The Atlanta Braves have avoided arbitration with Brandon Beachy. Beachy and the Braves agreed to a one-year deal on Monday, successfully avoiding arbitration with the 27-year-old. The righty underwent Tommy John surgery in June 2012 and returned to make five starts in 2013, going 2-1 with a 4.50 earned-run average. One of the Major Leagues premier strikeout pitchers, Beachy has fanned 275 batters in 267.2 combined innings over the past four seasons. Beachy has a 14-11 career record in 46 starts with the Braves. Al Tucker Jersey . No, really, his head. Late in the game, the St. Louis goalie craned his neck into the air to block a shot, taking a puck square in the mask. Mike Muscala Jersey . He even addressed his group of relievers Sunday morning. Dustin McGowan made those worries a nonfactor, at least for a day. McGowan pitched three-hit ball for seven innings, Colby Rasmus hit a grand slam and Melky Cabrera added a two-run homer as the Blue Jays beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 7-2. https://www.cheapthunder.com/ .J. - The New York Jets have signed former Green Bay Packers backup quarterback Graham Harrell, giving them some added depth at the position. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Jersey . - Kevin Labanc and Joseph Blandisi were a potent combination for the Barrie Colts on Friday night. Detlef Schrempf Jersey . The R&A announced Monday that golfs oldest championship will return to Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland for the first time since Max Faulkner won in 1951.EDMONTON -- Phil Kessel had two goals and two assists on Tuesday as the Toronto Maple Leafs won their second game in a row, defeating the Edmonton Oilers 4-0. James van Riemsdyk and Nazem Kadri also scored for the Maple Leafs (9-4-0) who have won three of their last four to take over sole possession of first place in the Atlantic Division, moving ahead of the Tampa Bay Lightning. James Reimer stopped 43 shots for his 11th career shutout. Richard Bachman stopped 22 shots for the Oilers (3-9-2), who have now lost four straight. Edmonton outshot Toronto 43-25. Toronto started the scoring just over a minute into the game on their first shot of the contest. Kadri made a nice play to hook a pass to a hard-charging Kessel on his way to the net and he was able to fake out Oilers goalie Bachman with a quick move to score his eight goal of the season. Edmonton had its chances in the fast-paced first period. Most notably on a drop pass from Nail Yakupov that defender Nick Schultz shot wide of an empty net. The Oilers outshot the Maple Leafs 14-12, with Reimer making all the stops through 20 minutes. Bachman was able to keep it a one-goal game early in the second on a big glove save on Mason Raymond, but couldnt do it again a minute later as Kessel dished a two-on-one pass off to van Riemsdyk, and he chipped it into the net. Toronto went up 3-0 with 11 minutes left in the second period as Bachman lost track of a deflected shot that went behind the net and Kessel displayed his skill by barely pulling the puck over the goal line before putting it in the roof of the cage for his second goal of the night. The Maple Leafs added to their lead six minutes into the third period as Morgan Rielly finished offf a tic-tac-toe passing play by rifling a puck off of Kadri and in.dddddddddddd Kadri also had two assists in the game. The Maple Leafs are right back at it in Calgary on Wednesday to play the Flames. The Oilers remain home to face the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday. Notes: It was the second and final of two meetings this season. The Maple Leafs beat the Oilers 6-5 in overtime on Oct. 12 in the previous meeting as Joffrey Lupul scored with under a minute left to force the extra period before Dave Bolland scored the winnera Lupul drew back into the Toronto lineup after missing the last two games with a foot injurya Out for the Leafs were scratched defenceman John-Michael Liles and forward Troy Bodie and injured players included forwards Nikolai Kulemin (ankle), Tyler Bozak (lower body) and defenceman Mark Fraser (knee)a Oilers forward David Perron was a late scratch with an illness. The Oilers remained without injured players Steve MacIntyre (knee), Corey Potter (back), Ryan Hamilton (knee), Jesse Joensuu (back), Ryan Smyth (groin) and Taylor Hall (knee)a The Leafs came into the game having been outshot in nine straight games and in 10 of their first 12 match-ups this seasona Oilers centre Sam Gagner made his return to the Edmonton lineup after missing 13 games due to a broken jaw suffered in the pre-season after taking a since Zack Kassian stick to the face. Gagner wore a full face shield in his returna Richard Bachman got his second career start in the Edmonton net after being called up from Oklahoma City with starter Devan Dubnyk suffering an ankle injury. Bachman made 47 of 48 stops in a 2-1 overtime loss to the L.A. Kings on Sunday. ' ' '
5. Unlike Brett Favre, Selanne has always handled the topic of retirement with aplomb.4. After a decade away from where the "Finnish Flash" was born, Selanne returns to the city of Winnipeg.3. Known as one of the most prolific goal scorers of all time, Teemu gets goal number 600.2. Teemu finally gets to raise the Cup in 2007.1.Teemu Selanne breaks onto the NHL scene in the 1992-93 season with one of the greatest rookie campaigns of all-time, amassing 76 goals and 132 points, both rookie records he still holds to this day. Yeezy Lundmark Uscita . -- Kurt Buschs Sunday at Martinsville Speedway, in some ways, was like his career wrapped into one afternoon. Yeezy Boost 350 V2 2020 . Bach, a 59-year-old German lawyer, was elected Tuesday as president of the International Olympic Committee. He succeeds Jacques Rogge, who stepped down after 12 years. Bach, the longtime favourite, defeated five candidates in a secret ballot for the most influential job in international sports, keeping the presidency in European hands. http://www.yeezy350v2italia.it/yeezy-boo...ertia.html. Head of clinic Josef Obrist tells the Austria Press Agency on Thursday that Morgenstern "is doing surprisingly well. ... He still has a memory gap but thats nothing unusual." Morgenstern has moved to a rehabilitation clinic in Klagenfurt for further recovery. Yeezy Boost 350 V2 Negozi Italia . The biggest collapse in franchise history was a long time ago, and he was too busy trying to make sure it didnt happen again. Yeezy 350 Scontate . Patton was placed on the restricted list testing positive for a banned amphetamine. Patton took Adderall, a drug commonly used to combat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, late in the 2013 season and then was given a random drug test.Uruguayan midfielder Nicolas Mezquida announced via Twitter on Thursday that he has agreed to a deal that will see him return to the Vancouver Whitecaps for next season. I am so happy to stay with @WhitecapsFC. Thanks for your confidence. Feliz por seguir en los @WhitecapsFC, Mezquida posted on his twitter account (@nico_mezquida), along with a picture of himself signing a document and Whitecaps head coach Carl Robinson standing in the background. The Whitecaps later confirmed the signing. “We are excited to have Nicolas returning for his second season with the club,” said Robbinson.dddddddddddd. “Nicolas is a very talented player, a fantastic teammate who brings a positive frame of mind, and he works exceptionally hard each and every day. We are confident Nicolas will excel and play an important part for us in 2015. The team declined Mezquidas contract option for 2015 earlier in the week. The 22-year-old midfielder appeared in 14 games for the Whitecaps in 2014, including four starts, and scored two goals. Prior to joining the Whitecaps, the Paysandu, Uruguay native played for Uruguayan Primera Division side Centro Atletico Fenix. ' ' '
