Its been a busy week on the fantasy football waiver wire -- especially at running back -- as many notable players went down with injuries and owners scrambled for their replacements. Cheap Vikings Jerseys Authentic .Some fantasy players may feel quite undermanned heading into Week 3, but there are no bye week issues yet and hopefully good depth and/or a fruitful excursion to the free agent list has you ready for this weeks full slate of games.---BATTLE OF THE BACKUPSThe Panthers host the Vikings in a featured matchup of teams that are relying on reserve running backs to step forward for injured starters. Jerick McKinnon takes over for the shelved Adrian Peterson, with Matt Asiata also playing a role as a short-yardage vulture. The Panthers have allowed 106.5 rushing yards per game so far, so plug in the nifty McKinnon right away if you lost Peterson, and consider him as a flex play if you simply landed him off waivers. Asiata scored nine TDs when Peterson was suspended in 2014, but is better used when byes roll around. Cameron Artis-Payne and Fozzy Whittaker may share some work in place of Jonathan Stewart. The stingy Vikings defense is sixth against the run so far and Artis-Payne might only post mediocre totals, while Whittaker can give you some point-per-reception respectability because of his pass-catching abilities.---DOWNTRODDEN BROWNSCleveland has already lost their top two quarterbacks, and have to go with untested rookie Cody Kessler at Miami, which should be hungry to win after losing at Seattle and New England. Promising rookie Corey Coleman broke his hand in practice this week, and even suspended wideout Josh Gordon battled more off-field issues as Cleveland continues to spiral downward. Isaiah Crowell may have to face stacked fronts and Gary Barnidges appeal has fallen again. Meanwhile, Ryan Tannehill has a very appealing matchup and an emerging DeVante Parker is looking like a viable starter on the rise.---RISE OF THE ROOKIE STAREzekiel Elliott was a first-round pick in many leagues, but has yet to break out with 134 rushing yards in two games. He does have two rushing TDs, but only 5 receiving yards and there were public whispers about his conditioning and focus this week. Elliott would quiet doubters and please those who invested a high pick in him (including the Cowboys) with a strong performance against the Bears. Chicago has allowed 114.5 rushing yards per game and lost three key members of its defensive front to injuries this week. This is the game for Elliott and an underperforming Dallas offensive line to truly get on track.---STILL CHARGINGSan Diego lost Danny Woodhead this past week, Keenan Allen is already gone, and Antonio Gates is trying to work through a hamstring problem. Fortunately for San Diego, they draw what appears to be the AFCs worst defense as they travel to Indianapolis. The resurgent Melvin Gordon already has three rushing scores after not registering any in his rookie year and is a prime start this week with a larger role awaiting with Woodhead out. Gordon is a terrific daily fantasy play, as the Colts have allowed 125 rushing yards per game so far. Newly signed Dexter McCluster should be added as a free agent for point-per-reception depth if still available, and WRs Travis Benjamin and Tyrell Williams are good starts against a pass defense that has already surrendered nearly 600 passing yards.---SEATTLE SLUMPThe Seahawks offense has scored only one TD through its first two games. Russell Wilson has not been himself because of an ankle injury that has limited his mobility and sometimes affected his passing. A home date vs. the 49ers may appear to cure some ills, but divisional games are never easy. Keep Wilson reserved until he shows signs of improving. Christine Michael is looking better than Thomas Rawls at running back, but neither are ideal starters right now. Doug Baldwin and Tyler Lockett still have potential to be playmakers even if their game is lower scoring. Also add Jimmy Graham if he is still a free agent, as he is gradually starting to get closer to being a more frequent contributor.---TALE OF TWO TAMPASJameis Winston will try to put a terrible Week 2 behind him and regroup against the Rams. Charles Sims takes over for the injured Doug Martin and should get strong starting consideration because of his versatility and expanded role. Winston is too erratic to be trusted yet, but Mike Evans is already flourishing in a lot of leagues and slot receiver Adam Humphries is looking like an interesting add in leagues with 14 teams or more, or even very competitive 12-teamers. This could be the week when Rams RB Todd Gurley shows his 2015 form.---ERRATIC PACKThe Green Bay offense has continued to disappoint, as Aaron Rodgers has been the ninth-best QB in fantasy so far. The Lions have allowed 592 yards and six TDs to opposing passers, so there is hope for an upturn this week. Expect Jordy Nelson to score and Randall Cobb to display his better form again. Eddie Lacy should get a chance to finish off a scoring drive or two with a TD run. Matthew Stafford will keep pace and you can start Marvin Jones and Eric Ebron with confidence. The Packers defense has been very good against the run so far, but Theo Riddick should play an expanded role this week with Ameer Abdullah out.---MONDAY NIGHT FIREWORKSThe Monday night matchup between the Falcons and Saints looks like a shootout. This is a week to consider rolling out even secondary fantasy types on both teams, such as Mohamed Sanu and Michael Thomas at WR.---This column was provided to The Associated Press by the Fantasy Sports Network, http://FNTSY.com . Cheap Vikings Jerseys . LOUIS -- Heading into the final stretch of the season, the issues for the Chicago Bears banged-up defence only seem to be getting worse. Cheap Minnesota Vikings Jerseys . Andreas Johnson had a goal and two assists while Jacob de la Rose also scored for Sweden (2-0-0). Esa Lindell and Rasmus Ristolainen replied for Finland (1-1-0) Lindell opened the scoring for Finland just 41 seconds into the game, but the hosts quickly regained their composure and tied the score less than four minutes later on Wennbergs first of the game. http://www.cheapvikingsjerseyselite.com/ . The 29-year-old Baines has established himself as one of the top attacking full backs in the country and was the subject of two bids from United during the last off-season. Everton manager Roberto Martinez says that keeping Baines at the club is a "massive boost and exciting for the future" because he brings "maturity and football knowledge in a very specialized position on the pitch" and an "infectious and positive influence to the rest of the squad. One-and-dones rule college basketball. Freshmen come in, make an impact, then head off to the NBA. But every so often, a crop comes in that is different. And this one, the experts and analysts and NBA scouts all agree, is special. All season, ESPN.com will chart their steps during their (likely brief) time on college campuses.Who are these guys?Welcome to the Year of the FreshmenFreshmen Orientation: An introduction to the 10 best freshmenIs this really the best class ever?Year of the Freshmen: Now playingShould Harry Giles even play at Duke??Is Markelle Fultz this years Ben Simmons?Vitale: Diaper Dandies already making a difference ??Preseason introductionsHarry Giles knows everyone is looking at his kneesCan Dukes Harry Giles regain his pre-injury form??Superfrosh Josh Jackson blends in -- and stands outDoes Josh Jackson have the offense to be the guy at Kansas??Dukes Tatum is proud to be biggest mamas boy everHow will Jayson Tatum fit into Dukes offense??Desperate UCLA, composed Lonzo Ball join forces in crucial seasonCan UCLA freshman Lonzo Ball meet massive expectations? ?Kentucky big man Bam Adebayo has a bigger personalityHow will Kentuckys Adebayo turn physicality into production? ?Is Kentuckys DeAaron Fox the next John Wall?How will Kentucky use DeAaron Foxs speed to its advantage? ?Miles Bridges is MSUs latest Flinstone who almost wasntMiles Bridges will help Michigan State, but how? ?Markelle Fultz wants to be best that ever playedWashingtons Markelle Fultz can score, but can he do it all? ?The one that got away: How Arkansas native Malik Monk landed at KentuckyFor UK freshman Malik Monk, will athleticism translate to production? ?Dukes Frank Jackson serving different kind of Mormon missionIs freshman Frank Jackson the solution to Dukes point guard problem? ?VideoIs this really the Year of the Freshmen?Can Kentuckys big men duplicate 2012s success? ' ' ' 

