Anze Kopitar scored 5:29 into the first period to help Slovenia beat Austria 4-0 on Tuesday in the qualification round of the Sochi Olympics, extending the experience of playing for his father in international competition. Danuel House Jersey . The Olympic hockey rookies will face top-seeded and 2006 Olympic champion Sweden on Wednesday in the quarterfinals. Kopitar, who plays for the Los Angeles Kings, is the only NHL player on the Slovenia squad. His father, Matjaz, is the national teams coach. Robert Kristan had a 30-save shutout for the Slovenes, and he got plenty of support offensively. Jan Urbas scored a short-handed goal midway through the first period, and Sabahudin Kovacevics slap shot put Slovenia up 3-0 early in the second. Austria called timeout late in the game to add an extra skater and Slovenias Jan Mursak took advantage with an empty-net goal. The Austrians lost their first two games by a combined score of 14-4 to Finland and Canada before beating Norway 3-1 in their final game of the preliminary round. Their goaltender, Mathias Lange, made 31 saves. Kopitar beat him with a shot from the slot early in the game, and that proved to be the only goal the feel-good team needed to keep playing in the tournament it wasnt expected to be in a little more than a year ago. Slovenia earned a surprising spot in the Sochi Games by knocking off Belarus, Ukraine and Denmark in last years qualification tournament. It was an impressive accomplishment for a hockey team ranked 17th in the world from a nation with fewer than 2 million people, only seven hockey rinks and only one professional team. Instead of being just satisfied to be here, Slovenia beat usually steady Slovakia 3-1 in the preliminary round. Austria, meanwhile, is eliminated with one victory and three lopsided losses. Slovenia got two key players back in the playoff round. Kopitar didnt finish the previous game against the U.S. because of flu-like symptoms. Kovacevic was suspended for the previous game for hitting Slovakia forward Tomas Kopecky in the head with his left elbow in a game last week. Ben McLemore Jersey . Vonn had another scary moment at Saturdays World Cup downhill in Val dIsere, ending up clutching her knee in pain after losing her balance and missing a gate. But she gave a reassuring answer shortly afterward, saying no new damage had been done to the surgically repaired knee, and that her plans for the Sochi Olympics were still intact. Custom Houston Rockets Jerseys . Not to be outdone, Atletico Madrid bettered its title rivals by demolishing 10-man Getafe 7-0 with Diego Costa returning from injury to score with a brilliant bicycle kick. "It was an almost perfect night," Atletico coach Diego Simeone said. https://www.rocketsrookiesshop.com/Clyde...on-Jersey/ .C. -- Duke sophomore Rodney Hood is entering the NBA draft.MOSCOW -- Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje are second after the short dance at the Rostelecom Cup figure skating Grand Prix, while Canadian teammates Kirsten Moore-Towers and Dylan Moscovitch are third in pairs. Weaver and Poje, from Waterloo, Ont., scored 61.50 points for their performance to "42nd Street," but said theyd left some marks on the table. "After we completed our program we were happy," Weaver said. "It was clean and it felt comfortable. When the score came up though we were a bit confused. But it means we have to go back and make the program even more bullet-proof." Poje said the couple will take a close took at all the programs technical elements. "We missed some technical points and we need to refine those," he said. "But we improved overall and really captured the essence of the program." Ekaterina Bobrova and Dmitri Soloviev of Russia lead after the short dance with 68.42, while Ekaterina Riazanova and Ilian Tkachenko of Russia are third. Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier of Toronto are sixth. Moore-Towers, from St. Catharines, Ont., and Moscovitch, from Toronto, scored 65.65, and completed a triple twist and throw triple loop, but Moscovitch fell on a triple toe. Moscovitch took his fall in stride, saying, "I was working on some yoga positions on the landing." "I dont think we missed a jump all week in training," he added. "But we picked ourselves up and a had strong finish to the program. Weve got some ground to make up in the long and thats going to be our next challenge." Germans Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy lead with 73.25, while Vera Bazarova and Yuri Larionov of Russia are second. Maxim Kovtuns two confident quads, meanwhile, gave him a big lead after the mens short program. As the only competitor to try two quads, much less complete them, Kovtun ended the day nearly nine points ahead of Japans Tatsuki Machida, who opened with a clean quad but then stepped out of the triple toe loop that was the second jump in his combination. Javier Fernandez of Spain was in third despite falling on his quad. In the womens short program, Russian Julia Lipnitskaia was in the lead, followed by Carolina Kostner of Italy, thhe 2012 world champion. Austin Rivers Jersey. American teammates Agnes Zawadzki and Mirai Nagasu were one-hundredth of a point apart at third and fourth, though well behind the two leaders. Kovtun is gunning for the sole Russian mens slot in Sochi, which Turin Olympic champion Evgeni Plushenko also wants. Plushenko was to have been part of the Rostelecom field, but withdrew from what would have been his first top-tier competition since back surgery this spring. Plushenko blamed his withdrawal on a knee injury. "I was interested in trying my strength against such a fantastic skater," Kovtun said. "But I hope I will have another chance at Russian nationals." Kovtun was strong throughout his flamenco-themed program, the only notable flaw being he was almost sitting on the landing of his second quad to keep his balance. Machida, who won gold at Skate America, lamented that he was not in good condition in Moscow, but said its not clear whats troubling him. "Actually, I dont know," he said when asked about the specifics. Fernandez, the European champion and world bronze medallist , expressed satisfaction despite his fall. "I think I just had a little problem in the pattern and I just need to keep my mind clear," he said. All four of the top women did triple-triple combinations. But Lipnitskaia landed a more difficult triple Lutz-triple toe combo while Kostner, Zawadzki and Nagasu all did triple toe-triple toes. Lipnitskaia, who won gold at Skate Canada, will qualify for the Grand Prix final with a medal of any shade in Moscow. Kostner would qualify with a gold, but Zawadzki, after a seventh-place finish in the Cup of China, is out of contention. The top six skaters in each discipline qualify for the final, which is Dec. 5-8 in Fukuoka, Japan. Lipnitskaias program began on a mysterious note, with her crouched down and drawing figures with her finger on the ice. Asked what thats all about, she chose to keep the meaning hidden. "Everyone can see what he wants to," she said. But once she rose from the crouch, the 2012 junior world champions program was crystal-clear: a clean triple-triple, a precisely landed double Axel and a very fast combination spin at the end. ' ' '