The St. Louis Blues have lost Vladimir Sobotka to the KHL. TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun of ESPN.com is reporting Sobotka has signed with Omsk of the KHL. Sobotka had nine goals and 33 points in 61 games for the Blues last season. The 27-year-old has 35 goals and 123 points in 381 career NHL games, spent split between the Blues and Boston Bruins. Sobotka was a restricted free agent. Meanwhile Steve Ott, acquired by the Blues from the Buffalo Sabres as part of the Ryan Miller trade last season, has signed a two-year, $5.2 million deal to stay with the team. In 23 games with the Blues last season, Ott recorded three assists and 37 penalty minutes. He had nine goals and 23 points all of last season. The 31-year-old has 103 goals and 267 points in 696 career games spent with the Blues, Sabres, and Dallas Stars. Yeezy Boost 380 Italia . "Im proud of him," Jones said in an interview from Sacramento, site of the UFCs weekend televised card. "I think hes listening to his body and hes doing what makes him happy and thats what life is about ultimately. Yeezy Boost 350 V2 Italia . There, I saw a teenaged boy with tears in his eyes, being consoled by strength and conditioning coach Randy Lee. http://www.yeezy350v2italia.it/yeezy-boo...ferte.html .“I always did my stuff ahead of the deadline. The best deal Ive ever done was the Darryl Sydor deal. We did that at the end of January in 04, and Syd was the missing piece. Yeezy Boost 350 V2 Zebra Italia . Hall joined Bengals teammates for a voluntary workout on Monday. Hes got his mobility back and is on schedule to be ready for the season. CINCINNATI - Bengals cornerback Leon Hall is happy with his recovery from a torn Achilles tendon and expects to be ready for the start of training camp in July. Yeezy Boost 350 V2 Negozi Italia . Ryu (8-3) allowed a run and three hits in six innings and struck out six in his 13th start. In his first 13 starts last season -- his first in the major leagues -- the left-hander was 8-5 with a 2.85 ERA. This was the ninth time this year that Ryu has allowed fewer than three earned runs, and he is 7-0 in those games.SEATTLE -- Seattle Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon has run out of superlatives to describe Felix Hernandez. The Mariners ace allowed just one hit over eight innings while striking out nine, and Robinson Cano backed him with a two-run homer as Seattle earned a 3-0 victory over the Cleveland Indians on Sunday. "Felix is great. I dont have the adjectives to explain it anymore. Its just unbelievable," McClendon said. Hernandez allowed just Lonnie Chisenhalls single in the fifth inning and walked three in picking up his 10th victory of the season. It was Hernandezs ninth consecutive start where he has pitched at least seven innings and allowed two or fewer runs. During that stretch he is 6-1 with a 1.30 ERA. He struck out 77 while walking only 10. His 2.10 ERA is now tied with Masahiro Tanaka of the New York Yankees for best in the American League. "I think they were sitting on my changeup with two strikes. We struck out a lot of people with the fastball," Hernandez said. "The command of the fastball was really good. Mixed it up with my breaking ball for a strike and changeup was good, too." Its the first one-hitter thrown by the Mariners since Hernandez and Steve Delabar combined to one-hit the Minnesota Twins on May 5, 2012. It was the first time Cleveland had been held to just one hit since July 27, 2011, against the Los Angeles Angels. "He threw his breaking ball and his changeup early in the count and was able to throw that fastball late," Seattle catcher Mike Zunino said. "Its just tough when youve got four pitches and guys have to respect it, youre not always going to pick right. Hes doing a good job of mixing up and then making the pitch, too." Fernando Rodney pitched a perfect ninth inning for his 23rd save. The Mariners failed to take advantage early after loading the bases in the first inning against Cleveland starter T.J. House. After a leadoff single from Willie Bloomquist, Cano reached on an error by first baseman Nick Swisher while attempting to complete a double play. Kyle Seager singled and Zunino walked to load the bases, buut House struck out Logan Morrison to get out of the jam.dddddddddddd Hernandez didnt allow a hit through the first four innings, with a walk to Michael Brantley giving Cleveland its only baserunner. House (0-2) settled in as well, retiring 13 of the next 14 batters he faced to keep the game scoreless into the fifth inning. Chisenhall led off the fifth with a chopper back through the middle of the infield for Clevelands only hit. Carlos Santana would be the only runner Hernandez allowed to reach second base. Santana walked and advanced on a fielders choice in the sixth. "If (Cano) makes a spectacular play right there, its a no-hitter against us," Chisenhall said. "Fortunately, he didnt. We werent able to get anything going." Michael Saunders led off the sixth with a chopper that House fielded, but he threw wide of first base up the right field line and Saunders advanced to third on the error. Cano then snapped an 0-for-14 skid with a two-run shot to right that gave the Mariners a 2-0 lead. "I was looking for a pitch that I can at least hit out of the infield," Cano said. "Especially in that situation, no outs, thats what you want. Especially with (Hernandez) on the mound you just want to be able to do your job, especially when youve got men in scoring position." Cano singled to lead off the eighth and scored on a single from Zunino to give the Mariners an insurance run. NOTES: Hernandez surpassed Bob Feller (1,836) for the sixth-most strikeouts in a career before a players 29th birthday. Hernandezs nine strikeouts Sunday gives him 1,840 for his career. ... Cleveland pitchers had their streak of 15 consecutive scoreless innings snapped on Canos homer in the sixth inning. They had held Seattle scoreless since the eighth inning of Friday nights game. ... The Mariners optioned OF Stefen Romero to Triple-A Tacoma after the game to open a roster spot. ... Seattle is expected to call up RHP Taijuan Walker to make his season debut and start Mondays game against in Houston against the Astros. He will face off against Houston RHP Collin McHugh (4-6, 2.86 ERA). ' ' '
INDIANAPOLIS -- Jacques Villeneuve is ready to make an IndyCar comeback. Schmidt Peterson Motorsports said Wednesday it has hired Villeneuve to race in this years Indianapolis 500, 19 years after the Canadian driver first drank the milk in Victory Lane. "IndyCar is growing again and thats why last year when I started watching races again, every time I watched I felt almost angry I wasnt there," the 1995 race winner said on a satellite hookup from France during a news conference held at the teams Indy headquarters. At age 42, Villeneuve seemed content being a television analyst, musician and RallyCross driver. But when Schmidt and co-owner Rick Peterson, also from Canada, made a serious offer, he couldnt refuse. The 500 is scheduled for May 25. Villeneuve certainly has a compelling resume. As an Indy rookie in 1994, he qualified fourth and finished second to Al Unser Jr., and was named the races rookie of the year. The next season, the reigning CART rookie of the year was even better. He qualified fifth at Indy, forced Scott Goodyear into a costly mistake on the final restart and eventually held off Christian Fittipaldi to become the first and only Canadian winner of the race. Villeneuve completed all 400 laps at Indy in those two starts and won the 1995 CART title, too. But after starting 33 races, winning six poles and five races in two IndyCar seasons, Villeneuve had a chance to become an international star. So he headed to Europe and joined Formula One -- the series that made his late father, Gilles, a household name. Like his dad, who died in a 1982 F1 qualifying crash, Villeneuve excelled on the world stage. In 163 career starts between 1996 and 2006, the younger Villeneuve reached the podium 23 times, won 11 races, 13 poles and claimed the 1997 world championship. At that point, American open-wheel racing wasnt even