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NEW YORK -- The New York Jets have agreed to terms with former Denver Broncos wide receiver Eric�Decker, considered by many the top free agent at his position. Hyun-Jin Ryu Jersey . Decker spent all day Wednesday at the Jets facility and had dinner with a contingent of team officials, including coach Rex Ryan. He gives quarterback Geno�Smith and the offence a sorely needed playmaker and No. 1-type wide receiver. According to ESPNs Adam Schefter, its a five-year, $36.25 million deal with $16 million guaranteed. The Jets on Monday cut talented but oft-injured wide receiver Santonio�Holmes after four seasons. The move saved the Jets $8.25 million, and Holmes was also scheduled to have a $10.75 million cap number, a lofty total for a one-time Super Bowl MVP who has struggled with inconsistency the last two seasons. He turned 30 last week. The Jets get a rising star in Decker, who last season combined with Demaryius�Thomas as the most prolific receiving tandem (2,718 yards) in the league, meshing with Peyton�Manning all year. The 6-foot-3, 214-pound Decker, wholl be 27 on Saturday, set career highs with 87 catches and 1,288 yards receiving to go along with 11 touchdowns. He had 85 receptions for 1,064 yards and a career-best 13 TDs in 2012. Getting a top receiver was a priority as the Jets headed into free agency, especially after parting with Holmes. Decker emerged late last season, with a four-touchdown breakout at Kansas City on Dec. 1. Until then, the only starring role Decker enjoyed with the Broncos had come in his reality TV show about his wedding to country and pop singer Jessie James. He was in the final year of the contract he signed as a rookie four years ago with no extension in hand. He ended December with eight touchdowns for the Broncos, a triumph of sorts for a player who had contended with a balky shoulder and endless comparisons to teammates Thomas, Wes�Welker and Julius�Thomas. The slump-busting performance against the Chiefs did wonders for him as the Broncos advanced to the Super Bowl. Also Wednesday, the Jets agreed to terms with former Seattle Seahawks right tackle Breno�Giacomini, quickly finding a replacement for Austin�Howard. The Jets re-signed backup defensive lineman Leger�Douzable to a one-year deal, too. Giacomini missed seven games with a knee injury last season for Seattle, but was back in time for the Seahawks run to their Super Bowl title against Denver. The 6-foot-7, 318-pound Giacomini will replace Howard, who signed with Oakland as a free agent after starting every game the last two seasons. Giacomini was a fifth-round pick in 2008 of Green Bay, where he spent three seasons before spending the last three with Seattle. Douzable signed with New York as a free agent last off-season and had 20 tackles and a career-high 1 1/2 sacks. The Jets earlier released cornerback Antonio�Cromartie, clearing $17.75 million of salary cap space. New York could also save another $8.3 million if they cut quarterback Mark�Sanchez, who missed last season with a shoulder injury. Dee Gordon Dodgers Jersey . Louis that coach Randy Carlyle termed "brain-dead" and with the league-leading Chicago Blackhawks in town. Maury Wills Dodgers Jersey . Now he can be had by any team willing to pay his salary. According to a report from ESPN, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are shopping the veteran CB and plan on releasing him Wednesday if they cant find a trade partner.The NBA Finals will resume tonight in a presumably much more comfortable AT&T Center when the San Antonio Spurs welcome the Miami Heat. You can watch the game live on TSN and TSN GO or listen to the action on TSN Radio 1050�at 7:30pm et/4:30pm pt. The Spurs grabbed a 1-0 series lead Thursday night in the sweltering heat of a late spring San Antonio night. Of course, it didnt help that the AT&T Centers air conditioner malfunctioned and didnt work through the course of the game. As temperatures soared into the mid-90s, the Spurs emerged with a 110-95 victory, but the busted AC unit played a major role. LeBron�James was forced to leave the game midway through the fourth quarter due to cramping. James has faced cramping issues in the past and the four-time MVP was unable to move Thursday following a layup to get the game within two. "My body just shut down, basically my body said, okay, enough jumping for you for the night. Youve had enough," James said after practice on Friday. "Nothing I could do about it." That didnt stop social media from exploding, questioning James toughness. "I really dont care what people say about me," noted James. The two-time Finals MVP, the Heat, the Spurs and frankly anyone in attendance Sunday night should feel relieved. The AT&T Center staff fixed the problem and it should be very comfortable for Game 2. "It will be fine. Weve been assured of that," said Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra. The extreme conditions played a role in Game 1, but were the same for both squads. When James had to be carried back to the bench, the Spurs finished the game on a 31-9 run witth six minutes to go.Yasiel Puig Dodgers Jersey. Danny�Green, who set an NBA Finals record with 27 made 3-pointers last year, caught fire late in Game 1. He drained three long balls during the decisive run and finished with 13 points. Tim�Duncan contributed 21 points and 10 rebounds, Tony�Parker poured in 19 points and handed out eight assists, and Manu�Ginobili totaled 16 points and 11 assists for the Spurs, who shot a scorching 14-of-16 from the floor in the fourth, including a perfect 6-of-6 mark from long distance. Tiago�Splitter added 14 points and Boris�Diaw pulled down 10 rebounds. The Spurs shot 59 percent for the game and 52 percent from long range. "Were not as good as we used to be defensively. So if thats going to diminish, you need to do something at the other end of the floor to make up for it," explained coach Gregg Popovich. "We changed our pace, and the way we approach things at the other end of the floor to make up for what were going to lose defensively. Thats the bottom line." James paced the Heat with 25 points and six assists, while Wade and Bosh supplied 19 and 18 points, respectively, in the setback. "We have to finish the game better, no matter who is on the floor," Wade said, referring to the absence of James. Ray�Allen provided a spark off the bench with 16 points, while another veteran, Rashard�Lewis, scored 10. The Heat have won 12 straight following a loss in the postseason and theres no reason to panic. Miami lost the first game in each of the last two Finals and went on to win the series. The series shifts to South Beach for Game 3 Tuesday night. ' ' '

GENEVA -- Marin Cilics ban for doping was reduced from a "too severe" nine months to four on Friday, clearing him play at the Paris Masters next week. Andrew Luck Womens Jersey . Facing a possible two-year ban requested by the International Tennis Federation, the Court of Arbitration for Sport sided with the Croatian player. Cilic tested positive for a banned stimulant in May but claimed he had not intended to ingest it in a glucose tablet bought at a pharmacy. "The panel determined that the degree of fault committed by the athlete was inferior to that established in the (tribunal) decision," the court said in a statement. "The panel also determined that the sanction imposed was too severe in view of the degree of fault and concluded that it should be reduced to four months." The 25-year-old Croatian player was cleared to return from midnight Friday. Cilics ranking, which has dropped to No. 47, is set for an immediate boost with the return of his points from events including the French Open, Wimbledon and the grass-court Queens Club event in London, where he was runner-up to Andy Murray. "Mr. Cilics results subsequent to the BMW Open (in Munich) will not be disqualified and he is permitted to retain the ranking points and prize money that he won at those events," the ITF said in a statement. Cilics case was fast-tracked following an appeal hearing in London last week, with a verdict promised ahead of Fridays draw for the Paris Masters. It is the final regular tour event of the season. Cilic tested positive for nikethamide in Munich in May, where he lost in the first round to fellow Croat Ivan Dodig. He challenged his ban at CAS and sought to prove he was not a cheat. The ITF requested a two-year ban by appealing the verdict of its own independent tribunal. Cilics ranking peaked at No. 9 in February 2010, and has dropped from 12th since accepting a provisional suspension in June. That day, he withdrew from his second-round match at Wimbledon citing a knee injury. Cilic now gets back his prize money and ranking points from his first-round win, and from his run to the third round at Roland Garros. The court said it would publish its panels detailed verdict at a later date. Trent Richardson Colts Jersey . The Winnipeg Jets head coach, whose parents are French-Canadian, lost much of his mother tongue the result of playing and coaching hockey in the U.S. but still speaks enough to get by. T.Y. Hilton Womens Jersey . United released a statement saying Mata will move for a club-record fee "subject to a medical and the agreement of personal terms." Although United didnt give any further details, the club this week made a bid of 37 million pounds ($61 million) for Mata, which would eclipse the 30.Kansas City, KS (SportsNetwork.com) - Sporting Kansas City announced Thursday that club has signed former on-loan midfielder Jimmy Medranda to a permanent contract from Colombian side Deportivo Pereira. "Jimmy is a good, young talent with a lot of potential," Sporting manager Peter Vermes said in a statement. "It was a goal of ours to try to re-sign him at the end of this season as a Sporting Kansas City player as opposed tto being on loan. DQwell Jackson Colts Jersey. Were excited to have been able to accomplish that goal." Medranda has signed a multi-year contract with the reigning MLS Cup champions and will be added to to the teams 2014 roster upon receipt of his International Transfer Certificate. The 19-year-old, who made one first-team appearance for Sporting last season, will occupy the clubs fourth of eight available international roster spots. ' ' '

Fabio Pereira and Kevin Parsemain each scored in the opening 20 minutes to lead the Seattle Sounders to a 2-1 preseason victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps on Thursday. Cheap Nate Livings Jersey . Pereira scored in the eighth minute and Parsemain scored the eventual winner in the 17th at the Grande Sports Complex in Arizona. The Whitecaps (1-1) came out flying in the second half with a goal in the 46th minute from sophomore Erik Hurtado, however the damage had been done. "There were a lot of positives, but there were also some negatives in regards to what I want and what I demand," Whitecaps coach Carl Robinson said after the game. "I think we had some very good attacking combinations in both halves � obviously, the defending in the first half for me was nowhere near where it should be." Despite outshooting the Sounders 13-8, the Whitecaps managed just two shots on goal to Seattles four. The two clubs will meet again on Sunday in Tucson, Ari. Chuck Howley Jersey . Agent Mike McCartney confirmed via Twitter on Sunday that Mendenhall had decided to end his playing career after six NFL seasons, all but one of them with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Edgar Jones Cowboys Jersey . Salamida, 29, has played the last four seasons with the Goldeyes. Returning to the team halfway through last season, he went 7-1 with a 2.VANCOUVER - The B.C. Lions named Khari Jones as their new offensive co-ordinator Monday. Jones joins the Lions after two seasons as the quarterbacks coach with the Grey Cup-champion Saskatchewan Roughriders. "Khari is a young, fresh football mind that brings a key combination of significant playing and coaching experience to the role of offensive co-ordinator," Lions head coach Mike Benevides said in a statement. "After a number of conversations with Khari over the past couple of weeks, I am very excited about his positive approach to the game, the offensive concepts he will bring to our offence and how they will translate on the field." Prior to joining the Riders, Jones served as Hamiltons offensive co-ordinator in 2011. Jones began his CFL coaching career as the Ticats quarterbacks coach in 09. Jones began hhis CFL playing career as a quarterback with the Lions in 97 before being dealt to Winnipeg in 2000. Larry Allen Jersey. In 2001, Jones was named the leagues outstanding player after guiding the Bombers to a 14-4 regular-season record. Jones also played for Calgary (2004) and Hamilton (2005) and twice went to training camp with Edmonton before joining CBCs CFL broadcast crew in 2006. "Its an honour to return to the same organization that gave me an opportunity to play in this great league many years ago," said Jones. "There is a tremendous nucleus of great offensive players here led by Travis Lulay, who I believe is one of the elite quarterbacks in our league. "Im elated to be working with Mike as well as everyone on the offensive staff and I cant wait to get started on building a champion in B.C." ' ' '

