble and assist by Manuel Lanzarote. When Valencia coach Miroslav Djukic was hired this summer he said he had returned to his former club to "awaken a sleeping giant." After its poor performance Saturday the former Serb defender wasnt so optimistic. "Im ashamed," said Djukic. "We talk a lot and think we are stars but maybe we arent. We have to come down from the clouds because perhaps we arent so good. We looked ridiculous. We cant achieve anything with this attitude." Villarreal also had to come from behind to edge the visiting Valladolid after Javi Guerra finished off a team build up of five passes in the fourth minute. Giovani Dos Santos made it 1-1 in the 38th by slicing a penalty kick off the post after Valladolids Gilberto "Alcatraz" Garcia fouled Jauma Costa in the area. Dos Santos had given Villarreal its first win last week with a goal in the 86th. This time it fell to Ruben "Cani" Gracia to charge forward on the break and blast the ball into the top corner in the 83rd to keep Villarreal perfect in its return to the first division. On Friday, Athletic Bilbao beat Osasuna 2-0, while Getafe drew 2-2 at home with Almeria. Barcelona visits Malaga Sunday with Lionel Messi unavailable after injuring his leg midweek in a 1-1 draw at Atletico Madrid in the first leg of the Spanish Super Cup. Also, Atletico faces Rayo Vallecano, Sevilla travels to Levante, and Real Betis plays Celta. Real Madrid visits Granada on Monday. Teez Tabor Womens Jersey . The deals were announced on Friday. Beckham will receive $4.175 million in base salary, while De Aza will receive $4.25 million. Beckham hit .267 with five home runs and 24 RBIs over 103 games last season, his fifth with the White Sox. Jalen Reeves-Maybin Youth Jersey . - The Toronto Blue Jays have optioned pitchers Kyle Drabek, Chad Jenkins and Sean Nolin to triple-A Buffalo.SAN ANTONIO -- Tony Parker was nursing a sprained left ankle and playing a critical playoff game on no sleep only hours after the birth of his first child. It was the perfect formula for a resurgent performance from the San Antonio Spurs point guard. Parker had 23 points and five assists and San Antonio never trailed in a 109-103 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night, taking a 3-2 lead in the first-round series. "Coming into the game I told him this is perfect for you," Spurs forward Tim Duncan said. "This is what he does in situations like this where he doesnt get a lot of sleep or is in a stressful situation. He always seems to play better. I somewhat expected it from him. "He was really excited before the game. Obviously, he was really excited to have his son here and wanted to get this game really badly not only for his son but for the situation and the timing of it. He was really focused and it was good for us." Parkers rebirth put San Antonio on the verge of closing out a tense series against its intrastate rival with Game 6 set for Friday in Dallas. Vince Carter scored 28 points on 10-for-16 shooting for the Mavericks. Carters 3-pointer with 3 minutes left pulled Dallas within 98-94 but Parker followed a minute later with his only 3-pointer of the game for a 101-94 advantage, punctuating the shot with a loud scream. His son Josh was born early in the morning to his fiancee Axelle Francine. "It was crazy, cause it happened last night, late," Parker said. "I didnt sleep. I basically didnt sleep the whole night and just played on adrenaline today. "Im a happy man right now." After shooting 5 for 14 in scoring just 10 points in San Antonios Game 4 victory, Parker responded with a frantic start. He mixed in three driving layups and two mid-range jumpers to start the game making 5 of his first 7 shots. Parkers drives helped the Spurs struggling offence maintain a consistent rhythm for the first time in the series. Manu Ginobili had 19 points and Tiago Splitter added 17 points and 12 rebounds as San Antonio regained home-court advantage. Duncan added 16 points and 12 rebounds and Kawhi Leonard had 15 points for the Spurs. After averaging 16 points in the series first four games, Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki found the stroke in scoring 26 points on 10-for-20 shooting. But it wasnt enough to overcome Parker and the Spurs returning to form. "Vince shot the ball incredibly, Dirk found his rhythm and really made some tough shots," Duncan ssaid. Teez Tabor Youth Jersey. "But we were able to counter that offensively by moving the ball, hitting the glass, getting into the paint and getting some easy stuff for ourselves and loosen it up." San Antonio took its largest lead of the game at 24-11 6 minutes into the first quarter as Ginobili hit a 3-pointer seconds after entering the game. The Spurs rediscovered the aggressive defence, long-range shooting and fluid ball movement that fueled them to the leagues best record. San Antonio was 8 for 16 from 3-point range and had 24 assists while committing just six turnovers. The Spurs finished with 54 points in the paint while shooting 47 per cent overall from the field. "I think they moved the ball well and, of course, they got a lot of layups, so thats most of it," Carter said. "They did a great job of just moving the ball and making the right decisions, keeping us on our heels. I think we just have to go back to the drawing board and let it all hang out." Danny Green hit a 3-pointer to give San Antonio a 67-57 lead with 7:22 remaining in the third quarter after starting a fast break by tipping the ball from behind on a driving Ellis. Splitter threw a bounce pass into the lane to feed a cutting Parker for a layup with 7 minutes remaining in the game for a 91-81 lead. Splitter had nine points, six rebounds and four assists in the fourth quarter. The Mavericks were within four points with 3 minutes remaining. Nowitzki had an opportunity to pull Dallas closer but upfaked Splitter and dribbled out of a clean look at a 3-point attempt only to miss a 17-foot jumper with 2:35 remaining. "I would obviously like to have that one back there on the wing when I faked Splitter, to make it a two-point game," Nowitzki said. "That was a big shot. I have to make that one." NOTES: After initially stating that an ouster of Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling was a "slippery slope," Dallas Mark Cuban refused to comment after NBA commissioner Adam Silver did just that Tuesday. "Im going to tell you exactly what I did," Cuban said. "I went and looked at a picture of my house since Im on the road and I saw that it was made out of a whole lot of glass, so I decided I dont have anything more to say on the whole topic. Thats my statement."... Dallas Samuel Dalembert had to be helped off the court after twisting his left ankle while getting tied up with Green on a rebound. Dalembert returned in the second quarter and finished with two points and nine rebounds in 23 minutes. 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 ' ' '