ATLANTA -- Sancho Lyttle had a season-high 22 points and 11 rebounds, Angel McCoughtry added 18 points, and the Atlanta Dream ended a six-game losing streak with a 77-64 victory over the Seattle Storm on Tuesday night.Lyttle was 11 of 13 from the field and McCoughtry hit Atlantas only 3-pointer during a 13-2 game-changing run to open the fourth quarter.Tiffany Hayes added 15 points for Atlanta (9-9), which won for the first time since hosting Chicago on June 17. Elizabeth Williams had a career-high seven blocks for the Dream, ranked No. 9 in the AP power poll.Atlanta controlled the boards 38-27, including 16-4 on the offensive end, and outscored Seattle 25-10 in the fourth.Jewell Loyd scored all 13 of her points in the third quarter for 10th-ranked Seattle (6-11). Breanna Stewart had her sixth double-double of the season with 11 points and 11 rebounds for the Storm, who turned it over 16 times.Dwight Howard, who signed with his hometown Atlanta Hawks Friday, was in attendance. Sky Sports News Alex Hammond looks back on the recent action and ahead to Betfair Super Saturday at Newbury. Ivanovich Gorbatovs bubble was burst at Leopardstown on Saturday but would you be prepared to give him another chance in the JCB Triumph Hurdle or has something else caught your eye? The Triumph picture has been muddied recently hasnt it?! I wouldnt be jumping ship just yet though as every horse is entitled to have an off day. With little else really capturing my imagination, Id be happy enough to be clutching an ante-post voucher for the Aidan OBrien/JP McManus juvenile, as a matter of fact I wish Id moved fast and backed him soon after that defeat because hes now back into a clear 5/1 favourite with Sky Bet. The ground was hard work at Leopardstown and whist he has won on heavy, it was holding and thats not easy for young hurdlers. Ivanovich Gorbatov is a classy Flat-bred horse, with plenty of stamina and theres much to like about his chance at the Festival. Theres still a little way to go though, so hopefully the picture will become a bit clearer in the next couple of weeks.Carlingford Lough was a surprise winner of the Irish Gold Cup but Valseur Lido appeared to give owners Gigginstown House Stud another headache with a big run until his last fence fall. How would you split the Gigginstown horses for the Timico Gold Cup and Ryanair Chase?What a position to be in, they have such a strong hand as we inch closer to the Festival and to have leading contenders for both races is a fortunate position to be in. If I were Michael OLeary I would be keen to run Don Cossack and Don Poli in the Gold Cup and that would leave Valseur Lido for the Ryanair, but I just wonder if he needs heavy ground to excel over the Ryanair trip. He stays well enough for the Gold Cup, but probably needs to improve again if hes to win the blue riband and it almost seems a waste of a run to go for the Gold Cup with two very strong contenders already in the reckoning. Road To Riches also comes into the equation for both races, but Noel Meade was disappointed with his second place in the Irish Gold Cup and he will see how he comes out of the race before making plans. As I say, its a great position to be in to have more than one live contender for both races, but having already backed Djakadam for the Gold Cup I hope he bounces back from his fall at Cheltenham on Trials Day. Of the Gigginstown entries, I do love Don Cossack, and hes the horse I keep going back to. Knowing the Gigginstown way, we probably wont know until much much nearer the time and why should they make a decision now when so much can go wrong in five weeks with horses.Nigel Twiston-Davies had a big Saturday double with Bristol De Mai and Blaklion, do you think either can make their mark at the Cheltenham Festival?It was great to see the Twiston-Davies team send out two high profile winners last weekend and both look well capable of making their marks at the festival. Bristol De Mai looks the real deal and hes now 5/1 2nd fav for the JLT Novices Chase after his win in Sandowns Scilly Isles Novices Chase. Sandown fences take some jumping and the step up to 2 ½ miles seems to have been the making of him. He has a smart Willie Mullins trained horse to beat in Killultagh Vic, who you will remember had to be picked up off the floor by Ruby Walsh after a last fence blunder at Leopardstown in January after grinding to a halt and the pair impressively got back up to win. Hes certainly classy, but at 2/1 fav, might not be everyones price.You cant ever be afraid of one horse (or possibly two) and Blaklion looks set to run in the RSA Chase where hes currently 10/1 third favourite with Sky Bet with No More Heroes and More Of That ahead of him. He may lack a bit of size, but his heart is in the right place and he showed a good attitude to win at Wetherby. Hes always looked like a smart stayer in the making and its interesting connections are leaning towards the RSA, rather than the NH Chase over 4 miles, which looks the running into the frame. I think No More Heroes will take some beating in the RSA though, but this is a championship race at the festival and nothing is a given. We could have a chance to see More Of That this week too as hes entered up on Friday and Saturday, although Id like to see Jonjo ONeill in better form before backing his runners with any confidence. He has been back among the winners this month though so maybe the tide is turning.Fingers crossed this weekends cards beat the weather; the big betting race is the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury, who do you think will collect the £155,000 winners cheque?The jump racing programme has been disrupted this week, but I think Newbury will be ok this weekend as there is no appreciable rain before Saturday after an awful start to February. The quality entry befits its status as Europes richest handicap hurdle and owner JP McManus has a strong hand going into the race that has been kind to him in the past. Bookmakers were never going to take too much of a chance on his Modus and the Paul Nicholls trained horse desserves his position at the head of the market.dddddddddddd He was runner up in the Champion Bumper at the festival last year and has taken well to hurdles, albeit he has been a bit keen. My worry would be the ground as he probably doesnt relish a real slog. So at the prices, Id be happy to take him on. Willie Mullins has a strong entry and its his Blazer that is shortest in the market and cruicially is low down the weights, also for McManus. He only ran last Saturday when winning a Handicap Hurdle at Leopardstown, for which he receives a 5lb penalty. It was a very pleasing run after two runs over fences on his first two starts since joining Mullins from France. He has that dangerously unexposed look about him and is sure to be popular if he lines up on Saturday.Philip Hobbs is having a great season and has a potentially strong hand with War Sound, top weight Cheltenian and Sternrubin in the race. Sternrubin dead heated in the Ladbroke last time out and has to contend with an 8lb rise in the weights. Hes a bit of a runaway and made all that day at a swift pace. It looked a strong enough pace, but he maintained his effort and whilst you wouldnt ideally want to try and make all in a race like this, its the way he has to be ridden. War Sound hasnt been seen since winning the Swinton at Haydock last May and hes up 8lbs. It will be interesting to see which horse Richard Johnson picks, but it appears he could be leaning towards Sternrubin and of the Hobbs runners, hes my pick. Affaire DHonneur represents a trainer going places in Harry Whittington. This horse is another French import and is also unexposed. He was well supported on his British (and handicap) debut for his Oxfordshire handler at Kempton and wasnt disgraced in second; an 8lb rise may not be too harsh and he runs off a mark of 132 on Saturday.Evan Williams runs John Constable who looks like another in with a chance. He was with Aidan OBrien on the Flat and is a full brother to Leger and Gold Cup winner Leading Light. Three runs over hurdles have yielded two wins and a second