on the radar. His journey back to North America began in 2007 when Villeneuve made the move to American stock cars. Over the next seven seasons, he dabbled in Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Le Mans series as well as sports cars. Villeneuve regained interest in IndyCars last season as he watched how close and competitive the races had become. To him, it reminded him of the series he left almost two decades earlier. Suddenly, he was interested in making a return -- if he could find the right car and the right team. "To get this opportunity is a gift," Villeneuve said. "A lot of people say when you have kids, you slow down. I want my kids to see me race." Schmidt is the winningest team owner in Indy Lights history and already employs two full-time drivers in the better-known IndyCar series -- Russias Mikhail Aleshin and Frances Simon Pageland. In previous years, Schmidt has always found a way to compete at Indy. Getting Villeneuve might be the biggest coup of all for his low-budget team. "Indy is a special place. We go there not to exist but to win the race," Schmidt said. "To see a guy that finished second and finished first there, I dont think hes going to have any problem going back." Villeneuve becomes the fifth 500 winner on this years entry list. The others are three-time winner Helio Castroneves of Brazil, two-time winner Scott Dixon of New Zealand, 2000 winner Juan Pablo Montoya of Colombia and Brazils Tony Kanaan, the defending champ. Another trip to Victory Lane would give Villeneuve two more milestones. He would break Al Unsers record for the longest gap between first and last victories. Unser went 17 years between his first Indy crown in 1970 and his record-tying fourth win in 1987. Villeneuve also would break Gordon Johncocks record for the longest gap between first and second wins at Indy, 1973 and 1982. Villeneuve isnt motivated by records. He wants to win. "Im a racer," he said, explaining he does not plan to retire anytime soon. "Ive got to find ways to get better and better and better, and Im going there with a team thats very experienced and has been very successful as well." Babe Ruth Jersey . -- Claudio Bieler hadnt scored since early September, and not from the run of play since mid-July. Glenn Hubbard Jersey . -- Houston Rockets coach Kevin McHale searched more than three quarters for five guys who would play well together. http://www.custombravesjersey.com/custom...-927z.html . The hard-serving 22-year-old from Thornhill, Ont., became the first Canadian to be ranked in the Top 10 on the ATP World Tour thanks to his runner-up performance at Rogers Cup in Montreal. Javy Lopez Jersey . - Zac Leslie scored two goals and assisted on two more, and Justin Nichols made 34 saves as the Guelph Storm blanked the Kitchener Rangers 6-0 in Ontario Hockey League action on Sunday. Alex Jackson Jersey . "This isnt really the week you want to lose Chris Greaves," fellow lineman Glenn January said Wednesday after practice. Greaves is expected to miss several weeks after suffering a knee injury in last weeks 36-28 win over the Ottawa Redblacks.DUNEDIN, Florida - Melky Cabrera envisioned the worst-case scenario when he was diagnosed with having a benign tumour in his back. "I thought he was going to pass away, I was going to die, I was going to leave his kids behind and his family," said Cabrera through third base coach Luis Rivera, translating Spanish to English. "I know one day hes going to die but I wasnt ready to do that yet." It was a harsh dose of reality for Cabrera not long after turning 29 last August 11. It was a strange time. Finally, Cabrera had a proper diagnosis for the knee tendinitis and quadriceps inflammation that had sent him to the disabled list earlier in the season. But to that point, Cabrera couldnt understand why hed been rendered relatively immobile on the field. The tumour, which if left untreated would have continued to grow and could have ended up wrapping itself around Cabreras spinal cord causing paralysis, even death, was about the size of a walnut at the time it was surgically removed. The scar on Cabreras back is about five inches long and runs straight down the spinal column. "I was worried because of the way I was playing and the pain I was feeling in my legs and his back," Cabrera said through Rivera. "I didnt know what was wrong with me until I they decided to check. I found out, my family and myself, it was a tumour. They didnt know if it was benign or cancer and we were real worried." Once the stiches came out ten days after the surgery, Cabrera immediately began working out. He started slowly, capped at curls with 15 and 20-pound dumbbells. By December, Cabrera had moved his offseason home to Tampa. Teammate Jose Bautista lives in the area and the two began two-a-day workouts immediately, including cardio and weight training in the mornings and baseball related activities, namely hitting, in the afternoon. Cabrera is plenty motivated to have a bounce back season. Limited to 88 games last year, he posted a .279/.322/.360 slash line. He was coming off a 50-game suspension in 2012 for performance enhancing drug use. Now in the final year of the $16 million, two-year contract, Cabrera is playing for his next deal while trying to shake a shady past. In solid physical shape and moving better than he has in more than a year, Cabrera is reunited with his hitting coach from three seasons ago in Kansas City, Kevin Seitzer. "Im real happy that hes here," said Cabrera through Rivera. "Hes a real good hitting coach. He knows what kind of swing I have and he can work with me better." NAVARRO CATCHES BUEHRLE Asked before Fridays game if he could remember catching a pitcher who works as quickly as Mark Buehrle, Dioner Navarro didnt waste any time responding. "Nobody," he said. Navarro wouldnt offer a prediction of how things would go, which necessitated a follow up when he left the game after six innings. "On the positive side I dont have to do conditioning now," joked Navarro. "It was fun. I think hes still trying to build in as spring training goes along. I dont think he was throwing as hard as he can.dddddddddddd His mechanics looked fine. The ball was coming out fine. He likes to work fast, thats for sure." Buehrle threw two innings, allowing a run on two hits. He struck out one and walked one. "First thing I told him when we met, I said, Listen, I dont shake off, so I like the sign down and hope youve got a game plan back there, because I dont really go over one, I dont follow one, so I just kind of go off [the catchers signs]," said Buehrle. "Thats big for them to know the hitters and know what I like to throw in certain situations. So far, were just working on some stuff right now and getting his feedback on certain pitches that Im throwing, so its good." Buehrle sat in on a handful of advanced scouting meetings two years ago in Miami, at the request of then-Marlins pitching coach Randy St. Claire, but felt he wasnt benefitting from the information. Hed prefer if Navarro and pitching coach Pete Walker worked out the plan. Hell just throw the pitches, joking that if things go wrong it leaves the blame on the catcher. "We take the blame," said Navarro. "Hey, its been like that for 100 years. When somebody does good, good job. When something goes bad its the catchers fault. Ive got no shame on that. I take the blame. Its okay with me." IZTURIS ACCEPTING OF BACK UP ROLE As long as the regulars stay healthy, Maicer Izturis will find himself back in the role he had with the Angels. Hell play some second base, some shortstop and some third base and be a late-game option off the bench for manager John Gibbons. "Ive been in that situation before in Anaheim with Aybar and Howie Kendrick," said Izturis. "For me, Im coming in ready to help the team win. I just want to make the playoffs and win that thing. I think weve got everything here. We need to just compete." A 10-year veteran, Izturis also is serving as a mentor to Ryan Goins, who ended last season as the Jays second baseman and is expected to have the starting job when camp breaks. "Just be consistent, play good defense," said Izturis of his advice to Goins. "Hes got the same game that I do. Just play defense, move the runner, take some pitches, play for the team. Weve got a lot of players with power and speed. Thats what I try to tell him to help him understand his game." Izturis is fully healed following a season-ending ankle sprain late last August. He began running the bases and taking ground balls in November. LINDS BEARD GETTING ATTENTION Adam Linds goatee is being compared to the beard worn by former professional wrestler Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart. Shown a photo of Neidhart, Lind laughed and said, "Hes got a better tan." KRATZ DOES COMMERCIALS Check out these three commercials featuring new Blue Jays catcher Erik Kratz, done last year in Philadelphia for Godshalls Quality Meats. Some funny stuff. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGOjaXfwdfghttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bltl70SVyuUhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8oQi1uuq2xI ' ' '
