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Roundup: Eagles Stop Late Surge to Thwart Cowboys’ Playoff Hopes

Written By Unknown on Senin, 30 Desember 2013 | 15.03

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Panthers 21, Falcons 20: 1,325 Catches Later, Gonzalez Wraps Up His Career

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Sports Briefing | Ski Jumping: Jerome First at U.S. Trials

Jessica Jerome earned the first American spot for the first women's ski jumping competition in Olympic history, in February in Sochi, winning the United States trials in Park City, Utah. Jerome scored 248.5 points on her two jumps to secure a spot in Sochi. Lindsay Van was second, 2.0 points back. Alissa Johnson was third.

Nicholas Fairall won the men's competition with 253.5 points to earn his first Olympic spot. Anders Johnson was second, 4.5 points behind. Peter Frenette finished third.

■ The double Olympic champion Simon Ammann of Switzerland won the first stage of the Four Hills Tour in Oberstdorf, Germany, the most prestigious ski jump competition ahead of the Sochi Games.


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Sports Briefing | Soccer: Arsenal Back in First

Arsenal returned to the top of the Premier League with a scrappy 1-0 win at Newcastle, while Chelsea kept the pressure on the Gunners with a 2-1 win over Liverpool.

Arsenal's Olivier Giroud ended a personal drought of seven matches without a goal.

Eden Hazard and Samuel Eto'o secured a fourth consecutive home win for Chelsea after Martin Skrtel opened the scoring for the Reds. Third-place Chelsea trails Arsenal by 2 points and Manchester City by a point.

Elsewhere, Everton beat Southampton, 2-1, and Tottenham trounced Stoke, 3-0.


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Sports Briefing | Skiing: Svindal Takes Downhill

Aksel Lund Svindal, the overall World Cup leader, mastered the fresh snow conditions on the Stelvio course in Bormio, Italy, on Sunday to win a downhill for his fourth victory of the season.

Svindal, of Norway, clocked 1 minute 54.08 seconds to finish 0.39 of a second ahead of Hannes Reichelt of Austria. Erik Guay of Canada placed third, 0.51 back, for a strong follow-up to his downhill victory in Val Gardena a week ago.

The top American finisher was Travis Ganong of Squaw Valley, Calif., in 10th, while Bode Miller struggled with the conditions and finished 35th.

Svindal extended his overall lead over the two-time defending champion Marcel Hirscher to 195 points. He also leads the downhill standings and is shaping up as the favorite for the speed events at the Sochi Olympics. Svindal won a medal of each color at the 2010 Vancouver Games.

■ Marlies Schild of Austria set a World Cup record by earning her 35th slalom victory, overtaking Vreni Schneider of Switzerland on top of the career list in the discipline.

Schild was sixth after the opening leg in Lienz, Austria, but used a blistering second run to finish in 1:55.63 and beat the American teenager Mikaela Shiffrin, who led the competition after the first run. Shiffrin finished 0.41 of a second behind.

The Olympic slalom champion Maria Hoefl-Riesch of Germany was third, 0.63 behind Schild.


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Sports Briefing | Speedskating: Davis Wins Men’s 1,000

Shani Davis ruled again in the 1,000 meters at the United States Olympic speedskating trials in Kearns, Utah, edging Brian Hansen. Davis, a two-time defending Olympic champion, won with a time of 1 minute 7.52 seconds.

Jonathan Garcia, who was disqualified the previous day in the 500 for not wearing his timing transponders after skating fast enough to make the Olympics, came back to finish fourth in the 1,000 at 1:07.96, good enough to claim his first Olympic berth.

Heather Richardson won the women's 1,000.


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N.B.A. Roundup: Suspension May Be End for Bynum in Cleveland

Written By Unknown on Minggu, 29 Desember 2013 | 15.03

The team indefinitely suspended Bynum, their enigmatic center, on Saturday for "conduct detrimental to the team" and barred him from all team activities.

Bynum, who signed a two-year, $24 million contract with the Cavaliers in July, did not travel with the club to Boston for Saturday's game, and it is likely he has played his final game for Cleveland. The Cavaliers will probably try to trade him.

The suspension is not a shock given that he has not played consistently and has appeared to be uninterested while on the court. Earlier this season, the 7-foot Bynum, who did not play at all last season for Philadelphia because of knee injuries, talked openly about retirement and said his medical issues have been a challenge.

CELTICS 103, CAVALIERS 100 Jeff Green and Jordan Crawford each scored 19 points, Brandon Bass added 15 points and had a game-saving blocked shot in the closing seconds and host Boston held on for a victory over Cleveland.

Kyrie Irving led the Cavaliers with 32 points.

HAWKS 118, BOBCATS 116 Paul Millsap scored a season-high 31 points, Lou Williams scored 10 of his season-best 28 points in overtime and Atlanta rallied to beat visiting Charlotte.

Al Jefferson had 24 points and a season-high 23 rebounds and Gerald Henderson added 22 points for the Bobcats.

ROCKETS 107, PELICANS 98 Dwight Howard had 24 points and 17 rebounds and James Harden scored 11 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter in host Houston's comeback win over New Orleans.

Chandler Parson added 19 points and 7 rebounds, and Terrence Jones had 17 points and 8 rebounds for the Rockets.

SUNS 115, 76ERS 101 Miles Plumlee scored a career-high 22 points to go with 13 rebounds, and host Phoenix bounced back from its worst loss of the season to beat Philadelphia.

Goran Dragic added 21 points and Eric Bledsoe 20 for the Suns. Marcus Morris made three fourth-quarter 3-pointers and scored 18 points.

T-WOLVES 117, BUCKS 95 Kevin Love had 33 points and 15 rebounds for his sixth straight double-double, and visiting Minnesota climbed back to .500 by routing Milwaukee.

Nikola Pekovic added 19 points and 11 rebounds, and Love hit four of the Timberwolves' 11 3-pointers.

GRIZZLIES 120, NUGGETS 99 Zach Randolph scored 20 points, and host Memphis got 62 points from its bench to beat Denver.

Six Grizzlies finished in double figures, and Memphis shot 52 percent while sending the Nuggets to their sixth straight loss.

MAVERICKS 105, BULLS 83 Monta Ellis had 22 points, and visiting Dallas took control early in coasting to a victory over Chicago.

Dirk Nowitzki and Vince Carter added 18 points apiece for the Mavericks.

WIZARDS 106, PISTONS 82 John Wall had 20 points and 11 assists, Marcin Gortat added 16 points and host Washington routed Detroit. Trevor Ariza and Bradley Beal each added 15 points for the Wizards.


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Notre Dame 29, Rutgers 16: Hard-Fought Loss for Rutgers, and Tepid Win for Notre Dame

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Raptors 115, Knicks 100: In Toronto, a Knicks Loss and a Boo-Filled Return

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College Basketball Roundup: Syracuse Stays Calm and Tames Villanova

Jim Boeheim stared up in frustration at the Carrier Dome scoreboard, his No. 2 Orange in big trouble against eighth-ranked Villanova (11-1).

The Wildcats had started Saturday's game by hitting four straight 3-point shots and led, 25-7, midway through the first half after a dunk by Josh Hart.

Syracuse (12-0) went nearly four minutes without a basket as the Wildcats looked exactly like the team that had already beaten two ranked opponents.

"There was no indication we were going to get going," Boeheim said.

If the Orange were frazzled by their largest deficit of the season, it never showed. They responded with a 20-0 run over the next five minutes to take their first lead and never trailed again, winning, 78-62, in a game between two of nine unbeaten teams left in N.C.A.A. Division I.

KENTUCKY 73, LOUISVILLE 66 Kentucky guards Aaron Harrison and Andrew Harrison combined for 28 points, including 11 during a critical second-half stretch with Julius Randle sidelined by cramps, helping the 18th-ranked Wildcats (10-3) beat No. 6 Louisville in Lexington, Ky.

The Harrisons, who are twins, amply filled the void left by Randle, turning a 52-51 deficit with 11 minutes 1 second remaining into a 68-58 lead with four minutes left. Russ Smith scored 19 points for Louisville (11-2).

UCONN 82, E. WASHINGTON 65 Shabazz Napier had 15 points and 9 assists to lead 15th-ranked Connecticut (11-1) over Eastern Washington (5-6) in Bridgeport, Conn.

Napier led a balanced offense in which five Huskies reached double figures. Ryan Boatright had 14 points and Niels Giffey, making his first start this season, added 13 for UConn.

DUKE 82, EASTERN MICHIGAN 59 Jabari Parker scored 23 points and No. 9 Duke (10-2) beat visiting Eastern Michigan.