to Sternrubin in the Gerry Feilden. He is still a full horse, which is unusual for a horse running under National Hunt rules, although not unheard of. An old favourite of mine was Kadastrof, who was trained with success in the 1990s by Robin Dickin and he was an entire. There you go, a blast from the past! Dicosimo was eighth in the Triumph for Willie Mullins and won over hurdles over Christmas. Kalkir is another of the Mullins entries and made a very promising return to action last month and has plenty of class. There has been a bit of support for Starchitect and he could be well handicapped on his debut for David Pipe. He had some smart juvenile form for Donald McCain last season and was one of many horses placed with new trainers this season by his owners. Hes been off since falling at Aintree in April and is beautifully bred. He doesnt have a great deal of experience on this type of ground but looks to be a horse with a decent future.Alan King is enjoying a purple patch and his Winner Massagot looks attractively weighted too. He was well beaten in the Ladbroke though and needs to put that behind him, hes been dropped 3lbs by the handicapper for that effort. Zarib is trained by Dan Skelton who continues in good form and Bridget Andrews rides. Fou Et Sage is his other entry higher up the weights. So, for me its between Sternrubin who looks classy, if a bit free willed, Affaire DHonneur for Harry Whittington and David Pipes new recruit Starchitect with the first two at the top of my shortlist.Which other horse(s) are you hoping to see in action this weekend?Well, despite being at the top of the trainers championship, Paul Nicholls hasnt been sending out big Saturday winners with his usual regularity. The tide could be changing for the Ditcheat handler and Im looking forward to seeing Dodging Bullets back on track in the Game Spirit at Newbury. The horse is in good shape after a delayed return to action due to throwing a splint. This is a frustrating, but not serious injury, that takes time as the leg develops a bony growth that needs to harden off and before it does is very sensitive. Hes a short price, so most likely one to watch with an eye on his repeat bid in the Champion Chase for which hes 9/1 with Sky Bet. Also at the Berkshire track is the Denman Chase which is a race I always look forward to watching and once again Nicholls has a fancied runner in Rocky Creek. Conditions look up his street and he has good claims in the race named after his former stablemate. It doesnt look the strongest renewal and could be a good opportunity to win his first race for almost a year. LAmi Serge is another horse to watch out for. He is also entered in the Game Spirit, but will be odds on if he stays in novice company in the Kingmaker at Warwick which seems most likely. Also See: Live results service Full racecards Bet ￡5 Get ￡20 Free Get Sky Sports ' ' ' 

LAHAINA, Hawaii -- North Carolina has won the Maui Invitational three times, championships that were a springboard to two national titles and a trip to the Final Four. Sam Huff Jersey .Keep playing like this and the Tar Heels could be looking at a repeat performance.Joel Berry III scored 24 points, Justin Jackson added 22 and No. 4 North Carolina steamrolled its way into the Maui Invitational championship game Tuesday night with a 107-75 victory over Oklahoma State.We played a level much higher than at any other time this year, Tar Heels coach Roy Williams said.The Tar Heels were warned about Oklahoma States pressing defense, one that effectively disrupted the Cowboys four previous opponents.But North Carolina (6-0) dominated the Cowboys from the start, building a 12-point lead in the opening 4 1/2 minutes. The Tar Heels kept their foot down, shooting 57 percent and going 8 of 17 from 3-point range while smothering Oklahoma State at the other end.Next up is No. 16 Wisconsin in Wednesdays championship game for a chance at their fourth Maui title.At pregame meal, they werent trying to scare us, just prepare us for what was to come, said Berry, who had five rebounds, four assists and three steals. We came out and hit them first.The Cowboys (4-1) had no answer.Oklahoma States press was picked apart by the long, athletic Tar Heels, and the Cowboys couldnt stop them in the half court, either.Jawun Evans had 30 points on 13-of-25 shooting, but got little help from his Oklahoma State teammates on the offensive end. The Cowboys shot 36 percent and were 6 of 22 from 3-point range.Boy, did they punch us in the mouth early and it was an uphill battle from there, coach Brad Underwood said. They are a very, very good basketball team and if we play another team that good, I hope that its deep in March and weve had time to grow.North Carolina needed a little warmup time against Chaminade in the opening round before dominating the Silverswords inside for a 104-61 win.The Tar Heels jumped on the Cowboys from the opening tip, scoring inside and out. North Carolina hit seven of its first 13 shots to open with a 16-4 run and kept pouring `em in.The Tar Heels hit 18 of 32 shots, going 4 of 7 on 3s, and led 51-38 at halftime.Oklahoma States first-half offense was all Evans. He had 20 points on 9-of-16 shooting while the rest of the Cowboys were 4 of 21.North Carolina hit a couple of quick baskets to open the second half, prompting Underwood to call a timeout.It did little good.The Tar Heels continued to pour it on, stretching the lead to 67-42 in the opening 4 minutes and cruising from there.They jumped on us right at the start of the second half and the game pretty much was never in doubt, Underwood said.BIG PICTUREThe Cowboys had little impact on North Carolina with their pressure defense and need to find someone besides Evans to carry some of the scoring load.The Tar Heels showed just how good they can be with a dominating performance at both ends to set up what should be a fantastic final in Maui.BALANCED SCORINGBerry and Jackson were the scoring leaders, but North Carolina spread it around, finishing with six players in double figures.Isaiah Hicks and Tony Bradley had 13 points each, Nate Britt finished with 12 and Kennedy Meeks had 10.To see six players in double figures, thats pretty crazy against a very good team, Jackson said.UP NEXTOklahoma State will face Georgetown in the third-place game on Wednesday.North Carolina faces No. 16 Wisconsin in Wednesdays title game. Sonny Jurgensen Jersey . Those lessons were more than enough to overwhelm the Utah Jazz. Lou Williams scored 25 points and the Hawks continued their offensive upswing as they rolled to an easy 118-85 victory over the Jazz on Friday night, winning their third straight and for the fourth time in five games. Joe Theismann Jersey .7 million, one-year contract, a raise of $2.2 million. Wieters had asked for $8.75 million and the Orioles had offered $6. http://www.cheapredskinsjerseysauthentic.com/?tag=authentic-darrell-green-jersey . PETERSBURG, Fla. SAN DIEGO -- Chimezie Metu had 19 points and 13 rebounds, and Elijah Stewart had 15 points to lead undefeated Southern California to a 76-55 victory against San Diego on Wednesday night.DeAnthony Melton added 14 points for the Trojans (7-0), who led the whole way in beating the Toreros (2-5) for the second straight season.USC forward Bennie Boatwright, the teams second-leading scorer at 13.5 points per game, hurt his left knee when he collided with USDs Juwan Gray while taking a shot just three minutes in. Boatwright stayed on the floor for a few minutes while being tended to and had to be helped to the bench. He also had to be helped into the locker room at halftime.Olin Carter III scored 21 for USD, while Brett Bailey had 17 and Tyler Williams 10.The Trojans were too big and talented for the Toreros, particularly Metu, who was 9 of 11 from the floor. He dominated on the boards and scored eight of the Trojans final 12 points of the first half en route to a 43-31 llead. Clinton Portis Jersey. He had a tip-in off a rebound, a turnaround jumper, a jump hook and a slam dunk off a rebound.The teams combined to miss 14 straight shots early in the second half, each going about six minutes without scoring.Metu broke the Trojans drought with a slam dunk on an alley-oop pass from Jordan McLaughlin.BIG PICTUREUSC: The Trojans are off to their best start since going 8-0 to open the 2000-01 season. They finished 24-10 after reaching the Elite Eight.USD: The Toreros dropped to 0-6 all-time against the Trojans. The Toreros opened last season at USC, losing 83-45.UP NEXTUSC plays BYU in the Hoophall La game at the Staples Center on Saturday. The game is part of a doubleheader, with No. 8 Gonzaga and 16th-ranked Arizona playing the first game. USC is 6-3 all-time against BYU.USD travels to face Northern Arizona on Saturday. ' ' ' 