PITTSBURGH -- Matt Calverts first career playoff goal gave the Columbus Blue Jackets a badly needed boost. Christian McCaffrey Panthers Jersey . His second ended 4,493 days of futility for a franchise that is quickly morphing from laughingstock to something considerably more potent. Calvert banged his own rebound past Marc-Andre Fleury 1:10 into the second overtime and the Columbus Blue Jackets earned their first Stanley Cup playoff win with a 4-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday night. Fleury stuffed the initial shot by Cam Atkinson but Calvert stood all alone at the left post. His first shot went into the goaltenders right pad. He roofed his second into the top of the net to even the Eastern Conference quarterfinals at one game each. Game 3 is Monday in Columbus. "You always dream about being the hero in overtime," Calvert said. "We battled for it and it didnt come easy. We were down a couple goals at different times. The penalty kill was great when it had to be and its just a great feeling right now." The Blue Jackets trailed 3-1 after the first period, but Calverts short-handed goal 7:31 into the second changed the game completely. "It gave hope to our guys," Columbus coach Todd Richards said. "It was 3-1 at the time and we scored to make it 3-2. You could feel it on the bench. After that I felt we played a very strong game." Looked like it. Jack Johnson eventually tied it with 6:01 left in regulation. Ryan Johansen also scored the first playoff goal of his career for Columbus. Sergei Bobrovsky overcame a shaky start to finish with 39 saves. Brian Gibbons scored twice and Matt Niskanen added his second goal of the playoffs, but Pittsburgh was outplayed for much of the final three-plus periods. Fleury made 41 stops but was helpless on the game-winner. "We have to be better," said Pittsburgh star Sidney Crosby, who had two assists but was held without a goal for the second straight game. "Thats really, I think, the bottom line. Right on through, whether its special teams or 5-on-5 we have to be better." The Penguins have dropped four straight home overtime playoff games and blew a chance to take a 2-0 series lead when they failed to bury the Blue Jackets early on. Pittsburgh, the best power play team in the NHL during the regular season, went just 1 for 8 with the man advantage, including 0 for 2 in overtime. Even worse, Columbus has two short-handed goals in as many games. Both teams traded quality chances in the first overtime. Bobrovsky made an excellent blocker save on Crosby racing down the right wing and got a piece of Lee Stempniaks rebound. Fleury stuffed R.J. Umberger from point-blank range earlier in the period. There was no back-and-forth in the second extra session. Brandon Dubinsky started the winning play by finding Atkinson in front and Pittsburghs defence offered little resistance until the puck was on Calverts stick for the winner. "We stuck with it and we just kept playing and kept going and we got a split in Pittsburgh and thats what we wanted," Calvert said. The Penguins knew they couldnt afford a repeat of the first 21 minutes of Game 1, when the Blue Jackets knocked them around while streaking to a two-goal lead before Pittsburgh rallied to escape. This time, the start wasnt the problem for the Penguins. It was everything else. Gibbons scored the first two playoff goals of his career 54 seconds apart -- including a nifty short-handed breakaway in which he undressed Bobrovsky -- to give the Penguins a 2-0 lead before the game was 5 minutes old. The giddiness didnt last long, for the Penguins or Gibbons. Johansen scored before the power play expired and Gibbons, elevated to Pittsburghs top line midway through Game 1, did not return after colliding with Johansen midway through the first period. While a Niskanen shot from the point with 2:08 left in the first restored Pittsburghs two-goal edge, it only seemed to galvanize the Blue Jackets. The Penguins earned back-to-back power plays early in the second period and somehow lost momentum. Some lethargic Pittsburgh passing set up a 3-on-1 short-handed breakaway for the Blue Jackets, with Calvert beating Fleury to bring Columbus within one. The disjointed effort by the Penguins deflated the bench and the building. The wave carried over into the third, with Columbus eventually drawing even on Johnsons power-play goal with 6 minutes to go before Calverts winner gave Columbus a taste of playoff success after 13-plus years of waiting. "Its a big step for us as a group and an organization," Calvert said. "It felt great, and Im sure were going to enjoy it tonight, but its a long series." NOTES: The Blue Jackets scratched forward Nick Foligno once again with a lower body injury but Foligno is optimistic hell be able to return for Game 3. ... Crosbys two assists moved him into third on the teams career post-season scoring list. He now has 108 post-season points, trailing Jaromir Jagr (147) and Mario Lemieux (172). ... Columbus D Fedor Tyutin missed the third period and overtime due to an undisclosed injury. Taylor Moton Womens Jersey . The Brazilian-born strikers brace drew him level with Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo as the leagues leading scorers with 17 goals apiece through 16 rounds. "The important thing is to help the team win, not the goals," Diego Costa said. After a first half dominated by defence, Atletico pressed Valencia into its area and Diego Costa did the rest. Curtis Samuel Panthers Jersey . However, Therrien added that Galchenyuks status for next Wednesdays game against the Detroit Red Wings is questionable. Galchenyuk has been out since Jan. 6 with a broken right hand.England are not just focusing on Specsavers County Division One players ahead of the Test series against Sri Lanka, according to two of the national selectors. Alastair Cooks side will take on the visitors in a three-Test series, with the opener at Headingley starting on Thursday May 19, live on Sky Sports 2. Selectors Mike Newell and Angus Fraser gave no hints to Sky Sports News HQ about the players that would be included on Thursday, but it was emphasised that both county divisions were being scouted for English talent. Newell, Nottinghamshire director of cricket, said: There has not been any Test cricket for several months, so we wanted to see lots of four-day cricket in Division One and Division Two and look at the players who will come under consideration and have a long debate about that.I think its our job to look at all of the cricket. Obviously our teams are Division One so we spend a reasonable amount of time there but we also go and watch Division Two cricket when our teams arent playing or when we get a chance to go.Theres a lot of good young players in Division Two, playing some good cricket, particularly in the batting group. Forget Bell Ian Bell England recall unnecessary says Nasser Hussain Everybodys in there with a chance of playing and I think its important we give everybody consideration.There has been plenty of debate on how England should line-up, with many players from the second tier impressing, including Alastair Cooks Essex team-mate Tom Westley and Kents Daniel Bell-Drummond.Fraser, Middlesex director of cricket, added: The Test series in South Africa finished in January and we are now in April so theres been three months without Test cricket and some good white ball performances.So there has been plenty of speculation and plenty of conversation in our meetings. Weve piicked a squad that we believe can win the series and thats always going to be the case. Curtis Samuel Womens Jersey. Former England captain Nasser Hussain wants Alex Hales to retain his place in the squad There are 12 players that are going to be looking forward to going to Headingley in a week or so at the weekend.Newell, who stressed that the squad for the first Test has only been chosen for the one game in Leeds, added: We are very determined to win this three-match series and thats what the squad we have selected is there to do.Head to Sky Sports News HQ and Sky Sports digital platforms at 7am on Thursday for first news of Englands Test squad to play Sri Lanka.Then catch the three-Test series live on Sky Sports, starting with the first game at Headingley, from 10am, Thursday, May 19 on Sky Sports 2. Also See: Englands options: Openers Englands options: Middle order Englands options: Seamers Live cricket on Sky 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 ' ' '