Mike Talley scored 20 points to lead the Eagles (7-4). WISCONSIN 80, PRAIRIE VIEW 43 Sam Dekker had 16 points and 11 rebounds for his third career double-double as No. 4 Wisconsin (13-0) cruised past visiting Prairie View (2-10).

MICH. ST. 101, N. ORLEANS 48 Keith Appling scored 16 of his career-high tying 27 points in the first half to help No. 5 Michigan State (11-1) pull away and rout visiting New Orleans (3-5).

MEMPHIS 75, JACKSON ST. 61 Michael Dixon scored 14 points, Shaq Goodwin had 13 points and 7 rebounds, and No. 17 Memphis (9-2) never trailed against visiting Jackson State (4-8). UMASS 69, PROVIDENCE 67 Derrick Gordon's put-back with 1.1 seconds left in overtime lifted 23rd-ranked Massachusetts (11-1) to a victory over visiting Providence (10-3).

GONZAGA 74, SANTA CLARA 60 David Stockton scored a season-high 21 points as No. 24 Gonzaga (11-2) beat visiting Santa Clara (7-7) in the teams' West Coast Conference opener.

ST. JOHN'S 65, COLUMBIA 59 D'Angelo Harrison scored 15 points and Orlando Sanchez had 12 points and 9 rebounds to lead St. John's (9-3) to a victory over Columbia in the Brooklyn Hoops Winter Festival at Barclays Center. Grant Mullins had 17 points for Columbia (7-6).

HARVARD 94, FORDHAM 86 Siyani Chambers scored 19 points and finished with nine assists as balanced shooting by Harvard (11-1) led to a victory over host Fordham (7-5).

GEO. WASH. 69, HOFSTRA 58 Maurice Creek had 17 points and 4 steals to lead George Washington (11-1) to a victory over host Hofstra (3-8).

NORTHERN IOWA 90, IONA 78 Seth Tuttle scored 11 points to help Northern Iowa (6-6) hold off visiting Iona (5-6).

WOMEN

MARYLAND 110, WOFFORD 53 Alyssa Thomas had her second triple-double in three games to lead No. 8 Maryland (11-1) to a rout of visiting Wofford (2-9) in the Terrapin Classic semifinals.

BAYLOR 82, MCNEESE STATE 57 Odyssey Sims scored 27 points, and No. 9 Baylor (10-1) beat visiting McNeese State (7-4).

STANFORD 86, FRESNO STATE 54 Chiney Ogwumike scored 16 of her 20 points in the first half and No. 4 Stanford (11-1) routed host Fresno State (6-5).


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Pacers 105, Nets 91: Nets Lose Power After Strong Start, and Pacers Pull Away

INDIANAPOLIS — A little more than four minutes into the third quarter, after Paul Pierce had spun and made a 17-foot, fadeaway jump shot, Alan Anderson bounced up from his seat, clapping his hands.

"We can score all day," yelled Anderson, the most vocal player on the Nets' bench most nights. "We've got to play D!"

It was a worthy sentiment, but it was for naught: The Nets' disarray this season has been no more apparent than on the defensive end, and they looked powerless again Saturday night, tumbling to a 105-91 loss against the Indiana Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.

Several Nets players sat with forlorn looks as the clock ticked down on their latest loss, which dropped their record to 10-20. After the game, Anderson could only shake his head.

"It's just not being consistent," Anderson said. "We're focused for a certain amount of time, then there's a lack of focus for whatever reason. That's what's been hurting us this year."

The two teams had met only Monday night, and Nets Coach Jason Kidd suggested after that game that his team might be growing comfortable losing. After another poor performance Wednesday, he questioned his players' collective effort.

On Saturday, Kidd said his players showed more resilience — but not for the whole four quarters.

"We played for a half; the effort was there," he said. "That third quarter, once we got down 10, guys thought we were down 20."

The game featured eight lead changes before halftime but none afterward as the Nets' night crept to another disappointing finish. The Pacers led by only 58-56 at the beginning of the second half but proceeded to outscore the Nets, 28-20, during the third quarter.

Kidd said the Nets missed opportunities to make the game competitive again.

"We've got to keep fighting," he said. "That's something we've got to get better at."

Pierce scored 18 points while going 8 for 14 from the field to lead the Nets. Paul George had 24 points to lead the Pacers, and George Hill added 21. But Indiana guard Lance Stephenson, 23, a Brooklyn native who seems to be emerging as a star, may have overshadowed them all.

Stephenson heard some comments during the first quarter from the Nets, who were needling him about his dribbling tendencies. In the second quarter, he looked to the Nets' bench and yelled, "You want me to go left?"

In reality, the Nets could not stop him in any direction: Stephenson finished with 23 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists.

The Pacers as a whole presented a formidable challenge. They have the best record in the Eastern Conference (24-5), which includes a 14-1 record at home, and they were well rested, not having played since that 103-86 rout of the Nets on Monday at Barclays Center.

That victory was the Pacers' third straight, a run in which they had outscored their opponents, 323-246, for an average margin of victory of 25.7 points. For the season, they were allowing the fewest points a game and had the highest net points per 100 possessions in the N.B.A.

Kidd used his 14th lineup of the season to try to match the Pacers' size, but it was to no avail.

"You almost have to be flawless," Pierce said about playing the Pacers right now.

The Nets weathered the early storm. They displayed some tenacity, forcing eight turnovers during the first two quarters, and they displayed some determination around the basket, outscoring the Pacers in the lane, 28-22, in the first half.

But the Pacers started the second half on a 9-2 run and never looked back.

"This team has a unique way of figuring a team out as the game goes on," Coach Frank Vogel said of his Pacers.

The Nets have a shown a unique ability to fall apart in the same time frame.

REBOUNDS

Andrei Kirilenko (sore back) traveled with the Nets and worked out on Saturday but was unavailable for the game. He did not rule out playing Tuesday. "We're trying to get in the flow, get some hard practices and see how it feels after," said Kirilenko, who has not played since Nov. 8. "It is still feeling like it's not there, that it's a little bit early." ... Andray Blatche did not travel with the team. The Nets announced Friday that he would be unavailable at least through their Jan. 2 game against the Oklahoma City Thunder for personal reasons. Asked about Blatche on Saturday afternoon, Jason Kidd said: "It's just personal. It's a team issue. So no need to comment about it." ... The Nets said center Brook Lopez would have surgery Jan. 4 to repair the fractured fifth metatarsal in his right foot. It will be the third operation on his foot since December 2011.


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U.S. and Canadian Women Keep It Civil in a Tight Game

Brace Hemmelgarn/Reuters

Kelli Stack of the United States after scoring in the first period on Saturday.

ST. PAUL — This time, the gloves stayed on.

The United States and Canadian women's teams played a fierce, tight hockey game Saturday without a repeat of the brawls that had marred two of their five previous meetings since October. That was a relief to Hilary Knight, who scored in a shootout to deliver a 3-2 victory for the Americans, their third consecutive win over the Canadians this month in pre-Olympic exhibition games.

"It was interesting, just because I didn't realize how big a deal it was," Knight said, referring to the more recent brawl. "We changed the women's game and attracted more viewers in point-six seconds than the last decade or so."

That scrap occurred during the final 10 seconds of the United States' 4-1 victory in Grand Forks, N.D., on Dec. 20, televised live on the NBC Sports Network.

The twins Monique and Jocelyne Lamoureux, rugged forwards for the United States, were in the middle of both altercations. Monique Lamoureux set off the first brawl, on Oct. 12 in Burlington, Vt., by crashing into Canadian goalie Shannon Szabados.

In Grand Forks, Jocelyne Lamoureux checked Canada's Brianne Jenner into the end boards in retaliation for Jenner's elbowing Josephine Pucci in the head. The elbow, which drew a penalty, caused Pucci to miss an entire season for Harvard with a concussion.

After the hit on Jenner, players tangled as the theme from the boxing film "Rocky" blared at Ralph Engelstad Arena. Ten fighting majors were assessed, and the game ended with six players from each team in the penalty box. A YouTube video of the fight has more than 23,000 views.

"Obviously, we don't like to fight," Knight said. "But if they're on our home soil and they're going to push us around, we're going to push right back."

Saturday's game at Xcel Energy Center featured plenty of pushing and chippiness. There were 15 minor penalties, including three for body checking (which is illegal in the women's game), but no fights.

The United States appeared to have the game in hand going into the third period, leading by 2-0 on goals by Kelli Stack and Alex Carpenter. But Canada came out flying, outshooting the Americans, 15-0, at one point and scoring twice in 74 seconds to pull even. Meghan Agosta-Marciano beat United States goalie Jessie Vetter with a forehand off a face-off, and Marie-Philip Poulin banged in a rebound with 10 minutes 10 seconds left in regulation.

