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MELBOURNE, Australia -- Adam Scott birdied five his final nine holes for a 5-under 67 and a one-stroke lead in the Australian Masters midway through the first round Thursday. Blue Tom Brady Jersey . Starting on the 10th hole, Scott was even after his opening nine, but birdied four in a row on the front at Kingston Heath and added another on the seventh hole. Peter OMalley was among four Australians tied for second, while 2010 U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland, playing in the same group as Scott, shot 71. Defending champion Ian Poulter of England, who won the World Golf Championships HSBC Champions in Shenzhen two weeks ago, birdied two of his first three holes in his afternoon round. Authentic Rob Gronkowski Jersey . Mariner was an assistant coach for the Revolution from 2004 to 2009 before taking a coaching job Plymouth Argyle in England. He is now completely focused on the plight of Toronto FC -- a team that is still looking for its first win since he took the helm. Rob Gronkowski Super Bowl Jersey . The incident occurred when Lewis and his older brother were locked out of their hotel room. Lewis was released after his arraignment and his brother was being held in Albany County jail without bail. http://www.nflpatriotsgearshop.com/rob-gronkowski-jersey/ . The Canucks, who have won three straight, enter tonight trailing idle Minnesota by just one point for the division lead. Vancouver has put pressure on the Wild over the past month, compiling a 12-2-1 record over its last 15 games. Youth Tom Brady Jersey .S. in the London Olympics. The team said Paul had the surgery Tuesday and he is expected to be sidelined for eight weeks. That means the All-Star guard wouldnt resume basketball activities until mid-October. Pink Tom Brady Jersey .ca as TSN gets you set for the 2012 SportsCentre Year In Review. You can join the chat at tsn.ca/yearinreview. From the 100th Grey Cup to the NHL lockout and all the golden storylines from London 2012, its been another year of captivating headlines in sports and TSN will count down the Top 10 stories of 2012 on Christmas Eve at 8pm et/5pm pt.LONDON -- Manchester United stayed in control of the English Premier League by beating Sunderland 3-1 on Saturday, keeping Manchester City at arms length following the champions impressive win at Newcastle by the same scoreline. Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney -- Uniteds in-form strike partnership -- teamed up to preserve Uniteds six-point lead, both scoring at Old Trafford to add to a sublime strike by midfielder Tom Cleverley. City recovered from its agonizing derby loss to United last weekend by winning at St. James Park, courtesy of goals by Sergio Aguero, Javi Garcia and Yaya Toure, but Uniteds victory ensures Alex Fergusons side will be top at Christmas. "Some of our football was very good and we could have scored lots of goals," Ferguson said. "We will try and keep the momentum going and consistency going." Liverpools resurgence was ended with a surprise 3-1 home loss to Aston Villa, Everton drew 1-1 at Stoke in a match marred by an apparent headbutt by visiting midfielder Marouane Fellaini on Ryan Shawcross, and Queens Park Rangers climbed off the foot of the table by beating Fulham 2-1 for its first victory in 17 matches this season. "At least it keeps us in there," QPR manager Harry Redknapp said. "If we hadnt won today, it would have been absolutely desperate." Reading occupies the bottom spot ahead of its home match against Arsenal on Monday. Also on Saturday, Norwich claimed a fifth straight home win by beating Wigan 2-1, lifting the team into seventh place and just two points off the Champions League positions. With Van Persie and Rooney firing in the goals, United looks an unstoppable force at present. Van Persies 12th goal of the season -- the equal-highest in the league with Swansea midfielder Michu -- set the 20-time champions on their way in the 16th minute and Cleverley made it 2-0 three minutes later. Van Persie set up Rooney to wrap up the win in the 59th minute, giving United breathing space and Ferguson an opportunity to substitute in captain Nemanja Vidic for his first game since September. "It will take him a bit of time but that is a start," Ferguson said. "He is a warrior and he is our captain." Frazier Campbells 72nd-minute consolation against his former club sparked a late fightback by Sunderland that didnt produce any more goals. Womens Wes Welker Jersey. City had put the pressure on hours earlier, producing some fine football to take a 2-0 lead at halftime through Agueros tap-in and Garcias header from a corner. The champions conceded a header by Demba Ba early in the second half and then had to weather an onslaught by Newcastle before Toure clinched victory 12 minutes from time. "Its important because when you come from a defeat -- any defeat, but particularly against United -- its important to start to win quickly, and we started here, where I dont think a lot of teams can win," City manager Roberto Mancini said. "The season is long. He (Ferguson) knows football better than me. He knows that this championship is not finished." Fellaini, one of the leagues top players this season, may have landed himself in trouble with the Football Association after appearing to headbutt Shawcross to the ground as they jostled during a second-half corner. "Ive seen it, its a terrible thing to do and I expect him to be punished," Everton manager David Moyes said. The incident overshadowed a match that saw Shawcross gift Everton the lead with an own goal in the 36th minute, before Kenwyne Jones equalized in the 52nd. Everton could have moved level on points with third-place Chelsea, which is on Club World Cup duty in Japan, with a win at Britannia Stadium. Christian Benteke was Liverpools tormentor at Anfield, scoring twice and setting up Andreas Weimann for Aston Villas other goal with an audacious backheel. Steven Gerrard grabbed a late consolation for Liverpool but the result made a mockery of manager Brendan Rodgers pre-match assertion that his team could challenge for a top-two spot this season. "I dont know where that came from as its not been like us," said Rodgers, whose team dropped back into the bottom half of the table. "We will have to take that as a bad day at the office and move on." Enigmatic Morocco winger Adel Tarrabt scored both of QPRs goals at Loftus Road, as the hosts ended their winless start to lie just five points adrift of safety. "He has the ability to be up there with the best," said QPR manager Harry Redknapp, who also claimed a first win in charge of the London club. "I thought it was one of the all-round great individual performances." ' ' '
TORONTO -- Canadian bantamweight Nick (The Ninja of Love) Denis has retired from mixed martial arts, citing a concern over blows to the head. Youth Owen Daniels Jersey . "In the last couple years, and especially in the last few months leading up to my May 5th fight, while sparring I would notice that when I got hit, it would affect me more and more," the 29-year-old Denis wrote in his blog. "When I first started sparring I would run through punches unaffected. Not only that, but now training at Tristar (Gym in Montreal), I am literally training with the worlds best. We are all training at the highest level, all for the same reasons. "Could I fight in the UFC, against the best fighters in our solar system, literally trained killers, without sparring in training? Not really, so what was I to do? I have made the decision to retire." Denis (11-3) is no ordinary fighter. He has bachelors and masters degrees in biochemistry, and put his PhD studies on hold at the start of 2011 to focus on fighting. He won his UFC debut in January, stopping Joseph Sandoval just 22 seconds into the fight with a string of nasty elbows. Its believed to be the fastest knockout by a Canadian in the UFC since Gary Goodridge stopped Paul Herrera in 13 seconds at UFC 8 in 1996. The five-foot-seven Denis collected US$45,000 for knockout of the night. He used some of money to take his girlfriend to Cuba for a week and to buy a two-horsepower, top-of-the-line Vitamix blender -- the Rolls-Royce of blenders. He lost by first-round submission to fellow Canadian Roland Delorme in May. "I accomplished one of my goals," Denis said in his blog. "I made it to the UFC, signed a five- fight contract, made an amazing debut, some said one of the best