LAUSANNE, Switzerland -- The International Canoe Federation has banned sprint teams from Romania and Belarus from the Rio de Janeiro Olympics for widespread doping. Garrett Griffin Jersey .The ICF says its executive board imposed one-year suspensions for both teams with immediate effect.ICF President Jose Perurena says we will do everything within our powers to remove them (cheats) from our sport.Olympic places will be reallocated by Mondays deadline after talks with the IOC and national Olympic bodies, the world canoeing body says.The ICF says systemic doping by Romanias team with meldonium, an eastern European heart drug banned since January, was proven after 11 athletes tested positive at training in April.Five Belarus team members violated anti-doping rules at a training camp in France that is the subject of a criminal investigation. Derrick Kelly Jersey . Ouellette, from Montreal, already has three Olympic gold medals since joining the team in 1999. Cameron Jordan Jersey . -- Ryan Getzlaf grabbed the three pucks wrapped in tape and held them up to his chest in the Anaheim Ducks dressing room for a celebration nine seasons in the making. http://www.cheapsaintsjerseyselite.com/?...e-harris-jersey . Hazard cut in from the left and scored with a swerving right-footed shot for ninth goal of the season, which proved to be enough for the victory despite Chelseas forwards again lacking a cutting edge up front. MIAMI -- Knowing his team needed him at his best, Dwyane Wade retreated to the Miami Heat locker room after the third quarter for some quick treatment on his aching right knee. When he came back, he was good as new. And now he can rest until the Eastern Conference finals. LeBron James scored 23 points, Wade added 18 and had a brilliant 45-second sequence that proved crucial, and the Heat clawed back from an 11-point second-half deficit to beat the Chicago Bulls 94-91 on Wednesday night and close out their second-round series in five games. "We gave it everything we had," James said. "I have no energy left." The Heat outscored Chicago 25-14 in the fourth quarter to escape and advance. "I knew the fourth quarter was going to be tough so I wanted to re-tape my knee," said Wade, who has been battling bone bruises on his knee for several weeks. "I knew I was going to come back into a grind. Our trainers did a great job of getting it taped it enough so I could come out and play." Did they ever. Wade had a blocked shot, defensive rebound, offensive rebound and putback slam -- all in a late 45-second span -- to help cap a wild night of wild comebacks. The Heat blew an early 18-point lead, then pulled off a late rally to finish off the depleted Bulls, who still had two chances on their last possession to force overtime. But Nate Robinson and Jimmy Butler missed 3-pointers, time expired, and Miami moved on to face Indiana or New York next week. "Dwyane is uncanny," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "When the competition is at its highest, and its fiercest, he finds a way." Carlos Boozer finished with 26 points and 14 rebounds for the Bulls, who were without Derrick Rose for the 99th straight game, as well as Kirk Hinrich (calf) and Luol Deng (illness). Robinson scored 21 points, Butler had 19, and Richard Hamilton 15 for the Bulls, who dropped the final four games of the series. "Obviously were disappointed in losing the series," Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said. "But I was never disappointed in our team. I thought our team fought hard all year long. There was no quit in them." True -- all the way to the end. A team that played without the 2011 NBA MVP in Rose, and dealt with a slew of other issues along the way, was within a couple shots from forcing the reigning champions to fly back to Chicago for a Game 6 on Friday night. "Weve got warriors here," Boozer said. "If were healthy next season, were going to be pretty good." The Heat say they have more than a few of those warrior-types as well, including Wade, who said privately before the game that he was amused about constant speculation surrounding his knee -- which has been banged up for weeks. When the stakes were highest Wednesday, he was there for the Heat. "Ill go on and on about how great he is," James said. "I really dont care for the trash talk that he receives." Shane Battier opened the fourth quarter with a 3-pointer to get Miami within five. Another 3-pointer from Battier -- over Boozer, his fellow Duke alum -- came not long afterward, and he connected on a pair of free throws after being fouled on a 3-point try to cut Chicagos lead to 81-79. Norris Cole had a pair of baskets, the second being a left-handed driving dunk, to put Miami on top, and the Heat found a way to close it out from there, even though it wasnt easy, by any measure. Robinsons 3-pointer with 1:43 left got the Bulls to 94-91. No one scored again, even though there were plenty of chances both ways. When it was finally over, the Heat lingered on the court in celebration. Wade held on to the game ball as he shook a few fans hands, and he, James and Bosh exchanged some high-fives -- the last three Miami players to leave the floor. "I had a good couple of minutes," Wade said. "I knew theyve sseen a lot of LeBron and Norris. Keith Kirkwood Jersey. I knew they werent prepared for me to attack which is what I was able to do." Miami will open the East finals at home next week, and itll be a playoff rematch from its march to the title last season. If Indiana beats New York -- the Pacers lead that series 3-1 -- on Thursday night, then the Heat and Pacers will meet in Game 1 in Miami on Monday night. If the Knicks extend the Pacers to at least six games, then the East finals would open Wednesday night, regardless of opponent. The Heat will almost surely be big favourites against either Indiana or New York, though its certain either opponent would enter a series against Miami with plenty of confidence. The Knicks went 3-1 against the Heat this season, outscoring them by 11.5 points per game and winning both of their games at Miami convincingly. The Pacers went 2-1 against the Heat, winning twice in Indianapolis and losing their lone game in Miami. To put that in some more perspective, the Heat went 2-5 against the Knicks and Pacers, and are now 72-12 against all other NBA clubs this season. "It only gets more difficult and more challenging," Spoelstra said. "Thats what competitors want." Then again, given how Miami has played over the last 3 1/2 months, the notion of the Heat losing to anybody four times might seem downright impossible. The Heat lost at Indiana on Feb. 1. They won at Toronto two days later, the first victory in what became a run of 27 straight wins -- and the start of a stretch that has seen Miami go 45-3 in its last 48 games. More than half the league -- 17 of the other 29 teams -- didnt win 45 games, total, this season, even including playoffs. "Theyre a great team. A great team," Thibodeau said. "Theyre not going to beat themselves. You have to beat them. No one would have thought the ending would be so exciting after the way this one started. Marco Belinelli took the Bulls first shot, a woefully short airball. Joakim Noah took their second shot, a very long airball. Their third possession was a turnover, and the night was shaping up like a Chicago disaster. It was 10-0 before half the crowd was in their seats, and 22-4 just past the midpoint of the opening quarter. Since the start of Game 4, in barely over 53 minutes of play, the Heat had outscored the Bulls by 40 points. Everyone in the building -- except for the 20 or so guys in red uniforms or wearing suits on the Chicago bench -- had to be thinking that the series was over. If so, then they were all wrong. Game 5 turned into a microcosm of the Bulls season. They were unfazed, unflappable, unrelenting in the face of being counted out. And before long, the massive deficit was a thing of the past. "We kept fighting," Noah said. "And kept fighting." Boozer went 6 for 7 in the opening quarter, his layup late in the period getting the Bulls within seven before James scored to end the first and give Miami a 30-21 lead. The Bulls were unbothered, and just kept getting stops on one end, making baskets on the other. Butlers 3-pointer with 4:46 left in the half gave Chicago its first advantage of the night, 38-36. To recap, the game started with a 22-4 Heat run -- and in the 13 minutes that immediately followed, the Bulls rebutted with a 34-14 burst. By halftime, it was 53-47. In the third, after Chicago briefly led by 11 -- remember, they were down 18, making that a 29-point turnaround -- the Bulls took a 77-69 edge into the final 12 minutes. "We grinded it out," Boozer said. "We had chances. We just fell a little bit short." And Miami moved on, now halfway home in its quest for a second straight title. NOTES: Miami is 6-0 in its last six chances to close out a series. ... The Bulls had 16 turnovers, which Miami turned into 27 points. ... Hinrichs calf injury was improving, the Bulls said, but not to the point where he could play. 