MELBOURNE, Australia - U. Clelin Ferrell Jersey .S. Open finalist Kei Nishikori of Japan paid tribute to Li Na, describing her as an inspiration for Asian tennis.Nishikori, who is touted as one of the mens stars of the future, said he was very sad about the two-time Grand Slam winners retirement last year due to knee problems. Li was the first player from Asia to win a major.She was big, big leadership for especially Asian tennis, said Nishikori, who reached the U.S. Open final and a career-high No. 5 ranking last year, making him the highest-ranked Asian man in tour history.I think Im getting close to — not really — but getting close to her, Nishikori said after winning his first-round match Tuesday at the Australian Open. Hopefully I can come back to a Grand Slam final again.Earlier in the day, Li had complimented the 25-year-old Nishikori.I think hes an amazing player, said Li, who won the Australian Open last year before retiring in September.Its not easy to be on the top, she said. I know how hard working he (is). So I believe he can win a Grand Slam. Seriously.By Jocelyn Gecker -- http://twitter.com/jgecker___VENUS ON MOTHERHOOD: The news of Li Nas pregnancy has some of the other players talking about motherhood.Maybe there will be twins and a doubles team, joked Venus Williams, who has won 13 Grand Slams doubles titles with her younger sister, Serena.The 34-year-old Williams said she wasnt ready for children yet.I dont know. Im still a big kid. Im still growing up, Williams said in response to a question during her news conference after her first-round win in Australia.She definitely made the right decision, I think, starting a family, Williams said. I hope that one day I can get to that level. Well see.Its such a big job. Its like the biggest job in the world, added Williams, who has won seven Grand Slam singles titles. As much responsibility as Ive taken on in my life, that still seems daunting.By Jocelyn Gecker -- http://twitter.com/jgecker___HAIR OF EXPECTANCY: Milos Raonics sculpted hair is a source of conversation around the tennis tours. Its so famous, in fact, it even has its own spoof Twitter accounts — @milosraonichair and @Milos_Hair.And his fellow Canadian, Eugenie Bouchard, has had enough.Asked about his latest haircut following her first-round win at the Australian Open, Bouchard took aim at Raonics obsession with styling.I made fun of his hair last year. I dont know how its different now. I just think he spends way too much time worrying about his hair.More than her?Clearly, she deadpanned.Raonic wasnt being dragged into the debate after his win over Ukrainian qualifier Illya Marchenko on Tuesday.Told what Bouchard said, he politely declined to comment.Next question, really. Im not going to get into this, he said with a smile.By Justin Bergman -- https://twitter.com/justinb3rg___COFFEE OR PIZZA? Serena Williams had one word of advice for Taylor Townsend before the 18-year-old American played at an Australian Open warm-up tournament in Hobart.Win, Serena wrote in a text.I told her Im about to go on court and she just put win, thats it, Townsend said with a laugh.Townsend didnt win her Australian Open debut match against former No. 1-ranked Caroline Wozniacki on Tuesday, but she said the advice shes received from Serena and her sister Venus has certainly made an impression in her first couple years on tour.Its hard work to be out here. Its very dog-eat-dog, she said. And to have them in my corner, with them being such great champions, its a great asset for me to have.Serena recently resorted to an unusual tactic to win a match at the Hopman Cup in Perth — she ordered an espresso on court and it helped spark her come-from-behind win over Italian Flavia Pennetta.I didnt know you could order an espresso while youre playing. Thats not something I would do, Townsend said.But shes Serena Williams. If she wanted to get a pizza, she could get a pizza.By Justin Bergman -- https://twitter.com/justinb3rg___Australian Open Scene follows tennis Grand Slam tournament in Melbourne as seen by journalists from The Associated Press. It will be updated throughout the day. Fred Biletnikoff Raiders Jersey . Trailing by a goal after 20 minutes of play, Joe Pavelski responded with three goals and an assist as the Sharks snapped a two-game losing skid with a 5-2 victory over the struggling Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday. Trayvon Mullen Jersey . Henrik Samuelsson and Luke Bertolucci also scored for the Oil Kings, who are now 9-0 on home ice in the playoffs to cut Portlands series lead to 2-1. Chase De Leo and Mathew Dumba responded for the Winterhawks, who suffered just their fourth loss in their last 46 games, a string of success running all the way back to Jan. https://www.raiderssportsgoods.com/Women...ed-Jersey/ .ca! There is plenty of blame to be shared as a result of the most recent NHL player (Pittsburghs Brooks Orpik) to be evacuated from the ice on a stretcher following an ugly incident Saturday night in Boston.VIERA, Fla. - The Washington Nationals filled the last clear-cut need on their roster on the opening day of spring training, acquiring catcher Jose Lobaton and two prospects from the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday for pitcher Nathan Karns. Lobaton gives the Nationals insurance behind fellow Venezuelan Wilson Ramos, who has never played in more than 108 games in a season because of various injuries. "Hes a capable backup," general manager Mike Rizzo said, "in case something does happen with Wilson." Lobaton, 29, started 76 games for the Rays last season and batted .249 with seven home runs and 32 RBIs. He was expendable because the Rays re-signed catcher Jose Molina and traded for Ryan Hanigan. Rizzo said Lobaton has above average metrics on defence. A notable exception is a 16 per cent success rate throwing out would-be base-stealers. "We feel that he throws well enough that he should be better than 16 per cent," Rizzo said. It speaks volumes about the Nationals confidence in their tallent-laden roster that a move for a backup can fill the last significant hole on the day that pitchers and catchers reported. Derek Carr Youth Jersey. Barring injury, Rizzo wont be shopping during spring training. "Theres not an obvious spot that we need to address," Rizzo said. "But, as we say, if an opportunity arises, well be aggressive and open-minded about it." The Nationals are giving up a top prospect in the 26-year-old right-hander Karns, who three made starts in his first taste of the major leagues last season, but theyre adding a pair of 22-year-olds from the Jays pool of talent: outfielder Drew Vettleson and left-handed pitcher Felipe Rivero. Karns would have been in a crowded race for the No. 5 spot in the rotation. The trade for a younger pitcher alleviates part of that logjam and helps the Nationals stagger their pitching prospects. To make room for the new players on the 40-man roster, Washington placed right-handed pitcher Erik Davis on the 60-day disabled list with a sprained right elbow. ' ' '

TSNs Jack Armstrong offers his thoughts on the Spurs being back in the mix, the bench strength of the Raptors, the Pacers and Heat not being ready for prime time, the compete level of Kemba Walker and the Warriors coaching situation. Custom Toronto Blue Jays Jerseys .  1. SAN ANTONIO SPURS: Have won 15 straight games and suddenly here they are again in the mix regarding the discussion of what teams can be in the Finals in June. Dont beat you ever with flash but man, oh man lots of substance when you talk about this team. Wednesday night against Denver, they had five players in double figures and had 30 assists on 43 field goals. Thats quite impressive. The commitment to the team and playing the game together is a principle that has served them well over the years and will make them a tough out in the playoffs. The sum is more important than the parts. 2. RAPTORS BENCH: Its pretty evident that in spite of the Raps being 6-5 in the absence of Patrick Patterson, they miss his presence big-time in a variety of ways. Hes a wonderful perimeter defender on screen and roll sequences, gets after it on the glass, defends in the post and can give you both scoring inside/out as well as intelligent team play on offence. He and Greivis Vasquez are the two major contributors off the bench and when you look at the Boston game Wednesday night with less than 10 points coming off the bench, its an area of concern to say the least as you prepare for the playoffs. Pattersons absence has clearly affected the defence as well with teams putting the Raptors in screen and roll scenarios and the nightly battles on the boards without one of your sturdier post guys. John Salmons has struggled of late and is a solid veteran player. When hes going good, this team has another gear. Getting Patterson back and healthy and an on-track Salmons will go a long way towards getting this team ready for the playoffs. Digging themselves early holes that they have to battle back from are an issue that has to be corrected along with tightening the screws again with the defence. They do that and Im confident that they can compete quite well in a first round series. 