debuts in the UFC ever, and had a great second fight that I am very proud of, but ended up breaking my orbital bone and ultimately losing by submission with a second left in the round. "I am going to hold those moments close to me, because they will be as far as my dream goes. I have decided to bow out of MMA." Denis said he started researching concussions after suffering his first loss in May 2009 by KO to Marlon Sandro in the Japanese promotion Sengoku. Denis writes that Sandro "dribbled my head on the canvas like a basketball." "As a graduate student at the university of Ottawa, I had access to all peer-reviewed scientific journals. No surprise to find that concussions bad. "However, I found something that had never occurred to me. Sub-concussive trauma. Basically, a blow to the head that doesnt lead to a concussion. When it happens, you feel fine, and continue on. Maybe you feel like you just had a little brain scramble, nothing big. Those who spar, know what I am talking about. However these add up. They accumulate, from training session to training session, year after year." Denis says he told himself he would quit fighting if he had one more concussion, be it in the cage or just slipping on a patch of ice outside his house. "But what if I never do get knocked out again? What if for the next decade I keep training hard and competing. I get in wars and receive tons and tons of sub-concussive blows. Wouldnt that be orders of magnitude worse than one concussion?" Denis says he started noticed that hits in sparring were taking a toll. "I love MMA, and I have loved my experience with the UFC, Sengoku, and every other promotion along the way, but I am a human being first," he writes. "I dont define myself by my work, and nor should you. I am a human being, and I was born with only one brain, and I want to take care of it so that I will recognize the ones I love when I get older." Denis got into MMA at 20, just looking for something different than lifting weights. He joined a gym and got to meet some fighters. He tried out for "The Ultimate Fighter" reality TV show but did not make the cut. He caught the UFCs eye in October 2011 when he finished Nick Mamalis with a devastating suplex slam that knocked his opponent unconscious at a Wreck MMA card. Prior to that bout, he had not fought since a March 2010 loss to Yuji Hoshino at Sengoku. In the aftermath of that fight, he suffered a pinched nerve in training and his arm went numb. The next morning, trying to shower or putting on a shirt were impossible. Months of physio followed as he waited for the injured nerve to grow back. Unable to train immediately after the injury, he and a friend drove across Canada and back -- camping or sleeping in their car. He made new friends along the way, taught a few martial arts seminars and tried his hand at surfing in Tofino, B.C. "Lots of good memories," he said of the monthlong trip. A native of Ottawa, he now lives in Montreal. His fight nickname came from one of his coaches in Ottawa. "Fight time Im serious, like a ninja I guess you could say," Denis explained. "But in general Im not a rough guy, Im not a mean guy, Im not going to talk trash. Im just looking to have a good time -- so I guess Im the ninja of love." Texans Brian Cushing Jersey .C. -- Injured South Carolina running back Marcus Lattimore is finished with college football. Andre Johnson Jersey . Or call it a big underdog trying to gain some sort of mental edge on the eve of a big game at the Olympics. http://www.shopnfltexansgear.com/kevin-walter-jersey/ . It was a Saturday during the Memorial Day long weekend. But Lou Lamoriello was in the office. "I work weekends and hes almost always in," said the security guard at the entrance of the Prudential Center. Elite Owen Daniels Jersey . Aaron Rodgers connected with James Jones on all three touchdowns, Clay Matthews continued his dominance of Jay Cutler with two more sacks and Green Bay clinched its second straight NFC North title with a 21-13 victory over the archrival Chicago Bears on Sunday. Limited J.J. Watt Jersey . Germano was designated for assignment when Boston activated centre fielder Jacoby Ellsbury from the disabled list last Friday.NEW YORK -- Tyson Gay joked that his agent tricked him, promising a "low-key" race for his long-awaited return to competition, not the throng of TV cameras that greeted him at the Adidas Grand Prix on Saturday. But the former world champion knew he needed the pressure of a big stage before he goes to the U.S. Olympic trials at the end of the month. The 29-year-old Gay hadnt raced since hip surgery last July. He entered the "B" 100 Saturday, finishing in 10.00 seconds running into a headwind, more than two hours before reigning world champion Yohan Blake won the "A" heat in 9.90 seconds. For Gay, success wasnt measured in numbers. He accomplished his goals: to sprint without pain and to "get all the jitters out." Gay would have preferred entering a less high-profile event than a Diamond League meet in New York City. But he said coach Jon Drummond told him it was "better to get it out of the way than to go to trials and be really anxious and nervous." Blake and countrywoman Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, the defending Olympic gold medallist in the 100, face their own stress heading into Jamaican trials. The country is so deep in the sprints, a berth at the London Games is hardly assured for either. Both were encouraged by their performances Saturday. Blake was hampered by his customary slow start, but ran down Keston Bledman to stay undefeated this year. "You have the confidence going into trials that youre invincible," Blake said of his unbeaten streak. Even if he was a bit disappointed by the close call. "Im The Beast, right?" he said of his nickname. "I dont expect anybody to be beside me." Fraser-Pryce made a statement against a deep field, winning in a seasons best 10.92. American Tianna Madison was second in a personal-best 10.97. Reigning world champion Carmelita Jeter was third in 11.05, and U.S. teammate Allyson Felix, a three-time 200 world champ who is considering adding the 100 at trials, was fourth in 11.07. "It was about getting everything right before national championships," Fraser-Pryce said. Sanya Richards-Ross may have earned herself a second event at U.S. trials, winning the 200 in a world-leading and personal-best 22.09. The 2009 world champion in the 400, Richards-Ross was trying to convince her coach to let her run the 200, too. Richards-Ross struggled in 2010 and 11, but after a strong performance in the 400 last week at the Prefontaine CClassic, shes looking anew like a title contender. Derek Newton Jersey. "Im really happy that my races are coming together again," she said. "I lost a bit of confidence last year, and I feel it coming back." The 800 world champion, David Rudisha, came into the meet saying he wanted to run a time in the 1:42 range -- which would have been an impressive feat two months before the Olympics considering his world record is 1:41.01. The Kenyan proved just how dominant he is in the event, bettering his goal by running 1:41.74 to win by nearly 3 seconds. "I felt good during the race and I decided to push a little bit," he said. Julie Labonte of Sainte Justine, Que., was fourth in the womens shot put. Nathan Brannen of Cambridge, Ont., was fourth in the 1,500 metres. "Blade Runner" Oscar Pistorius failed to post an Olympic qualifying time of 45.30 seconds in the 400, finishing in 46.14. The double-amputee from South Africa will likely have two more chances before the end of the month to meet the standard to earn a trip to the London Games. After struggling recently with a sore hip and slow times, Pistorius saw major progress in his performance on a day the winner, Luguelin Santos of the Dominican Republic, finished in 45.24. "Its the first time I felt in shape to get back to 45," Pistorius said. "So now Im sure Ill be able to do that." After three false starts -- the first two by indoor world champion Aries Merritt, knocking him out of the race -- Jason Richardson won the 110 hurdles. Richardson was an unlikely outdoor world champ last summer, bumped up to gold after Dayron Robles was disqualified for hitting Liu Xiang, the other huge name in the event. Heading into the U.S. trials, Richardson has the confidence that hell finish first in many big races to come. "This year, I feel like Im supposed to belong and belong on the team," he said. "As a whole, Im having the ride of my life." Gay may run in a small meet in Texas before trials. The American-record holder in the 100 won three gold medals at the 2007 world championships. But since then, he has been overtaken by Usain Bolt and beset by injuries. The hip still bothers him, though he said Drummond hammers him about so many technical details, that distracts him from feeling the discomfort. "It aches and pinches and grabs," Gay said. "But Ive just got to go out there and run through the pain." ' ' '