"We let them back in, which is a little bit disappointing," United States Coach Katie Stone said. "We got a little individual at times."

Canadian goalie Charline Labonte made critical saves on Brianna Decker late in regulation and on Gigi Marvin in overtime. The announcement of a shootout brought a cheer from a crowd announced at 9,012.

"It's great for everybody," Stone said. "The fans get what they want and a little drama at the end. But also it puts our kids on the hot seat, and puts their kids on the hot seat. It's time to execute and deliver, and at the end of the day, that's what we're going to have to do. You have to execute and deliver."

Knight, who had assisted on both United States goals in regulation, delivered in the shootout, rifling a forehand off Labonte's stick and in for the only goal.

The teams will play one more time, Monday night in Toronto, before Stone and her staff make the final roster cuts, which will be announced during the N.H.L. Winter Classic in Ann Arbor, Mich., on Wednesday. The roster is expected to include forward Amanda Kessel, who has not played any international games in three months because of a lower-body injury. Stone said Kessel would not play Monday, either.

"We have a plan for her," Stone said.


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N.H.L. Roundup: St. Louis Overcomes Deficit To Beat Chicago in Shootout

Vladimir Tarasenko and Patrik Berglund scored 1 minute 17 seconds apart late in regulation to tie the score, and Kevin Shattenkirk netted the deciding goal in the fifth round of a shootout to give the St. Louis Blues a 6-5 victory at home over the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday night.

Patrick Kane had a goal and an assist in the Blackhawks' second three-goal first period in two nights and extended his point streak to 14 games.

The Blues are 3-0 against the Blackhawks, who lead the N.H.L. with 60 points. Two wins were by shootout, and all three were decided by a goal.

DUCKS 3, COYOTES 2 Saku Koivu scored two goals, including the game-winner 51 seconds into overtime, to lift Anaheim to its 10th straight victory, over visiting Phoenix.

Anaheim improved its Pacific Division-leading record to 28-7-5 and went to 14-0-2 at Honda Center this season.

The Ducks are the only team in the N.H.L. this season not to lose at home in regulation.

CANADIENS 2, LIGHTNING 1 Lars Eller scored the lone shootout goal, and Carey Price stopped all three of the shots he faced in the tiebreaker as visiting Montreal beat Tampa Bay.

Eller made a couple of moves before beating Ben Bishop on the Canadiens' first shootout attempt. Tomas Plekanec scored in regulation for Montreal. Price stopped 23 shots through overtime.

Martin St. Louis scored for the Lightning, who had 20 saves in regulation and overtime from Bishop. Tampa Bay's five-game winning streak was broken.

RED WINGS 4, PANTHERS 3 Henrik Zetterberg scored a goal in his first game back from injury to lift Detroit over host Florida.

Gustav Nyquist, Brendan Smith and Daniel Alfredsson also scored for Detroit. Jonas Gustavsson stopped 30 shots, and Pavel Datsyuk had two assists.

Sean Bergenheim scored two goals, and Nick Bjugstad also scored for Florida. Scott Clemmensen made 27 saves for the Panthers.

SENATORS 4, BRUINS 3 Bobby Ryan scored at 15:25 of the third period as Ottawa defeated Boston at home.

Patrick Wiercioch, Cory Conacher and Zack Smith also scored for the Senators. Craig Anderson stopped 29 shots to earn the victory.

Daniel Paille, Jarome Iginla and David Warsofsky scored for the Bruins. Tuukka Rask allowed three goals on 12 shots before being replaced by Chad Johnson, who allowed one goal on 18 shots.

PREDATORS 3, KINGS 2 Mike Fisher scored his second goal of the game with 26.4 seconds left to give Nashville a victory at home over Los Angeles.

Fisher also assisted on Patrick Hornqvist's first-period goal for Nashville, which snapped a five-game losing streak. Anze Kopitar and Jeff Carter scored for the Kings, who have lost two straight. The teams combined for three goals in the final 3:18.


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Sports Briefing | Horse Racing: Trainer Sets New York Record

Written By Unknown on Sabtu, 28 Desember 2013 | 15.03

David Jacobson broke the New York record for training victories in a year with a win at Aqueduct.

Jacobson has 160 wins for the season at Aqueduct, Belmont Park and Saratoga, passing the record held by Gary Contessa. Jacobson set the record when Tiz Gianni captured the seventh race.


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Essay: Fletcher Lasted Where Most Don’t

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Sports Briefing | Soccer: Hannover Fires Slomka as Coach

Hannover fired Coach Mirko Slomka after a loss to struggling Freiburg capped a disappointing first half of the Bundesliga season in Germany. Slomka had held the job since January 2010, and his contract runs through June 2016. Freiburg sent Hannover into the winter break in 13th place in the 18-team top division, with 18 points — only 4 clear of the relegation zone. Slomka is the fourth Bundesliga coach to lose his job this season.


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N.B.A. Roundup: Thunder Escape Bobcats After Losing Westbrook

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N.H.L. Roundup: Rangers’ Talbot Loses Goaltending Duel

The Rangers' Cam Talbot and Washington's Philipp Grubauer, two backup goalies making it hard for their coaches to keep them on the bench, combined for 68 saves on Friday night.

Talbot came up one short.

Nicklas Backstrom had a goal and an assist, and Eric Fehr scored the tiebreaking goal with 5 minutes 9 seconds left to lift the host Washington Capitals over the Rangers, 3-2.

Moments after Rangers defenseman Dan Girardi's drive hit the post, Fehr took a pass from Backstrom during four-on-four play, skated in and beat Talbot from the right circle for his sixth goal.

"It was just a quick release that beat me," Talbot said.

Mike Green added a goal, and Grubauer had 37 saves for Washington, which had dropped two straight before taking the finale of a three-game homestand.

"It's huge," Grubauer said. "Every win is, because I haven't played many games. Every win is a great feeling for me."

Grubauer improved to 5-1-1 in eight games since being called up to Washington.

"Right now, it's only been eight games, and goalies — like everybody — have their waves," Capitals Coach Adam Oates said. "Right now, it looks like he's playing with confidence, and he's giving the players confidence."

Benoit Pouliot and Carl Hagelin scored for the Rangers, who had won two straight. It was the Rangers' first game after a nine-game homestand.

"It's disappointing, obviously. I thought we played a pretty strong game," Girardi said.

Talbot, making his third straight start in place of the No. 1 goalie Henrik Lundqvist, stopped 31 shots in the opener of a five-game trip. He came in with an 8-2 record and a 1.60 goals against average in 12 games, and he won the final two games of the homestand.

BLUE JACKETS 2, DEVILS 1 Cam Atkinson scored in a shootout to lead Columbus to a win over the host Devils.

Curtis McElhinney made 16 saves for the Blue Jackets, who have won three in a row. Artem Anisimov scored the Blue Jackets' goal in regulation.

The Devils have lost two in a row. Martin Brodeur stopped 29 of 30 shots, and Adam Henrique scored for the Devils in the third period.

Atkinson scored the only goal in the shootout.

Anisimov gave Columbus a 1-0 lead 7:34 into the game when he roofed a Brandon Dubinsky rebound over Brodeur.

The goal was the 11th of the season for Anisimov, and for Dubinsky, his assist was his seventh point in three games against the Devils this season.

The Blue Jackets had opportunities to take control in the second but could not solve Brodeur. He made 10 saves in the period, highlighted by stopping Atkinson on a breakaway at 1:24.

MAPLE LEAFS 4, SABRES 3 Jonathan Bernier stopped all three Sabres in a shootout to give host Toronto a win over Buffalo.

Matt Moulson, Tyler Ennis and Zemgus Girgensons all failed to beat Bernier.

Ryan Miller stopped Phil Kessel and James van Riemsdyk in the tiebreaker, but Joffrey Lupul beat him on a nifty backhand.

Steve Ott had scored with 25 seconds left in regulation, with the Leafs trying to kill off a six-on-four disadvantage. Ott pounced on a rebound during a scramble and fired the puck in for his fifth goal.

PENGUINS 4, HURRICANES 3 James Neal scored at 1:03 of overtime, and Pittsburgh beat host Carolina.

The N.H.L. scoring leader Sidney Crosby had a goal, and Chris Conner and Deryk Engelland each scored in the third period to help the Penguins, the Eastern Conference leaders, win their 13th in 15 games.

Neal, who also had two assists, ended it by beating Justin Peters with a wrist shot off a pretty give-and-go from Jussi Jokinen — the former Carolina forward's third assist.