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A five-for from left-arm spinner Manan Sharma made sure Delhi did not have to bat again as they dismissed Assam for 313, to seal a win by an innings and 83 runs in Vadodara.Delhi took seven points from the match despite resistance from Assams middle and lower order. Assam started the day on 100 for 3, trailing by 296, and scored another 213 from there. Amit Verma added only two to his overnight score of 33 and Arun Karthik went from 17 to 34 before both were dismissed within the space of 18 balls. In trouble at 121 for 5, they were rescued by Syed Mohammads 82. Syed forged stands of 78 with Tarjinder Singh (42) for the sixth wicket and 72 with Swarupam Purkayastha (47) for the eighth to take them past 250.The stands were broken by Manan and Pradeep Sangwan respectively. The duo got rid of the tail too as Manan finished with 5 for 108, his fifth first-class five-for, and Sangwan and Varun Sood took two each.Jharkhand strolled to a six-wicket win over Maharashtra to earn six points at the Karnail Singh Stadium in New Delhi. Jharkhand needed only 37 runs on the final day, and Virat Singh and Anand Singh scored them in 6.5 overs to chase down a modest 93. Their unbroken fifth-wicket stand was worth 48.They were 56 for 4 overnight, after openers Ishan Kishan and Shiv Gautam fell for ducks. But they did not lose any wicket on the fourth day. Virat was unbeaten on 33 and Anand on a 19-ball 25.As many as 13 wickets fell on the final day with Shaurya Sanandia, the right-arm medium pacer, taking a career-best 6 for 14 to give Saurashtra three crucial points, courtesy a first-innings lead over Rajasthan. This, after close to two full days were washed out because of rain in Vizianagaram. Rajasthan, who resumed on 62 for 1 in reply to Saurashtras 430, were bowled out for 105. Made to follow on, they stuttered to 30 for 4 in their second dig when the players shook hands.Vidarbha walked away with the first-innings honours in an attritional contest against Odisha in Visakhapatnam. Odisha, resuming on 74 without loss ended their second innings on 274 for 9 declared when play ended. As many as seven batsmen got off to starts, with the highest being 58 by captain Govinda Poddar. Akshay Wakhare, the offspinner, was Vidarbhas best bowler with figures of 3 for 61. That Vidarbha took the lead after bowling out Odisha for 150 was largely due to captain Faiz Fazal (99) and Ganesh Satish (74). Denis Savard Jersey . According to a report from the Vancouver Province, the Lions are expected to replace former DC Rich Stubler with defensive backs coach Mark Washington. Michal Rozsival Jersey . Luis Suarezs double powered Liverpool to a 4-0 victory over Fulham, and Southampton easily overcame Hull 4-1 to continue the south coast clubs impressive start to the season. Liverpool and Southampton sent Chelsea down to fourth place as the west London club was held to 2-2 at home. http://www.cheapblackhawkschinajerseys.com/ . "Were just throwing s--- at the wall hoping something sticks," said Tortorella about the possible line combinations for Fridays game against Columbus. The Canucks have lost five straight games and six of their last seven, leaving them in a logjam in the Pacific Division, currently sitting fifth - good for ninth in the Western Conference. Marian Hossa Jersey . The defence is doing its part, too. Drew Brees threw a pair of touchdown passes in the first half and the guys on the other side made sure that was enough, sending the Saints to a 17-13 victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday night. Brandon Saad Jersey . -- Catcher Brett Hayes has agreed to a $630,000, one-year contract with the Kansas City Royals, avoiding salary arbitration. TAMPA, Fla. -- Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Jude Adjei-Barimah has been suspended four games without pay for violating the NFL policy on performing-enhancing substances.The league announced Tuesday that the second-year pro whos primarily served as the Bucs nickel back this season will be eligible to return to the active roster on Dec. 19, the day after Tampa Bay visits the Dallas Cowboys.Adjei-Barimah was an undrafted college free agent out of Bowling Green, who started seven of 13 games he appeared in as a rookie in 2015. Hes started one of 10 games this season and has 22 tackles and two sacks.I take a lot of pride in the hard work and dedication that I put in all year in preparation for each season and that is why this situation is so difficult for me personally, Adjei-Barimah said in a statement released by the Bucs.As a member of this team, it is very disappointing to have to miss the next four games and not be out there battling with my teammates as we go down the stretch, the 24-year-old added.ddddddddddddI apologize to my family, the Bucs organization, my teammates, as well as the fans for this situation. I promise to stay focused and be ready for the last two games of the regular season.Meanwhile, the Bucs said offensive lineman Ben Gottschalk has been placed on injured reserve after being hurt during Sundays 19-17 road win at Kansas City. Offensive lineman Josh Allen and cornerback Javien Elliott were promoted from the practice squad to the active roster.The team also signed offensive lineman Mike Liedtke, cornerback Cody Riggs and wide receiver Myles White to the practice squad. Running back Russell Hansbrough was released from the practice squad.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '

The Sacramento Kings found some much-needed depth at small forward by giving the Milwaukee Bucks some draft compensation and salary cap relief. The Bucks traded forward Luc Mbah a Moute to the Kings in exchange for a 2016 second-round draft pick, a person familiar with the deal said Tuesday. The person, who spoke on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press because teams cant confirm moves until the new league year begins Wednesday, also said Milwaukee has the right to swap 2018 second-round picks. "Just landed in Cameroon and got told Ive been traded to Sacramento!!" Mbah a Moute wrote on his Twitter page. The 6-foot-8, 230-pound forward has emerged as a standout defender since he was drafted 37th overall out of UCLA by the Bucks in 2008. He has averaged 6.9 points and 5.3 rebounds in 25.1 minutes per game in his career. CBS Sports first reported the trade. Mbah a Moute has two years left on a four-year deal worth about $19 million that he signed as a restricted free agent before the lockout-shorted 2011-12 season. That move came when Milwaukee matched the offer sheet from Denver, where new Kings general manager Pete DAlessandro worked in the front office at the time. In Sacramento, Mbah a Moute will be expected to fill the void at small forward. The Kings made an attempt to sign Andre Iguodala at that spot before he landed a four-year, $48 million deal with the Golden State Warriors last week. Mbah a Moute will compete with incumbent starter John Salmons for playing time. The Kings will likely still explore other options in free agency. Also Tuesday, new Kings coach Mike Malone was busy filling out his staff. Dee Brown, a 12-year NBA veteran and 1991 slam dunk champion, was hired as assistant coach and director of player development. And Micah Nori, who spent the last four years as an assistant with the Toronto Raptors, also was named an assistant. The two join lead assistant coach Chris Jent and Brendan Malone on Sacramentos bench. In addition, the Kings hired Bill Pope as an advance scout. Pope spent the past eight years as an assistant coach and scout for the Detroit Pistons. Cheap Adidas NHL Jerseys .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. Cheap Bruins Jerseys China . "I wrote 36 on my sheet at the beginning of the game," the Cincinnati coach said, referring the yard line the ball would need to be snapped from. http://www.cheapbruinsjerseys.com/ . But what about the officials? Every sport has officials and they also have stories about hard work and sacrifice but their accomplishments are seldom recognized by anyone outside their inner circle. Cheap Bruins Jerseys . Rinne played two periods in his first game since left hip surgery in early May. Gabriel Bourque scored 3:07 into the second period and Austin Watson tallied 5:15 later for Nashville. Cheap Boston Bruins Jerseys . The deal is pending a physical, assistant general manager Bobby Evans said. Traded from Seattle to Baltimore on Aug. 30, Morse also can play first base and right field to give manager Bruce Bochy some flexibility in writing his lineup.ST. PAUL, Minn. -- The Minnesota Wild have re-signed defenceman Tyler Cuma to a one-year, two-way contract. The 23-year-old Cuma had one goal and 11 assists in 42 games last season for the Houston Aeros in the AHL. The Toronto native made his NHL debut with the Wild in the 2011-12 season, playing in one game. Cuma was the teams first-round draft pick in 2008 at 23rd overall, but at this point hes around for organizational depth.dddddddddddd With Ryan Suter, Jonas Brodin, Keith Ballard, Marco Scandella, Clayton Stoner and Jared Spurgeon, the Wild have their top six blue-line spots set. Nate Prosser is also in the mix, and 2011 first-round draft pick Matt Dumba will also vie for a spot in training camp, as will new acquisition Jonathon Blum. The deal was announced Tuesday. ' ' '