BARCELONA, Spain -- Barcelona defender Carles Puyol says his knee operation went well. Marshawn Lynch Womens Jersey . Puyol wrote on his Twitter feed after undergoing surgery to his right knee on Saturday, saying "Im in my room after the operation. Everything OK." The 34-year-old Puyol is set to miss Barcelonas Copa del Rey final against Athletic Bilbao on May 25 and Spains title defence at the European Championship as he needs about six weeks to recover. Puyol has been hampered by knee problems in the past few seasons, having also undergone surgery on his left knee. The Barcelona centre back has been a regular for the World Cup winners at major championships since his debut in 2000, making 99 appearances for Spain. Leroy Hill Jersey . Nachbaurs assistants for the Nov. 14 game in Vancouver will be Edmonton Oil Kings head coach Derek Laxdal, and longtime Vancouver Giants head coach Don Hay. Marshawn Lynch Jersey . The 134th-ranked Chang broke Stosur twice in the opening set and won 73 per cent of the points on her first serve to reach her first WTA tour final of her career. http://www.nflseahawksteam.com/earl-thomas-jersey . - The NBA responded to Metta World Peaces latest act of aggression with a seven-game suspension that will lighten the Los Angeles Lakers troublemakers wallet and playoff schedule. Earl Thomas Jersey . A.J. Burnett (12-3) shut out the Astros for seven innings before Chris Johnson and Carlos Corporan connected for solo homers in the eighth to cut the lead to 5-2, bringing Brad Lincoln out of the bullpen with one out. Chris Clemons Jersey . -- Andrew Ference turned up at the Boston Bruins annual charity golf tournament wearing his NHL Players Association cap.SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Chris Wilson won the Price Cutter Charity Championship on Sunday for his first Web.com Tour title, beating Scott Harrington with a birdie on the first hole of a playoff. Wilson, the former Northwestern player who missed the cuts in 11 of his previous 13 tour starts this year, birdied the final hole of regulation for a 5-under 67 to match Harrington, also a former Northwestern player, at 21-under 267. "Its comforting knowing I can perform when it matters most," Wilson said. "Anyone can do it in practice." Harrington shot a 68, also birdieing the final hole of regulation at Highland Springs, but hit his second shot into the water on the par-5 closing hole in the playoff. "Ive known Chris a while and were good friends," Harrington said. "If I could be in a playofff with anybody in this field, it would be him. Richard Sherman Womens Jersey. " Wilson made $112,500 after entering the week with only $6,486 in earnings. He jumped from 165th to 23rd on the money list, with the final top 25 earning 2013 PGA Tour cards. "Ive been close the past couple weeks," Wilson said. "When you have confidence in your putter it just frees up every other aspect of your game." He recently met with sports psychologist Bob Rotella in Virginia. "We simplified a lot of things," Wilson said. "We changed my approach to putting and thats helped to eliminate a lot of the distractions I was having." Andy Winings shot a 65 to finish third at 20 under. Ben Kohles, the winner of the previous two events in his first two starts as a professional, tied for 60th at 8 under. ' ' '
DENVER -- The Colorado Rockies didnt let two more injuries interfere with their best homestand in nearly three months. Elvis Dumervil Jersey . Jordan Pacheco homered among his three hits as the banged-up Rockies slowed down Giancarlo Stanton and beat the Miami Marlins 3-2 Sunday. Colorado, employing mostly young players, finished the homestand 5-2, their best since going 6-1 in May 28-June 3. "They want to win," outfielder Dexter Fowler said. "Even though theyre young theyre learning and going out and playing hard." The young players have been forced into service due to a rash of injuries that have hit the club, including two more Sunday. Rockies outfielder Eric Young Jr. left after one inning with a strain in his left ribcage and shortstop Josh Rutledge exited in the fifth with tightness in his left thigh. Before the game, Colorado put outfielder Michael Cuddyer back on the 15-day disabled list after he aggravated a right oblique strain in Saturdays loss. "Theres nothing you can do about other people getting hurt," pitcher Adam Ottavino said. "When you come into a tough spot all you can do is just keep playing. Thats all were trying to do." Young said after the game the injury wasnt serious and he would miss one or two games. Colorado plays the Mets in New York on Monday. The Rockies overcame some close calls as well. Emilio Bonifacio was called safe at first on a grounder to shortstop to lead off the game. Rockies manager Jim Tracy argued that first baseman Tyler Colvin kept his foot on the bag. In the eighth, Colvin was called out on a close play at home, bringing Tracy out again. "There were a few questionable calls today, one of which cost a run on the very first play of the game," Tracy said. "I dont have a comment beyond that." Stanton went homerless for the first time in seven games at Coors Field. On Saturday night, he became the first player in big league history to homer in his first six games in a particular park, the Marlins said in citing the Elias Sports Bureau. Stanton drew two intentional walks and went 0 for 2 in the series finale. "They had a smart strategy," Miami manager Ozzie Guillen said. "A couple of times they didnt pitch to him and did a great job on him." John Buck homered for the Marlins. Ottavino (5-1) tossed three scoreless innings for the win and Rafael Betancourt pitched the ninth for his 23rd save. Josh Johnson (7-10) lost his third consecutive start. He gave up three runs and seven hits in seven innings. "You have to give these young kids a lot of credit," Tracy said. "I dont know how many we had on the field today who didnt have any idea who Josh Johnson was let alone take an at-bat against him." Colorado looked overmatched early by Johnson but broke through in the fourth. Rutledge reached on an infield hit -- Colorados first of the game -- and scored on Dexter Fowlers double. Two outs later Pacheco homered to left to give the Rockies a 3-2 lead. It was his second of the year and first since May 17, a span of 279 at-bats. "Hes pitching well, but we got some good pitches to hit and did something with them," Fowler said. Rockies starter Drew Pomeranz allowed two runs on three hits and four walks in four innings. The key player in the trade that sent Ubaldo Jimenez to Cleveland last season, Pomeranz is 1-7 and has failed to pitch more than four innings in each of his last four starts. The Marlins got to him early, scoring an unearned run in the first. Bonifacio, who reached on Rutledges throwing error, scored on Carlos Lees groundout. Pomeranz intentionally walked Stanton to load the bases before Buck grounded out to end the threat. "It made sense," Stanton said. "There was an open base. Donnie Murphy has been out for a while. Why not give it a chance?" Buck led off the fourth with his ninth home run to make it 2-0. Ottavino shut down the Marlins on one hit in three innings. He worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the fifth and retired the final eight batters he faced. The Marlins stranded nine runners. "We had a chance to open this game up," Guillen said. "We left a lot of guys out there and couldnt get the game to the bullpen." NOTES: Fowler hit safely in five of the six games he played on the homestand. ... The Marlins activated Bonifacio and Murphy from the 15-day DL. ... Pacheco has six three-hit games this season. ... Buck has a six-game hitting streak at Coors Field, dating back to June 13, 2010. Game Von Miller Jersey . The NBAs reigning Sixth Man of the Year and the defending NBA champions who are trying to make sure they get back to the playoffs made it clear Monday that the partnership is over after an underwhelming 50-game stint. Willis