3. PACERS VS. HEAT: Watched the game Wednesday night and I must say I was underwhelmed with the quality of play. Yes, it had great playoff intensity but it appeared to me that both of these teams have needed a game like this for a while to get that next gear back in their playing style. Both looked like they need to work out some kinks in the final weeks with offensive flow/execution to be ready to roll in mid/late April. A long season combined with injuries, etc. have a way of messing up your chemistry and neither looked as fluid as when theyre at their best. The Raptors see both of them next week with the Houston Rockets sandwiched in between (what a week!) which will be a good test of their playoff readiness as the Heat have been able to knock off the Raptors this season three times while the Pacers are 2-1 and the Rockets won their game in Houston vs the Raps. The good teams start to take that next step here in the final 10 games to get everything humming and in sync. Always fun to watch as teams gear up for the second season. 4. KEMBA WALKER (Bobcats): Al Jefferson (35 and 15) was awesome in the overtime win vs. the Nets Wednesday night. Coach Steve Clifford has done a terrific job with that team. Its about time the folks in Charlotte get behind their team and support them for a change; this is a team you can root for. Love Kemba - what a gamer, scoring 20 points and five rebounds along with 12 assists. There are certain guys that you just throw out the stats some night because they just play so hard and have amazing pride and competitive spirit and do whatever it takes to win. From his days at UConn to now, he personifies what it means to give it his all. Hes been in a tough situation there with a poor roster, shaky coaching and questionable management decisions and Im happy for him that some of the proper decisions have been made around him and things are coming together. This team has become fun to watch and Walker is the heart and soul of that. 5. BRIAN SCALABRINE (Warriors): Assistant coach gets demoted to the D-League by head coach Mark Jackson. This is right out of the book of Jason Kidd/Lawrence Frank differences that took place early in the season. Jackson was adamantly supportive of Kidds move in the fall with Frank and now he does the same thing. Ive been both an sssistant coach and a head coach and I always felt that loyalty to the boss was #1 and if you disagree, you do it behind closed doors and it never gets picked up by the players, media, etc. At the same time, its vital that the assistant coaches cant be Yes Men that have to supress their opinion as opposed to express their opinion. Healthy dialogue is important yet at the end of the day, the head coach makes the call and we all march together in unison. (Hes also got to be open to suggestions and not have all the answers.) Jason Kidd got past this controversy and has done a good job with the Nets and it will be significant for Jackson to get past this as well by the performance of the team. Expectations are high in the Bay Area and results will be needed. Never an easy situation for any coach to be in and I can relate to the feeling of both. Jackson has a healthy ego and high opinion of his coaching acumen which is good to a degree, yet its time to get this team to the next level and the playoffs will be a major stage for him and his team to show that they can do it. Hes got major potential to be an outstanding coach in this league for a long time and this is another of the many tests young coaches go through in their development. Youre paid to make the tough calls and many times you have to be ruthless in this results-oriented business because at the end of the day, it all falls back on you and your record. Jackson is nobodys fool and is as competitive as they come. Its his show - plain and simple. Never easy or fair. In one word, you have to produce. Fake Blue Jays Jerseys .85 million contract with the two-time Gold Glove outfielder. Parra earned his second Gold Glove last season when he set a club record with 17 outfield assists. Toronto Blue Jays Gear . Hicham Khalouas late goal improved Almerias chances of avoiding relegation in a match dominated by contentious calls, including three penalties. One day after Barcelonas 4-3 win at Real Madrid featured three penalties, referees again dominated a wide-open game that saw Almeria ultimately move out of the relegation zone and one point ahead of Getafe which took its place. https://www.cheapbluejays.com/ . At Manchester United, Ferguson developed Beckham into one of the worlds most recognizable sportsmen, but the midfielder left United in 2003 for Real Madrid under a cloud after his relationship with the manager broke down.MANCHESTER, England -- Manchester City has increased its options and experience at centre back by signing Argentina defender Martin Demichelis on a two-year deal from Atletico Madrid. City manager Manuel Pellegrini made his move for the pony-tailed Demichelis after seeing captain Vincent Kompany ruled out with a groin injury and Joleon Lescott, Javi Garcia and Matija Nastacic looking shaky in central defence in Citys last two ggames. Toronto Blue Jays Store. The 32-year old Demichelis will be playing under Pellegrini for the third time in his career, having been together at River Plate and then in a loan spell at Malaga last season. Demichelis, who has made 37 appearances for Argentina, says "I am delighted to have joined City because I am still hungry for success and want to improve." Financial details about the deal werent disclosed. ' ' '

MIAMI -- Miami Dolphins CEO Tom Garfinkel says interviews for a general manager will begin Friday, and experience will weigh heavily in the decision. Ronnie Lott Jersey . Speaking Wednesday while attending a Chamber of Commerce luncheon, Garfinkel said hell be involved in the search already under way, but the final decision will be made by owner Stephen Ross. "Someone with a lot of experience evaluating talent, a proven track record of evaluating talent and a football person -- thats going to be the first criterion," Garfinkel said, according to the teams website. Candidates without experience as a GM will be considered, however. "I dont know that thats going to be a deal-breaker," Garfinkel said. He joined the Dolphins in September and is responsible for their business operations. Jeff Ireland departed Tuesday after six seasons as general manager. He and Ross said they mutually agreed to part ways. The Dolphins would have made the playoffs for the first time since 2008 if they had won one of their final two games against the Bills and Jets. Instead, they lost both to finish 8-8. Isaiah Johnson Raiders Jersey . Next up is another showdown with Michigan. Payne scored 18 points, Branden Dawson had 14 and No. 22 Michigan State beat No. 12 Wisconsin 83-75 on Saturday to reach the Big Ten tournament championship. Custom Oakland Raiders Jerseys . The teams all-time leading scorer, DeRo has won everything there is to win in MLS. https://www.raiderssportsgoods.com/Women...ed-Jersey/ .ca NHL Power Rankings, ahead of the Chicago Blackhawks, St. Louis Blues and Anaheim Ducks. Moving up, from 10 to seven this week, the Pittsburgh Penguins have won seven straight despite a depleted lineup.TORONTO - It appears Canada may have lost another soccer talent to south of the border.Calgary-born Tesho Akindele, who declined an invitation to Canadas camp in November, has been called up by the U.S.The 22-year-old FC Dallas forward has a Canadian mother and Nigerian father and lived in Canada — with stops in Calgary, Toronto and Winnipeg — until he was eight. His father, a financial analyst who also has Canadian citizenship, moved the family to Colorado for work.The U.S. camp begins Monday and runs until Feb. 8, with friendlies Jan. 28 against Chile in Santiago and Feb. 8 versus Panama in Carson, Calif.Akindele could play in the friendlies and still be available to Canada. He would have to play