Just when it looked like the field was reeling him in, Patrick Chan has raised his game and distanced himself from the pack. Anthony Mason Knicks Jersey . Breaking three of his own world records on his way to winning in Paris, Chan silenced the critics and left the audiences standing in appreciation and awe. Of course with the Olympics still over two months away, the questions are being asked; Is he ready too soon? Has he peaked too early? I personally believe there is nothing better for building confidence than knowing what perfect feels like, especially in back-to-back skates. This is something that has eluded Chan in the past. He has had a history of building a lead in the short and hanging on in the long, and of moments of brilliance followed by untimely baubles and stumbles. Now he knows what clean feels like and that he has the mind for it. What we saw in Paris from Chan was consistency and that, combined with his explosive power, was in a word - impressive. Impressive to watch. Intimidating for his competition, who now know that the game has just changed and they need to step up. In this seasons scores, Chans total in Paris has out-pointed the field by almost 30. Heading into the Grand Prix Final next week in Japan, all eyes are on Chan. He takes on the seasons top finishers and the phenomenal Japanese men; three of whom have qualified in the spots behind Chan and are hoping to gain some help with some home field advantage. A similar situation is unfolding in the pairs this season with the Russian team of Tatiana Volososhar and Maxim Trankov. What Chan did in Paris, they did in both of their competitions. They literally did not put a foot wrong in any program in either competition. The nine judges give a score for each element in the program (jumps, spins, steps, lifts) based on the quality of the element. The scores they give range from minus- 3 to plus- 3. Ninteen elements in two programs and they did not receive one minus, on any element, from any judge. All plus- 2 and plus- 3 with a sprinkling of ones. That just doesnt happen early in the season in the pairs event, where the programs are filled with high risk elements, the margin of error is great, and it takes a season for the teams to fully meld with the nuances of the choreography, the hidden technical difficulties and with each other. This season the Russians set and now own the three world records for highest short, free and total scores. This is a team with a clear focus. Until the Vancouver Olympics, Russia held the longest unbroken gold medal streak in the Winter Games. Russia had won every Pairs gold medal since 1964, until 2010 when Russian pairs not only didnt win gold, they failed to reach the podium. We did an interview with Tatiana and Max on TSN following those Vancouver games when they were a newly formed pair. Max spoke about Vancouver, but not about plans of redemption in the pairs event. He talked about how inspired and emotional he was watching Canadians Virtue and Moir in the ice dance event. He spoke about being in the Olympic arena when Scott and Tessa won gold and the whole country celebrated with them and he said "we want the same." It is a mission that seems inevitable. The chance of competing at a home games has also brought out inspired performances from the Russian women, and so the Grand Prix final will look a lot like the Russian nationals in the ladies event. Four teenagers aged 17, two 15 year olds and a 14 year old have qualified for the final. We have watched Russia produce a series of young talented superstars but they tend to come and go and have not been able to translate early season success into success at the big events. In the ladies qualifying, the competition entered and the depth of the field, played into who made the final. Olympic silver medalist Mao Asada and American champion Ashley Wagner have qualified, while great skaters like Akiko Suzuki and Carolina Kostner are left out of the final. I believe that the podium in Sochi will look very different from the one at the final, as a number of the worlds best and brightest will not be at the ladies event in Japan. As always at this time of year, the rivalry intensifies in the dance event where we will see this seasons first head-to-head match-up of Olympic Champions Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir and World Champions Meryl Davis and Charlie White. Meryl and Charlie have the advantage in the points early in the season, but it is a game of inches with both teams capable on any given day. Unique this season in the ice dance event is the hotly contested battle for bronze. Canadians Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje are among the four teams in the hunt. What is intriguing is how much these teams have improved, and while ice dance has been sensational at the top for a number of years, the teams chasing the champions are bringing the sport of Ice Dance to a new level as a whole. Swingman Walt Frazier Jersey . LOUIS -- Alexander Steen scored a power-play goal with 59. Willis Reed Knicks Jersey . John Tavares, Thomas Vanek and Kyle Okposo were also being counted on to slow down sizzling Rangers forward Rick Nash. That plan didnt go so well early.http://www.nbaknicksonline.com/womens-mark-jackson-basketball-jersey/ . Halladay signed a one-day contract with the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday that allowed the veteran right-hander to retire as a member of team with which he broke into the majors and spent the bulk of his distinguished 16-year career. KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Jake Peavy will miss a second consecutive start for the Chicago White Sox because of back spasms. The team announced the right-hander has been scratched from his start Monday against Kansas City. Peavy has not pitched since April 26 after being scratched from a Thursday start when his back stiffened up while warming up. He is 3-1 with a 3.38 ERRA in five starts this season. Carmelo Anthony Jersey. White Sox manager Robin Ventura says a trip to the disabled list is a possibility for the three-time All-Star. Chris Sale will start Monday against the Royals on his regular four days rest. Sale will be opposed by Royals right-hander James Shields, a rematch of the season opener that the White Sox won 1-0. Cheap NFL JerseysCheap NFL Jerseys ChinaCheap Jerseys From ChinaCheap NFL Jerseys AuthenticWholesale Jerseys ChinaCheap NFL Jerseys ChinaNFL Cheap JerseysCheap Jersey ' ' '
Heading into the current season of The Ultimate Fighter, Cody Bollinger was pinned as a considerable favorite to win the show. Swingman Mike Bibby Jersey . His resume was nothing short of impressive, a 14-2 (1 NC) record including nine finishes. The 22-year old started competing in mixed martial arts at the age of 15 due to a love of wrestling at an early age. "I started wresting at the age of four and to stay in shape in the (wrestling) off-season, they had jiu-jitsu (and other disciplines). I ended up being decent at it and I really enjoyed it," said Bollinger to TSN.ca. "After I finished wrestling I took (MMA) more seriously and thats basically where it all started." The results were inspiring. Through his first 14-fights, the California native had amassed a successful 12-1-1 record and in 2012, received a phone call from the Bellator Fighting Championships. Not only did the promotion want to sign him, they also wanted him to compete in their upcoming featherweight tournament. "I was excited man, I felt I worked really hard and I was finally getting the opportunity to show off some of skills that I have." However his stint with the promotion was short- lived, as Russian powerhouse Shahbulat Shamhalaev would finish Bollinger in the first round during their quarter-final matchup at Bellator 76. Shamhalaev would go on to win the tournament and Bollinger would be released from his contract. "Unfortunately it didnt go the way I planned, some things happened and I had a pretty crappy fight," said Bollinger. "Overall it was a good experience and it made me a better fighter. They ended up releasing me and I went back to work for a while. Then I found out about (The Ultimate Fighter) and tried out for the show." "Bam Bam" was actually a big fan of the UFC reality series ever since his head coach won the show back in 2005. "Joe Stevenson was actually on Season 2 and hes my godfather. Ever since that season I was like Im going to be on that show one day." Prior to trying out for the show, Bollinger had never fought at bantamweight (135lbs). All of his 16-fights were in the featherweight (145lb) division and his natural weight is around 155-160 pounds. On this ground-breaking 18th season, it would be the first time in the series history that the UFC would be casting both male and female bantamweight fighters. "We really focused on getting down to 136lb and winning the fight to get into the house," said Bollinger That is exactly what happened, phase one was complete as the Millennia MMA product defeated Rafael De Freitas in his opening bout to earn his spot in the