long79333's blog: "opped 31 shots in defeat. Belleville had a number of quality chances on DAgostini in the first two periods before Berisha converted on a perfect tic-t"

MONTREAL -- Canada has high hopes that the same players who upset Spain two months ago can do it again against Italy in the Davis Cup quarter-finals. World No. 16 Milos Raonic will lead Canada into the April 5-7 best-of-five series at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre in Vancouver. He will be joined by Davis Cup veterans Frank Dancevic and Vasek Pospisil and doubles ace Daniel Nestor, Tennis Canada announced Tuesday. They will be up against an Italian squad similar in strength to the No. 1-ranked Spanish side they beat 3-2 in February. It was missing top singles stars Rafael Nadal and David Ferrer. "The Italians have good depth as a country," Davis Cup captain Martin Laurendeau said on a conference call. "The Spanish team in Vancouver and the Italian team we find are similar enough that we can plan accordingly. "The tables set for us to do it again. That will be our challenge." Like Spain, the Italians are best on slower clay courts, but in Vancouver they will be faced with a lightning-fast, indoor hardcourt that is Raonics favourite surface. The six-foot-five power server went 2-0 in singles against Spain. "The last Davis Cup that (Italy) played indoors was on a clay court," said Laurendeau. "Given a choice, I think the Italians would play on clay. "We hope the surface plays to our advantage." Italy will counter with world No. 19 Andreas Seppi, current No. 2 doubles team Simone Bolelli and Fabio Fognini as well as No. 59 Paolo Lorenzi. Fognini is also a highly ranked singles player at No. 36. The Italians beat Croatia in the first round. Canada, which reached the Davis Cup quarter-finals for the first time, has moved up to eighth in the International Tennis Federation rankings while Italy is ninth. The only surprise on Laurendeaus team was that Ottawa native Jesse Levine, who recently switched from U.S. to Canadian nationality, was not on it. At No. 97, he is the only Canadian besides Roanic in the top 100. Levine will be in Vancouver as an alternate, along with Filip Peliwo and Adil Shamasdin. "We prepare five guys to play," Laurendeau said. "Jesses part of our five guys. "If anything happens, Jesses the guy to go in. But for now, hes the fifth guy." Raonic pulled out of a match this week with strep throat, while Nestor has been dealing with a strained calf, but both are expected to be fit for Davis Cup duty. Levine looks to have been bumped by the strong play of Dancevic both at the last Davis Cup tie and in recent tour matches. Raonic, of Thornhill, Ont., is the highest-ranked Canadian mens singles player of all time. He has had a successful start to the season, winning his third straight SAP Open title at San Jose, Calif., and reaching the fourth round of the Australian Open. Dancevic, from Niagara Falls, Ont., has competed for Canadas Davis Cup team every year since 2002, except when he was hampered with a back injury in 2008. He holds a 13-5 record in Davis Cup matches played on home soil. He upset Spains Marcel Granollers 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 in the first-round tie. "Frank played a perfect match at the last Davis Cup and since then hes had some good wins, so he earned a chance to play against Italy," said Laurendeau. Vancouvers Pospisil will be playing his eighth tie for Canada. He was a key contributor to Canadas return to the World Group in 2011, going 6-1 in the three ties he played. Torontos Nestor holds the Canadian Davis Cup records for most years played (21), most wins (44), most doubles wins (29), and most ties played (43). Nestor holds 80 ATP World Tour doubles titles, which is fourth on the all-time list, including a career Golden Slam (all four Grand Slam trophies and an Olympic Gold medal). Laurendeau said another bonus will be the boisterous fan support in Vancouver. "Vancouver is a great tennis town," he said. "They showed that last time. "We talk about the surfaces, but the crowd is also a big factor." The winner will move on to the semifinals in September to face the winner of a tie between Serbia and the United States. Both countries have already qualified for World Group action in 2014 because of their first-round victories. Other quarter-finals have France at Argentina and the Czech Republic at Kazakhstan. cheap elite nfl jerseys . Nova, the losing pitcher Tuesday night against the Chicago White Sox, said he felt something in his shoulder while making a sixth-inning pitch to Alexei Ramirez, the final batter he faced in the Yankees 7-3 defeat. cheap nfl youth jerseys . Sporting KC goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen punched away Ferraris header in added time as Montreal struggled to a 0-0 draw Saturday. The Impact picked up their first point in three games since ending a five-game winning streak which had put the expansion team into playoff contention. http://www.cheapjerseysfreeshipping.biz/ .J. -- The New York Giants backfield went into "next guy up" mode Friday as Brandon Jacobs was deemed doubtful for Sundays game against Seattle with a sprained left MCL. cheap nfl womens jerseys . -- Arizona quarterback Kevin Kolb had his right foot in a walking boot on Monday to protect a turf toe injury and said he had "no idea" whether he would be able to play in next Sundays home game against the St. cheap nfl jerseys . -- Landon Donovan scored his first two goals of the season and added an assist to help the Los Angeles Galaxy beat the Portland Timbers 3-0 on Saturday night in Major League Soccer.The Ottawa 67s took another step toward rebuilding on Monday, trading defenceman Cody Ceci, winger Steve Janes and a third round draft pick in 2015 to the Owen Sound Attack in exchange for 16-year old rookie defenceman Jacob Middleton and 18-year old forward Joseph Blandisi. "We wish Cody and Steven all the best for the rest of this season and in the future," said 67s head coach and general manager Chris Byrne. "They both have made great contributions to our team and we thank them for their service."  On Saturday, the 67s traded forward Tyler Graovac to the Belleville Bulls for Sergey Kuptsov, two draft choices, and a conditionnal pick.dddddddddddd Middleton was chosen 8th overall by the Attack in last Mays OHL Priority Selection Draft. In limited action this season, he has one assist this season. Over the holiday break, he played for Team Ontario at the World U-17 Championships along with his new 67s teammate Dante Salituro. "Middleton is a hard-nosed defenceman with skill, who can play in all situations," said Byrne. Blandisi was a 6th round draft pick by the NHLs Colorado Avalanche last June. He had 25 points in 37 games with the Attack this season. "Blandisi is a strong two-way player with a good touch around the net," added Byrne. ' ' ' 

LOS ANGELES -- The Los Angeles Clippers are playing with one eye on the out-of-town scoreboard as they jockey with Denver and Memphis for playoff seeding. At the same time, theyre back to playing with a sustained effort as they close out the regular season. Blake Griffin and Chris Paul led seven players in double figures with 19 points apiece, and the Clippers beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 111-95 on Wednesday night for their franchise-record 31st home win of the season. It was their third straight win since Griffin and Paul talked before Sundays home victory against the Lakers that clinched the first Pacific Division title in franchise history. "We talked about how we always have to be on the same page and we always have to be communicating with each other," Griffin said. "We had gotten away from what we should have been doing. Hes done a great job the past three games leading by example." Paul added 11 assists, and Willie Green had 15 points in breaking the old mark of 30 wins by the 1974-75 team, when it was known as the Buffalo Braves. The Clippers improved to 31-9 at home. "The past three games our defence has been really good. Were talking a lot more and the energy picked up," Paul said, citing his chat with Griffin. "When me and him are on the same page, everybody else has no choice but to fall into line." Nikola Pekovic scored 20 points and Derrick Williams had 13 points and 10 rebounds for the Timberwolves, who got swept 4-0 by the Clippers for the first time since 1992-93. Ricky Rubio, who had made one of his previous 25 shots entering the game, finished with six points on 2-of-8 shooting. He averaged 5.6 points in his previous five games against the Clippers, his second-lowest scoring average against any NBA team. "They were pushing the ball aggressively and they got a lot of points on the fast break and playing quick," Rubio said. "We couldnt stop it, and thats why theyre winning so many games." The Clippers led the entire game, and owned a comfortable lead beginning the fourth quarter that allowed the second unit to take over, giving the starters valuable rest. They play three of their final four games on the road, including two back-to-backs. "Were starting to get our sense of urgency back and its starting to show," said Matt Barnes, who led the bench with 14 points. "Chris and Blake are our leaders, so once they get going early it makes things a lot easier for everyone else." Jamal Crawford scored 11 points and Lamar Odom had 13 rebounds. The Wolves got within three points in the third after a 13-4 run, including six points by Luke Ridnour and four by Andrei Kirilenko. At the same time, the Clippers went through a messy stretch in which they had two technicals and five of their game-high 20 turnovers. But they settled down and Greens 3-pointer launched a 19-6 spurt that sent the Clippers into the fourth with an 88-72 lead. He had another 3 and a basket, while DeAndre Jordan and Paul each had four points. "They have bigs on the inside and they have shooters on the outside, so if you collapse, theyre going to knock down 3s as well," Williams said. "They just got a little hot in the third quarter." The Wolves closed within two points five times in the second quarter, and each time the Clippers retained the lead. They stretched it to 58-46 on a 16-6 run to end the half. Paul opened and closed the spurt with 3-pointers and in between, Griffin threw down consecutive fast-break dunks off Pauls passes and Jordan dunked off Griffins alley-oop pass. NOTES: Wolves F-C Kevin Love had left knee arthroscopic surgery to remove a buildup of scar tissue on Wednesday in New York, his second operation this season. He broke his right hand on Jan. 3 and had surgery 12 days later. Love averaged 18.3 points and 14.0 rebounds in 18 games. ... Clippers