McGahee Jersey . Following the qualification round of the mens sprint, Briton Jason Kenny is ranked in the number one spot with a 9.713 second time trial result. http://www.nflbroncosgearshop.com/champ-bailey-jersey/ . became the fifth National Lacrosse League player to reach 1,000 points, it was point No. Black Von Miller Jersey . Peliwo is off to his third junior Grand Slam boys final of the season thanks to a 5-7, 7-6 (3), 6-3 victory over Mitchell Kreuger of the U.S. in the semfinals. Meanwhile, Bouchard beat Anett Kontaveit of Estonia 7-6 (7-3), 6-4 in their girls semifinal to advance. Womens Champ Bailey Jersey . The second-seeded Russian broke Wozniacki twice in each set, taking control from the beginning through her booming serve and groundstrokes. "It was a great way to finish the season by winning the title in Sofia, and the doubles in Istanbul," Petrova said after a first win in the past five matches against Wozniacki. WASHINGTON -- Waking up early during the off-season back home in Florida, Gio Gonzalez and his personal trainer would consult a workout program tucked away in a folder labeled "Project 20." As in 20 victories, a milestone number for a pitcher, even in this age of newfangled statistics. Gonzalez became the majors first 20-game winner of 2012, and the first pitcher for a Washington baseball team with 200 strikeouts since Walter Johnson in 1916, taking a shutout into the sixth inning Saturday to help the Nationals close in on their first NL East title by beating the Milwaukee Brewers 10-4. "In a way, you kind of smile about it, because we finally reached our goal," Gonzalez said, standing in front of a locker sporting seven $20 bills presumably donated by teammates to mark the occasion, "and now its time to change it up and continue to try and get better goals and higher goals." Ryan Zimmerman and Ian Desmond each hit a three-run homer off former Nationals pitcher Livan Hernandez in the fourth inning, and Washington stopped Milwaukees six-game winning streak. The Brewers fell to 2 1/2 games behind St. Louis for an NL wild-card berth. "I dont feel like we have to win every single game the rest of the season -- I dont feel that -- but I tell you what: We better win most of them or almost all of them," Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said. Owners of baseballs best record, the Nationals already are assured of post-season play, and Gonzalez (20-8, 2.84 ERA) is a big reason. "It doesnt feel like a 20th win for myself. It feels like a 20th win for the team," the lefty said. "This is a childhood dream, but at the same time, to do it with a team thats in first place makes it that much better." Other than a bit of a pratfall -- Gonzalez caught one of his cleats in the dirt, tumbled off the mound and landed face-first in the grass after a pitch -- he was pretty dominant Saturday. He went seven innings, allowing two unearned runs and three hits. He only walked one, and his five strikeouts raised his total to 201. The Nationals traded for him in the off-season, shipping four prospects to the Oakland Athletics, then signing Gonzalez to a $42 million, five-year deal. "Hes always had the stuff," Zimmerman said. With one out in the seventh, Gonzalez lost his footing while throwing a pitch that sailed to the backstop on the flyy. Black Eric Decker Jersey. Gonzalez stayed down on his belly for a few seconds, his arms and legs splayed, before getting up. Eventually, a team trainer, manager Davey Johnson and some smiling teammates went out to check on Gonzalez. "Oh, it was hilarious. I asked him ... Are you hurt? And he said No, my feelings are hurt a little bit. So we got a kick out of it," said Nationals first baseman Adam LaRoche, who tied a career high with his 32nd homer. Joked Desmond: "Im just glad he didnt mess up his hair." When Gonzalez stepped back on the mound, he tipped his cap, and the sellout crowd of 40,493 roared. They gave a standing ovation when he walked to the dugout two outs later, his afternoon done. Gonzalez later got a bit hug from Nationals pitching coach Steve McCatty. Zimmerman (who hit his 23rd homer), Desmond (24th) and LaRoche are other significant parts of the first major league team in the nations capital to head to the post-season in 79 years. Washingtons victory lowered its magic number for clinching a division championship to six over Atlanta. Milwaukee starter Wily Peralta (2-1) lasted only 2 2-3 innings, giving up three runs and five hits, along with four walks and a wild pitch. "He really couldnt get comfortable," Roenicke said. "The mounds a little bit different, and he found that out in the first inning." Washingtons 19-year-old centre fielder, Bryce Harper was in the middle of several key plays Saturday. He made a running, back-to-the-infield catch on a deep fly by Rickie Weeks to end the top of the third. Moments later, Harper drove a pitch barely above the dirt into left for an RBI double to make it 1-0. Then, apparently picked off second because he strayed too far off the bag, Harper bolted for third and wound up with a stolen base, before scoring on LaRoches double. "Typical Harper move, trying to make something happen," Johnson said. "He probably used that a lot in high school." NOTES: The Brewers will start RHP Yovani Gallardo (16-8) on Sunday, while the Nationals will use RHP Chien-Ming Wang (2-3) as a spot starter to keep their rotation on regular rest after a doubleheader Wednesday. ... RF Aoki threw out Morse at the plate for the last out of the second. Morse tried to score on Suzukis fly ball. ... LaRoche also hit 32 homers in 2006, while playing for Atlanta. 20:38ET 22-09-12 ' ' '
THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. Seahawks Jerseys . -- After going more than two years and 26 tournaments without a win, and after so much turmoil in his personal life and with his golf game, Tiger Woods stood over a six-foot birdie putt Sunday to win the Chevron World Challenge and felt as though nothing had changed. Finally, the outcome was familiar, too. Woods poured in the putt to cap off a birdie-birdie finish at Sherwood, close with a 3-under 69 and beat former Masters champion Zach Johnson by one shot. The win ended a drought that lasted 749 days, and might have signalled a change that Woods is on his way back. He swept his arm across the air, yelled through the din of the gallery and slammed his fist in a celebration that was a long time coming. Relief? Satisfaction? Vindication? Woods wasnt sure, and he didnt much care. "It just feels awesome whatever it is," he said. Trailing by one shot with two holes to play, Woods came up with two clutch putts. He holed a 15-footer for birdie on the par-3 17th to pull into a tie with Johnson, then hit a 9-iron from 158 yards that landed on the ridge behind the hole and rolled down to six feet. "Ive been in contention twice this year, which is not very often," Woods said. "So thats my third time with a chance to win it. I pulled it off this time." It was his 83rd win worldwide in tournaments that award ranking points, but his first since he won the Australian Masters on Nov. 15, 2009, back when he looked as though he would rule golf for as long as he played. But he crashed his car into a fire hydrant outside his Florida home on Thanksgiving night, and shocking revelations of extramarital affairs began to emerge, which shattered his image, led to a divorce and cost him four major sponsors. Since then, he has changed swing coaches, caddies and endured more injuries, causing him to miss two majors and fail to make the cut in another. Now, however, it looks clear that Woods is on an upward path. "If the man is healthy, thats paramount," Johnson said. "I mean, hes the most experienced and the best player Ive ever played with. In every situation, he knows how to execute and win." Even though those situations have been rare, Woods looked as though he had not forgotten how to win. The only other times he has been in contention this year were the Masters and the Australian Open. "I felt normal, felt very comfortable," Woods said. "Ive been here so many times that, you know, I just feel very comfortable being here in this position. Was I nervous? Absolutely. Always nervous in that position. But its a comfortable feeling, and I enjoy being in that position. For some reason, its kind of a comfort to be in there with a chance to win." Woods won the Chevron World Challenge, which he hosts for his foundation, for the fifth time. He finished at 