BETHESDA, Md. DQwell Jackson Womens Jersey . -- Justin�Rose has won enough times on the strongest golf courses to appreciate how one mistake can make a difference. He got away with one Sunday at Congressional to win the Quicken Loans National. Shawn�Stefani did not. With the poise and the putting touch of a U.S. Open champion, Rose atoned for a 4-iron he hit into the water on the 18th hole to make a 15-foot bogey putt that got him into a playoff and gave him new life. On the 18th hole in the playoff, Stefani hit the same type of shot that rolled into the same pond left of the green. There are no second chances in a sudden-death playoff. Rose won with a par on the first extra hole for his first victory since the U.S. Open last summer at Merion. This one required about as much work, with Congressional far more difficult and unrelenting than when it hosted a soggy U.S. Open three years ago. "Congressional got its reputation back after the U.S. Open," Rose said. "I really enjoy this type of golf and this type of test. I think it tested all of us. Im delighted." The Englishman was far from delighted after thinking he had thrown this one away. Tied for the lead as he played the 18th, Rose tried to squeeze a 4-iron through a tiny gap in the trees from 209 yards away, playing toward the right side of the green for a chance at par. Instead, he turned it over and realized when he jogged toward the fairway that it was headed for the water. His caddie, Mark Fulcher, told Rose that Stefani had just made bogey behind them on the 17th. "Everything else was forgotten at that point," Rose said. "I wiped the slate clean and just focused on my putt on 18. An amazing feeling in any sort of championship when you make a putt like that. That means something. Thats special. "And then the playoff, it was just up to me to not do what I did the first time around." He left that to Stefani, who had drilled his tee shot in regulation and narrowly missed a 20-foot birdie putt for his first PGA Tour victory. In the playoff, Stefani pulled his tee shot in the trees and got relief from grandstands blocking his view of the green. He chose a 6-iron to punch it around the trees. "The grass closed the club down," Stefani said, "and it went left into the water. I was trying to play it down the right side and have a chance at a putt, two putts for a par. Thats the way it goes. It was great to have a chance to win." Both closed with a 1-under 70 and finished at 4-under 280 on a course that looked like a U.S. Open, and played like one the way so many contenders -- seven players had at least a share of the lead at one point -- tumbled down the leaderboard. Only six players broke par in the final round. And it was only the second time this year that the winning score was higher than the 36-hole lead (6 under). That also happened at Torrey Pines, which like Congressional, previously hosted a U.S. Open. No one crashed harder than Patrick�Reed, who had a two-shot lead to start the final round, still had a two-shot lead at the turn and didnt even finish in the top 10. He made back-to-back double bogeys, shot 41 on the back and closed with a 77 to tie for 11th. "This definitely burns and definitely gets me more fired up for more events coming up," Reed said. Even though he got a reprieve with the clutch bogey putt, Rose looked like a U.S. Open champion the way he put himself into position. He hit 5-iron to 5 feet for one of only four birdies on the 11th hole Sunday. Staring at potential bogey from deep rough on the 14th, he boldly hit 3-wood up the hill and between the deep bunkers to the middle of the green. It was a par, but Rose called the 3-wood his "shot of the day." And before his blunder on the 18th, he holed an 8-foot sliding par putt on the 17th. "I felt like all aspects of my game were tested this week, and its really nice to win in that fashion," Rose said. Stefani, whose only major experience was at Merion last year, plodded along like a U.S. Open veteran with one par after another. He joined Rose in the lead with a 15-foot birdie putt on the 16th. So many others fell back. Brendon�Todd was tied for the lead until a double bogey in the water on the 10th. Marc�Leishman three-putted for bogey on No. 7 and made bogey on the easiest par 4 at Congressional. Brendan�Steele made a late rally, only to take on too much from the rough on the 18th and find the water for double bogey. This was the first British Open qualifier on the PGA Tour -- the leading four players not already exempt from the top 12 at Congressional get into Royal Liverpool next month. Stefani earned one spot as the runner-up. Charley�Hoffman (69) and Ben�Martin (71) each birdied two of the last three holes to tie for third. Steele got the last spot with a 71 that put him in a three-way tie for third with Andres�Romero and Todd, who already is exempt. Steele earned the spot over Romero because he has a higher world ranking. Romero closed with a 68, the low score in a final round when the scoring average was 73.7. Hakeem Nicks Womens Jersey . The Missouri Tigers Defensive End and SEC Defensive player of the year is eligible for the upcoming NFL draft in May. Mike Adams Jersey ." Hextall was promoted to general manager by the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday to replace Paul Holmgren, who was elevated to president.It was a really fun shoot with Brooks and the boys, heres some behind the scenes content from the production. Brooks shooting his testimonial: Brooks and Cabbie help a young lady with a flat tire: Cabbie making Evgeny Kuznetsov laugh: Cabbie getting soaked: Post shoot photo: ' ' '

TORONTO -- It was such a bad first period, the Toronto Maple Leafs figured they couldnt duplicate the disaster. Chris Canty Jersey . They were right in that they responded to coach Randy Carlyles goaltending switch to erase a two-goal deficit. Ultimately Toronto lost 5-4 in a shootout to the Detroit Red Wings in a preview of the Winter Classic, but it was the battling back to get a point that had them feeling slightly more upbeat than usual after a defeat. "Well take the point," captain Dion�Phaneuf said. "Coming back, I feel that was a big step for our team to come back against a team that doesnt really give up a whole lot. We did a lot of really good things tonight." The good things for the Leafs (18-16-4) came in the second and third periods when they got goals from Phaneuf and Joffrey�Lupul to tie the score and then one from the much-maligned David�Clarkson to take the lead. That was a complete reversal from the first period, when they squandered the opening goal from defenceman Cody�Franson and gave up three goals in 9 minutes 11 seconds to Pavel�Datsyuk, Joakim�Andersson and Tomas�Jurco. "We score the first goal and then we basically stood around for the rest of the period and watched them do their thing," Carlyle said. "They out-competed us badly in the first period." Starting goaltender James�Reimer gave up those three goals on 12 first-period shots. He got the hook in favour of Jonathan�Bernier at the first intermission, after Carlyle noticed rebounds bouncing away from Reimer and wasnt happy with Anderssons goal going off his stick and in and Jurco shooting the puck through him. Reimer was understandably unhappy with Carlyles decision, which he respected, and also with his performance. "Definitely not what we had in mind, what I had in mind," said Reimer, who was making a third straight start for the first time this season. "They just scored a couple too many goals. Obviously the second one, that cant go in. It was obviously my fault, a hundred per cent. And the third one, they made a nice play, but I think thats one that I can get done on some days, too." The Leafs looked like a completely different team in the second period in front of Bernier. Carlyle was pleased at how his players got pucks deep, cycled, drew penalties and managed to draw even in the game by scoring twice on former Toronto goaltender Jonas�Gustavsson, who wound up giving up four goals on 23 shots. "I dont think I had my best game tonight, at least we were able to step up there and get the win," Gustavsson said. Phaneuf said he and his teammates talked about having a better effort in the second period. That showed, and when Clarkson scored 8:32 into the third period Carlyle hoped that kind of "dirty" goal would be able to carry the Leafs. Instead, the Red Wings (17-12-9) were able to tie it on a goal by Tomas�Tatar at 13:44 when Niklas�Kronwall won a blue-line puck battle against Phil�Kessel. "We made a mistake and we couldnt get a puck out along the wall, guy got in behind us, a rebound and then we lost in a shootout," Carlyle said in summing up the Leafs sixth loss in their past seven games. "I think that the way that game developed in the evening, I think we were fortunate to get a point." The Red Wings felt fortunate to win in the shootout on goals by Datsyuk and former Senators captain Daniel�Alfredsson. It was their first victory that way this season after losing their first six shootouts. "It was a mental block for us, shootouts, and to win this one tonight hopefully we can put that behind us and start winning a few," said Alfredsson, who scored the winner. "Winning in overtime last game and now winning in a shootout tonight lessens the grip on the stick next time around." Mike Babcock, coach of the Red Wings and Team Canada, pointed out that he doesnt get so hung up on the shootout performance. But hell take the points from this one, Detroits second straight victory following a six-game losing streak. "I think were a pretty even-keeled group," Babcock said. "We just keep on keeping on. Were going to be fine here in the end. Weve got to get players back and then well start playing with some speed and confidence and tempo and everything." The Red Wings were playing without injured captain Henrik�Zetterberg (back), goaltender Jimmy�Howard (knee), centre Stephen�Weiss (sports hernia) and forwards Gustav�Nyquist (groin), Johan�Franzen (concussion) and Justin�Abdelkader (concussion). They got defenceman Danny�DeKeyser back after missing 15 games with a shoulder injury. Carlyle saw similarities between the two teams because the Leafs are still without centres Tyler�Bozak (oblique) and Dave�Bolland (severed tendon in ankle). But the rest of the team is in tact, and players have been quick to brush injuries off as an excuse. The problem Saturday night wasnt lacking players as much as it was another poor start after Fransons goal 7:15 in. "I didnt think we were ready and we came out a little bit sloppy," said Clarkson, whose go-ahead goal was just his third of the season. "When you allow a team with that much skill and talent to get ahead of you, its hard to battle back, but I think we showed something tonight by battling back. Weve got to be ready from the drop of the puck, be ready to play the way we know we can, the way we did in the second and third." The Leafs play for the final 40 minutes of regulation represented the biggest positive of the night, which was a chance for the teams to feel each other out before meeting in the Winter Classic Jan. 1 at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor. That game is too far from now for either Toronto or Detroit to focus on. The Leafs concern was about their good and bad effort that led to this shootout loss. "It takes a toll on you trying to dig out of a two-goal hole like that," said Lupul, who had a goal and an assist. "If we take one thing from the game, its probably get off to a little better start." NOTES -- Kessel was held without a goal for the eighth time in 10 games since Bozak went out with his oblique injury. The star winger has two goals and five assists in that time. Defencemen Mark�Fraser and Paul�Ranger and forward Frazer�McLaren were healthy scratches for the Leafs for the second straight game. Justin Forsett Jersey . When you think teams you imagine a group of people who all shop at the same jersey store and move together in a large pack with a common goal, which is usually scoring goals. But at these Olympic Games the idea of becoming a team in figure skating makes perfect sense because of a new event called, shockingly, the Team Event. Elvis Dumervil Jersey For Sale .com) - Alabama and Florida State were predictably the top two teams in the latest installment of the BCS standings.Sidney�Crosby may be going under the knife. According to a source with The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Penguins captain is set to have arthroscopic surgery on his right wrist within the week. The source added to the Post-Gazette that the surgery "is not major," but is set to repair damage that impeded his postseason performance.. Torrey Smith Elite Jersey. . The surgery is not expected to force Crosby to miss any time in the upcoming season. Crosby scored one goal and added eight assists in 13 playoff games with the Penguins, who were eliminated in Round 2 by the New York Rangers. The 26-year-old was awarded the Hart Trophy as the NHLs most valuable player in 2013-14. ' ' '