JETS 6, WILD 4 Blake Wheeler scored two goals, and host Winnipeg defeated Minnesota.

Wheeler ended a scramble in front of the Wild's net when he poked the puck under Niklas Backstrom with 9:20 remaining in the third period for his 14th goal of the season, giving the Jets a 5-4 lead.

Evander Kane, Olli Jokinen, Dustin Byfuglien and Toby Enstrom added goals for the Jets. Dany Heatley, Justin Fontaine, Stephane Veilleux and Mikko Koivu scored for Minnesota.

BLACKHAWKS 7, AVALANCHE 2 Patrick Sharp scored three goals for his third career hat trick and set up one of Jonathan Toews's two scores to lead Chicago past visiting Colorado.

Toews added two assists as both he and Sharp finished with 4 points. Michal Handzus and Kris Versteeg also scored for the Blackhawks, whose league-leading offense powered them to a second straight win and improved them to 7-1-1 in their past nine games.

BRUINS 5, SENATORS 0 Tuukka Rask made 33 saves for his fourth shutout of the season, and Reilly Smith scored two goals to propel Boston to a rout of visiting Ottawa.

The Bruins are 13-0-2 in their past 15 home games and have won eight straight in Boston. They have not lost there in regulation since Oct. 26.

Rask (20-8-2) has allowed one goal or fewer in 15 of his 30 starts this season. After earning only 19 wins last season, he is now the third goalie with 20 wins this season.

ERICSSON HAS BROKEN RIBS Detroit Red Wings defenseman Jonathan Ericsson could miss three to five weeks with broken ribs.

Ericsson left Monday night's loss to the Islanders, Detroit's most recent game, in the second period. He is expected to be evaluated again in two weeks to determine when he might come back.

STARS' GONCHAR OUT The Dallas Stars put defenseman Sergei Gonchar on the injured list and activated Aaron Rome to take his place.

The 39-year-old Gonchar has been out with concussionlike symptoms since he was hit by a puck Dec. 21 against San Jose. He leads Dallas defensemen with 12 points (all assists) in 35 games.

DUPUIS'S SEASON MAY BE OVER Penguins Coach Dan Bylsma said the top-line forward Pascal Dupuis could miss the rest of the season with a knee injury.

Bylsma said that Dupuis would have surgery "in a couple of weeks" to repair his anterior cruciate ligament.


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Sports Briefing | Baseball: Ibanez Signs With Angels

The veteran outfielder Raul Ibanez has agreed to a one-year deal with the Los Angeles Angels, the club announced. Ibanez, 41, batted .242 with 29 homers and 65 runs batted in for the Seattle Mariners last year. He hit his final home run of the season at Angel Stadium on Sept. 21, tying Ted Williams's record for the most homers in a season by a player at least 40 years old. Ibanez has 300 career homers and needs seven hits to become the 18th active major leaguer with 2,000 hits.

■ The Chicago Cubs agreed to a one-year contract with reliever Jose Veras that includes a club option for 2015.

Veras is due $3.85 million next season, and the Cubs have a $5.5 million option for 2015. Veras was 0-5 with a 3.02 earned run average in 67 games last season for Houston and Detroit.


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Sports Briefing | Hockey: Finland Wins at Hockey World Juniors

Saku Maenalanen had two goals and an assist to help Finland beat Norway, 5-1, in the world junior hockey tournament in Malmo, Sweden. Artturi Lehkonen, Joni Nikko and Ville Leskinen also scored, and Juuse Saros made 28 saves for Finland in its Group B opener. Tim Robin Johnsgard scored for Norway (0-2). In Group A, Milan Kolena and Marko Dano each had two goals and an assist in Slovakia's 9-2 victory over Germany. Slovakia is 1-0, and Germany is 0-2.

The United States, the defending champion, will play Slovakia on Saturday.


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N.F.L. Roundup: Asomugha, Former All-Pro, Is Set to Announce Retirement

Written By Unknown on Jumat, 27 Desember 2013 | 15.03

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Conner Leads Pitt Bowl Win Over Bowling Green

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Quizzical Season: Think You Know the Knicks?

Photographs by Barton Silverman/The New York Times

Top left to right: Amar'e Stoudemire, Carmelo Anthony, J. R. Smith and Mike Woodson.

GREENBURGH, N.Y. — The atmosphere felt familiar Thursday morning at the Knicks' training facility. For the 19th time this season, the Knicks reconvened to talk about another defeat. Several players, including Carmelo Anthony, did not practice because of injuries, and that felt familiar, too.

In the wake of Wednesday's loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder at Madison Square Garden, where the team was blown out (again) and the fans booed (again), Coach Mike Woodson somehow summoned the energy to talk about an important opportunity this week: back-to-back games against the Atlantic Division-leading Toronto Raptors, who will visit the Knicks on Friday before hosting them Saturday. Woodson also reminded everyone that his team was, inexplicably, only three games out of first place.

This has been another of Woodson's frequent messages — that the Knicks, despite their many problems, remain in contention. Go figure.

Avid fans of the Knicks have heard this all before, of course, and the true die-hards know it all by rote: the coach's messages and the players' responses, the many injuries and the many losses. With that in mind, take the following quiz to gauge just how well you know the beleaguered Knicks.

Fred R. Conrad/The New York Times

Woodson on Losing

Mike Woodson has gained a lot of experience this season in the delicate art of briefing the news media in the wake of defeat. It is not an easy job. His emotions have ranged from angry to disturbed to frustrated to mortified. Match the quotation with the game.

1. "Our defense, it stinks right now."

2. "You just can't come out on your home court and dig a hole, 21 points, and spot a team, and then have to fight so tough to get back in the game."

3. "I didn't like the fact that we let a 17- to 19-point lead shrink within six minutes. So that's something that was addressed today."

4. "Nobody should be happy about watching something like this happen."

5. "It's just unacceptable."

A. An 85-83 preseason loss to the Charlotte Bobcats on Oct. 25

B. A 109-100 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Nov. 3

C. A 120-89 loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Nov. 10

D. A 102-97 loss to the Charlotte Bobcats on Nov. 5

E. A 114-73 loss to the Boston Celtics on Dec. 8

Answers: 1-D; 2-B; 3-A; 4-D; 5-C

Day or Night?

Sometimes, losses defy explanation. Sometimes, it is better to avoid trying to explain altogether. Match the quotation with the player.

1. "It was just one of those days."

2. "It was just one of those nights."

A. Tyson Chandler after a loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Nov. 3

B. J. R. Smith after a loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday

Answers: 1-B; 2-A

Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

Searching for Solutions

As the self-declared leader of the Knicks, Carmelo Anthony has attempted to remain upbeat amid the team's struggles. He wants to figure it out. No, really, he does. It has been a point of emphasis since the preseason. Match the quotation with the game.

1. "I'm very confident we'll figure this thing out."

2. "We have to try to pinpoint the problem, try to figure it out and go from there."

3. "I'm very confident we'll figure this thing out."

4. "We, as a team, should feel that losing is unacceptable, and try to figure it out."

5. "If you never been through situations like this before, it'd be hard for you to try to figure it out."

6. "I don't want to try to figure this one out right now."

A. After a loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Nov. 10

B. After a loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Nov. 27

C. After a loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Dec. 10

D. After a loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Nov. 3

E. After a loss to the Boston Celtics on Dec. 8

F. Before a loss to the Detroit Pistons on Nov. 19

Answers: 1-D; 2-B; 3-A; 4-C; 5-F; 6-E

Opposing Views

The Knicks have established a bit of a pattern. After they are roughed up by an opponent, Mike Woodson talks about areas where his team needs to improve before lauding players on the other team. Match Woodson's quotation with the target of his affection.

1. "There's nothing this young man can't do."

2. "I like everything about him."

3. "He causes havoc on anybody."

4. "He's starting to come into his own now as a player."

A. Kyrie Irving of the Cleveland Cavaliers

B. Jeremy Lin of the Houston Rockets

C. Paul George of the Indiana Pacers

D. John Wall of the Washington Wizards

Answers: 1-C; 2-D; 3-A; 4-B

Who Said It?

Losing has become monotonous for the Knicks, but the players still have a knack for spicing things up during their postgame interviews. Match the quotation with the player.


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Sports Briefing | College Football: Pittsburgh Edges Bowling Green

James Conner rushed for 229 yards — breaking a Pittsburgh bowl record held by Tony Dorsett — and Chris Blewitt kicked a field goal with 1 minute 17 seconds left, lifting the Panthers to a 30-27 win over Bowling Green in the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl in Detroit.