10-under 278 and donated the US$1.2 million to his foundation. The win moved him from No. 52 to No. 21 in the world ranking, and likely will send expectations soaring for 2012. Woods will not play again until starting his year in Abu Dhabi at the end of January. If this win felt differently than the last one, Woods wasnt saying. "They all feel good," he said. "Theyre not easy. People dont realize how hard it is to win golf tournaments. Ive gone on streaks where Ive won golf tournaments in a row, but still ... I dont think Ive taken it for granted. And I know because of how hard it is." He had a worthy adversary in Johnson, who had a one-shot lead going into the final round and trailed for only three holes. Johnson tied Woods with a birdie on the par-5 13th, made an unlikely par on the 14th by chipping from the bottom of the green, and appeared to seize control by holing a 12-foot birdie putt on the 16th hole. Johnson thought his birdie putt on the 17th was good all the way until it burned the edge of the cup. Woods, running out of time, drained his birdie putt to force a tie and send the tournament to the 18th. Johnson missed a 15-foot birdie try, leaving the stage to Woods. Johnson closed with a 71 and still took home $650,000 for the holidays. Paul Casey, who opened with a 79, had his third straight round in the 60s to finish alone in third at 5 under. "Tiger can have a long career," Casey said when he finished. "We might look back in another 10 years and actually forget about the last couple of years." Woods had a four-shot lead over Graeme McDowell a year ago, a margin that evaporated quickly when Woods showed early signs of a struggle, particularly with a pair of three-putts. There was no such evidence this time. After nearly driving into trouble to the right of the par-5 second, Woods escaped and hit wedge to 3 1/2 feet for birdie. His lone bogey on the front nine came at the par-3 eighth, with a back right pin that requires a fade. Woods tugged it well left of the green, and his pitch at a 45-degree angle was too strong and rolled into the fringe about 15 feet away. Johnsons chip on the third was too strong, he three-putted from about 35 feet for bogey on the fifth and he played a poor chip from below the eighth green for another bogey. They were tied at the turn when Woods began to pull away. From the right rough, Woods hit a soft sand wedge that landed in the first cut short of the green and fed down the slope to about four feet. He two-putted from long range for birdie on the par-5 11th to stretch his lead to two shots when Johnson caught a buried lie in the bunker. Woods bogeyed the 12th from a bunker, though, and Johnsons birdie on the 13th set up a final hour that was up for grabs until Woods came through in the clutch on the last two holes. Woods tournament, which has an 18-man field, has been a good omen for others over the years. The most recent example was Jim Furyk, who won in 2009 and then had his first three-win season the next year and captured the FedEx Cup. No one ever imagined Woods needing a boost, but that might be the case. "I dont think were going to see another 2011, if that makes sense," Furyk said, alluding to Woods failing to reach the FedEx Cup playoffs this year. "If he steadily progresses, keeps getting confidence and moving forward, hes going to return and be one of the best players in the game again." Elite Golden Tate Jersey . The Philadelphia centres have signed with Eisbaren Berlin of Germanys top league for the duration of the NHL lockout, according to ESPN. Chris Clemons Jersey . Who is the biggest underachiever so far? The top rookie? Who should the Bombers use at QB in Week 5? You can have your say by answering the poll question and writing a response in the Your Call section at the bottom of the page. http://www.shopnflseahawksgear.com/richard-sherman-jersey/ . It ultimately wound up in the end zone, and that was just fine with the Chicago Bears. They got back to winning thanks to their defence, with Wright coming up with the biggest play. Brandon Browner Womens Jersey . The next time up, he did a lot better. Johnson hit a grand slam in his Diamondbacks debut, helping Arizona beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 7-2. "I just want to try to contribute somehow. Womens K.J. Wright Jersey .S. Open on the line, Tiger Woods tested his game at The Olympic Club on Tuesday.CHICAGO -- The Chicago Cubs misery now stretches to 104 years and the Houston Astros will depart the National League with a whimper. Obviously theres no winner in a season finale between a pair of 100-loss teams. Bryan LaHair homered and hit the winning single in the ninth inning, and the Cubs beat the Astros 5-4 Wednesday in Houstons final game before switching to the AL next season. In the first series between 100-game losers in the major leagues since 1962, LaHair homered in the second and broke a 4-all tie in the ninth against Hector Ambriz (1-1). "I was pretty psyched up about todays game," LaHair said of his rare start. "I talked to my grandma last night and I wanted to get one more (home run) for her. Luckily, I did. It was a good feeling right there." The 29-year-old LaHair held down the starting first base job through much of the first half after spending most of the previous nine seasons in the minors. His story reached its peak when LaHair was selected to the NL All-Star team, but his playing time dropped drastically once prospect Anthony Rizzo was called up in late June. "To go through the adversity hes had to go through after having a great start, the All-Star game, then obviously losing a lot of playing time, it was a great finish to his year," Cubs manager Dale Sveum said. "The best way you can finish a season is be at home and have a walk-off win." The Cubs, who last won a World Series in 1908, went 61-101 for their most losses since dropping 103 games in 1966. "A lot of hard work was put in this year," LaHair said. "Unfortunately, the record didnt say that, but just to finish the season with a win, its always fun to do that." Carlos Marmol (3-3) pitched a scoreless ninth to earn the win. Cubs starter Travis Wood allowed one run, three hits and five walks in 6 1-3 innings, giving up Carlos Corporans RBI single in the first. Wood also chased Astros starter Edgar Gonzalez with a two-run single. Houston went 555-107 and set a club record for losses with one more than last year. Leon Washington Womens Jersey. . The Astros became the first team with 106 or more losses in consecutive seasons since the 1964-65 New York Mets. Houston finished its NL tenure with 3,999 regular-season wins, 4,134 losses and five ties. The Astros are moving to the AL West next season, creating three divisions of five teams in each league. The Astros were 16-25 under interim manager Tony DeFrancesco, who took over after Brad Mills was fired on Aug. 18. Washington third base coach Bo Porter already has been hired as Houstons manager for next season. "Its going to be a game Ill always remember," DeFrancesco said of his last gig at the helm of the Astros. "I just went around to everybody and thanked them for everything they did. I appreciate it. Theyre ready to go home. Its been a long season." Justin Maxwell hit a tying, three-run homer for Houston in the eighth off Shawn Camp. Gonzalez gave up four runs, five hits and four walks in 3 1-3 innings. Houston pitched 28 consecutive scoreless innings before LaHairs homer in the second. Most of the Cubs regulars were given the day off. The exception, Starlin Castro, became the first player in franchise history to play shortstop in all 162 games, and the first major leaguer to do it since Philadelphias Jimmy Rollins in 2007. Castros 195 consecutive games played is the longest active streak in the NL. NOTES: The Cubs dismissed third base coach Pat Listach after the game. . Chicago drew 2,882,756 fans to Wrigley Field, the first time under 3 million since 2003. ... Cubs OF Alfonso Soriano said he is open to being traded in the off-season if the Cubs dont plan on contending the next two years. "I just want to have one more shot to go to the World Series before I (retire)," Soriano said. The 36-year-old said he will seriously consider retiring when his contract expires after the 2014 season. He is slated to make $18 million each of the next two seasons. ' ' '