G Chauncey Billups practiced Tuesday for the first time since aggravating his right groin injury on March 27, but he did not play Wednesday. ... The Wolves fell to 10-29 on the road, where they have lost two straight. Cheap Jerseys . The 20-year-old from Toronto has gone well beyond just hanging around. Osorio earned a starting assignment in the MLS clubs first pre-season game against Columbus in Orlando in February, has seen action in 10 of TFCs first 11 league games, scored twice and been singled out for praise by manager Ryan Nelsen, who has used him as an impact substitute. nfl jerseys from china . It was pure bad luck that injured Plekanec. The injury occurred as he was trying to pass the puck and instantly felt something wrong with his body while playing in the Czech Republic. http://www.nflcheapjerseysfromchina.biz/ . "We have veteran guys who have been there and done that before," Smith said. "All we need is to just keep flying under the radar." Smith scored 28 points and pulled down a season-high 15 rebounds and Joe Johnson added 27 points to help the Atlanta Hawks win their third straight game, 93-84 over the Toronto Raptors on Monday. nfl cheap jerseys . -- The Phoenix Coyotes lumbered around the ice for 26 minutes, running into each other on power plays, watching as the free-and-loose St. cheap nfl jerseys from china . Defenceman Jared Cowen joined the team on the ice for the first time this season.BOSTON -- The Boston Red Sox ripped a page off the calendar and talked about putting their miserable April behind them. No one wanted to forget the opening month more than Carl Crawford. The Red Sox leftfielder singled to score Jed Lowrie from third and break a ninth-inning tie on Sunday, giving the Red Sox a 3-2 victory over the Seattle Mariners. It was just his second RBI in Fenway Park this season, his first in Boston under the seven-year, US$142-million contract he signed in the off-season. "After seeing it go through the middle, it was like a big weight off my shoulder," said Crawford, who entered the game hitting .155. "Its been a while since I felt this good. Its been tough on me; I cant sit here and act like it hasnt been. But you try to minimize that and keep positive thoughts in your head." It was 2-2 with one out in the ninth when Lowrie lifted a fly ball to right and Ichiro Suzuki lost it in the sun, getting hit in the hip as he ducked, trying to shade his eyes with his glove. Lowrie went into third standing up. Marco Scutaros grounder was fielded by a drawn-in infield for the second out before Crawford lined a 1-1 pitch to centre. That brought Lowrie in easily, and the rest of the Red Sox out of the dugout to congratulate Crawford. "Everybodys been doing a good job of trying to get me going," Crawford said. "The guys have my back. They really care about getting me going and they understand Ive been going through some things." Jonathan Papelbon (1-0) earned the win with a perfect ninth inning. Jamey Wright (0-1) took the loss despite retiring his first four batters, and then getting Lowrie to hit a seemingly harmless fly to Suzuki. "Right when it got in the sky, it just disappeared. I didnt see the ball at all," Suzuki said through a translator. "Its a hard thing to make the right decision. The moment it hit the sky it dropped. You have to make the right decision. The decision is to turn to the side and let it hit me or run back and let it fall down. My instinct was in a tight ballgame to let it hit me." Seattle had won five straight but could not convert a strong outing by reigning AL Cy Young winner Felix Hernandez into its first three-game sweep of the Red Sox at Fenway in history. Hernandez gavee up two runs on six hits and one walk while striking out a season-high 10 before leaving after seven innings.dddddddddddd The Red Sox won for just the second time in six games. But they improved to 1-0 in May after an April in which they lost the first six games of the season and finished the month 11-15. "As a team, we just wanted to put the month of April behind us," Crawford said. "We wanted to start fresh and act like the month of April never happened." Tim Wakefield made his first start of the season and held the Mariners to three hits while striking out three and walking one. He left to a standing ovation with two outs in the sixth and a runner on first, but Bobby Jenks gave up a single to Miguel Olivo and then three straight walks -- two of them with the bases loaded. Jenks faced five batters and did not get an out until Michael Saunders hit a hard line drive that was caught by Crawford in left. He was sarcastically cheered with every strike -- he only threw 12 of them -- and booed when he left the mound at the end of the inning. That cost Wakefield of a decision as he tries to catch Roger Clemens and Cy Young for the all-time franchise mark for wins; the knuckleballer has 179 with Boston, 13 shy of the Red Sox record. At 44, Wakefield is the oldest pitcher to start a major-league game since Roger Clemens, who was 45 when he started for the Yankees against Boston on Sept. 16, 2007. Boston loaded the bases in the first but failed to score, then put two on in the third and extended their slump to 0-for-14 with runners in scoring position before David Ortiz doubled off the Green Monster to score two runs. Notes: Clay Buchholz, who was pushed back a day because he was sick on Friday, will pitch Monday against the Los Angeles Angels, with Jon Lester going on Tuesday and Josh Beckett pushed back at least to Wednesday. ... 3B Kevin Youkilis was sore and took the day off. ... Mariners C Miguel Olivo started his seventh straight game. ... "He wanted it. He deserved it. Hes playing with energy and life," manager Eric Wedge said. ... OF Milton Bradley, who was ejected from Saturday nights game, sat out to get some rest. ... Hernandez moved into third on the Mariners career list with 1,087 strikeouts. ' ' ' 

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Portland acquired reserve point guard Eric Maynor from the Oklahoma City Thunder at the NBA trade deadline on Thursday to be a backup for rookie guard Damian Lillard. Maynor is making $2.3 million this season and becomes a restricted free agent this summer. The Blazers acquired him in exchange for the draft rights to Georgios Printezis. Maynor, in his fourth NBA season, is averaging 2.8 points, two rebounds and 10.6 minutes in 37 games with the Thunder this season. He missed most of last season with a knee injury and then got bypassed in the rotation by second-year guard Reggie Jackson earlier this season. The Blazers acquired the draft rights to Printezis last July in a trade that sent Raymond Felton and Kurt Thomas to the New York Knicks. Portland used the trade exception from that deal to acquire Maynor. Portland general manager Neil Olshey, speaking at the Blazers practice facility after the deadline had passed, said he believes Maynor brings the ability to run Portlands second unit while being able to play with the starters. "He plays with good pace, good tempo, he takes care of the basketball, he makes good decisions and we also think we can experiment a little bit with he and Damian on the floor at the same time," Olshey said. He also said he is unconcerned about Maynors knee. "His playing time right now is in no way related to his knee injury, its related to the fact that theyve got an All-Star point guard and the guy behind him, like I said, was probably one of the premier point guards in the draft, they took Reggie Jackson," Olshey said. As a result of the deal for Maynor, the Blazers waived backup guard Ronnie Price, who averaged 2.7 points, 1.1 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 13.1 minutes in 39 games. The trade came together about 30 minutes before Thursdays trade deadline, Olshey said. Lillard said he appreciates the experience that Maynor brings, citing his playoff experience. "Hes seen it all; he will be able to teach me a lot," said Lillard, the NBAs three-time reigning rookie of the month. Many expected the Blazers to move big man J.J. Hickson, who signed a one-year deal worth a reported $4 million prior to this season. Because he has Bird rights, Hickson had approval of any trade. He would have given up those rights if he agreed to any deal, which could impact the salary he could command in free agency. "Im just here controlling what I can control, playing the game of basketball. Off the court, things will take care of themselves like they always have in the past," he said as the trade deadline loomed. Hickson, in his fifth NBA season, is averaging 12.9 points and 10.4 rebounds per game. He has 28 double-doubles, matching his career high. And hes shot 50 per cent or better from the floor for the last 17 games, a franchise record. Olshey would not comment about potential deals that never materialized. "The players that are here, the 14 guys that remain, are all here for a reason," he said. "Suffice it to say, were not going to comment on any trade speculation about who may or may not have been involved in trade talks over the last couple of weeks. But this is the Portland Trail Blazer roster for the foreseeable future." Meanwhile, the Blazers (25-29) are mired in a six-game losing streak but are still hoping for a playoff spot. They visit the Lakers on Friday night. jerseys china . The Flames needed a goalie after starter Mikka Kiprusoff sprained his MCL last Tuesday in a game against the Detroit Red Wings. Kiprusoff is listed as day-to-day and was on the ice Monday morning. nfl jerseys from china cheap . 2 Louisville looked more like itself with an 84-61 victory over No. 13 Missouri on Friday night in the semifinals of the Battle 4 Atlantis. http://www.nfljerseysfromchinacheapmr.com/ .Y. -- C.J. Spiller gladly accepted Fred Jacksons challenge. china cheap jerseys . The 32-year-old Norwegian, a 10-time LPGA Tour winner ranked sixth in the world, shot a 3-under 69 in the challenging conditions in her afternoon round to reach 10-under 134. "I said, Par isnt going to hurt me today," Pettersen said. china nfl jerseys . Boucher has scored 14 goals in his last 12 games and now has 35 goals in 43 games, which leads the OHL. Craig Duininck also scored for the Sting (25-15-3), who won for the first time in three outings, while Charles Sarault chipped in with three assists.Some thoughts from the NHL on TSN panel on Friday night: Philadelphia Flyers Of the teams facing elimination, I feel the Philadelphia Flyers have the best chance of coming back and winning the series. Are there questions about their goaltending? Absolutely. But is there any question that they have the character to come back? Last year they were down 3-0 to the Boston Bruins in the series and they were down 3-0 in Game 7 to the Bruins and managed to come back. They did the same thing in the game on Friday, fighting back from a three-goal deficit, but ultimately fell short. Buffalo is playing well, but I think that the Flyers have the best chance of any team facing elimination.  I also wont be surprised if Chris Pronger is back in the lineup for Game 6. If he is, it makes a world of difference, even if he cant shoot the puck 100 percent. Michael Leighton Part of the reason Michael& Leighton was recalled on re-entry waivers by the Flyers was in part because I dont think they had complete confidence in Sergei Bobrovsky becuase he struggled so badly down the stretch.dddddddddddd Now hes right out of the equation. I think also there is not an overwhelming level of confidence in Brian Boucher and I think that Leighton has the chance to be the starter the next time out.  Tyler Ennis The Buffalo Sabres need their rookies and unheralded guys to step up. Gragnani has been leading the team in scoring, and hes a defenceman and a rookie. Jason Pominville left the game in the first period, he took a skate blade to the leg. Theres no prognosis on him yet, but it doesnt look good. Tim Connolly has gone 28 games without a goal. Derek Roy is injured and not in the lineup. The Sabres are looking for other sources to generate offence. ' ' ' 

