Hard to imagine a venue, which played host to one of the Montreal Impacts most memorable matches in their history when over 55,000 packed in for the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions League quarter-finals in February 2009, would play spoiler for todays home opener. There goes my thinking as a parent that snow days only occurred at school. Not in a domed building. This for a stadium which has such a tarnished history it makes the awarding of the 2022 World Cup to Qatar appear like a rational decision. Increment weather may have played its part but the real issue here though is with the building itself. Todays postponement has certainly taken the gloss on what has been a very successful couple of months for the Impact off the pitch. Earlier this week the club announced a number of supplier partnerships which are expected to dramatically improve the in-stadium experience. This follows up from a number of announcements and events which have occurred throughout the off season. The Klopas announcement in mid-December could not have been better timed, as later that evening the Impact staged their inaugural Members General Assembly. Staged at the very same downtown hotel the Sounders will spend an extra night in this weekend, the event drew a highly passionate crowd of in excess of 500 season ticket holders who interacted with the Impacts brain trust. A Members Council comprising of 15 fans was introduced, it is they who will represent the supporters and stage regular meetings with club officials. The first of those meetings took place in the Impacts locker room at Saputo Stadium last month. How relieved David Moyes must be that Manchester United dont hold similar events. The bond between fan and club was further strengthened just before the season got underway when the Impact launched their new home shirt at a downtown venue which played host to Adele last time the Grammy winner played in town. There arent many supporters clubs in all of MLS as old as Montreals UM02, who ironically trace their roots back to the time the Toronto Lynx bought a boisterous number to Montreal for an A-League game back in 2002. The Montreal Impact could not have paid UM02 a greater compliment than by incorporating their moto "Toujours Fidèles" inside the collar of the new home shirt. The relationship between UM02 and the Impact has come a long way since the time of a walk out protest the night the Impact unveiled their MLS logo at an NASL match back in August 2011. It cant be overstated the role UM02 and the other supporters clubs, which have sprung up since MLS came to Montreal in 2012, play in bringing new fans through the gates. The appetite for MLS has grown over the past two seasons, as has a much more genuine soccer atmosphere on match days. Dont be surprised if their ranks are swelled Sunday afternoon with a cameo appearance by Montreal Mayor, Denis Coderre - likely wearing the Impact shirt that was given to him when the Mayor met with Joey Saputo at City Hall early in the new year. When the club began their 2014 season ticket push last July an area of weakness in need of much improvement was with the Montreal business community. That matter seems to have been addressed in the off season. Try finding yourself a Saputo Stadium corporate box for the season. Increased chats about the Impact around the office water cooler can be nothing but a good thing. With the confirmation late this afternoon the game will go ahead Sunday afternoon, the Impact will need to build on what was an impressive display in Houston. Play those 90 minutes again and there is no way Houston would emerge with a 1-0 victory. Undeserved as the defeat was these though are the games that come the end of the season can be the difference maker when the playoff positions are handed out. Bruin got the fortunate deflection, Wenger the bobble of the ball when clean through on goal. A bounce here, a bounce there, the margin between defeat and victory can be cruel. The key now is how the team react to that set back. Playing against a team which suffered a home defeat last time out and one which is supposed to be amongst the Western Conference pace setters adds to the task. Of no consequence is the absence of USMNT star Clint Dempsey. The Impacts defence which looked shaky through the pre-season and during the opener in Dallas need to be focused, organized and disciplined throughout the 90. The early season form of rookie right back Eric Miller has been most impressive. He plays with the confidence of an MLS veteran and has certainly seized his opportunities. Continuing to play as he has, then the number two position is his to lose. With a fine display through a little over 70 minutes on the pitch in Houston its hard to imagine that Bernier underwent serious knee surgery in the off season. Just as Di Vaios goals did through 2013, Berniers relationship and understanding with Bernadello will go a long way to define the Impacts season. The Impact will be hoping the Olympic Stadium turf does not have any adverse effects on their 30-something skipper. The MLS All Star is the heartbeat of the club, on and off the pitch. You can reach and follow Noel Butler at:Noel.Butler@BellMedia.ca @TheSoccerNoel on Twitter Tomas Nosek Jersey . The visitors missed a host of good chances to win the game, and were left to rue substitute Ivo Ilicevics strike against the crossbar in the 86th minute, when he only had the goalkeeper to beat. William Carrier Golden Knights Jersey . PAUL, Minn. http://www.goldenknightssale.com/authentic-marc-andre-fleury-golden-knights-jersey/ . In fact, with a few improvements, this could very well be a decent team over the next few seasons. I will go into more detail when digging into the Canucks Off-Season Game Plan, which will be coming earlier this year since they are part of the non-playoff contingent, there are some reasons to think this is a favourable situation for President of Hockey Operations Trevor Linden and whomever he selects to be the new general manager. Paul Stastny Jersey .Mack, a reserve guard who came in averaging 3.8 points, made all six of his 3-pointers as the Hawks went 16 for 28 from behind the arc.Trailing 50-38 midway through the second quarter, Atlanta outscored Cleveland 89-48 the rest of the way and sent the Cavaliers to their largest loss of the season. Marc-Andre Fleury Golden Knights Jersey . When Reyes signed a US$106-million, six-year deal with Miami last month, there was speculation Ramirez was unhappy about being supplanted at short. But new manager Ozzie Guillen sold Ramirez on the idea.OTTAWA - Tonights NHL game between the Ottawa Senators and the Toronto Maple Leafs has been postponed following the shootings on Parliament Hill. The NHL says the date and time of the rescheduled game will be announced at a later date. We are shocked and deeply saddened by todays tragic events on Parliament Hill and in downtown Ottawa, said Senators owner Eugene Melnyk in a statement. Our collective thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims as well as with all Members of Parliament and staff who have had to manage through todays difficult circumstances. Hockey is certainly secondary to these types of tragic events and we know our fans stand alongside us with the leagues decision to postpone tonights game. A gunman opened fire this morning, killing a soldier at the National War Memorial before injuring a security guard on Parliament Hill, where he was reportedly shot dead by Parliaments sergeant-at-arms. The shooting at the memorial was one of three separate shootings in the heart of the nations capital that forced Parliament Hill into lockdown. Authorities confirmed shots had been fired inside Parliament, at the National War Memorial and near the Rideau Centre shopping mall. The Ottawa Hospital confirmed in a statement that it received three patients, two of which were in stable condition. In a statement the NHL said it wishes to express its sympathhy and prayers to all affected by the tragic events in Ottawa.dddddddddddd The Leafs, who played the Islanders last night in New York, did not have a morning skate at Canadian Tire Centre. A spokesman said the team was safe at its hotel, which is not far from Parliament Hill. The Toronto Maple Leaf Hockey Club extends its deepest condolences to the family and friends of all affected by the tragic events in downtown Ottawa today, the team said in a statement. The Club supports the National Hockey League’s decision to postpone tonight’s scheduled meeting with the Ottawa Senators. We have been witness today to some terrible events but are thankful to those brave men and women for their tireless service in protecting everyone’s safety. Surreal scene outside of our hotel right now, Leafs forward Joffrey Lupul tweeted. Lot of very brave police officers we should all be very proud of. The Senators skated at Canadian Tire Centre, which is located about 30 minutes outside of the downtown core. In April 2013, the NHL postponed a game between the Bruins and Senators after the Boston Marathon bombing. Those teams played the game the day after the regular season ended. On their official Twitter account, the Senators wrote: Our thoughts are with everyone involved in what is happening on Parliament Hill and Confederation Square this morning. Stay safe, Ottawa. ' ' '