house. He made quite the impression as Coach Miesha Tate made Bollinger her first overall pick. "After that we were so focused on making weight the first time and getting into the house, I never really thought about (the weight cut) being a lot different in the house. Every week, twice a week Im going to have to be cutting down to within five pounds." But there were other challenges ahead that the father of one didnt anticipate. "Everyone else in there was a natural (bantamweight); it was really different from me to the other guys and girls." Fast forward to the ninth episode this season and these challenges would confront Bollinger head-on. Scheduled to fight Team Rouseys Anthony Gutierrez, Bollinger was already struggling to make weight. "When I (Dropped down to) 145 pounds I had hit 4% body fat, so I knew it was going to be the hardest thing in my life." His coaches Miesha Tate and Bryan Caraway tried to help Bollinger make the weight, motivating and working with him in the sauna as he endured the brutal process. This was the biggest opportunity of his career and clearly he didnt want to miss out. With an uphill battle ahead, Bollinger ultimately failed; only getting down to 141 pounds and telling UFC President Dana White the unfortunate news that he didnt make the 135lb weight requirement. He was subsequently kicked off the show and extremely devastated. "I didnt expect it to be that hard." The catalyst for his release he believes was the unanticipated elements that he didnt factor into account, prior to earning a spot in the house. "Youre taken out of your element; youre put in pretty much isolation with people you dont even know. Then you have to do interviews, pictures and other crazy stuff. It all adds up and I didnt adjust well enough." But it wasnt all bad news in the end for the California native. To the surprise of many, after the episode aired it was revealed that Bollinger had signed a multi-fight deal with the Las Vegas based World Series of Fighting promotion. Many questioned if making this announcement prior to the conclusion of this seasons The Ultimate Fighter would have any legal implications. "We worked something out, I talked to Dana White off camera and the conversation was completely different than what they showed on camera. It worked out to where they released me when the episode aired so I was able to announce it right away." Bollingers situation is a unique circumstance because when a fighter loses on the show, they must remain in the house and train with their team until the end of the season (due to potential injuries). Because Bollinger got kicked off, he became a free agent. "It worked out well, instead of punishing me - and making me wait. (The UFC released me) right away which was really awesome of (Dana White)." The biggest question coming off his weight-cut woes on the Ultimate Fighter is will he still be competing at 135lbs? "Im staying at bantamweight, I can make the weight as long as I got the time and Im at home at my camp. I can make the weight no doubt." Surprisingly Bollinger opted not to pursue a contract with Bellator, whom he not only previously competed for, but whom also has a major television deal with Spike TV. "I talked to a couple promotions and from the get go (WSOF) stood out, not only financially, the terms of the contract, the number of fights and re-singing and all that." While no opponent has been announced for his WSOF debut in January, there are plenty of rumors floating around, including 25-year old Carson Beebe. "I think (Beebe) is a great match up, I like Carson Beebe we trained together at Jacksons MMA. If I end up fighting him, its a great matchup." Another name hitting the rumor mill is knockout artist Tyson Nam (12-5), who holds a first round stoppage over current Bellator bantamweight champion Eduardo Dantas. "If that fight does happen, I think its going to be an exciting war and I think I can finish that fight impressively." Should that fight take place, Bollinger thinks he can handle the 30-year old in all aspects of the fight game. "I can take that fight anywhere, Im confident in my hands and my striking ability. And if he does rock me I dont see anyone who can outwrestle me at 135lbs." Looking back at the whole experience on The Ultimate Fighter, Bollinger is disappointed but has no regrets. He believes the competition is there in WSOFs bantamweight division and hes found a home to continue his MMA career. "As long as they can keep providing the competition, Im happy where Im at. I wouldnt change the situation (Im in) right now; I would go through it all again." For those fans and pundits who are critical of Bollinger becoming the latest Ultimate Fighter castoff missing weight, he has these final words. "You guys deserve your opinion, if somebody else had missed weight I would have said the same thing. I never missed weight in my life, unfortunately it was the one time it was completely unacceptable." Follow Cody on Twitter @CodyBollinger Kirk Hinrich Hawks Jersey . Once again, DeLaet finished tied for second at a PGA Tour stop on the weekend, this time at the Waste Management Phoenix Open. The pride of Weyburn, Sask. Mike Bibby Hawks Jersey . Manuel was offered a position the day he was fired. He accepted earlier this week and the team made the announcement Friday. http://www.nbahawksofficial.com/womens-dennis-schroder-basketball-jersey/ . Hamelin, who triumphed in the 500 on Saturday, edged out Victor An of Russia by 0.021 seconds to maintain his lead in the World Cup standings. Russias Vladimir Grigorev was third. In the relay, Canada took control six laps from the finish line to beat Russia and the Netherlands.EDMONTON -- The Edmonton Eskimos say quarterback Mike Reilly is out indefinitely with a concussion, and dispute suggestions they should have pulled him from the game after he took the vicious blow to the back of his head. Team general manager Ed Hervey says staff will monitor Reillys progress and then make a determination when -- or if -- he comes back this season. "Theyre going through the (concussion) protocol for the rest of the week and well (then) make that determination," Hervey told a news conference Monday at Commonwealth Stadium. Reilly, 28, went down with a minute to go in the first quarter of Saturdays 34-22 loss to the Toronto Argonauts at Commonwealth. It came from a hellacious, and illegal, hit by Argo defensive end Cleyon Laing as the Esks were driving for a touchdown. Reilly took the shotgun snap and was immediately flushed from the pocket. He ran left, then cut right and headed up the middle, but was caught by Argo linebacker Robert McCune and defensive end Ivan Brown. They had Reilly in a vise and were pulling him to the ground when Laing charged in from the backside and drilled his helmet into the back of Reillys helmet, causing Reillys head to snap violently forward. Reilly lay motionless on the turf for almost 10 seconds while receiver Nate Coehoorn looked down at him and frantically signalled the medical staff to come on. Reilly said he was never unconscious while on the ground and on Monday said he didnt know what Coehoorn was so concerned about. "Youd have to ask Nate. I dont know," he said. By the time staff arrived Reilly had staggered to his feet, looking dazed and a bit disoriented, waving away one of the trainers and taking a deep breath. Reilly told reporters Monday he felt fine after the hit. "I felt great," said Reilly. "I was more concerned about the rest of my body than my head. "I didnt feel like there was any head issues. I felt very clear. I was able to talk to the medical staff about anything that was going on. I had no headaches, no dizziness, no confusion. While I was on the field I felt 100 per cent mentally like I was able to play." Reilly was assessed for about a minute and given the green light. He said he felt clearheaded enough to take in the next play via the headset in his helmet, read the defence, adjust the throw for a press defence, and toss a 17-yard fade route to Shamawd Chambers in the end zone for seven points. "I felt great about my ability to assess the play and executive it properly," he said. During that play it Laing got free again, looping up the middle to drill Reilly in the shoulder as he threw. Reilly said it was a hard hit but did not contribute to the concussion. He said he began feeling the effects of the concussion when he went to the sideline while the special teams kicked the extra point. "When the first symptomm popped up, at that point they (the medical staff) shut it down and said, Theres no chance youre even getting close to the field," said Reilly. Dominique Wilkins Hawks Jersey. He said he has felt good since the hit, has not had nausea or headaches. Reilly, head coach Kavis Reed and Hervey all stressed that training staff relied mainly -- and properly -- on Reillys responses to questions to keep him in the game. "Our training staff has followed every protocol in regards to this matter," added Hervey. "The player showed no signs (of concussion) at that time, and we stick by