TORONTO -- Let the serious negotiations begin. After more than a month with no new offers being tabled in collective bargaining talks, the NHL breathed new life into the process Tuesday with a proposal that could kick-start some significant discussions. It calls for a 50-50 split of revenues between owners and players and includes a deferred salary plan designed to ensure that players would receive all the money theyve been promised in existing contracts. On top of that, the deal was drawn up with an eye to starting a full 82-game regular season Nov. 2. "We have about nine or 10 days to get this all ... signed, sealed and delivered," said commissioner Gary Bettman, who called the proposed deal "long-term." A lot will need to be accomplished over that period. However, the unexpected proposal offered fans the first real hint of hope since the lockout began Sept. 15. The sides have met regularly since that time, but their discussions were largely limited to secondary issues. The league eventually grew tired of waiting for a new offer from the NHL Players Association and decided to try to move things forward with a proposal of its own. Donald Fehr, the NHLPAs executive director, spent Tuesday afternoon reviewing the lengthy document and held an evening conference call with about 60 players. His initial reaction to the offer was that it could provide something to work with. "I would like to believe that it will be an excellent starting point and we can go forward and see if there is a deal to be made," said Fehr. The new offer was greeted with cautious optimism by locked-out players who have had to secure their own ice time to stay in shape during the lockout. Following an informal skate in Vancouver on Tuesday, Canucks goaltender Cory Schneider expressed hope that labour peace could finally be on the horizon. "Both sides were waiting for somebody to make the next move," said Schneider. "For them to make a move towards us, it at least signals that they are serious about negotiating and getting started. Up until this point, we werent fully convinced of that. This is obviously a good step towards that." It wasnt immediately clear how willing the league is to negotiate off its latest offer. The NHLs previous proposal called for the players revenue share to fall to 47 per cent and tabled a number of restrictive rules governing contracts. According to a source, the only one that remains in Tuesdays proposal is a maximum contract length of five years. The new offer also calls for unrestricted free agency to come into effect at age 28 or after eight years of service -- one year later than the last CBA -- and keeps entry-level deals at three years. Neither side had made a formal proposal since Sept. 12, and this one came with a heightened sense of urgency from Bettman. The league figures Nov. 2 is the latest it could start a condensed 82-game regular season that would see the Stanley Cup awarded before the end of June. "If we didnt do it now, if we didnt put an offer on the table that we thought was fair and could get us playing hockey ... then it probably wasnt going to happen for a while," said Bettman. "Its done in the spirit of getting a full season in." If the union were to accept the 50-50 split, players would take a financial hit. Based on last years league-wide revenues of US$3.3 billion, they would be giving up $231 million annually if their share of that money drops by seven per cent. However, it might be a concession theyre willing to make as part of a larger deal. "To Bettman, the percentage is the biggest part," said Schneider. "To us, its one of the few big parts. Contracting and revenue-sharing are other issues for us. But (the percentage) is a hurdle that has to be overcome at some point. So its good that were heading in the right direction." The NHLs third lockout in 18 years has lasted 31 days and already forced the league to push the season back two weeks from its scheduled start of Oct. 11. Deputy commissioner Bill Daly estimated last week that it had cost about US$250 million in lost revenue. The new league offer came one day after the sports blog Deadspin reported the NHL had hired market research firm Luntz Global to conduct a focus group to help shape its message during the lockout. The companys founder, Frank Luntz, said in a statement that he was trying to gauge how fans felt about the work stoppage. The best public relations for both sides would come from striking a deal and with a new proposal on the table, there is some optimism that could be coming sooner than later. "What our hope is is that after we review this that there will be a feeling on the players side that this is a proposal from which we can negotiate and try and reach a conclusion," said Fehr. -- With files from Monte Stewart in Vancouver. Nick Foles Womens Jersey . "Its nice to be in the (hunt for the) playoffs in January. Were right there. Were tied for first!" Shawn Horcoff joked with reporters Sunday as the team opened training camp at Rexall Place with medical testing. DeSean Jackson Jersey . Nishikori led 4-1 in the first set before Murray went on a roll, winning the next eight games to lead 6-4, 2-0 when the Japanese player called it quits, two games after receiving medical treatment at the end of the first set. http://www.nickfolesjerseys.us/ . It took Juventus less than three minutes to take the lead with a stunning strike from Fabio Quagliarella. Rodrigo Palacio levelled in the 55th but Juventus was back in front five minutes later when Alessandro Matri fired in from close range. Nick Foles Jersey . -- Humberto Suazo and Aldo de Nigris scored late goals, and Monterrey rallied from a first-half deficit for a 2-1 victory over the Los Angeles Galaxy in the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions League semifinals on Wednesday night.SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Alex Killorn scored twice and added an assist as the Syracuse Crunch topped the St. Johns IceCaps 6-3 on Saturday in American Hockey League action. Richard Panik had a goal and two assists for Syracuse (25-10-6), while J.T. Wyman and Jean-Philippe Cote had singles. Kael Mouillierat, Patrice Cormier and Dean Arsene replied for St. Johns (19-22-3). A line brawl 5:36 into the seconnd period forced a change of goalies for both teams.dddddddddddd The IceCaps Eddie Pasquale and the Crunchs Dustin Tokarski were booted from the game after fighting at centre ice. Tokarski stopped 15 of the 18 shots he faced. Riku Helenius handled all 15 shots in relief. Pasquale made 14 saves on 16 shots for St. Johns. He was replaced by Mark Dekanich, who turned aside 22 of 26. ' ' ' 

BARCELONA, Spain -- Lionel Messi broke yet another record in an already remarkable season as Barcelona finally broke down AC Milans stubborn defence to move one step closer to successsfully defending its Champions League title. The three-time world player of the year scored two first-half penalties Tuesday to lead the Spanish club to a 3-1 victory over Milan and a place in the semifinals of the tournament for the fifth straight season. In the process, he became the first player to score 14 goals in one Champions League campaign, breaking Ruud van Nistelrooys record from 2002-03. After leaving the San Siro feeling aggrieved at not having been awarded at least one penalty in a 0-0 draw, Barcelona took full advantage of getting two spot kicks this time and then held off the visitors attempt at a fightback. "When you have Milan in front of you, its never over. We had to work a lot," Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta said. "Were very happy to be in the semifinals again." Messi opened the scoring in the 11th minute at the Camp Nou before Antonio Nocerino countered with a 32nd-minute strike that gave the Italian champions a valuable away goal that provided hope of advancing. But Barcelonas attack did not relent and the defending champions were awarded a second penalty when Alessandro Nesta needlessly yanked Sergio Busquets down inside the area during a corner, and Messi calmly slotted in his 58th goal of the season in all competitions. Goalkeeper Christian Abbiati kept Milan in touch but could not stop Andres Iniesta from completing the victory from close range in the 53rd, as Barcelona became the first club in the modern-era edition of the European club championship to reach five straight semifinals. Only Real Madrid had accomplished the feat en route to winning five straight trophies between 1956-60 in the competitions earlier format. Milan, meanwhile, hasnt reached the last four since winning its last title in 2007 and its players quickly surrounded Dutch referee Bjorn Kuipers to protest after the final whistle. "Sometimes the referee made too many concessions," Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri said. "I dont know if it proved decisive. We made a mistake on the first penalty but he helped on the second. Playing Barca is never easy." Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola believed his teams general effort made up for any controversy as the Catalans outshot the Rossoneri 21-3. "You can talk all you want about referees but that makes it five straight semifinals, the fruits of our talent and a lot of work," said Guardiola, who is the third coach after Helenio Herrera and Vicente del Bosque to lead a team to four straight semifinals. "We deserved more than to just get through so Im satisfied." Zlatan Ibrahimovic set up the equalizer and had a penalty appeal turned down in the second half, but was mostly muted by defender Gerard Pique in his first return to the Camp Nou since leaving Barcelona in 2010. "Im just disgusted," the Sweden striker said. "They are the best team in the world but at 1-1 and, playing with intelligence, you can do something. In my opinion it wasnt fair." Barcelona faces either Chelsea or Benfica next, with the English club going into Wednesdays return leg leading 1-0. The match began with an electrifying pace as Barcelona pushed forward only for Abbiati to deny Messi when the Argentina forward was not uncharacteristically misfiring. But Luca Antonini helped as he slid into Messi from behind during a scramble in the area, and the 24-year-old Messi became the youngest player to reach 50 goals in the competition when he slotted his spot kick just out of reach of a diving Abbiati. While Barcelona maintained control with its usual passing game, the Rossoneri defence held firm to avoid further goals before Robinhos individual effort created the equalizer. The Brazil striker drew a number of players before spotting Ibrahimovic, who put Nocerino through on goal to slot a shot past Victor Valdes from the right side of the area. Knowing a scoring draw would put Milan through, Barcelona kept pressing for another goal and Abbiati had to stretch to push away a shot from Xavi Hernandez, a surprise starter despite a calf injury. Instead it was Milans disciplined defence -- which held Barcelona scoreless in a Champions League game for the first time in more than two years in the first leg -- that finally cracked as Nesta gave away a cheap penalty when he tussled with Busquets during a corner. Messi, who became the first player to score five goals in a Champions League game against Bayer Leverkusen in the previous round, sent Abbiati the wrong way from the spot to also match Mazzola Altafinis 49-year mark of 14 goals in a European Cup campaign. Milan clung on after the restart but were unlucky when Messis effort was deflected into the path of Iniesta, who picked his spot inside the far corner to put the quarterfinal out of reach. Xavis replacement Thiago Alcantara had Barcelonas best chance after that as he shot wide across the face of goal, while Daniel Alves cleared away Milans most dangerous chance to get back into the game moments before in the 67th. Davone Bess Browns Jersey . The second round pick is a conditional pick that the Flyers acquired in the Kris Versteeg trade.  The Florida Panthers have the option to give either their 2012 or 2013 pick. Paul Kruger Browns Jersey . The rest of the pre-season appears to be out. Manning said Saturday he will use the next two weeks to get healthy from off-season neck surgery, a timeline that could put his streak of 227 consecutive starts in jeopardy. http://www.womenstrentrichardsonjersey.us/PAUL_KRUGER_BROWNS_JERSEY.html . Plouffe suffered a concussion May 21 against Atlanta. He was struck in the head by Braves infielder Dan Ugglas shin while trying to break up a double play. Craig Robertson Jersey . This week, United resiliently claims the Manchester Derby and pulls six points clear at the top of the table.  Meanwhile Everton moves into the top four with a dramatic victory over Tottenham and Norwich and Swansea play a seven goal slugfest. Trent Richardson Jersey . The club announced Friday that the deal is non-guaranteed and worth US$750,000. The 41-year-old played in 21 games for Arizona last season, posting a .CHICAGO -- The Chicago Bulls say veteran guard Richard Hamilton has torn tissue in his left foot. The team says an MRI on Sunday confirmed he tore the plantar fascia tissue and will return "as his symptoms permit." Hamilton left Saturdays game against Philadelphia in the third quarter and returned to hit three of four free throws in the final 20 seconds, clinching a 93-88 win.dddddddddddd He said afterward that he felt something pop on the bottom of his foot. Injuries limited him to 28 games last season -- his first in Chicago. ' ' ' 

BARCELONA, Spain -- Lionel Messi broke yet another record in an already remarkable season as Barcelona finally broke down AC Milans stubborn defence to move one step closer to successsfully defending its Champions League title. The three-time world player of the year scored two first-half penalties Tuesday to lead the Spanish club to a 3-1 victory over Milan and a place in the semifinals of the tournament for the fifth straight season. In the process, he became the first player to score 14 goals in one Champions League campaign, breaking Ruud van Nistelrooys record from 2002-03. After leaving the San Siro feeling aggrieved at not having been awarded at least one penalty in a 0-0 draw, Barcelona took full advantage of getting two spot kicks this time and then held off the visitors attempt at a fightback. "When you have Milan in front of you, its never over. We had to work a lot," Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta said. "Were very happy to be in the semifinals again." Messi opened the scoring in the 11th minute at the Camp Nou before Antonio Nocerino countered with a 32nd-minute strike that gave the Italian champions a valuable away goal that provided hope of advancing. But Barcelonas attack did not relent and the defending champions were awarded a second penalty when Alessandro Nesta needlessly yanked Sergio Busquets down inside the area during a corner, and Messi calmly slotted in his 58th goal of the season in all competitions. Goalkeeper Christian Abbiati kept Milan in touch but could not stop Andres Iniesta from completing the victory from close range in the 53rd, as Barcelona became the first club in the modern-era edition of the European club championship to reach five straight semifinals. Only Real Madrid had accomplished the feat en route to winning five straight trophies between 1956-60 in the competitions earlier format. Milan, meanwhile, hasnt reached the last four since winning its last title in 2007 and its players quickly surrounded Dutch referee Bjorn Kuipers to protest after the final whistle. "Sometimes the referee made too many concessions," Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri said. "I dont know if it proved decisive. We made a mistake on the first penalty but he helped on the second. Playing Barca is never easy." Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola believed his teams general effort made up for any controversy as the Catalans outshot the Rossoneri 21-3. "You can talk all you want about referees but that makes it five straight semifinals, the fruits of our talent and a lot of work," said Guardiola, who is the third coach after Helenio Herrera and Vicente del Bosque to lead a team to four straight semifinals. "We deserved more than to just get through so Im satisfied." Zlatan Ibrahimovic set up the equalizer and had a penalty appeal turned down in the second half, but was mostly muted by defender Gerard Pique in his first return to the Camp Nou since leaving Barcelona in 2010. "Im just disgusted," the Sweden striker said. "They are the best team in the world but at 1-1 and, playing with intelligence, you can do something. In my opinion it wasnt fair." Barcelona faces either Chelsea or Benfica next, with the English club going into Wednesdays return leg leading 1-0. The match began with an electrifying pace as Barcelona pushed forward only for Abbiati to deny Messi when the Argentina forward was not uncharacteristically misfiring. But Luca Antonini helped as he slid into Messi from behind during a scramble in the area, and the 24-year-old Messi became the youngest player to reach 50 goals in the competition when he slotted his spot kick just out of reach of a diving Abbiati. While Barcelona maintained control with its usual passing game, the Rossoneri defence held firm to avoid further goals before Robinhos individual effort created the equalizer. The Brazil striker drew a number of players before spotting Ibrahimovic, who put Nocerino through on goal to slot a shot past Victor Valdes from the right side of the area. Knowing a scoring draw would put Milan through, Barcelona kept pressing for another goal and Abbiati had to stretch to push away a shot from Xavi Hernandez, a surprise starter despite a calf injury. Instead it was Milans disciplined defence -- which held Barcelona scoreless in a Champions League game for the first time in more than two years in the first leg -- that finally cracked as Nesta gave away a cheap penalty when he tussled with Busquets during a corner. Messi, who became the first player to score five goals in a Champions League game against Bayer Leverkusen in the previous round, sent Abbiati the wrong way from the spot to also match Mazzola Altafinis 49-year mark of 14 goals in a European Cup campaign. Milan clung on after the restart but were unlucky when Messis effort was deflected into the path of Iniesta, who picked his spot inside the far corner to put the quarterfinal out of reach. Xavis replacement Thiago Alcantara had Barcelonas best chance after that as he shot wide across the face of goal, while Daniel Alves cleared away Milans most dangerous chance to get back into the game moments before in the 67th. Davone Bess Browns Jersey . The second round pick is a conditional pick that the Flyers acquired in the Kris Versteeg trade.  The Florida Panthers have the option to give either their 2012 or 2013 pick. Paul Kruger Browns Jersey . The rest of the pre-season appears to be out. Manning said Saturday he will use the next two weeks to get healthy from off-season neck surgery, a timeline that could put his streak of 227 consecutive starts in jeopardy. http://www.womenstrentrichardsonjersey.us/PAUL_KRUGER_BROWNS_JERSEY.html . Plouffe suffered a concussion May 21 against Atlanta. He was struck in the head by Braves infielder Dan Ugglas shin while trying to break up a double play. Craig Robertson Jersey . This week, United resiliently claims the Manchester Derby and pulls six points clear at the top of the table.  Meanwhile Everton moves into the top four with a dramatic victory over Tottenham and Norwich and Swansea play a seven goal slugfest. Trent Richardson Jersey . The club announced Friday that the deal is non-guaranteed and worth US$750,000. The 41-year-old played in 21 games for Arizona last season, posting a .CHICAGO -- The Chicago Bulls say veteran guard Richard Hamilton has torn tissue in his left foot. The team says an MRI on Sunday confirmed he tore the plantar fascia tissue and will return "as his symptoms permit." Hamilton left Saturdays game against Philadelphia in the third quarter and returned to hit three of four free throws in the final 20 seconds, clinching a 93-88 win.dddddddddddd He said afterward that he felt something pop on the bottom of his foot. Injuries limited him to 28 games last season -- his first in Chicago. ' ' ' 