in a FIFA-sanctioned event, like the Gold Cup, to be tied to the U.S.A Canada Soccer spokesman said Akindele, who played collegiate soccer at the Colorado School of Mines, has not been ruled out of the Canadian program.A line of conversation does remain between Tesho and our national team staff, the spokesman added.Canada Soccer said Akindele initially agreed to join the Canadian camp prior to a November friendly against Panama before changing his mind.The sixth overall pick in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft, Akindele was named MLS rookie of the year after scoring seven goals and adding thrree assists last season. Lester Hayes Raiders Jersey. His FC Dallas bio has him Calgary-born but a native of Thornton, Colo.Canada is not the only country to lose talent to rival nations and, currently ranked 112th in the world, is hardly a glamour soccer destination. But such defections are costly in a small pool of pro talent.Teal Bunbury (U.S.), Jonathan de Guzman (the Netherlands) and Owen Hargreaves (England) are just some of the marquee talent that have chosen to wear the jersey of another country in recent years.Canada has also benefited from players born elsewhere. English-born midfielder Marc Bircham for example, played for Canada before ever setting foot in the country.Toronto FC midfielder Michael Bradley is also among the 28 players summoned by U.S. head coach Juergen Klinsmann for the January camp. With 91 caps, Bradley is second only to Clint Dempsey (110 caps) in seniority on the American camp roster.The U.S. roster includes six other veterans from the 2014 World Cup roster. Akindele is one of 14 players looking to earn their first cap for the senior team.Vancouver Whitecaps defender Christian Dean was also called up. The 21-year-old Dean, part of a U.S. under-23 camp recently, was selected third overall in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft.Follow @NeilMDavidson on Twitter. ' ' '

TORONTO - Jose Bautista entered Wednesdays play at or near the top of most of baseballs important offensive categories. Abdel Nader Jersey . The 33-year-old is the league leader with 34 walks. His 1.058 OPS and 191 OPS+ are the best in the game. Bautistas hit nine home runs, which ties him for fourth in the majors. Hes reached base safely in each of the Blue Jays 33 games to begin the year. Thats a club record. "I think Ive had a pretty strong first month, as strong as I might have had ever in my career," Bautista told TSN.ca during a conversation in Philadelphia. "But the seasons long and its hard to look at small samples and how thats going to portray into a complete season. I try not to pay attention to those things and just focus on the preparation and the work and my effort and hopefully at the end of the year everythings taken care of itself." As teams around the league rely more heavily on spray charts and advanced offensive data, Bautista, like most sluggers around the league, often hits with three infielders on the left side of second base. The percentages show that if Bautista hits the ball on the ground, most of the time hell pull it. With that in mind, hitting coach Kevin Seitzer has encouraged Bautista to occasionally take pitches the other way. Manager John Gibbons believes the approach helps Bautista stay on breaking pitches down and away. He sees those often as opposing pitchers often work around him or, at least, are particularly careful about keeping the ball out of the middle of the strike zone. "The only difference I see with him is hes taking some hits the other way and I think its making him a tougher out," said manager John Gibbons. "You hear some people who complain about, well, hes a home run hitter, youve got to do it this way. Well, you know what? His home run numbers havent suffered one bit." Bautistas coaches and teammates took notice of his approach in the 10th inning of Tuesday nights 6-5 win over the Phillies. Melky Cabrera led off with a single. Bautista worked a 2-2 count and with the infield pulled around to the third base side he pushed a 93 miles per hour fastball through the gaping hole where the second baseman would usually stand. Cabrera advanced to third on the play and one out later scored the game-winning run on Juan Franciscos sacrifice fly. Manager John Gibbons called it "winning baseball." "Its good to see, thats what winning players and winning teams do, the little stuff," said Jose Reyes. "In that situation he didnt try to hit a two-run home run and pop it up to the infield or something. He just tried to move Melky over, he saw that huge space there at second base and he hit the ball that way, first and third and we win the game right there." Outfield coach Tim Leiper paid Bautista the ultimate praise last week, equating his pregame preparation and in-game adjustments to that of a coach. Bautista doesnt want the label but he is involved in every pitch. From the dugout hes studying the opposing pitcher, watching for tendencies that may indicate which type of pitch will be thrown. Not a base stealer himself, Bautista tries to help his faster teammates get a read on a pitchers move. Defensively, hell involve himself in outfield positioning based on his extensive knowledge of hitters. "I try to pay attention to things like that and I share all kinds of information with my teammates," said Bautista. "I also encourage them to share stuff that they know and information that they have with me. I like to listen to that kind of stuff and put it into my database, I guess." Gibbons recalls a game in Kansas City early last year when injuries to Jose Reyes and Brett Lawrie forced Bautista from his usual spot in right field and in to play third base. Bautista would frequently hover around the mound in between outs, giving the pitcher a scouting report on the next hitter. "Joses not just out there playing," said Gibbons. "He studies this and hes paying attention to whats going on. Hes played against a lot of these guys over the years so hes got a pretty good idea of what they do." The Blue Jays entered Wednesdays action with a record of 16-17 following a 4-4 road trip to Kansas City, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. Like on their previous road trip, they left some games on the table due to poor, late-game pitching. Bautista isnt panicking, however, because the American League East remains tight six weeks into the season. Torontos just a game and a half back of first-place Baltimore. "The only thing that would matter if we were 15 games back," said Bautista. "That would mean wed dug ourselves a big hole to come out of. From that perspective it doesnt really matter. What matters is how we play from here on out and weve got to focus on that." Kevin Hervey Thunder Jersey . -- Canadas Milos Raonic defeated Edouard Roger-Vasselin of France on Saturday to advance to the third round of the BNP Paribas Open. D.J. Augustin Thunder Jersey .The league also seems to have a fairly active Twitter account www.twitter.com/bikinihockey that features the description “We provide a positive alternative to the hockey community and a venue for adult female hockey athletes to continue in their sport. https://www.thunderrookiesshop.com/Shai-...on-Jersey/ . Braden Calverts Winnipeg rink rallied to defeat Italy 8-7. After giving up three points in the second end, Calvert came back with a single, then stole two more points in the next two ends to tie it up at the fifth-end break.MILWAUKEE - After the Bucks blew them out by 30 points a night earlier in Atlanta, the Hawks were focused on revenge Saturday.They got it, winning 90-85 for their 15th win in their last 17 games.You never want to lose two in a row in this league, said Kyle Korver. It is hard to beat a team in this league two nights in a row and we didnt want to let it happen to us.The Hawks won despite shooting 36 per cent, including 9 of 29 3-pointers.Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer credited his teams rebounding and defence, as Atlanta outrebounded Milwaukee 51-47, including grabbing 17 offensive rebounds, and forced 19 turnovers that resulted in 32 points.Atlanta also held Milwaukee to 39 per cent shooting.That was a very good defensive effort on the road, Budenholzer said. We didnt shoot it well, you can call our offence ugly, but our effort and energy were very good.Jeff Teague started his second game at point guard since returning from a hamstring injury and led the Hawks with 25 points, including 10 in the fourth quarter.Its really good to have him back, Korver said. He was able to get in the lane and really open up things for the rest of us.Al Horford added 20 points and eight rebounds, while Paul Millsap finished with 17 points and eight boards.The shots were not falling for either team, Horford said. We had to fight through it and find a way to win. Thats what good teams are supposed to do.Teague scored six straight points midway through the fourth quarter to give Atlanta an 82-75 lead with 4:38 remaining when he hit a driving layup.Brandon Knight responded with five straight points for the Bucks, including a 3-pointer to cut the lead to 82-80 with 3:31 remaining, but Atlanta extended the lead as Milwaukee missed four straight shots.Khris Middleton led Milwaukee with 21 points, which tied a season high, and O.J. Mayo added 12. Jared Dudley, who made NBA history on Friday by hitting all 10 of his shots,, including four 4-pointers, shot just 3 of 8 for nine points. Abdel Nader Thunder Jersey. I think the game was all about offensive rebounds, Bucks centre Zaza Pachulia said. We cant let the other team get second chance opportunities. We gave them momentum with (offensive rebounds) and the turnovers.Both teams struggled from the floor during the first half, with the Hawks missing their first nine shots in the second quarter.Atlanta used a 9-2 run late in the second quarter to grab a 39-35 lead late, but Giannis Antetokounmpo hit a short jumper with 3.5 seconds remaining to cut lead to 39-37 at halftime.Bucks coach Jason Kidd said turnovers late in the game hurt this team.Theyre part of our DNA that we have to address, he said. Down the stretch, we had some turnovers after we got the stop and that hurt us, too.TIP-INSBucks: Larry Sanders missed his second straight game with an illness. Ersan Ilyasova also missed his second straight game after suffering a concussion in Tuesdays loss to the Hornets. That was his first game after missing nine straight following a Dec. 2 nasal fracture and then undergoing surgery. ... The Bucks hit just 4 of 23 shots in the first quarter and scored 10 points, a season low for a quarter.Hawks: Pero Antic played despite a right ankle sprain. He scored three points and grabbed five rebounds. ... Korver, who shot 1 of 8 Friday, continued to struggle on Saturday as he hit only 2 of 9, including 2 of 7 on 3-pointers. ... The win was Atlantas fifth straight over the Bucks in Milwaukee and Atlanta has now beaten Milwaukee 11 of the last 13 times.PARKER IN THE HOUSEBucks first-round pick Jabari Parker, who injured his knee last week and is out for the season, was at the game as the team handed out bobbleheads with his likeness. He received a large get-well banner from fans during the second quarter.UP NEXTBucks: Visit Charlotte on Monday.Hawks: Host Cleveland on Tuesday. ' ' '

LANDOVER, Md. Custom Nike Baseball Jerseys Black Friday . -- Ball in hand, Danny Woodhead reached for the pylon. The officials hands went up. Touchdown -- and certain victory -- for the San Diego Chargers. Defeat for the Washington Redskins, and a place in the basement of the NFC East. Not quite. Referee Jerome Boger looked at the replay and decided the ball didnt touch the bright orange marker. The ball was placed inside the 1-yard line. First-and-goal. Twenty-one seconds remaining. The Redskins held. One run and two passes failed to move the ball. The Chargers opted to kick a short field goal to send the game into overtime, and Washington won it, 30-24, on fullback Darrel Youngs 4-yard run on the opening drive of the extra period. "First-and-1 on the goal line? Most cases thats a touchdown," Washington linebacker Brian Orakpo said. "Our defence, everybody looked in each others eyes. I could remember: Do not cross this line, this goal line. On the field, London Fletcher and everybody reiterating it to each other, like: They do not cross this line right here." The replay reversal and the goal-line stand made the difference, at least for a few more days, between relevance and season-out-to-pasture for the Redskins (3-5), who, despite their record, remain only 1 1/2 games off the pace in the weak NFC East ahead of a trip to Minnesota (1-7) on Thursday. Young was the unlikely man of the hour. He had carried the ball only twice all season and had scored only three touchdowns in his three-plus years in the NFL. On Sunday, he was the goal-line bruiser, scoring on a pair of 1-yard runs in regulation before storming his way into the end zone 6:01 into the extra period. "Theyll definitely be more aware of DY -- the three-touchdown fullback," quarterback Robert Griffin III said with a smile. Griffin completed 23 of 32 passes for 291 yards with one interception and ran six times for 17 yards. He has been far from consistent in his second NFL season, but he looked more like an RG3-style showcase player Sunday. He overcame an early interception in his own end zone and lived dangerously throughout the game, pitching the ball at the last minute on option plays and scrambling for open space, including a 10-yard ramble that ended when he was flung to the turf by Thomas Keiser. "A lot of people criticize me for some of that stuff all of the time," Griffin said. "And, you know, I couldve went out of bounds and wed have been short of the first down. I saw an opportunity to fly, so I popped out my wings and tried to fly." Griffin also found receivers when they were open -- something else thats been missing this season. Pierre Garcon had seven receptions for 172 yards, and Alfred Morris rushed 25 times for 121 yards and a score. The Chargers (4-4), trying to keep pace in the top-heavy AFC West, overcame a 10-point deficit late in regulation. There was some thought in the San Diego locker room that Woodheads touchdown should have counted. "I thought he got in," said Philip Rivers, who completed 29 of 46 passes for 341 yards with two touchdowns. "Especially when it was called on the field, I thought it was going to be a hard one to overturn." Still, the Chargers needed only 1 more yard to win, and they couldnt get it. Woodhead went nowhere on first-and-goal. A fade route for Antonio Gates on second down didnt come close, and neither did a third-down rollout throw to Keenan Allen. They then settled for overtime, tying the game on 19-yard field goal by Nick Novak with 3 seconds on the clock. "Im not questioning any of the calls," San Diego coach Mike McCoy said. "We did what we thought was best to win the football game and were moving on. ... Hey, in this business, wouldve, shouldve, couldve. If one of those three plays worked, theres no questions asked." The Chargers built a 14-7 first-half lead on special teams. They blocked two field goals -- 11 years to the day since they last blocked one -- and put two punts down at the 1-yard line. Lawrence Guy, picked up off waivers less than a month ago, blocked a field goal in the first quarter and batted a pass that caromed off Cam Thomas and into the arms of Sean Lissemore for a touchdown in the second quarter. Corey Liuget batted down back-to-back passes, then blocked a field goal on the last play of the first half. Notes: The Chargers set a franchise record by not allowing an offensive touchdown for a 12th consecutive quarter. The streak ended when Morris scored in the second quarter. ... Washingtons Santana Moss had his 700th career reception. ... The Redskins other two victories this season came against backup quarterbacks (Matt Flynn and Josh McCown). Custom Nike Oakland Athletics Jerseys .9 million deal Thursday. The 25-year McGinn had 19 goals and 19 assists in 79 games last season in helping the Avalanche tie a franchise record with 52 wins. Custom Nike San Diego Padres Jerseys . Iwakuma pitched seven strong innings to stay unbeaten in road games since last July, leading the Seattle