ESPN Chalks Vegas experts are here to provide analysis and best bets for all Week 4 games, including the Seattle-New York?matchup. Brian Westbrook Jersey .Note: All odds courtesy of the Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook as of Friday morning.Home page for all Week 4 gamesMatchup: Seattle Seahawks-New York JetsSpread:?Opened Seattle -3 (EVEN); now Seattle -2.5 (-120) Total: Opened 41.5; now 40 PickCenter public consensus pick: 55 percent New YorkPublic perception: The Seahawks are underachieving so far this season (1-2 SU and ATS) and there have been questions all week about Russell Wilsons knee, so Im not surprised the public is running to the betting windows. However, I am surprised that the Jets are getting any support after their 24-3 loss at Kansas City. Herman Edwards Jersey . The 25-year-old Japanese star has officially been posted by his club team, the Rakuten Golden Eagles. Harold Carmichael Jersey . -- Tony Stewart is 20 pounds lighter and has a titanium rod in his surgically repaired right leg. http://www.cheapeaglesjerseysauthentic.com/?tag=authentic-wes-hopkins-jersey . The Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling "puts an end to my dreams of being a top player," the 27-year-old Troicki said in a statement. "I worked my entire life for it, and it has been taken away from me in one afternoon by a doctor I didnt know," said Troicki, whose ranking peaked at No. Uncertainty over Shaun Marshs badly broken finger has ensured that Australias revamped Test squad was retained for the first Test against Pakistan at the Gabba.The selectors had made sweeping changes after Australias crushing defeat in Hobart, where South Africa secured the series, and only six of the XI from that Test retained their places for the day-night Test in Adelaide. Matt Renshaw, Peter Handscomb and Nic Maddinson all made their debuts in Adelaide, where Australia picked up a consolation victory.Maddinson, who made 80 in a Sheffield Shield match for New South Wales this week, was thought he man most likely to make way in the event of Marsh returning to fitness. However Marsh was not considered as he continues rehabilitation after a broken finger suffered against South Africa in Perth.Shaun has yet to resume batting and will have a follow-up x-ray this week that will be reviewed by a specialist, the CA head of sports science Alex Kountouris said. This will determine when he can resume cricket training.It is believed that Marshs finger injury, a re-break suffered during the first Test after he initially fractured it in Sri Lanka, is of a more serious nature than initially thought. Australias coach Darren Lehmann conceded that Marsh would now need to prove his fitness via the Big Bash League - either for the Pakistan series or the tour of India next year, for which he is considered a vital component given a sound batting method against spin.Fingers crossed. Hopefully hell be batting soon, the specialist will be seeing him this week and hopefully that goes well and he starts batting again, Lehmann said. Hes only got BBL to play. If he plays that and gets through hell be available for selection.Usman Khawaja did it last year, he had a BBL game from a hamstring and thats all we had to go on. As long as they can get through then theyre available.Lehmann also said Marsh would be able to slot into a middle order role when fit, despite most recently playing as an opener alongside David Warner. Cheap Eagles Jerseys. He did really well in Perth in the Test match for us opening, he scored a hundred for us opening but hes had success down the order as well, Lehmann said. Hes one of those guys who can fit in anywhere in the top six which is pleasing to have. It depends on what happens with other positions.The Gabba Test is also a day-night affair, and given Australias success in Adelaide and the desire for stability, there is every chance they will take an unchanged XI into a Test for the first time in more than a year. The only possible alteration would be if Adelaide 12th man Chadd Sayers came into contention, and he did his chances no harm by taking eight wickets in the Sheffield Shield this week.We were very pleased with how the team came together in Adelaide after some significant changes following the Tests in Perth and Hobart, the interim selection chairman Trevor Hohns said. This is a young group with a lot of promise and we believe all deserve their opportunity again in this upcoming Test.Of Australias debutants from the previous match, Maddinson in particular will be keen to prove his Test worth at the Gabba, having fallen for a 12-ball duck in his only innings of the Adelaide Test. Maddinson bounced back from that disappointment with 80 in the first innings for New South Wales this week in their Shield game against South Australia.The other Adelaide debutants, Handscomb and Renshaw, both enjoyed longer stays at the crease in their first appearance for Australia. Handscomb scored a half-century in the first innings and then hit the winning runs in the second, while Renshaw occupied the crease for 137 balls in Australias chase to help them secure victory.Squad David Warner, Matt Renshaw, Usman Khawaja, Steven Smith (capt), Peter Handscomb, Nic Maddinson, Matthew Wade (wk), Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon, Jackson Bird, Chadd Sayers. ' ' ' 

ST. Cheap Colorado Rockies Jerseys . PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Its going to take a lot more than winning a series from the struggling Tampa Bay Rays for the last-place Los Angeles Angels to turn their season around.Winning three straight for the first time in nearly three months is encouraging, though, especially considering the type of pitching performance the team got from Hector Santiago in Thursdays 5-1 victory.Santiago limited the sputtering Rays to three singles over seven scoreless innings, C.J. Cron drove in two runs and Albert Pujols snapped a scoreless tie with a single that gave him 15 RBI in his last 15 games.When you rebound with three games like we have, youre going in the right direction, Angels manager Mike Scioscia said after Los Angeles won for just the fifth time in 17 games.But we have our work cut out for us. We need to keep getting better, and were not going to get better until our rotation gets solid and these guys get comfortable and keep throwing like you saw Hector (Thursday), Scioscia added. Once that starts to happen, I think were all going to feel more comfortable with where we are.Pujols put the Angels ahead with his sixth-inning single off rookie Blake Snell (1-4). Cron followed with a RBI grounder that the Rays, whove lost 19 of 22, were unable to turn into an inning-ending double play.The Angels, whove taken three straight for their longest winning streak since they won four in a row from May 13-16, added two more runs in the eighth on Crons bases-loaded sacrifice fly and a perfectly executed double steal that saw Pujols swipe second base while Mike Trout sprinted home without drawing a throw to make it 4-0.Santiago (6-4) walked four and struck out nine. The left-hander worked out situations with runners in scoring position in the second and third innings, then only allowed two men to reach base over his last four innings.Tampa Bays Brad Miller homered on reliever Joe Smiths first pitch, breaking up the shutout.I feel really comfortable from the stretch, Ive been saying that for the last four or five starts, Santiago said. I feel when Im in the stretch I have a great mindset and a positive mindset.Snell, who has taken the loss in four of his six career starts, allowed two runs and four hits over six innings for Tampa Bay. The 23-year-old left-hander walked two and struck out seven.The Angels move on to Baltimore, where theyll finish a 10-game road trip heading into the All-Star break. Theyve scored 57 runs through seven games while batting .323, including .382 with runners in scoring