NEW YORK -- Deron Williams, Brook Lopez and the Nets turned the Brooklyn blackout into a blowout, beating the Chicago Bulls 106-89 on Saturday night in Game 1 of their playoff series. Williams scored 22 points, Lopez had 21 and the Nets ripped apart the Bulls vaunted defence with a spectacular second quarter, when they made 16 of 20 shots. "Thats a hell of a performance," Nets interim coach P.J. Carlesimo said. Joe Johnson finished with 16 for the Nets, who made their successful first season in Brooklyn even better with a victory in their first playoff appearance since 2007. They will host Game 2 on Monday night. The Nets wore their road black uniforms and fans were encouraged to wear black as well to make it a "blackout" for the first major post-season game in Brooklyn since Oct. 10, 1956, when the Yankees beat the Dodgers in Game 7 of the World Series at Ebbets Field. The Nets then came out white-hot, shooting nearly 56 per cent and putting six players in double figures. "It was the end of the first (quarter) and they hit us with a haymaker, got us back on our heels," Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said. "So end of the first, second quarter, poor defence, poor intensity, poor energy on offence. You cant win like that." Carlos Boozer had 25 points and eight rebounds for the Bulls, who had Joakim Noah in the starting lineup despite foot pain. But he was clearly limited, and there was no reason to play him more than the 14 minutes he got with the game never in doubt after halftime. The sellout crowd of 17,732 was roaring long before Nets reserve Jerry Stackhouse, who wears the No. 42 that Jackie Robinson once sported in Brooklyn, sang the national anthem. Owner Mikhail Prokhorov, who spent hundreds of millions on player contracts last summer expecting a longtime loser in New Jersey to win big in Brooklyn, came on the court to thank fans for their passion and support, telling them that this playoff appearance was only the beginning. And what a beginning it was. Williams even had a reverse dunk in the third quarter, showing how much better he feels after ankle pain had him playing well below his usual level before the All-Star break, when he could barely jump. Gerald Wallace and C.J. Watson each scored 14 for the Nets, while Andray Blatche had 12. Noah has battled plantar fasciitis in his right foot and Thibodeau said he didnt want his All-Star centre playing if he was injured. But Noah, who grew up in New York, wanted to give it a try. He finished with four points. "The thing is he hasnt practiced so hes going to be rusty, but Id rather have him out there. Whatever he can give us is a plus," Thibodeau said. "We didnt play well. It wasnt Jo, it was our team. So hes a big plus for our team, so wed like to have him out there. Weve got to play better. Everyone has to play better." The Bulls are still without Derrick Rose, who tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in last years playoff opener. Thibodeau hasnt ruled out the former MVP returning in this series, noting the end would be two weeks from Saturday if it went the distance. That looked unlikely after Game 1. Chicago won three of four during the regular season, holding the Nets to 87.5 points per game, but Brooklyn had 89 after the third quarter of this one. Fans chanted "Brooklyn! Brooklyn!" before the tip and chanted Wallaces name during it, recognizing his strong performance after a difficult regular season. The Nets jumped out to an 11-point lead after one quarter, getting 12 points from Lopez. It was 38-26 midway through the second before the Nets blew it open. Lopez made two straight baskets, the latter a dunk after Williams juked Marco Belinelli so badly that Jay-Z practically jumped out of his nearby courtside seat. Former Bulls backup Watson followed with a 3-pointer to make it a 20-point game for the first time, and it was 60-35 at halftime after the Nets scored the final six points. "I thought we competed extremely well, I thought we defended extremely well and pushed the ball and shared the ball extremely well in the first half," Carlesimo said. Noah started the second half, clearly not running well, but was back on the bench before long. Nate Robinson scored 17 points for Chicago, while Jimmy Butler and Belinelli each had 13. Luol Deng had just six on 3-of-11 shooting. NOTES: Carlesimo got his first playoff victory since April 30, 1997, when he coached Portland. ... The Bulls reached the conference semifinals the previous three times they were a No. 5 seed. ... Jay-Z was in his usual seat near the Nets bench even though the rap mogul is selling his small portion of the team, as required, to focus on his player agency business. Nelson Cruz Authentic Jersey . Bryant scored 13 of his 42 points during a 20-0 run in the last 6:22 of the fourth quarter, and Los Angeles overcame a 25-point deficit to fend off the New Orleans Hornets, 108-102 on Wednesday night. Matt Kemp Womens Jersey . The Gibsons, B.C., native has pitched at least 200 innings in four of the past five seasons, impressive to general manager Ben Cherington but not so special to Dempster. http://www.officialmlbonlinestore.com/Boston-Red-Sox-jb-25_David-Ortiz-Jersey-eb-19.html . The Champions League has thrown up a string of unpredictable scorelines this season and none bigger than Barcas 2-1 loss in Glasgow two weeks ago, preventing the Spanish giants joining FC Porto, Malaga and Manchester United in the last 16 with two games to spare. Miguel Cabrera Authentic Jersey .S. Ian Kinsler Jersey . Crosby wore a protective mask while skating with injured teammates James Neal and Paul Martin. Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Chris Kunitz tallied the winner in the fourth round of the shootout as Pittsburgh got past Philadelphia, 2-1, in the second-to-last regular-season meeting between the clubs. Tyler Kennedy tallied in regulation for the Penguins, who have won four of five and crept within four points of first place Philadelphia in the Atlantic Division. Marc-Andre Fleury made 19 stops in the first 65 minutes, then three of four saves in the shootout. It is not something we have been fazed by before, said Penguins head coach Dan Bylsma of his club showing resilience with so many key players out of the lineup. Our guys keep playing and keep the standard up no matter what is happening in the game. Tonight is another example where we played well defensively and didnt give them a lot of chances. We were able to get the goal to tie the game and we had some chances to win, but it was a hard-fought game. Mike Richards lit the lamp for the Flyers, who have dropped two in a row and four of six. Philly tied a season-low for shots in one game with 20, first set on January 6 at New Jersey. Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 30 shots in defeat. Fleury let Richards chance to open the final round settle in his breadbasket, then Kunitz managed to slide a shot underneath Bobrovsky for the game-deciding score. Bobrovsky was tested in the first three minutes of the game, but turned back Kennedys breakaway bid with his right pad. The Flyers took a one-goal edge with 4:42 left in the first period, when James van Riemsdyks pass into the slot for Richards ppopped up off his skate, then floated over Fleurys head before settling in the net.dddddddddddd Kennedy did even the game 61 seconds into the second period, ripping a shot high and inside the right post. Bobrovskys right pad bailed out his club once more, after Maxime Talbot capitalized on a miscommunication and soloed in on the Philadelphia net 3 1/2 minutes into the third period during a Flyers power play. James Neal also hit the Russian rookie in his pad with just under three minutes to play, then Kris Letang was stopped by Bobrovsky with just over two minutes left in overtime. Seconds later, the Pens defenseman shot high over an open net. We didnt play good the whole game, not just the third period. We didnt have a shot on net for I dont know how long, said Flyers defenseman Andrej Meszaros. Luckily we had Bob [Bobrovsky]. He kept us in the game. He was unbelievable, but we cant have those kind of games close to the playoffs. GAME NOTES:Pittsburgh improved to 7-2-0 in its last nine trips to Philadelphia...The season series concludes on Tuesday in the Steel City...Coming into the game, the Flyers held a record of 14-3-1 against Atlantic Division opponents, the best record of any NHL team against its own division...Philly set a franchise record by participating in its fourth straight shootout...The Penguins added backup goaltender Brent Johnson to the list of wounded, out with an upper-body injury. The club recalled netminder Brad Thiessen from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the AHL earlier Thursday...Attendance was a season-high 19,902. ' ' ' 

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Matt Joyce sent a message with his bat. Joyce hit one of three homers off Jon Lester to help the Tampa Bay Rays beat the AL East-leading Boston Red Sox 8-3 on Tuesday night. Joyce, one day after being hit by a pitch that sparked a bench-clearing scrum, put the Rays up 7-3 on a two-run shot in the fifth that ended Lesters night. "Its a great feeling, especially to help your team win," Joyce said. "Ive never really been the type of person to talk a lot of trash, so I wanted, of course, to come out and play a good game. Play the game the right way and win the ballgame." Desmond Jennings homered twice, while Evan Longoria also went deep for the Rays. Roberto Hernandez (4-6) allowed three runs and seven hits over seven-plus innings. Lester (6-3) had his winless streak reach five starts, including three losses, since beating the Rays on May 15. The left-hander gave up seven runs, eight hits and seven walks in 4 2-3 innings. "Over the last two or three, I think Ive thrown the ball better than what the linescore showed," Lester said. "This one, obviously, it is what it is. Its just terrible. I did a terrible job of helping our bullpen out, a terrible job of keeping the ball down in the zone. The list goes on. This is solely on me. I just flat out didnt get it done." The teams were coming off a testy 14-inning game Monday night won by the Red Sox 10-8 that took 5 hours, 24 minutes. An on-field scrum took place in the sixth after Bostons John Lackey hit Joyce in the centre of the back with a pitch. Lackey insisted he meant no harm, though the Rays hardly were