Conner played a handful of snaps on the defensive line, and Tyler Boyd gave Pitt a boost with eight catches for 173 yards.

Boyd also scored on a punt return in the first half, although Bowling Green tied the score at 17-17 when BooBoo Gates took the second-half kickoff 94 yards for a touchdown.

Dorsett rushed for 202 yards in Pitt's win over Georgia in the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1, 1977.

■ Shane Morris, a freshman quarterback, will start for Michigan in place of the injured Devin Gardner when the Wolverines play Kansas State in the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl on Saturday in Tempe, Ariz. Gardner sustained a turf-toe injury against Ohio State. (AP)


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N.B.A. Roundup: N.B.A. Says Griffin’s Ejection Was Unwarranted

The N.B.A. said Thursday that its referees made a mistake when they ejected forward Blake Griffin in the Los Angeles Clippers' 105-103 loss at Golden State on Wednesday night. Griffin was ejected after he was given a second technical foul, with 10 minutes 43 seconds left in the fourth quarter, for scuffling with Andrew Bogut. Griffin had received his first technical after tangling with Warriors forward Draymond Green at the end of the third quarter. Green was ejected.

"After a league review of the Clippers-Warriors game, we have come to the conclusion that Blake Griffin should not have been ejected from the game," said Rod Thorn, the N.B.A.'s president for basketball operations. "A common foul should have been called on Griffin for initially attempting to dislodge the Warriors' Andrew Bogut, and a technical foul should have been assessed to Bogut for grabbing Griffin by the shirt and wrestling with him."

Also on Thursday, the N.B.A. fined Green $15,000 for failing to leave the court promptly after his ejection.

■ Jeff Teague scored a career-high 34 points, hitting a 20-foot jumper at the buzzer in the second overtime, to give the Atlanta Hawks a 127-125 win over the host Cleveland Cavaliers. Kyrie Irving led Cleveland with 40 points. Hawks center Al Horford appeared to injure his shoulder in the first overtime and did not return.

■ James Harden scored 11 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter, helping the host Houston Rockets rally for a 100-92 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies.

■ Danny Green did not miss a shot in scoring 22 points, Tim Duncan had 21 points and 13 rebounds, and the visiting San Antonio Spurs defeated the Dallas Mavericks, 116-109.

■ The Associated Press named LeBron James of the Miami Heat its 2013 male athlete of the year. James, who received 31 of the 96 votes cast in a poll of news organizations, became the third basketball player to win the award in its 83-year history, after Michael Jordan, a three-time winner in the 1990s, and Larry Bird, in 1986.


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Sports Briefing | Horse Racing: Trainer Ties State Record for Victories

David Jacobson matched the New York record for training victories in a year, sending out three winners Thursday at Aqueduct. Jacobson has 159 wins for the season at Aqueduct, Belmont Park and Saratoga — tying the mark set by Gary Contessa in 2007. There are four racing days left for Jacobson to break the deadlock.


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2013: A Look Back, and Beyond: Pettersen Stars in a Supporting Role

Written By Unknown on Kamis, 26 Desember 2013 | 15.03

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Thunder 123, Knicks 94: Anthony Is Out, and Knicks Are Helpless Against Thunder

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Yankees Know Risks of Splurging on Japanese Aces

Friday is the sixth anniversary of one of Brian Cashman's more disastrous moments in his long run as general manager of the Yankees. On Dec. 27, 2006, Cashman signed off on a five-year, $20 million contract for the Japanese left-hander Kei Igawa, a pitcher who, in the seasons that followed, went on to win two games for the Yankees while spending most of his time out of sight and out of mind in the minor leagues.

But Cashman and the Yankees threw away a lot more than $20 million. Even before they could agree to a free-agent contract with Igawa, the Yankees had to win the blind bidding for his negotiating rights, which they did with a bid of $26,000,194, the last three digits representing the number of strikeouts Igawa had compiled in the 2006 season for the Hanshin Tigers.

It was a nice touch at the time but now stands as one more sarcastic footnote to the embarrassment that Igawa became in the Bronx. Now, seven years later, it is worth recalling that episode as the Yankees, and any number of other major league teams, get ready to jump into the free-agent sweepstakes for Masahiro Tanaka, the 25-year-old ace of the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles, who compiled a hard-to-believe 24-0 record in the 2013 season and then led his team to the Japan Series championship.

Under Japanese rules, Tanaka had not yet arrived at free agency, and Rakuten understandably did not want him to leave. And that reluctance only grew after recent revisions to the posting-fee system and the establishment of a $20 million ceiling on the sum a major league team must pay a Japanese club like Rakuten in order to negotiate with a player like Tanaka.

Nevertheless, on Wednesday in Japan, Rakuten did relent. The team president, Yozo Tachibana, said Tanaka's outstanding contributions to the club had earned him the right to depart if he wished. And the Yankees, in dire need of starting pitchers, may be at the front of a line of major league teams trying to snare Tanaka with a multiyear deal that could approach $100 million.

As Cashman bargains with whoever emerges as the American agent for Tanaka, the question will be whether he will flash back to Igawa and wonder if it is at all possible that Tanaka, if he ends up in pinstripes, might also turn out to be a big, and expensive, disappointment.

Baseball is, after all, an inexact science, and the guesswork is only magnified when players are switching countries, using a different ball, trying to communicate in a foreign language.

When the Yankees moved in to sign Igawa, they saw a 27-year-old pitcher who had led Japan's Central League in strikeouts three times and who might have slipped some from his standout 2003 season, when he was the league's most valuable player, but still had a reassuring 14-9 record in 2006 with a 2.97 earned run average.

None of that translated to the United States.

But the Igawa misjudgment — and some baseball people in the United States were skeptical of him from the start — is not the only cautionary tale lurking in the background as the Tanaka bargaining takes shape. Daisuke Matsuzaka of Japan became a major leaguer just weeks ahead of Igawa but to far more fanfare, signing a six-year, $52 million contract with the Boston Red Sox after they won the rights to negotiate with him with a bid of $51,111,111.

In the end, Matsuzaka hardly lived up to his reputation. In his first season in Boston, when he was 27, he went 15-12 with a 4.40 E.R.A. and helped the Red Sox win a championship. In 2008, he was 18-2 with a 2.90 E.R.A. But from then on, there was too much ineffectiveness, too many arm problems (including Tommy John surgery) and too much frustration. In the last three seasons combined, for Boston and then the Mets, he started all of 25 games and had only seven victories. He is currently a free agent.

And then there is Yu Darvish, who starred for the Nippon Ham Fighters in Japan and then, at age 25, joined the Texas Rangers for 2012 after they won the rights to him with a $51.7 million posting fee, which was followed by a six-year, $60 million contract.

As a Ranger, Darvish has been solid, and at times dominating, with a combined two-season record of 29-18 with a 3.34 E.R.A. In 2013, he led baseball with 277 strikeouts.

So what about Tanaka? In 2011, Darvish had his best season in Japan — going 18-6 with a 1.44 E.R.A. — but was beaten out for the award that goes to the country's best pitcher by none other than Tanaka, who went 19-5 with a 1.27 E.R.A. Then came Tanaka's 24-0 run.

A major league scout who has often watched Tanaka pitch said Tanaka could throw a fastball between 90 and 97 miles per hour and had an above-average slider and an average curveball and changeup. His signature pitch is a split-finger fastball.

The scout, who did not want to be identified discussing a pitcher who is not on his own team, said that Tanaka, like Detroit's Justin Verlander, could throw a little harder in a crucial spot late in a game or snap off a particularly devastating splitter.

For a team like the Yankees, all of that sounds great. More disconcerting is the fact that less than two months ago, Tanaka threw 160 pitches in a complete-game loss in Game 6 of the Japan Series and followed that up with 15 more pitches in a Game 7 save.

Still, that alarming volume of pitches should not keep the Yankees and other clubs from battling it out to sign him — and hoping that, just as in Japan, he is not only as good as Darvish, but better. But there are no guarantees.


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New Tests for Brain Trauma Create Hope, and Skepticism

Revelations in recent years that thousands of former football players might have severe brain trauma from injuries sustained on the field have set off a rush in the medical community to seize the potentially lucrative market for assessing brain damage. But experts say claims regarding the validity of these assessments are premature and perhaps unfounded.

Most researchers believe that C.T.E., or chronic traumatic encephalopathy, the degenerative brain disease found in dozens of former N.F.L. players, can be diagnosed only posthumously by analyzing brain tissue. Researchers at U.C.L.A. have developed a test they assert might identify the condition in a living person by injecting a compound that clings to proteins in the brain and later appears in a PET scan. But some are skeptical.