position.We got three out of four here, and this road trip weve been pretty good, pitching-wise and offensively, Santiago said. All around, were clicking.TRAINERS ROOMAngels: RHP Cory Rasmus is expected to miss a minimum of six more weeks after surgery on Thursday to repair a right groin injury. ... C Geovany Soto, out since May 18 with a right lateral meniscus injury, might be activated this weekend.Rays: RHP Alex Cobb (Tommy John surgery) felt fine one day after his first rehab start Wednesday night for Class A Charlotte and will make his next appearance Monday. ... C Curt Casali, who left Wednesdays game with a bruise on the left side of his head after being struck by a back swing, sat out the series finale and is day to day. ... INF Steve Pearce (strained right hamstring) is scheduled to start on-field batting practice Friday.RARE COMBOTampa Bays Chris Archer (4-11, 127 strikeouts) and Drew Smyly (2-10, 108) are the second pair of teammates in major league history to lose 10 or more games while fanning at least 100 batters before the All-Star break. Clay Kirby (6-11, 126) and Steve Arlin (8-11, 115) did it for the San Diego Padres in 1972.HOT BATSAngels 3B Yunel Escobar went 3 for 5, extending his hitting streak to a career best-matching 12 games. SS Andrelton Simmons, meanwhile, doubled in the eighth inning, giving him a nine-game hitting streak.UP NEXTAngels: Continue a 10-game East Coast road trip leading into the All-Star break, with RHP Matt Shoemaker (3-9, 4.40 ERA) making his second start of the season against Baltimore. He pitched 7 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing three hits and striking out a career-high 12 in his start against the Orioles at Angel Stadium on May 21.Rays: Archer, who lost eight straight decisions against the Red Sox, starts the opener of a weekend series in Boston. The right-hander, whos gone from an All-Star a year ago to leading the majors in losses this season, is the first pitcher since Phil Niekro (Braves) in 1977 to have as many as 11 losses and 127 strikeouts at the All-Star break. The other times that happened occurred in 1973, when Nolan Ryan (Angels), Gaylord Perry (Indians) and Wilbur Wood (White Sox) all did it. Cheap Todd Helton Jersey . He said Tuesday thats a big reason why he is now the new coach of the Tennessee Titans. Whisenhunt said he hit it off quickly with Ruston Webster when interviewing for the job Friday night. Wholesale Rockies Jerseys . -- Jimmie Johnson held off a teammate, passed a pair of Hall of Famers, and dominated once more at Dover. http://www.cheaprockiesjerseys.com/ .ca NBA Power Rankings, ahead of the Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs.BOCA RATON, Fla. -- Lukas Podolski scored after only 10 seconds to help Germany to a 4-2 victory over Ecuador in a friendly on Wednesday. Podolski and Lars Bender scored two goals each inside the opening 24 minutes as Germany quickly overwhelmed the Ecuador defence in the match at FAU Stadium. Ecuador pulled a goal back through Luis Valencia in first-half stoppage time and Walter Ayovi scored his teeams second goal in the 83rd minute. Cheap Rockies Jerseys China. Immediately after Ecuador had kicked off, Podolski won possession and dribbled a couple of steps before unleashing a shot past goalkeeper Maximo Banguera. Bender made it 2-0 in the fourth minute and Podolski struck again in the 16th. Germany will finish its two-game American visit against the United States on Sunday in Washington, D.C. ' ' ' 

HAMDEN, Conn. Matt Adams Jersey . -- Nate Hickman scored 23 points and Luke Petrasek added 18 points and 14 boards to help lift Columbia past Quinnipiac 86-78 on Monday night.Columbia (2-1) shot 51.8 percent from the floor compared with 32.4 percent for Quinnipiac (0-2).Petrasek had a dunk and a layup and Hickman added a layup and the Lions tied the score at 23 with 8:44 left before halftime. Columbia then used a 25-7 run to build a 48-30 lead at the break.The Lions led in double digits for the majority of the second half.Mikey Dixon led Quinnipiac with 17 points, Chaise Daniels had 4 points and six rebounds and Abdulai Bundu contributed 13 points and nine rebounds. Quinnipiac missed 14 free throws on the night.Its Columbias first-ever win in the four-game series. The schools hadnt played each other since a 63-51 Bobcats win on Dec. 23, 2009. Nationals Jerseys Outlet . Duchene scored two goals and had an assist, helping the Colorado Avalanche beat the Carolina Hurricanes 4-2 on Friday night to match the best 10-game start in team history. Max Scherzer Jersey . "Four now," Carl Gunnarsson told the Leaf Report proudly following a 5-2 victory over New York on Tuesday night, the clubs fifth straight at home. http://www.cheapnationalsjerseyschina.com/gio-gonzalez-jersey/ . The team says the Spain international has a muscle pull in his right leg. Barcelona hosts third-division side Cartagena in the return leg of their round-of-32 tie after winning their first meeting 4-1. MARSEILLE, France -- Marseille says that sporting director Gunter Jacob has left the club by mutual consent.The club announced his departure in a statement Wednesday without giving further details.The 48-year-old Belgian leaves only three months after being hired, and amid reports that Barcelonas former sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta is close to joining.Marseille president Jacques-Henri Eyraud said on French television on Sunday that Zubizarreta has already met with coach Rudi Garcia. Wholesale Nationals Jerseys. Garcia was hired last Thursday, just three days after the club was officially bought by American owner Frank McCourt.Zubizarreta, a former goalkeeper, played more than 400 games for Barcelona and made 126 international appearances for Spain.He was Barcas sporting director from July 2010 until he was fired in January last year. ' ' ' 

SEATTLE -- Clint Dempsey scored twice and Cristian Roldan added a goal -- all in the second half -- in the Seattle Sounders 3-1 victory over the Portland Timbers on Sunday night. Tyus Jones Jersey .In front of 53,302 fans at CenturyLink Field, the Sounders (9-12-3) won their third straight game and extended their unbeaten streak to four (3-0-1). They climbed within two points of the Timbers (8-10-8) for the last playoff spot in the Western Conference.Portland, which got a goal from Fanendo Adi in second-half stoppage time, has lost four of its last five games and remains winless on the road at 0-7-6.Dempsey put Seattle on the board in the 61st minute when he converted a penalty kick past goalkeeper Jake Gleeson. In in the 80th minute, Roldan sent a through ball toward the Portland penalty area. Demspey caught up with it, took two dribbles, and fired it into the back right corner from just inside the restraining arc. Dempsey has eight goals this season.Roldan headed in a shot from inside the 6-yard box to make it 3-0 in the 83rd.RED BULLS 2, UNITED 2, TIEWASHINGTON -- Marcelo Sarvas and Patrick Mullins scored three minutes apart in the second half and D.C. United rallied to tie New York in a game delayed 75 minutes because of lightning.Sarvas scored his first goal on a penalty kick in the 70th minute and Mullins got his first with a header off a corner kick in the 73rd as D.C. United (6-8-10) moved ahead of Orlando City on the red line in the Eastern Conference. Both teams have 28 points, but D.C. holds the tiebreaker for the sixth spot.The comeback was unexpected for the lowest scoring team in the MLS, especially after the Red Bulls (10-9-7), third in the East, took the lead on the soggy field. The delay came in the ninth minute.Bradley Wright-Phillips, in the 38th minute, knocked in the perfect serve from Mike Grella. Wright-Phillips became the fourth player in league history to reach 15 goals in three consecutive seasons. Then in the 64th minute Felipe notched his third, pounding the ball into a small opening just inside the post. Karl-Anthony Towns Jersey . -- The Bishops Gaiters are showing they belong among the countrys top varsity football teams. Cheap Minnesota Timberwolves Jerseys . Neymar curled home a free kick from just outside the area to put the 2014 World Cup host ahead in the 44th minute. Three minutes after the break, a simple through pass from Paulinho freed Oscar and the Chelsea star rounded goalkeeper Jung Sung-ryong to extend Brazils