convinced of that as Joyce and Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon both said it was intentional. "Im sure he was, definitely, mentally involved in this game," Maddon said of Joyce. "He had himself a nice night." Hernandez hit Dustin Pedroia, who was leading off the eighth Tuesday, with a pitch that got away from the right-hander. Pedroia immediately ran to first base and nothing else ensued. The Rays grabbed a 4-3 lead during the third on run-scoring singles by Ryan Roberts and Jose Molina. Longoria made it 5-3 on a solo shot in the fourth. Tampa Bay took a 2-1 advantage on Jennings solo homer in the second. He also had a solo drive off Jose De La Torre in the fifth for his third career multihomer game. "Anytime they get over the fence it feels pretty good," Jennings said. Mike Napoli had a two-run single in the third that put Boston ahead 3-2. After Pedroia gave the Red Sox a 1-0 lead in the first with a sacrifice fly, Tampa Bay tied it in the bottom half when James Loney walked with bases loaded on the fourth free pass of the inning issued by Lester. "The first inning kind of sums up the whole night," Lester said. "I was not able to repeat whatever pitch it may be, fastball, curveball, changeup, cutter. I just was not able to repeat, whether it be a location or just the pitch itself. Its not good." Bostons Jose Iglesias extended his hitting streak to 14 games with a single in the third. Pedroia had his 14-game hitting streak end. NOTES: Joyce is 4 for 8 with two homers against Lester. ... The Rays have hit four or more homers in consecutive games for the first time in team history. ... Boston RHP Clay Buchholz (neck stiffness) will have his next start on Friday pushed back at least two days. ... Tampa Bay LHP David Price (strained left triceps) will throw in a simulated game Thursday. ... Maddon said RHP Kyle Farnsworth, who left Mondays game with right elbow soreness, felt pretty good Tuesday. The reliever played catch before the game and said he was available to pitch Tuesday Wholesale Jerseys .C. -- While the Milwaukee Bucks are in the playoffs for the first time in three seasons, getting out of the first round will be a huge challenge given their recent poor play and a difficult first-round opponent. Cheap NFL Jerseys . -- Jered Weaver spent a long stretch of his 100th career victory in the batting cage and the tunnel below Angel Stadium, playing catch to keep his arm warm while the Los Angeles Angels batted around in an eight-run fourth inning. http://www.cheapwholesalejerseys.biz/ . This week, they discuss the decisions of Glendale city council, Forbes Magazine and the NHL, Christine Sinclairs FIFA snub and Mariano Riveras potential comeback. Cheap Jerseys Wholesale . France has lost several key players from the team that lost 8-7 to New Zealand in the 2011 final, and coach Philippe Saint-Andres side showed its limitations in defeats to Italy, Wales and England before scraping a 13-13 draw against Ireland. The team needed to overcome a 6-0 halftime deficit on Saturday to edge out Scotland thanks to second-half tries from centre Wesley Fofana and winger Maxime Medard. Wholesale cheap Jerseys . The Australian teenager beat No. 7-ranked Tomas Berdych in his opening match and then controlled the first and third sets against Monfils in his second match at the invitational tournament. Hell next meet the winner of Fridays semifinal between American Mardy Fish and Austrias Jurgen Melzer.DUNEDIN, Florida – Monday marked John Farrells return to Florida Auto Exchange Stadium but it was Blue Jays manager John Gibbons who had the line of the day. "Are we supposed to go out there and have a wrestling match or something," joked Gibbons. "Hes a little bigger than I am." What about a steel cage match, asked one reporter. "Steel cage? (How about) MMA?" There lies one of the contrasts between the Blue Jays once and current manager, Gibbons, and Farrell, the man he replaced. Gibbons, shooting the breeze with the assembled mass while Farrell, always professorial with his on-the-record dialogue, remained stoic, almost unemotional. "I appreciate people might have differing opinions," said Farrell of his departure from Toronto for Boston. "All I can do is go about my work day in and day out. People are going to form their own impressions and I certainly cant control that." A large contingent of Blue Jays fans felt spurned by Farrell, who orchestrated his trade to Boston shortly after last season ended. Those in attendance on Monday let him hear their displeasure, booing him lustily when starting lineups were announced. Its likely a small sample of what will greet Farrell on April 5 when his Red Sox arrive in Toronto for a weekend series. "April will get here when it does," said Farrell. "Weve got a lot of work to do here right now. Im certainly not looking too far ahead. How that unfolds, well see. I fully respect (the Blue Jays,) theyve got a darn good team and Im looking forward to competing against them." Farrells time in Toronto is marked by the sense he never was fully invested in the organization. Having come from Boston where he had served as pitching coach, Farrell led the Blue Jays to an 81-81 record in 2011. After the season he quietly expressed interest in Bostons managerial job when Terry Francona was fired following an infamous September collapse. The Blue Jays declined Farrell permission to speak to the Red Sox and the job eventually was given to Bobby Valentine. The 2012 season unfolded in such a way, if you tend to believe in destiny, youd buy the notion it was the Red Soxs and Farrells fate to come together. The Blue Jays finished 73-89, better only than Boston in the American League East, after injuries decimated the starting rotation and prematurely ended Jose Bautistas season. In Boston, Valentines one year cameo was doomed almost from the get-go when, in April, he questioned Kevin Youkilis commitment and was quickly rebuked by clubhouse leader Dustin Pedroia. The Red Soxs 69 wins were the franchises fewest in a season since 1965. Farrells frustration with the Blue Jays grew as injuries and losses mounted. Rumblings are his working relationship with general manager Alex Anthopoulos began to suffer. When Valentine was fired in Boston upon last seasons conclusion, Farrell made it clear to Anthopoulos he wanted out of Toronto, believing the grass to be greener at Fenway Park. Farrell prefers not to use hindsight when asked whether he would have remained in Toronto had he known the off-season moves Anthopoulos would make. "They felt it was thhe right thing to do for the organization and I fully respect what their needs were and the approach that they took," said Farrell.dddddddddddd "A lot of good players were brought in." Monday also marked the return to Dunedin of Brian Butterfield, who left with Farrell after serving 11 years as the Blue Jays third base coach and infield instructor. "Oh sure," said Butterfield of whether Farrell was downplaying his anticipation of his returns to Dunedin and, eventually, Toronto. "Even today it feels a little bit different. We bussed in on the other side and were in the visitors clubhouse. Johns cool about it but I think there will be some butterflies early in the season when we start in New York and then get to Toronto." NOTES: - The Blue Jays have claimed 1B Lars Anderson off waivers from the Chicago White Sox. Anderson, 25, has played in 30 major league games, all with Boston, batting .167 with four RBI. Anderson has a .272 batting average with 76 home runs and 415 RBI in 748 career minor league games. - Blue Jays left-fielder Melky Cabrera, playing his first game before a home crowd, was roundly cheered before each of his at-bats. Cabrera smacked two doubles, one down each line, in his first two times to the plate. He drove in Torontos first run of the afternoon in the third inning. The 28-year-old signed a two-year, $16-million deal with Toronto in November. He served a 50-game suspension last season for testing positive for enhanced levels of testosterone. - Major League Baseball Players Association president Michael Weiner is making his annual spring training rounds. He stopped by Dunedin on Monday to meet with the Blue Jays. Drug testing was among a list of topics discussed. Asked whether Cabrera could face additional sanctions, including suspension, should the leagues investigation into Biogenesis prove evidence of wrongdoing, Weiner said its too early in the process to know. "Its a tough and complicated legal question. I think the commissioners office could take the position that if they had evidence of a separate violation, conceivably they could seek additional discipline. We might challenge that. The players association has an obligation to represent any player who is subject to discipline but also has an obligation to the vast majority of players who want a clean game." Cabreras name is linked to Biogenesis, a now-defunct Miami anti-aging clinic alleged to have peddled performance enhancing drugs to a number of high-profile major league players. Weiner says the union will speak to each player whose name has surfaced in the initial report, in the Miami New Times, and subsequent reports. Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez and Milwaukees Ryan Braun, the 2011 National League MVP, are among the group with alleged ties to Biogenesis. - The Blue Jays host the Twins, Tuesday, 1:05 ET at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium. Ricky Romero (9-14, 5.77 in 2012) will make his first start of spring training. Romero is scheduled to pitch two innings. Mike Pelfrey, signed by Minnesota in the off-season and coming off Tommy John surgery, gets the start for the Twins. ' ' ' 