ATLANTA -- Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade is sitting out Friday nights game against the Atlanta Hawks because of a cold. Elite Peyton Manning Jersey . Coach Erik Spoelstra announced before the game that Wade remained at the hotel. The team is beginning a six-game road trip and doesnt want him spreading his cold to the rest of the team. Spoelstra isnt sure who will start in Wades place, though Mike Miller is a possibility. Ray Allen is another possibility, but the coach likes the way hes playing off the bench. Trindon Holliday Womens Jersey . And over these two-plus decades, one constant remains - Sir Alex Fergusons annual summer jolly as he plots the downfall of his rivals. Womens Eric Decker Jersey . Haas handled the pressure of an equally large cushion just fine five years ago, so the odds for an unprecedented third Champions Tour title in Iowa are certainly in his favour. http://www.shopthenflbroncosgear.com/peyton-manning-jersey/ . -- Marcus Mariota says part of his progression as a young quarterback is learning how not to do too much. John Elway Jersey . Reading, second from bottom and still without an away win in the league, fell behind in the third minute when James McClean smashed home a finish after visiting goalkeeper Adam Federici punched a corner out to the edge of the area. Karl Mecklenburg Jersey . No-one will ever know what Bonds did or didnt do. But his record 762 homeruns will forever be clouded by the steroid –HGH innuendo.BALTIMORE -- For the second time in three games, the Baltimore Orioles had an uplifting victory marred by an injury to a key player. J.J. Hardy homered twice, doubled and drove in five runs, and the Orioles defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 9-2 Tuesday night to move into a tie for the AL East lead. But starting pitcher Jason Hammel left in the fourth inning with an injured right knee. The right-hander underwent arthroscopic surgery on that same knee in mid-July and was making his second start since returning from the disabled list. Hammel will be examined Wednesday by the team surgeon. He said the sensation was exactly identical to what he felt in a July 13 game against Detroit, his last start before going on the DL. "Its a very sharp pain in the knee in the same spot," Hammel said. "Im hoping it is just scar tissue. Ive been told scar tissue can react like that." On Saturday, Baltimore lost right fielder Nick Markakis with a broken left thumb while defeating the New York Yankees. Both Hammel and Markakis were on the DL earlier this year. "Weve been down this road many times this year with a lot of different challenges," manager Buck Showalter said. "Weve operated a good portion of this season without Ham and without Nicky, so were kind of experienced at it anyway. Its not the kind of experience you want to have." Hammel had no problem with the knee on Thursday night against the Yankees, and retired 11 of 13 Tampa Bay batters before exiting. "Against the Yankees, I felt great," Hammel said. "I felt like I was back on track, and I know I can help this team when I am healthy. So its very frustrating." Steve Johnson (3-0) got the win with 1 1-3 innings of hitless relief. With Markakis out, Hardy picked up the slack. He went 4 for 5 to help Baltimore pull even atop the division with the Yankees, who lost 4-3 at Boston. The Rays are two games behind the co-leaders. Hardy hit a two-run homer in the third inning, doubled and scored in the fifth, singled in a run in the sixth and added his 21st homer with a runner on in the eighth. It was his ninth career two-homer game, the second this season. "I got a couple pitches to hit and didnt miss them," Hardy said. Chris Davis homered and Matt Wieters had three hits and two RBIs for Baltimore. Ryan Roberts and Elliott Johnson hit solo homers for Tampa Bay. It was the first time since AAug. Joe Mays Jersey. 4 that the Rays lost by more than two runs; eight of their previous 12 defeats were by one run. "Anybody can get beat by a lot of runs any night," Roberts said. "It didnt go our way tonight, and thats how it happens sometime in baseball." Roberts left in the sixth inning with a left forearm strain, the result of a tag he made at second base. X-rays were negative, and he held out hope of playing Wednesday in the next game of the three-game series. "Im just glad it isnt broke," Roberts said. "If its up to me, Im playing. Were in a tight race and these games mean a lot, so I definitely want to play even if its going to hurt a little bit." Tampa Bay left-hander Matt Moore (10-10) threw 94 pitches over four innings before being lifted by manager Joe Maddon. Moore allowed two earned runs on four hits and three walks. Burke Badenhop entered with a run of eight straight scoreless appearances and promptly gave up a double to Hardy, a single to Adam Jones and two-run double to Wieters that provided Baltimore with a 5-1 lead. Hardys sixth-inning RBI single came off Cesar Ramos and Davis hit his 25th homer in the seventh off J.P. Howell. Johnson connected against Darren ODay leading off the eighth, and Hardy homered off Dane De La Rose in the bottom half. The victory improved Baltimores record against AL East foes to 33-24 compared to 28-44 last year. Baltimore broke on top with an unearned run in the first inning. Jones walked and scored when Matt Joyce fumbled Wieters two-out single to right. Hammel retired the first eight batters before Roberts connected in the third. It was his fourth homer with Tampa Bay since in coming over in a trade with Arizona on July 24. In the bottom half, Robert Andino led off with a double and Hardy homered to put the Orioles ahead for good. NOTES: Baltimore leads the season series 7-6 and took the lead in the all-time series, 127-126. ... The Orioles purchased the contracts of OFs Endy Chavez and L.J. Hoes and designated RHP Kevin Gregg and INF Ryan Adams for assignment. ... This was the first of 15 consecutive games against AL East foes for the Rays, who head to Yankee Stadium after this series. ... The Rays will send Alex Cobb to the mound Wednesday night and the Orioles will start rookie Miguel Gonzalez, whos 0-1 with a 6.52 ERA in two starts against Tampa Bay. ' ' '
Maple Leafs forward Tim Connolly was placed on injured reserve on Wednesday, leaving the team with the maximum 23 players on the roster. Jeff Demps Jersey . The team had to declare their opening night roster by 3pm et on Wednesday. Connolly was placed on IR retroactive to when the injury occurred. Connolly, who is eligible to return as early as Saturday, has been slowed by an upper body injury he suffered when he fell in practice last week. The injury-plagued Connolly, who was signed as a free agent this summer, has averaged less than 60 games per season over the last four years. Tavon Wilson Jersey . Stamps suffered a ruptured testicle in a game against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Aug. 5 required surgery to remove it. However, he only missed three games and not only finished the season but registered his third straight 1,000-yard receiving campaign. Visanthe Shiancoe Jersey . Votto hit a grand slam in the ninth inning for his third home run of the game on Sunday, rallying the Cincinnati Reds to a rain-delayed 9-6 victory over the Washington Nationals with the biggest game of his career. http://www.usnflpatriots.com/nate-solder-jersey-1 . Enjoy your memories, Butler. Rob Gronkowski Alternate Jersey . The 23-year-old Buttner signed a five-year deal to leave Dutch club Vitesse Arnhem, a day after United opened the Premier League season with a 1-0 loss at Everton. "Alexander is one of the best young left backs in Europe and were delighted to sign him," United manager Alex Ferguson said. Vince Wilfork Red Jersey .25 million option on right-hander Scott Bakers contract for next season, making him eligible for free agency.With any luck, some home run history will be made this weekend at Rogers Centre when Jim Thome and the rest of the Philadelphia Phillies hit town. Thome, one of the games great sluggers, has been on a terrific roll since returning from the DL six games ago. Hes hitting .458 out of the DH slot with three homers, 13 RBIs and seven runs scored. In the just completed series at Target Field, the home of the Twins, Thome drove in nine runs over three games, more than any other three-game span in his entire career. Not bad for a 41-year-old whos in the twilight of a brilliant career. Thome has 607 career homers, good for eighth place all-time, just two back of Sammy Sosa for seventh. My favourite Thome moment was seeing the burly big man smash a home run off Pat Hentgen