Mariners to a 5-2 win over the Cleveland Indians on Tuesday night. https://www.customjerseysnikebaseball.com/ . Subway workers in Rio de Janeiro, meanwhile, were holding an assembly to vote on whether they would strike to demand higher wages, threatening to disrupt transportation. By late Tuesday night there was no announcement of their decision.Roger Federer will continue his preparation for the French Open by taking part in the Mutua Madrid Open next week, live on Sky Sports from Monday. The world No 3 had initially planned to skip the fourth Masters series event of the season to conserve his energy for the three remaining Grand Slams and Rio Olympics later in the year.However, his plans have changed having missed nearly three months of the season due to knee surgery, including the Masters series events in Indian Wells and Miami. The 34-year-old returned to action in Monte Carlo a fortnight ago but suffered defeat to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the quarter-finals, but will now continue his comeback in the Spanish capital. Andy Murray is the defending champion in Madrid Federer is a three-time winner in Madrid having claimed the title in 2006, 2009 and 20012 and tournament director Manolo Santana said: Federer is one of the best players in history and Madrid is a special place for him. Custom Nike Pittsburgh Pirates Jerseys. .We are delighted to have him back in the Caja Magica. In addition, he is one of the fans favourites because of everything he has achieved in his career. We will be welcoming him with open arms.Federer will be joined in Madrid by defending champion Andy Murray, world No 1 Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal fresh from his wins in Monte Carlo and Barcelona.Watch the Mutua Madrid Open from Monday, May 2 on Sky Sports 3 HD.By purchasing a Sky Sports Day Pass for £6.99 or Sky Sports Week Pass for £10.99, you can enjoy access to all seven Sky Sports channels and watch on a TV with a NOW TV Box or on a range of devices. Also See: Murray targets Olympic success Wimbledons new No 1 court Wimbledon champs to win ￡2m Konta confirmed for Nottingham ' ' '

MANILA, Philippines -- Chinas Liang Wen-chong beat Thailands Prom Meesawat in a playoff to win the inaugural Manila Masters on Sunday, in an event which proceeded despite the ongoing humanitarian crisis in neighbouring areas of the Philippines from Typhoon Haiyan. Clearance Nike Air Max 90 . Prom had the clubhouse lead after shooting a final-round 65 but Liang sank a birdie on the 18th hole to draw level at 16-under 272. On the playoff hole, Prom found a bunker while Liang had a tap-in birdie to clinch the win. Canadas Richard Lee had a final-round 64 to finish in a tie for third with Spain Carlos Pigem, while 17-year-old Thai Jazz Janewattananond, who led the first two rounds, closed with a 69 to be among four players with a share of fifth place. Fake Nike Air Max 90 . - Chris Davis hit a two-run double, scoring Nelson Cruz in his Orioles debut in Baltimores 9-7 win over to the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday. Nike Air Max 90 Outlet .com) - The Vancouver Canucks hope an upcoming stretch of home games will be enough to get the club into the postseason. https://www.cheapnikeairmax90china.us/ . -- Augusta James of Bath, Ont.ST. LOUIS -- Michael Morse rewarded his manager for giving him a rare day off. Morse homered and drove in three runs and Pablo Sandoval homered and scored twice to propel the San Francisco Giants to a 6-5 win over the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday night in the opener of a four-game series. "It looked like the day off served him well," said manager Bruce Bochy, who sat Morse for the first time this season Wednesday against the Chicago Cubs. "A home run and that big hit off of one of the more dominant closers in the game with the power arm that he has." The Giants, at the start of a seven-game trip to St. Louis and Cincinnati, have won seven of eight. The Cardinals have dropped three of four to start their nine-game home stand. Gregor Blanco scored from second on Angel Pagans single to centre to tie the score at 4-all in the eighth. Third base coach Tim Flannery initially held Blanco at third because of centre fielder Peter Bourjos strong arm. But Blanco scored when the throw bounced on the home plate side of the mound and past three Cardinals, including Carlos Martinez (0-3), who was in front of catcher Yadier Molina rather than backing up the throw. Pagan moved up to second on the throw. Trevor Rosenthal came in after Martinez intentionally walked Sandoval, but Morse doubled just past a diving Bourjos to drive in Pagan and Sandoval and give the Giants a 6-4 lead. "I knew he was going to come with something hard," Morse said. "I just tried to be short. I just tried to touch something." Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said Martinez stopped when he saw Blanco stayed at third. He stabbed at the throw from Bourjos, keeping Molina from making the catch and allowing the ball to go to the screen. "Yaddy never was able to see the ball," Matheny said. "As soon as that balls hit, they all know, theyve got to get behind the catcher. He was in the wrong spot and it ended up hurting." Javier Lopez (1-0) got two groundouts in relief of Ryan Vogelsong for his first win since Sept. 22, 2013, at the New York Yankees. Sergio Romo gave up a run on Matt Carpenters two-out single, but held on for his 17th save in 19 chances. Romo has surrendered four runs in the past three games and had his ERA rise to 3.52. Morse, in his first season with the Giants, has nine hits in his past 16 at-bats, with five doubles, a triple and the home run. Hes driven in eight during that five-game span and has a team-high 37 RBIs for the year. "Were just playing," he said. "The mentality we have aand the fun were having, I think winning is contagious and we love to win. Nike Air Max 90 Sale. Were just going to keep going at it." Vogelsong allowed four runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out five in 6 1-3 innings. Sandovals eighth homer of the season tied the score at 3-3 in the sixth inning. The third baseman has an RBI in each of the past nine games. Hes the first Giant to do that since Barry Bonds in 2000. Cardinals starter Jaime Garcia went seven innings, giving up three runs on five hits. He struck out seven and has yet to issue a walk this season. He was in line for the victory after Allen Craig hit his sixth homer of the season and second in three games off Vogelsong in the bottom of the sixth. "We definitely had a bead on that game," Craig said. "It felt like we were going to win it, but thats baseball. We didnt make enough plays." Vogelsong got into trouble in the fourth when the Cardinals loaded the bases with none out on Matt Hollidays single and consecutive walks to Craig and Molina. Jhonny Peralta, batting .111 (5 of 45) with runners in scoring position, grounded into a double play, plating Holliday. John Jay drove in Craig with a single to give St. Louis a 3-2 lead. Morse tied the score at 1-1 with his ninth homer of the season, a 442-foot blast to left centre to lead off the second. Brandon Hicks scored on Blancos single to give the Giants a 2-1 lead. St. Louis snapped Vogelsongs scoreless streak at 13 2-3 innings with a run in the first. Craigs ground-rule double brought home Carpenter, who singled to lead off and stole second with two outs. NOTES: Carpenters first-inning single extended his NL-best hitting streak to 11 games. ... The Giants improved to 9-14 when their opponents score first. ... Holliday has reached base safely in all 25 home games. . San Francisco C Buster Posey didnt play because of an ongoing back issue. Bochy said he is day to day. ... St. Louis 1B Matt Adams sat for the second consecutive night with a stiff left calf, though he was available as a pinch hitter. . The Cardinals entered the game without a home run off Vogelsong in 68 at-bats, and all but three of their 24 hits were for singles. The Giants had just one homer off Garcia in 66 at-bats, but seven of their 19 hits went for extra bases. . Cardinals prospect Tim Cooney had a no-hitter broken up with two outs in ninth Thursday for Triple-A Memphis. He settled for one-hitter. . St. Louis is set to start Adam Wainwright (8-2, 1.67) against San Franciscos Madison Bumgarner (6-3, 3.15) on Friday night. ' ' '