NEW ORLEANS -- Jordan Crawford kept shooting. In a game where neither team could hit anything, he finally connected on enough shots to give the shorthanded Washington Wizards a rare road win. Crawford scored 12 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter and the Wizards spoiled the return of overall No. 1 draft pick Anthony Davis, beating the New Orleans Hornets 77-70 on Tuesday night. Crawford made only nine out of 26 shots -- his most attempts since his rookie season in 2010-11 -- but he had four of the Wizards final five baskets. "I just really wanted to do everything to take the win," he said. "I didnt care how many shots I shot. Turnovers. Nothing. I just wanted to do whatever it took to win." Bradley Beal added 15 points for the Wizards, who trailed by as many as 13 and never led until the fourth quarter. Washington won for the first time on the road after losing its first eight away from home this season. Ryan Anderson led New Orleans with 17 points but did not score in the second half, missing all nine of his shots after going 7 of 12 in the first half. Davis, who missed 11 games with a stress reaction in his left ankle, had 13 points and seven rebounds. The game befitted the team with the worst record in the Eastern Conference (Washington) and the team with the worst in the West (New Orleans). The Wizards shot 32.9 per cent, scored 11 points in the first quarter -- a season low for any quarter -- and had a season-worst 36 points at the half. "That first quarter, I thought I was getting my teeth pulled at the dentist without any Novacaine," Wizards coach Randy Wittman said. "It was pretty painful." The Hornets shot 32.5 per cent and scored a season-low 10 points in the fourth quarter, losing for the 13th time in 15 games. Crawford, normally a reserve shooting guard, started at the point for the first time because A.J. Price fractured his right hand against Golden State last Saturday and will be out four to six weeks. And Price was starting only because 2010 overall top pick John Wall has missed the entire season with a stress injury in his left knee. "It was different playing the point," Crawford said. "At the beginning of the game, I was thinking about different stuff. Once I got into the game and once I saw what the team needed, I got comfortable." HIs numbers werent point-guard like -- he shot first and passed second, finishing with four assists -- but the Wizards will take it. "It was good for the first time kind of starting there," Wittman said. "You could see him thinking. Its going to be a little bit of a process, but he came down the stretch and made big shots." Crawford hit a 3-pointer to give the Wizards a 68-65 lead with 5:09 left, and he sank a tough leaner while drawing a foul from the Hornets Greivis Vasquez the next time down the floor to make the score 71-65. "We were stuck on 65-65, kept going back down," Crawford said. "They were missing, we was missing and I just wanted to get that shot to break the ice." Davis responded with a dunk on an alley-oop from Austin Rivers, the Hornets first points in nearly four minutes, but another attempted alley-oop from Vasquez to Davis resulted in a turnover that Nene converted into a layup as Washington went ahead 73-67 with 3:00 left. Davis converted a three-point play in transition to cut the deficit to 73-70 with 1:51 to go, but the Hornets did not score again. After Vasquez missed a wild running hook with just over a minute left, Crawford hit an open 18-footer to put Washington ahead 75-70. Anderson went 0 for 7 in the fourth quarter. "I had some great looks," he said. "Those are shots I normally make, and I wouldnt turn them down again. I would shoot them over and over again." Nene had a double-double for Washington with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Rookie guard Austin Rivers, starting for the first time in 10 games, had 11 points for the Hornets, but only two of them came in the second half. The first two possessions for both teams set the tone. The Wizards turned the ball over on their first possession and missed their first shot badly. The Hornets clanked their first shot off the backboard and committed a turnover on their second possession. At one point, the Wizards were 6 of 26 from the floor with almost as many air balls as made shots. Jan Vesely even shot an air ball on a free throw, falling to 3 of 15 for the season at the line. The Wizards also played without Trevor Ariza, who strained his left calf last Tuesday against Miami, and Trevor Booker (right knee), who started the first six games. Even with the return of Davis, who scored 28 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in his last game before getting hurt, the Hornets could not hold on. "We did not play with the effort that is necessary to win an NBA game," Hornets coach Monty Williams said. "You dont deserve to win when you play that way." NOTES: It was the first NBA game since April 1, 2005 when both teams shot below 33 per cent. The Hornets were involved in that one, too, playing the Houston Rockets. ... Davis entered with 4:34 left in the first quarter and played 24:54, just under his average of 26 minutes. ... With its first road win, Washington is ahead of its pace from last year, when it lost its first 25 games away from home. Roger Craig Jersey ...one $1 million goal!  From nearly 18 million entries, four lucky Canadians have been randomly selected for the chance to kick for $1 million live on TSN as part of Wendys Kick for a Million. Patrick Willis Womens Jersey . -- A whistleblower and defamation lawsuit against Penn State will go forward, a judge ruled Tuesday, denying the universitys request to have it dismissed. http://www.colinkaepernickelitejersey.com/PATRICK_WILLIS_49ERS_JERSEY.html . Panzeri, 26, made nine birdies in 12 holes to reach 8 under par, just ahead of 11 other players who all sit within three shots of the lead. "To be honest, thats one of the best stretches Ive had ever," said Panzeri. Carlos Rogers Jersey . -- C.J. Wilson got together with Los Angeles manager Mike Scioscia and pitching coach Mike Butcher recently to brainstorm ways for him to snap out of a recent slump. Carlos Rogers Womens Jersey . -- After a trio of blowout losses, the Memphis Grizzlies got back in rhythm for their own double-digit victory.MONTREAL -- In one of the stranger post-fight admissions, American welterweight Nick Diaz has confessed to never having paid taxes. The revelation came after he talked about how poor his preparations were for UFC 158, which ended up a lopsided loss at the hands of champion Georges St-Pierre on Saturday night at the Bell Centre. A reporter then asked him whether he was considering changing fight camps. "I cant be jumping teams. I just have to invest a little bit more, now that I have a little bit more money," said the 29-year-old from Stockton, Calif. "You know what, Ive never paid taxes in my life, Im probably going to go to jail. "Nobody wants to hear about that, nobody wants to hear that kind of talk or whats really going on with me," he added after reporters laughed. "I might as well as be a kid. Ive had fight after fight after fight after fight. You dont know what that does to somebody that didnt graduate high school? You dont understand." It was just the latest bizarre utterance from a fighter who declared in the cage after the fight that he has retired, only to join the post-fight news conference midway through to say he wanted a rematch with St-Pierre or possibly Carlos Condit. Diazs rambling, sometimes incomprehensible monologues during the pre-fight news conference seemed amusing. After Saturdays loss, they seemed somewhat sad, although UFC president Dana White disputed that view. "Nick Diaz has been in the game a long time. If you saw his paycheque tonight, you wouldnt feel too sad for him," said White. "At the end of the day, Nick has been in the sport forever. He wanted a shot at the title, he got a shot at the title and he got paid a lot of money for it. Whats sad is he better go pay those taxes, a soon as he gets that cheque. That will be sad. ... somebody better handle that with this cheque and make sure that that kid doesnt end up with nothing.dddddddddddd" White said he may speak to Diazs lawyer to see if he can help. Asked if there is a future for Diaz in the UFC, White was non-committal. "Well see what happens from here on out," he said. "Its not like I dont know what to expect being in business with Nick Diaz. "Then when he does show up, he does fight." White said he didnt think Diaz should retire but noted that when a fighter keeps talking about quitting, its usually time to call it quits. Diaz also admitted to poor preparation in Montreal, citing the time difference. "I was so confused," he said. "I needed some kind of coach telling me Listen, youre going to have to go to sleep, dude. Because I was like should I stay up, should I go to sleep?" He said he slept until 8 p.m. fight night and didnt feel right until he was standing across the cage from St-Pierre. "Ive been a lot more ready for a lot of fights," he said. While Diaz (27-9-0 with one no contest) seems to constantly have his back up, White says he has never got into real trouble. Still, he and his entourage clashed with other camps after fights in Strikeforce and he once brawled with Joe Riggs in the Las Vegas hospital they were taken for a checkup after their UFC 57 fight in 2006. He has also tested positive twice for marijuana, once in Pride and once in the UFC. He served a one-year suspension prior to the GSP fight. Known for trash-talking in the cage, Diaz did talk a little to GSP during the fight but his hands were full most of the time. And at the end of the third round, he aimed a blow at the champion after the bell rang. White said Diaz should have been deducted a point for that. "I was just being really mean out there," said Diaz. ' ' ' 

MIAMI -- Dwyane Wade got hot down the stretch, and LeBron James missed a layup in the final minute. Both were huge breaks for the Miami Heat. James scored 28 points, Wade scored 11 of his 24 in the final five minutes -- when Miami needed him most -- and the Heat extended the NBAs longest current winning streak to 11 games, beating the Cleveland Cavaliers 109-105 in a back-and-forth matchup Sunday night. The Heat blew a 22-point second-half lead then rallied from eight down with 5:16 left. "Were a veteran ballclub and weve been in every situation that an NBA game can offer us," James said. "We dont get too high, we dont get too low, we just play the 48 minutes out and see where it takes us." Dion Waiters scored 26 points, C.J. Miles added 19 and Kyrie Irving scored 17 for Cleveland, which outscored Miami by a stunning 30 points over a 17-minute stretch of the second half, yet still came up empty. The Cavaliers are now 1-8 against the Heat since James signed with Miami in July 2010. "We had a very good chance against a very good basketball team, the world champions, and we lost the game because of mental mistakes," Cavaliers coach Byron Scott said. "Thats just something that we cant have happen again." In fairness, it wasnt just mental mistakes that doomed Cleveland late. There was a bit of luck involved for the Heat. Miami was up by two and held possession with 1:03 remaining. The shot clock was running down and Chris Bosh was open to try a 16-footer from the right wing. As Bosh was about to release, James got inexplicably free under the basket, thrusting both his arms skyward. Bosh threw him the pass -- and James, enjoying the best shooting season of his career, did the unthinkable: He missed the easy one. This is where the luck comes into play. The rebound found its way back to Bosh, the Heat ran down another