TOKYO -- Japans Shinsuke Yamanaka beat Mexicos Alberto Guevara with a knockout in the ninth round Sunday to defend his WBC bantamweight crown. Yamanaka sent Guevara to the canvas with a left after 25 seconds of the ninth round at Ryogoku Kokugikan, forcing referee Hector Afu of Panama to stop the fight. Yamanaka, who has won four consecutive bouts by knockout since his second title defence in November last year, improved to 20-0 with two draws and 15 knockouts. Guevara dropped to 18-2, including six KOs. All three judges had scored the bout 79-71 in favour Yamanaka through the eighth round. Quincy Williams II Youth Jersey . Louis Blues just continue to roll -- especially against the Nashville Predators. Telvin Smith Womens Jersey .Y. - Joe Johnson hit six 3-pointers in his 27 points, Mason Plumlee added 18 points, and the Brooklyn Nets won their 11th straight at home, beating the Boston Celtics 114-98 Friday night. http://www.authenticjaguarslockroom.com/Youth-Leonard-Fournette-Elite-Jersey/ . "I have had no discussions with Chad Johnson or his representation," Popp said Friday in an email. However, he appeared to confirm a report on Twitter from TSN this week that Johnson was on Montreals negotiation list. Jawaan Taylor Womens Jersey . - The Carolina Panthers believe Steve Smith lost "top-end" speed, a big reason the franchise parted ways with its all-time leading receiver. Yannick Ngakoue Womens Jersey . on the 15-day disabled Monday list because of a strained right hamstring.As the college football season heads into its second week, the rivalries are starting to heat up. Week 2s biggest games include Florida facing Miami and Notre Dame travelling to the Big House to conclude their rivalry against Michigan in primetime on TSN2 and TTSN 1050.dddddddddddd The College Football Shows Ryan Bolta and Mike Marshall preview these premiere matchups along with the other marquee games on the schedule and also recap the seasons first week. The College Football Show Podcast: Week 2 ' ' '

WICHITA, Kan. -- Southern Illinois coach Barry Hinson couldnt hear himself amid the roar in Koch Arena, so he kept stomping on the floor in a fruitless attempt to get his teams attention. Hed say later that the crowd was the biggest factor in the game. The Salukis hung tough for all but about 3 minutes Tuesday tonight, finally falling 78-67 to fourth-ranked Wichita State. It put an end to Southern Illinois four-game winning streak, its best in more than four years, while leaving the Shockers still unbeaten. "Gosh, that crowd," Hinson said. "I hate them -- and I love them. Its an oxymoron." Make no mistake: Hinson loves the passion of Missouri Valley Conference fans. He just wishes he could have better communicated with his players down the stretch, when the game hung in the balance. Instead, the Salukis (10-16, 6-7) starting turning it over on offence, the Shockers (26-0, 13-0) started getting easy baskets at the other end, and Hinson was left standing on the sideline with his hands on his hips, watching mirthlessly as the final seconds ticked away. Anthony Beane scored 25 points to lead the Salukis. "Theres a reason theyre 26-0. Theyre damn good," Hinson said, "but they made shots and that crowd just went nuts, and we came down and said, Hey, its close to April 15! Well just give you the ball and well get a tax deduction!" Ron Baker scored 19 points and Cleanthony Early had 18 for the Shockers, who became the first team to start 26-0 since Memphis in 2008. Five games stand in the way of Wichita State becoming the first team since Saint Josephs in 2004 to have a perfect regular season. The Hawks didnt lose that year until the Atlantic 10 tournament. "Just survive," Wichita State coach Gregg Marshall said. "That was not our best effort, obviously. They get a lot of credit for that. They had a great game plan. They packed it in and we didnt make any shots from the arc. It was a good strategy. Finally we made some in the second half and pulled away slowly, but give them credit. They played well." The Shockers trailed at halftime for the ninth time during their unbeaten run, though the 33-32 deficit could have been a whole lot worse the way they were shooting the ball. Wichita State was just 2 of 14 from 3-point range in the first half, most of them missing just about everything. In fact, the only shots the Shockers seemed to make outside of 3 feet were a series of free throws that Early made to keep them within striking distance. It didnt help that the Shockers were in foul trouble, too. Baker, Early and Fred VanVleet -- their top three scorers -- were on the bench with two fouls apiece late in the half. Once they returned after the break, the Shockers started to pick up steam. Early converted a three-point play with 15:47 to put them ahead 44-43, the seventh lead change in the game. Baker added a silky-smooth jumper, then knocked down his first 3 moments later as Wichita State took control and Koch Arena suddenly got rocking. Beane refused to let the Salukis wilt under the pressure. The sophomore guard kept slicing through Wichita States man-to-man defence for baskets near the rim, more than once drawing contact along the way. When the Shockers finally clamped down on him, he deftly found the open teammate for wide-open looks. Jalen Pendletons three-point play pulled the Salukis to 69-64 with 2 1/2 minutes left, but Baker answered with his third 3-pointer. The Shockers turned up the pressure and forced Sean OBrien into a turnover that led to a run-out by Baker, who was fouled and made both free throws. Still with a chance to make it a game, Southern Illinois promptly turned it over again, and this time the Salukis allowed VanVleet to go for an uncontested layup that made it 76-64. Wichita State merely had to coax the final seconds off the clock to remain undefeated. "Its cool, you know?" Early said. "But we take it game by game, day by day. I dont think were looking at an undefeated season because you have to beat the team thats in front of you." Dave Schultz Flyers Jersey . - Chicago Bears running back Matt Forte sees the commitment to the handoff and cant help but come away impressed. Robert Hagg Jersey . While hell be dialed in to that tournament on a course he loves, you can forgive him if his eyes glance down the calendar just a bit, towards April. http://www.nhlflyersproauthentic.com/jakub-voracek-hockey-jersey/ . Born in Berkeley and raised in Oakland, where he later pitched for the As, Ross beat the Giants for the first time in six career appearances by throwing eight scoreless innings to lead the San Diego Padres to a 2-1 victory Friday night. Brian Elliott Jersey . Minutes before the final whistle of Sporting Kansas Citys 3-0 victory over a shorthanded Montreal Impact squad on Saturday afternoon, Saputo tweeted: "Our fans deserve better. Travis Konecny Jersey . Playing in his 19th career final, the second-seeded Tsonga was favourite to win the Open 13 for the third time and to secure an 11th career title, but he struggled with Gulbis attacking approach.TORONTO -- The Oakland Athletics claimed right-hander Marcus Walden on Wednesday after he was put on waivers by the Toronto Blue Jays. Walden was designated for assignment by the Blue Jays a day earlier. He made five appearances for Toronto in spring training but did nott play in a regular-season game.dddddddddddd The 25-year-old native of Fresno, Calif., was 6-14 with a 3.71 earned-run average last season at double-A New Hampshire. Walden made three appearances at triple-A Buffalo this year, going 0-1 with a 13.50 ERA. ' ' '