lead. http://www.cheaptimberwolvesjerseys.com/?tag=cheap-jimmy-butler-jersey . Murray beat Sam Querrey 7-6 (5), 6-7 (3), 6-1, 6-3 to clinch Britains opening-round victory against the United States on Sunday at Petco Park. "Im proud of the way Im playing just now, because I had to do a lot of work to get back to where I want to be," Murray said after celebrating with his teammates on the red clay court in a temporary stadium in left field of the downtown home of baseballs San Diego Padres. EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Indianapolis Colts running back Frank Gore is now eighth on the NFLs all-time rushing list.Gore moved ahead of Tony Dorsett when he gained 19 yards on a run off tackle in the second quarter of Mondays nights 41-10 win over the New York Jets. He finished the game with 79 yards on 20 carries.When your name gets mentioned with the great guys that played this game in the past, thats very big, Gore said. Ive been blessed to be playing this game. Twelve years in and I still love it. Im still having fun. I just want to keep having fun and keep winning and see where we go from here.Gore now has 12,789 career rushing yards, 50 more than Dorsett.Dorsett is the seventh player that the 33-year-old Gore has passed on the all-time rushing list this season. Hes also passed Jim Brown, Thurman Thomas, Franco Harris, Marcus Allen, Edgerrin James and Marshall Faulk.I think hes as natural of a runner as Ive ever been around, Colts offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski said last week. Cheap Swingman Timberwolves Jerseys. . A guy that just has great instincts and vision. He sees cracks and creases happen before they even open up. Sometimes you watch tape and youre like, Why did he go over there? All of a sudden a hole opens up that he knew was going to open up. He has great feet. He can get in and out of the hole and burst. Hes maybe not the fastest guy thats played the position, but can burst and squeeze and find ways and skinny himself and get through small, tight areas.Gore entered the game 549 yards shy of passing Eric Dickerson for sixth place on the list. Its unlikely that hell pass Dickerson because there are only four games remaining and the Colts have consistently struggled with their run blocking. ' ' ' 

Saracens will face powerhouse Parisians Racing 92 in Saturdays European Champions Cup final on Saturday, live on Sky Sports 2 HD from 3. Cheap Adidas Kings Jerseys .45pm. The Premiership champions travel to the Grand Stade de Lyon hoping to become the first team to win all of their pool matches and go on to lift the trophy.Saturdays final will be the sixth meeting between the sides. Racing won their first encounter but Sarries have won the last four, including a last-gasp 12-11 victory in Paris in last seasons quarter-finals. Will Saracens make it five in a row or will Racing emerge victorious in their first European final appearance?We examine five key talking points for the showpiece showdown.Get Carter Dan Carter talks tactics with Maxime Machenaud during Fridays captains run Leicester failed to keep their promise not to fixate on Dan Carter in their Champions Cup semi-final defeat to Racing 92. The Tigers duly went hunting the All Black World Cup winner, only to find the masterful fly-half always just out of reach.The temptation to go after the New Zealand great is overwhelming, but Saracens must not fall into the very same trap as Leicester. Carter ready for Farrell scrap All Blacks legend a big fan of Farrells competitive nature Carters ability to shape-shift around Racings full inside-back cordon leaves him almost impossible to pin down.Saracens must defend each circumstance on its own merits, rather than fret about Racings linchpin.Machenaud the mastermind Maxime Machenaud will marshal the Racing backline If Carter pulls the strings across the midfield, the man who generates the time and space for him to do just that is France scrum-half Maxime Machenaud.Les Bleus general knows just how to marshal a backline, but more than that, takes both pressure and focus off his half-back partner Carter. Pundit predictions Our panel of experts preview Saturdays Champions Cup final The further away from the breakdown that Saracens allow Machenaud to operate, the more havoc he will wreak. If Saracens shut him down at source, then they will have hit their first objective in the daunting battle to keep Carter quiet.Miserly defences Can Saracens unlock the Racing defence? Arguably Europes top two defences will collide in all their mean-spirited glory in Lyon this weekend.Saracens have long since been famed for their ability not just to shut out opponents, but also to wield their brutal defensive strategy as an attacking weapon all of its own. Former Saracens hard man Jacques Burger has a message for his wolf pack ahead of the Champions Cup final Racing have done likewise in their measured rise to prominence in the French Top 14. Former Ireland fly-half Ronan OGara has whipped the Parisians into a formidable defensive unit this term, as finely evidenced in that semi-final victory over Leicester.International combo George Kruis and Maro Itoje have forged an impressive second row partnership at club and international level Maro Itoje was playing LV=Cup rugby just last season. His meteoric rise to Test prominence since, albeit despite missing out on the World Cup squad, has garnered as much attention in rugby circles as Leicester Citys smash-and-grab Premier League title drive.Itoje and George Kruis underscored everything industrious and intelligent about Englands Grand Slam Six Nations campaign. Now the Saracens team-mates have the chance for yet more glory on French soil after England swept the Grand Slam in Paris. Graham Simmons catches up with Saracens lock George Kruis ahead of the Champions Cup final The men in blacks finest can put another one over the French this weekend. The lock pairing have coped with every physical demand placed upon them so far this term, but will most likely face another step up on Saturday.Dangers out wide Juan Imhoffs pace will trouble the Saracens defence Racings former All Black wing Joe Rokocoko has packed more than most into his stellar rugby career, and at 32 the powerful finisher is still in fine fettle. Last year, he suffered relegation from the Top 14 with Bayonne, but now he is on the cusp of a remarkable trophy-winning return to the big time.Argentina flyer Juan Imhoff offers a constant menace on the other wing, with Brice Dulin also a dangerous counter-attacking option. Paths to the final How Racing 92 and Saracens reached Saturdays decider in Lyon As much as Saracens have expanded their own front-foot repertoire in recent times, Mark McCalls men must be on point at every turn to keep their French foes at bay.Watch Racing 92 v Saracens live on Sky Sports 2 HD on Saturday from 3.45pm. Catch the match for £6.99 with a NOW TV day pass Also See: Pundit predictions Team news: Brits starts at hooker Past Anglo-French finals WATCH: Paths to the final Cheap Kings Jerseys Authentic . 10 Texas Rangers jersey for one last time. Young formally announced his retirement Friday after returning to Rangers Ballpark, his baseball home for all but the last of his 13 major league seasons. Cheap Adidas NHL Jerseys . Ivanovic was leading 7-5, 1-0 when Hantuchova withdrew after falling 0-40 behind in the second game. The match started slowly for Ivanovic, who surrendered her first two serves as Hantuchova took a 5-3 lead. http://www.cheaplosangeleskingsjerseys.com/ . -- Nathan Pancel scored twice as the Sudbury Wolves defeated the North Bay Battalion 4-2 on Saturday in Ontario Hockey League action. Ill never forget the first time I spoke to Max Walker, because I felt like I was in a 12th Man sketch.It was May 2007, and I was working on a feature on Australian Test cricketers who had also played AFL football. It was not the kind of story that needed interviews, but it did require illustration. Max was one of the most recent players to have achieved the double, and he had his own website with a photo gallery.So one Friday afternoon I filled in the contact form, politely asking permission to use one of his photos, expecting an email reply from whoever managed Maxs website, hopefully granting permission to use the photo. The weekend came and went, and by Monday morning my attention was