NEW ORLEANS - The New Orleans Pelicans have signed former Dallas Mavericks guard Gal Mekel.The club, which announced the move on Friday evening, says Mekel will be with the team and available to play in Saturday nights game against the Clippers in Los Angeles.The 6-foot-3 Mekel appeared in 31 games last season with Dallas, averaging 2.4 points and two assists per game.Mekel also played in all eight of Dallas exhibition games this past preseason before being released.Mekel played two seasons at Wichita State and then five seasons professionally in Israel before making his NBA debut last season. He won two Israeli Super League championships, one with Hapoel Gilboa Galil in 2010 and another with Maccabi Haifa in 2013. He was also named league MVP in 2011 and 2013. Montravius Adams Super Bowl Jersey . But this time, the Gunners weathered the storm. Arsene Wengers team was on the ropes in the early stages of a lively FA Cup tie, until Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain scored a goal against the run of the play. Davante Adams Super Bowl Jersey . - Bryan Price sat down in the cushy chair. http://www.officialgreenbaypackerspro.co...rs-jersey/ ." Bach is in Rome for the European Olympic Committees general assembly and meetings with Pope Francis. He also visited with Italian Premier Enrico Letta. "The prime minister appeared to be interested in a bid from Italy for 24, because he has realized that the games can serve as a catalyst for development for a city and a country," Bach told The Associated Press on Saturday. Raven Greene Super Bowl Jersey . The person, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the confidential nature of the search, confirmed reports by several media outlets. The interview took place in Southern California on Monday. David Bakhtiari Super Bowl Jersey .J. -- Freshman Eli Carter scored a career-high 31 points and hit the go-ahead basket in the second overtime as Rutgers rallied to stun No.MILWAUKEE -- It was just like old times for Rick Barnes and Texas. The Longhorns made a successful return to the NCAA tournament when Cameron Ridley converted a tiebreaking layup as time expired Thursday night, lifting his team to an 87-85 victory over Arizona State. Jonathan Holmes missed badly on a long 3-pointer for the Longhorns in the final seconds, but Ridley emerged from the scrum and banked it in as the buzzer sounded. The call stood after a video replay, handing Texas its first tourney win since 2011. "I went to the glass as hard as I could," Ridley said. Ridley finished with 17 points and 12 rebounds for the seventh-seeded Longhorns (24-10), who led by 14 with 12 minutes left. Freshman reserve Martez Walker had 16 points and Demarcus Holland scored 14 on 6-for-6 shooting from the field. "It was a great, great college basketball game and I thought it was really very unfortunate that either team had to lose this game," Barnes said. "We were fortunate. ... We didnt have great execution at the end but we found a way to make a couple plays." Texas will face No. 2 seed Michigan Saturday. The Wolverines advanced with a 57-40 victory over Wofford. Jordan Bachynski had 25 points and seven rebounds for No. 10 seed Arizona State (21-12), which was making its first tournament appearance since 2009. Jahii Carson had 19 points and nine assists, and Jermaine Marshall added 17 points and seven rebounds. "Its a tough one, its a tough way to end the game and end my career," Bachynski said. Texas went to the NCAA tournament in each of Barnes first 14 seasons, making it to the 2003 Final Four. But last season was a disaster for the Longhorns, who went 16-18 and lost in the opening round of the College Basketball Invitational. Barnes lost three starters from that team, but Holmes and Ridley returned, and the Lonnghorns were determined to turn it around after the disappointing finish.dddddddddddd They stumbled a bit heading into the tournament, losing five of eight, but they stepped up at the most critical time against the Sun Devils. Holmes made two free throws to give Texas a 61-47 lead with 12:11 to go, and the Longhorns looked ready to blow out the Sun Devils. ASU then scored 17 of the next 22 points, trimming the deficit to two on Jonathan Gillings 3-pointer with 8:15 left. Arizona State had an 83-82 lead when Holmes grabbed an air ball by Javan Felix and scored while being fouled by Gilling. He made the resulting foul shot with 32 seconds to go. Gilling made two free throws on the other end, setting up the frantic finish. Gilling had four 3-pointers and 15 points for the Sun Devils, who lost their last four games of the season. "They just keep playing, theyve been a next-play, next-game team all season," Arizona State coach Herb Sendek said. "I can tell you right now its a very emotional, heartbroken locker room." The battle of at-large teams in the Midwest Regional featured a pair of coaches with a long history together. Barnes first met Herb Sendek at a 1978 basketball camp at the University of Pittsburgh, and Barnes had Sendek on his staff for one season when he was in charge at Providence. They also coached against each other for years in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Their only other meeting in the NCAA tournament occurred in 2006, when Texas beat North Carolina State 75-54 in the round of 32. Both teams got off to fast starts, with Bachynskis jumper for Arizona State tying it at 21 with 12:32 to go. But Texas responded with a 9-0 run, beginning with Walkers two free throws and ending with Walkers 3 from the wing. Walker added a layup with 31 seconds left to help the Longhorns to a 41-36 halftime lead. ' ' '
HOUSTON - James Harden wasnt concerned about overstating the importance of Houstons come-from-behind victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday night. "We needed this win more than anything," he said. Harden had 33 points and 13 assists and the Rockets rallied for a 111-104 win over the Pelicans to maintain their spot in the Western Conference standings with the post-season just days away. The Rockets had lost two in a row and needed the win to stay ahead of Portland in fourth place in the West. The Rockets got a boost from the return of Dwight Howard and Patrick Beverley, who had both missed the last eight games with injuries. Beverley scored 20 points and Howard had 13. "Pat was knocking down shots and Dwight was an easy rim target, so it made things easier for me," Harden said. The Pelicans led by eight points with less than three minutes remaining when Houston used a 9-0 run, powered by two 3-pointers from Beverley to take a 105-104 lead with 1:04 left. Beverleys second 3 in that span clanged off the rim and into the air before falling back into the basket and bringing the crowd to its feet. Howard blocked a shot by Jeff Withey to give Houston the ball back after Beverleys first 