that. "We would never put a player in jeopardy here in Edmonton." The CFL has taken an active approach in the last two years to reduce concussions in the league. League-issued guidelines stress that players who take severe shots in the head and neck be assessed for 12 symptoms, including dizziness, disorientation, or confusion. Staff are urged in those situations to always err on the side of caution and pull a player. The medical community is stressing the dangers of allowing players with concussions to continue playing because of second impact syndrome. "Sometimes experiencing a second concussion before signs and symptoms of a first concussion have resolved may result in rapid and typically fatal brain swelling," reports the website from the internationally recognized Mayo Clinic in the United States. "It is important for athletes never to return to sports while theyre still experiencing signs and symptoms of a concussion." Michael Copeland, the CFLs president and chief operating officer, said the league believes the Eskimos followed proper protocol in diagnosing Reilly. "The trainers were right out on the field immediately after the hit, he said. "The trainers assessed the player, they asked him questions about head and neck pain, they asked him questions about headaches and he responded that wasnt experiencing any of those. "It was only until after the subsequent play, which got a lot of attention because he threw a touchdown pass, when he was on the sidelines that he first raised the issue of perhaps having some concussion-related symptoms. At that point they did the right thing in removing him from the game, which is what our protocol requires the medical staff to do. They did follow all the right protocol." Copeland added the CFL brings its medical personnel together at the leagues annual congress each winter to discuss injury protocol as well as health-and-safety issues. "I can tell your our medical staffs are incredibly engaged," he said. "These people are motivated and driven by their own professional responsibilities and requirements. "They look at these things very very closely and I think in this case they followed their normal procedures which you would expect them to do." Cheap NFL JerseysCheap NFL Jerseys ChinaCheap Jerseys From ChinaCheap NFL Jerseys AuthenticWholesale Jerseys ChinaCheap NFL Jerseys ChinaNFL Cheap JerseysCheap Jersey ' ' '
LONDON -- The English Football Association has fined both Swansea and Hull 20,000 pounds ($32,700) for a mass confrontation between players during a Premier League match. Draymond Green Jersey . The FA says the clubs admitted to failing to ensure their players "conducted themselves in an orderly fashion." The incident happened in the 80th minute of the 1-1 draw on Dec. 9. Authentic Kevon Looney Jersey . PAUL, Minn. Kevon Looney Warriors Jersey . Scott Kazmir allowed four hits in seven shutout innings, Michael Brantley hit a two-run homer in a three-run first inning and the Indians maintained their hold on an AL wild-card spot with a 4-1 win over the Houston Astros on Saturday night. http://www.gswarriorsteamshop.com/wilt-chamberlain-warriors-jersey/ . Manuel was offered a position the day he was fired. He accepted earlier this week and the team made the announcement Friday. MADRID, Spain -- Two goals by Ibai Gomez helped Athletic Bilbao come from behind to beat Valladolid 4-2 at the new San Mames stadium in the Spanish league Monday. Valladolid opened the scoring against the flow of play when Oscar Gonzalez struck the back of the net from what appeared to be an offside position in the 15th minute. But in an eventful last 25 minutes, Gomez pounced on Valladolid goalkeeper David Marino punched-out save to equalize in the 65th, before Oscar de Marcos addded another for Athletic 10 minutes later. Authentic Stephen Curry Jersey. Gomez doubled his tally in the 82nd and Ander Herrera made it 4-1 four minutes later. "The squad is in good shape, finishing games and reaching 90 minutes well, which is very important," Gomez said. Valdet Rama pulled one back when he beat three Athletic defenders before shooting into goal in injury time. "Our rivals flattened us even though we spent 60 minutes defending well," Marino said. Cheap NFL JerseysCheap NFL Jerseys ChinaCheap Jerseys From ChinaCheap NFL Jerseys AuthenticWholesale Jerseys ChinaCheap NFL Jerseys ChinaNFL Cheap JerseysCheap Jersey ' ' '
DENVER -- Broncos offensive lineman Chris Kuper is retiring after struggling with an ankle injury the last two seasons. Zapatillas Adidas Outlet . Kuper, a fifth-round pick in Denvers 2006 draft, started 79 games at guard over eight seasons. He dislocated his left ankle in the last game of the 2011 regular season, and though he started another seven games after that, he never returned to his previous level. Kuper was the last player left on the Denver roster from a 2006 draft class that included Jay Cutler, Brandon Marshall and Elvis Dumervil. Adidas Zx 850 Baratas . Two pressure cooker bombs exploded near the finish line of the April 15 race in an area packed with fans cheering the passing runners. Three people were killed and more than 260 injured, including at least 16 who lost limbs. Adidas Superstar Supercolor Baratas . Dusautoir, the former World Player of the Year, sustained a torn bicep playing for Toulouse in the Heineken Cup on Saturday. The flanker, who has played 65 times for France, is expected to be out for up to four months. http://www.adidassuperstarbaratas.es/adidas-originals-superstar/superstar-2.html. Siddikur, whose previous win on the circuit came in Brunei three years ago, finished his bogey-free round with a birdie on the 18th for a total of 17-under 199. Indias Shiv Chowrasia, who has finished runner-up in this tournament twice, was in second place after a 66.SAN JOSE, Calif. - San Jose Sharks coach Todd McLellan refused to dwell on any negatives that came out of a wild finish. Joe Pavelski scored with just under 20 seconds left in regulation to tie the game and Logan Couture and Patrick Marleau tallied in the shootout, lifting the San Jose Sharks to a 5-4 win over the Colorado Avalanche on Monday night. "Pav has been a real clutch player over the past two weeks for us, hes kind of the go-to guy right now, he seems to be getting it done," McLelland said. "He did it again tonight for us. Were happy for him and for us." Erik Johnson and Jamie McGinn scored goals 12 seconds apart in the final two minutes to put the Avalanche ahead. Asked about Niemi giving up the two quick goals, McLellan responded, "You know what, its Christmas. Lets all go home and enjoy it, and Ill answer those questions when we come back." Johnsons extra-man goal slipped under the left shoulder of Sharks goalie Antti Niemi to knot things, and McGinns goal also came with an extra skater as he beat Niemi to the stick side. "It was a high to tie it, a high to go ahead and then a crashing low when they tied it," Johnson said. "It was a strange game probably from the perspective of both teams. A very strange game at the end." Pavelski tied it after taking a pass from Joe Thornton, who has an 11-game point streak against the Avalanche. Matt Irwin scored a power-play goal late in the second period to put the Sharks ahead 3-2 and set up the wild finish. "We all knew we had about a minute and whatever left to get the tying goal," Irwin said. "The leadership group did a great job. They got out there and they capitalized. Joe made a great play to Joe. Thats what those guys do." Jason Demers and Brent Burns also scored for the Sharks, who have won four of six. "It was a crazy ending," Burns said. "Im ssure coaches dont like seeing that too often. Adidas Zx 750 Mujer. I think we get angry a little bit, but as a group I think were pretty confident and it was just a matter of who was going to step up and get that next goal." Nathan MacKinnon and Gabriel Landeskog also scored for the Avalanche, who lost for the third time in four games. Niemi made 29 saves to record his 19th victory and improve to 7-1-3 against Colorado. Semyon Varlamov stopped 41 shots to lose for the fourth time in eight games against the Sharks. "Its too bad, but at the same time we showed a lot of character," Avalanche coach Patrick Roy said. "We played well in the third period. We scored two big goals and then they made a great play to tie it." In the first of four meetings between the teams, two fights in the first nine minutes set the stage for a physical game. MacKinnons power-play goal midway through the first period gave the Avalanche the early lead. Ryan OReillys pass set up MacKinnons goal, a shot that beat Niemi to the glove side. Demers scored his second goal in two games, beating Varlamov over the right shoulder and tying the game at 1-1 with six minutes left in the first period. Landeskog scored his first goal in 11 games in the final minute to put Colorado ahead 2-1 after one period. Burns scored after taking a drop pass from Thornton six minutes into the second period to make it 2-2. NOTES: Sharks rookie F Tomas Hertl will undergo knee surgery sometime this week, the injury a result of a knee-on-knee collision with Los Angeles Kings Dustin Brown. "Its going to be longer than a month," Sharks GM Doug Wilson said. Hertl will also miss playing in the Olympics with the Czech Republic. . Avalanche D Jan Hejda played in his 500th career game. . Avalanche D Tyson Barrie had his career-high four-game point streak snapped. . Thornton has 49 points in 40 games against Colorado. Cheap NFL JerseysCheap NFL Jerseys ChinaCheap Jerseys From ChinaCheap NFL Jerseys AuthenticWholesale Jerseys ChinaCheap NFL Jerseys ChinaNFL Cheap JerseysCheap Jersey ' ' '