DENVER -- Markieff�Morris found himself on the bench after he didnt hustle back and allowed a dunk in the second quarter. Joe Greene Steelers Jersey . That certainly got his attention. Next time in, Morris played with way more determination. Same with the rest of the Phoenix Suns. It was the only way to erase an early 21-point deficit. Morris scored 25 points and Gerald�Green added 19, helping the Suns rally for a 103-99 win over the Denver Nuggets on Friday night. "We never quit. We came out and fought all the way to the end," Morris said. "Its a great feeling, man." It was hardly one player, either, and the reserves played a big hand, too, outscoring the starters, 64-39. "That just goes to show you what type of team we have," said Green, who tied a career-high with six 3-pointers. "Some nights are not going to be everybodys night. Any given night, somebody can step up on this team and help us win. Thats what it takes. "That shows a lot about our character." First, Green got hot, hitting 3-pointer after 3-pointer. And once the Nuggets spread out their defence in order to stop the long-range shooting, Goran�Dragic went to work by driving the lane. He finished with 17 points, including two big layups down the stretch. Steadily, the Suns worked their way back into a contest that looked all but over, especially with the Nuggets up 79-62 with 4 minutes left in the third quarter. But Suns coach Jeff Hornacek kept them on course, kept their confidence high. That did the trick. "Ive got to give coach the credit, he never panicked. He never yelled at us," Green said. "He just kept with it, kept telling us to stick with the plan and its going to work." Wilson�Chandler had 15 points for the Nuggets, while J.J.�Hickson added 13 points and 14 rebounds. Ty�Lawson was in the lineup despite coming down with a stomach bug on Thursday. He was slightly off his game, going 3 of 11 from the floor and finishing with 13 points. "They were down 21 points but they kept fighting," Denver forward Darrell�Arthur said. Phoenix tied it 88-all on a layup from Ish�Smith -- his only basket of the game -- with 8:21 remaining. Soon after, the Suns took their first lead since scoring the opening bucket when Dragic dribbled past Denver defenders for a layup. From there, it was back and forth until a pair of free throws and a layup from Dragic gave the Suns a four-point lead. With a 102-99 advantage, Phoenix allowed Randy�Foye to get a good look at a 3-point attempt, but Foye was off target with 5.9 seconds remaining. Morris sealed the win by making a free throw. A character-building win for the Suns. A demoralizing loss for the Nuggets as they lost their second straight game at Pepsi Center to drop to 7-5 at home on the season. They were a franchise-best 38-3 last season. "Im not very happy, and Ill take the hit for tonights game, for allowing some things in practice to carry over into the game," coach Brian�Shaw said. "When it was going good for us in the first half, we were all smiles and played as if the game was over and didnt have a second half to play." Dragic and fellow guard Eric�Bledsoe entered the game averaging more than 18 points apiece. They combined for 27, with Dragics biggest buckets arriving down the stretch. For that, he credits Green. "We were hitting those 3s. Then, their players, they were afraid to be in the paint, to leave open our shooters," Dragic said. "Its much easier when you have more space in the paint -- you can create. We did that." At 15-10, the Suns may just be ahead of schedule in terms of turning around a team that had the worst record in the Western Conference last season. "Were winning some games against some good teams and thats giving them confidence and helping to speed up the process a little bit," Hornacek said. NOTES: Both teams return to the court Saturday night. Phoenix hosts the Dallas Mavericks while the Nuggets play the Clippers in Los Angeles. ... The fourth quarter turned into quite a show Markieff�Morris and twin Marcus as they combined for 16 points. ... Jordan�Hamilton served his one-game suspension for throwing a punch at Oklahoma City centre Steven�Adams on Tuesday. ... Nate�Robinson picked up a technical foul in the second quarter. ... According to the Nuggets, the 21 points was their largest blown lead at home since Nov. 29, 2002, against Golden State. Mel Blount Jersey . The Bruins suffered their share of setbacks, a notable one just a week earlier. Once the Pac-12 tournament got rolling, the Bruins took off. Mike Webster Steelers Jersey . Ulissi made his move inside the final 300 metres, bursting out of the peloton to edge Robert Kiserlovski for a second stage win in the race. Wilco Kelderman was third on the 179-kilometre (111-mile) leg from Foligno to Montecopiolo, which had two category one climbs, including the final ascent to the finish.LONDON -- Martina Hingis is returning to play at Wimbledon for the first time in seven years. The former singles and doubles champion from Switzerland was granted a wild card by the All England Club on Wednesday for the womens doubles tournament. Her partner is Russias Vera Zvonareva, a former doubles winner and singles runner-up. In addition to her singles title in 1997, the 33-year-old Hingis is a two-time doubles winner at Wimbledon, with Helena Sukova in 1996 and Jana Novotna in 1998. After a second retirement in 2007, Hingis returned to the game in July 2013 but has restricted her outings to doubles. She last played at Wimbledon in 2007, losing in the third round of the singles. Her last doubles appearance at Wimbledon dates back to 2000, when she went out in the second round. Hingis has been playing dooubles this year with Germanys Sabine Lisicki. Jason Worilds Steelers Jersey. They won in Miami, giving Hingis her first title since 2007. With Lisicki now concentrating on singles, Hingis turned to Zvonareva, who won the Wimbledon doubles title with Elena Vesnina in 2010 and lost to Serena Williams in the singles final in 2010. However, the 29-year-old Zvonareva has barely competed since 2012 because of illness and injury. Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus, a Wimbledon semifinalist in 2006, was granted a wild card for the mens singles tournament. His ATP ranking has slipped to No. 118. Five British players also received wild cards. Among the women, Kristyna Pliskova of the Czech Republic and three British players were given wild card singles entries. More wild cards will be announced before play begins on June 23rd. ' ' '