TORONTO -- Liam Hendriks already had a big day on the go before taking the mound for his Blue Jays debut Friday night. The Australian was called up from triple-A Buffalo, enjoyed his six-month anniversary with wife Kristi, and gave his mother Debbie a long-distance present as she celebrated her birthday Down Under. Hendriks capped a day to remember with an impressive 5 2/3-inning performance in Torontos 3-2 win over Oakland at Rogers Centre. The 25-year-old right-hander allowed three hits and one earned run for his first major-league victory since last August. "Its kind of a big deal today for me," he said. Steve Tolleson staked Hendriks to an early lead with a two-run shot -- his first homer of the season -- in the second inning and the Blue Jays scratched out another run in the third. Hendriks allowed a solo homer to Brandon Moss in the fourth inning. He escaped a bases-loaded jam in the fifth and left to a standing ovation in the sixth inning. "That was incredible," he said. "I got tingles all over my body for that. This is such a good crowd up here. Its fantastic. They know their baseball up here." Hendriks, who spent parts of the last three seasons with the Twins, earned the callup with a sparkling 5-0 record and 1.48 earned-run average this season with the Bisons. He hopes to take full advantage of this second chance in the big leagues. "Its a huge thing for me," he said. "I was given opportunities in Minnesota and I didnt capitalize on them. Now Ive got a different mindset coming into the season of just getting ready, getting aggressive and getting after guys early. "I think its paid dividends so far and hopefully I can continue this trend and stay up here all year." Toronto manager John Gibbons was impressed. "I would definitely say hes earned another start," he said. The Blue Jays have won four straight games, nine of their last 11 and improved to 11-11 at home this season. Toronto (27-22) is five games over .500 for the first time in over two years. The Blue Jays also lead the American League East division. The last time they were alone in first place this deep into the season was way back on July 6, 2000. It was Tollesons first home run in a Toronto uniform and first in the majors since he went deep on June 10, 2012 with Philadelphia. "We have a tremendous lineup, I mean Melky (Cabrera), Jose (Bautista), Eddie (Encarnacion), all of these guys have been swinging the bat really well," said Tolleson, who batted seventh. "When the bottom of the order can get on base and they can drive us in or produce some runs ourselves that just helps everybody." Scott Kazmir (5-2) shouldered the loss for American League West-leading Oakland (30-18). He allowed five hits and three earned runs over seven innings. However, it was the southpaws throwing error in the third inning that allowed the eventual winning run to score. With Kevin Pillar aboard after a double, Kazmir threw to second base on a pickoff attempt but no one was covering the bag. Pillar ran to third on the play and scored when Jose Reyes hit a slow grounder to the right side of the infield. "That turned out to be costly," Kazmir said. "I should have held on to it. It ended up being the difference-maker in the game." Jed Lowrie was playing shortstop and Nick Punto was at second base. "(Kazmir) thought that I was going to go to the base and I was just there to hold (Pillar) on just a little bit longer because he was extending his lead," Lowrie said. "I wanted to stay there. He looked back and thought I was going to break and I didnt have any plans to." The Athletics made it a one-run game in the eighth inning and threatened in the ninth. Coco Crisp hit a two-out double off Casey Janssen and stole third but the Toronto closer got Lowrie to ground out for his sixth save in six opportunities. Notes: Toronto knuckleballer R.A. Dickey (4-4) will get the start Saturday afternoon against Jesse Chavez (4-1). ... The Blue Jays will host Tampa Bay and Kansas City during the homestand next week. ... Hendriks allowed three walks and had three strikeouts. ... Moss has 11 homers on the season. ... Bautista, who walked in the third inning, has reached base safely in 48 of 49 games this season. He leads the major leagues with 42 walks. ... Announced attendance was 21,007 and the game took two hours 37 minutes. Calvin Johnson Lions Jersey . The 22-year-old Kreider was injured Friday night in New Yorks win at Columbus, but played in the next two games -- including Monday nights win over Phoenix. But the left winger, who has 17 goals and 37 points this season, was limited to about 10 minutes of ice time in each of the previous games. Custom Detroit Lions Jerseys . He spent the rest of the game making up for lost playing time. Green scored a career-high 36 points, including eight in overtime, and the Phoenix Suns beat Denver 112-107 on Tuesday night to hand the Nuggets their fifth consecutive loss. http://www.shopdetroitlionsnfl.com/lions-kerryon-johnson-black-jersey/ . "I honestly dont know," he said. Try this: 20 points, nine assists and seven rebounds by Rajon Rondo, a 62-37 rebounding advantage by the Celtics and a horrible 4-for-30 shooting performance on 3-pointers by the Nets. Kenny Golladay Youth Jersey . -- Adrian Peterson remained in a walking boot to treat a high ankle sprain on his left leg on Wednesday, and coach Leslie Frazier said he will not play on Sunday against Atlanta if he cant hit the practice field in the next two days. Jarrad Davis Lions Jersey . I suppose Sternberg has earned the right to speak out since his Rays, despite one of the lowest payrolls in the Majors at $58 million, are entering the final weekend of the regular season holding down the first Wild Card spot in the American League, one game ahead of Cleveland and two up on Texas.CALGARY -- Calgary Flames interim general manager Brian Burke defended his head coach Monday and said Vancouver Canucks head coach John Tortorella "oughta keep his mouth shut." Burke, also Calgarys president of hockey operations, countered Tortorellas post-game comments after Sundays game in Vancouver, where the Canucks won the regular-season finale 5-1. Tortorella had objected to the actions of Flames head coach Bob Hartley when Canucks forward Daniel Sedin was hit from behind and driven into the boards by Flames forward Paul Byron late in the second period. Sedin was taken off the ice on a stretcher after scoring twice in the game, while Byron was slapped with a five-minute major and a game misconduct. "Its embarrassing to coach against the guy across from me tonight," Tortorella said. "Some of the things that went on when Danny was hurt, its embarrassing. "I dont like the way he does business. I dont like him, and eventually I guess why I am talking about it in this way is because I need to protect my players and a lot of people dont understand that, so Ill just leave it at that. Tortorella feuded with Hartley in Vancouver on Jan. 18 when he tried to get into Calgarys locker-room following a line brawl. Tortorella was suspended for 15 days. Hartley wouldnt bite Monday when reporters asked Calgarys head coach about Tortorellas comments, but Burke weighed in. He called Tortorella a friend before launching his counter-attack. "Our coach acted completely appropriatelyy last night and Torts oughta keep his mouth shut," Burke said.dddddddddddd "Apparently what outraged him was the cardinal sin of our coach arguing for a penalty while Daniel Sedin was being tended to on the ice. "Paul Byron hit him. We think its a hockey play. We dont think its worth five minutes. We dont think its worth further review. Call a five-minute penalty because the player is hurt, thats fine with us. "Now the player gets attacked, punched repeatedly, no penalty. Where are the minor penalties against our player? Smallest player on the ice besides Johnny Gaudreau gets mugged, nothing. "Bob had the temerity and the audacity to argue with the officials for these penalties while Daniel Sedin was on the ice. No one likes to see a player get hurt. We hear Daniel is fine, which is great news, but that is when Bob has to argue that. "What Bob Hartley did last night was exactly what John Tortorella would have done had it been one of our players lying on the ice and he felt there was an inequity in the penalty calls. "John Tortorella was on my staff for the Olympics in 2010. Hes a good guy. I dont know whats going on in his head, but you know what? Shut your mouth and worry about your team. Leave my coach alone." The players in question seemed ready to make peace. Byron said he texted Sedin on Monday morning to apologize for the hit. "He responded," Byron said. "I think he appreciated the text and Im really glad hes OK." ' ' '