WASHINGTON -- The Washington Nationals have relied heavily on the home run during their winning streak. North Face Jacket Mens Clearance . On Friday, they sprinkled in three key hits that didnt leave the infield and some sparkling defence. Wilson Ramos homered and drove in three runs, Ross Ohlendorf pitched five innings in place of Stephen Strasburg, and the Nationals beat the Philadelphia Phillies 6-1 for their seventh straight victory. Four Washington runs came on infield singles and Bryce Harper threw out two Phillies at second base as the Nationals moved within 4 1/2 games of Cincinnati for the final NL wild card. "Were getting a few breaks now," manager Davey Johnson said. Overcoming adversity, too. Strasburg was scratched after experiencing forearm tightness during a throwing session Thursday in New York. Ohlendorf (4-0), who recently moved to the bullpen, stepped in and survived a shaky first inning to allow a run on five hits over five innings. "He made the pitches. Great effort," Johnson said. Ian Desmond had two hits and two RBIs, and Ryan Zimmerman (3 for 4) hit a solo homer and scored three runs for Washington. Denard Span singled, extending his hitting streak to 24 games. Kyle Kendrick (10-13) was charged with six runs on eight hits. "I didnt give us a chance to win, I didnt pitch deep into the game," Kendrick said. "Its been a rough second half." Kendrick has a 6.91 ERA since the All-Star break and hasnt won since August 6. Johnson said Strasburg will rest for a few days and is slated to start Sept. 19 against Miami. "Its not down where they did the Tommy John (surgery in 2010)," Johnson said before the game. "Its on the soft tissue on the top side of the forearm." The Nationals have clubbed 15 homers in their last five games. Zimmerman has nine of his 24 home runs in his last 11 games, while Ramos has four in his last six. Carlos Ruiz and Cody Asche had two hits apiece for Philadelphia, which scored first. Cesar Hernandez led off the game with a walk. With one out, Chase Utley singled him to third. Ruiz followed with an RBI single, but Ohlendorf struck out Darin Ruf and Asche to end the inning. "The strikeouts were big to get out of the inning," Ohlendorf said. "I had a really good fastball with a lot of life on it. I was getting some swings and misses with it, a lot of popups." Zimmerman singled in the bottom of the first. After Jayson Werth walked, Zimmerman took third on Harpers fly to right and scored on Desmonds infield single. Ramos led off the second with his 14th home run on a line drive into the visitors bullpen. Zimmerman made it 3-1 when he sent Kendricks 0-2 sinker into the same bullpen to start the third. Freddy Galvis led off the Phillies fourth with a hit to left. Galvis tried for a double and barely beat Harpers throw, but Steve Lombardozzis tag pushed his hand off the bag and he was called out. "Hes one of the better ones for sure," Philadelphia manager Ryne Sandberg said. "His speed getting to balls, whether theyre in the gap or down the line. And then his arm strength and his accuracy is some of the best youll see." Then in the sixth, Harper picked up his second assist and 12th of the season when he threw out Ruiz trying for a double. "I get fired up because it doesnt happen often, but its an adrenalin rush throwing guys out," Harper said. The Nationals chased Kendrick in the fifth. Desmond picked up his second infield single, this time with the bases loaded, to make it 4-1. With two outs and a 3-2 count, Ramos hit a hard grounder off the foot of reliever Luis Garcia. The ball deflected up into the air for an infield single as two runs scored. "Ramos hit the ball of the pitchers foot and it went about three stories high," Johnson said. "Nobody knew where it was and Bryce was running hard, that was great." NOTES: Domonic Brown (heel) pinch hit for Philadelphia in the ninth, his first appearance since Sept. 1st. Asche snapped an 0-for-10 skid with his single in the sixth. . The Nationals named outfielder Billy Burns their Minor League Player of the Year and right hander Taylor Jordan Minor League Pitcher of the Year. . Gio Gonzalez (10-6, 3.31) opposes Cole Hamels (7-13, 3.45) on Saturday. . Before the game, the Nationals held a ceremony to honour the victims and first responders of Sept. 11, 2001. Soft Shell Jacket Mens North Face . Bjorn, who had a 36-hole total of 8-under 134, made a testing six-foot putt to save par on the 16th and a birdie on the 17th before bogeying the final hole after a misjudged approach shot. American Kevin Streelman was in second place after shooting a 69. Soft Shell Womens Jacket Clearance . As he recorded his 23rd and 24th points of the evening, a segment of the sellout Air Canada Centre crowd expressed their appreciation for the Raptors point guard with a smattering of MVP chants.http://www.cheapnorthfacewholesale.com/north-face-jacket-mens-sale/3-in-1-jackets-clearance.html . -- Patrick Reed got an early start in golf.LONDON -- Tuesday marks the 1-month countdown to the start of the Winter Olympics in Sochi, a defining moment on the world stage for Russia and Vladimir Putin. These games are among the most contentious in Olympic history, embroiled in controversy over terrorist threats, human rights, gay rights, cost overruns, corruption and environmental damage. But is it all doom and gloom for Putins pet project? Before the Olympic cauldron is lit on Feb. 7, its time for a look at the good and the bad for Russias first Winter Games. ------ The negatives: TERROR THREAT: The two bombings in Volgograd -- which killed 34 people in suicide attacks on the rail station and a trolley bus -- have escalated the security alarm. Sochi is located on the edge of the Caucasus region, where insurgents are seeking to create an Islamic state. Chechen rebel leader Doku Umarov has urged his fighters to attack the Sochi Olympics, which he described as "satanic dances on the bones of our ancestors." A massive security apparatus will be in place for the games, meaning painstaking metal-detector, X-ray and other checks for athletes, spectators and media. Ticketholders will need to obtain "spectator passes," providing passport and other information to authorities. Email, phone and internet usage will reportedly be monitored by Russian security agencies. Putin is expected to attend many Olympic events, causing further security lockdowns. A heavy presence of Russian security forces could turn the games into an armed camp and undermine any prospect of a welcoming, festival atmosphere. GAY RIGHTS: The Russian law banning gay "propaganda" has caused a furious backlash in the West and tarnished the countrys international reputation heading into the Olympics. While Russia has promised there will be no discrimination at the games, critics continue to bash the law. The IOC has been assailed for not pushing Russia to repeal the legislation. Some athletes are planning to make their views known in Sochi, either by speaking out or carrying or wearing symbols promoting gay rights. Thats something which could land athletes in trouble with the IOC, which prohibits any political gestures at the games. HUMAN RIGHTS: Russias human rights record remains under scrutiny. With the games approaching, Putin has launched a charm offensive of sorts -- pardoning former oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky and granting amnesty for Pussy Riot punk band members and Greenpeace activists. He has even rescinded an order banning any demonstrations in or around the games. Critics call the moves window dressing. Will protest applications be granted? Will anyone dare come out to demonstrate? Meanwhile, Human Rights Watch has accused Russian authorities of mistreating migrant workers and harassing activists and journalists. PUTINS POLITICS: Putins prickly relations with the West have soured any "feel-good" factor about the Olympics. Tensions with the U.S. and President Barack Obama grew after Putin granted temporary asylum to NSA leaker Edward Snowden. Putins policies on Syria and Iran, and Russias backsliding on democratic reforms have antagonized Western leaders. For the first time since 2000, the U.S. delegation to the Olympics will not include a president, vice-president or first lady. Obama is sending several openly gay athletes, including tennis great Billie Jean King and figure skater Brian Boitano. French President Francois Hollande and German President Joachim Gauck are not going to Sochi, either. WEATHER