"There has really been so much hype surrounding C.T.E., so there is a real need for making sure the public knows that this type of science moves slowly and must move very carefully," said Robert Stern, a professor of neurology and neurosurgery at Boston University School of Medicine and a founder of the Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy. He is part of a group that is developing a different biomarker to identify tau, the protein that is a hallmark of C.T.E.

"My fear is the people out there who are so much in need, scared for their lives and desperate for information, it might give them false hope," he said.

The debate over the scientific validity of such brain exams was highlighted recently when Tony Dorsett, a Hall of Fame running back for the Dallas Cowboys, and several other prominent former players said they were found to have C.T.E. after taking the experimental test developed by U.C.L.A. Dorsett, 59, told CNN that "they came to find out I have C.T.E." and that his memory lapses, short temper and moodiness were "all because of C.T.E."

Despite what was widely reported as a diagnosis, the experimental test is perhaps years from gaining federal approval. An antidote is even more remote because C.T.E. is a degenerative condition with no known cure.

That is why neurologists, researchers and bioethicists question whether the doctors at U.C.L.A. and at TauMark, the company with the exclusive license to commercialize the test, may leave some former players and their families with false hopes or undue worry.

For instance, the website for TauMark, which has helped find retired players to take the test, states that the test could soon provide a "clinical diagnosis and summary." One of the doctors backing TauMark called the test "the holy grail of C.T.E."

"I can see getting awareness and publicity, but this sounds like putting the cart before the horse," said Dr. John Morris, a professor of neurology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. "In theory, they'll be useful. But we don't know for an individual, does this mean inevitably they will dement? We just don't know."

The scan for tau is far from the first test promoted as a new window to an emerging medical problem. An array of medical experts is now developing and marketing treatments for former players that include vitamin regimens, strict diets, testosterone treatments and other therapies.

Bernie Kosar, a former Cleveland Browns quarterback, has said that he received oral and intravenous treatment for brain trauma from Rick Sponaugle, the director of the Sponaugle Wellness Institute in Palm Harbor, Fla. Dr. Daniel G. Amen, the founder of Amen Clinics Inc., said this year that he had developed "an interventional strategy" that would "reverse brain damage" in athletes.

The search for remedies to the long-term cognitive problems associated with concussions and chronic brain trauma has received great attention not only because N.F.L. players are involved, but also because the health of millions of young football players could be at stake. The N.F.L. is spending tens of millions of dollars on research into concussion-related ailments.

The ability to diagnose C.T.E. in living players also has potential legal and financial consequences as former players fight for insurance coverage, workers' compensation and other medical benefits well after they received their injuries.

A successful test to identify C.T.E. in living patients could also provide a big payoff for its inventors and rights holders. The tests cost as much as $15,000, but the price would presumably fall as more people signed up for them.

The retired players tested at U.C.L.A. said they did not pay for the test. Financing for the first group of tests was paid in part by the Brain Injury Research Institute, whose co-founder Julian Bailes co-wrote a study on the FDDNP biomarker.

But quick fixes in medicine are rare, even when fortunes are being spent developing solutions. For C.T.E., which still lacks a clinically accepted diagnosis among living people, let alone a biomarker approved by the Food and Drug Administration, the answers are even more elusive.

"The condition is very much under debate," said Dr. John Trojanowski, a researcher at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. "We need to be patient to get more research to determine what statements we can make about football players' pathology."


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N.F.L. Roundup: Belichick Says Limits on Practice Are Adding to Injuries

Patriots Coach Bill Belichick is blaming recently instituted N.F.L. rules shortening off-season practice time for what he claims to be an increasing number of player injuries.

"I'm in favor of total preparation for the players for the season," Belichick said during a conference call with Buffalo reporters this week before New England's home game against the Bills on Sunday. "And I think that's been changed significantly and, I would say, not necessarily for the better when you look at the injury numbers."

Belichick said players were more vulnerable to being hurt because they were less prepared. He described the limits placed on off-season workouts, including training camp, as counterproductive.

"Personally, I think that's taking the wrong approach," he said. "You have a gap between preparation and competition level. And I think that's where you see a lot of injuries occurring. We get a lot of breakdowns. We get a lot of situations that players just aren't as prepared as they were in previous years, in my experience anyway."

Belichick was challenging several new rules negotiated into the N.F.L. labor deal that ended an off-season lockout in 2011.

Teams were prevented from holding two-a-day practices during training camp. Limits were also placed on how many times players practiced in pads throughout the year. In the spring, off-season team activity time was reduced from 14 to 9 weeks (10 if the team changed head coaches).

What is in question is whether injuries are rising in the N.F.L., as Belichick suggested.

Though he did not have numbers, Belichick said he was citing "a matter of record, not opinion," in saying injuries had been on the rise over the past three years.

Michael Signora, a league spokesman, disputed Belichick's assertions.

"We carefully monitor player injuries," Signora said. "There is no evidence that the new work rules have had an adverse effect on the injury rate or that injuries have in fact increased."

The N.F.L. declined to released its numbers. But according to Stats L.L.C., the number of N.F.L. players finishing a season on injured reserve has risen significantly over the past 14 seasons.

From 2000 to 2006, there was an average of 239 players on injured reserve per year. That average has jumped to about 314 over the past seven years.

The low over that span was 192 in 2001, with a high of 353 in 2010, but that was before the new off-season rules went into effect.

As of Monday, there were 288 players on injured reserve, the lowest number since 287 in 2008.

Those figures, however, did not include players who had been on injured reserve and released by their teams during the season.

It has also been difficult to measure how many regulars have missed games because of injury.

The Patriots (11-4) have been troubled by injuries to key contributors this season. They have six starters on injured reserve, including tight end Rob Gronkowski, offensive tackle Sebastian Vollmer, linebacker Jerod Mayo, defensive lineman Vince Wilford and safety Adrian Wilson.

MATTHEWS OUT Packers linebacker Clay Matthews will miss Sunday's game against the Bears for the N.F.C. North title after aggravating a right thumb injury. Green Bay did not practice Wednesday but issued an injury report that listed Matthews as out.

Matthews was hurt during a sack in last Sunday's 38-31 loss to Pittsburgh.

He missed four games after initially breaking the thumb in October.

WELKER BACK AT PRACTICE Receiver Wes Welker practiced with the Broncos for the first time since sustaining his second concussion of the season Dec. 12.

He was allowed to participate on a limited basis in accordance with the league's concussion protocol.

Also returning to practice was defensive end Derek Wolfe, who had a seizure-like episode on the team bus Nov. 29.

SAINTS LOSE SAFETY New Orleans placed safety Kenny Vaccaro on injured reserve, ending his season. Vaccaro broke his left ankle Sunday in a 17-13 loss at Carolina.

The Saints signed safety Terrence Frederick off of Cleveland's practice squad. Frederick, 23, played in two games with the Giants in 2012.

ORTON READY IF ROMO ISN'T Kyle Orton will make his first start at quarterback in his two seasons with the Cowboys on Sunday night, unless Tony Romo can recover from a herniated disc. Dallas (8-7) will be playing at home against the Philadelphia Eagles (9-6) for the N.F.C. East title and a playoff berth.

Romo was not seen in any of the public areas at Valley Ranch, the Cowboys' training center. He did not practice and did not attend a morning offensive meeting, Coach Jason Garrett said.

Garrett still had not ruled out Romo.

"I saw him briefly today," Garrett said. "He's fighting through it. He's doing everything he can to get back. He's going through the rehab process.

"We'll evaluate him day to day, the same as most players who are injured."

Asked whether he thought Romo would play Sunday, Garrett said: "We'll have to see. It seems like he is feeling a little bit better."


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Thrust Into Role, Knicks’ Udrih Is Thrown Off His Game

Beno Udrih's first pass on Wednesday at Madison Square Garden was intercepted by Russell Westbrook.

His first shot, toward the end of the first quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder, drew gasps from the fans, hitting the side of the backboard.

Udrih's second shot attempt, in the second quarter, came when Iman Shumpert found him open in the corner, behind the 3-point line. Again, the ball bounced off the side of the backboard. Knicks fans groaned.

Udrih, frustrated and embarrassed, shook his head and began tugging at the short sleeves on his orange jersey. His next two shots, a midrange jumper and a layup, did not touch the side of the backboard, but they did not touch the rim either.

Udrih, a point guard in his 10th N.B.A. season, has had his share of lows, but his performance in the first half of the Knicks' 123-94 loss to the Thunder may have been the most miserable of his career.

Udrih said his troubles began with the unconventional jerseys that the league gave its teams for the five Christmas Day games. Udrih, who tried to roll the sleeves up, said the uniform did not fit him right.

