In January 2014, Ron Dennis ousted McLarens then-team principal and CEO Martin Whitmarsh from his role with the help of the McLaren Groups shareholders, Bahraini sovereign wealth fund Mumtalakat and Mansour Ojjeh.At the time of that coup, Dennis was confident that a change of management and focus would restore the Woking racers to their formerly winning ways. I know what this company is and what this Grand Prix team can achieve, and that requires the correct recognition from and close relationship with a principal sponsor, he said at the time.Dennis pointed to the race teams lack of focus as a factor in McLarens performance slump, saying I have a lot of respect for the people in our team but they were distracted, not focused enough. He convinced Ojjeh and Mumtalakat to back his return to the race team with a pledge to secure a replacement for departed title sponsor Vodafone, but three years on and McLaren still lacks a title sponsor, in part due to Dennis unwillingness to lower the rate card in line with the teams performance in recent years.In 2014, Dennis first season back at the helm, McLaren finished fifth in the constructors championship, equal to their 2013 season. In 2015, the switch to Honda power and the associated learning curve saw the Woking racers in ninth, with 27 points accrued over six points-paying finishes for their driver pairing. This year, with an improved power unit, the team are currently sixth in the standings, with 75 points. It is an improvement, but after 2015 there was effectively nowhere to go but up.The on-track improvements were enough to motivate the shareholders to extend the deadline for delivering a new sponsor on several occasions, but there were rumours throughout 2015 that Dennis was on his last legs. As was reported by Sky at the start of the Brazilian Grand Prix weekend, those legs appeared to have run out of steam -- not only has Dennis been asked to jump by Mumtalakat and Ojjeh, but the Briton also visited the High Court in an attempt to maintain his position in the face of shareholder opposition.On Tuesday, Dennis confirmed he had been forced out of the company after 35 years with a typically defiant statement. So what will a Dennis-less McLaren look like?The two men who have been linked with every role going in 2016 are Ross Brawn and Zak Brown, both of whom have been named as possible occupants of every paddock job that doesnt require a seat fitting. Both have been named as possible replacements for Dennis, although neither has publicly confirmed their interest in the role.Jost Capito, who joined McLaren at the end of the summer from Volkswagen, where he was director of motorsport, would seem to be the obvious choice, in that he has professional experience of both the sporting and automotive sides of the McLaren Groups business interests. Capito is currently CEO of McLaren Racing, but he was recruited to the role by Dennis and that alone may be enough to weaken his position in the next iteration of the team.Where we are more likely to see change is in the technical side of the team, where Dennis departure opens the door to possible new recruits formerly put off the notion of a move to Woking by the Britons preferred management style. One such man is James Allison, who rejected previous McLaren offers but is no longer with Ferrari and is seeking a role that will allow him to spend more time with his children following the sudden death of his wife earlier this year.Allison is not only hot property in technical terms, but he and McLaren racing director Eric Boullier have a strong working relationship. When the pair were together at Lotus the team was notorious for punching above its budgetary weight, and the prospect of a Boullier-Allison combination at the well-funded McLaren is mouthwatering for those who would like to see a resurgent team fighting at the front once again.Custom Reds T-shirts . The Celtics closed out their first preseason under Stevens on Wednesday night with a 101-97 victory over the Brooklyn Nets, who rested a lot of their lineup including former Celtics Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce. Reds Jerseys China . Denis Coderre, the former federal MP who was elected mayor on Nov. 3, has drawn the ire of some Montreal Canadiens. During last nights game he tweeted: "Hello? Can we get a one-way ticket to (minor-league) Hamilton for David Desharnais please. http://www.customredsjersey.com/ .Y. - Jerome Samson scored once in regulation and again in the shootout as the St. Johnny Bench Jersey Large .com) - Yankee Stadium is the home of the Bronx Bombers, but on Sunday afternoon it will open its gates to host the latest addition of the Hudson River Rivalry. Custom Johnny Bench Jersey . McPhee said that Ovechkins father Mikhail is in stable condition after having the surgery this week and is no longer in intensive care. "Weve told him to stay as long as necessary with your dad," he said. Ovechkin and his Russian national team were eliminated from the mens hockey tournament in Sochi on Wednesday with a 3-1 quarter-final loss to Finland.WALTHAM, Mass. -- Boston Celtics big man Al Horford,?responding to criticism for missing Monday nights game in?Miami after the birth of his second child, said Tuesday that he felt it was important to be there for his family.My familys very important to me, said Horford, who welcomed daughter Alia on Sunday. Im in more of a unique situation because this is our first year [in Boston] and my wife, we all moved in the middle of the pregnancy. And [there is] a lot going on. So I just felt like it was important for me to really be there, supporting her. And we have a son as well. So for her, its been a lot thrown at her these past few months.I know that it meant a lot for me to be there with her. ... So Im just very happy that the Celtics really take the time and they consider us not only as players but as people. And people that have families.Horford signed a four-year, $113 million contract this summer and had already missed nine games this season due to a concussion.?When the Celtics announced Monday morning that he would sit out, some fans grumbled on social media. The criticism seemed to diminish when the reason for Horfords absence was revealed.After the game -- a 112-104 victory -- Horfords decision was questioned during a segment on Comcast SportsNet, the broadcast home of the Celtics. Horfords sister, Anna, active on social media, responded swiftly to the criticism.Horford spent nearly all of his five-minute session with reporters Tuesday responding to the fallout.I dont really read into [the criticism]. I dont read Twitter and stuff, and the radio and all that, Horford said. I just kind of focus on the court, on my job here, and then, off the court, on my family.Everyboody has their opinion.dddddddddddd I respect anything that anybody has to say. I care a lot about the group and our guys. For my familys sake, it was important for me to be there for them. Just with our transition and everything. So thats that. Now I can put that behind me and get focused again on [Wednesdays game against the Pistons].Horford was the third player in the past six months whom the Celtics allowed to miss games for newborns (Jonas Jerebko and Avery Bradley?each welcomed children earlier in the calendar year).Coach Brad Stevens has stressed that family comes before all else for members of the organization.I think our greatest responsibilities are as sons, husbands, fathers. I think thats your No. 1 job, Stevens said. Were thrilled for the Horfords and were thrilled to have Al back at practice [Tuesday] and be ready to go [Wednesday]. Obviously, family is really important.Horford said his teammates were nothing but supportive before and after Mondays game.Added Horford: I was able to watch and I was just very proud with our guys, how they responded. I feel like in our short season already we havent been fully available, all of us, through all the games. Its just impressive to see a guy like Isaiah [Thomas] not making any excuses. And the list goes on. Not only Isaiah. All the other guys, but everybody just making sure they go in and they put in the work. And they dont make excuses.Horford reported that mother and baby are doing well.Everybodys healthy. That was the most important thing, Horford said. And [Alia has] been great so far. ' ' '