Its a pretty narrow column on my spreadsheet, but an extremely important one. The heading (T68) is both elegant and cryptic. Its my shorthand for a given teams record against the top 68 in the country at that point in time.The ingredients of T68 will change throughout the season (home, road, neutral, etc.), as will the composition of the 68 itself. But the bottom line is easy to understand: If you havent played, and beaten, at least a few opponents in this column, your name wont be among the 68 we hear on Selection Sunday.This becomes an even more important consideration as the end of nonconference play draws near. We can already determine which potential NCAA tournament teams have it made with respect to quality wins and which are putting most (if not all) of their eggs in the basket of league play. Cheap Texans Jerseys Authentic . From filmmaker Nanette Burstein (On the Ropes), The Price of Gold revisits the saga that rocked the figure skating world ahead of the 1994 Lillehammer Olympic Winter Games: the assault on Nancy Kerrigan, and the plot that led its way back to her rival Tonya Harding. Cheap Texans Jerseys . Thats not a comment on the suspension that banished the Portland Winterhawks general manager and coach from his Western Hockey League teams bench for most of the 2012-13 season. http://www.cheaptexansjerseysauthentic.com/?tag=authentic-andre-johnson-jersey . Nine days before the opening ceremony, organizing committee chief Dmitry Chernyshenko said Wednesday that Sochi is "fully ready" and will deliver safe, friendly and well-run games that defy the grim reports that have overshadowed preparations. J.J. Watt Jersey . The Lightning are 2-0 so far on a four-game road trip, giving the club five straight wins as the guest and improving Tampas away record this season to 11-8-2. Texans Jerseys China . Tevez, who has had conflicts with coaches in the past, has not been called up since Sabella was named coach in 2011. Argentina boasts Lionel Messi, Gonzalo Higuain, Sergio Aguero, Ezequiel Lavezzi and Angel Di Maria. LOS ANGELES -- Guard Kobe Paras wont be attending UCLA this fall and wont be playing basketball for the Bruins.The school said Wednesday that Paras has withdrawn from school after failing to meet academic conditions that were part of his admittance.Paras had signed a national letter of intent with the Bruins during the early signing period last November. The 6-foot-5 guard spent the past two years in Los Angeles after growing up in the Philippines. He wwas a senior at Cathedral High School.ddddddddddddParas helped lead the Philippines to a gold medal in the FIBA Asia Under-18 3x3 championship in May 2013. He won the slam dunk contest at the FIBA 3x3 championships in June 2015 while representing the Philippines.Paras father, Benjie, played professionally in the Philippines. ' ' '

The rising levels of pollution in Delhi have affected the cricket too, claiming the whole days play between Bengal and Gujarat at Feroz Shah Kotla and between Hyderabad and Tripura at Karnail Singh Stadium. The sun came out but failed to break through the dense smog hanging in Indias capital.The light improved for an hour or so during the day but players complained their eyes burnt when they went into the middle. Bengal players were seen leaving the ground wearing masks. With the air quality not expected to improve dramatically, these two matches are unlikely to produce a result.This is the first time something like this happened in my career, Bengal captain Manoj Tiwary said. You cant blame anyone. There is so much burning sensation in the eyes. After the toss, umpires asked both me and Parthiv and we both decided that we cant play. During warm-up we felt that its not happening. We have to take care of our health also. This is something unheard of. But we are all responsible because when we burst crackers we really think about environmental pollution.Residents in the capital region have been likening being in Delhi to being in a gas chamber. The trigger for the smog has been the after-effects of the fireworks on Diwali, and the burning of paddy stubble in the neighbouring states of Punjab and Haryana. The farmers burn the stubble to prepare the ground for the next crop, in the process damaging both the soil and the air quality. Harvesting with mechanised combines, they say, leaves them with no option but to burn the remaining stubble. When they harvested with hands, they could use the remaining stubble as fodder or to make cardboards. Adrian Wilson Jersey . -- Arizona knocked off some quality opponents, rolled over a few overmatched ones and grinded out victories even when things didnt go so well. Cheap Cardinals Jerseys Authentic . Klitschkos management company says the bout will be the Ukrainian fighters 25th world championship fight. The 1.83-meter (6-foot) Leapai defeated the previously unbeaten Denis Boytsov in November to become the WBOs mandatory challenger. http://www.cheaparizonacardinalsjerseysauthentic.com/ . Jon Montgomerys gold medal in skeleton at the Whistler Sliding Centre and his subsequent auctioning off of a pitcher of beer in the village square elevated him to folk-hero status. Cheap Arizona Cardinals Jerseys . Here are his mid-season NBA awards. MVP: (KEVIN DURANT-Thunder) - Has been sensational this season and more importantly, the most consistent player in the league. Considering that his team has been without star guard Russell Westbrook and with the free agent departure of sharpshooter Kevin Martin, hes had to carry the majority of the load to not only keep his team afloat but more importantly, at an elite level. Pat Tillman Jersey Aston Villas relegation was confirmed when they lost 1-0 at Manchester United on Saturday, but the Premier League obituary could have been written in December, and drafted years ago. It was seven years ago last week that Villas new-found success under the ownership of Randy Lerner showed its first signs of falling apart at the seams. Then-manager Martin ONeill, criticised for playing a second-string side in Villas UEFA Cup round-of-32 second leg at CSKA Moscow, hosted a dinner in front of the 295 fans who had travelled to Russia to see a 2-0 defeat, justifying his decision to all but give up on the tie with the score at 1-1 on aggregate. Aston Villa brought a third-string side to CSKA Moscow in the UEFA Cup A three-course dinner was washed down by five drink vouchers at a reported cost of £15,000 to the club, a thank you and sorry to the fans as they reminisced with ONeill and others about past European success.The evening was more or less viewed positively, but the damage had been done weeks before. Ask Villa fans where it started to go wrong as they taste relegation for the first time in Premier League history, and many will point to the final months of the 2008/09 season.It was Villas first appearance at this stage of European competition for 11 years, and the decision not to take the likes of James Milner, Ashley Young, Gareth Barry, Stiliyan Petrov and Gabriel Agbonlahor to Moscow left a sour taste in fans mouths. But the story is more complex than one result.A win over Stoke at Villa Park three days after the Moscow tie would have stretched their fourth-place lead over Arsenal to eight points with 11 games remaining. It was a must-win for ONeill to justify the selection in Russia, but Villa threw away a two-goal lead, conceding twice in the final three minutes. The Villa Park crowd have seen only two home wins in the league this season The players and fans were deflated, and Villa went on to take just 10 points out of a possible 33 in the Premier League, finishing 10 points behind Arsenal in sixth. But to fully understand the impact of the swing-and-miss 2008/09 season, Villa fans will take you back to the start of Lerners tenure two years previous.It is my belief and the basis for my bid that Aston Villa can compete at the highest level within the Premiership and in Europe, said Lerner after the Americans £62.6m takeover from Doug Ellis in 2006.The Holte End sang USA, USA during the good days, and kept faith in ONeill and Lerner during the bad. The owner even had the Villa crest tattooed on his ankle, and a new £8m training ground was built to improve the clubs academy. Randy Lerner ploughed millions into the club, but pulled the plug on spending when Villa missed out on the top four Villa were once again an attractive option, but they initially spent modestly, signing John Carew, Petrov and Young before an 11th-place finish in ONeills first season in 2006/07. Proud history, bright future was the motto on free scarves handed out on the final home game of the season, and that claim was correct for the short term at least.They finished sixth in 2007/08, and the foundations were there for the fourth-place push Lerner had promised. He opened his wallet further, and as spending went up, so did expectation.ONeills transfer pool didnt stretch further than the UK as Villa spent nearly £50m in the summer of 2008. Milner (£12m), Curtis Davies (£8m), Carlos Cuellar (£7.8m), Steven Sidwell (£5m), Luke Young (£5m), Nicky Shorey (£4m), Emile Heskey (£3.5m) and Brad Friedel (£2.5m) arrived, while only £3m went out of the door. The fees and wages spent would come back to hurt the club. Martin ONeill was in charge at Villa until 2010, leaving five days before the start of the season Villa recovered from their 2008/09 disappointment to threaten again in 2009/10, and continued to spend in the market. Another £40m worth of talent came in, but the result was similar; a sixth-place finish as Villa lost in the League Cup final and FA Cup semi-final.Barry started a worrying trend by leaving Villa in the summer of 2009 for Manchester City, whose spending left ONeill, Lerner and co trailing behind.Lerners media appearances were few and far between, but he was quick to assure fans that both ONeill and star player Milner were going nowhere despite strong rumours of unrest. Eric Black reflects on Aston Villas relegation, which was sealed with a 1-0 defeat at Manchester United on Saturday I am not worried about losing James Milner, he said in May 2010, before adding: Martin will be back next year managing.dddddddddddd It has already been settled.Milner was soon to follow Barry out of the door to City, after a long-running transfer saga which left ONeill frustrated. The Northern Irishman wanted another go at fourth-place to match Citys spending, but Lerner had one hand on the plugs chain and spending was halted.Villa had yet to make a senior summer signing when ONeill shocked everyone by leaving the club five days before the start of the 2010/11 season, and despite his replacement Gerard Houllier showing glimpses of a promising project, he left at the end of the season with health issues after a ninth-place finish. Villas 2008/09 season saw them challenging for a top-four spot Lerner and the boards decision-making was then heavily criticised as Villa appointed Birmingham City manager Alex McLeish, despite the spray-painted bed sheets and protests from supporters pleading with the club not to appoint the man who relegated their bitter rivals from three miles down the road.A new approach to transfers followed as Villas books were splattered in red. Young and Stewart Downing left, and the transfer policy was made clear to McLeish from day one.Lerner and the board simply asked if we could reduce the wages to get to a certain level but remain competitive within the league, McLeish told Sky Sports. I knew right away it was going to be a tough task. Alex McLeish was brought in to reduce the wage bill Villa survived, just, in 16th place, and after a final day defeat at Paul Lamberts Norwich, the travelling support were calling for the man in the opposition dugout to save them.McLeish was sacked, Lambert arrived, but it merely delayed the inevitable. His first transfer window was promising, bringing in Christian Benteke, Ron Vlaar and Ashley Westwood, among others, for £25m. Benteke was a masterstroke, and his goals, along with the rise and rise of Fabian Delph, kept Villa in the Premier League for two more seasons.I have come to know well that fates are fickle in the business of English football, and I feel that I have pushed mine well past the limit, said Lerner in May 2014 upon announcing the club was up for sale.Fans felt Lerner had outstayed his welcome, but the club continued to outstay theirs in the Premier League as Villa remained unsold. Tim Sherwood kept Villa up and got them to an FA Cup final, but was sacked in the autumn They were heading for relegation last February before Lambert was replaced by Tim Sherwood, whose short-term invigoration saved the club and led them to an FA Cup final.Villa failed to turn up against Arsenal at Wembley, and the current campaign was played out in similar fashion.It needs investment, Lambert had pleaded 12 months earlier, but Villa had to sell to buy. Benteke and Delph left for £40m, 11 senior players arrived for over £50m, but never gelled.Sherwood was sacked, and Frenchman Remi Garde was chosen as the sacrificial lamb when managers with survival and Premier League experience seemed a brighter option. Remi Garde was sacked in March after winning just two Premier League games He failed to make a team out of the misfits, and Jamie Carraghers comments after Villas 6-0 defeat by Liverpool in February summed it up.I always think when teams go down theres always two or three players where other managers in the Premier League will try and take them.I cant imagine one Premier League manager looking at that team and thinking theres one player there hed want to take into his squad. Thats how poor they are.That brings us to today. A relegation that has been five years in the making sees the Premier League lose one of their seven ever-present clubs. Villa must now rebuild in the Championship, but no new manager has been appointed Fans will have a glimmer of hope that stability upstairs can aid a clean restart and rebuild after some staffing shake-ups in recent months, but the current squad needs an injection of intelligence, fight and second-tier experience. That goes for the new manager, too.The feeling around Villa Park is that fans have been starved of a team to support for the last nine months. Fans are struggling to identify with current players, and affiliation more or less stops at the club crest.That crest was altered last week, the word Prepared removed for a new design. Preparation for the Championship starts now as fans pray for a team they can love once again. Aston Villa supporters hold protesting banners during their dismal 2015/16 campaign ' ' '

MADRID -- Real Madrid solved one of its problems during its trip to Germany in the Champions League: Cristiano Ronaldo made peace with coach Zinedine Zidane.Now it needs to find a way to start winning again.The 2-2 draw at Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday was the third consecutive for Madrid in all competitions, raising questions about the teams potential to repeat as Champions League champion, and to end a four-year title drought in the Spanish league.I am frustrated, Zidane said. We played a good game in attack and defense and it was a great effort from everyone. We played the game we wanted. At the end, the same (draw) again, its the third match. Im frustrated for the players because its undeserved.Dortmunds equalizer came in the 87th minute, when Madrid appeared in control.One of the positives that came out of the result was that Zidane got a much warmer handshake from Ronaldo, who created a bit of turmoil after going on a little rant because of his substitution in the league setback at Las Palmas on Saturday. He didnt even look at Zidane while reaching for the coachs extended hand on the sidelines.After scoring Madrids first goal in Dortmund, he immediately pointed to the bench and rushed to celebrate with his teammates. He also exchanged a moment with Zidane, apparently trying to erase doubts about any problems in their relationship.Ronaldo and his teammates have been struggling to put together the type of top-notch performances that led them to the European final last season, failing to capitalize on scoring opportunities and being unable to put games away.We need one more goal. When you are only one goal in front, things like this can happen, Zidane said. We are in a slump but we will keep working, and we will change things soon.Madrids first draw was at home against Villarreal, and then it tied Las Palmas after conceding a late goal. In its Champions League opener against Sporting Lisbon, it was losing until the 89th when it rallied to win.Madrid remains unbeaten, and is in decent shape both in the Champions League and La Liga, but new setbacks could start putting Zidanes team in a difficult position in both competitions. Madrid is tied with Dortmund atop Group F with four points from two matches. It leads the league after six games, one point ahead of Barcelona.Madrids next chance to snap its winless streak is on Sunday in La Liga against Eibar at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.Even though weve drawn the last two games in the league, we dont want to keep playing badly, Madrid midfielder James Rodrigues said. On Sunday, we have to go out looking for a win.All three draws came against teams with yellow uniforms. Eibars colors are blue and purple.