Hes a Hall of Famer now, but Stephen�Ames isnt ready to give up playing golf just yet. Josh Hill Womens Jersey . Ames was unanimously named for induction into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame on Wednesday, becoming the 74th member of the countrys golfs shrine. And with Ames poised to celebrate his 50th birthday in April, the Calgary resident is planning to play events on both the PGA and Champions Tours in 2014. "Usually you think Hall of Famers are inducted when theyre finished playing," Ames said during a conference call from West Palm Beach, Fla. "I still see myself as a player right now. "Its a great honour, for sure, without a doubt." Ames induction ceremony is expected to be in Calgary in August during the Shaw Charity Classic, a Champions Tour event that Ames is a founding patron of. "The Canadian Golf Hall of Fame seeks to recognize excellence as golfers, contributors and supporters of the game," said Ian Clarke, the chairman of the Canadian Golf Hall of Fames selection committee. "Stephen�Ames has excelled on the biggest stage in our sport and it is fitting that he will be recognized for his respective accomplishments." After attending Lynn University, Ames turned pro in 1987. A dual citizen of Canada and Trinidad and Tobago, Ames has recorded 11 career wins. Four have come on the PGA Tour, where he has earned over US$19.5 million. Ames first Tour win came July 4, 2004 at the Cialis Western Open, finishing two strokes ahead of American Steve�Lowery. His last victory came in 09 at the Childrens Miracle Network Classic in a playoff with Justin�Leonard and George�McNeill, both of the U.S. Ames has also won on the European and Nationwide Tours as well as three skins events, including the 05 Telus World Skins Game in Whistler, B.C. when he finished ahead of Jack Nicklaus, John�Daly and Vijay�Singh. He finished second behind Daly in the 06 event held at Banff, Alta., and third in 07 in Thornbury, Ont. A career milestone came in 06 when Ames captured The Players Championship by six strokes over Retief�Goosen. The win was worth US$1.44 million and moved Ames into No. 27 on the official world golf rankings at the time. But Ames said receiving the Hall of Fame nod has surpassed that as a career highlight, although he considers the 2006 win his biggest ever on a golf course. "It was a week of complete mental control, which we all know is very difficult to do, day in and day out," he said. "On the course, that would be it. "Off the course, being inducted into the Hall of Fame. Its very prestigious, very nice." Ames also made headlines of a different sort that year. When asked about top-ranked Tiger�Woods prior to the 06 WGC-Accenture World Match Play Championship, Ames quipped: "Anything can happen, especially where hes hitting the ball." The next day, Woods thrashed Ames 9 and 8 in their match. Afterwards, Woods was asked about Ames comments and simply answered, "9 and 8." Ames is also active off the course. Last year, the Stephen�Ames Foundation funded the inaugural CJGA Stephen�Ames Junior Cup. And since 2005, he has hosted the Stephen�Ames Cup, a Ryder Cup style tournament featuring a team of Canadian junior players versus a team from Trinidad and Tobago. His foundation also provides funding for junior golf programs and other childrens initiatives in Canada and Trinidad and Tobago. Ames is also involved in the construction of a golf course in Calgary that he hopes will host the Canadian Open by 2018 or 2020. Ames continues to put together his 2014 tournament schedule, adding he has exemption status on the PGA Tour this season. But he said having two separate circuits to choose from is indeed a luxury. "If I miss a few events at the start of the year, I have the option of playing on the PGA Tour or the Champions Tour," he said. "There are a couple of weeks where Im not going to be able to play in invitationals (on PGA Tour) but I can play in some of the majors on the Champions Tour. "Thats a wonderful opportunity that I have and an option as well, so lucky me." The Champions Tour is a circuit for golfers 50 years of age and over thats run by the PGA Tour. And while the Champion Tour competitors might be older, Ames said they still have the burning passion to compete. But there are subtle differences between the two golf Tours that Ames says hes going to enjoy. "The 19th hole might be a little different," he said. "The guys are definitely a little more relaxed after a round of golf and I think the camaraderie is going to be a little lighter, which is fantastic. "Its like playing with your buddies. You finish a round of golf and you go to the bar and have a drink and talk about your round . . . this is going to be a nice setting for me, I quite enjoy that." Benjamin Watson Jersey . A Swiss Federal Tribunal ruling published Friday said that FIFAs disputes panel and the Court of Arbitration for Sport correctly imposed the sanction for Nantes enticing Guinea forward Ismael Bangoura to break his contract with Dubai club Al Nasr in January 2012. Ramon Humber Jersey . The Denver Nuggets played as though they were already relaxing on a tropical beach. Love started practicing early for All-Star festivities, making six of 11 shots from 3-point range and totalling 32 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists to lead the Timberwolves to a 117-90 victory over the Nuggets on Wednesday night.PORTLAND, Ore. -- The plan was for Clint Dempsey to go 60 minutes and see how he was feeling less than 72 hours after playing 90 minutes in a U.S. national team exhibition against Mexico. When the one-hour mark arrived, Dempsey and the Seattle Sounders were trailing rival Portland by two goals. He wasnt about to check out. Dempsey scored the first hat trick in his MLS career, including goals in the 85th and 87th minutes to help the Sounders rally late for a wild 4-4 draw with the Timbers on Saturday. "You always feel good when you are contributing, scoring goals or getting assists," Dempsey said. "Im in a good rhythm at the moment and its about continuing that form." Trailing 4-2 for most of the second half after goals from Diego Chara and Maximiliano Urruti early in the half gave Portland the advantage, Dempsey led Seattles stunning late comeback to earn a point in the first Cascadia rivalry matchup of the season. Dempsey scored in the 85th minute to get Seattle within 4-3, a goal that felt was coming with the pressure the Sounders were pushing forward. Seconds later, Seattle defender DeAndre Yedlin was taken down in the penalty box by Portlands Ben Zemanski and referee Hilario Grajeda immediately pointed to the penalty spot. Yedlin said he was hoping to draw a penalty on the play and Zemanski obliged by clipping the young Seattle defender. After a brief discussion with Gonzalo Pineda, who was expecting to take the penalty kick, Dempsey stepped up. He converted the chance, beating former Seattle goalkeeper Andrew Weber to get Seattle even. "That point today felt like more than a point. It kind of felt like a win," Dempsey said. The afternoon was an advertisement for the league, even if it gave the coaches heartburn. Play was wide open and end-to-end. There were 41 shots and countless near misses. There were four goals in the first 25 minutes -- including goals from Seattles Kenny Cooper, Portland Diego Valeri and Dempsey -- along with the two late scores. Marques Colston Womens Jersey. And the biggest star on the field burned brightest even if he was a little tired at the end. "Hes a leader. He wants to lead this team. He wants to show that last year was not the Clint Dempsey that were going to see this year," Seattle coach Sigi Schmid said. "And he wants to show people hes ready for the World Cup. I think he did that today." Seattle walked off thrilled with the final result and knowing there were other missed chances in the final minutes to get a winner. Meanwhile, the Timbers stood stunned as the worst start in their brief history continued. The Timbers have generally been slow starters since joining the league in 2011, but now have just three points after five games, not the opening anyone in Portland expected after reaching the Western Conference finals last season. "You should never give up 4 goals, and you should never tie a game if you score 4 goals," Portland coach Caleb Porter said. Chara was the star until Dempsey took over. On his 28th birthday, Chara scored in MLS play for the first time since September 2011. Seattle defence was willing to give him space and he took advantage with two perfectly placed shots from outside the penalty box. His first goal in the ninth minute deflected off goalkeeper Stephen Freis hand but had enough force to get into the net. His second goal, and what appeared to be the winner, came from about 25 yards and Frei had no chance at the save. Both times, Seattles defenders failed to step up and defend Charas shot. "I feel good, but obviously completely not happy with the game," Chara said. "We should have won that game, so to score 2 goals, for me, is good, but Id rather see a W than me score 2 goals." Urrutis goal in the 57th minute appeared to give Portland plenty of cushion. But Dempsey said otherwise and both sides had to settle for the draw in one of the wilder matchups of a rivalry dating to the mid-1970s. ' ' '

Hes a Hall of Famer now, but Stephen�Ames isnt ready to give up playing golf just yet. Josh Hill Womens Jersey . Ames was unanimously named for induction into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame on Wednesday, becoming the 74th member of the countrys golfs shrine. And with Ames poised to celebrate his 50th birthday in April, the Calgary resident is planning to play events on both the PGA and Champions Tours in 2014. "Usually you think Hall of Famers are inducted when theyre finished playing," Ames said during a conference call from West Palm Beach, Fla. "I still see myself as a player right now. "Its a great honour, for sure, without a doubt." Ames induction ceremony is expected to be in Calgary in August during the Shaw Charity Classic, a Champions Tour event that Ames is a founding patron of. "The Canadian Golf Hall of Fame seeks to recognize excellence as golfers, contributors and supporters of the game," said Ian Clarke, the chairman of the Canadian Golf Hall of Fames selection committee. "Stephen�Ames has excelled on the biggest stage in our sport and it is fitting that he will be recognized for his respective accomplishments." After attending Lynn University, Ames turned pro in 1987. A dual citizen of Canada and Trinidad and Tobago, Ames has recorded 11 career wins. Four have come on the PGA Tour, where he has earned over US$19.5 million. Ames first Tour win came July 4, 2004 at the Cialis Western Open, finishing two strokes ahead of American Steve�Lowery. His last victory came in 09 at the Childrens Miracle Network Classic in a playoff with Justin�Leonard and George�McNeill, both of the U.S. Ames has also won on the European and Nationwide Tours as well as three skins events, including the 05 Telus World Skins Game in Whistler, B.C. when he finished ahead of Jack Nicklaus, John�Daly and Vijay�Singh. He finished second behind Daly in the 06 event held at Banff, Alta., and third in 07 in Thornbury, Ont. A career milestone came in 06 when Ames captured The Players Championship by six strokes over Retief�Goosen. The win was worth US$1.44 million and moved Ames into No. 27 on the official world golf rankings at the time. But Ames said receiving the Hall of Fame nod has surpassed that as a career highlight, although he considers the 2006 win his biggest ever on a golf course. "It was a week of complete mental control, which we all know is very difficult to do, day in and day out," he said. "On the course, that would be it. "Off the course, being inducted into the Hall of Fame. Its very prestigious, very nice." Ames also made headlines of a different sort that year. When asked about top-ranked Tiger�Woods prior to the 06 WGC-Accenture World Match Play Championship, Ames quipped: "Anything can happen, especially where hes hitting the ball." The next day, Woods thrashed Ames 9 and 8 in their match. Afterwards, Woods was asked about Ames comments and simply answered, "9 and 8." Ames is also active off the course. Last year, the Stephen�Ames Foundation funded the inaugural CJGA Stephen�Ames Junior Cup. And since 2005, he has hosted the Stephen�Ames Cup, a Ryder Cup style tournament featuring a team of Canadian junior players versus a team from Trinidad and Tobago. His foundation also provides funding for junior golf programs and other childrens initiatives in Canada and Trinidad and Tobago. Ames is also involved in the construction of a golf course in Calgary that he hopes will host the Canadian Open by 2018 or 2020. Ames continues to put together his 2014 tournament schedule, adding he has exemption status on the PGA Tour this season. But he said having two separate circuits to choose from is indeed a luxury. "If I miss a few events at the start of the year, I have the option of playing on the PGA Tour or the Champions Tour," he said. "There are a couple of weeks where Im not going to be able to play in invitationals (on PGA Tour) but I can play in some of the majors on the Champions Tour. "Thats a wonderful opportunity that I have and an option as well, so lucky me." The Champions Tour is a circuit for golfers 50 years of age and over thats run by the PGA Tour. And while the Champion Tour competitors might be older, Ames said they still have the burning passion to compete. But there are subtle differences between the two golf Tours that Ames says hes going to enjoy. "The 19th hole might be a little different," he said. "The guys are definitely a little more relaxed after a round of golf and I think the camaraderie is going to be a little lighter, which is fantastic. "Its like playing with your buddies. You finish a round of golf and you go to the bar and have a drink and talk about your round . . . this is going to be a nice setting for me, I quite enjoy that." Benjamin Watson Jersey . A Swiss Federal Tribunal ruling published Friday said that FIFAs disputes panel and the Court of Arbitration for Sport correctly imposed the sanction for Nantes enticing Guinea forward Ismael Bangoura to break his contract with Dubai club Al Nasr in January 2012. Ramon Humber Jersey . The Denver Nuggets played as though they were already relaxing on a tropical beach. Love started practicing early for All-Star festivities, making six of 11 shots from 3-point range and totalling 32 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists to lead the Timberwolves to a 117-90 victory over the Nuggets on Wednesday night.PORTLAND, Ore. -- The plan was for Clint Dempsey to go 60 minutes and see how he was feeling less than 72 hours after playing 90 minutes in a U.S. national team exhibition against Mexico. When the one-hour mark arrived, Dempsey and the Seattle Sounders were trailing rival Portland by two goals. He wasnt about to check out. Dempsey scored the first hat trick in his MLS career, including goals in the 85th and 87th minutes to help the Sounders rally late for a wild 4-4 draw with the Timbers on Saturday. "You always feel good when you are contributing, scoring goals or getting assists," Dempsey said. "Im in a good rhythm at the moment and its about continuing that form." Trailing 4-2 for most of the second half after goals from Diego Chara and Maximiliano Urruti early in the half gave Portland the advantage, Dempsey led Seattles stunning late comeback to earn a point in the first Cascadia rivalry matchup of the season. Dempsey scored in the 85th minute to get Seattle within 4-3, a goal that felt was coming with the pressure the Sounders were pushing forward. Seconds later, Seattle defender DeAndre Yedlin was taken down in the penalty box by Portlands Ben Zemanski and referee Hilario Grajeda immediately pointed to the penalty spot. Yedlin said he was hoping to draw a penalty on the play and Zemanski obliged by clipping the young Seattle defender. After a brief discussion with Gonzalo Pineda, who was expecting to take the penalty kick, Dempsey stepped up. He converted the chance, beating former Seattle goalkeeper Andrew Weber to get Seattle even. "That point today felt like more than a point. It kind of felt like a win," Dempsey said. The afternoon was an advertisement for the league, even if it gave the coaches heartburn. Play was wide open and end-to-end. There were 41 shots and countless near misses. There were four goals in the first 25 minutes -- including goals from Seattles Kenny Cooper, Portland Diego Valeri and Dempsey -- along with the two late scores. Marques Colston Womens Jersey. And the biggest star on the field burned brightest even if he was a little tired at the end. "Hes a leader. He wants to lead this team. He wants to show that last year was not the Clint Dempsey that were going to see this year," Seattle coach Sigi Schmid said. "And he wants to show people hes ready for the World Cup. I think he did that today." Seattle walked off thrilled with the final result and knowing there were other missed chances in the final minutes to get a winner. Meanwhile, the Timbers stood stunned as the worst start in their brief history continued. The Timbers have generally been slow starters since joining the league in 2011, but now have just three points after five games, not the opening anyone in Portland expected after reaching the Western Conference finals last season. "You should never give up 4 goals, and you should never tie a game if you score 4 goals," Portland coach Caleb Porter said. Chara was the star until Dempsey took over. On his 28th birthday, Chara scored in MLS play for the first time since September 2011. Seattle defence was willing to give him space and he took advantage with two perfectly placed shots from outside the penalty box. His first goal in the ninth minute deflected off goalkeeper Stephen Freis hand but had enough force to get into the net. His second goal, and what appeared to be the winner, came from about 25 yards and Frei had no chance at the save. Both times, Seattles defenders failed to step up and defend Charas shot. "I feel good, but obviously completely not happy with the game," Chara said. "We should have won that game, so to score 2 goals, for me, is good, but Id rather see a W than me score 2 goals." Urrutis goal in the 57th minute appeared to give Portland plenty of cushion. But Dempsey said otherwise and both sides had to settle for the draw in one of the wilder matchups of a rivalry dating to the mid-1970s. ' ' '