on other work, and I had temporarily forgotten about the feature. Until my phone rang.A distinctive voice said: Hello Brydon, its Max Walker here.For years, Id had a running in-joke with one of my cricket-loving mates to answer phone calls in the style of Billy Birmingham. Hheeeello, Max Walker, wed say. To which the caller, mimicking the Wired World of Sports II script, would reply: Max, its Richie Benaud.The next line from that sketch - Yeah, bullshit, who is it? - was pretty much what I felt like saying myself. I had been with Cricinfo, as it was then, barely six months, and by cricket media standards was a complete nobody. But remembering my email from a few days earlier, I twigged that Max Walker really had dialled my number.Instantly he put me at ease. Sure, I could use the photo, but Max just wanted to talk footy. How the legendary coach Norm Smith had come to Tasmania to sign him, how he moved to Melbourne for football first, architecture second, and cricket third, but eventually realised he had to let one of his passions go and gave up football. He tried to name as many others as he could who had achieved the football-cricket double. He mentally filed away a couple of names I gave him that he didnt know.And then - 12th Man fans will appreciate this moment of life imitating art imitating life - he asked me if I had a copy of his new book. I kid you not. In Wired World of Sports II, Richie Benaud replies to the same question tersely: Of course I havent. Despite Richies protests, Max insists on sending him a copy anyway. I was much more polite, and was grateful when a week later a parcel arrived in the post - a copy of Caps, Hats and Helmets, along with a signed note thanking me for my interest.I made a mental note to ring Max back one day for a wider interview, and four years later I finally got around to it. He was open to speaking about anything. How the touring lifestyle of a Test cricketer led to the breakdown of his first marriage. How he and his mother struggled with the death of his sister Lexie, at just 38, and how the humour of the 12th Maan parodies helped his mother through the grief. Cheap Los Angeles Kings Jerseys. Notably, he was forward thinking. He wondered out loud if Test cricket was in danger of being killed off, and suggested reducing it to four days, with some of the match played at night. And unlike many ex-cricketers who believe that your opinion only matters if you have a Test cap, he suggested that the Argus Review (ongoing at the time) needed more insight from non-cricketers. Theres a tendency to think, hes a legend, and hes a legend, so they ought to know. But thats not necessarily the case in life, he said.Poignantly, he also spoke of how for more than four decades his life had been centred around the MCG. While a student of architecture, he also worked as an apprentice painting the MCG seats, and at one stage operated the old scoreboard that has now been moved to Manuka Oval in Canberra. I go to the MCG so much even these days, to speak at conferences or launches, he said. Its great to be able to look out the window and unlock a filing cabinet of memories.He always had a way with words, hence his success as an after-dinner speaker and author of anecdotes. But as an architect and avid photographer, he also had an eye for the visual. After our interview in the café of the RACV Club in central Melbourne, I asked if I could take a photo to go with the story. Walker remains the only subject I have ever photographed who set up the framing himself. He wanted something distinctly Melbourne, so we set up on the tram tracks as a tram went by.And then he decided to have a bit of fun. How about I give you a bit of the old bowling action? he said, duly posing with the fingers upright in correct seam position. Or a bit of hoooowzaaaat? Crappy photographer that I am, I didnt manage to get these action shots in focus, so I didnt use them for the interview. All the same, they capture the sense of fun that was such a clear feature of Maxs personality. He was not only willing to poke fun at himself, he actively wanted to.I feel greatly privileged to have had my moments with Max Walker. I know Im not alone. Especially remarkable was this reader comment published on News Ltds online story of his passing on Tuesday:As an 11 year old seeking autographs after a World Series game at VFL Park my brother and a couple of mates missed the last bus to the station (we lived in Altona!) Max Walker gave us a lift to Glen Waverley station in his Statesman. We could not believe it, have never forgotten how great and friendly he was. The memories outweigh any punishment received when we got home after midnight. RIP Tangles and thanks again.Always putting people at ease, was Big Max. ' ' ' 

FLORHAM PARK, N. Marshall Faulk Jersey .J. -- The New York Jets have waived/injured safety Antonio Allen and signed linebacker Freddie Bishop from the practice squad.Allen had been ruled out against San Francisco on Sunday with a concussion after being injured during New Yorks 41-10 loss to Indianapolis last Monday night.Allen was a seventh-round pick of the Jets in 2012 out of South Carolina. He signed with Houston last March, but re-signed with New York in September after being waived by the Texans. Allen had one defensive tackle and four special-teams tackles.The Jets have four other safeties on their roster: Calvin Pryor, who was just cleared from the concussion protocol, Marcus Gilchrist, Rontez Miles and Doug Middleton.Bishop, a former Canadian Football League star, has been on the Jets practice squad since September.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Pat McAfee Jersey . 24 Baylor in a Big 12 clash between teams trending in opposite directions. Andrew Wiggins made 10-of-12 from the foul line and scored 17 for Kansas (14-4, 5-0 Big 12), which capped a stretch of four straight games against ranked opponents unscathed. Peyton Manning Jersey . The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the Lions have not announced the hiring, which was first reported by ESPN. Lombardi, the grandson of former Green Bay Hall of Fame coach Vince Lombardi, has been an offensive assistant on Sean Paytons New Orleans staff since 2007. http://www.cheapcoltsjerseysauthentic.com/ . Aaron Harrison scored a 22 points for Kentucky (6-1), which has won four in a row following a Nov. 12 loss to current No. 1 Michigan State. Julius Randle overcame a scoreless first half and added his sixth double-double in as many games with 14 points and 10 rebounds. RIO DE JANEIRO -- Usain Bolt sauntered onto the track, stretched out his arms and waved his hands, signaling for more applause.He knew how this night was going to go.Bolts swan song in the Olympic 100 meters Sunday night was a no-doubter -- a pedestrian-by-his-standards 9.81-second sprint down the straightaway, but not so slow that he couldnt take time to point at his own chest with his thumb a step before he crossed the finish line.It was brilliant, Bolt said. I didnt go so fast but Im so happy I won. I told you guys I was going to do it.He won his record-setting third straight title in tracks featured event and his seventh Olympic gold.He has already swept aside pretty much every sprinter who had any claim on being the greatest.So, on a muggy night in Rio, Bolt took aim at Michael Phelps, shoving the swimmer and all his 23 medals to the background and made it official: The Bolt Games have begun.I told you guys I wanted to set myself apart from everybody else, Bolt said. This is the Olympics that I have to do it at.Bolt beat American Justin Gatlin, who was greeted by the fans with raucous boos, by .08 seconds. Andre de Grasse of Canada won the bronze.Bolt has a chance for two more golds -- in his favorite race, the 200 final Thursday, then in the 4x100 relay Saturday night.He wasnt the only one to put on a show Sunday.A few minutes before his race, world champion Wayde van Niekerk of South Africa eclipsed what many thought was the most-unbreakable record in the book -- Michael Johnsons 17-year-old mark of 43.18 seconds in 400 meters.Running out of Lane 8, where the lag puts him well in front of the rest of the field, van Niekerk never saw a soul -- crossing in 43.03 and only glancing to his left when he approached the line to peer at the clock, which showed him what he had done.Usain Bolt will