years ago at Rogers Centre. The monster shot flew to dead centre and went into the restaurant high above the field. It wasnt the longest homer in the Domes history, I believe Manny Ramirez holds that honour, but it was certainly a titanic blast. Thome is attempting to retrieve every home run ball he hits this season. So if youre lucky enough to catch one this weekend, youll get the chance to shake "the Mans" hand and hell surely trade you something for the ball that you can talk about for the rest of your life. Thome wont be playing first base anymore this season due to back issues. So once inter-league play ends in American League parks, hell go back to being just a pinch-hitter for the Phils. Of course there is always the chance they could move him to an American League team that needs a DH before the deadline. Theere is a chance, though, this could be his last time in Toronto as a player this weekend. Tom Brady Alternate Jersey. Heres hoping the fans give him all the respect he deserves. More terrible news for the Blue Jays. First Brandon Morrow goes down and now Kyle Drabek is out with a sprained ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow. It appears Drabek wont need surgery at this point, but its still unlikely hell be back before the All-Star break. Lefty Brett Cecil is up from Las Vegas to start the series finale against the Phillies on Sunday. It looks as though the Cubs are close to breaking the un-written rule about not making major trades in June. The Cubbies may be close to moving Canadian born right-hander Ryan Dempster. As a 5-and-10 man, Dempster can refuse any trade. But he was seen talking with club president Theo Epstein earlier in the week and seemed open to the possibility of being dealt. The Dodgers and Yankees are two of the clubs said to be interested in Dempster. My hunch is at 35, Dempster isnt going to want to switch leagues and the new Dodgers ownership would love to make a big splash with a move like this. So stay tuned. If Washington somehow wins the World Series, Im betting skipper Davey Johnson will set a record that will never be broken. He won a World Series with the Mets in 1986. Winning again this year would make it 26 years between titles. Im pretty sure no other coach or manager in pro sports has accomplished that feat. If you know of anyone who has, let me know. Even the legendary Connie Mack who owned and managed the old Philadelphia As cant lay claim to that. ' ' '
HALIFAX -- Jacob Gervais-Chouinard stopped 29 of 30 shots as the Rimouski Oceanic defeated the host Halifax Mooseheads 4-1 on Friday in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League playoff action. Justin Blalock Jersey . Petr Straka had a goal and an assist for the Oceanic, who have now won three straight games. Casey Babineau, Alexandre Mallet and Scott Oke also scored for Rimouski. Cameron Critchlow scored him 10th goal of the post season for the Mooseheads while Nathan MacKinnon failed to pick up a point after recording eight in his previous three outings. Zachary Fucale allowed four goals on 14 shots in a losing effort. Neither club could score with the power play as Rimouski went 0 for 3 and Halifax 0 for 6. The Oceanic lead the Western Conference Final 1-0 with Game 2 scheduled for Saturday at the Halifax Metro Centre. Galiev has two points as the Sea Dogs down Sagueneens SAINT JOHN, N.B. -- Stanislav Galiev scored the eventual winner and added an assist as the Saint John Sea Dogs defeated the visiting Chicoutimi Sagueneens 4-1 on Friday in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League playoff action. Galiev now has 21 points in nine post-season appearances, which moves him into a tie for third in playoff scoring with the Halifax Mooseheads Nathan MacKinnon. Jonathan Huberdeau, Danick Gauthier and Pierre Durepos also scored for the Sea Dogs, who have won nine straight playoff games, while Kevin Gagne chipped in with three assists. Saint John forward Charles Coyle picked up two assists to move into a tie atop the playoff scoring lead with teammate Zack Phillips. Both players have 23 points in nine contests. Mathieu Gagnon scored the lone goal for the Sagueneens. Mathieu Corbiel made 24 saves for the win, and the games first star, as Christopher Gibson stopped 29 shots in a losing effort. Saint John went 1 for 3 on the power play while Chicoutimi failed to score on five opportunities with the man advantage. The Sea Dogs now lead the Eastern Conference Final 1-0 with Game 2 scheduled for Sunday in Saint John at the Harbour Station. Harry Douglas Jersey . The Whitecaps selected Estridge 21st overall of the 2012 MLS draft. A product of Indiana University, the right fullback took part in the early stages of pre-season training with Vancouver before being released on Feb. Tony Gonzalez Jersey .Y. -- Bernhard Langer, Kenny Perry and John Huston each shot a 7-under 65 Saturday to lead after finishing the rain-delayed first round of the Champions Tour event. http://www.shopnflfalconsgear.com/julio-jones-jersey/ . It was a Saturday during the Memorial Day long weekend. But Lou Lamoriello was in the office. "I work weekends and hes almost always in," said the security guard at the entrance of the Prudential Center. Ray Edwards Jersey . OH NO, MOA fixture at the end of New York Yankees wins for the last 15 seasons, Mariano Rivera may have suffered a season-ending (or career-ending) injury Thursday night, when he tore his ACL shagging flyballs in batting practice. Pink Jones Jersey . Three months after winning the 110-meter hurdles at the London Games, Merritt will be up against Usain Bolt and 800-meter gold medallist David Rudisha for the IAAFs World Athlete of the Year award.TORONTO -- The longest hiatus Steven Stamkos has ever taken from high-level hockey is not without its occasional good moments. There are always plenty of laughs when the NHL star takes the ice for a weekly pickup game with his father Chris and some buddies, a handful of whom are almost three times his age. There is the extra time spent in the gym alongside close friend and mentor Gary Roberts, who Stamkos jokes is dangerously close to making him too big. And then there is the anticipation of next weeks Christmas celebration, the first one hell get to enjoy at home with family in Markham, Ont., in six or seven years. "As tough as it is, as frustrating as it is, you try to pick up some positives," said Stamkos. But its clear the NHLs most dangerous goal-scorer is feeling the pain of the lockout. Standing under the signature sloped roof at the building formerly known as Maple Leaf Gardens on Monday afternoon, the locked-out Tampa Bay Lightning forward couldnt help but slip in a few references to his growing displeasure while speaking with reporters. "Its frustrating," said Stamkos. "You do something for your whole life and you dont really think anything of it. Everything you do is geared towards playing hockey. Now when you dont have that, its tough." Catching himself, the 22-year-old quickly steered the conversation back to a charity game on Wednesday night, where hell captain a team that plays against one led by Montreal Canadiens defenceman P.K. Subban. For Stamkos, it represents the chance to make the best of a bad situation. Hell get to skate alongside James Neal, Dion Phaneuf, Phil Kessel and Logan Couture, among others, with all of the proceeds from the soldout Mattamy Athletic Centre benefiting the NHLPAs Goals & Dreams Fund and the RBC Play Hockey program. "When theres no hockey you try to find other things to do and a great cause to be part of," said Stamkos. "This is one of them." It was during another charity game last month where Stamkos was reminded of exactly what he has been missing during the NHLs labour dispute. The atmosphere was electric for "Operation Hat Trick" in Atlantic City, N.J.. Sean Weatherspoon Jersey. ., which raised more than US$500,000 for victims of Hurricane Sandy. Among the chants the fans screamed in Boardwalk Hall? "We want hockey!" The feeling was mutual. "I got the itch back when we were in Atlantic City," said Stamkos. "Obviously, it was a little bigger venue than this (the revamped Maple Leaf Gardens seats about 2,500), there was I think 10,000 people at the game. And you can just feel the passion that the hockey fans have -- those are the guys that are really truly hurting right now. "We feel bad for them, but were obviously trying to get something done." Stamkos has kept some distance from the ongoing collective