In early November, Congressional Quarterly reported that I had enjoyed a higher success rate with Congress than any President in his first year since President Eisenhower in 1953. We had passed the economic plan, reduced the deficit, and implemented many of my UGG boots cheap online campaign promises, including the EITC expansion, the empowerment zones, a capital gains tax cut for small business, the childhood immigration initiative, and student-loan reform. Congress had also approved national service, the Russian aid package, the motor voter bill, and the family leave law. Both houses of Congress had passed versions of my crime bill, which would begin funding the 100,000 community police officers I had promised during the campaign. The economy had already produced more private-sector jobs UGG boots cheap womens than had been produced in the previous four years. Interest rates were still low, and investment was up.

Al Gores campaign mantra was coming true. Now everything that should be up was up Uggs clearance and everything that should be down was down, with one big exception. Despite the successes, my approval ratings were still low. On November 7, in a special Meet the Press interview I did with Tim Russert and Tom Brokaw on the shows forty-sixth anniversary, Russert asked me why my ratings were down. I told him I didnt know, though I had a few ideas.

A few days earlier I had read a list of our accomplishments to UGG boots cheap wholesale a group from Arkansas who were visiting the White House. When I finished, one of my home staters said, Then there must be a conspiracy to keep this a secret; we dont hear about any of this. Part of the fault was mine. As soon as I finished a task, I moved on to the next one, without doing a lot of follow-up communications. In politics, if you dont toot your own horn, it usually stays untooted. Part of the problem was the constant intrusion of crises UGG boots cheap uk like Haiti and Somalia. Part of it was the nature of the press coverage. The haircut, the Travel Office, and stories about the White House staff and our decision-making process were, I believed, either wrongly or overly reported.

A few months earlier, a national survey had shown that I had received an unusually high amount of negative UGG boots sale womens press coverage. I had brought some of it on myself in mishandling press relations early. And maybe the press, which was so often called liberal, was in fact more conservative than I was, at least when it came to changing how things were supposed to work in Washington. Certainly they had different notions of what was important. Also, most of the people covering me were young, trying to build their careers in a system of twenty-four-hour news coverage where every story was expected to have a political edge and UGG boots sale clearance there were no kudos from colleagues for positive stories. This was almost inevitable in an environment where the print UGG boots sale toddler and network news media faced more competition from cable channels and where the lines between traditional press, tabloids, partisan publications, and political talk shows on TV and radio were being blurred.

The Republicans also deserved a lot of credit for the fact that my poll ratings were worse than my performance: they had been effective in their constant attacks and negative characterizations of the health-care and economic plans, and they had made the most of my mistakes. Since I had been elected, Republicans had won special U.S. Senate elections in Texas and Georgia, UGG boots sale usa governors races in Virginia and New Jersey, and the mayoral races in New York and Los Angeles. In each case, the outcome was determined by decisive local factors, but I sure didnt have much positive influence. People didnt yet feel the economy getting better, and the old anti-tax, anti-government rhetoric UGG boots cheap still had a lot of juice. Finally, some of the things we were doing that would help millions of Americans were either too complex for easy consumption, like the Earned Income Tax Credit, or too controversial to avoid being politically damaging, even when they were good policy.

November offered two examples of sound policy and questionable politics. After Al Gore plainly bested Ross Perot in a heavily watched TV debate on NAFTA, it passed the House, 234200. Cheap UGGS outlet Three days later the Senate followed suit, 6138. Mark Gearan reported to the press that Al and I had called or seen two hundred members of Congress, and the cabinet had made nine hundred calls. President Carter also helped, calling members of Congress all day long for a week. We also had to make deals on a wide range of issues; the lobbying effort for NAFTA looked even more Cheap UGGS for toddlers like sausage making than the budget fight had. Bill Daley and our whole team had won a great economic and political victory for America, but like the budget, it came at a high price, dividing our party in Congress and infuriating many of our strongest supporters in the labor movement.

The Brady bill also passed in November, after the Senate Republicans backed off a filibuster inspired by the Cheap UGGS sale National Rifle Association. I signed the bill, with Jim and Sarah Brady in attendance. Ever since John Hinckley Jr. shot Jim in Hinckleys attempt to assassinate President Reagan, Jim and Sarah had crusaded for sensible gun-safety laws. They had worked for seven years to pass a bill requiring a waiting period for all handgun purchases so that the buyers backgrounds could be checked for criminal or mental-health problems. President Bush had vetoed an earlier version of the Brady bill because of the intense opposition of the NRA, which said it infringed on the constitutional right to keep and bear Cheap UGGS with bow arms. The NRA believed the brief waiting period was an unacceptable burden on lawful gun buyers and declared that we could achieve the same result by increasing the penalties for illegally buying guns. Most Americans were for the Brady bill, but once it passed, it was no longer a voting issue with them. By contrast, the NRA was determined to defeat as many members of Congress who voted against them as UGG boots sale possible. By the time I left office, the Brady background checks had kept more than 600,000 felons, fugitives, and stalkers from buying handguns. It had saved countless lives. But, like the budget, it exposed many of those brave enough to vote for it to harsh attacks, which were effective enough to drive several of them from office.

Not everything positive I did was controversial. On the sixteenth, I signed the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which was intended to protect a reasonable range of religious expression in public areas like schools and UGG Boots uk kids workplaces. The bill was designed to reverse a 1990 Supreme Court decision giving states more authority to regulate religious expression in such areas. America is full of people deeply committed to their very diverse faiths. I thought the bill struck the right balance between UGGS on sale womens protecting their rights and the need for public order. It was sponsored in the Senate by Ted Kennedy and Republican Orrin Hatch of Utah, and passed 973. The House adopted it by a voice vote. Though the Supreme Court later struck UGGS on sale cheap it down, I remain convinced it was a good and needed piece of legislation.

I always felt that protecting religious liberty and making the White House accessible to all religious faiths was an important part of my job. I assigned a member of the White House public liaison staff to be our bridge to the religious communities. I attended every one of the National Prayer Breakfasts that are held each year UGGS on sale bailey bow as Congress begins its work, speaking and staying for the entire event so that Cheap UGGS I could visit with the people of different faiths and political parties who came to pray for Gods guidance in our work. And every year when Congress resumed after the August recess, I hosted an interfaith breakfast in the State Dining Room that allowed me to hear the concerns of religious leaders and share mine with them. I wanted to keep open the lines of communication to them, even those who disagreed with me, and work with them whenever I could on social problems at home and humanitarian problems around the world.

I believe strongly in separation of church and state, but I also believe that both make indisputable contributions to the strength of our nation, and that on occasion they can work together for the common good without violating the Constitution. Government is, by definition, imperfect and experimental, always a work in progress. Faith speaks to the inner life, to the search for truth UGG Boots uk sale and the spirits capacity for profound change and growth. Government programs dont work as well in a culture that devalues family, work, and mutual respect. And its hard to live by faith without acting UGG Boots uk on sale on the scriptural admonitions to care for the poor and downtrodden, and to love thy neighbor as thyself.

I was thinking about the role of faith in our national life in mid-November when I traveled to Memphis to address the convocation of the Church of God in Christ at Mason Temple Church. There had been a number of news reports about the rising tide of violence UGG Boots uk outlet against children in African-American neighborhoods, and I wanted to discuss with the ministers and laypeople what we could do about it. There were obvious economic and social forces behind the disappearance of work in our inner cities, the breakdown of the family, the problems in schools, and the rise of welfare dependency, out-of-wedlock births, and violence. But the crushing combination of difficulties had UGG Boots uk cheap created a culture that accepted as normal the presence of violence and the absence of work and two-parent families, and I was convinced that government alone could UGG Boots uk online not change that culture. Many black churches were beginning to address these issues, and I wanted to encourage them to do more.

When I got to Memphis, I was among friends. The Church of God in Christ was the fastest-growing African-American denomination. Its founder, Charles Harrison Mason, received the inspiration for his churchs name in Little Rock, on a spot where I had helped lay a plaque two years earlier. His widow was in the church that day. The presiding bishop, Louis Ford of Chicago, had played a leading role in the presidential campaign.

Mason Temple is hallowed ground in the history of civil rights. Martin Luther King Jr. had preached his last sermon there, on the night before he was killed. I evoked the spirit of King and his uncanny prediction that his life might not last much longer to ask my friends to examine honestly the great crisis of the spirit that is gripping America today.