PARIS -- French league champion Paris Saint-Germain broke the record for most points in a season by defeating Lille 3-1 on Saturday. Scarpe Air Max2 Light Scontate . PSG has 86 points, two more than Lyons record in 2006. Brazilian defender Marquinhos headed home a rebound in the 41st minute after Lille goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama denied Lucas Moura. Lucas proved more clinical in the 66th, taking a pass from Javier Pastore to double the lead with an angled strike. The PSG winger fed Blaise Matuidi for the third goal in the 83rd. Lille substitute Jonathan Delaplace capitalized on a turnover from Marco Verratti inside the area to score a consolation goal in the last minute. "We rediscovered a PSG clinical in front of goal," PSG coach Laurent Blanc said. "Its been a while since we last scored three goals." The hosts were down to 10 men in the 36th when Lille midfielder Marvin Martin was sent off for a stamp on Yohan Cabayes right ankle. Cabaye was carried off and replaced by Ezequiel Lavezzi in the 42nd. Blanc rested Brazil defender Thiago Silva and Uruguay forward Edinson Cavani. PSG clinched its fourth league title on Wednesday despite losing 2-1 to Rennes. Saint-Etienne made up ground in the race for the last Champions League berth by moving within two points of third-place Lille with a 3-1 win at Nantes. The team finishing third qualifies for the preliminary round of the Champions League. Saint-Etienne striker Mevlut Erding opened the scoring by nodding in a free kick from Max-Alain Gradel in the 10th. The visitors took a 3-0 lead with a penalty from Gradel in the 23rd, and a curling shot from Erding on the stroke of halftime. Nantes winger Serge Gakpe scored late. Second-place Monaco, already assured of a Champions League spot, beat relegated Valenciennes 2-1. Fifth-place Lyon had its lead over Marseille cut to one point in the race for the last Europa League spot. Lorient edged Lyon 1-0 with a low strike from midfielder Cheick Doukoure in the 53rd. Lyon was down to 10 men from the 13th when defender Mouhamadou Dabo was red-carded for tripping Bryan Pele. "Its a bad result," Lyon coach Remi Garde said, "but we still have our fate in our hands." Marseille drew 1-1 at Bordeaux. Marseille midfielder Benoit Cheyrou headed in a cross from Brice Djadjedje in the 31st before Bordeaux striker Cheick Diabate equalized with a close-range effort in the 66th. French Cup winner Guingamp secured safety by beating mid-table Toulouse 2-0. Evian and Sochaux were the only teams still under the threat of relegation and will meet in the last round next Saturday. "We have the luck to play this last match at home," Sochaux coach Herve Renard said. "There will be a great atmosphere. Its up to us to turn it into a beautiful day." Evian downed Nice 2-0 to stay 17th, one point clear of Sochaux, which won 2-1 at Rennes. Last-place Ajaccio stunned Reims 2-1, and mid-table Bastia beat Montpellier 2-0. Air Max 200 Uomo Bianche . A receiver doesnt make the catch on a passing play and instantly motions to the ref – and everybody else – for a pass interference flag. Scarpe Nike Air Max In Offerta . NORRIS COLE (Heat): Its funny, you watch a guy play and now really produce and it just jumps off the page at you - why? You put a young player with potential in a winning environment where there is veteran leadership, outstanding coaching and management and a way that things are done and its a wonderful environment for growth, improvement in a climate of constant accountability and expectation of achievement/production. http://www.airmaxitaliascarpe.it/ . In question is whether 26-year-old Matt Frattin will be on it. A a€?mediocrea€? training camp, as Carlyle put it earlier this week, has Frattin lingering nervously on the bubble at the end of the exhibition season, pushed out of a likely job by Brandon Kozun, the small, but feisty winger determined to make the NHL for the first time.BARCELONA, Spain -- Coach Gerardo Martino said he was leaving Barcelona after a disappointing first season that ended with his team losing its Spanish league title on the seasons final day. The Argentine manager said he had reached "an agreement to cease being the coach" after Barcelona was held to 1-1 by new champion Atletico Madrid on Saturday. Martino was hired last summer and tasked with continuing Barcelonas winning era started by predecessor Pep Guardiola in 2008, but Barcelona finished the season without a major trophy for the first time since the 2007-08 season. Former Barcelona player Luis Enrique is expected to replace Martino, who left with one year left on his contract. "I am deeply sorry that I couldnt help my players reach the clubs goals that it has been reaching year after year," said Martino, who refused to take questions from the press after the match. "I am sure (my players) will have more successes (in the future). I dont have anything else to say except to thank them. We admired these players from afar, we admired them from up close, and I am sure I will continue admiring them because they will get back to winning again." Martiino alluded for weeks to a possible exit, saying his future had already been decided regardless of how the league ended after Barcelonas exit from the Champions League to Atletico, and loss in the Copa del Rey final to Real Madrid. Scarpe Air Max Thea Scontate. On Saturday, he said the decision was taken "independently of the game" that limited him to a Spanish Supercup as his only trophy in one season in charge of the Catalan club. "We thank Tata because he took over during a difficult season," Barcelona sports director Andoni Zubizarreta said. "Even so, we made the final of the Copa del Rey and were within five minutes of winning the league title." Speculation has grown that Enrique will be named to take Martinos place after he stepped down as Celta Vigo coach following a meeting with Barcelona last week. Barcelona needed to win the match at Camp Nou to win the league, but Diego Simeones Atletico emerged undefeated from its sixth meeting with Barcelona this season. Martinos goodbye came after goalkeeper Victor Valdes and captain Carles Puyol said their farewells this week. Other players will likely join them with the club set to overhaul its squad. ' ' '

TORONTO -- Toronto Blue Jays slugger Jose Bautista returned to the starting lineup Tuesday afternoon for the first time since suffering a strained left hamstring over a week ago. Fake Air Max 200 . Bautista was in his usual No. 3 position in the batting order and served as designated hitter for the opener of a two-game series against Milwaukee at Rogers Centre. The all-star right-fielder suffered the injury during a game June 22 at Cincinnati. Bautista made a pinch-hit appearance in Sundays 4-0 loss to the Chicago White Sox. He was 0-for-1 and left two runners on base. Toronto took a three-game losing skid into the matinee against the Brewers. The Blue Jays started the day with a one-game lead over the Baltimore Orioles in the American League East division standings. Bautista is batting .304 this season with 15 homers and 49 RBIs. Cheap Air Max 90 Womens . Rosbergs time of 1 minute, 33.185 seconds at the Bahrain International Circuit was a quarter of a second faster than Hamilton, who had to abandon his final flying lap after running wide at the first corner. Cheap Air Max 97 For Sale . "He came up to me and said, I want to train," said Toronto coach Ryan Nelsen. The 26-year-old midfielder is expected to play Saturday night when Toronto hosts D.C. United, returning to his Major League Soccer squad with mixed feelings about the Americans World Cup run -- sad that it ended when it did but proud of his teams performance. http://www.airmaxsneakersonsale.com/chea...x-270.html . -- Conor Casey scored two goals, his first of the season, as the Philadelphia Union beat Chivas USA 3-0 on Saturday night.ASHBURN, Va. - Of