WORRIES: Sochi is a subtropical resort on the Black Sea. Temperatures on the coast, where the indoor ice events will be held, will be mild. Thats fine, but there is uncertainty over conditions in the mountains for the snow events. While there iss already a good layer of snow in place, a spell of warm or wet weather could cause problems. Cheap North Face Jackets Wholesale. . As a precaution, organizers have stored up 450,000 cubic meters of snow. Also worth noting: flooding and avalanches are common in the region. RECORD COST: $51 billion. Thats the overall price tag for the games, by far the most expensive in history, summer or winter, and more than three times the budget of the 2012 London Games. The cost includes the long-term investment in roads, tunnels, railways and ski facilities. Everything has been built from scratch as Russia seeks to turn Sochi into a year-round tourist destination. The costs have soared way above previous projections amid allegations of financial mismanagement, corruption and favours doled out to oligarchs and Putins friends. ------ So whats the good news then? Yes, there are things to look forward to. Heres a sampling: NEW SPORTS: Twelve new events are on the sports program in Sochi, with womens ski jumping perhaps the biggest attraction. Female jumpers are making their debut after being rejected for inclusion in Vancouver four years ago. In a nod to the young X Games generation, the IOC has also added ski halfpipe and ski and snowboard slopestyle events. Snowboard star Shaun White, aka the Flying Tomato, will unveil a new trick -- a frontside double-cork 1440. Its a variation of the Double McTwist 1260 he nailed at the 2010 Vancouver Games. HOCKEY FEVER: The NHL players are back. Hockey is the sport Russia really cares about and the host nation will be out to make amends after the disaster in Vancouver. The Russians failed to medal in hockey, knocked out in the quarterfinals by Canada. It was symbolic of Russias worst overall showing at a Winter Games, winning only 15 medals and finishing 11th in the table. Sochi will offer a chance of redemption for superstar Alex Ovechkin, who is desperate to lead Russia to its first Olympic title since a "Unified Team" of former Soviet republics took gold in Albertville in 1992. Of course, Canada and the U.S. might have something to say about that. SKI STARS: Alpine skiing features the anticipated returns of American stars Lindsey Vonn and Bode Miller from knee injuries, though Vonns status remains uncertain. High-profile medal contenders include 18-year-old American Mikaela Shiffrin, as well as Aksel Lund Svindal of Norway and Tina Maze of Slovenia. COMPACT LAYOUT: All the indoor venues and the stadium for the ceremonies are located in the Olympic Park in the coastal cluster. Its possible to walk or take a short shuttle bus between all the venues. The mountain cluster is only about 45 minutes away. Its a much more compact setup than previous games in Vancouver and Turin. Spectators can use a brand new train service to travel between the coast and the mountains. THE VENUES: Theyre brand new, theyre ready and theyll look great on TV. Gleaming arenas are in place for hockey, curling, speedskating and figure skating. THE BOSS: Dmitry Chernyshenko, a native of Sochi, is the affable head of the local organizing committee. The bespectacled Chernyshenko, who comes from the world of advertising, loves technology. He carries an iPad wherever he goes and is an enthusiastic user of Twitter ((at)DChernyshenko, www.twitter.com/DChernyshenko). He led Sochis winning bid for the games and has spent the last seven years getting the city ready for its big moment. THE STAKES: National pride and Putins personal prestige are on the line. Theres simply too much at play for Russia not to make the games a success. Besides, once the competition begins, the athletes take centre stage and the host nation begins winning medals, the atmosphere invariably takes off. AND FINALLY: Hey, the mascots are kind of cute. Cheap NFL JerseysCheap NFL Jerseys ChinaCheap Jerseys From ChinaCheap NFL Jerseys AuthenticWholesale Jerseys ChinaCheap NFL Jerseys ChinaNFL Cheap JerseysCheap Jersey ' ' '
Heading into the current season of The Ultimate Fighter, Cody Bollinger was pinned as a considerable favorite to win the show. Swingman Mike Bibby Jersey . His resume was nothing short of impressive, a 14-2 (1 NC) record including nine finishes. The 22-year old started competing in mixed martial arts at the age of 15 due to a love of wrestling at an early age. "I started wresting at the age of four and to stay in shape in the (wrestling) off-season, they had jiu-jitsu (and other disciplines). I ended up being decent at it and I really enjoyed it," said Bollinger to TSN.ca. "After I finished wrestling I took (MMA) more seriously and thats basically where it all started." The results were inspiring. Through his first 14-fights, the California native had amassed a successful 12-1-1 record and in 2012, received a phone call from the Bellator Fighting Championships. Not only did the promotion want to sign him, they also wanted him to compete in their upcoming featherweight tournament. "I was excited man, I felt I worked really hard and I was finally getting the opportunity to show off some of skills that I have." However his stint with the promotion was short- lived, as Russian powerhouse Shahbulat Shamhalaev would finish Bollinger in the first round during their quarter-final matchup at Bellator 76. Shamhalaev would go on to win the tournament and Bollinger would be released from his contract. "Unfortunately it didnt go the way I planned, some things happened and I had a pretty crappy fight," said Bollinger. "Overall it was a good experience and it made me a better fighter. They ended up releasing me and I went back to work for a while. Then I found out about (The Ultimate Fighter) and tried out for the show." "Bam Bam" was actually a big fan of the UFC reality series ever since his head coach won the show back in 2005. "Joe Stevenson was actually on Season 2 and hes my godfather. Ever since that season I was like Im going to be on that show one day." Prior to trying out for the show, Bollinger had never fought at bantamweight (135lbs). All of his 16-fights were in the featherweight (145lb) division and his natural weight is around 155-160 pounds. On this ground-breaking 18th season, it would be the first time in the series history that the UFC would be casting both male and female bantamweight fighters. "We really focused on getting down to 136lb and winning the fight to get into the house," said Bollinger That is exactly what happened, phase one was complete as the Millennia MMA product defeated Rafael De Freitas in his opening bout to earn his spot in the house. He made quite the impression as Coach Miesha Tate made Bollinger her first overall pick. "After that we were so focused on making weight the first time and getting into the house, I never really thought about (the weight cut) being a lot different in the house. Every week, twice a week Im going to have to be cutting down to within five pounds." But there were other challenges ahead that the father of one didnt anticipate. "Everyone else in there was a natural (bantamweight); it was really different from me to the other guys and girls." Fast forward to the ninth episode this season and these challenges would confront Bollinger head-on. Scheduled to fight Team Rouseys Anthony Gutierrez, Bollinger was already struggling to make weight. "When I (Dropped down to) 145 pounds I had hit 4% body fat, so I knew it was going to be the hardest thing in my life." His coaches Miesha Tate and Bryan Caraway tried to help Bollinger make the weight, motivating and working with him in the sauna as he endured the brutal process. This was the biggest opportunity of his career and clearly he didnt want to miss out. With an uphill battle ahead, Bollinger ultimately failed; only getting down to 141 pounds and telling UFC President Dana White the unfortunate news that he didnt make the 135lb weight requirement. He was subsequently kicked off the show and extremely devastated. "I didnt expect it to be that hard." The catalyst for his release he believes was the unanticipated elements that he didnt factor into account, prior to earning a spot in the house. "Youre taken out of your element; youre put in pretty much isolation with people you dont even know. Then you have to do interviews, pictures and other crazy stuff. It all adds up and I didnt adjust well enough." But it wasnt all bad news in the end for the California native. To the surprise of many, after the episode aired it was revealed that Bollinger had signed a multi-fight deal with the Las Vegas based World Series of Fighting promotion. Many questioned if making this announcement prior to the conclusion of this seasons The Ultimate Fighter would have any legal implications. "We worked something out, I talked to Dana White off camera and the conversation was completely different than what they showed on camera. It worked out