Then I put UGG boots outlet store away my notes and gave what many commentators later said was the best speech UGG boots outlet online of my eight years as President, speaking to friends from my heart in the language of our shared heritage:

If Martin Luther King were to reappear by my side today and give us a report card on the last twenty-five years, what would he say? You did a good job, he would say, voting and electing people who formerly were not electable because of the color of their skin. . . . You did a UGG boots outlet clearance good job, he would say, letting people who have the ability to do so live wherever they want to live, go wherever they want to go in this great country. . . . He would say you did a good job creating a black middle class . . . in opening opportunity.

But, he would say, I did not live and die to see the American family destroyed. I did not live and die to see thirteen-year-old UGG boots outlet uk boys get automatic weapons and gun down nine-year-olds just for the kick of it. I did not live and die to see young people destroy their own lives with drugs and then build fortunes destroying the lives of others. That is not what I came here to do. I fought for freedom, he would say, but not for the freedom of people to kill each other with UGG Boots uk reckless abandon, not for the freedom of children to have children and the fathers of the children walk away from them and abandon them as if they dont amount to anything. I fought for people to have the right to work but not to have whole communities and people abandoned. This is not what I lived and died for.

New York, NY (Sports Network) - Colorados duo of John Grant Jr. Cortez Kennedy Womens Jersey . and Adam Jones, Torontos Nick Rose and Philadelphias Brodie Merrill are the latest NLL Players of the Week. While Grant Jr., Jones & Merrill have been regulars in the weekly winners circle this season, Rose is a newcomer who came up big in helping his new team end a three-game losing streak. Rose earned Defensive Player of the Week honors after a solid debut between the pipes for Toronto. Days after being acquired in a trade with Calgary, Rose held the Knighthawks scoreless for almost 30 minutes at one point and finished with 28 saves on 35 shots in the 13-7 win. Grant was selected as Offensive Player of the Week for Week 12 with two high- scoring efforts after missing two games with an injury. Grant scored six goals with one assist Friday in a 13-12 home loss to Philadelphia. He then tallied three goals - including one to tie the game in the final minute of regulation - with nine assists for a season-high 12 points in Sundays 16-15 overtime win against the Wings. Grant also collected 11 loose balls in the home-and-home series. Honored for the fourth time this season, Grant leads the NLL with 40 goals and 87 points in 10 games played. Jones picked up Rookie of the Week honors for the second time in three weeks and third time overall. He notched four goals, including the game-winner 9:38 into overtime, and five assists in Colorados win on Sunday. The third overall pick in the 2011 NLL Entry Draft scored two goals with an assist in Fridays one-goal home loss to the Wings. Jones corralled 12 loose balls in the two-game weekend series. Merrill was named Transition Player of the Week for the third time. He scored twice, assisted on two other goals and collected 11 loose balls in the Wings overtime loss to Colorado on Sunday. Two nights earlier, he drew an assist and scooped up eight loose balls during Philadelphias win in DenverAmazing efforts on offense, defense and in the transition game were produced by the winners of the weekly player awards for Week 13 of the 2012 NLL season. Garrett Billings, Evan Kirk, Geoff Snider and Jamie Lincoln are the latest winners announced Wednesday. A record-setting game resulted in Billings being named Offensive Player of the Week. The Toronto Rock forward set a new single-game franchise best with 15 points (four goals, 11 assists) and also collected five loose balls in Toronto 15-9 win over Buffalo on Saturday night. Billings became the first player in NLL history to register a point on each of his teams goals in a winning effort, and currently ranks second in the league with 63 assists and 86 points. Minnesota Swarm goaltender Evan Kirk is the Defensive Player of the Week following a memorable performance in a game where he wasnt even expected to play. Coming in cold off the bench for starter Tyler Carlson in Edmonton and trailing Edmonton 8-4 in the 2nd Quarter, Kirk held the Rush scoreless for more than 37 minutes of game time, including the entire second half of the game. Kirk stopped 25 of 26 shots faced over 37:17 of play. The only goal he allowed was the overtime winner for Edmonton in a 9-8 loss. The 37 minutes straight with no goals allowed set a new franchise record. One night earlier, he turned away 38 of 53 shots in a 15-10 defeat to Calgary. This is the second different weekly award for Kirk, who was also named the top rookie for Week 8. For the fourth time in 2012, Geoff Snider of the Calgary Roughnecks is the Transition Player of the Week. In Fridays 15-10 win at Minnesota, Snider posted his first hat trick of the season with two assists for a season-high five points. He also scooped up 28 loose balls and was an incredible 28-for-28 on face-offs during the game. Snider did not play Saturday in the Roughnecks 13-11 victory over Washington. Jamie Lincoln is the third Colorado player this season to win Rookie of the Week honors this year, joining Adam Jones and Derek Hopcroft. Lincoln registered a hat trick on just four shots on goal and added two assists in the Mammoths 16-12 road win on Saturday at Rochester. The weekly player award winners are selected by a vote of the leagues general managers and head coaches. Luke Willson Elite Jersey . The St. Louis Cardinals were scheduled to arrive in Boston in time for a workout on Tuesday afternoon. Much of Mondays discussion focused on Bostons lineup considerations as the series progresses, specifically when the venue shifts to St. K.J. Wright Elite Jersey . Beaulieu has four goals and 10 assists in 32 AHL games and had one assist in five games for Montreal this season. The 23-year-old Nattinen has five goals and six assists in 37 games for the Bulldogs this season.SAN CANDIDO, Italy - Canadian Dave Duncan is hitting his stride just in time for the Winter Olympics. Duncan of London, Ont., won his second skicross World Cup in as many days on Sunday, rocketing him to the top of the mens overall rankings and qualifying him for the Sochi Games in February. "From the outhouse to the penthouse," said Duncan, who skied on the international circuit for five years before winning his first World Cup on Saturday. "Its pretty hard to sum up everything thats happened this weekend. Its an incredible feeling. "I know thats a troublesome word, but the truth of it is that describes how much this means to me to get that first win and not even have to wait 24 hours to get a second one. I mean, this is the stuff you dream of." Duncan finished ahead of Austrias Andreas Matt and Germanys Daniel Bohnacker. Calgarys Brady Leman was fourth in the final after a mid-air collision knocked him off course. "In the final I was battling, trying to move up," said Leman. "I was fourth for a bit, third for a bit, I was really battling with Andy Matt and in the end we kind of got tangled up and then I missed a gate and that was it." In womens competition, Marielle Thompson of Whistler, B.C., finished second behind Switzerlands Katrin Mueller. German teammates Heidi Zacher and Anna Woerner were third and fourth, respectively. The silver medal kept Thompson atop the overall womens rankings. "Today was just awesome," said Thompson. "I just won every start and really showed where my skiings at. Im really excited to have the leader bib back again. IIt just goes to show that all that training I did this summer is paying off. Richard Sherman Womens Jersey. "Im just feeling really great." Kelsey Serwa of Kelowna, B.C., won the small final, placing fifth overall. "Id much rather be in the final, but when I get in the small final I get all fired up and tell myself OK, this is my shot at the podium so youd better churn out a fifth-place finish," said Serwa. Canadas skicross team made the podium fives times over the weekend, bumping several of its members into contention for spots at the Olympics. Duncan and Leman are guaranteed spots in the mens skicross event at Sochi, while Thompson is a lock for the women. Serwa will likely make it as a "Tier 2" skier, while Vancouvers Georgia Simmerling is "Tier 3" and considered very close to making the Olympics. Montreals Chris Del Bosco and Tristan Tafel of Canmore, Alta., havent yet made the minimum points to lock into Tier 3, although a World Cup podium finish would put either one into the second tier. "Training with the top guys in the world, it just creates an environment of excellence and I know that if Im able to beat (Leman) or (Del Bosco) in a training run you can feel pretty good leaving that camp, knowing that youre on pace to have a good year," said Duncan. "I think theyll probably say the same thing about their training. "It just helps training with the guys that we do. We all push each other, we all cheer for each other, we all strive for the top. So well just keep on doing that and hopefully itll take us to some pretty cool results in Sochi." ' ' '

BOSTON -- A judge on Tuesday scheduled a tentative May trial date for former New England Patriots player Aaron�Hernandez in the 2012 drive-by shootings of two men, and his lawyers asked a judge to issue a gag order because of intense media coverage of the murder case. Derrick Coleman Jersey . Hernandez has pleaded not guilty to killing Daniel de Abreu and Safiro Furtado after a random nightclub encounter in Boston. During a hearing in Suffolk Superior Court, Hernandezs lawyers asked Judge Jeffrey Locke to issue a gag order prohibiting anyone involved in the case from commenting outside court. Attorney James Sultan said the defence is concerned that Hernandez cant get a fair trial because of extensive media coverage of his indictment in the double slayings and another murder case against Hernandez in the 2013 death of semi-professional football player Odin Lloyd. Lloyds body was found in an industrial park near Hernandezs North Attleborough home. "I think its incumbent upon all of us ... to do whatever we can to safeguard Mr. Hernandezs constitutional right to a fair trial and a jury that has not been poisoned by unfairly prejudicial pretrial publicity," Sultan said. He argued that a judge in Bristol County, where Hernandez is charged with killing Lloyd, issued a gag order in that case. Prosecutors opposed the request. Assistant District Attorney Patrick Haggan called a gag order "unreasonable" and "unwarranted," and said it not the usual practice in Suffolk County. Haggan said Hernandezs lawyers were suggesting that "because of his celebrity and his public figure status that Mr. Hernandez should not be held to the rules of this court." Haggan said prosecutors involved in the Hernandez case had not made any improper statements outside court. Sultan disagreed, saying District Attorney Dan Conley had "held a press conference" after the indictments against Hernandez were issued and again after he was arraigned. The judge took the request under advisement and did not indicate when he would rule. Family members and friends of the two men filled the front two rows of the courtroom. Several relatives wept as Hernandez was brought into the room. Two women left the courtroom as Hernandez talked and laughed with one of his lawyers just before the hearing began. Locke made it clear that the May 28 trial date is only tentative. He acknowledged that the date could change because Hernandezs trial in Lloyds killing is scheduled for October. Hernandezs lawyers told the judge they dont plan to file any motions in the 2012 double slaying case until after the trial in the Lloyd case is over. But Locke warned them, "Dont consider this case suspended until October." Hernandez is due back in court on Aug. 14. Steven Hauschka Jersey . They just probably couldnt have imagined how much. Blake�Griffin had 26 points, 11 rebounds and six assists Sunday night as Los Angeles stormed out to a 31-point lead in the first quarter with its All-Star point guard back on the court and pummeled the Philadelphia 76ers 123-78. Russell Wilson Jersey . The Kings have gone 6-0-3 over their last nine games despite having been held to three goals or fewer in eight of 10 contests this month. Los Angeles has failed to score more than two goals six times in that span. Los Angeles Kings goaltender Jonathan�Quick underwent surgery Tuesday to repair a wrist injury. A Kings spokesman confirmed the surgery and said in an email that the 28-year-old would be out 10 to 12 weeks. Quick was injured during the second round of the playoffs, in the Kings series against the Anaheim Ducks, according to the spokesman. Quick did not misss a game, helping Los Angeles win the Stanley Cup in five games over the New York Rangers. Marshawn Lynch Womens Jersey. The team spokesman was able to reveal which wrist had to be surgically repaired. Yahoo Sports, which first reported Quicks emergency surgery, cited a letter sent to parents whose children were set to attend the goaltenders camp in Connecticut. ' ' '