"I've never actually worked out with those tight jerseys," he said. "It bothered me on the shot. When I was going to the shot, it would kind of stop me to get my shoulder and elbow up."

Udrih began the third quarter by making a layup, but it was his lone basket in six tries, and he essentially deferred on offense to J. R. Smith and Tim Hardaway Jr.

Udrih struggled just as much on defense. Westbrook, who finished with 14 points and 10 assists, and Westbrook's backup, Reggie Jackson, who had 18 points, tormented Udrih with their speed.

"He's a handful for anybody," Shumpert said of Westbrook, who also had 13 rebounds.

Udrih was the Knicks' only healthy point guard entering the game. Raymond Felton sat out with an injured groin muscle, and Pablo Prigioni (broken toe) has been out since Dec. 16. Udrih did the best he could to lead the Knicks' offense — he had six assists — with Carmelo Anthony sitting on the bench with a sprained left ankle.

"Well, again, Beno struggled a little bit tonight, and I need Beno to play," Coach Mike Woodson said. He added of Felton and Prigioni, "I don't know when those guys will actually come back; I really don't."

In the midst of a season full of frustration, Udrih, who is usually quiet and aspires to be a coach, voiced his displeasure with the Knicks.

"I think a lot of us are playing without confidence," Udrih said, including himself in that group. "When I was coming to visit New York, I definitely had a different picture of everything — of my role, the team, everything."

Udrih said there were many reasons for the Knicks' 9-19 record. But he emphasized that he should not have been criticized so much — by Woodson, his teammates and fans — for not fouling Washington's Bradley Beal in a 102-101 loss on Dec. 16. (The Knicks had a foul to give, and Beal made the game-winning basket.)

"Sometimes I have a feeling like when I do a mistake, I have a feeling that they think I'm making the mistake on purpose," Udrih said. "As weird as it sounds, that's how I feel. I've been playing this sport professionally for 16 years. Usually I was the guy who somehow made the right play at the end of the game. This year is totally different. I don't think I forgot to play basketball."

Udrih was then asked if Woodson's messages were still reaching the Knicks and if Udrih had a solution.

"I don't know," he said. "It's tough to be in his shoes, too. Maybe we're not hearing the right thing. We all have to communicate better as people. Don't just be a coach; be a person. Don't just be a player; be a person. It's on all of us."


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Heat 101, Lakers 95: A Rivalry Goes Unfulfilled as the Lakers Fall to the Heat

LOS ANGELES — Kobe Bryant, a creature of habit and one of symbolism, too, acknowledged it was a strange feeling to wake up on Christmas morning for the first time in 15 seasons without a basketball game to play.

While other Lakers arrived in garish red outfits, Bryant wore a funereal suit with a black T-shirt underneath. It was a fitting accompaniment for the dark days that surely lie ahead, if not for Bryant — whose fractured kneecap is his second major injury in 2013 — then certainly for the Lakers, who considered it a victory of sorts that they lost to the Miami Heat by only 101-95 on Wednesday.

This was the type of moment — a national television stage with a worthy foil — that Bryant has always relished. He and LeBron James jawed at each other when they last met on Christmas Day three years ago. But their only interaction Wednesday came after the game: James made his way to the Lakers' bench, where he and Bryant shook hands, hugged and said a few words.

It was more respect than James paid the Lakers for much of the afternoon.

Without Bryant or Steve Nash — or Steve Blake, for that matter — Los Angeles presented so little threat to the Heat that when James and Dwyane Wade were not treating each other to alley-oop dunks, James spent a good number of possessions carrying on a conversation with the actor Kevin Hart, who was seated along the baseline. He also winked to a fan.

"We get disrespected a lot," the Lakers' Nick Young said. " Some players — we don't got the names on this team, and we get overlooked."

It was the Lakers' third consecutive loss, and seventh in 10 games, leaving open the question of just what type of challenge will be on the table when reinforcements — Bryant, Nash and Blake — return at the end of January.

That Bryant missed James is in some ways fitting for this rivalry. Although widely considered the N.B.A.'s best players over the last decade, they have never met where they, or the N.B.A. marketers, have wanted: in an N.B.A. finals.

James could not get Cleveland there in 2009 or 2010 despite the Cavaliers' having the best regular-season record. The Lakers won those back-to-back titles but began to crumble around the time James left for Miami.

"I think I wanted it; I think he wanted it," James said. "I don't know if it will ever happen."

On Wednesday, James, Chris Bosh and Wade were hardly sharp and attentive, but they made enough plays when they needed to, such as when James drove to the basket, hung in the air and found Wade cutting in from the baseline for a basket, putting the Heat ahead by 6 with 52.9 seconds left.

The Lakers were counting on the return of Jordan Farmar from a hamstring injury to give some flow to their offense and drawing straws to see who would guard James. On one occasion in the fourth quarter, the task fell to the rookie Ryan Kelly.

Other problems have been self-inflicted. Lakers Coach Mike D'Antoni has spent the last few days backpedaling from comments he made after his team was routed Monday at Phoenix, when he said discouraged fans should "find another team to root for."

D'Antoni, who drew mild boos during introductions Wednesday, has since used words like "stupid" and "idiot" to describe his remarks, which he said were meant to support a team of high-character players who play hard and together — if not always well.

"That's what happens when you are full of emotionally fueled meanness, so you lash out," D'Antoni said. "When somebody asks you a question like why aren't you guys so good, I just lash out. We have great fans. Sometimes as a society, we have to understand there's a process and really value character and people and what they're trying to get done in life. And sometimes I think we disregard that and it ticks me off."

If Bryant is irreplaceable in this mix of faded stars, draft disappointments and journeymen, the Lakers at least have found a player with an unshakable belief in himself. Young, a mercurial, well-traveled swingman who prefers to call himself Swaggy P, carried the Lakers back from a 10-point deficit by going toe-to-toe with James in the third quarter. Young, who scored 20 points, hit a 3-pointer with James's hand in his face and then bothered James enough that James's 3-point attempt at the buzzer rimmed out.

Young pounded his chest as he walked to the bench.

It was the type of one-on-one matchup that the N.B.A. had presumably hoped for when it pitted Bryant against James for the third time in five seasons on Christmas Day.

Bryant had been looking forward to facing the Heat, not just because of the national stage but because the Heat's active, athletic defense would have provided a good barometer of where he stood in his return from a torn Achilles' tendon. It would have been his 10th game.

"I was really looking forward to this game to be able to measure where I was physically, especially the time frame in which I came back," Bryant said at a news conference before the game. "I was really looking at this game, where I'd be in rhythm, where I'd really be able to measure what I can and what I can't do."

Bryant, who is expected to be out for six weeks, dismissed the possibility that he would sit out the season — and that injuries and 18 seasons in the N.B.A. had diminished his ability.

"It's the same old tune; it's just been sung a little more loudly," said Bryant, who this summer changed his Twitter avatar to "1225" — either portending a Christmas Day return or signaling a promise to remember that ESPN had picked the Lakers to finish 12th in the conference and rated him as the league's 25th-best player. "Those types of things really help me lock in more than ever."

Locked in or not, there are few indications that Bryant's determination will serve the Lakers any better than it did on Christmas.

ROCKETS 111, SPURS 98 James Harden scored 28 points, Dwight Howard had 15 points and 20 rebounds, and Houston won at San Antonio. Each of the Rockets' starters scored in double figures as Houston improved to 2-0 against the Spurs this season, with both victories coming on the road. Chandler Parsons and Terrence Jones each scored 21 points for the Rockets, who shot 52 percent from the field. (AP)


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Tanaka Mystery Now Has an Ending: In U.S.

Written By Unknown on Rabu, 25 Desember 2013 | 15.03

Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images

The Yankees, the Dodgers and the Red Sox are among the big-market, big-payroll teams thought to be interested in signing Masahiro Tanaka.

Masahiro Tanaka, the pitching ace who went 24-0 in 2013 as he led the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles to a Japan Series title, will be allowed to sign with a major league team for the 2014 season, becoming the latest Japanese star to be allowed to leave for the United States before he became a free agent.

The decision to let him go was announced by the team on Christmas Day in Japan, ending weeks of speculation about Tanaka's immediate future and whether Rakuten would back away from its initial stance that he should continue pitching in Japan until after the 2015 season, when he would become free to go anywhere he wanted.

Instead, Rakuten relented and agreed to accept a $20 million posting fee from the major league team that prevails in what is expected to a high-priced, free-agent bidding war among a number of clubs.