to where they released me when the episode aired so I was able to announce it right away." Bollingers situation is a unique circumstance because when a fighter loses on the show, they must remain in the house and train with their team until the end of the season (due to potential injuries). Because Bollinger got kicked off, he became a free agent. "It worked out well, instead of punishing me - and making me wait. (The UFC released me) right away which was really awesome of (Dana White)." The biggest question coming off his weight-cut woes on the Ultimate Fighter is will he still be competing at 135lbs? "Im staying at bantamweight, I can make the weight as long as I got the time and Im at home at my camp. I can make the weight no doubt." Surprisingly Bollinger opted not to pursue a contract with Bellator, whom he not only previously competed for, but whom also has a major television deal with Spike TV. "I talked to a couple promotions and from the get go (WSOF) stood out, not only financially, the terms of the contract, the number of fights and re-singing and all that." While no opponent has been announced for his WSOF debut in January, there are plenty of rumors floating around, including 25-year old Carson Beebe. "I think (Beebe) is a great match up, I like Carson Beebe we trained together at Jacksons MMA. If I end up fighting him, its a great matchup." Another name hitting the rumor mill is knockout artist Tyson Nam (12-5), who holds a first round stoppage over current Bellator bantamweight champion Eduardo Dantas. "If that fight does happen, I think its going to be an exciting war and I think I can finish that fight impressively." Should that fight take place, Bollinger thinks he can handle the 30-year old in all aspects of the fight game. "I can take that fight anywhere, Im confident in my hands and my striking ability. And if he does rock me I dont see anyone who can outwrestle me at 135lbs." Looking back at the whole experience on The Ultimate Fighter, Bollinger is disappointed but has no regrets. He believes the competition is there in WSOFs bantamweight division and hes found a home to continue his MMA career. "As long as they can keep providing the competition, Im happy where Im at. I wouldnt change the situation (Im in) right now; I would go through it all again." For those fans and pundits who are critical of Bollinger becoming the latest Ultimate Fighter castoff missing weight, he has these final words. "You guys deserve your opinion, if somebody else had missed weight I would have said the same thing. I never missed weight in my life, unfortunately it was the one time it was completely unacceptable." Follow Cody on Twitter @CodyBollinger Kirk Hinrich Hawks Jersey . Once again, DeLaet finished tied for second at a PGA Tour stop on the weekend, this time at the Waste Management Phoenix Open. The pride of Weyburn, Sask. Mike Bibby Hawks Jersey . Manuel was offered a position the day he was fired. He accepted earlier this week and the team made the announcement Friday. http://www.nbahawksofficial.com/womens-dennis-schroder-basketball-jersey/ . Hamelin, who triumphed in the 500 on Saturday, edged out Victor An of Russia by 0.021 seconds to maintain his lead in the World Cup standings. Russias Vladimir Grigorev was third. In the relay, Canada took control six laps from the finish line to beat Russia and the Netherlands.EDMONTON -- The Edmonton Eskimos say quarterback Mike Reilly is out indefinitely with a concussion, and dispute suggestions they should have pulled him from the game after he took the vicious blow to the back of his head. Team general manager Ed Hervey says staff will monitor Reillys progress and then make a determination when -- or if -- he comes back this season. "Theyre going through the (concussion) protocol for the rest of the week and well (then) make that determination," Hervey told a news conference Monday at Commonwealth Stadium. Reilly, 28, went down with a minute to go in the first quarter of Saturdays 34-22 loss to the Toronto Argonauts at Commonwealth. It came from a hellacious, and illegal, hit by Argo defensive end Cleyon Laing as the Esks were driving for a touchdown. Reilly took the shotgun snap and was immediately flushed from the pocket. He ran left, then cut right and headed up the middle, but was caught by Argo linebacker Robert McCune and defensive end Ivan Brown. They had Reilly in a vise and were pulling him to the ground when Laing charged in from the backside and drilled his helmet into the back of Reillys helmet, causing Reillys head to snap violently forward. Reilly lay motionless on the turf for almost 10 seconds while receiver Nate Coehoorn looked down at him and frantically signalled the medical staff to come on. Reilly said he was never unconscious while on the ground and on Monday said he didnt know what Coehoorn was so concerned about. "Youd have to ask Nate. I dont know," he said. By the time staff arrived Reilly had staggered to his feet, looking dazed and a bit disoriented, waving away one of the trainers and taking a deep breath. Reilly told reporters Monday he felt fine after the hit. "I felt great," said Reilly. "I was more concerned about the rest of my body than my head. "I didnt feel like there was any head issues. I felt very clear. I was able to talk to the medical staff about anything that was going on. I had no headaches, no dizziness, no confusion. While I was on the field I felt 100 per cent mentally like I was able to play." Reilly was assessed for about a minute and given the green light. He said he felt clearheaded enough to take in the next play via the headset in his helmet, read the defence, adjust the throw for a press defence, and toss a 17-yard fade route to Shamawd Chambers in the end zone for seven points. "I felt great about my ability to assess the play and executive it properly," he said. During that play it Laing got free again, looping up the middle to drill Reilly in the shoulder as he threw. Reilly said it was a hard hit but did not contribute to the concussion. He said he began feeling the effects of the concussion when he went to the sideline while the special teams kicked the extra point. "When the first symptomm popped up, at that point they (the medical staff) shut it down and said, Theres no chance youre even getting close to the field," said Reilly. Dominique Wilkins Hawks Jersey. He said he has felt good since the hit, has not had nausea or headaches. Reilly, head coach Kavis Reed and Hervey all stressed that training staff relied mainly -- and properly -- on Reillys responses to questions to keep him in the game. "Our training staff has followed every protocol in regards to this matter," added Hervey. "The player showed no signs (of concussion) at that time, and we stick by that. "We would never put a player in jeopardy here in Edmonton." The CFL has taken an active approach in the last two years to reduce concussions in the league. League-issued guidelines stress that players who take severe shots in the head and neck be assessed for 12 symptoms, including dizziness, disorientation, or confusion. Staff are urged in those situations to always err on the side of caution and pull a player. The medical community is stressing the dangers of allowing players with concussions to continue playing because of second impact syndrome. "Sometimes experiencing a second concussion before signs and symptoms of a first concussion have resolved may result in rapid and typically fatal brain swelling," reports the website from the internationally recognized Mayo Clinic in the United States. "It is important for athletes never to return to sports while theyre still experiencing signs and symptoms of a concussion." Michael Copeland, the CFLs president and chief operating officer, said the league believes the Eskimos followed proper protocol in diagnosing Reilly. "The trainers were right out on the field immediately after the hit, he said. "The trainers assessed the player, they asked him questions about head and neck pain, they asked him questions about headaches and he responded that wasnt experiencing any of those. "It was only until after the subsequent play, which got a lot of attention because he threw a touchdown pass, when he was on the sidelines that he first raised the issue of perhaps having some concussion-related symptoms. At that point they did the right thing in removing him from the game, which is what our protocol requires the medical staff to do. They did follow all the right protocol." Copeland added the CFL brings its medical personnel together at the leagues annual congress each winter to discuss injury protocol as well as health-and-safety issues. "I can tell your our medical staffs are incredibly engaged," he said. "These people are motivated and driven by their own professional responsibilities and requirements. "They look at these things very very closely and I think in this case they followed their normal procedures which you would expect them to do." Cheap NFL JerseysCheap NFL Jerseys ChinaCheap Jerseys From ChinaCheap NFL Jerseys AuthenticWholesale Jerseys ChinaCheap NFL Jerseys ChinaNFL Cheap JerseysCheap Jersey ' ' '