SWANSEA -- Emmanuel Adebayor scored twice as Tottenham beat Swansea 3-1 to extend Tim Sherwoods unbeaten Premier League start as manager. Howard Wilson Browns Jersey . The striker headed Spurs into a 35th-minute lead and tapped in their third in the 71st after Chico Flores own goal. Wilfried Bony hit the bar and had a good penalty appeal for a push by Tottenham captain Michael Dawson turned down in the first half, before getting Swanseas consolation late on. The win moved Tottenham up to fifth, level on points with fourth-placed Liverpool. Sherwood has collected 16 out of 18 points since replacing Andre Villas-Boas last month. Swansea remains three points above the relegation zone. Larry Ogunjobi Jersey . The Montreal Alouettes announced Tuesday that they have acquired the return specialist from Calgary, as well as the Stampeders fifth-round draft pick in the 2014 CFL Canadian Draft. David Njoku Womens Jersey . -- David Freese is starting to pick up his run production, which is something the Los Angeles Angels have been waiting half a season to see.The Finnish mens Olympic hockey team has reportedly dipped into its reserves from Russias Kontinental Hockey League. According to USA Today the Finns have tapped forwards Jarkko Immonen and Sakari Salminen to replace injured forwards Mikko Koivu and Valtteri Filppula at the Sochi Games. Koivu announced he would not be participating in the Olympic tournament on Friday. he has been out since Jan. 4 with a broken ankle. Filppula was also ruled out Friday with a fracture in his right ankle sustained Thursday night against the Toronto Maplee Leafs. Larry Ogunjobi Browns Jersey. Immonen, 31, has scored 13 goals and added 23 assists in 50 games this season with the Nizhny Novgorod Torpedo. He has appeared in 20 career NHL games as a member of the New York Rangers between 2005 and 2007. He was originally selected in the eighth round (254th overall) of the 2002 NHL Entry Draft by the Toronto Maple Leafs but was dealt to the Rangers in the trade that brought Brian Leetch to Toronto. Salminen - a Torpedo teammate of Immonens - has scored 18 goals and 28 assists in 50 games this season. 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 ' ' '
NEW YORK, N. Taco Charlton Womens Jersey .Y. - Free agent pitcher Enrique Garcia has been suspended for 50 games under baseballs minor league drug program for a second positive test for a drug of abuse.The commissioners office said Tuesday that Garcias suspension will start when he signs with another major league organization.The 24-year-old left-hander was 5-3 with a 5.23 ERA in 40 relief appearances last year for Arizonas Visalia farm team in the Class A California League and was released last month. The Diamondbacks signed him in 2013, and he was 7-2 with a 2.25 ERA in 35 appearances that year for South Bend of the Class A Midwest League.Garcia became the first player penalized this year under the minor league program. There were 66 suspensions last year. Taco Charlton Cowboys Jersey .com) - The Miami Heat will try to close out the Charlotte Bobcats Monday night in Game 4 of their Eastern Conference first round series. Taco Charlton Youth Jersey . Patrick Deslisle-Houde and David Rose each scored in the second to give the fourth-seeded Redmen a 3-1 lead after Jean-Philippe Mathieu scored in the first.SOCHI, Russia -- Another golden opportunity awaits Team Canada. Four years after winning gold on home ice in Vancouver, the Canadians will get a chance to make it two in a row Sunday against Sweden after beating the United States 1-0 in the Olympic semifinals Friday at Bolshoy Ice Dome. This time, though, it was made possible by a few players who werent around in 2010, namely Jamie Benn and Carey Price. Benn scored for Canada on a pretty pass from fellow newcomer Jay Bouwmeester, and Price -- chosen by coach Mike Babcock to start over Vancouver golden goalie Roberto Luongo -- had 31 saves to make it stand up. Though it didnt show up on the scoresheet, Sidney Crosby was flying up and down the ice, creating chances seemingly at will. The captain still doesnt have a goal in this tournament, but along with the rest of his teammates he has raised his level of play just in time to play Sweden for the gold medal on Sunday. The United States will play for the bronze Saturday against Finland, which lost to the Swedes 2-1 in the other semifinal. Guaranteed either a gold or silver, this is the first time Canada has won a medal in an Olympics held outside North America since NHL players began participating in 1998. Canada and the U.S. traded chances throughout the first period. Just 90 seconds in, Crosby forced a turnover that led to a quality opportunity for Patrice Bergeron in front. More than five minutes in, Phil Kessel patiently waited for John Carlson to cross the blue-line and get a one-timer off that Price snagged with his glove. Not long after that, Crosby created a chance for Patrick Sharp and Jonathan Quick made a big save on Bergeron. Quick finished with 36 saves. It took until early in the second period for Canada to get on the board, thanks to a heads-up play from Bouwmeester. The smooth-skating defenceman waited it out with the puck above the left face-off circle, allowing Benn to find open space between Brooks Orpik and Carlson, playing together for the first time at these Olympics because of a hand injury to Paul Martin. A perfect sliding pass across the ice from Bouwmeester hit Benns stick right on the tape and deflected past Quick at the 1:41 mark of the second. At that point, Canada tilted the ice and spent much of the period hemming the Americans in their own end. The result was more brilliance from Quick, who had to slide post-to-post to rob Benn and oozed confidence. Xavier Woods Cowboys Jersey. The same came from Price on the other end, as he didnt flash his glove hand as much as calmly lift it to catch the puck with ease. Canadas victory came a day after the womens team staged an improbable late comeback to beat the United States for its fourth straight gold medal. Babcock and his players said that victory taught them that "you dont give in." Of course the way Team Canada got to the gold-medal game was very different. It hasnt trailed for even one second at these Olympics. That didnt stop the women from trying to use their experience as motivation. Alternate captain Hayley Wickenheiser, starting goalie Shannon Szabados and forward Brianne Jenner were responsible for a letter posted in the mens locker-room that read: "Tonight is yours. Own the moment. We are proof that every minute matters. The podium is reserved for the brave. Earn every inch, dictate the pace. Go get em! From the girls! :)" The men are one win away from giving Canada double gold in hockey for the third time in the past four Olympics. Friday nights game was skated almost at the blistering pace of the one played Feb. 28, 2010, that Canada won 3-2 on Crosbys unforgettable overtime goal. Some of Canadas best players in the Olympic rematch were watching from home four years ago. In addition to Bouwmeester, Benn and Price, Jeff Carter looked like he was playing in another gear and defenceman Alex Pietrangelo and Marc-Edouard Vlasic quietly controlled the game. NOTES -- Canada scratched defenceman P.K Subban on defence and the injured John Tavares at forward. Tavares, who suffered a tournament- and season-ending left knee injury against Latvia, will remain with the team until after the Olympics. Matt Duchene filled his spot in the lineup. ... Russian star Alex Ovechkin was in attendance, sitting at centre ice on the suite level of Bolshoy Ice Dome. Ovechkin did not take the first charter flight back to North America after his father underwent heart surgery. He tweeted Friday night: "Thanks to all for support. My dad going to be good and he see you all again." ... Even though Russia was eliminated in the quarters, 11,172 fans filled the arena for the all-North American semifinal. Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys From ChinaCheap NFL Jerseys Authentic Wholesale Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys China NFL Cheap Jerseys ' ' '