3 in that run. Harden made a layup to give the Rockets their first lead since the second quarter after Beverleys 3s. Jeremy Lin extended the run to 11 straight points with his layup seconds later and stole the ball on the Pelicans next possession to secure the win. "We kind of had to pull a rabbit out of our hat tonight," coach Kevin McHale said. Luke Babbitt, who was signed by the Pelicans in February after playing 18 games in Russia this season, had a career-high 24 points as New Orleans dropped its eighth straight. Austin Rivers had a season-high 20 points with 10 rebounds and six assists, and Anthony Morrow also had 20 points. "We made a couple of mental mistakes, a couple of key turnovers and ... we had a couple of mishaps, and you combine those three things and its going to be tough to win," Rivers said. "This was a really frustrating loss." McHale hoped he wouldnt have to overexert Howard and Beverley in their first game back, but the game didnt work out that way. Howard played more than 29 minutes and Beverley more than 33. "They both said they were feeling fine and wanted to win the game and we needed that win," McHale said. New Orleans was clinging to a 3-point lead when Babbitt scored five quick points to extend the lead to 100-92 with about four minutes left. Harden was fouled as he made an off-balance layup with one hand and then made the free throw to get the Rockets within 91-87 with 7 1/2 minutes remaining. Houston trailed by 10 when Harden and Beverley hit 3-pointers sandwiched around a basket by Rivers to cut the lead to 90-84 with about eight minutes left. Beverley held up three fingers on each hand and beat his chest after he swished his 3-pointer. The Pelicans led 82-72 entering the fourth quarter. New Orleans was up by 15 points early in the third quarter when Houston used a 12-4 run, capped by a 3-pointer by Harden as the shot clock expired, to get within 65-58. A 3 by Lin, followed by a pair of free throws from Jones later in the quarter cut the Pelicans lead to 73-68. But New Orleans used a 7-2 run with the help of a 3-pointer by James Southerland to extend the lead to 80-70 with a minute left in the third quarter. Houston led by two with about 10 minutes left in the second quarter before New Orleans used a 8-2 run to take a 35-31 lead. The Rockets had regained a one-point lead soon after that when the Pelicans used a 19-6 spurt to go on top 56-44 about 2 1/2 minutes before halftime. Babbitt made three 3-pointers in that stretch and Rivers added a fourth 3. NOTES: Hall of Famer and former Rockets star Hakeem Olajuwon watched from a courtside seat. ... Houston extended its single-season record for sellouts to 37 with a sold-out crowd of 18,372 on Saturday night. ... Howard had been out because of a left ankle strain and Beverley missed time because of a torn meniscus in his right knee. ... Houstons Chandler Parsons (wrist and hip) and Francisco Garcia (back) sat out with injuries. They are both listed as day to day. ... Houstons Troy Daniels had a long Saturday. He played 44 minutes and scored 30 points in a D-League playoff game for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers before flying from Des Moines to Houston and collecting three points and a rebound in almost 13 minutes for the Rockets. Memphis Grizzlies Gear .Inter Milan and Napoli also advanced to ensure there will be at least three Italian clubs in the last 32 of Europes secondary competition.Spurs victory, secured by Benjamin Stamboulis 49th-minute winner, was overshadowed by a succession of pitch invasions that forced the referee to halt the game after 41 minutes. Cheap Grizzlies Jerseys . The 21-year-old Canadian earned a spot in his third career ATP final on Saturday thanks to his first Top 10 victory of the new tennis season, a 6-4, 6-4 win over world no. 10 Nicolas Almagro of Spain. https://www.cheapgrizzlies.com/964p-dean...zlies.html .5 million contract with the right-handed reliever. Ziegler revealed the agreement via Twitter, saying hes "really excited to stay in Arizona for a couple more years, at least. Vince Carter Jersey .C. -- Martin Kaymer set a U. Earl Watson Jersey . None of them was better than playing with LeBron James again.FLORHAM PARK, N.J. - Michael Vick expects to be ready for his second start with the New York Jets.The veteran quarterback insisted Monday he is fine after banging the back of his head and briefly leaving the Jets game at Kansas City on Sunday.I feel good, he said. After playing my first full game in a year and a half, I feel good.Vick was shaken up early in the fourth quarter of the Jets 24-10 loss when he was popped by Chiefs linebacker Josh Mauga after throwing an incomplete pass.Vicks head slammed into the turf and he was slow to get up. The 34-year-old quarterback was replaced by Matt Simms, but passed the NFLs concussion protocol before returning a few minutes later.No headaches, no nothing, Vick said.He and coach Rex Ryan said a lingering foot injury was more of an issue — but it shouldnt keep him from playing against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday at MetLife Stadium.He passed all those (concussion) tests to get back cleared, Ryan said. If anything, hes got a foot that keeps getting stepped on. I think thats the biggest concern right now.Vick, starting in place of Geno Smith, was 21 oof 28 for 196 yards and a touchdown and committed no turnovers.ddddddddddddIt was his first regular-season start since last Oct. 27 against the Giants while he was with the Philadelphia Eagles.You really dont need confirmation when you believe in yourself and you trust your abilities, and you trust your preparation, he said.To be able to go out there and play efficiently is great for me. I still didnt play up to my standards because we didnt score as much as I knew we could have scored. We didnt put as many points on the board.But I believe in myself and I believe in what I can do, and I have been telling you that from Day 1.Smith, inactive with a sore right shoulder, is uncertain for Sunday against the Steelers. He threw before the game, but wasnt completely comfortable so the Jets sat him in favour of Simms.I hope hes fine, but well see as the week progresses, Ryan said. He was able to throw, all that type of stuff, for the most part. I know he feels better right now, so hopefully thats a good sign.___AP NFL websites: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP_NFL ' ' '
(SportsNetwork.com) - The Tampa Bay Lightnings current hot streak began with a home win over the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Bolts hope to win a fifth straight game when they visit the Penguins for Fridays rematch at Consol Energy Center. Tampa recorded a 4-3 regulation win over the Pens on Dec. 23, as Tyler Johnson posted a hat trick to fuel the Lightning offense. That win halted Tampas 10- game losing streak in the series, giving the Bolts their first victory over Pittsburgh since Nov. 17, 2011. The Lightning have a chance to end another lengthy skid against the Pens, who have won the last eight meetings in the Steel City. Tampa is 0-7-1 all-time at Consol Energy Center and last beat Pittsburgh on the road at the now demolished Igloo on March 31, 2010. Tampa has posted victories against Carolina, Toronto and Buffalo since downing the Penguins. The Lightning, who will try to win five straight tonight for the first time since a six-game tear from Oct. 28-Nov. 9, is coming off Wednesdays 5-1 rout of the Sabres Ondrej Palat posted a goal and three assists to lead the Lightning in the New Years Eve rout of the Sabres. Nikita Kucherov had two goals and an assist, while Matthew Carle and Brett Connolly also scored for the Lightning. Our goals against have been going down and when it comes down to March and April, you really need to have your defensive play down, said Tampa Bay head coach Jon Cooper. Andrei Vasilevskiy needed to make just 10 saves to secure the win. No. 1 netminder Ben Bishop is expected to start tonight after not suiting up for