WASHINGTON - Randy Wittman learned long ago to focus on what he can control. Kenny Young Ravens Jersey . Thats what he did over the past 2 1/2 years with the Washington Wizards. Wittmans approach helped turn the Wizards from pushover to playoff winners. Now hell have a chance to stick around following a 44-38 season, a 15-win improvement from last year, after the Wizards gave him a contract extension. "I think over the last couple of years what weve begun to establish here, continuity I think is important," Wittman said Wednesday in the hallway near the practice court at the Verizon Center. "Im appreciative of the opportunity to continue on." The Wizards reached the playoffs for the first time since 2008 and won their first post-season series since 2005. They accomplished it in the final year of Wittmans contract and under a preseason mandate to make the playoffs from owner Ted Leonsis. "I was here when it was not pretty. When you see it change, when you see the things that youve implemented begin to work, you want to continue on," the 54-year-old Wittman said. Wittman guided the Wizards to a first-round win over the Chicago Bulls before losing in six games to the top-seeded Indiana Pacers in their Eastern Conference semifinal. "Over the last 2 1/2 years really, Randy has established a great culture, a hard-working culture, a defensive-oriented team," Wizards president Ernie Grunfeld said. "Weve been a top-10 defensive team in the league the last two years. Weve made good progress. We still have a lot of work ahead of us, but were headed in the right direction." Asked if retaining Wittman was an easy decision," Grunfeld stated," Yes, it was." Having already coached rebuilding squads with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Minnesota Timberwolves, Wittman took over as head coach when Flip Saunders was fired in January 2012. As was the case in those other spots, losses starting piling up in Washington. Wittman has the worst regular-season record of anyone who has coached at least 400 NBA games — 191-329, a .367 winning percentage — since the league started in 1946. "Job security is fleeting, as we all know in this business," said Wittman, who played in the NBA for nine seasons. "If you worry about it, youre not going to do your job well." With John Wall sidelined, the Wizards opened the 2012-13 season with a 4-28 record. When their point guard returned, Washington finished 24-25. With Wall healthy and turning into a first-time All-Star alongside backcourt partner Bradley Beal, Washington ended the 2013-14 season fifth in the Eastern Conference. Washington has plenty of decisions remaining. Two starters — centre Marcin Gortat and forward Trevor Ariza — are unrestricted free agents. Overall, 10 players are entering some level of free agency or the organization must decide whether to exercise a team option. Though Wittman and Grunfeld have stated a desire to the keep the core intact, the roster could certainly look different next season. But the man on the sideline will be familiar. Hayden Hurst Ravens Jersey . After Mariota was pushed around by Stanford on Thursday, finishing 20/34 with 250 yards and two touchdowns in Oregons Title hope-crushing defeat, hes going to need a poor performance or two from the remaining frontrunners to have a shot at the most coveted individual trophy in college sports. Orlando Brown Jr. Jersey . 3 Ohio State. Amedeo Della Valle had 15 points, Marc Loving scored a career-high 13 and the bench provided 38 points as the Buckeyes sprinted past Nebraska 84-53 on Saturday. http://www.footballravensstore.us/customized/ . In an interview with La Presse this week, the five-time Stanley Cup champion and three-time NHL scoring leader specifically took aim at wingers Thomas Vanek and Max Pacioretty, saying they cant show up in a 7-4 win over the New York Rangers in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Final and come up empty in Game 6.MILWAUKEE -- Left-handed hitter Gerardo Parra is bringing a little balance to a Milwaukee Brewers lineup stacked with right-handed bats. The two-time Gold Glove winning outfielder was acquired from the Arizona Diamondbacks for a pair of minor leaguers Thursday ahead of the non-waiver trade deadline. The NL Central-leading Brewers sent outfielder Mitch Haniger and left-hander Anthony Banda to Arizona. Parra was hitting .259, about 25 points lower than his career average, with six homers and 30 RBIs. The Brewers could use him in a platoon with righty bat Khris Davis, who is hitting just .232 against right-handers. Parra is hitting .271 against righties, and .429 overall since July 23. The Brewers were off Thursday, spending much of the day in St. Petersburg, Florida, after losing two of three to the Tampa Bay Rays. Milwaukee begins a three-game series Friday against division rival St. Louis, which added right-handed starters Justin Masterson and John Lackey at the trade deadline. Parra was expected to join the team Friday in St. Lamar Jackson Jersey. Louis. centre fielder Carlos Gomez, Jonathan Lucroy, Ryan Braun and Aramis Ramirez -- all right-handed hitters -- lead the Brewers lineup. "Welcome to the family to the Brewers," Gomez said Thursday afternoon on Twitter. Scooter Gennett is hitting .302 with eight homers as the left-handed half of a platoon at second base with Rickie Weeks. Lyle Overbay, who is hitting .232 with four homers, is the only other left-handed hitter who plays with any regularity. The addition of Parra gives Milwaukee another top glove in the outfield to join Gomez. Outfielder Logan Schafer will be optioned to Triple-A Nashville to make room for Parra, the team said. The 23-year-old Haniger was playing for Double-A Huntsville. He was Milwaukees No. 3 prospect, according to Baseball America. He was hitting .255 with 10 homers and 34 RBIs. Banda, 20, was 6-6 with a 3.66 ERA for Class A Wisconsin. Discount Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Online Jerseys NFL China Wholesale Jerseys From China Cheap NFL Womens Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Free Shipping China Jerseys Cheap ' ' '