LAS VEGAS -- Frustrated in his big fight against Floyd Mayweather Jr., Canelo Alvarez found a much easier target in Alfredo Angulo. Alvarez battered a game but outclassed Angulo on Saturday night before stopping him with an uppercut that prompted referee Tony Weeks to move in at 47 seconds of the 10th round of their junior middleweight fight. Alvarez (43-1-1) never was able to put down Angulo (22-4), but hit him throughout the fight with hard combinations that almost always found their mark. By the middle rounds, the only suspense left was whether Angulo could go the distance. The fight was in marked contrast to the last bout for Alvarez, who was dominated by Mayweather in the richest bout ever. But while Mayweather was the master of defence, Angulo was there to be hit all night long -- and Alvarez did just that. "Tonight, I was the best fighter and definitely rebounded from the Mayweather fight with my performance," Alvarez said. Angulo, who was never close to going down, protested when Weeks moved in to stop the fight after a big left uppercut to the head. Before the 10th round began, Angulos corner had pleaded with the ring doctor to give their fighter one more round to try and turn things around. "Im upset because they should have let the fight go on," Angulo said. "Im fine and I was fighting." Angulo never stopped going forward, but he paid a price, taking shot after shot to the head as Alvarez teed off seemingly at will. Alvarez won all but one of the first nine rounds on two ringside scorecards, and two on the third. The Associated Press had him winning eight of the first nine rounds. Ringside punching stats were just as lopsided, with Alvarez landing 295 punches to 104 for Angulo. The ending was booed by many in the crowd that filled the MGM Grand arena for the junior middleweight showdown between the two Mexican fighters. There was no title at stake, but the 23-year-old Alvarez seemed determined to win big to erase memories of the loss to Mayweather, the only one of his career. He landed the first left hook he threw seconds into the fight and it was quickly apparent that Angulo would have no answer for his speed and power. "He wanted to please the fans because he felt in the Mayweather fight he let a lot of people down," promoter Richard Schaefer said. "Canelo was not satisfied with just the win. He came to make a statement and you saw that." Alvarez was already a big star when he met Mayweather in September, but the red-haired fan favourite was frustrated by Mayweathers defence and lost almost every round. He said before this fight that he learned a lot against Mayweather, and vowed to show it in his comeback fight. The only time Angulo even seemed to be in the fight was in the eighth round when he landed some good punches to the head and kept advancing. But Alvarez came back to dominate the ninth round, prompting the ring doctor to look at Angulo between rounds to see whether he could continue. "I was so secure in my jab and my stamina was there," Alvarez said. "Of course I was a little tired, its boxing. But I was ready to finish the fight and even go 10 more rounds." Alvarez was guaranteed $1.15 million to $850,000 for Angulo. The purses were adjusted when Alvarez agreed to pay $100,000 to Angulo on Friday to raise the weight limit to 155 pounds from 154 because he couldnt make the original weight. Before the main event, Alvarez watched from his dressing room as his brother, Ricardo Alvarez, was knocked down twice on the way to a decision loss to Sergio Thompson in a 135-pound fight. Thompson was the harder hitting fighter from the opening bell, winning easily on one scorecard and narrowly on the other two in taking the 10-round decision. In another undercard fight, Leo Santa Cruz remained unbeaten in defending his 122-pound title with a lopsided decision win over Cristian Mijares of Mexico. Santa Cruz, who lives in Los Angeles, shook off a cut near his right eye from a head butt in the fourth round to win every round on two ringside scorecards and all but one round on the third in improving to 27-0-1. Mijares, a former 115-pound champion, fell to 48-8-2. Marquise Brown Jersey . - After three days of light, make that very light, workouts, Team Irvin and Team Carter are ready for tonights Pro Bowl. Mark Andrews Womens Jersey . Hes recovered from a scary injury and cleared to play. Mingo, who was hospitalized with a bruised lung he sustained in an Aug. http://www.ravensrookiestore.com/Ravens-Marquise-Brown-Jersey/ .com) - The game was all punts and field goals before Kodi Whitfields catch. Mark Andrews Ravens Jersey . Lack made 20 saves for his third shutout of the season as the Canucks blanked the St. Louis Blues 1-0 in the first post-Olympic game for both teams night. Lamar Jackson Jersey . -- Aaron Rodgers isnt out for revenge in Green Bays season opener.MILAN - After opening up a three-point gap at the top of the table and winning at Napoli for the first time in more than 14 years, Juventus will look to continue its march to the Serie A title against Hellas Verona on Sunday.Martin Caceres marked his return from injury by scoring in the 3-1 win at Napoli and he believes Juventus sent out a warning to the rest of the league with that result.We go out on the pitch every game looking to give our all, Caceres said. We returned home from the San Paolo, a place where we hadnt won for many years, with the three points.We once again sent out a message, which is always the same: were Juventus and we always go out there to win.It will be the second time Juventus plays Verona in the space of a few days with the two clubs meeting Thursday in the Italian Cup. However, it will be a much changed Juventus team, with coach Massimiliano Allegri resting the likes of Carlos Tevez and Andrea Pirlo for the first match.Here are some of the things to know about this weekends games as Serie A approaches the halfway stage:___WAR OF WORDSRoma fought back from two goals down to draw 2-2 in the derby against Lazio last weekend but the two clubs have continued to do battle off the pitch, with a war of words between their two presidents rumbling on all week.Among other things, Lazio president Claudio Lotito said he would resign if Roma won the league title, while his counterpart James Pallotta released an odd statement on the cubs website.Next time I come to Rome I will attempt to educate him on our strong and profitable financial position as I would speak to a young child (speaking slowly with as many one syllable words as possible), said Pallottass statement.ddddddddddddIf he still cant figure it out, I give it up.Roma travels to Palermo on Saturday evening, knowing it can move provisionally level with Juventus at the top of the table.___DEFENSIVE WOES FOR MILANAC Milan hosts Atalanta on Sunday with something of a defensive crisis.Cristian Zapata will likely be out for a month after fracturing a metatarsal in his foot, while Mattia De Sciglio could be out for around six weeks after suffering a recurrence of a foot injury that sidelined him in November.De Sciglio would have been suspended for the visit of Atalanta but Milan will be hoping his injury is not as bad as feared. The duo have been a mainstay of Milans defence for most of the season.Sulley Muntari, Marco Van Ginkel and Pablo Armero trained on Thursday and will be fit for the weekend.Milan has won just one of its past five league matches.___ICARDI ON FIREInter Milan forward Mauro Icardi is scoring goals for fun and will be looking to add to his tally at relegation-threatened Empoli on Sunday.Icardi, who has already beaten his tally for the whole of last season, has scored in both of Inters matches this year.The 21-year-old has 10 goals so far this season, one less than league leading goalscorer Carlos Tevez.Weve signed players that put quality into the box and I hope to score another 10 goals, if not more, Icardi said. (Lukas) Podolski and (Xherdan) Shaqiri have come in and weve got pace up front.Inter has won two of its past four matches, drawing the other two, against Lazio and Juventus.Roberto Mancinis team is ninth in Serie A, but six points off third spot in what promises to be a riveting battle for the final Champions League spot. ' ' '