Wednesdays game. Tampa said Bishops absence was not injury related, although he did miss four games recently with a lower-body issue. Bishop is 0-2-0 with a 4.26 goals against average in his career against the Penguins. He last faced them on Dec. 15 when he had to leave the game with an injury after stopping 4-of-5 shots. Vasilevskiy earned the win over Pittsburgh on Dec. 23, but was sent down to Syracuse of the American Hockey League on Thursday. Lightning defenseman Radko Gudas is questionable for tonight after sitting out Wednesday with an undisclosed injury. Tampas 15-4-1 home record is a big reason the club is sitting two points ahead of Montreal for first place in the Atlantic Division. The Bolts are just 9-7-3 as the visiting team, but hope to pick up a second straight away win tonight in the second stop on a four-game road trip. Pittsburgh was able to halt its longest losing streak of the season on New Years Eve, as it downed the visiting Carolina Hurricanes by a 2-1 score. The Penguins had lost four straight and three in a row in regulation before beating the Hurricanes with a late goal on Wednesday. Brandon Sutter snapped a 1-1 tie with 1:42 left in regulation. He took a bouncing feed from Beau Bennett and wristed the puck past Cam Ward from the slot. The shot tipped off a Carolina player before finding the back of the net. We stuck with it all night and any time you get a late goal like that its always a big boost, said Sutter. Our defense was solid all night and the goaltending was great. All in all a great game. Chris Kunitz had the other goal for the Penguins, while Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 24 shots in the win. Pittsburgh, which is tied with the New York Islanders for first place in the Metropolitan Division, improved to 14-5-1 as the home club. The Pens are playing the second test of a four-game homestand tonight and will continue the residency tomorrow against Montreal. With the Pens playing on back-to-back nights, backup Thomas Greiss could get a start over the next two days. Greiss, who battled a case of the mumps recently, hasnt started since seen action since Dec. 13, but he was well enough to suit up as the backup on Wednesday. Greiss has never faced the Lightning, while Fleury is 16-10-3 with a 2.45 GAA for his career in this matchup. Pittsburgh could get a couple of players back from injury or illness tonight. Forward Steve Downie practiced with the team for the second straight day on Thursday after missing six games with the mumps. He is questionable for tonight, as is defenseman Paul Martin, who has sat out the last six tests with an undisclosed injury. Martin returned to practice on Tuesday, but he will need to be activated off injured reserve to play tonight. Steven Baker .com) - Nino Williams posted 18 points and seven rebounds, as Kansas State edged No. Charles Mann ." Those traits were clear to the 24,071 at Olympic Stadium on Saturday as the Impact dominated the scoring chances but settled for a 2-2 draw with the New York Red Bulls in a battle of still-winless Major League Soccer teams. https://www.cheapnfljerseyschina.co/ . So they rushed to re-sign the first baseman who general manager Ben Cherington described Friday as "a unique player." The World Series champions finalized a $32 million, two-year agreement Thursday with the slugging former catcher who turned into a surprisingly good defender. Bill Mackrides . -- The Detroit Lions made it crystal clear to Golden Tate that he was their top target in free agency. Dave Szott .com) - Guess whos back, back again? Josh Gordons back, tell a friend.LISBON, Portugal - Cristiano Ronaldo resumed training with the Portugal squad on Saturday after recovering from leg injuries that threatened to sideline him from their World Cup opener against Germany. The Portuguese Football Federation said in a statement on its website that the forward was joined by central midfielder Raul Meireles, who had also recovered from injury. Ronaldo has been suffering fromm tendinitis and a muscle injury, both in his left leg.dddddddddddd Portugal plays Germany in nine days, but will also play Ireland in a friendly on Tuesday at New Jerseys MetLife Stadium before departing for Brazil. At the World Cup, Portugal also plays the United States and Ghana in Group G. The federation also said goalkeeper Beto was receiving treatment for an unspecified problem. ' ' '
MINNEAPOLIS - Jay Cutler and the Chicago Bears had the ball back with one last chance.The defence had just stonewalled Minnesotas Matt Asiata at the 3-yard line on both third-and-1 and fourth-and-1, leaving the lead for the Vikings at four points with 2:53 left. Cutler even ran for 22 yards on the first play, giving the Bears some space and a spark.Then, in a fitting finish to this forgettable year, came the familiar mistakes. Three penalties, an incompletion and three too-short passes later, the Vikings took possession again with three kneel-downs all that remained.Teddy Bridgewater threw the go-ahead 44-yard touchdown pass to Adam Thielen in the third quarter, and the Vikings hung on for a 13-9 victory on Sunday to slap one more blemish on a bad season for the Bears.We were kind of shooting ourselves in the foot like weve been doing the entire year, which is something that needs to change if we want to continue to play in this league and win some games, running back Matt Forte said.Coach Marc Trestmans opportunity to effect such changes might have ended.After losing the last two games of 2013 to fall to 8-8 and hand the NFC North title to Green Bay, the Bears (5-11) finished 2014 with their worst record in 10 years. Trestman said he expected to return.Im not going to stand up here and try to make a case for myself. I believe in what Im doing, and I believe I have the answers to help us get better, Trestman said. I feel strongly about that, and I love this team and I love the players in this locker room.The Vikings (7-9) finally gave coach Mike Zimmer an interdivision win in the final game of his first season.Blair Walsh kicked two field goals, linebacker Audie Cole had 11 tackles, three assists and a pass breakup in his first start of the season and Bridgewater went 17 for 25 for 209 yards to finish 6-6 as a starter in his rookie year.Bridgewater finished the season a 64.4 completion rate, the third-highest by a rookie in NFL history behind Ben Roethlisberger (66.4) and Robert Griffin III (65.6).The players on the football team, the coaches, the organization, hopefully the fans, believe in this kid, Zimmer said.Here are some key nuggets to know about the game:CUTLER FUTURECutler finished turnover-free for only the third time in 15 games this season. But considering his 18 interceptions thrown, six lost fumbles and average of 6.8 yards per attempt, the second-worst of his career, the Bears could also decide to move on from their quarterback despite the hefty contract extension they gave him almost a year ago.I would like to be back. I said that a couple of weeks ago. But whatever happens, well deal with it then and make plans accordingly, Cutler said.FORTE RECORDThe bright spot for the Bears in this game was Forte, who set the NFL record for most catches in a season by a running back with 102. He passed Larry Centers, who had 101 receptions for the Cardinals in 1995.Forte also topped the 1,000-yard rushing mark for the fifth time in seven years and finished with 1,846 yards and 10 touchdowns from scrimmage.MORE THAN A THIELENThielen, an undrafted player out of NCAA Division II Minnesota State who spent last season on the practice squad, had his first career offensive touchdown. He scored last month on a blocked punt. But just as important was Thielens sprint to tackle Marc Mariani after a 67-yard kickoff return to the 35 early in the fourth quarter. The Bears had to settle for a field goal on that drive that cut the lead to 13-9.Good things happen when you hustle. Thats the type of kid Adam is, Zimmer said.COLE COMES THROUGHWith starting linebackers Chad Greenway and Anthony Barr out with knee injuries, Audie Cole got his first start of the season for the Vikings and shined with 14 total tackles, including one for a 2-yard loss on Forte. He also broke up a pass and had an interception negated by an offside penalty on Corey Wootton.CHALLENGING PATTERSONAfter a standout rookie year, playing in the Pro Bowl as a kickoff returner, wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson slumped badly and barely played on offence down the stretch. Though Bridgewaters throw was behind him, Patterson bobbled a third-quarter pass that Kyle Fuller intercepted for the Bears.Ive got a plan for this off-season for him, and hopefully it works, Zimmer said of Pattersons mindset. But its going to be up to Cordarrelle.