NEW ORLEANS -- Greivis Vasquez drew a round of applause when he first checked in against the team for which he played the past two seasons. Dede Westbrook Youth Jersey . Later, he all but silenced the New Orleans crowd with five straight points that gave his new team the lead for good inside the final two minutes. DeMar DeRozan scored 31 points, Vasquez finished with 14, and the Toronto Raptors snapped a two-game skid with a resilient 107-100 victory over the Pelicans on Wednesday night. "I was blessed enough to be out there at the end of the game," said Vasquez, who was traded by New Orleans after last season in a deal that brought Tyreke Evans to the Pelicans. "I had a really rough first half and then the second half I was just on a mission," Vasquez said. "I like close games, man. Im not afraid. I would never be afraid. Im the type of player that would risk everything. Thats how I got (the starting point guard) job here in New Orleans." Kyle Lowry scored 23, Amir Johnson added 17 and Vasquez finished with 14 to help Toronto overcome a 14-point first-half deficit and snap a two-game skid. Tyler Hansbrough, playing additional minutes with starting centre Jonas Valanciunas sidelined by a sore back, grabbed 13 rebounds, seven on the offensive end. "Thats psycho-T at his finest," DeRozan said of Hansbrough. "He went out there, played extremely hard, got rebounds and came up with some big rebounds late in the game. Thats just him." The game was tied at 94 when Vasquez scored five straight points in a 36-second span on a running floater and a driving layup as he was fouled -- the latter coming after Vasquez rebounded his missed jumper for one of Torontos 22 offensive rebounds. "Its cool to have a teammate like that because you see how much he wanted it," DeRozan said of Vasquez. "Thats why we call him Spicy. You never know what youre going to get until you eat it." Al-Farouq Aminu had 19 points and 10 rebounds for New Orleans, which was without All-Star Anthony Davis because of an illness. The Pelicans could not deny that Davis absence, one game after his career-high 40 points and 21 rebounds in Sundays overtime win over Boston, was a factor. "Obviously, with a guy that can rebound like Anthony, its hard to make up for that," rookie centre Jeff Withey said. Evans had 18 points for the Pelicans. Eric Gordon added 15, but was shut out in the second half, when his playing time was limited after he was called for his fourth foul in the middle of the third quarter. "Once he got in foul trouble ... I think that probably broke his rhythm," Pelicans coach Monty Williams said. Brian Roberts scored 11 points, while Alexis Ajinca and Austin Rivers each had 10 to keep New Orleans in front for most of the game. New Orleans led 94-90 on Witheys free throw with 4:26 left. But during the next 50 seconds, Johnson slammed home a putback dunk and followed that with a driving layup as the shot clock expired to tie it at 94. Next came Vasquezs five straight points, followed by Lowrys free throw and Johnsons tip shot to cap a 12-1 run from which New Orleans never recovered. "We played decent defence, forced them to miss and they got rebound after rebound," Williams said. "We missed a lot of shots, layups in the paint, but the rebounding tonight was not good at all." Gordon, Aminu (12 points) and Evans (10 points) all reached double figures in the first half, much of which was controlled by New Orleans. The Pelicans seemed to surprise the Atlantic Division-leading Raptors by racing to an early double-digit lead. Rivers driving layup gave New Orleans a 31-18 lead late in the first quarter. In the second quarter, the lead reached 14 points several times, the last on Aminus layup that made it 50-36. At that point, there was 5:20 left in the second quarter, which was about all the time Toronto needed to nearly pull even. The Raptors outscored the Pelicans 20-7 to close the half. DeRozan scored nine during the stint, including a three-point play on a driving layup and a 12-foot fade at the halftime horn that made it 57-56. NOTES: The Pelicans went 3-3 on their six-game home stand. New Orleans next plays at Atlanta on Friday, then hosts Miami on Saturday to open a four-game home stand. ... The Raptors have not lost three straight since making a seven-player trade with Sacramento on Dec. 9. Dawuane Smoot Youth Jersey . Ronaldo netted his 14th goal of the season in Europes top competition to give Madrid a clear advantage ahead of next weeks quarterfinal return leg in Germany. But it came at a price as the Portugal forward, who came into the first-leg nursing a sore left knee, came off in the 80th minute. Dede Westbrook Womens Jersey. Portland won Game 4 Sunday night at the Moda Center and are now up 3-1. The last time the Blazers won a playoff series came in the 2000 Western Conference semifinals against the Utah Jazz.HOUSTON -- With the top of Houstons batting order struggling Friday night, the players at the bottom came through to help the Astros keep their winning streak intact. Jonathan Villar broke an 0-for-26 slump with a go-ahead RBI double in the seventh inning and the Astros won their seventh straight game with a 2-1 victory over the Baltimore Orioles in the annual Major League Baseball Civil Rights game. It is the first time Houston, losers of 100-plus games the last three seasons, has won seven straight since 2010. Brett Oberholtzer (2-6) allowed four hits and a run in seven innings for the win and Chad Qualls got the last four outs for his fifth save. "Everybody did their part tonight," Houston manager Bo Porter said. "Oberholtzer was outstanding. The bullpen came in and was able to close it out and hold the game right there. Overall, just a great team win." The Astros had one hit before Matt Dominguez doubled to start the seventh. Alex Presley singled with one out but was thrown out trying to stretch it into a double. Robbie Grossman followed with a double, which sailed just out of the reach of a leaping Steve Pearce in left field, to tie it 1-all. Villars ground-rule double bounced into the bullpen in right-centre field to put Houston on top and chase Miguel Gonzalez (3-4). "Extremely happy for (Villar) and Grossman," Porter said. "Both of them have been kind of scuffling and for them to be the two offensive heroes tonight, it definitely feels good." Houstons Nos. 7, 8 and 9 hitters combined for three hits Friday night while the top three had just one. "I feel like were never out of a game," said Grossman, who was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City on Monday. "Were just out there having fun." Adam Jones doubled to start the second inning and scored on a one-out single by J.J. Hardy to put Baltimore up 1-0. But the Orioles couldnt do much else against Oberholtzer as they tied a season high with their fourth straight loss. "Weve scored five runs in the last three games,," manager Buck Showalter said. Dede Westbrook Jaguars Jersey. "You tip your cap to the other pitcher, but were capable of better." Gonzalez kept Houston off-balance early and didnt allow a hit until Jose Altuve legged out an infield single on a grounder to shortstop with one out in the sixth. Gonzalez yielded five hits and two runs in 6 2-3 innings. The Astros wore the uniforms of the Houston Eagles and the Orioles donned the uniforms of the Baltimore Elite Giants of the Negro Leagues for the game. Houston rookie George Springer, who had hit seven homers in his previous seven games, went 0 for 4 with two strikeouts to snap an 11-game hitting streak. Oberholtzer had retired five straight before Nelson Cruz extended his hitting streak to 11 games with a single to start the fourth inning. But he still faced the minimum in the inning thanks to a double play. He threw perfect frames in both the fifth and sixth and sat down the first two batters in the seventh before a single by Chris Davis. Hardys fly out ended the inning and Oberholtzers night. Gonzalez retired the first eight batters before walking Villar with two outs in the third. But Altuve grounded out to end that inning. He plunked Jason Castro with two outs in the fourth before Pearce robbed Dominguez of a hit with a diving catch to end the inning. NOTES: Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Berry Gordy and Pro Football Hall of Famer Jim Brown were honoured at a luncheon on Friday in conjunction with the game for their contributions to the civil rights movement. Author and poet Maya Angelou, who died on Wednesday at 86, was honoured posthumously. ... Former heavyweight boxing champion George Foreman threw out the ceremonial first pitch. ... The series continues Saturday when Baltimore RHP Chris Tillman opposes LHP Dallas Keuchel. Keuchel was named the AL player of the week last week after going 2-0 with a 1.02 ERA in two starts. ... Baltimore C Matt Wieters, on the 15-day DL since May 11 with a right elbow strain, made 25 throws before Fridays game and Showalter said he will throw again Sunday. Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys ChinaCheap Jerseys From China Cheap NFL Jerseys Authentic Wholesale Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys China NFL Cheap Jerseys ' ' '