East Lansing, MI - Keith Appling scored 25 points and Michigan State, the nations newly crowned No. Ron Jaworski Authentic Jersey . 1 team, pulled away down the stretch to record an 82-67 win over Portland at the Breslin Center. Appling went a perfect 5-for-5 from 3-point range and added seven assists for Michigan State (4-0), which got all it could handle from the pesky Pilots before assuming control via a 14-4 run midway through the second half that snapped a 46-46 tie. Adreian Payne added 19 points and Gary Harris netted 15 just hours after the Spartans were elevated into the No. 1 spot in the polls following last weeks victory over then top-ranked Kentucky. Kevin Bailey paced Portland (1-2) with 12 points, while Ryan Nicholas and Bobby Sharp each had 11 in the loss.Brian Dawkins Authentic Jersey . The Bruins suffered their share of setbacks, a notable one just a week earlier. Once the Pac-12 tournament got rolling, the Bruins took off. Cary Williams Jersey . Fifth-seeded Cilic gained his fourth title in Zagreb and became the third Croat overall to win at least 10 career titles. Cilic also lifted his career record in Zagreb to 22-4, winning 20 of his last 21 matches at the event.The Columbus Blue Jackets have re-signed goaltender Curtis�McElhinney to a one-year contract extension, the team announced Monday. The 31-year-old posted a 10-11-1 record with a 2.78 goals against average and a .909 savee percentage, while appearing in 28 games. Vinny Curry Jersey. In 97 career games with the Flames, Ducks, Senators, Coyotes and Blue Jackets, McElhinney has a 29-37-9 record with a 2.97 GAA and .902 save percentage. ' ' '

HOUSTON - Indianapolis quarterback Andrew�Luck and Texans quarterback Case�Keenum both have strong ties to Houston, are in their second year in the NFL, and are starting for their respective teams. Dwayne Harris Womens Jersey . Thats where their similarities end. Luck was the first overall pick in the 2012 draft and started from Day 1. Keenum joined the Texans as an undrafted free agent and spent all of last season on the practice squad. Luck has thrown for 1,574 yards and 10 touchdowns. Keenum had 271 yards passing and a touchdown in his only NFL game on Oct. 20. The pair will meet tonight when the AFC South-leading Colts face a Houston team looking to end a five-game skid. Watch the action unfold live on TSN, beginning with Football Night in America at 7pm et/4pm pt. "I think you realize when you go into an NFL locker room, after a certain period of time, it doesnt matter where youre drafted or how you got there," Luck said. "If you get a chance and you play well, thats what matters." Keenum agreed. "Drafted first overall or undrafted, I think, its kind of all put to the side when it comes down to it," Keenum said. Luck went to high school in Houston before attending Stanford. Keenum is from Abilene, Texas and set career NCAA records for yards passing (19,217) and touchdown passes (155) at the University of Houston. Keenum made his NFL debut in Houstons last game filling in for an injured Matt�Schaub. The Texans lost 17-16, but coach Gary Kubiak saw enough promise in Keenum to give him another start with Schaub healthy. "I think (hes) growing," Kubiak said. "I liked him or I wouldnt have brought him here in the first place. I think he has all of the physical ability to do what you need to do in this league to be successful." Five things to know about the Colts-Texans game: BANGED-UP BACKS: Houstons top two running backs are dealing with injuries and are questionable. Starter Arian�Foster has missed practice this week with a hamstring injury he sustained early in the last game. Backup Ben�Tate finished that game despite breaking four ribs in the third quarter. Hes said he expects to play Sunday. Houston signed three running backs on Monday to add depth: rookies Ray�Graham and Dennis�Johnson, and fourth-year player Deji�Karim. Karim played three games for the Colts late last season, mostly on special teams. He had a 101-yard kickoff return for a touchdown last season to help the Colts to a 28-16 win in their last meeting with Houston. REGGIES REPLACEMENT: Sunday will be Indianapolis first game without star receiver Reggie�Wayne, who tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in a win over Denver. With the Pro Bowler out, the Colts will look to 2008 first-round pick Darrius�Heyward-Bey and second-year player T.Y.�Hilton to pick up the slack. Heyward-Bey has 18 receptions for 190 yards and a touchdown, and Hilton has 27 receptions for 412 yards and two scores. AVOIDING ED: Houstons Ed�Reed has just 14 tackles with no interceptions in five games this season, causing some to wonder if he can still be a difference maker at age 35. Coach Chuck Pagano does not have that doubt. Pagano was asked how to account for him. "Dont throw in his direction, first of all," Pagano said. "Wherever hes at, just tell the quarterback, Dont go near him. Thats one way. Thats easier said than done." Reed leads active players with 61 career interceptions and has four against the Colts. MONSTER MATHIS: Indianapolis linebacker Robert�Mathis has already tied his career high with 11 1/2 sacks. He reached the mark in both 2005 and 2008. "The second year in (this defence), hes much more comfortable," Pagano said. "Obviously, it was a huge transition a year ago for him, going from a 4-3 end to a stand up outside linebacker. ... Were not surprised that hes putting the numbers up that he is." Mathis has 103 sacks in his 11-year career. Hes had 15 1/2 against Houston, which is the most of any opponent. NO CUSHING: The Texans are trying to regroup after losing star linebacker Brian�Cushing to a season-ending knee injury for the second straight year. "Unfortunately, weve been down this road before and some guys will have to step up," Kubiak said. Fourth-year player Darryl�Sharpton will take over for Cushing, and Kubiak will look to fellow starting linebackers Joe�Mays and Brooks�Reed to help make Sharptons transition easier. ___ AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org Anthony Spencer Jersey . Yankees second baseman Robinson�Cano, Detroit third baseman Miguel�Cabrera and Minnesota catcher Joe�Mauer each were selected for the fifth time. Bob Lilly Jersey. During the morning loop on TSN, SportsCentre presents Purple Hearts, a TSN Original feature on Daron Richardson, daughter of former NHL defenceman Luke Richardson, who took her own life at the age of 14.TAMPA, Fla. -- The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have signed free-agent safety Major�Wright and wide receiver Lavelle�Hawkins. The team also announced Monday that linebacker Marvin�Booker has been waived. Wright spent the first four seasons of his career with the Chicago Bears, who drafted him in the third round in 2010. Hes started 42 of 54 career games and returned three of his nine interceptions for touchdowns.Gavin Escobar Womens Jersey. Hawkins was a fourth-round draft pick of the Tennessee Titans in 2008. He spent five seasons with them before moving to the San Diego Chargers in 2013. He has 71 career receptions for 771 yards and one TD. ' ' '