___AP NFL websites: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP_NFLNemanja Bjelica Jersey . In the days leading up to the draft, TSN.ca and TSN Radio basketball analyst Duane Watson looks at some of the names that will be headlining the event. Watch the 2014 NBA Draft on TSN, Thursday at 7pm et/4pm pt. Kings Jerseys 2020 . Henry, who missed three games with a knee injury, was charged with a handball in the penalty area in the 82nd minute as he went to block a strike from Patrick Mullins. On the ensuing penalty kick, Lee Nguyen picked up his fourth goal of the season, giving the Revolution a 2-1 win Saturday afternoon. https://www.cheapkingsbasketball.com/150...kings.html . Donald Young lost in straight sets to Israels Dudi Sela 6-3, 6-0. Querrey, ranked No. 61, is the second-highest ranked American, ahead of Johnson (64). Bob Davies Jersey . Assistant coach Glen Gulutzan said Thursday that Edler, who played Tuesday in Nashville, is out indefinitely. Isaiah Thomas Jersey . -- Those impatient for the Stanley Cup to return to Canada will have just one team to root for in the NHL playoffs -- the Montreal Canadiens.Sweden and Canada became the first mens teams to qualify for the Olympic curling semifinals on Sunday, and Britain missed the chance to join them by losing to Norway. Canada (6-2) stole a point at the last end to secure an 8-6 win over the U.S., which now cannot qualify. The Canadians didnt know they had qualified when they came off the ice after a tense win over the U.S. team, but they soon were celebrating. Even if the Canadians lose their last game — to China in the evening session — the worst they could finish is tied at 6-3 with Norway and Britain. They would qualify on a superior head-to-head record, the Canadian Curling Association confirmed. "We played all right, definitely not our best, but its still good to get the win knowing that we didnt put our best performance together," Canada skip Brad Jacobs said. The game came down to the final shot, delivered by U.S. skip John Shuster. His draw settled around the button next to a Canadian stone, which was clooser by barely half an inch.dddddddddddd "Sometimes you are on the right side and sometimes on the wrong side," Shuster said. "It just sucks that weve been on the wrong side at the Olympics." Playing in front of their king, Carl XVI Gustaf, the Swedes beat Russia 8-4 in nine ends to move into the outright lead at 7-1. They are the reigning world champions. Norway (4-3) staved off elimination with a 7-6 win over Britain (5-3), ensuring there will be plenty to play for going into the final day of round-robin action Monday. "It was one of the most important games of our career," said Haavard Vad Petersson, who was part of the Norway team that won an Olympic silver medal in 2010. "We had to win this one to stay alive. "We have won a medal before but we want to get gold." The Americans are 2-5. Norways final two games are against Switzerland and Denmark, both of which are out of contention. Britains last game is against China. ' ' '
NEW YORK -- Travis dArnaud went 3 for 4 with a three-run homer, Bartolo Colon made his second straight strong start, and the New York Mets crushed the Philadelphia Phillies 7-1 on Monday night. DArnaud hit one of three doubles for the Mets as they took a 4-0 lead in the first. Then the catchers seventh home run of the season broke the game open in the fifth. The 41-year-old Colon (10-8) retired the first 20 batters in his last outing Wednesday against Seattle, eventually allowing two runs on three hits in 7 1-3 innings in a 3-2 win. He wasnt as dominant Monday. But staked to a big lead, he was never in much trouble either, scattering 10 hits over 7 2-3 innings. With the Mets up 7-0 in the sixth, the Phillies loaded the bases after umpire Jerry Meals ruled that Daniel Murphys foot didnt touch the bag on a two-out force play at second base. New York challenged, and the call stood on review. But Colon promptly struck out Cody Asche to end the threat. The big right-hander was taken out after 121 pitches upon allowing his only run on consecutive two-out doubles in the eighth. A.J. Burnett (6-10), like Colon a veteran who could attract suitors before Thursdays trade deadline, also was coming off a stellar outing. But after throwing 131 pitches Wednesday, one shy of his career high, Burnett got off to a shaky start this time. Curtis Granderson walked to open the bottom of the first, and Murphy drove him in with a double. Lucas Duda had an RBI single and Juan Lagares a two-run double later in the inning. Burnett settled down, retiring 11 of the next 13 batters with four strikeouts. But with two outs in the fifth, he walked Duda. Chris Young singled, then dArnaud made it 7-0. Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz was 4 for 4 with Philadelphias only RBI. TRAINERS ROOM Mets: Lefty reliever Dana Eveland was taken out after he appeared to be hit on his pitching elbow by Ben Reveres hard comebacker in the ninth. Manager Terry Collins said RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka, who went on the 15-day disabled list with right elbow inflammation Saturday, was feeling better and should be able to start playing catch by the end of the week. ON DECK LHP Cole Hamels (5-5) starts for the Phillies against Mets RHP Dillon Gee (4-3) on Tuesday night in the middle of the three-game series. Cheap Jerseys From China . PETERSBURG, Fla. Cheap Jerseys . PAUL, Minn. https://www.wholesalejerseysaaa.com/ . - Josh Sterk scored twice to lead the Oshawa Generals to a 7-1 rout of the Ottawa 67s in Mondays Ontario Hockey League action. Wholesale Jerseys 2020 .ca MLB Power Rankings, the third consecutive week that the As have held top spot and the third straight week that they have been one ahead of the Toronto Blue Jays. Wholesale NFL Jerseys . Marian Gaborik had two goals and an assist and Martin Jones made just 17 saves to record his fourth shutout of the season as the Kings snapped a three-game losing skid with a 3-0 victory over the lowly Oilers on Thursday.NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Titans safety Michael Griffin and wide receiver Kendall Wright have kept an open spot between them on the sideline during the national anthem this season.Come Sunday, Griffin says he may ask Chris Johnson if he wants to fill that space one last time.Then the jokes will stop, because Griffin knows only too well how dangerous CJ2K can be — no matter how poor this season has been for him or his new team, the Jets.I really just think hes going to come in there and try to prove something, Griffin said. We dont have the best rushing defence right now. Theyre second in rushing offence, so Im pretty sure hes coming in licking his chops thinking he gets that opportunity to get out there and shine.When the Jets visit the Titans on Sunday, its a meeting of 2-11 teams in which the loser moves closer to drafting No. 1 overall in May.The Titans have lost seven straight in the worst skid for this franchise since 1994. The Jets have lost three straight, including 30-24 in overtime at Minnesota last week, with coach Rex Ryans days seemingly numbered.Its definitely draining in the fact that your record says something about your team, that its just horrible, Ryan