---Tales Azzoni on Twitter: http://twitter.com/tazzoni. His work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/tales-azzoni Cheap Bengals Jerseys China . Toronto has dropped games to Indiana and Miami since a five-game winning streak and closed out a three-game road trip at 1-2. Cheap Bengals Jerseys Authentic .ca! Hi Kerry, Its another day and here we are looking at another dubious hit to the head. In this case Blue Jackets forward Brandon Dubinsky elbowed Saku Koivu in the head about a second after he dished off the puck to a teammate, knocking him unconscious. http://www.cheapbengalsjerseyselite.com/ . In taking its goal tally to 99 in all competitions already this season, City delivered another demonstration of its lethal firepower at Etihad Stadium to set up a fourth-round match at home to another second-tier team -- Watford. Cheap Bengals Jerseys . -- Ken Appleby made 32 saves for his first shutout of the season to lead the Oshawa Generals to a 2-0 win over the Belleville Bulls on Wednesday in Ontario Hockey League action. Cheap Cincinnati Bengals Jerseys . Neymar curled home a free kick from just outside the area to put the 2014 World Cup host ahead in the 44th minute. Three minutes after the break, a simple through pass from Paulinho freed Oscar and the Chelsea star rounded goalkeeper Jung Sung-ryong to extend Brazils lead. Port Adelaides players have nothing much to gain from their AFL season finale against Gold Coast but coach Ken Hinkley says theres plenty to lose.The Power take on the Suns with nothing on the line for either team except pride.Gold Coast are hurting after back-to-back losses in Melbourne to Essendon and Collingwood, while the Power put in a gutsy but ultimately futile effort last weekend in the Showdown against Adelaide.The Suns are also dealing with confirmation midfield star Jaeger OMeara wants out of the club at seasons end.Hinkley says while the season may be over for both clubs, he still expects his team to head north showing hunger and a desire to end the year with 10 wins.It matters to me, Hinkley said.We got out to play every week, regardless of whether its round 23 or round one.We want to win. They people that weve picked in the side ... its an opportunity for them as well.Port forward Jay Schulz will play his final match for the clubb on Saturday after this weeks announcement he would be leaving Alberton at seasons end.ddddddddddddWhile its the end of an era, debutants Riley Bonner and Will Snelling represent the future for Power fans.We get to send one person off and welcome two new people in, Hinkley said.Its quite a unique game.The Suns season has been decimated by injury and more players have been sidelined this week.Jarrod Harbrows season is over after he broke a thumb, and Sean Lemmens (concussion) and Jarrod Garlett (shoulder) are also out.In their place come Mitch Hallahan and youngsters Jesse Joyce and Darcy McPherson.Saturdays game will also be the 100th appearance for Gold Coasts Matt Shaw.The Suns first win as an AFL club came against the Power but since that victory in 2011 Port have won five straight against the expansion outfit. ' ' '

RICHMOND, Va. -- Bernhard Langer expects to play this week in the Dominion Charity Classic after missing the PGA Tour Champions playoff opener last week because of a left knee injury.The 59-year-old German star played nine practice rounds Monday and Tuesday to prepare for the event that starts Friday at The Country Club of Virginias James River Course. He re-aggravated the injury at home doing routine spinning.Its better. Its right now good enough to hit balls and play, Langer said Wednesday. I havent gone more than nine holes, so well find out how it feels after tomorrow because tomorrows 18, no carts. I hate carts anyways, but when youre hurting like this, it would be a help. Looking forward to it and, hopefully, Ill be getting better every day.He pulled out last week in California before the start of the PowerShares QQQ Championship.It wasnt much fun, Langer said. Just going from one doctor to another and resting, icing, doing this and doing that. Nice thing was I had my wife and my daughter with me, so that was a little bit of a distraction, had some nice dinners together.Langer leads the 50-and-over tour with four victories and has wrapped up the season money title with $2,697,459. He tops the Charles Schwab Cup Playoffs standings, 1,038,941 points ahead of second-place Colin Montgomerie.The playoff field was cut from 72 to 54 for the event, and Tom Lehman dropped out because of an elbow injury. The top 36 after the week will qualify for the season-ending Charles Schwab Cup Championship next week in Scottsdale, Arizona.Each dollar earned in the first two events is worth two points -- first place is worth $305,000 and 610,000 points this week -- and is added to the regular-season total. At the Charles Schwab Championship, points will be reset so that the top five only have to win to capture the Charles Schwab Cup.The James River Course was designed by William S. Flynn in 1928, renovated by Rees Jones in 1992, and later restored by Lester George.I think its a phenomenal golf course, really in great shape, very traditional, Langer said. You pretty much see what you get, theres no trickery to it. Got to keep it out of the rough, the rough is very punishing. Its that Bermuda grass and may only be 2, 2 1/2, 3 inches long, but that ball sits right down and you cant make decent contact. Get these knuckleballs coming out with no spin, so you dont know how far theyre going to carry or how far theyre going to run, so theres a premium on driving the ball well, hitting the fairways.Tom Pernice Jr. won the playoff opener Sunday at Sherwood. Cheap MLB Jerseys Authentic . Kozun faked to the forehand and beat Monsters starter, Calvin Pickard, pad side in the second round for the winner. Spencer Abbott also scored in the shootout for the Marlies (25-13-4). Cheap Trevor Hoffman Jersey . -- There were a lot of firsts for the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday night. http://www.cheappadresjerseys.com/ . Pence singled in the winning run with no outs in the ninth inning to give the Giants a 7-6 victory over the San Diego Padres on Sunday. Cheap San Diego Padres Jerseys Cheap Padres Jerseys . In the response filed Wednesday to the complaint by 30-year-old Alexander Bradley, attorneys say the former University of Florida player is invoking his Fifth Amendment right that protects people from incriminating themselves. Indian mens hockey team conceded a late goal to lose 2-1 against reigning double Olympic champions Germany in their second Pool B match of the Rio Olympics on Monday.After weathering Indias attacks for the majority of the game, the Germans exerted tremendous pressure on the Indian defence in the final two minutes and stole the win with just 3.1 seconds from full time.Christopher Ruhr scored the winner for Germany with a deflection from close range to dash the PR Sreejesh-led sides hopes.Earlier, Germany took the lead against the run of play through a field goal from Niklas Wellen (18th minute) before Rupinder Pal Singh (23rd) drew parity for India by converting his third penalty corner of the Games.The win helped Germany keep their successful run intact against India since 1996. India last defeated Germany in Olympics way back in the Atlanta Games when they secured a 3-0 victory.Despite the loss, the Indians can take heart from the fact that they dished out a much better display against Germany today than what they managed in the recent past, which includes a 3-3 draw againsst a depleted German side in the Champions Trophy in London and 0-4 thrashing in Valencia just prior to the Olympics.ddddddddddddIndia started the match as underdogs going by the recent record against the Germans, who were in search of their third successive Olympic gold, but it turned out to a very closely contested battle.It was 0-0 between the two sides after the first two quarters, with both teams showcasing some good attacking and defending skills.The Indians had the better share of exchanges in the first quarter and put the opposition under tremendous pressure midway through the first quarter, but the German defence did just enough to avert any crisis.It was India who had the first scoring chance in the 11th minute but Nikkin Thimmaiahs backhand shot from an Akashdeep Singh feed was padded away by an alert Nicolas Jacobi in front of German goal.In their opening encounter, India had defeated Ireland 3-2. They next face Argentina on Tuesday.? ' ' '