bargaining talks. Hes leaned on Roberts and veteran Lightning teammates Marty St. Louis and Vincent Lecavalier for advice, and attempted to keep on top of the issues. However, he admits he never expected the lockout to drag into mid-December. "I thought wed be able to work something out but thats the nature of the beast," said Stamkos. "For the guys that have been through this before, theyve told me its a long process. Sometimes it looks like its going to be happening in the near future and then something happens. "Theres so many ups and downs and highs and lows. For me this is my first (lockout). You just try to stay informed and learn from it and just try to stay ready." It seems like ages ago that Stamkos became just the 20th player in NHL history to hit the 60-goal barrier. More than eight months have passed since he fired the puck past Jets goalie Ondrej Pavelec on the final day of the regular season -- a goal that earned him a standing at Winnipegs MTS Centre. Stamkos scored 28 times over his final 34 games to hit the milestone, but has been denied the opportunity to try and carry the momentum into a new season. "For me this is the longest that Ive gone without playing a competitive game," said Stamkos. "I know Im a very competitive person and I know a lot of guys in the league are. I miss that. "You can play pickup games, you can play shinny games, you can play on the outdoor rink -- but nothing matches getting into a game atmosphere." ' ' '
SOELDEN, Austria -- Tina Maze of Slovenia lived up to her ambition to become Lindsey Vonns main challenger for the womens overall World Cup title by convincingly winning the season-opening giant slalom on Saturday. Zach Miller Youth Jersey . Maze was already runner-up to Vonn in the overall standings last year, but she failed to win a race and trailed the American by a massive 578 points. The Slovenian skied a perfect first run and held on to her lead in the second to finish in an overall time of 2 minutes, 31.41 seconds for her 12th career victory and first since winning a slalom in Lenzerheide, Switzerland, in March 2011. "Its a very special day," Maze said. "This really makes me so happy." Marie-Michele Gagnon of Lac-Etchemin, Que., was sixth and Marie-Pier Prefontaine of Saint-Saveur, Que., was 19th. "Its definitely a really good start to the season," said Gagnon. "I didnt come in with many expectations. Ive been skiing well but I was just hoping for (a) top-30 (finish) really." Erin Mielzynski of Guelph, Ont., didnt qualify for the second run. Vonn was 2.37 seconds off Mazes time before she went out in the second run after hooking a gate with her left arm and sliding off-course. "It was weird. I hit my hand at the base of the gate," Vonn said. "It hurts a little bit so I am going to have it checked out but I think its OK. It happens sometimes in GS. Unfortunately I had no chance of continuing." Maze put herself in contention for the victory with what she called "an incredible" first run. "In the second run, I was fighting like everybody else as the conditions were not easy," Maze added, referring to thick fog over the course that forced organizers to delay the start by an hour. When the final leg did start, wet snow began to fall and made visibility even worse. Many racers struggled and Olympic GS champion Viktoria Rebensburg of Germany and Frances Tessa Worley were among the favourites who failed to finish their run. However, conditions did not hamper Maze, who won here in 2002 and 2005. She beat second-place Kathrin Zettel by 0.42, and her Austrian teammate Stefanie Koehle trailed Maze by 1.71 in third. "We have trained a lot over the summer but in the end, you just need to have fun," said Maze, who in the off-season changed the serviceman that prepares her skis. "Last year I had a poor start to the season and was fighting all the time to get going. It was no fun." Vonn, who won her first GS race here last year, struggled in the middle part of her run. The four-time overall champion lost pace as she had to adjust her line in the steep section before bouncing back with a strong finish. "I was really trying to push the limit in the second run," Vonn said. "I was pretty fired up over the first run. I didnt ski as aggressively as I needed to. I felt like I skied solid. The position on the skis was really good. I just didnt push the line enough." Vonn said her surprise win from 2011 was still on her mind and she put pressure on herself to repeat the feat. "I was honestly really nervous going into this race," she said. "I just didnt push it enough and you really have to do that on this pitch. In general, I am positive, I am skiing well, I know that, I just have to fix some tactical errors." It was the first race under new equipment rules, forcing racers to use longer but smaller skis with a larger radius. The rule change, however, seems to affect the men more than the women. "The new material is great and I feel really well," Maze said. Vonns American teammate Julia Mancuso lost her right ski after a solid start and failed to finish. "Its one of those situations where nine out of 10 times your ski might stay on," Mancuso said. "I was going to make a transition, (its a) bumpy slope, ski caught the other ski and just clipped off." Mancuso was 0.18 behind Mazes first intermediate time when her run ended going into a left turn. Mancuso switched her equipment supplier to join Vonn at Head in the off-season. She said the skis under the new rules were suiting her. "I felt comfortable," Mancuso said. "We had a pretty reasonable course set this run ... just a really easy rhythm. I think you will get into bigger problems with these skis if its really tight or just one difficult turn." A mens GS on the Rettenbach course is scheduled for Sunday. The womens World Cup continues with a slalom in Levi, Finland, on Nov. 10. K.J. Wright Jersey . In other CIS sports, the Guelph Gryphons open the cross-country running season atop the womens and mens national rankings, while the St. Ben Obomanu Jersey . After giving up 12 runs and 12 hits over eight innings in his first two outings, Maholm has more than settled down. http://www.officialhawksgear.com/marshawn-lynch-jerseys .C. -- The Charlotte Bobcats have rescinded their qualifying offer to restricted free agent forward Derrick Brown, freeing up $3 million in salary cap space. Bruce Irvin Seahawks Jersey . The 25-year-old Surman joined Norwich from Wolverhampton in 2010, and had four goals last season as the Canaries finished 12th in the English Premier League. Zach Miller Elite Jersey . Stamps suffered a ruptured testicle in a game against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Aug. 5 required surgery to remove it. However, he only missed three games and not only finished the season but registered his third straight 1,000-yard receiving campaign. TORONTO -- Jon Jones will not face Lyoto Machida for the light heavyweight title at UFC 152 after all. Machida has turned down the opportunity to fight on the Toronto card next month so Jones will instead face Brazilian Vitor Belfort. Jones was initially supposed to fight Dan Henderson on Sept. 1 in UFC 151 in Las Vegas. But Henderson injured his knee and Jones declined a replacement fight with Chael Sonnen, forcing the UFC to cancel the Vegas card. UFC president Dana White was furious with Jones and his trainer, Greg Jackson, after the UFC was forced to scrap a major card for the first time in his 11 years in charge of mixed martial arts dominant promotion. "This is probably one of my all-time lows," White said after announcing the cancellation Thursday. "The one thing that I never thought in a million years would eveer happen -- it happened. Golden Tate Jersey. " White said Jones is the first UFC champion ever to turn down a match even on such short notice, calling the decision "selfish" and "disgusting." Jones (16-1) is among the sports top handful of pound-for-pound fighters after his meteoric rise to the title in March 2011 in just his eighth UFC fight. Belfort (21-9) will give up his bout against Alan Belcher at UFC 153 to take on Jones. He hasnt fought at light heavyweight since 2007. Meanwhile, Dan Miller has been forced out of his UFC 152 fight with Torontos Sean Pierson due to a medical issue with his son. The UFC will look for a replacement for Miller. A welterweight bout between Charlie Brenneman and Kyle Noke, which was originally scheduled for UFC 151, has also been added to the Sept. 22 Toronto card. ' ' '