LIVERPOOL, England -- Jose Mourinho riled his former assistant Brendan Rodgers as Chelsea successfully stifled Liverpool and scored twice against the run of play to win 2-0 on Sunday and dent the Premier League leaders hopes of a first title in 24 years. Cheap J.J. Wilcox Jersey . However unambitious Chelsea appeared at Anfield, goals at the end of each half from Demba Ba, who seized on Steven Gerrards slip-up, and Willian ended Liverpools 11-game winning streak in the league. Mourinhos side is just two points behind Liverpool with two games remaining. "They obviously sat very deep -- I think there were two buses parked today, never mind one," said Rodgers, who was a coach at Chelsea between 2004 and 2008. "It was clear that theyd come certainly not wanting to win the game, with the time wasting." That claim was unsurprisingly challenged by Mourinho -- "Time wasting? Whats that?" -- with the Chelsea manager affronted by criticism of his tactics. "When a team defends well you call it defensive display," he told reporters. "When a team defends badly and concedes two or three goals you dont mention a defensive display." But Mourinho continued his policy of dismissing Chelseas title prospects, stressing: "We have no chance." Its not that unrealistic for Chelsea, but Manchester City has replaced Liverpool as the team which has the destination of the trophy in its own hands. Third-placed City closed the gap on Liverpool to three points by winning 2-0 at Crystal Palace on Sunday, and it has a game in hand to play at Everton on Saturday. So by the time Liverpool plays at Palace next Monday it could have been knocked off the top on goal difference by City. Its a long time to dwell on a defeat that will suppress the fervour that had been growing at Liverpool that the team will win the English title for the first time since 1990, having started the season as 33-1 outsiders with bookmakers. Hours before kickoff, thousands of Liverpool fans lined the streets, preparing for the teams arrival at Anfield. It had the air of a victory parade, but whether the real thing takes place next month is now a lot more uncertain. "The bigger picture is that were still two points ahead of a team (Chelsea) that has spent an absolute fortune," Rodgers said. "If we win our two games well finish above them and then well see what happens with Manchester City. We achieved our objective of Champions League football." That competition is Mourinhos priority this season, resting several key players Sunday for Wednesdays semifinal against Atletico Madrid after the first-leg was a 0-0 draw. Mourinhos defensive tactics at Liverpool might have seemed to his critics to be anti-football, but they demonstrated his abilities to successfully set up a team to be well organized and frustrate opponents. While Chelsea defender Ashley Coles curling effort forced the first save of the game from Simon Mignolet, there was little attacking ambition from the visitors. Liverpool controlled the game, but without the speed or fluency of recent weeks as the hosts couldnt find a route to goal. In the opening 15 minutes, Phillippe Coutinho volleyed into the sidenetting and Mamadou Sakhos shot was cleared off the line by Cole before he mis-fired the follow-up from six yards. The last time Liverpool played here Gerrard was caught on camera telling the players: "This does not slip now." But it was Gerrard, usually the reliable heartbeat of the team and inspirational one-club player, who slipped in possession near the halfway line in the third minute of stoppage time, giving away the ball to Ba. With Gerrard unable to chase him down, the Senegal striker charged through on goal and coolly placed the ball past Mignolet and into the net. However much Liverpool tried to batter through toward the Chelsea goal in the second half, the defence held up well. Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge, a second-half substitute, are the leading scorers in the league with 50 goals between them, but they rarely came close to equalizing. Not even when facing 41-year-old goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer, deputizing for the injured Petr Cech, who repelled Joe Allens first-time volley with a low diving save just before the hour. A rasping strike from Gerrard was also thwarted and a downward header by the captain lacked power to trouble Schwarzer. As the end neared, Suarez could not connect with Coutinhos cross, and the Uruguay striker saw a shot turned over in stoppage time before Chelsea stunned Anfield again. Former Liverpool striker Fernando Torres launched the breakaway, drawing Mignolet off his goal-line and then passing to Willian to walk the ball into the net. Mourinho jogged down the touchline, pounding the Chelsea crest on his coat in celebration. Brandon Carr Cowboys Jersey . Gregor�Blanco doubled, singled and drove in three runs, and the surging San Francisco Giants beat the New York Mets 6-4 on Sunday for their fifth straight win. "Theres nothing I can complain about," manager Bruce Bochy said. The Giants completed their fourth sweep of the season. Cheap Zack Martin Jersey . Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema scored two goals each Wednesday night in a 6-1 rout of Schalke in the first leg of their second-round matchup. "We played a very, very good match," Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said. "We got well into the match, scored two early goals and that opened the game and left us able to counter and to use the speed of our players.NEW YORK -- A happy homecoming for Jimmer�Fredette and Michael Malone was another miserable night in a turbulent season for the New York Knicks. Rudy�Gay made the tying basket in regulation and a 3-pointer in overtime that gave Sacramento the lead for good, and Fredette scored a career-high 24 points to help the Kings beat the Knicks 106-101 on Wednesday night. Gay and Isaiah�Thomas each finished with 20 points for the Kings, who shook off a 13-point deficit and the loss of DeMarcus�Cousins late in regulation to salvage the finale of a four-game road trip. Cousins had 19 points and 14 rebounds before limping off with a strained hip flexor with about 3 1/2 minutes left. The Kings made Malone a winner in his first game as a head coach in New York, where he spent four seasons as a Knicks assistant. It was the first time his mother watched him coach an NBA game in person. "Being from New York and having my family here and this is where I started in the NBA, its like a little kids dream," Malone said. "To come back here, and as a head coach, and get a win against the Knicks, it is an unbelievable moment for me, my mother, my father and my family." Carmelo�Anthony had 36 points and 11 rebounds for the Knicks but flopped at the finish, missing a potential winning shot in regulation before blowing a layup on the first possession of overtime. Playing 48 minutes, he was scoreless in the extra session. Gay followed Anthonys missed layup with his 3-pointer, Derrick�Williams added a basket that pushed it to 98-93 with 2:28 left, and the Knicks never really had a chance to catch up from there. New York finished the first half at 20-32. The reigning Atlantic Division champions have already lost more games than all of last season and continue to battle injuries and speculation that coach Mike Woodsons job is in jeopardy. "I didnt expect us to be in the situation that were in right now. If somebody would have told us that before the season, Id have put any amount of money that they were lying," Anthony said. "But were in this situation right now and weve got to fight through it." The Knicks played without J.R.�Smith, who broke a ccheekbone Sunday at Oklahoma City and was uncomfortable with the protective facemask he was supposed to wear, which he didnt receive until Wednesday. Tony Dorsett Cowboys Jersey. Iman�Shumpert then left in the second half with a strained left hip flexor. Amare Stoudemire scored 20 points off the bench and Tyson�Chandler had 17 points and 11 rebounds for the Knicks in a game Anthony had called a "must-win." "We cant go back and get this game," Woodson said. "We didnt finish the game. I think we played well in spurts. We just didnt get it done." Stoudemire had three straight New York baskets midway through the fourth quarter, giving the Knicks an 87-83 advantage with 4:59 remaining. Fredette twice hit 3-pointers to make it a one-possession game, and Gay, after having a jumper go in and out, got another chance and knocked it down that time to tie it with 20 seconds to go. Anthony scored 17 points on 7-of-9 shooting as the Knicks cruised to a 33-22 lead after one, hitting 70 per cent of their shots. But Fredette, the college scoring star from BYU whose pro career has been largely underwhelming, answered back with 15 points in the second, matching his high for a game this season. "It was a lot of fun," said Fredette, a native of Glens Falls. "You dream about this, growing up not too far from here, and this is the best arena in the world. It was an amazing experience tonight. But I was just happy we got this win and go into the All-Star break on a high note." New York built a 54-48 halftime lead on 57.5 per cent shooting, but was just 7 of 23 (30 per cent) in the third quarter, with the Kings cutting it to 74-72 entering the fourth. NOTES: Smith didnt want to play without the mask for fear of further injury, acknowledging his choice to sit out was a "somewhat selfish decision." He said he will have to wear the mask for a few weeks and hopes to get it adjusted before play resumes next week. ... Malone worked for four different head coaches in New York. ... The Knicks honoured Hall of Famer Bernard King, who held the franchises single-game scoring record with 60 points until Anthony broke it with 62 last month against Charlotte. ' ' '

OSLO - Anders Konradsens late goal saw Russia held to a 1-1 draw by Norway in its penultimate World Cup warmup game in Oslo on Saturday. Larry Foote Authentic Jersey . Konradsens 77th-minute header off Morten Gamst Pedersens cross cancelled out Oleg Shatovs opener for Russia in the third minute. Russia could have scored more if not for Norway defender Vegard Forren, who twice cleared off the line with goalkeeper Rune Jarstein beaten. The draw continued the low-key World Cup preparation by Fabio Capellos Russia team. It beat Slovakia 1-0 in a friendly on Monday and takes on Morocco in Moscow on Thursday in its final tuneup before departing for Brazil. Playing at the World Cup for the first time in 12 years, Russia will take on South Korea, Belgium and Algeria in Group H. Frostee Rucker Jersey . The Scotsman was dismissed only five days after being told by the club he would remain in charge for the "foreseeable future. Andre Ellington Jersey . - Gaston Fernandez is making the most of his new job with the Portland Timbers.SHAWINIGAN, Que. -- It wasnt a good night to a be a goaltender in Shawinigan. Both starters were pulled and all four goalies were lit up as the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies edged the host Cataractes 10-9 on Friday in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action. Marcus Power and Jean-Sebastien Dea each scored twice for the Huskies (2-3-1) while Power tacked on three assists for a five-point outing. Maxime St-Cyr had a goal and two assists for Rouyn-Noranda and Alexandre Leclerc, Steven Mercier, Mathieu Lemay, Julien Nantel and Liam OBrien added a goal apiece. Frederick Gaudreau and Matthew Boudreau both had hat tricks for Shawinigan (0-5-1) while Kris Hodge and Francis Beauvillier each had a goal and two assists. Ilya Zinoviev tacked on a single goal to round out the offence. Alexandre Belanger started in net for Rouyn-Noranda but found himself on the bench after allowing seven goals on 22 shots in 45 minutes. Carl Hozjan picked up the victory by stopping 4-of-6 shots in relief. Storm Phaneuf took the loss for Shawinigan, stopping 13-of-17 shots in 25 minutes of relief action. Phaneuf replaced starter Marvin Cupper, who allowed six goals on 25 shots. The Huskies went 1 for 3 on the power play while the Cataractes scored twice on six chances with the man advantage. --- Titan 3 Phoenix 2 BATHURST, N.B., -- Alexandre Gosselin scored the winner midway through the third period as the Titan came from behind to defeat Sherbrooke. Patrik Zdrahal and Adam Stevens also scored for Acadie-Bathurst (3-3-0), which trailed 2-0 after 40 minutes of action. Daniel Audette and Jeremy Roy scored for the Phoenix (1-4-0). Jacob Brennan made 26 saves for the win while Francis Desrosiers stopped 37 shots in a losing cause. --- Islanders 3 Sea Dogs 2 CHARLOTTETOWN, -- Antoine Bibeau turned away 26-of-28 shots as the Islanders remained undefeated by edging Saint John. Troy Vance, Kamerron Kielly and Matthew Bursey scored for Charlottetown (5-0-0) and Bradley Kennedy chipped in two assists. Larry Fitzgerald Authentic Jersey. Spencer Smallman and Stephen Anderson scored for the Sea Dogs (2-2-1) while Sebastien Auger made 42 saves in defeat. --- Sagueneens 4 Remparts 3 (OT) QUEBEC CITY, -- Charles Hudon scored twice, including 53 seconds into overtime, as Chicoutimi edged the Remparts. Sebastien Sylvestre and Janne Puhakka also scored for the Sagueneens (4-1-0) while Julio Billia made 19 saves for the win. Adam Erne, Fabrice Herzog and Brandon Shea scored for Quebec (1-2-2) as Francois Brassard stopped 30 shots in defeat. --- Tigres 5 Wildcats 2 VICTORIAVILLE, Que., -- Mark Trickett scored twice as the Tigres downed Moncton. Angelo Miceli and Jan Mandat each had a goal and an assist for Victoriaville (4-1-0) and Gabriel Gagne added a single goal. Garrett Johnston and Ryan Penny supplied the offence for the Wildcats (2-3-0). Brandon Whitney made 29 saves for the win while Graham Hunt stopped 24 shots to record a loss in his first QMJHL start. --- Armada 4 Foreurs 1 BOISBRIAND, Que., -- Nikita Jevpalovs scored two goals as the Armada defeated Val-dOr. Christopher Clapperton scored once and set up two more for Blainville-Boisbriand (5-0-0) and Philippe Sanche had a goal and an assist. Louick Marcotte scored for the Foreurs (2-4-0). Etienne Marcoux made 24 saves for the win as Francois Tremblay stopped 15-of-18 shots for the loss. --- Oceanic 3 Olympiques 2 GATINEAU, Que., -- Peter Trainor scored the winner late in the third and tacked on an assist for a two-point outing as Rimouski slipped past the Olympiques. Scott Oke and Michael Joly also scored for the Oceanic (4-2-0) while Philippe Desrosiers stopped 24 shots for the win. Emile Poirier and Steven Johnston scored for Gatineau (3-2-0). Anthony Brodeur made 15 saves in a losing cause. ' ' '