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio -- Cameron Morse had 17 of his 27 points in the second half and sparked a late run to help Youngstown State beat Akron 90-82 in the season opener for both teams on Saturday night.Youngstown State had a late 6-0 burst when Morse scored back-to-back on drives and Rahim Williams flushed an alley oop dunk to make it 84-77 with 59 seconds left.The Penguins snapped a six-game losing streak to the Zips in their first win over Akron since 1994. Matt Donlan added 20 points and Santiago scored 15.Isaiah Johnson led the Zips with 17 points. Akron led 41-30 late in the first half before Youngstown State surged to overtake them at 47-45 early in the second and led by as many as eight. Akron pulled to within 78-77 but got no closer.Jimond Ivey added 14 points, Kwan Cheatham, Jr. scored 13, Tavian Dunn-Martin 12 and Noah Robotham 10. Cheap Eddie Robinson Jersey . MLS Commissioner Don Garber and Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez also will attend the session, which was announced Monday. The league has discussed placing its next two expansion teams in Miami and Atlanta. Cheap MLB Jerseys . All of the scoring came in the final 20:04. Lucic scored on a power play at 15:46 of the third period, when he tipped a shot over Stars goalie Kari Lehtonen for a 3-1 lead. http://www.cheapindiansjerseys.com/?tag=cheap-bob-feller-jersey . "Trying to breathe," he said with a grin. Bernier stopped 42 of 43 shots on Monday night, including all 22 in a hectic middle frame, his heroic performance propelling the Leafs toward an undue point in their final game before the Christmas break. Cheap Larry Doby Jersey . Pettersen, winner of last years Evian Championships, had nine birdies and three bogeys, holding off a series of challengers led by Marion Ricordeau of France. The second-ranked Norwegian made her season debut after missing the LPGA Tours opening event last month in the Bahamas because of a shoulder injury. Cheap Kenny Lofton Jersey . -- Lou Brocks shoulder-to-shoulder collision with Bill Freehan during the 1968 World Series and Pete Roses bruising hit on Ray Fosse in the 1970 All-Star game could become relics of baseball history, like the dead-ball era. After a month on the road, D.C. United returns to RFK Stadium on Sunday to open the second half of the MLS season against the surging Montreal Impact.Sundays match will be the first at home for United since a 2-0 win over New England on June 25. The Red-and-Black went 0-2-2 during their four-game road trip and have only one win in their last seven games, but now return home hoping to climb back above the red line in the Eastern Conference standings. United is 4-4-1 on their home pitch this season.Its been a month on the road. That can take its toll, United coach Ben Olsen said. So coming back is exciting and we are looking forward to playing here at RFK.Montreal (7-5-8) arrives in fourth place on the Eastern Conference table and in good form. The Impact, led by a hat trick from Didier Drogba, are coming off a 5-1 rout of the Philadelphia Union.Drogba has eight goals on the season, and playmaking forward Ignacio Piatti has 12 goals, the second most in MLS.Drogba comes to town, Piatti, two of the best players iin the league, so well have our hands full again.dddddddddddd. We have to be hyper-alert but competitive and play with a little edge, Olsen told the teams website.The Impact have lost only once in their last eight MLS matches, but have never had much success at RFK Stadium. Montreal is 0-3-2 at RFK all-time, including a 1-0 loss last season.This will be the first meeting between the teams this season, and United (5-8-7) will have a new look with the addition of potential offensive upgrades in Patrick Mullins and Lloyd Sam. Uniteds midfield also got a recent boost with the return of Patrick Nyarko, who missed the last two months with a concussion.The past couple weeks Ive been all in with training and pushing myself and obviously the game fitness and the little time Im getting here and there helps to build that fitness and helps build that confidence, Nyarko told the teams website. ' ' '

ST. LOUIS - Paul Goldschmidt has a new plan for hitting with runners on base. So far, it is working well. Goldschmidt ripped a run-scoring single in the 14th inning to lift the Arizona Diamondbacks to a 7-6 win over the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday night. Arizona, which improved to 7-2 in extra innings, has won three of four. St. Louis (38-20), which still has the best record in the majors, has lost all four of its extra-inning games this season. Goldschmidt believed he let his teammates down during crunch time toward the end of last season even though he batted .305 with runners on base. "Im not sure about the numbers, but I felt like I struggled with runners on," he said. So he found an interesting way to change the situation. Goldschmidts winning hit improved his average to .376 with runners on base. "I pretend there is nobody on base and just stick with my same approach," he said. "Its worked so far. Well see what happens the rest of the year." A.J. Pollock hit a three-run homer for Arizona, and Willie Bloomquist had four hits in the 4-hour, 53-minute game. Josh Collmenter (2-0) earned the win with four innings of scoreless relief. Heath Bell recorded his 10th save in 12 opportunities. Allen Craig and Shane Robinson homered for St. Louis, which fell to 4-3 on its nine-game homestand. Goldschmidt drove in Gerardo Parra with a one-out, line-drive single up the middle off Victor Marte (0-1), who walked two batters before the winning hit. "Hes just got a great approach up there," Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson said of Goldschmidt. Arizona is 10-2 in its last 12 road games against NL Central opponents. Bell gave up a leadoff double to Yadier Molina in the 14th before retiring the next three hitters. The Diamondbacks are 3-3 on their eight-game trip. "An outstanding baseball game," Gibson said. "We would have liked to have won it earlier, but we didnt give in. Weve had several of these (extra inning) games, more than anybody." Arizona beat St. Louis 10-9 in 16 innings on April 3. The Diamondbacks bullpen, led by Collmenter, allowed only one run over the final 8 1-3 innings. Collmenter, who earned the win in the earlier 16-inning game, struck out five and gave up four hits. "He was the hero of the game," Arizona infielder Martin Prado said. The Cardinals rallied from 4-1 and 6-3 deficits and tied the game in the seventh on a run-scoring single by Carlos Beltran. "I was proud of the way the guys battled all night long right to the end," St. Louis manager Mike Matheny said. "The best thing to come out of this is that we battled." Pollocks three-run homer staked the Diamondbacks to a 4-1 lead in the fourth. St. Louis infielder David Freese had a career-high four hits and extended his career-best hitting streak to 14 games with a single in the sixth. He added singles in the eighth, 10th and 12th. "You want to win these games, especially after a long night," Freese said. "But you have to hand it to those guys over there. They took care of business." Pollock drilled a 2-0 pitch into the first row of the left-field bleachers off St. Louis rookie starter Michael Wacha, who gave up six runs in 4 2-3 innings. Pollack has hit safely in eight of nine games. St. Louis cut the deficit to 4-3 on Craigs fourth homer of the season. Arizona answered with two runs in the fifth to stretch its lead to 6-4. Goldschmidt doubled in Didi Gregorius, who began the inning with a hit. Jason Kubel followed with a run-scoring single. The Cardinals scored single runs in the fifth and sixth to get within 6-5. St. Louis infielder Matt Carpenter stretched his hitting streak to a career-best 13 games with a leadoff triple in the first. Arizona left-hander Tyler Skaggs gave up five runs in 5 2-3 innings. It was his second start of the season and eighth of his career. NOTES: Wacha and Skaggs, two former first-round draft choices, were born 12 days apart in July 1991. ... St. Louis RHP Joe Kelly (0-2, 6,75) will make his first start of the season Wednesday against Wade Miley (3-5, 5.01) in the third game of the four-game series. ... Arizona is the only team in the majors that hasnt been shut out this season. ... St. Louis RHP Jake Westbrook went 3 2-3 innings and allowed one run and six hits in a rehab start on Tuesday for the Cardinals Double-A team in Springfield, Mo. Westbrook, who threw 45 strikes in 60 pitches, went on the disabled list on May 9 because of right elbow inflammation. "Everything felt good," he said. "I was a little erratic with my pitches, but thats expected the first time out." Kansas City Chiefs Jerseys China . The 17-year-old native of Marystown, N.L., pulled out of Skate Canada International last month in Saint John, N.B., with the same problem. Cheap Chiefs