Daniel Sedin has seemingly escaped serious injury. Forrest Lamp Jersey . The Vancouver Canucks forward had a CT scan following a hit from behind into the boards by Paul Byron in Sunday nights season-ending 5-1 win over the Calgary Flames. Late in the second period, Byron hit Sedin into the boards and the 33-year-olds head crashed into the glass. Byron received a five-minute major for boarding on the play and a game misconduct. No further discipline is expected for Byron. Sedin met the media on Monday saying that everything will be fine health-wise. "I hit my head on the glass," said Sedin, who finished the season with 16 goals and 31 assists in 73 games played. "I tried to lift my head, but couldnt get it off the ice. I thought: lay still." The Swede admits that he was scared in the immediate aftermath of the incident. "I was scared," said Sedin. "I felt something wasnt right. I couldnt lift my head off the ice. It feels okay today." Byron, 24, reached out to Sedin following the game. The Ottawa native texted Sedin to apologize. "Im glad hes okay," said Byron. The Canucks finished the season in 12th place in the Western Conference, missing the playoffs for just the third time since 2000. Sedin acknowledges that things have to change for next season. "Its been a tough year," he said. "I think we need to get back to playing the way we know how to play." Dan Feeney Jersey .com) - A top-10 showdown is on tap in at the McKale Center on Saturday, as the 10th-ranked Arizona Wildcats play host to the eighth-ranked Utah Utes in a key Pac-12 matchup. Forrest Lamp Youth Jersey . Durant finished with 24 points and 13 rebounds, Jackson matched his career high with 23 points on 10-of-14 shooting and Lamb scored 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting, lifting the Thunder to a 94-88 win over San Antonio and snapping the Spurs 11-game winning streak.CINCINNATI - Billy Hamilton set a Reds rookie record by stealing 56 bases last season, tied for second-most overall in the major leagues. He also wore down as the months wore on, with his hitting and stealing showing a big drop-off.So the 6-foot, 160-pound outfielder is on a weight-lifting regimen this off-season, trying to make his body ready for the extra wear-and-tear of a major league season.This off-season Ive had a chance to do stuff like that, Hamilton said on Thursday, before the start of the teams annual media caravan to nearby cities. Ive been getting in the weight room. Im not a power hitter, but I want to be stronger than last year.He took the National League by surprise during his first promotion in September 2013, batting .368 for the month and stealing 13 bases while getting caught only once. Hes so fast that pitchers and catchers got rattled.The 24-year-old was the starting centre fielder last season and quickly recognized that teams were better prepared to stop him the second time around. He was caught stealing 23 times, the most in the National League, and repeatedly got nabbed when pitchers threw over to first in anticipation that he was running.Lesson learned.The thing about being a young, confident player is feeling theres not a situation where you cant be successful, manager Bryan Price said on Thursday. Even though the percentages are always in his favour, theres going to be better opportunities to run, better pitcher-and-catcher combinations to run against.That will be part of his learning curve.Hes showing that hes a quick study.Hamilton was overmatched at the start of last season, going only 6 for 43. Once he relaxed, he got much better. Hamilton batted . Forrest Lamp Womens Jersey. 250 overall in 152 games with 25 doubles, eight triples, six homers and 48 RBIs.He wound up leading NL rookies in runs, hits, total bases, doubles, steals, extra-base hits and multi-hit games despite a second-half fade. Hamilton batted only .200 after the All-Star break with one homer and 18 steals.All we can do is speculate that the second half (slump) was just getting used to playing a full season in the big leagues, Price said. We want him getting stronger and getting reacquainted with the acumen of bunting and getting more balls hit on the ground and hard line drives instead of balls hit in the air.Were seeing the development of a young player.Hamilton finished second to the Mets Jacob deGrom in voting for NL rookie of the year. Even though the season wasnt quite what hed hoped, it gave Hamilton more confidence.Especially the way the season started, I felt like it was going to be a tough, tough season, Hamilton said. But I started relaxing and getting myself into it. Going into this season, I feel way better than last year. Im way calmer and feel like Im supposed to be here where last year it was, Oh, oh, I dont know if Im ready. But right now, Im ready.Hamilton has been working out in Atlanta with Delino DeShields, manager of Triple-A Louisville this season, in order to hone his bunting and get stronger. The major league season lasts about a month longer than the Triple-A season.I did get a little draggy, Hamilton said. I wouldnt say I completely tired out. Ive got to do better than I did last year. Ive been taking care of my body this off-season and getting prepared for that extra month.___Follow Joe Kay on Twitter: http://twitter.com/apjoekay Cheap NFL JerseysCheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys From China Cheap NFL Jerseys Authentic Wholesale Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys China NFL Cheap Jerseys ' ' '
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. Jonathan Allen Youth Jersey . -- Diego Fagundez scored two first-half goals and the New England Revolution routed the Western Conference-leading Seattle Sounders 5-0 Sunday. New England (5-3-2) extended its unbeaten run to five matches (4-0-1), and snapped a four-match winless slide against Seattle. The Sounders (7-3-1) had their six-match (5-0-1) unbeaten run ended and the MLS No. 1 ranked offence was shut out for the first time this season. Fagundez scored his first two goals of the season in the 29th and 41st minutes for the Revolution. Rookie Patrick Mullins, making just his third appearance, scored his second goal in as many matches to put New England ahead in the 14th minute. Teal Bunbury banged in a rebound of his own shot off the left wing in the 36th minute for New Englands third goal. And his drive off the right wing in the 46th minute was deflected off Seattle defender Chad Marshall for an own goal -- the Revolutions fifth of the match. New England scored four goals during a first half for the eighth time in club history. Mullins converted a loose ball for the Revolutions go-ahead goal. Fagundez finished off a pass from Chris Tierney atop the penalty box area with a one-timer of a right-footed shot short side past Seattle goalie Stefan Frei, then took a long ball from Bunbury off his chest and polished off another right-footed shot to the far right corner of the Sounders net. New England goalie Bobby Shuttleworth, who has allowed just two goals during the five-match unbeaten run, posted his fourth shutout. Seattles best chances occurred on a header by Marshall in the 54th minute, a drive by Gonzalo Pineda in the 76th minute and another from the left by Kenny Cooper in the 77th minute.Jonathan Allen Womens Jersey .J. - Several people have collapsed in an overcrowded New Jersey train station while waiting in long lines to get to the Super Bowl. Ryan Anderson Youth Jersey .com) - The New York Rangers hope to punch their ticket to the second round when they visit the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday for a Game 6 battle at Wells Fargo Center.Oakland, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - Steph Curry stuffed the stat sheet and six Warriors scored in double figures as Golden State got back in the win column with a 114-109 decision over the Oklahoma City Thunder. Curry posted a game-high 34 points with nine assists, seven rebounds and four steals for Golden State, which lost its franchise-high 16-game win streak in Memphis on Tuesday. Klay Thompson scored 19 points and Draymond Green flirted with a triple- double, tallying 16, nine assists and ninne boards for the Warriors. Samaje Perine Jersey. Thunder star Kevin Durant scored 30 points in the first half but didnt play in the second after suffering a sprained right ankle just before halftime. Russell Westbrook picked up some of the slack, netting 33 points with eight assists but shooting just 11-for-30 from the field. The Thunder were 7-1 over their last eight games with Durant in the lineup. The reigning MVP missed the first 17 games of the season following foot surgery. 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 ' ' '