LEVI, Finland -- Double overall World Cup skiing champion Marcel Hirscher continued to dominate the slalom Sunday, winning the World Cup opener ahead of countryman Mario Matt. Swingman Jordan Clarkson Jersey . The 24-year-old Austrian skied seamlessly throughout the second run to clock an overall time of 1 minute, 45.42 seconds, securing his 10th consecutive spot on the podium in the discipline. Two-time world champion Mario Matt climbed from third place after the first run to second, 0.62 seconds behind Hirscher and Norwegian 19-year-old Henrik Kristoffersen clinched his first podium place, finishing third, 0.93 seconds back. German Felix Neureuther, who was second after the first run, had an acrobatic fall on his second run but continued to ski and ended up 27th. Hirscher dominated the slalom World Cup last season, won the slalom world title as well as his second overall title. His strong display here suggests he remains in top form ahead of the Olympics in Sochi. He said he was especially happy to win in Levi, a course that he has struggled on in the past, but tried to play down the huge expectations on him. "Im happy right now to be here, to have a podium, to have a victory," he said. "To stand for the 10th time in a row on the podium ... is a really amazing thing but once for sure this row will come to an end, every row comes to an end." In a first for this year, organizers presented the winners with a live reindeer from the local Lapland region. American teenager Mikaela Shiffrin, who won the womens race Saturday, named her reindeer Rudolf, and Hirscher said he would call his Ferdinand. American Ted Ligety, who won the Giant Slalom opening race in Soelden last month, improved from a slow first run, ending 11th, 1.96 seconds behind Hirscher. Ligety, who put a lot of focus on slalom in preseason training in an attempt to take a shot at an overall World Cup title, said he needs to improve if that strategy is to play out. "I feel like in the second run I skied a little bit more like I should be skiing," he said. "But still far from being what I really need to do in slalom. "I need to be scoring in the top five to top three, so I need to up it in this if thats going to be a meaningful route to getting me enough points," he added. Matt, 34, said he was happy to be back on the podium. "I have felt really good in the last weeks and months," he said. "Im really happy about the result, it was perfect." Kristoffersen said he was emotional to be on the podium for the first time and that the Norwegian team has worked hard together to improve its level of skiing. "Its a big step in the right direction," he said. "This is a great day, but I still have a long way to go." Meanwhile, 33-year-old veteran Ivica Kostelic of Croatia showed he was still in the game, finishing fourth. French 22-year-old Alexis Pinturault, who was sixth overall last season with three victories in three different disciplines and second after Ligety in the Giant Slalom opener in Soelden, skied out on his second run. His teammate, Julien Lizeroux, who hasnt competed since 2011 due to a knee injury, put in a solid performance, finishing in 17th place. Last years winner in Levi, Olympic bronze medallist Andre Myhrer of Sweden, committed a major mistake at the end of the track in the first run and didnt qualify for the second run. His countryman, Mattias Hargin finished 5th. The next event on the World Cup circuit is in Beaver Creek, Colo. on Nov. 26. Jamaal Wilkes Jersey . He was followed closely by David Clarkson, donning red, seconds later. Clarksons actions one night earlier, leaping off the bench in defence of Kessel during a pre-season game against the Buffalo Sabres, will cost him the first 10 games of the regular season. Swingman Kobe Bryant Jersey . LOUIS -- Attorneys for the St. http://www.shoplakersonline.com/James-Worthy-Jersey/ .S. Open champion Justin Rose birdied the first hole with a blind shot he hit to a foot of the pin, and he stayed in front Tuesday until he completed a 4-under 67 for a two-shot lead over Jason Dufner in PGA Grand Slam of Golf.Roy Halladay and his former Philadelphia Phillies teammate Cole Hamels were both in the news this week; Halladay for signing a one-day contract with the Blue Jays, so he could officially retire where it all began for him and Hamels, along with fellow Phillies southpaw Cliff Lee, were both mentioned in possible trade talks, which were later refuted by the Phillies special advisor Pat Gillick on TSN Drive with Dave Naylor. That led me to go back and look at the years Halladay and Hamels were drafted. Oddly enough, they were both chosen 17th overall in the June draft; Halladay in 1995 and Hamels in 2002. The player drafted immediately ahead of Halladay was pitcher Joe Fontenot by the San Francisco Giants. He was later one of three prospects traded to the Marlins for closer Robb Nen, who went on to save 206 games over the next five years before calling it a career with 314 total saves. Meanwhile, Fontenot debuted with the Marlins in 1998 with an 0-7 record and an ERA over 6. He blew out his arm and never pitched in the Majors again. So what made the Giants pick Fontenot ahead of Halladay? Darin Erstad went first overall in 1995 and had a solid career with the Angels. Jose Cruz Jr., who also had a decent career, went third to Seattle and was later traded to the Blue Jays. Kerry Wood was the fourth pick by the Chicago Cubs and had a good career that was cut short by injuries. The best player to come out of the first round in 1995 was Todd Helton, who was picked eighth by the Colorado Rockies and should get into the Hall of Fame someday. After Halladay, no other player in the first round had any kind of significant impact in the Majors. Cole& Hamels was selected 17th overall in 2002. Julius Randle Lakers Jersey. . Righthander Bryan Bullington went first overall that year and was essentially a bust. He actually pitched four games with the Blue Jays in 2009 and another 13 with the Kansas City Royals the following year before disappearing from the Majors. In that same draft, Zack Greinke went sixth to the Royals and Prince Fielder seventh to the Milwaukee Brewers. The Blue Jays had the 14th pick and chose second baseman Russ Adams, who never really panned out. Hamels went three picks later at 17 but the really remarkable one is that Giants star righthander Matt Cain went 25th overall. Near Misses A couple of more near misses for the Jays cam in 2009 and 2010. In 2009, the St. Louis Cardinals chose righthander Shelby Miller, who had a breakout season for them last year. Right after that, the Blue Jays chose Chad Jenkins with the 20th pick. To be fair, Jenkins did a pretty good job in long relief last season, but hasnt progressed as far as Miller just yet. Then in 2010, the Blue Jays chose righthander Deck McGuire 11th overall. Two picks later, the Chicago White Sox grabbed lefty Chris Sale, who has already blossomed into a star. Just think, if the Blue Jays had Miller, Hamels and Sale, we wouldnt be sitting here today saying they still need to add two starting pitchers to their rotation. But Im sure a lot of other teams are saying the same thing. Thats what makes the draft, for the most part, such an unpredictable crapshoot. Cheap NFL JerseysCheap NFL Jerseys ChinaCheap Jerseys From ChinaCheap NFL Jerseys AuthenticWholesale Jerseys ChinaCheap NFL Jerseys ChinaNFL Cheap JerseysCheap Jersey ' ' '
TAMPA, Fla. Ryan Harris Broncos Jersey . -- Jonathan Drouin scored the only goal in the shootout to lift the Tampa Bay Lightning over the Florida Panthers 5-4 in a preseason game Saturday night. Steven Stamkos had a goal and two assists in regulation for the Lighting (4-0-0), putting them ahead 4-3 at the 7:35 mark of the third period before Bobby Butler tied it for the Panthers (2-2-1) with 58 seconds remaining -- his second goal of the game. Ryan Malone and Martin St. Louis scored in the first to give Tampa Bay a 2-0 lead at the end of the period. Erik Gudbranson and Dmitry Kulikov scored in the second to help the Panthers pull to 3-2 heading into the third. J.T. Brown scored for the Lightning in the second. Ben Bishop stopped 25 shots for the Lightning, while Jacob Markstrom made 29 saves for the Panthers. Russell Okung Broncos Jersey . -- The Magic have their first victory of the new year. Tony Carter Broncos Jersey . Wilson hit Schenn from behind during Tuesday nights game in Philadelphia, earning a five-minute major for charging and a game misconduct. He has a phone hearing with the department of player safety, which limits any potential suspension to five or fewer games. http://www.broncosauthenticproshop.com/customized/ . Jay Feely kicked a 41-yard field goal in overtime, and the Cardinals edged the Tennessee Titans 37-34 in overtime after blowing a 17-point lead late in the fourth quarter.UNIONDALE, N.Y. -- The New York Islanders and Pittsburgh Penguins invariably play entertaining games at Nassau Coliseum. Just as predictable is