shot clock, and Wade got loose for a two-handed dunk that pushed Miamis lead to 105-101 with 24.4 seconds left. It was a double-whammy for Cleveland. Miami scored and took nearly 40 seconds off a dwindling clock in the process. "Hey, Im a smart player. Thats what basketball IQ is all about," James said afterward, unable to hold back a sly grin. "I have no idea how I blew that layup. But it did work out for us. Got an extra possession, D-Wade was able to turn the corner and get a slam." Said Heat coach Erik Spoelstra: "I liked that play." Wade started what turned into a 16-4 run with a fadeaway with just under 5 minutes to go, then added a three-point play on the next Miami possession to cut the Cavs lead to 97-94. And after Irving missed a layup with 1:35 left, Wade got the rebound and set up Battier for a 3-pointer that put Miami on top again -- and for good. "I thought that we had the game," Cavaliers forward Alonzo Gee said. Sure looked like that was the case, after a ridiculously good third quarter. Down 68-46 early in the third, the Cavaliers looked finished -- last-place team, on the road, against the reigning NBA champions who just happened to have the leagues longest current winning streak. Midway through the third, Miamis lead was still 17. With two minutes left in the period, the cushion was 10. By the start of the fourth, it was nonexistent. The C.J. Miles Show lasted for all of 63 seconds. And they were a scintillating 63 seconds. It starts with 1:35 left, a 3-pointer from Miles getting the Miami lead down to seven. Then he got a rebound, came downcourt and connected on another 3-pointer. Lead down to four. Another stop by the Cavs on one end, then another 3-pointer for Miles on the other -- that one coming both with him drawing a foul from Chalmers, and with Spoelstra getting hit with a technical from referee Ed Malloy for arguing. Miles made the technical free throw to tie the game, the free throw for the Chalmers hit to put the Cavs ahead, and they carried that 82-81 lead into the fourth, having closed the quarter on a 36-13 run. "Guys just finally decided to start playing," Miles said. Miami used a 23-4 run in the first half to take what looked like a commanding 42-22 lead -- with more than 9 minutes left until the break. And after Cleveland got within seven, Miami answered with another burst. James didnt miss in the final 4:29 of the half, scoring 10 points on a 4-for-4 run from the floor and fueling what became 16-5 spurt that gave Miami a 64-46 lead going into the locker room. And for good measure, Miami got the first two baskets of the second half, pushing the lead to 22, the biggest of the night. Over, right? Not even remotely close. Not until the final frantic seconds, as the Heat not only extended their win streak but won for the fourth time in five nights. "We found a way," Wade said. "I felt like in the first three quarters, I couldnt move. But in the fourth, you just find it. ... We just turned that other switch on." NOTES: Miamis two wins over Cleveland this season, both at home, have come by a combined six points. ... The Cavs were without Daniel Gibson (personal) and Omri Casspi, who remained hospitalized in Orlando after surgery to remove his appendix. ... Heat F Mike Miller (ear infection) was back with the team Sunday, though did not play. "He cant hear anything were saying," Spoelstra quipped before the game. ... The Heat held a moment of silence pregame for Los Angeles Lakers owner Dr. Jerry Buss, the moment ending with warm applause from the crowd. Bob Cousy Jersey . -- Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill is listed as questionable for Sundays game at Indianapolis, and coach Joe Philbin says theres no timetable for a decision on whether hell play. Spud Webb Jersey . Kelly Olynyk had a game-high 16 points, leading Canadas senior mens basketball team to a 74-68 win over Belgium Sunday to sweep the two-game series at the 2011 Jack Donohue Classic. http://www.nbastore.us.com/Atlanta-Hawks-lf-25_Pete-Maravich-Jersey-db-96.html . -- Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll says he is not concerned about cornerback Richard Shermans preparation for Sundays game against San Francisco despite missing two days of practice. Bill Russell Jersey . At a South Lawn event, Obama praised the team not only for the goal line stand that sealed its second Super Bowl trophy but its charitable work in blue collar Baltimore. Quarterback Joe Flacco was singled out for winning the Super Bowls most valuable player -- and a miracle touchdown pass at a playoff game in Denver -- which helped him win a huge $100 million-plus contract in the off-season. Kevin Mchale Jersey . Louis Blues to Nationwide Arena. The Blue Jackets and Blues, who have 81 and 80 points on the season, respectively, have been officially eliminated from playoff contention, but St. LOS ANGELES -- The Memphis Grizzlies got down in the trenches again and grabbed home-court advantage from the Los Angeles Clippers. Zach Randolph scored 10 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter and the Grizzlies capitalized on Blake Griffins ankle injury to beat the Clippers 103-93 on Tuesday night, taking a 3-2 lead in their first-round playoff series. "It certainly feels better than going home down 2-3," coach Lionel Hollins said. Mike Conley added 20 points for the Grizzlies, who will try to wrap it up Friday night at home. The Pacific Division champion Clippers, who won their last seven games of the regular season to clinch home-court advantage for the first two rounds, would force a deciding seventh game on Sunday back at Staples Center with a win in Memphis. "Were not going to lay down and were never going to give up," coach Vinny Del Negro said. "Were going to play hard, play together and try to do what we can to make it work. Weve got to regroup and see how healthy we can get between now and then." Chris Paul led Los Angeles with 35 points, tying a career playoff high. "Weve got to be desperate. Thats how it is," Paul said. "Ive said the playoffs dont start till somebody loses at home, so I guess now theyve started. We lost here at home. Now its do or die in Memphis." Griffin was late joining teammates on the floor for warm-ups because he was getting his right ankle worked on. The three-time All-Star rolled it during Mondays practice when he stepped on Lamar Odoms foot during post drills, but no one in the organization let on, and Del Negro didnt broach the subject during his pregame briefing with reporters. "I kept being optimistic," Griffin said. "Our training staff did a great job giving me treatment. Ive never had a high ankle sprain before." Once the game started, Griffin ignored the ankle issue and attacked the Grizzlies in the same reckless manner that has been his trademark since he came into the league. But he played only 19 minutes -- six in the second half -- and finished with four points, five rebounds and five assists. He also got a technical foul from referee Jason Phillips just 3 minutes into the game after scoring on a fastbreak layup and shoving centre Marc Gasols arm. "Its tough. B.G. tried to give it a go, like we all knew he would," Paul said. "Right now were fighting for our lives. Its a tough blow, but what can you do? Weve got to find a way to get through it and figure it out. Thats what the playoffs are all about. "We tried to come out with some energy. Weve just got to find a way to get everyone involved. As a point guard, Ive got to find a way." Gasol finished with 21 points and eight rebounds in a foul-plagued 31 1-2 minutes. He picked up his fifth with 5:39 left in the third quarter, and still managed to be a factor in the fourth. "We won with defence," Gasol said. "Zach did an amazing job under the basket, but defensiveely is how we won the game.dddddddddddd." Memphis took its biggest lead, 65-52, on Conleys three-point play with 6:28 left in the third quarter. The Grizzlies opened the fourth with a 73-65 advantage before the Clippers closed on Pauls layup and Matt Barnes fastbreak slam off a long pass by Jamal Crawford. From then on, it was up to Paul and the reserves to bail out the Clippers. But Randolph was too much to deal with again, following his dominant efforts in Games 3 and 4. "We knew these guys were going to come out firing, which they did," Memphis guard Tony Allen said. "Our whole thing was just keeping our composure, playing hard, playing together and not letting those guys get those lobs and the highlight stuff that they normally do. Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph were huge for us." Tayshaun Prince helped wrap it up with a layup and a 3-pointer in the final minutes after the Clippers got within five on a short jumper by Crawford with 1:49 remaining. "I thought we withstood the early barrages of energy that they had," Hollins said. "In the second quarter we set the tone of the game with our defence and we played with that the rest of the game. After Marc got his fifth foul, Zach took over and carried us with his big plays and Prince hit a couple of big shots." During a bruising opening half, 24 fouls were called and neither team led by more than four until Gasols three-point play gave the Grizzlies a 46-40 margin with 2:35 left. Griffin picked up his third foul on the play and his second in a span of 28 seconds. One key sequence came when Conley hit an off-balance 11-foot bank shot with 1:08 left in the half and Clippers reserve centre Ryan Hollins threw the ensuing inbounds pass right to Randolph. Moments later, Conley converted two free throws to give Memphis a nine-point lead 48 seconds before intermission. "I dont try to match anybody. I am just playing my game," Conley said. "A lot of guys are going to try and get 40 on us. I just try to stay within myself and the teams game." With the sellout crowd of 19,384 urging him on, Paul responded with a 3-pointer. His driving layup was blocked by Prince at the end of the half. NOTES: The Grizzlies committed only four turnovers during the first three quarters, none of which were converted into points by the Clippers. ... Memphis G Keyon Dooling returned to the lineup after missing Game 4 because of a strained muscle in his neck. ... Griffin did not get to the free throw line after going 18 for 22 in the first four games. He shot a career-high 66 per cent during the regular season. ... LAs Chauncey Billups only field goal was a 3-pointer. His 267 3-pointers in the post-season are the fourth-most behind Ray Allen, Reggie Miller and Kobe Bryant. ... The Clippers, who beat the Grizzlies at Memphis in Game 7 of last years opening-round playoff series, had their first winning road record in franchise history this season (24-17). ' ' '