Late 1977. Roger Peart receives a call from the president of the Fédération Automobile Québécoise. Its the Labatt beer company, the then-title sponsor of the Canadian Grand Prix held annually at Mosport near Toronto. They want to know if Montreal can host a Formula One race. "Great question," says Peart, who then asks for a little time for reflection — 30 minutes to be precise. "I first thought of Île Notre-Dame. Then, I looked at a route that would start and end at the Olympic Stadium, but that would have been devilishly complicated to implement. I even looked at [building a track at] Laval." "We didnt have to go far down those roads," says Peart. "The first idea was always going to be the best." After 30 minutes, he phoned his interlocutor back to tell him yes, Montreal could accommodate a full-fledged Formula One Grand Prix, and that the best venue was Île Notre-Dame – a man-made island built to host Expo 67 a decade earlier – if for no other reason than its excellent access to public transit. The timing was perfect. Montreals then-Mayor Jean Drapeau had just announced that the artificial island would be devoted to sporting events, while the neighbouring nature-made Île Sainte-Hélène would host cultural-type events. By April 1978, Montreals city council had accepted the idea of a racetrack — "on the express condition that it cost the taxpayers nothing," recalls Peart. Peart, an engineer, is well-known in the world of international racing. Over the past five decades, he has not only competed as a driver (largely in amateur races) but has monitored and inspected racing circuits all over the world. Now 80-years-old, Peart is still president of the Canadian National Sports Authority (ASN Canada), and the only sports commissioner in the country recognized by the Fédération Internationale de lAutomobile (FIA), Formula Ones governing body. Unsurprisingly, it was Peart who was given the mandate to design the Île Notre-Dame track, which would need to meet Formula Ones rigid standards. The Briton, who was then living in Montreal (he now calls Ontario home), still remembers the moment he went to first inspect what would become Canadas most famed racetrack. Mother Nature had dropped a major snowfall on top of the island, forcing him to develop the initial drafts without even being able to inspect the actual ground he was surveying. "I remember those days at my cottage in Saint-Sauveur in the Laurentians; when skiing conditions were poor, I drew up plans, plans and plans again." The challenge was more than he expected. "First, I had to ignore the old pavilions of the Expo 67 scheduled for demolition. Then I had to deal with some elements – the lake and park in the center, the river on one side, the Olympic basin on the other – that were obviously there to stay." "There wasnt much space and I had to fit a circuit in there, with rights and turns." Despite the challenges, the track, by and large, remains almost the same as Peart originally designed it. The buildings to the east of the island, where the boathouse was situated and where the hairpin turn is still today, were originally used as the pits. One weekend a year, the boats would then give way to the F1 cars — "It was an economical solution," recalls Peart. Because of the impracticality of this arrangement, new pits have subsequently been built in their current location, to the west, just before the Senna turn. This is the most significant change in the circuits 36-year history, a testimony to the excellence of Pearts original design. "Everything Was Going Too Fast!" The construction of the circuit that would later bear the name of Gilles Villeneuve was executed in record time. "It was a crazy time," says Peart. "Everything was going too fast!" After a winter spent developing the best possible layout, the British engineer travelled to Europe to attain approval for the plans by the FIA. By May 1978, after a meeting in Monaco, approval was granted and the construction began shortly thereafter, in July 1978. The first F1 race was held barely three months later. A Fairy Tale for All Sunday, October 8, 1978. The first of 35 Grand Prix of Canada races to be held on the new Circuit Île-Notre-Dame – its been held there every year since 78, except in 1987 during a sponsorship dispute between Labatt and Molson, and in 2009 when event funding became an issue – unfolds like a fairy. Its a fairy tale for Peart, who, serving as the race director, gets to hear firsthand from racers like Jackie Stewart that "his circuit" is "a little paradise in the middle of a great river." Its also a fairy tale for the Quebec public. In a race seemingly scripted by the gods of motor racing, Quebecs own Gilles Villeneuve takes the inaugural checkered flag in his Ferrari to the delight of more than 72,000 excited spectators. Its Villeneuves first win in 19 races, and he receives his much-deserved trophy from Prime Minister Pierre-Elliot Trudeau. For Ferrari, it is the companys first success in eight years. The track would be renamed in 1982 to Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in honour of its first champion after Villeneuve tragically died in a crash during qualifying for the 1982 Belgian Grand Prix 36 Years Later: Peart Still Hasnt Missed a Race A technical track - Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve requires full concentration at all times and leaves little room for error. It is a circuit of long fast rights, interrupted by tight corners where, even today, the tires, brakes, engines and transmissions are strained to their limits. However, "unlike so many other F1 racetracks, Montreal has several opportunities for overtaking," says Peart. "That means the races are always exciting." Peart has not missed a Canadian Grand Prix since 1978. He watches every race from the control tower, as one of the three sports commissioners delegated by the FIA. This year will be the first exception as Peart has delegated his position to another steward — hell still be there, just with a different view. And if you happen upon him and ask if, after all these years, he would change anything about his original design? Hell tell you that, to this day, throughout the world, he has never seen a track as perfect. Encounter With A Young Gilles Villeneuve Early 1970s. Peart is, at the time, chief instructor at the Fédération Automobile du Québec, when as he recalls, "a quiet little man from Berthierville comes to see me." "He wanted to drive race cars. I asked him about his experience, and he replied that he was racing, of all things, snowmobiles. "As our summer events were all finished, I suggested he rent [some time at] Sanair [Super Speedway], bring along a car and we would see what kind of automobile racer he would make." "The day he showed up with his brothers Mustang, I had to leave for a business appointment. But I asked a fellow instructor to work with him and give me a report. Later in the day, the instructor called me, excitedly saying, Hey, boss, we may have something here!" "Each and every lap, the young Gilles Villeneuve was faster than his instructor. Obviously, we gave him his racing license." "I remember that to thank me, he wanted to give me a five-dollar tip." Via www.Autofocus.ca Serge Ibaka Raptors Jersey . Jurrjens signed a minor league contract with Cincinnati in May, and was 2-3 with a 4.46 ERA at Triple-A Louisville. He has a 53-37 record with a 3.63 ERA in seven major league seasons, including five with Atlanta. Pascal Siakam Jersey . According to various reports, the striker is about to sign a five-and-a-half year extension with Manchester United worth a reported 300,000 pounds a week that would see him at Old Trafford until 2019. http://www.nbaraptorsonline.com/ . Louis Blues and back into top spot of the TSN.ca NHL Power Rankings. The Sharks had been ranked No. Patrick McCaw Jersey .C. -- Steve Spurrier was much happier about South Carolinas improved performance than about his lastest career milestone. Norman Powell Jersey .C. -- Tony Stewart will not race Saturday night at Bristol Motor Speedway, the third Sprint Cup race hes skipped since his car struck and killed Kevin Ward Jr.Washington, D.C. (SportsNetwork.com) - Sporting Kansas City will head to RFK Stadium on Friday to meet D.C. United in a crucial Eastern Conference clash. D.C. enters the weekend atop the East with 51 points from 30 games, six points better than Sporting. United needs only a point from Fridays match to seal a postseason berth, but it can also clinch with a win or draw from the Los Angeles Galaxy in their meeting with Toronto FC on Saturday. K.C. is doing well to keep pressure on us, New England is coming hard and fast. We want the No. 1 spot and were going to keep pushing for it, said DCU goalkeeper Bill Hamid. Now the goal is to get as many points as possible, even if we go on the road - we have to get one point, we have to lock it down. We want to keep climbing the ladder so we can clinch that No. 1 spot. United has won each of its last five league contests on home soil, most recently easing past the Philadelphia Union in a 1-0 victory. But even with a sustained run of good form, DCU head coach Ben Olsen sees room for improvement. At times I still think we can manage the game a little better, said Olsen. Its a good and bad thing at times - we have guys that are just so hungry and can score goals and have the ability to do it and it becomes a little bit of a back and forth. But I cant say enough about a group in general, the way theyve handled the last two months. Sporting, mmeanwhile, has managed just one league win from its last six outings.dddddddddddd. Things appeared to be heading in the right direction after a 4-0 demolition of Chivas USA on Sept. 12, but SKC was unable to keep it going as the club stumbled in a 3-2 home loss to the New England Revolution last time out. According to Peter Vermes, the club has simply not gotten the rub of the green in terms of the final results. But the SKC head coach believes that there is reason for optimism as the postseason nears. I dont think Ive ever said this to them before, but I said if you play the way you play tonight - if we put the goals aside - its not that youre going to be competitive in this league, but youre going to win a lot and youre going to win often, Vermes said after the loss to New England. Its extremely painful for the guys to walk out of here with nothing, but when you look at the long term and play three games in nine days with the intensity that we played with, its a good sign for the future. Not only will Sporting be out to inch closer to the playoffs on Friday, but the club will also be looking to avenge some poor results against D.C. from earlier this season. United won both of the regular season meetings between the two sides this season, defeating Kansas City, 1-0, at RFK on May 31 before cruising to a shock 3-0 victory at Sporting Park on Aug. 23. ' ' '