the visiting team emerging with a victory. Rookie defenceman Olli Maatta scored the go-ahead goal early in the second period and Evgeni Malkin added an insurance score in the third as the Penguins rallied from an early deficit and held on for a wild 6-4 win over the Islanders on Thursday night. The Islanders had a 5-on-3 power play for 50 seconds late in the third, but couldnt score against backup Jeff Zatkoff, who made 30 saves for the Eastern Conference-leading Penguins (36-13-2). Pittsburgh improved to 17-5 against Metropolitan Division opponents. Zatkoff (8-2-1) stopped Frans Nielsen point-blank during the power-play and denied John Tavares, second in the league in scoring to Pittsburghs Sidney Crosby, with a shoulder save in the closing seconds. "Jeff hung in there and was strong when he had to be," Penguins coach Dan Bylsma said of his goaltender. "He made that huge late save and showed fortitude -- as we all did -- to stay with it tonight." Brandon Sutter scored an empty-net goal for the Penguins, who trailed 2-0 early and also got goals from Crosby, Chris Kunitz and Kris Letang. Michael Grabner, Brock Nelson, Josh Bailey and Kyle Okposo had goals for the Islanders. Maatta scored his fifth of the season at 5:35 of the middle period to give the Penguins a 3-2 lead when the 19-year-old Finnish defenceman skated through the Islanders defence before sliding a backhand past Kevin Poulin. Letang scored at 17:44 after the Penguins league-best power-play unit kept the puck in the Islanders zone for nearly an entire man advantage. After hitting the post, Letang blasted the puck past Poulin for this 10th goal of the season to give Pittsburgh a two-goal cushion. Bailey pulled the Islanders within a goal at 4-3 at 3:10 of the third when he beat Zatkoff on a breakaway. The goal came after Matt Martin of the Islanders fought Pittsburghs Tanner Glass. But Malkin slapped a perfect cross-ice pass from James Neal past Poulin at 5:59 for this 14th goal. Malkin has points in 24 of 27 games since Nov. 1, with 11 goals and 30 assists during the stretch. "The emotion was there for both teams tonight as it always seems to be when we play the Islanders," Crosby said. "We found a way to stay strong and make key plays at the right times." Okposo received credit for a goal at 10:55 of the third to make it 5-4 after the puck crossed the goal line in a scrum in frront of Zatkoff. Brian Dawkins Broncos Jersey. The play was reviewed and the goal awarded, the 21st for Okposo. Sutter scored an empty-net goal for the Penguins at 19:56 to conclude the scoring. The Islanders surprised the Penguins with two quick first-period goals before the visitors answered with a pair of their own in the latter half of the period. Grabner whipped a loose puck past Zatkoff at 1:39. Then, Grabner set up Nelson at 8:21 to make it 2-0. Kunitz answered for the Penguins at 9:32 with a slap shot from the top of left circle past Poulin. Crosby and Maatta assisted on the 25th goal of the season for Kunitz, who will join Crosby on Team Canada at the Winter Games in Sochi next month. Then, Crosby tied it at 11:24 with his 27th goal of the season when he jammed a rebound past Poulin. "They play an aggressive style and they create opportunities," added Crosby, who also had two assists and leads the league with 72 points. "We were able to create some of our own and hold them off when we had to." The Penguins entered 26-2-1 when scoring first and 9-11-1 when they didnt. This time, they found a way to recover and overcome the Islanders (21-25-7). New York has been on a torrid streak that pulled them from a 9-19-7 record after a shootout loss to Tampa Bay on Dec. 17 within five points of a playoff spot before meeting the Penguins. The Islanders lost for just the fourth time in 14 games. "Again, it was about our battle level or the lack of it," Islanders coach Jack Capuano said. "We have to defend harder. You cant give a team with as much firepower as the Penguins all that time and space. We got away from how we have to play for about 10 minutes and it cost us." The three previous Islanders-Penguins games this season were decided by one goal. The teams split two games in Pittsburgh before Crosby capped a Penguins comeback with an overtime goal at the Coliseum on Dec. 3. Pittsburgh is 7-1-1 over its last nine and 15-3-1 in its last 19 contests. The Penguins have also won seven of their last eight regular-season games against the Islanders at Nassau Coliseum. The Penguins defeated the Islanders in a six-game first-round playoff series last May. NOTES: Crosby has 25 goals and 58 assists in 45 regular-season games against the Islanders, including 11 goals and 24 assists in 21 games at Nassau Coliseum. ... The Penguins are 11-1 in their last 12 division games. The only loss was a 2-1 setback against the Devils in Newark on Dec. 31. The Penguins are 13-4-2 in their last 19 games at Nassau Coliseum. ... The Islanders continued to be without D Travis Hamonic (upper body). Cheap NFL JerseysCheap NFL Jerseys ChinaCheap Jerseys From ChinaCheap NFL Jerseys AuthenticWholesale Jerseys ChinaCheap NFL Jerseys ChinaNFL Cheap JerseysCheap Jersey ' ' '
LONDON -- The English Football Association has fined both Swansea and Hull 20,000 pounds ($32,700) for a mass confrontation between players during a Premier League match. Draymond Green Jersey . The FA says the clubs admitted to failing to ensure their players "conducted themselves in an orderly fashion." The incident happened in the 80th minute of the 1-1 draw on Dec. 9. Authentic Kevon Looney Jersey . PAUL, Minn. Kevon Looney Warriors Jersey . Scott Kazmir allowed four hits in seven shutout innings, Michael Brantley hit a two-run homer in a three-run first inning and the Indians maintained their hold on an AL wild-card spot with a 4-1 win over the Houston Astros on Saturday night. http://www.gswarriorsteamshop.com/wilt-chamberlain-warriors-jersey/ . Manuel was offered a position the day he was fired. He accepted earlier this week and the team made the announcement Friday. MADRID, Spain -- Two goals by Ibai Gomez helped Athletic Bilbao come from behind to beat Valladolid 4-2 at the new San Mames stadium in the Spanish league Monday. Valladolid opened the scoring against the flow of play when Oscar Gonzalez struck the back of the net from what appeared to be an offside position in the 15th minute. But in an eventful last 25 minutes, Gomez pounced on Valladolid goalkeeper David Marino punched-out save to equalize in the 65th, before Oscar de Marcos addded another for Athletic 10 minutes later. Authentic Stephen Curry Jersey. Gomez doubled his tally in the 82nd and Ander Herrera made it 4-1 four minutes later. "The squad is in good shape, finishing games and reaching 90 minutes well, which is very important," Gomez said. Valdet Rama pulled one back when he beat three Athletic defenders before shooting into goal in injury time. "Our rivals flattened us even though we spent 60 minutes defending well," Marino said. Cheap NFL JerseysCheap NFL Jerseys ChinaCheap Jerseys From ChinaCheap NFL Jerseys AuthenticWholesale Jerseys ChinaCheap NFL Jerseys ChinaNFL Cheap JerseysCheap Jersey ' ' '
DENVER -- Nuggets guard Ty Lawson was ruled out of Wednesday nights game against the Charlotte Bobcats because of a left rotator cuff strain. Adidas Superstar Supercolor Baratas . The Nuggets leading scorer, Lawson is characterized as day to day by the team. Hes averaging 17.9 points and 8.9 assists. Lawson suffered the injury late in Denvers win Sunday at Sacramento. He finished with a team-leading 27 points and six assists. Adidas Superstar Supercolor Mujer . The Redskins announced Monday that the quarterback who led the team to the Super Bowl championship in the 1987 season will serve as a personnel executive. Adidas Zx Flux Hombre . Deulofeu injured a muscle in his right leg in Evertons 4-1 win over Fulham in the English Premier League on Saturday. Barcelona says that its team doctors will "co-ordinate" with Evertons medical staff as Deulofeu recovers. http://www.adidassuperstarbaratas.es/adidas-zx-750.html . It was Kerbers third final of the year after losing to Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia in Monterrey in April and to Petra Kvitova of Czech Republic in Tokyo two weeks ago. The 10th-ranked German improved her record in finals to 3-5.San Antonio, TX (SportsNetwork.com) - The San Antonio Spurs have signed forward Josh Howard. Howard was originally a first-round draft pick in 2003 by Dallas, where he spent the first seven seasons of his career. He earned his only trip to the NBA All-Star game durinng the 2006-07. Comprar Adidas Nmd Baratas. Following his lengthy stint with the Mavericks, the 33-year-old has bounced around the league, playing for Washington, Utah and Minnesota. In 507 career NBA games, Howard has averaged 14.3 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.6 assists. Cheap NFL JerseysCheap NFL Jerseys ChinaCheap Jerseys From ChinaCheap NFL Jerseys AuthenticWholesale Jerseys ChinaCheap NFL Jerseys ChinaNFL Cheap JerseysCheap Jersey ' ' '