TORONTO – The shootout has proven a viable saving grace for this years edition of the Maple Leafs. Jamaal Williams Youth Jersey . When Reid Boucher shot wide in what would be the Devils final attempt on Jonathan Bernier in the third round of the skills competition Sunday, he handed Toronto its eighth victorious decision in the shootout this season – tied for the most in the NHL. In fact, the Leafs have more victories in the shootout since the start of November (six) than they do in regulation/overtime (five), a fact thats masked, until recently, just how poorly the team has performed in the past two-plus months (12-16-5). But for a team that was teetering on a four-game losing streak – the second longest this season – the winning decision at the ACC, in a reality divorced from the game itself, was nonetheless needed and important. "Well, we can breathe," said Randy Carlyle, following the 3-2 victory, the second in two tries against the Devils this season, both wins coming in the shootout. "Theres been a lot of gasping going on, and even in this game there was a lot of gasping going on how tight it was." It was not a pretty performance in many regards – the Leafs were outshot 38-25 and out-attempted 83-48 – but one that at least offered some of the requisite intensity and desire that had been missing amid the recent slide and quite often throughout whats been a disappointing campaign to date. And they might very well have won it in regulation had it not been for a blown call on Tyler Bozaks apparent go-ahead goal in the second frame. "Guys are a little looser tonight already," Mason Raymond told the Leaf Report shortly after the win. "It feels good. It feels good to get a win." "Hopefully this relieves a little bit of the stress thats involved for our hockey club, and they can get back playing to the way were capable of playing," added Carlyle. Consistency has been a foe of his team so far. The Leafs have reeled off exactly one winning streak since October – it lasted three games, two of which were won in shootouts – winning back-to-back games on just two other occasions. Stringing together heartier efforts against the Capitals and Devils in recent days then is just a mild step in the right direction. The teams response in an upcoming back-to-back with the Bruins and Sabres will indicate whether, in fact, a corner is gradually being turned. "I dont think its an exact recipe you can follow," Raymond said of achieving consistency. "Youve got to build off the things, in my opinion, that you did well, stay positive and believe. I think thats a big part of it is just believing that we can get the job done and go out there and get wins." "I think the last few games our compete level and effort has been way better," said van Riemsdyk, who scored for the second straight game, "and I think if we continue to play in that same mold well have some more results that we want." Five Points 1. Gardiners Development Pt. 1 Carlyle labeled 23-year-old Jake Gardiners performance in Washington Friday night as "the model in which wed like him to play. Gardiner, who had been scratched for just the second time all season one night earlier in Carolina, raised his performance in the eyes of the coaching staff against the Capitals. "Much different Jake Gardiner," said Carlyle, observing improved strength and intensity in the defensive zone as well as better decision-making with the puck. Such is the road to development for a young defender in the NHL. Many ups come with many downs. "Jake is a talented young player and there are steps that he has to continue to take," said Carlyle, who met with Gardiner briefly at the end of Sundays morning skate. "With Jake, he has the ability to move the puck both with his hands and with his feet – he can skate. He would like to make more consistent decisions with the puck and so would we. Weve struggled to find a consistent level for him over the last probably five or six games." That inconsistency led Carlyle to scratch Gardiner last week, a questionable move that blew up in a 6-1 loss to the Hurricanes. But if the sit-down was designed to spark a reaction then it may have achieved some success the next night in the U.S. capital. "I think what happens with young players is they find that theyre always trying to do one thing and maybe trying to do too much of one thing and that sometimes turns into where you skate the puck into areas where you shouldnt and turn over the puck," said Carlyle. "But hes a young player that has got a tremendous upside." 2. Gardiners Development Pt. 2 What Carlyle has done additionally, in the mean-time, is remove Gardiner from the teams top two pairings – he and 19-year-old Morgan Rielly formed the third grouping for the second straight game against the Devils – and thus lighten the burden he is exposed to on a night to night basis. Speaking to the Leaf Report on Sunday morning, Gardiner described his decision-making with the puck as one needed improvement, an issue again at times on Sunday night. "Dont try and force anything," he said. "I think I was trying to make plays that werent there and I was maybe trying to move the puck a little bit too quickly. When theres not an open guy, maybe just be patient and hold onto the puck a little bit." Gardiner, who played over 24 minutes against the Devils, is averaging nearly 22 minutes per game this season, second on the team. 3. Bolland Front Dave Bolland hasnt played since Nov. 2, when his left ankle was sliced by the skate blade of Canucks forward Zack Kassian. The 27-year-old has missed 32 games with the injury, but is due to finally start skating with the team on Thursday. Bolland recently traveled to Montreal in hopes of having a new boot designed specifically to support the injured area. That boot was due to arrive in Toronto on Monday with the Mimico native then expected to skate before joining the Leafs on a four-game road trip next week. An exact timeframe for return remains unclear. 4. Harder to Play Against? Asked before the game if this version of the Maple Leafs was as difficult to play against as the one that ended a lengthy playoff drought last season, Carlyle responded flatly in the negative. "Nowhere near," he said. "Weve been scratching our heads and trying to figure out why." And if there was one element that remained constant from a Friday loss in Washington to Sundays win in Toronto, it was the intensity of his group. The execution may have been lacking at times, but the compete Carlyle has been prodding for remained. "Thats one thing that weve really tried to put at the forefront in the last three weeks to a month is that our compete level has to go to a level where were satisfied," said Carlyle on Sunday morning. "Thats the one thing that weve said is our compete level has to go up." Carlyle pointed to the simple will required to win puck battles. "We have been guilty of just standing around in those situations," he said. "I call it getting inside. I think to be inside in todays NHL is the key because you cant hook and hold, you have to skate your way to get inside. "When we do it we can play effective hockey and give ourselves a chance to win. And when we dont do it were receiving the game, were standing around. I would say thats the biggest mystery for the coaching staff." 