be retiring soon, but this could be the next star of the sport, Johnson said during his commentary on BBC.But Bolt isnt done quite yet.The 6-foot-5 sprinter/celebrity overcame his typically slow unfurling from the blocks -- he was second-to-last after the break.I just said, `Take your time, and chip away, he said.Churning his legs to gradually build up speed, he eventually caught Gatlin with about 40 meters left and took it to warp speed. The rest was a matter of how hard he wanted to run to the line.Gatlin pursued him gamely, the way he has for years. He said the short turnaround between the semifinal and final sapped his strength.Once we got back to the second call, we really only had 30 minutes to get ready for the finals, Gatlin said.He finished with siilver to go with his 2004 gold and 2102 bronze and, at 34, became the oldest man to win a medal in a non-relay sprint. Cheap Colts Jerseys Authentic. And while Bolt was celebrating with anyone he could find, Gatlin was parading the American flag around the track virtually alone. The boos from the Brazilian crowd were the latest ugly chapter in Gatlins saga. Hes been caught for doping twice. His last ban ended in 2010. But fans in the stadium bought into the Good vs. Evil story line thats been pitched by the media for all these years, and they let the American have it.Thats the first time Ive gone into a stadium and theyve started to boo, Bolt said. It surprised me.A split-second after he crossed, Bolt raised the index finger, and then, the real party began.Bolt unlaced his now-famous gold spikes and took selfies with the fans. He turned his yellow hat backward, kneeled down and gave the crowd what it really wanted -- that famous, arching, To the World pose that he debuted eight years ago in Beijing.Chants of Bolt, Bolt, Bolt rang out from the near-capacity stadium. Yes, the show lived up to its billing.But this was not Bolt at his fastest. Four years ago, all three medalists broke 9.8. Nobody did this time, and neither Bolts world record from 2009 (9.58) nor his Olympic record from London (9.63) were ever in jeopardy.It was not Bolt at his toughest. Some might argue his gutsy effort at last years world championships, when he overcame a seasons worth of injuries to beat Gatlin by .01, might have been the grittiest race he has won.But it certainly took hard work. Before the Olympics, Bolt hadnt run a 100 since June 30, when he pulled out of Jamaicas national championships with injuries to his left hamstring.The rehab started immediately, with trips to Germany to see his doctor, then a warm-up 200 in London to prove to his Olympic committee that he was fit for the Olympics. Shortly after he arrived in Rio, he conceded that, yes, he wished hed had more chances to run in real races, but that everything would be OK.It was better than that. From the moments before he crouched into the blocks, putting his finger to his lips and asking for silence, until long after the race, when he worked the crowd, posed for photos, made the troubled world of track feel fun again.He turns 30 the day of the closing ceremony and has insisted his Olympic days are over.Somebody said I can become immortal, Bolt said. Two more medals to go and I can sign off. Immortal. ' ' ' 

Canterbury skipper James Graham has thrown his support behind Will Hopoates decision to sit out Sundays NRL elimination final with Penrith due to his religious beliefs. Cheap Adidas NHL Jerseys .Hopoate has informed the club he will not be part of the Bulldogs side for the sudden-death clash at Allianz Stadium.I am comfortable with that, said Graham at Mondays NRL finals launch.Wills faith makes him the person who he is.We all support his decision.Brett Morris is likely to move from wing to fullback in place of Hopoate.But Dogs coach Des Hasler faces something of a outside back crisis for the clash with the in-form Panthers, with Sam Perrett not due back from a neck injury until week two of the finals, if the Dogs progress.Reimis Smith, who scored two tries on his NRL debut earlier this year, has a broken leg. Rookie Brad Abbey is also unavailable due to injury.Tyrone Phillips, who has been struggling with a ankle injury, is expected to come onto the wing for Morris.Star fullback Hopoate, who observes the Mormon faith, missed three matches earlier this year because they fell on Sunday.We covered for him when he was out before and Im sure we can do so again, Graham said. Cheap Edmonton Oilers Jerseys .ca NFL Power Rankings, overtaking the Denver Broncos and remaining ahead of NFC competition San Francisco, Carolina and New Orleans. Cheap Oilers Jerseys Authentic . -- Its been a long road back for Sean Bergenheim. http://www.cheapedmontonoilersjerseys.com/ . -- Eastern Kentucky thrives off creating havoc for others. NEW YORK -- Thanks to injuries to two opponents, Novak Djokovic did not exactly need to put in much work to reach the U.S. Opens fourth round for the 10th consecutive year.So it made sense that the defending champion and No. 1 seed would spend extra time practicing in Arthur Ashe Stadium under the watchful eye of coach Boris Becker on Friday after spending a grand total of 31 minutes of match time on court over the second and third rounds.This particular situation I never had in my Grand Slam career. But considering the stage of the season, the amount of matches Ive played, what Ive been through with my body, I think its actually good to have some days off and then shorter matches, from one side, Djokovic said. From the other side, sure, as you are approaching second week of the Grand Slam, you want to have match play and you want to have time spent on the center court before you face one of the top players.Yes, Djokovic got another free pass at Flushing Meadows, advancing this time when Mikhail Youzhny stopped because of a strained left hamstring while trailing 4-2 after a little more than a half-hour of play.Youzhny received treatment from a trainer early on, getting his left leg wrapped, but briefly tried to continue. After holding serve in the sixth game, closing it with an overhead putaway up at the net, the Russian -- a semifinalist in New York in 2006 and 2010, and a former top-10 player now ranked 61st -- shook his head and told the chair umpire he couldnt keep going.Ill take it, Djokovic said. Im moving on and focusing on the next one.Djokovic did not play at all on Wednesday, when the man he was supposed to face in the second round, Jiri Vesely, withdrew from the tournament a couple of hours before that match because of inflammation in his left forearm.Theres plenty of things to work on. Thats the beauty of spport: Every day is different. Cheap Oilers Jerseys. The challenge is every day you feel different on the court. I work more or less on every aspect of my game, Djokovic said.The first week of a Grand Slam, obviously, things are not 100 percent, so you are getting a way through the tournament. I didnt get too much of match play, Djokovic said. Ill try to get on the practice court once more.And that he did, changing out of his white collared match shirt into a gray T-shirt and getting in about an hour of training. As Becker stood nearby, tossing over tennis balls, Djokovic hit serve after serve. Then he hit return after return of serves from a practice partner.A few hundred fans remained in the stands at Ashe, enjoying that rare chance for an up-close look at a man who has won 12 Grand Slam titles, including two at the U.S. Open and two this year. Plenty of cellphone photos were taken.Djokovic arrived in New York with a sore left wrist. But in his first-round victory way back on Monday, he experienced problems with his right arm. He was massaged by a trainer after only five games, then repeatedly shook that arm or flexed his elbow and grimaced following serves, some of which were far slower than he usually hits. He also dropped a set in an opening-round Grand Slam match for the first time since 2010.The arm is doing very well. Everything ... is going in the right direction, Djokovic said Friday. I feel significantly better now than I (did) at the beginning of the tournament.On Sunday, maybe hell finally get a chance to test how he feels. He will be scheduled to play 84th-ranked Kyle Edmund of Britain for a spot in the quarterfinals.---Follow Howard Fendrich on Twitter at http://twitter.com/HowardFendrich ' ' '