course Matthew McConaughey would want to hang with Robert Griffin III after a Washington Redskins practice. The Oscar-winning actor, a huge Washington fan who was in town to appear at a team charity event, wore an old-style Redskins yellow T-shirt and walked buddy-buddy with the franchise player as they strolled away from the field following Wednesdays off-season workout. Griffin was asked if he noticed McConaughey on the sidelines during practice. "I think if I was a woman, I would notice it a lot more," Griffin quipped. Still, RG3 was the player who drew the biggest scrum of reporters, and he remains the linchpin of the teams championship hopes. But this off-season is bit more tranquil for the 24-year-old quarterback with the disarming smile. Its not two years ago, when he was the shiny new centre of attention, the No. 2 overall pick with unlimited potential. And its certainly not last year, when he heaped attention on himself with his "All in for Week 1" campaign while recovering from a serious knee injury amid growing discord with coach Mike Shanahan. The RG3 of 2014 still loves his slogans — "The Movement" and "Win everything, win every day" are his current chart-toppers — but the knee brace is gone, and so is Shanahan. All is calm under new coach Jay Gruden, and, at least for the moment, Redskins stock doesnt soar nor crash every time Griffin opens his mouth. "Weve got a new coach, and weve got new additions, whether its DeSean Jackson, Ryan Clark, (Jason) Hatcher, all those guys that are here doing great things," Griffin said. "And the story lines dont all lead back to me. And thats fine." Its a firm reset for Griffin after a 3-13 year that included a late-season shutdown, but hes still the same image-conscious perfectionist. Hes learning a new offence, and his fundamentals are getting some tweaks under the new coach. Overall, however, Grudens take on Griffin sounds somewhat similar to Shanahans. "Hes mature beyond his years already," Gruden said. "Hes obviously got a lot more maturing to do, but as far as his work ethic is concerned, about how he handles himself on and off the field, I dont think thatts going to be that big of an issue. Wholesale Air Max 270. Its just a matter of how you handle the media scrutiny sometimes. "Like I said, hes a perfectionist. He doesnt like negative publicity. He doesnt like negative plays to happen. He wants everything to be right. He wants everybody to love Robert, and thats not going to be the case at the back position." True to form, Griffin tried to set the record straight about his views on off-season work. A year ago, he was confident he could make a strong return from the knee injury despite missing off-season practices. He now wants all to know that he didnt mean to devalue the importance the April-June workouts. "When you have a hand dealt to you where you dont have an off-season, you dont use it as an excuse," Griffin said. "And that was the message that was trying to be sent last year. I didnt have the opportunity to have that off-season. I was getting healthy, getting ready for the season. You dont whine about it; you dont cry about it, and I think maybe it was taken the wrong way and people thought I didnt need it. You always need it." For the most part, though, Griffin has avoided talking about last year — because it would be tricky to do so without dissing Shanahan. No sense rocking the boat while everything is good. "Everybody wants me to compare this year to last year," Griffin said. "We havent played any games yet, and even when we do play the games, Im still not going to compare them. That question will not be answered." NOTES: WR Jackson remains sidelined with a hamstring injury. Gruden called it a "minor tweak" and said he hopes Jackson is back next week. ... Gruden for the first time experienced the sauna-like conditions of the Redskins garage-style news conference room. "You guys cant afford an air conditioner in here?" the coach said. "You guys quit writing bad stuff about us and maybe well get an AC in here and move you out of the garage." The remark earned a rare ovation from reporters, and Gruden was brought a green towel to help wipe away his sweat. ___ AP NFL websites: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL ___ Follow Joseph White on Twitter: http://twitter.com/JGWhiteAP ' ' '

New York Rangers assistant coach and former NHL defenceman Ulf Samuelsson is on the list of candidates whos interviewed for the head coaching job with the Pittsburgh Penguins, according to TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger. Fake Angels Jerseys . Dreger reported on Tuesday that the Hurricanes sought permission from the Rangers to interview Samuelsson for their coaching vacancy. Samuelsson played 16 seasons in the NHL with lenghty stints in both Pittsburgh and with the former Hartford Whalers. Prior to this season, he spent two years as head coach of Modo in the Swedish League, where he had a 38-15-16-41 record. He also spent five seasons as an associate coach with the Phoenix Coyotes from 2006 to 2011. Los Angeles Angels Gear .com) - On a night the Bulls played without Derrick Rose, it was time for Pau Gasol to take charge. Angels Jerseys China . Fielder ended 4-for-5 with a solo homer, while Avila was 4-for-4 with two runs scored for the Tigers, who put the brakes on a three-game skid and rebounded from a loss in Mondays opener. Victor Martinez and Austin Jackson both contributed two hits, an RBI and a run scored as Detroit maintained its healthy lead atop the AL Central. https://www.cheapangels.com/ . The 49ers announced the deal Thursday. San Francisco selected Kilgore in the fifth round of the 2011 draft out of Appalachian State. He has played in 33 regular-season games, plus all six playoff games the last two seasons.VALENCIA, Spain -- Stephane Mbia scored in the fourth minute of stoppage time for Sevilla to make the Europa League final despite a 3-1 loss at Valencia on Thursday. Valencia looked set to play in the May 14 final in Turin until Mbias dramatic header to secure Sevillas place on away goals, after the two-leg semifinal ended 3-3. Sevilla, which plays for the trophy for the first time since winning a second straight title in 2007, faces Benfica after last years finalist drew 0-0 at Juventus to keep this years final host out by advancing 2-1 overall. "It was very hard, they played so well and it was so hard to win here. But we knew just one goal," a stunned Mbia told Cuatro TV as he was overcome with emotion like players from both teams after the final whistle. "Unbelievable." Valencia started its rally in the 14th when Sofiane Feghoulis left-footed curler took a touch to get past goalkeeper Beto, who pushed Jonas powerful 26th-minute header off the underside of the bar, but it bounced back into goal off the Sevilla goalie. Jeremy Mathieu jumped on a loose ball inside the area to rocket home Valencias third goal into the roof of the net in the 69th as the hosts looked to compplete a second successive comeback at its Mestalla Stadium after rallying from a 3-0 deficit to beat Basel 5-0 to come through the last round. Wholesale Angels Jerseys. But Valencia was left shocked as Mbia rose to power home in the waning moments to deny Valencia a return to the final 10 years after it last won. No team lasted as long as Sevilla in the competition after the Andalucian side started in the third qualifying round when Malaga and Rayo Vallecano were denied a place by UEFA for financial problems. Sevilla had finished below them in the Spanish standings. "We had few opportunities but we had good ones," Sevilla coach Unai Emery said. "We harnessed the spirit of (Andres) Palop," the former Sevilla keeper whose own late-game heroics helped Sevilla win back-to-back titles in 2006 and 07 when the competition was known as the UEFA Cup. Benfica denied Juventus the chance to play the final at its home stadium as the Portuguese champion gets another chance at the trophy one year after losing to Chelsea. "The rival is the rival, what matters is the final," said Emery, who previously had coached Valencia. "Its a great team, it eliminated Juventus." ' ' '