Jerseys China . Just not the game. Kyle Palmieri scored two straight goals in the third period to rally the Anaheim Ducks past the Philadelphia Flyers 3-2 on Tuesday night. http://www.cheapchiefsjerseysauthentic.com/ . Louis Rams wide receiver Stedman Bailey last Sunday. The fine is the fourth this season for Goldson. He was fined $30,000 for a hit on the New York Jets Jeff Cumberland in Week 1. Derrick Thomas Jersey .C. -- After a listless first half, the Washington Wizards used a big third quarter run to beat the Charlotte Bobcats Bradley Beal scored 21 points and the Wizards used a 17-0 run in the third quarter to take control of what had been a close game and beat the Bobcats 97-83 on Tuesday night. Christian Okoye Jersey . "Thank you for the warm welcome," Beckham said on an 80-degree February morning. In this case, it was soccer weather. The sport moved a step closer to returning to South Florida on Wednesday, when Beckham confirmed he has exercised his option to purchase a Major League Soccer expansion franchise in Miami.CLEVELAND -- Indians reliever Chris Perez has closed out the local media. Clevelands colorful closer, who has not spoken on the record to reporters for several weeks, left Progressive Field on Monday night after blowing a save in a 4-2 loss to the Detroit Tigers before the clubhouse was open. With Perez long gone, his teammates were left to answer questions about the demoralizing loss, which dropped the Indians four games out of first place in the AL Central. Manager Terry Francona downplayed Perezs snub, which came after he failed to protect a 2-0 lead. The right-hander yielded a three-run homer to Alex Avila and failed to record an out. "In a perfect world guys stand in front of their locker," Francona said before Tuesdays game. "Sometimes its not a perfect world." Approached by The Associated Press, Perez said he intends to maintain his media blackout. "Im not talking the rest of the year," he said. "Quit asking." Francona didnt defend Perezs actions, but he doesnt believe theyll be a distraction to his ballclub. "I think its his personal choice," he said. "I think we try to foster an environment where good, bad, in-between, guys are accountable. Some guys choose to not talk. Like I said, its not always a perfect world. " Francona intimated Perezs behaviour will be handled internally, and hes not worried that it will divide a Cleveland team that has grown into a tight-knit group this season. "I dont think its worrisome," Francona said. "I think those things with the team have a way of working themselves out and it doesnt necessarily have to be in public. This is where teams kind of come together and take care of team things." Perez has had a history of beeing a distraction.dddddddddddd. Last season, he made headlines for criticizing Cleveland fans for the teams poor attendance, ripped Indians ownership for not spending enough money and questioned some moves by the front office. He then lambasted manager Manny Acta a few days after he was fired. Earlier this season, he and his wife were arrested on misdemeanour drug charges. Perez has always been cordial with reporters, but has recently been more difficult to deal with. Following a recent win, he went out of his way to turn up the volume on the clubhouse sound system to make it harder for reporters to hear as they interviewed pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez. Perez was pitching in his third straight game on Monday night. He had converted 11 straight save opportunities since coming off the disabled list. Francona said Perez stopped in his office before leaving the ballpark. "He actually came in after the game and said, I felt great. I just blew it," Francona said. Perez, who has 17 saves, was not available Tuesday night as the Indians continued their series with Detroit. Francona was hoping for a long outing from starter Justin Masterson. Although Francona was second-guessed for using Perez and having the right-hander face left-handed hitter Prince Fielder in the ninth, Clevelands manager said he would follow the same script. "Not in the ninth," Francona said when asked if we consider using two pitchers in the final inning. "Thats why you have closers. Youre going to create chaos down there if you start doing that." Francona is also confident Perez will bounce back. "I think I have a pretty good grasp of these guys," Francona said. "To be a closer youve got to have selective amnesia." ' ' '

Leicester cruised to a 3-1 win over Everton at a buoyant King Power Stadium on Saturday Night Football. It was the perfect way to celebrate their extraordinary Premier League title triumph, writes Nick Wright… After Leicesters wild celebrations on Monday night, it was easy to imagine they might take their feet off the gas for the visit of Everton. But on a joyous and historic day in the East Midlands, the newly crowned Premier League champions produced an exhilarating performance to match the carnival atmosphere in the stands.The party had been in full swing for days as the gravity of Leicesters extraordinary achievement began to sink in around the city, and the streets surrounding the King Power Stadium were a sea of celebration in the build-up to kick-off against Everton. Wes Morgan and Claudio Ranieri lift the trophy amid ecstatic scenes at the King Power stadium A rousing performance from opera singer Andrea Bocelli and an emotional speech from manager Claudio Ranieri brought a touch of class to the occasion, and then it was over to Leicesters unlikely band of heroes to continue the party on the pitch.They certainly seemed to enjoy themselves, with Riyad Mahrez and Jamie Vardy at the heart of their thrilling attacking play, just as they have been for so much of this remarkable season. The stadium was a cauldron of noise from kick-off, and there was more reason to celebrate when they broke the deadlock six minutes in. Vardy stars in title party Jamie Vardy scored twice as Leicester celebrated winning the Premier League in fine style. Mahrezs throw-in found Andy King on Leicesters right-hand side, and the midfielder chipped a perfectly weighted pass into the path of Jamie Vardy. The striker exploited the space between John Stones and Bryan Oviedo, and his first-time finish was typically clinical. After missing the last two games through suspension, the FWA Footballer of the Year was making up for lost time.Former Leicester striker Alan Smith would later describe it as the ultimate team performance in the Sky Sports commentary box, and their second goal came less than 30 minutes after their first. Shinji Okazaki found Mahrez, whose trickery bewitched his markers before Leighton Baines tackle inadvertently set up King to dispatch the finish. Ranieri reflects on Leicesters amazing season and says he wants the fans to keep dreaming Its like watching a team on fast forward, noted Jamie Carragher, and there was much more to come as they continued to pour forward after the break. Vardy got his second when he won and converted a penalty in the 65th minute, and the only minor hiccup came when he missed another chance from the spot to wrap up his hat-trick.Vardys double still puts him within one goal of Premier League top scorer Harry Kane on 24, and it was fitting, too, that King played such a pivotal role in the result. The long-serving Welshman is the only surviving member of the side that won promotion from League One in 2008/09, and seven years on from starting in a 3-0 win over Crewe Alexandra, he starred as they brought up 80 points in the Premier League.The 27-year-old is a symbol of Leicesters extraordinary rise, and his goal and assist earned him a well-deserved man-of-the-match award. Andy King was the most important player in the first half, said Jamie Redknapp in the Sky Sports studio. He just sums them up. Morgan admits he felt drained and emoptional after lifting the Premier League trophy Leicesters success, though, is a triumph of the team over the individual, and the philosophy was typified by the all-encompassing celebrations that greeted the final whistle. They have been as one all season, said Redknapp. From Schmeichel to Vardy, every single player has been immense. Its the stuff of dreams.In many ways, this was the typical Leicester performance. The Foxes had less possession (41.6 per cent to Evertons 58.4 per cent) and attempted fewer passes (337 to Evertons 499) than their opponent, and yet they dominated the metrics that mattered. Saturdays Opta stats We round up the best stats and facts from Saturdays Premier League games. Ranieris men have ripped up the rule book this season, and against Everton they mustered a season-high 33 shots on goal over the course of the 90 minutes. Roberto Martinezs side were left dazed and confused, and in truth, they were flattered by the 3-1 scoreline.Carragher described it as the perfect finale, and it certainly