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Kenneth Faried scored 26 points and Wilson Chandler added 21 points and 10 rebounds to rally the Denver Nuggets to a 120-112 win over the Orlando Magic on Wednesday night. JJ Hickson had 20 points and nine rebounds, and Ty Lawson added 17 points and 12 assists for the Nuggets, who ended a two-game losing streak. Arron Afflalo led Orlando with 24 points. Nikola Vucevic added 20, but had only four points in the second half. Jameer Nelson scored 19 points and had nine assists in Orlandos fifth loss in six games. After trailing by as many as 13 points in the first half, Denver took an 85-74 lead into the fourth quarter. A fast-break layup by JJ Hickson gave the Nuggets a 105-92 lead with 4:49 to play. The Magic trimmed the deficit to five on two occasions, but couldnt get any closer. Afflalos two free throws made it 115-110 with 1:26 to play, but the late rally died when Kyle OQuinn couldnt run down a pass on a fast-break and turned the ball over. Aaron Brooks converted a layup on the ensuing possession to give Denver a 117-110 lead with 1:03 to play and the Nuggets coasted home with the win. Denver, which played in spurts during the first half, came out with energy to start the second half and took command of the game. Faried and Chandler had nine points each during an 18-6 run that gave Denver an 80-70 lead. The burst included a four-point play by Chandler, who was knocked out of bounds as he drilled a 3-pointer from the corner. It helped that the Nuggets assigned Faried to cover Vucevic in the second half. Vucevic had 16 points in the first half, but missed his only shot in the third quarter and had just four points in the final period. The first half was back and forth with Orlando slipping away and Denver reeling them back in and eventually taking a 52-50 halftime lead. Vucevic had 12 points and seven rebounds in the first eight minutes to help the Magic build a 23-15 lead, but Denver cut it back to 27-23 by the end of the period. Orlando took advantage of four straight Nuggets turnovers at the start of the second quarter to go up 40-27. Oladipo and Harris both had breakaway dunks during the 13-4 run, but it ended when Oladipo lost the ball on another breakaway. The Nuggets, once again, slowly gained on the Magic, tying the game at 48 on Chandlers 3-pointer with 1:05 left in the half. Lawson made a 3-point play to give Denver its first lead of the game at 51-50 with 4 seconds left, then stole the inbounds pass and fed Faried, who was fouled on a dunk attempt. He made one free throw to give Denver a slim halftime advantage. NOTES: Denver outrebounded Orlando 52-38. The Magic are 0-31 when being outrebounded this season. . Denver had a .388 winning percentage against Orlando (19-30), the second-worst winning percentage against any franchise in the NBA. . Lawson is averaging 22.9 points and 11.1 assists his last six games. . Magic reserve G Doron Lamb made only his second basket in his last five games. He is 2 for 17 (11.8 per cent) in that stretch. Curt Schilling Jersey . - Veteran Kings defenceman Robyn Regehr, sidelined since Game 1 of the Anaheim series, says hes close to returning. Luis Gonzalez Jersey . Nine-year veteran Danny Granger did not make his debut with the Clippers because of a technicality on the teams active list, which is signed by coach Doc Rivers before every game and relayed to the officials. Grangers name was printed by hand by a member of the public relations staff under the heading: "Updated Roster Additions," but the number on the sheet was not circled along with the other active players by the required deadline of 6:30 p. http://www.diamondbackssale.com/diamondbacks-matt-szczur-jersey/ . "Yes, Id like to get them in," Detroits rookie manager said. "Mother Natures going to have a say in that." Sure enough, the Tigers had their game against the Kansas City Royals postponed because of rain on Thursday. Wilmer Flores Jersey . Green-Ellis was Cincinnatis leading rusher each of the last two seasons. His role was reduced last year when Giovani Bernard was added to the backfield. Green-Ellis ran for 756 yards and a career-low 3. Luis Gonzalez Diamondbacks Jersey . During the furious first few hours of free agency Tuesday, the team agreed to terms with strong safety Donte Whitner, a Cleveland native who cant wait to play in his hometown.Montreal Canadiens defenceman Davis Drewiske is re-locating. The team announced that the 29-year-old defenceman will not be travelling to Los Angeles for Mondays game against the Kings and has been placed on waivers. If he goes claimed, he will report to the Americaan Hockey Leagues Hamilton Bulldogs.dddddddddddd The Canadiens acquired Drewiske from the Kings prior to the 2013 trade deadline in exchange for a fifth-round draft pick. In 135 career games between the two teams, he has scored five goals and added 20 assists. ' ' '

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Jay McClement left Saturday nights game against the Vancouver Canucks and will not return. The 30-year-old went heavily into the boards in the second period and suffered what the club is calling an upper-body injury. McClement, a defensive and penalty-kill specialist, has scored three goals and added four assists in 58 games with the Maple Leafs this season. Mark Andrews Womens Jersey .com) - Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer were among the third-round winners Friday at the French Open. Jaylon Ferguson Ravens Jersey . The United States clinched the final berth into the Ford Worlds, March 28-April 6 at Scotiabank Centre in Halifax, on Saturday in Blaine, Minn. http://www.cheapravensshoponline.com/Youth-trace-mcsorley-ravens-jersey/ .Y. - Geno Smith shouted a couple of mighty expensive expletives. Justice Hill Womens Jersey . -- The Jacksonville Jaguars are bringing back quarterback Chad Henne -- and making him the starter. Jonathan Ogden Jersey . The incident occurred at 6:28 of the first period in Anaheims 6-3 home win over Dallas on Sunday. Garbutt left the penalty box and skated at Penner before leaving his skates to deliver a check.ST. LOUIS -- Bill Self gathered his team around the bench late in Fridays game against Eastern Kentucky, one that had grown a bit too close for comfort for the second-seeded Jayhawks. His team had gone back to chucking up jumpers, the scrappy Ohio Valley Conference champions had regained the lead, and thoughts of Mercers upset of Duke earlier in the day were on everyones mind. "I thought we responded as a group," Self said. The Jayhawks resumed pounding away inside out of the timeout, slowly took control down the stretch and pulled away for an 80-69 victory in the second round of the NCAA tournament. Andrew Wiggins of Vaughan, Ont., had 19 points for the Jayhawks (25-9), who will play No. 10 seed Stanford on Sunday in the South Regional. Jamari Traylor added 17 points and 14 rebounds, Perry Ellis had 14 points and 13 boards and Tarik Black finished with 12 points as Kansas dominated in the paint. "Our main focus on the game was to get in there and pound them," Traylor said. Even without 7-footer Joel Embiid, who is out for the weekend with a back injury. Glenn Cosey hit five 3-pointers and had 17 points for the 15th-seeded Colonels (24-10), who have lost all eight of their NCAA tournament games. Tarius Johnson and Eric Stutz finished with 15 points apiece, but second-leading scorer Corey Walden was held to four points before fouling out. "Corey is a very important part of our team," Colonels coach Jeff Neubauer said. "With that being said, thats not an excuse. Kansas really played great." In the second half, perhaps. Certainly not in the first. Like a swarm of gnats, the smaller guards