5. Stunted Starts Toronto has exited the first frame with a lead in 12 of 47 games this season, trailing, by comparison, on 17 occasions. Substandard starts have been a source of considerable trouble, often requiring the club to dig out from an early hole without much ultimate success. "All year long, weve [had] pretty poor starts," said Gardiner. "We try to dig ourselves out of it and then we start playing well and its too late by that time so if we can play almost desperate and aggressive I think well have better starts and itll lead to a better outcome." The Leafs started slowly again on Sunday – outshot 7-1 in the opening 10 minutes – but rebounded during the back half of the period, finding the games first goal from Tyler Bozak, his seventh this season. "We were rusty, I thought, for the first 10 or 12 minutes of the game," said Carlyle. Stats-Pack 8-4 – Leafs record in the shootout this season. 13 – Points in the past 11 games for Tyler Bozak, who has 19 points in 23 games this season. 8 – Shootout wins for the Leafs this season, tied with the Capitals for the most in the NHL. 1 – Goals in the past 14 games for Nazem Kadri. 24:23 – Ice-time for Jake Gardiner against the Devils, second on the team to Dion Phaneuf. 62% - Leafs success rate on the draw against the Devils. 2 – Consecutive games with a goal for James van Riemsdyk, who had two in the preceding 15 games. Special Teams Capsule PP: 1-4 Season: 21.8% (5th) PK: 3-4 Season: 77.4% (27th) Quote of the Night "I asked him if he could watch it after the game and maybe next time he has a game [with us] he can apologize or something because that was pretty brutal." - James van Riemsdyk, on his conversation with an official following Tyler Bozaks waved off goal in the second period. Up Next The Leafs visit the Bruins in Boston on Tuesday night. Kevin King Womens Jersey .Dawson also birdied two of the last four holes to reach 12-under 132 on TPC San Antonios AT&T Canyons Course. He won his only title in a PGA Tour-sanctioned event in 2002 in the Web.com Tours LaSalle Bank Open.Im not going to lose any sleep, believe me, Dawson said. I used to be a perfectionist, but my attitude now is to play like Im in the pro-am. Kevin King Jersey . Some will say that Martin is too sensitive while others will say that it is part of the way football is in the locker room. But to have to absorb what was said to him for any rational and intelligent person is too much. ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- The Colorado Avalanche will be heading into their first post-season in four years without leading scorer Matt Duchene after the forward suffered a quirky left knee injury. Duchene hurt his medial collateral ligament when he ran into a teammate on the opening shift against San Jose over the weekend. Hes expected to miss about four weeks. The loss is a big blow for the Avalanche, who have turned things around in coach Patrick Roys first season in charge and are in the running for home-ice advantage with eight games remaining. "We hope for a speedy recovery to be back as soon as he can," Ryan OReilly said after practice Monday. Duchene was trying to avoid a collision with teammate Jamie McGinn, but they awkwardly bumped anyway near the Sharks blue line. Duchene fell to the ice and then gingerly skated to the bench. "One of those freak accidents in hockey," McGinn said. McGinn said hes called and texted Duchene, telling him to "stay positive." Duchene posted on his Twitter account Monday that the "thought of not playing in the first round for me has been devastating." He added that he will be "doing everything in my power to be ready for Game 1... And if not then, shortly after!" The 23-year-old Duchene has set career highs this season in points (70), assists (47) and shots (217). He missed three games earlier this season with an oblique injury. The team went 3-0 in his absence. For now, Roy said the plan is to move rookie Nathan MacKinnon to centre to fill in for Duchene, with OReilly and McGinn playing on the wings. "Weve been finding ways to win games," Roy said. "Well continue to find ways to win." Heres an encouraging sign: P.A. Parenteau, who sprained his knee on March 10, briefly skated on his own Monday. Roy said Parenteau could possibly be back for the regular seaason finale in Anaheim on April 13. Jamaal Williams Packers Jersey. "We have depth and a lot of confidence in our players," Roy said. "Our players have a lot of confidence in themselves. Its a team concept. Its how weve been winning our games. Its not going to change." Right after practice, Roy assembled his team at centre ice, just to give them one final pep talk before taking off for their game in Columbus on Tuesday. He told them he was "proud of them" and that the team shouldnt be satisfied, especially with Colorado trailing Central Division-leading St. Louis by only seven points. The message was well received. "All year, guys have stepped up and done a great job," McGinn said. "We just stay positive and work hard and good things will happen." Asked if there was any pressure stepping in for Duchene, MacKinnon responded, "No." "Im not going to try to replace Dutchy, because you cant," said MacKinnon, a clear favourite for rookie of the year. "Matt is a big-time player and were going to have to find ways to win without him." Roy knows all about missing an integral player for the post-season. He and the Avalanche were without Peter Forsberg during their 2001 Stanley Cup run when Forsberg had to have his spleen removed after the first round. The team carried on without the Swedish star, beating the New Jersey Devils in Game 7 to win the title. "Thats the way it was in 2001 -- it was about the team," Roy said. "Peter was a very important player on that team, dont get me wrong. But our culture was we had to work hard every time we were on the ice. We had to find ways to win hockey games. "Thats what this team has been doing all year. This is what were talking about when youre talking about a team changing their culture. Were not looking for an excuse. Were looking for a solution." Cheap NFL JerseysCheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys From China Cheap NFL Jerseys Authentic Wholesale Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys China NFL Cheap Jerseys ' ' '
PRETORIA, South Africa - More than a year after he killed his girlfriend, Oscar Pistorius is expected to finally answer questions about why he shot Reeva Steenkamp through a toilet door when his murder trial resumes this week and his defence lawyers begin presenting the evidence they hope will save the Olympic athlete from going to prison for 25 years to life. Deatrich Wise Jr. Jersey . Pistorius account that he killed Steenkamp by mistake is going to "stand or fall" with his testimony in court, a legal expert says. Charged with premeditated murder for Steenkamps death, Pistorius and his defence team say he will testify to counter accusations that he intentionally killed Steenkamp by firing four times through the door in his bathroom before dawn on Valentines Day last year, hitting her in the head, arm and hip. Pistorius says he mistook Steenkamp for a dangerous intruder hiding in a toilet cubicle. South Africa has no trial by jury, meaning Judge Thokozile Masipa will pronounce Pistorius guilty or not guilty of murder, and Pistorius has the chance to convince her that he did not intentionally kill the 29-year-old model. But Pistorius testimony also gives prosecutors the chance to cross-examine the celebrated double-amputee runner and scrutinize every aspect of his story. Facing a possible life sentence, his questioning by chief prosecutor Gerrie Nel could be