felt like a fitting way to celebrate the greatest day in their 132-year history. Teams like Leicester are not meant to have these moments, said Carragher. This is what makes it fantastic. This now gives hope to every player and team out there up and down the league. The impossible is possible. Also See: Leicester title party recap Saturdays Opta stats Cheap Falcons Jerseys Authentic . Peter Holland and Brad Staubitz were sent to Toronto on Saturday as the Maple Leafs traded defenceman Jesse Blacker and draft picks to the Anaheim Ducks. Wholesale Atlanta Falcons Jerseys . LOUIS -- Lance Lynn was one of the more enthusiastic participants as the St. http://www.cheapfalconsjerseysauthentic.com/ . Robredo, ranked No. 16, bounced back from an upset loss to Leonardo Mayer in the second round of the Royal Guard Open in Chile last week to down Carreno Busta in 1 hour, 25 minutes. On a day filled mostly with qualifying matches, fifth-seeded Marcel Granollers of Spain also entered the second with a 7-5, 3-6, 6-2 win over Aljaz Bedene of Slovenia, while Guido Pella of Argentina defeated Guillermo Garcia-Lopez of Spain 7-6 (6), 6-4 to advance. Brett Favre Jersey . Pence singled in the winning run with no outs in the ninth inning to give the Giants a 7-6 victory over the San Diego Padres on Sunday. Tony Gonzalez Jersey . Patrice Bergeron and Daniel Paille scored 20 seconds apart a few minutes after Stamkos was taken off the ice on a stretcher with a broken right leg, and the Bruins beat the Lightning 3-0 on Monday afternoon.LOS ANGELES -- Justin Williams figures he gets his knack for Game 7 heroics from the same source as the Los Angeles Kings resilience throughout their grinding seven-game victory over the San Jose Sharks. Williams thinks the Kings all drew their inspiration from that Stanley Cup championship banner hanging over the Staples Center ice, and it carried them through to the Western Conference finals. "It comes from the hunger of winning one and having that drive for another one," Williams said. "You dont want anyone else to raise the Cup but you." Williams scored two goals in the second period, and the Kings advanced with a 2-1 victory over San Jose on Tuesday night. Jonathan Quick made 25 saves as the defending champs finished off this agonizingly even series with their 14th consecutive home victory over the past two months, including seven straight in the post-season. Not much separated the teams in this thrilling all-California series, but the Kings cited last seasons trophy for their poise and persistence in another nail-biting clincher. "I certainly enjoy pressure situations," said Williams, whose goals were 2:57 apart. "I know everyone in this dressing room does. We pride ourselves on being a team that, push comes to shove, were going to get it done. Weve been through it before, and we know we can do it." Williams scored on a power-play tap-in and a one-timer, putting the Kings on top to stay. The veteran wing came in with an eight-game, goal-scoring drought, but the two-time Stanley Cup winner has scored nine points in his four career appearances in a Game 7. The Kings will face Chicago or Detroit when they attempt to reach the Stanley Cup finals for the third time. The Blackhawks will host the Red Wings in Game 7 on Wednesday night. The home team won all seven games in the series, as did the team that scored first. The fifth-seeded Kings barely rode their home-ice advantage to victory in their first potential elimination game in the last two years. "They were as good as us," Los Angeles coach Darryl Sutter said. "We just scored." Quick and his teammates barely held off the Sharks in a frantic third period. Quick showed off his Conn Smythe Trophy form yet again, finishing the seven-game series by allowing just 10 goals. "Were going to play every game like this, no matter what," Quick said. "It doesnt matter how many games it takes, especially against that team. Were fortunate to move forward." Antti Niemi stopped 16 shots, and Dan Boyle scored early in the third period for the Sharks, who fell just short of their third trip to the conference finals in four years. Even during a year of roster turnover and change, sixth-seeded San Jose remained a serious contender in its ninth straight playoff appearance. "We thought we could come in here and steal a game," Sharks captain Joe Thornton said. "We played our hearts out, and thats all you can ask of each other. We had to lay it on the line in the third, and I thought we did. Jonathan Quick is just a fantastic goalie. ... We were just having so much fun. Its disappointing that it has to end, because we were really enjoying this. Its a tough way to finish." Los Angeles has won eight straight home playoff games, dating to last seasons Stanley Cup clincher, but this one might have been the toughest. San Jose pressed the action throughout the third period after Williams back-to-back goals put the Sharks in a mid-game hole, but Quick and the Kings defence hung on for a win in Los Angeles first Game 7 at home since 1989. "The way they banded together and the way they played for each other was exceptional," San Jose coach Todd McLellan said. "Its a great sign for our organization.ddddddddddddI think we have something to build on moving forward." After a scoreless first period in Game 7, featuring plenty of near-miss chances but just eight combined shots, the Sharks again came out solidly in the second. San Jose held the Kings without a shot for nearly 19 consecutive minutes. But the Kings finally broke through after San Joses Brent Burns took an interference penalty near Los Angeles net. Williams got the puck to the post and hacked at it until it slid behind Niemi for his first goal since Game 4 of the first round. Williams has been candid about his lines offensive struggles during this post-season, saying the Kings top scorers had to get better for Los Angeles to advance. He did it again 2:57 later, taking a cross-ice pass from Anze Kopitar and beating Niemi from short range with a one-timer. Williams had just two assists in the Kings previous eight playoff games. Niemi kept the Sharks in it with two stunning saves, preventing a natural hat trick by Williams several minutes before stopping Brad Richardsons one-timer. But Quick matched every save, and the Kings preserved their two-goal lead into the third. Niemi made another enormous save during 4-on-4 play early in the third, stopping Jeff Carter on a breakaway. Boyle ended Quicks bid for his third shutout of the series with a long shot through traffic with 14:34 to play, giving the defenceman his third goal of the post-season. Quick kept making astonishing saves until the final seconds, robbing Joe Pavelski on an open chance with his glove extended along the ice with 5:04 to play. "We probably made one more mistake than they did, and we couldnt find a way to get another puck by Quick," McLellan said. "We would love to go back and play Game 2 over again, the last four or five minutes. Thats probably one that we needed and didnt get." This series was even from the start, with neither team able to take more than momentary control. The clubs were similarly equal in the regular season, when the Kings 3-2 home victory over San Jose in the finale pushed fifth-seeded Los Angeles ahead of the Sharks. That eventually led to the Kings starting a playoff series at home for the first time since 1992, but the uncanny home-ice advantage held: The home team has won 16 of these Pacific Division rivals 17 meetings in the past two seasons. Los Angeles opened the series with two home victories, stealing Game 2 with a pair of power-play goals in the final minutes for the only major comeback of the series. The Sharks responded with two solid 2-1 victories at home, keeping the Kings offence punchless away from Staples Center. Quick posted his second shutout of the series in Game 5, but San Jose forced a seventh game with another 2-1 victory at the Shark Tank last Sunday. NOTES: San Jose kept its lineup from Game 6, while Los Angeles replaced fourth-liner Jordan Nolan with rookie Tyler Toffoli. Hobbling Sharks F Marty Havlat missed the final four games of the series and six of seven overall, playing only 4:52 in Game 3. ... Kings C Jarret Stoll missed his sixth straight game with an apparent concussion after an illegal hit in Game 1 by Sharks F Raffi Torres, who was suspended for the rest of the series. Stoll is Los Angeles third-line centre and a key contributor on penalty-killing and faceoffs. ... The Kings hadnt hosted a Game 7 since Wayne Gretzky had a hat trick to beat the Edmonton Oilers in 1989 at the Forum. ... David and Victoria Beckham attended the game with their children, sitting behind Tom Cruise. Beckham, who became a fervent Kings fan last season, wrapped up his soccer career just two days earlier in France, sitting out Paris Saint-Germains final match. ' ' '