of Eastern Kentucky made life miserable for the turnover-prone Jayhawks in the first 20 minutes. Kansas had more turnovers (10) by the midway point than field goal attempts (9), and at one juncture turned it over on six of eight possessions. Most of those miscues turned into easy points at the other end. The Colonels, buoyed by their trademark 3-point shooting, raced out to a 23-14 lead, silencing a heavily pro-Jayhawks crowd and even making some fans out of New Mexico and Stanford folks. "Our defence is focused on turning people over and being aggressive," Stutz said. "In that first half, thats what got us our leead.dddddddddddd" It wasnt until the first of two rim-rattling dunks by Wiggins off alley-oop passes that Kansas showed some life. The second came during an 8-0 flurry that gave the Big 12 champions a 28-27 lead with just over a minute to play, their first since the opening minute of the game. The Jayhawks have grown accustomed to tussles with lower seeds, of course. Just last year, they trailed No. 16 seed Western Kentucky at halftime before pulling away down the stretch. It looked like Kansas would pull away again Friday, scoring on its first seven trips down court and building a 45-38 lead. The turnovers suddenly came to a stop -- after 13 in the first half, the Jayhawks had just one in the second -- and Eastern Kentucky was suddenly on the ropes. But rather than continue to pound away inside, where the Jayhawks were having so much success, they reverted to missing jump shots. The Colonels took advantage with a 10-0 run, and Self called a red-faced timeout rather than risk pulling out his hair. "We knew that anything could happen," the Jayhawks Conner Frankamp said. "We were down, we tried to stay poised and not get too rattled, and just tried to make the easy play, because we felt like we could score pretty good down low." Once they were reminded of that fact. Kansas went back inside out of the timeout, dumping the ball to a big man or driving to the basket. The Jayhawks regained the lead at 59-56 on Wayne Seldens free throw and Traylors putback dunk, and then kept turning back every 3-pointer that Eastern Kentucky managed to rattle home. "Just our mentality (changed)," Wiggins said. "We were tougher on the ball. We knew against the defence of this team, we had to make good decisions, great plays and throw it inside." When the final seconds ticked away, and the Jayhawks were assured of advancing, Self slowly walked to the scorers table to shake hands with his Eastern Kentucky counterpart. He exhaled deeply as he stuck out his hand, and the first words he said were, "Great game." "They played great. They played loose and gave us everything we wanted," he said later. "It was a hard-fought game, one we had to work our tail off 40 minutes to come out with a win." ' ' '

JACKSON, Miss. -- Mississippis only PGA Tour event plans to move to Country Club of Jackson, ending a 20-year relationship with Annandale Golf Club. The Sanderson Farms Championship has been played at Annandale in Madison, Miss., which is a suburb of Jackson, since 1994. This years tournament is scheduled for Nov. 6-9. The move is pending approval by the PGA Tours Policy Board on April 29, according to a statement from the tournament. Sanderson Farms CEO Joe Sanderson said in the statement he appreciated Annandales "unwavering support of this tournament" but that a move to the Country Club of Jackson "will allow the tournament to raise more money for Friends of Childrens Hospital, the tournaments main beneficiary." This years tournament will be the same week as the World Golf Championship-HSBC Champions in China. Adrian Kempe Kings Jersey . Mark Van Guilder, Austin Watson and Colton Sissons also scored for the Admirals (22-13-10), who are 2-0-2 in their last four outings, while Roussel tacked on an assist for a two-point night. Greg Pateryn scored once for the Bulldogs (20-22-4), who lost their fifth straight contest, and also assisted on Gabriel Dumonts goal. Derek Forbort Kings Jersey . Sources tell TSN that union executives travelled to select CFL cities Monday to open dialogue with players and answer questions. After the tentative deal was reached Saturday night, several players posted messages of frustration and disappointment on social media - and that carried over into Sunday on both the web and the field. http://www.kingsauthentic.com/authentic-anze-kopitar-kings-jersey/ . But Paul Osbaldiston, Hamiltons assistant special teams and kicking coach, said the team still relished the championship game workout. Robyn Regehr Jersey . 5 Trade Deadline is drawing closer and teams will be deciding on whether to buy or sell. Luc Robitaille Jersey . - Zac Leslie scored two goals and assisted on two more, and Justin Nichols made 34 saves as the Guelph Storm blanked the Kitchener Rangers 6-0 in Ontario Hockey League action on Sunday.Barry Bonds, for whatever you may think of him or his methods, still holds the all-time record for home runs in the month of May. He slugged 17 back in May, 2001. The Jays Edwin Encarnacion has brought back memories of that prodigious feat by cranking out 11 homers in 21 games so far this month, including five in his last four games. Encarnacion has nine games left in May -- all in the homer-friendly Rogers Centre -- to take a run at Bonds mark. Thats six homers to tie or seven to break Bonds record in nine games. Not likely to happen, but not impossible either. Inspired by Encarnacions power display, I decided to go back through Blue Jays history and look at the numbers for some of the Jays all-time home run leaders. I decided to take their three peak home run seasons with the club and add them up to get a read on where Encarnacion stands. Over his past three seasons, Encarnacion has hit a total of 95 homers but that includes 17 in 2011. With 13 already this year, he can easily supplant that total and push his three year peak to well over 100. In the mid to late 80s, the Blue Jays go-to guys for homers were Jesse Barfield and George Bell. Barfield led the American League in "round trippers" in 86 with 40 and his three-year total from 1985 through 1987 was 95; the best three-year run of his career. Bell hit a then club record 47 in 1987 and beat out the Tigers Alan Trammell for the American Leagues Most Valuable Player award. Bells peak three-year total was 102 homers. Next up the ladder is the "Crime Dog" Fred McGriff. The tall, rangy first baseman belted a three-year total of 105 homers from 1988 to 1990 before being dealt, along with Tony Fernandez, to San Diego in the most important trade in franchise history for Hall of Famer Roberto Alomar and Joe Carter. Interesting to note; McGriff went on another great three-year power run, unlike the others from 91-93 with San Diego for two-and-a-half seasons and then a half season with Atlanta. He smacked another 103 homers over that span and finished his career with 493. Joe Carter, another key player in those back-to-back World Series victories, hit an even 100 homers from 1991 through 1993. Jose Canseco had one magnificent season with the Blue Jays in 1998, where he hit 49 homers and stole 29 bases. But since it was only one season with the Jays, I dont consider him to be part of the mix in this storyline. Next up is Shawn Green. From 1997 through 1999, the tall wiry right fielder hit 93 homers, including his top total of 42 in 1999, just before he was dealt to the Dodgers for Raul Mondesi. But Green was just getting started. In L.A from 2000 to 2002, he belted 115 homers, including 49 in 2001 and 42 in 2002, but for the purposes of this story, only the Blue Jays years count. Finally, we get down to the two men who so far have had the best three-year home run in franchise history. Carlos "the Captain" Delgado hit 124 from 1999 through 200, including 44 in 99 and 41 the following season. Delgado wound up his career just 27 shy of 500 with 473. That brings us to Jose Bautista, who equaled Delgados three-year run with 124 homers from 2010 to 2012, including a franchise record 54 in 2010. So to break that obscure mark of 124 homers over a three year period, Encarnacion would have to hit 47 home runs this season.dddddddddddd In other words, he needs 34 more over the final 114 games, including 60 at home, to be considered the elite slugger in franchise history over his peak three years. Its not a milestone many would even consider that important but it should be a fun chase to watch nonetheless. The Blue Jays, on the strength of a 14-7 month of May, have bumped their record to four games over .500 at 26 and 22 entering Friday nights three-game set at home against West Division-leading Oakland. They already have more victories than they did over the entire months of April and