said. Were 2-11, both teams are 2-11, and obviously nobody feels good about that. Thats for sure. Nobody wants that, nobody in their wildest dreams thought that that would happen, but here we are.Tennessee released Johnson in April to avoid paying $8 million to a running back who turned 29 in September. Johnson is averaging 4.5 yards a carry for the Jets, but splitting the work with Chris Ivory has him set to miss a 1,000-yard season for the first time in his career.So in a season that hasnt been close to what Johnson expected with the Jets, heres a chance in a game he circled when the schedule came out.It should be fun to go back to my old stomping grounds and be able to play at LP Field, Johnson said.Here are some things to watch for Sunday:STOPPING CJ: Johnson is part of the NFLs second-bbest rushing offence, averaging 149.dddddddddddd7 yards per game. Ivory is leading the Jets with 714 yards and five TDs, but New York goes with whoevers running best. Johnson ran for a season-high 105 yards two weeks ago against Miami.The Titans are last in the NFL, allowing 141.5 yards rushing per game.I just hope nobody gets him amped up during the game talking crazy if weve got him contained, Griffin said of Johnson.TESTING GENO: Turnovers have been a problem for the Jets who have had three interceptions returned for TDs this season, including their first play last week. Smith is making his third straight start trying to show management he deserves to stick around in 2015.JAKES BACK: With rookie Zach Mettenbergers sprained shoulder keeping him out of practice, Jake Locker is back as Titans starter after being benched in October. Locker was carried off the field on a stretcher the last time these teams met, but he threw for three TDs in that game for the win. He really carved us up, Ryan said of Locker. Again, we havent forgotten that, thats for sure.WALKING WOUNDED: The Jets hope to get defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson back after turf toe kept him out the past two games, and hes testing a special shoe. Wide receiver Percy Harvin says he will play despite a sprained ankle that had him in a walking boot early in the week. The Titans have been without their starting offensive tackles the past two games.EARLY MISTAKES: The Titans have fallen behind each of the past four games, with the deficits only getting larger. They trailed 30-0 before losing 36-7 to the Giants last week. Obviously, the biggest thing for us is not to shoot ourselves in the foot early, which we seem to have been doing quite a bit of lately, Titans coach Ken Whisenhunt said.___AP Sports Writer Dennis Waszak in Florham Park, New Jersey, contributed to this report.___AP NFL website: http://www.pro32.ap.org___Follow Teresa M. Walker on Twitter: http://twitter.com/teresamwalker ' ' '
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. -- Police in Atlantic City say Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice was arrested at a casino there after an argument with his fiance turned physical. Atlantic City police said that Rice and Janay Palmer were both arrested on simple assault charges and were released on a summons after an incident at the Revel Casino early Saturday morning. Both Rice and Palmer declined medical attention and neither reported any injuries. Michael Diamondstein, an attorney for Rice, says that hes hopeful that after an investigation "the matter turns out to be little more than a misunderstanding." Rice played at Rutgers University in New Jersey and was drafted in the second round of the 2008 draft by the Ravens. Lane Taylor Super Bowl Jersey . - Vince Carter, heading into his 17th NBA season, doesnt consider age a big issue anymore. Paul Hornung Super Bowl Jersey .com) - Colorado forward P. https://www.packersrookiestore.com/Packe...er-Jersey/ . 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The announcement was made at the world mens curling championship at Capital Indoor Stadium in China.ATLANTA - Perhaps the only bad news for the Pirates is they cant send Edinson Volquez back to the mound with the division title on the line in their final regular-season series.Volquez threw seven scoreless innings, Travis Snider and Neil Walker hit homers and Pittsburgh moved within one game of the NL Central lead with a 10-1 win over the Atlanta Braves on Thursday night.Pittsburgh, only one game behind first-place St. Louis in the division, will close its regular season with a three-game series at Cincinnati. The Pirates clinched a playoff spot on Tuesday night.We want to keep doing what were doing, keep fighting, Volquez said.The Pirates won three of four from the reeling Braves. St. Louis, which did not play Thursday night, closes its regular season with a weekend series at Arizona.Volquez (13-7) set a season high with 10 strikeouts and gave up only four hits. He closed his regular season with 18 consecutive scoreless innings.After posting an ugly combined 5.71 ERA with the Padres and Dodgers in 2013, Volquez finished his 2014 regular season with a 3.04 mark. He was at his best down the stretch, posting a 1.08 ERA in September.Volquez allowed only five baserunners, including one walk.Anytime you get off the mound with that kind of efficiency and that kind of command, you know youre going to be in the ballgame, Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said.Added Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez: His command today was about as good as Ive seen him.Josh Harrison moved past Colorados Justin Morneau (.317) for the lead in the NL batting race. Harrison had three hits, pushing his average to .319, and scored two runs.Volquez added to his memorable night with an eighth-inning single that snapped his 0-for-45 drought since April 27. The Pirates had 16 hits, including three by Snider.Starling Marte hit a two-run double in the seventh and Andrew McCutchen drove in two runs with a single in the eighth. Gaby Sanchez had a pinch-hit, run-scoring single in the sixth.Snider has hit nine of his 13 homers on the road, including two in this series.dddddddddddd. His first-inning shot off David Hale (4-5) landed in the front row of the centerfield seats. Walker hit a two-run shot off Gus Schlosser in the eighth.The Braves fell to 5-17 in September. There was a sarcastic cheer from fans when Ramiro Penas fly ball to left field off Casey Sadler in the ninth drove in Jason Heyward as the Braves avoided their seventh shutout loss of the month.The Braves only hit through the first four innings was an infield single by Phil Gosselin in the fourth.Atlanta didnt hit a ball out of the infield until the fifth. Following an infield single by Andrelton Simmons, Pena singled to left field, but Volquez pitched out of the jam.Hale gave up two runs in 4 2/3 innings in his first start since June 28. He replaced Mike Minor, who was shut down for the remainder of the season on Tuesday with inflammation in his left shoulder.Luis Avilan, Atlantas second reliever, allowed four runs on four hits in 1 1/3 innings. Schlosser gave up four runs in the eighth.The 10 runs were the most by the Pirates at Turner Field since the 2008 season opener.GATTIS RETURNSCatcher Evan Gattis was 0-for-2 in his first start for the Braves since Sept. 7. He had been held out with strep throat and a kidney stone and was replaced by Christian Bethancourt in the seventh.STREAKINGHarrison has a 13-game hitting streak, matching his career best. It is his third streak of 10 or more games this season.TRAINERS ROOMPirates: C Russell Martin started after leaving Wednesday nights game with tightness in his left hamstring.Braves: 3B Chris Johnson was held out after leaving Wednesday nights game with a lower back strain. He said he was sore from adjustments to his back.UP NEXTPirates: RHP Vance Worley will face Reds RHP Mike Leake on Friday night.Braves: The Braves close their season with a three-game series at Philadelphia. RHP Ervin Santana will try for his 15th win against Phillies RHP Jerome Williams on Friday night. ' ' '