the biggest challenge yet for the 27-year-old Pistorius, a disabled athlete who fought for years to win the right to compete alongside able-bodied runners and made history by running at the 2012 Olympics. Brian Webber, one of Pistorius lawyers, said they had no choice but to put Pistorius on the stand. Legal experts say its a risk Pistorius defence has to take. In a rare comment after the prosecution closed its case, Pistorius said "we have a lot ahead of us." Pistorius often reacted emotionally to details of Steenkamps death in the four weeks of prosecution-led testimony at his trial. He retched loudly and vomited in court when a pathologist described Steenkamps grisly injuries and cried and frequently covered his ears while sitting in the dock in an apparent attempt to block out graphic testimony. During his own testimony, he will have to describe in depth his fatal shooting of Steenkamp. "He cant ignore it," Marius du Toit, a criminal defence lawyer and former state prosecutor in South Africa who is observing the trial, said of Pistorius testifying. "He has to get into the box and confirm his version and be open to cross-examination. And this matter is going to stand or fall with that." Defendants in South Africa have the right to remain silent but because he has admitted killing Steenkamp, Pistorius is under pressure to tell the court why he decided to shoot through the door with his 9 mm pistol without knowing — in his version — who was on the other side. Prosecutors charge that Pistorius murdered Steenkamp after a fight and he must dispel their accusations that he intentionally shot her as she hid behind the locked door, legal experts say. Pistorius likely wont be the first witness the defence calls on Monday, but he should take the stand straight after pathologist Prof. Jan Botha gives evidence. Pistorius has not yet spoken publicly about the shooting, only giving his side in a written statement at his bail hearing a year ago and in court documents presented at the start of the trial last month. In those statements, Pistorius claims to have been in a loving relationship with Steenkamp but, in fear for his life, he shot at what he thought was an intruder after hearing a window being opened in his bathroom and then a noise inside the cubicle. Even if he is acquitted of murder, Pistorius faces a negligent killing conviction which can carry a five-year prison sentence. His testimony must show that he acted reasonably when he shot four times from close range. "A reasonable man most probably would not have fired four shots through the door," lawyer and observer du Toit said. "His actions were definitely not reasonable and I think thats his biggest problem." ___ Gerald Imray is on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GeraldImrayAP Antonio Garcia Youth Jersey . No, really, his head. Late in the game, the St. Louis goalie craned his neck into the air to block a shot, taking a puck square in the mask. Antonio Garcia Jersey .3 million qualifying offer to outfielder Michael Cuddyer on Monday.SAN DIEGO -- Chargers wide receiver Malcom Floyd says hes been cleared for contact after missing most of last season following a scary neck injury. Floyd participated in the first day of the Chargers organized team activities Tuesday. In his words, "Its good to be back out there. Im cleaned for coontact. Derek Rivers Youth Jersey. Im cleared for everything." While many Chargers attended the workout, Antonio Gates, Ryan Mathews and Dwight Freeney were among those who did not. Linebacker Manti Teo worked on a side field as he continues to recover from off-season foot surgery. Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys From ChinaCheap NFL Jerseys Authentic Wholesale Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys China NFL Cheap Jerseys ' ' '
AKRON, Ohio -- The PGA Tour rebutted a published report Friday that Dustin Johnson has been suspended for failing a drug test. Mike Williams Youth Jersey . Johnson said in a vague statement issued by his management company that he would take a leave of absence effective immediately to seek professional help for "personal challenges." The announcement Thursday brought an abrupt end to his PGA Tour season, knocking him out of the PGA Championship and the Ryder Cup. Golf.com reported Friday that the tour suspended Johnson for six months. It cited an unidentified source as saying Johnson failed a drug test for the third time. "With regards to media reports that Dustin Johnson has been suspended by the PGA Tour, this is to clarify that Mr. Johnson has taken a voluntary leave of absence and is not under a suspension from the PGA Tour," the tours statement said. It was rare for the tour to comment on any matters related to potential discipline. On Thursday, after Johnson announced his leave of absence, the only statement from the tour was that it had "nothing to add" and that it wished him well and looked forward to his return. The PGA Tour began drug testing in July 2008. One year later, PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem was asked to confirm that there had been no positive tests in the first year from either recreational or performance-enhancing drugs. He drew a distinction between the two. "I said we have had no positive tests with respect to performance enhancing. We may have had some test results that trouble us in other areas that we treat in a different bucket," Finchem said in July 2009. "But we dont publicize those. We treat those as conduct unbecoming. If we get a test like that, we will consider it conduct becoming, and what are our choices? We can suspend a player. We can fine a player. We can do both of those and put a player into treatment." Johnson is not the first player to take a leave of absence. John Daly announced in September 1994 that he was taking the rest of the year off because of "mental and physical" problems. In announcing Dalys decision, Finchem repeatedly used the word "voluntary," but said the decision was reached after numerous meetings between Daly and the tour. Daly said Friday evening he could not recall details from 20 years ago. He said of Johnson, "I hope hes all right." Daly most recently was suspended in 2008 following a tumultuous year of off-course incidents. He called The Associated Press to say he had been suspended for six months because "Id rather be honest, especially with the fans." The tour, told that Daly had confirmed his suspension, declined comment citing its longstanding policy on not discussing discipline. Meanwhile, the PGA of America issued a new Ryder Cup points list Friday that removed Johnson from the standings. He had been No. 5, virtually certain to be an automatic selection when qualifying ends after the PGA Championship next week. Dan Feeney Womens Jersey . Jamies number grades given are out of five, with five being the best mark. Steve Mason, Philadelphia (4) - Mason was brilliant all night long with save after big save on Benoit Pouliot, Carl Hagelin and Derick Brassard. Dan Feeney Youth Jersey . Stiverne stopped Chris Arreola in the sixth round Saturday night, claiming the WBC heavyweight title belt vacated by Vitali Klitschko.LOS ANGELES -- Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak has agreed to a multiyear contract extension late in one of the worst seasons in franchise history. Los Angeles announced its new deal for Kupchak late in the fourth quarter of a 145-130 loss to the Houston Rockets. Kupchak had one year left on his current contract. The Lakers latest defeat was their 53rd of the season, matching the franchise record sett in 1958. Dan Feeney Chargers Jersey. Kupchak has a wholesale rebuilding job in store with the Lakers, who will miss the playoffs for just the third time since 1976. Kupchak has been in the Lakers front office since the three-time NBA champion centres playing career ended in 1986. The longtime apprentice to Jerry West largely took charge of the Lakers basketball operations after Wests departure in 2000. 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 ' ' '