May a year ago, when they went 23-32. Sad to see Texas out-right J.P Arencibia to their Triple "A" Round Rock affiliate earlier this week. In his first game with the "Express," Arencibia was the DH and went for four with a strikeout. Arencibias final game with the Rangers was last Friday night at Arlington, when he caught Yu Darvish. Arencibia went without a hit in that one and Drew Hutchison out-dueled Darvish and pitched a complete game shutout. Ironically, in Darvishs next start against Detroit on Thursday at Comerica Park, Chris Giminez - the catcher called up to replace Arencibia - came up with the first four-hit game of his career. He had never even had a three-hit game before. Texas won 9-2, as Giminez also caught Darvish for the first time in his career and did a solid job behind the plate. All of that came on the same day the Rangers announced that Prince Fielder had opted to undergo season-ending neck surgery to have two discs fused in his neck, and 2B Jurickson Profar was likely gone for the rest of the year as well with a torn shoulder muscle. Fielder was the prized acquisition by the Rangers in the offseason in the Ian Kinsler trade with Detroit. The funny thing about that is, according to the Dallas Morning News, Fielder had mentioned to people in Detroit he had problems with neck pain when he was still in Motown. Yet, neither team asked for physicals for either player before the deal was made. Strange to say, the least. A couple of more notes on Arencibia. Since he broke in with the Jays on that magnificent day on August 7, 2010 with two homers in that wild 17-11 victory over Tampa Bay, there are only eight players left from that roster still with the organization just 4 years later. The eight include Encarnacion, Bautista, Adam Lind, Brandon Morrow (whos on the DL), Casey Janssen, Brett Cecil and two pitchers stranded at Buffalo in Kyle Drabek and Ricky Romero. Talk about turnover! Interesting too, that one of Arencibias teammates at Round Rock is a Canadian -- 34 year old right hander Scott Richmond, who hails from BC. Richmond had a stint with the Blue Jays before Arencibia arrived. Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins is drawing ever closer in his quest to become the franchises number one hits man. He needs just 17 more to pass Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt. 16 of the Phils next 22 games are at Citizens Bank Park. The Phils have got to be hoping Rollins can reach the milestone in front of the home fans. ' ' '

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Its been obvious for quite some time that the Los Angeles Angels werent going to the playoffs. Now its official. The Angels beat Seattle 6-5 Saturday night for their 21st victory in 28 games, but this surge came way too late. Earlier in the day, they were mathematically eliminated from post-season contention. After starting the year with big expectations, boosted by the winter signing of former MVP Josh Hamilton, the injury-plagued Angels didnt spend one day atop the AL West after winning their season opener at Cincinnati. The Angels have been no fewer than nine games out of first place since the All-Star break. This is their fourth straight year without a post-season berth, after winning five division titles. "I think the one word that still lingers out of all this clubhouse and how we all feel is certainly frustration," manager Mike Scioscia said. "I dont think theres been any way to sugarcoat it. Its obviously not a good feeling when you dont accomplish your goal. "Theres been some nonperformance on our club, some injuries and some depth issues. But I think weve gone a long way in the past month to show the kind of baseball we can play, particularly on the pitching side. Hopefully well temper that frustration and finish strong," he said. Collin Cowgill homered and also stole home for the Angels. Rookie Grant Green hit a three-run double to help Jerome Williams win his fourth straight start. Cowgill walked and scored in the second inning and hit a solo homer in the fourth. He tripled to open the seventh, then broke for the plate as Andrew Romine squared around to try a suicide-squeeze bunt, and scored when left-hander Joe Saunders pitch sailed to the backstop. Williams (9-10) allowed one run, five hits and five walks in 5 2-3 innings. He left after No. 9 hitter Henry Blanco snapped an 0-for-32 drought with a bloop single. "I always want to go out there and do my best," he said. "Ive had a couple of rough stretches, and now I just want to finish strong and end this season on a good note." Ernesto Frieri got three outs for his 36th save in 40 attempts despite giving up Raul Ibanezs 300th career homer. Ibanez and Ted Williams are the only players to hit 29 home runs during the season in which they were 41 years old. "I feel fortunate to have the opportunity to be in this situation," Ibanez said. "Anytime youre in the company of the great Ted Williams -- and its just this one thing that I have in common with him -- its a great blessing. I read his book when I was in high school, and he was the greatest hitter that ever lived." What made this milestone even sweeter for Ibanez was that it came with the Mariners, the team he began his big league career with in 1996. This is his third stint with the club. "Ive always considered myself a Mariner," said the 17-year veteran, who hit a career-high 34 homers in 2009 with Philadelphia. "This is the organization that first game me the opportunity. So to do this in a Mariners uniform, I feel very fortunate." Saunders (11-16) tied the Astros Lucas Harrell and the Cubs Edwin Jackson for the most losses in the majors. Saunders gave up six runs and six hits over seven innings and tied a career best with nine strikeouts. The 32-year-old left-hander threw 125 pitches, one short of his career high. Abraham Almonte scored Seattles second run on a seventh-inning balk by rookie Cory Rasmus. NOTES: Last year, the Angels post-season hopes ended with two games left on the schedule. ... LHP C.J. Wilson, who goes into Sundays start with a 17-6 record and a string of nine straight winning decisions, was presented with the fifth annual Nick Adenhart memorial award as the Angels top pitcher of the season during a pregame ceremony. Jered Weaver won it the first four years. ... Justin Smoak was hitless in three at-bats against Williams, and is 1 for 19 lifetime against him with seven strikeouts. ... The Mariners are 0-68 this season when trailing after eight innings, and 6-221 during Eric Wedges three years as manager. Kevin Byard Womens Jersey . PETERSBURG, Fla. Nate Davis Jersey . TSN 1290s game day coverage begins on Monday, June 9 at 5:30pm ct as the Blue Bombers take on the Toronto Argonauts in pre-season action. Bombers game day broadcasts on TSN 1290 are hosted by Winnipeg Blue Bomber Hall of Famers Troy Westwood and new addition Chris Walby, alongside beat reporter Darrin Bauming, who delivers regular reports on the team for TSN 1290 all-season long. http://www.authentictitanspro.com/Aj-brown-titans-jersey/ . Seager had another triple, a home run and a double in a rare feat not seen in more than 40 years, leading Felix Hernandez and the Seattle Mariners past the New York Yankees 10-2. "It was a weird play," Seager said of the triple in the fourth inning. Earl Campbell Youth Jersey . - Andre Drummond had his best night on the boards. Amani Hooker Womens Jersey . At a news conference Tuesday where it was thought that the fiery Schallibaum may be shown the door after a dismal finish to the Major League Soccer season, team president Joey Saputo said no decision has been made on whether the Swiss Volcano will be back in 2014.Its a Fantasy Football Club special this week as Paul Merson meets up with former West Ham, Chelsea and England winger Joe Cole. Cole came up through the youth teams at West Ham before spells with Chelsea, Liverpool, Aston Villa and Coventry. He also won 56 caps for England.He tells Merse why he spurned the advances of Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United to join the ranks of West Hams famous academy, before making the move across London to sign for Chelsea. Cole also talks about the pain of relegation, what Claudio Ranieri said to him to make him sign for Chelsea and why he lovees Jose Mourinho despite always getting hammered by the Special One.ddddddddddddAlso on the show, Merse gets Coles thoughts on why the so-called golden generation never lived up to expectations for England, before he reveals which of his former international team-mates make it into his #One2Eleven.Dont miss The Fantasy Football Club at 6pm on Friday on Sky Sports 1 HD. Also See: Pick your team Player stats Fantasy Football News Enter the Sky Sports leagues ' ' '