In the coming days, Tanaka is expected to choose an American agent to represent him in negotiations with major league teams. The Yankees, the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Boston Red Sox are among the big-market, big-payroll teams thought to be interested in signing him, with the Yankees having the biggest need of those three teams to bolster their starting rotation. Of those three teams, they are the only one that failed to make the postseason in 2013.

But any major league team that wants to bid for Tanaka has only to agree to pay Rakuten $20 million if they ultimately win out, so there is little to discourage even mid- and small-market teams from jumping in and hoping for the best.

Nevertheless, the winning bidder is likely to be a team like the Yankees that can afford a huge multiyear contract, one that could approach $100 million.

As a result, the 25-year-old Tanaka, who had a 1.27 earned run average to go with his 24-0 record in 2013, is expected to receive a good deal more money than what the Japanese pitchers Daisuke Matsuzaka and Yu Darvish received when they joined the Red Sox and the Texas Rangers.

Matsuzaka got a six-year, $52 million contract from the Red Sox in December 2006. Darvish received a six-year, $60 million contract from the Rangers that began in 2012. However, both of those pitchers were signed under the old, unrestricted posting system in which only the team with the highest posting bid won the right to negotiate with the player. In each instance, the winning posts exceeded $50 million. That, in turn, limited how much the teams then wanted to pay Matsuzaka and Darvish.

Like Matsuzaka and Darvish, Tanaka has a good fastball and an assortment of other pitches. He has been durable, starting 20 or more games in each of his first seven seasons, and has a .739 winning percentage.

The Eagles made clear they wanted Tanaka to stay with the team, not just because they would lose their top pitcher so soon after winning their first title but because they would receive far less for him than hoped under the new posting system. The Eagles were hoping to generate at least $50 million in compensation, roughly what Matsuzaka's and Darvish's teams received.

Any team willing to pay the release fee can negotiate with Tanaka during a 30-day window. The team that signs Tanaka will pay the Eagles the fee in installments. There is no penalty for making a bid and then failing to sign the player.

In letting him leave, Rakuten may have weighed the odds that Tanaka will continue his mastery over batters in 2014 and beyond. It is unlikely he will ever have as dominant a season as he did in 2013; for one thing, he has thrown many innings the past few years. For instance, in the sixth game of the Japan Series this year, he threw 160 pitches and refused to come out of the game. In the clinching seventh game, he appeared in relief. That sequence alone may give some major league teams pause as they ponder how much they might be willing to offer Tanaka in a free-agent contract.

According to Sponichi, a Japanese sports publication, Rakuten may try to form a partnership with whatever team signs Tanaka. The Yomiuri Giants did that after their slugger Hideki Matsui signed with the Yankees before the 2003 season.

As dominant as Tanaka has been during his time with the Eagles, whom he joined after finishing high school, there is no guarantee he will fare as well in the United States. His fastball is unlikely to overpower major league batters, who routinely grapple with pitches nearing 100 miles per hour. Matsuzaka, who is 53-40 in the majors, and Darvish, who is 29-18 after two seasons in the United States, have had to adjust their pitching styles.

Matsuzaka, in particular, encountered adversity after his first two seasons in Boston.

Japanese pitchers also have to learn how to throw off mounds with balls that are different from those in Japan, and deal with umpires with different strike zones. Most Japanese pitchers also speak limited English, making it difficult to communicate with catchers and coaches.

Japanese baseball fans are likely to continue rooting for Tanaka in the United States because they take pride in seeing their stars play overseas. But his departure is likely to stoke fears that Japanese professional baseball, a source of national pride, is turning into a second-class league.

"They are becoming a feeder system for the M.L.B.," said Robert Whiting, who has written several books on Japanese baseball. "Japanese pro baseball has all but disappeared from prime time network television."


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Knicks’ Vicious Run of Injuries Is Exacting a Toll on Anthony

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Sports of The Times: For Female Ski Jumpers, Agony of Exclusion Finally Ends

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As Rematch Looms, Nets Are No Closer to Finding Themselves

Uli Seit for The New York Times

Deron Williams, left, was swarmed by Bulls defenders during a home loss in Game 7 of a first-round playoff series on May 4. 

The last time the Chicago Bulls were in Brooklyn, they sent the Nets tumbling out of the playoffs and into a period of soul-searching. The Nets were deemed too soft. There was no core, no spine. They would need to be retooled and rebranded.

The Nets made various highly trumpeted changes this summer designed to solve those issues and avoid a similar playoff embarrassment this season. And yet, when the Bulls return to Barclays Center on Wednesday for the first time since that first-round Game 7 playoff victory, they will face a team that is more adrift than ever.

On Tuesday, the morning after Coach Jason Kidd questioned whether his team was growing too comfortable with losing, some of his players suggested the team had yet to form a defining character. Such a sentiment is coming from a team that has already played 27 games, helping to explain why it has lost 18 of them.

"I don't think we have an identity," said Kevin Garnett, who was traded to the Nets this year and had been expected to set a new tone. "I don't know what we are."

Garnett said the "moving parts" — presumably the integration of new players into a new system, along with the team's numerous injuries — had slowed the process of self-discovery. He said the defense, ranked 27th in the league in points allowed per 100 possessions, had fallen into disarray because the Nets had to learn a new system during training camp and then scrap much of it when the assistant Lawrence Frank was relieved of his duties.

Wednesday's game has lost much of its expected glamour as the Nets and the Bulls have struggled. The Bulls (10-16), who overcame injury and illness to oust the Nets last season, have not showed similar resilience since losing point guard Derrick Rose, once a most valuable player, to another knee injury this season, only 10 games after he returned from one that cost him all last season. They are also likely to be without their leading scorer, Luol Deng, who has a sore left Achilles' tendon.

Still, the opponent has hardly mattered to the Nets. They are defeating themselves as much as their foes are beating them. Injuries to several key players have been a continual problem, but Kidd has begun questioning his team's effort. He has been particularly upset about the defense and rebounding. The team ranks 24th in rebound rate, the percentage of total available rebounds collected.

Joe Johnson said he agreed with Garnett's assessment. He implied that the Nets' scatterbrained state had made them vulnerable in key situations.

"I don't think we kind of know or understand what kind of team we are, offensively or defensively," Johnson said Tuesday. "It's hurt us in a lot of games. We've lost a lot of close games."

He added, "I don't know when we're going to figure it out, or how we're going to figure it out, but we have to."

As much as they have admitted their struggles, the Nets' players have disagreed with Kidd's assessment from Monday night that they were getting "close to just accepting losing."

Kidd added: "When things get tough, do we just give in? Most of the time, right now, we do."

Garnett said he and his teammates were not wired to accept losing.

"Obviously, we're going through a tough time, and that's his assessment," he said of Kidd, "but I don't think that's true."

Johnson said the Nets understood what was at stake this season and had not lost their focus or motivation. But he added that they had developed bad habits, like hanging their heads, or not getting back on defense after turning the ball over or missing a shot.

"It's very glaring things, man, that we definitely have to clean up," Johnson said.

And they are far from the only things. During a news conference shortly before training camp, Kidd said the identity of last season's Nets team was "just vanilla."

And that was a group that had won 49 games in the regular season. What, then, is the identity of this team now?

REBOUNDS

Paul Pierce was fined $15,000 "for making excessive and unnecessary contact with George Hill of the Indiana Pacers," the N.B.A. announced Tuesday. Pierce was issued a flagrant foul-2 and ejected midway through the third quarter Monday night after he delivered a hard foul near Hill's head on a breakaway layup attempt. Pierce has not made himself available for comment about the incident.


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Knicks’ Vicious Run of Injuries Is Exacting a Toll on Anthony

ORLANDO, Fla. — Carmelo Anthony was the last player to leave the locker room after Monday's game here against the Magic, and he was dressed for the trip back to New York: slim-fitting slacks, blue sweater, pageboy cap. As far as these things go, he looked composed.

He could not hide his limp, however, and within the Knicks' already topsy-turvy environment, yet another injury — this one to the team's leading scorer — ran the risk of erasing what little momentum they had gained with a narrow win over one of the worst teams in the league.

For the Knicks (9-18), there can be no joy without grief. There can be no victory without struggle. And they cannot play 48 minutes without someone twisting an ankle, straining a hamstring or damaging some other appendage.

They are huge consumers of medical tape. It is a habit they cannot shake.

It has been a frustrating season for Anthony in particular. Because of the team's poor play and an evaporating depth chart, Coach Mike Woodson has leaned on him to play heavy minutes — the most per game in the league and the most of his career.

Even before Anthony sprained his left ankle against the Magic, which cast some doubt over his availability for Wednesday's game against the Oklahoma City Thunder (22-5) at Madison Square Garden, Woodson acknowledged that the situation was far from ideal. Anthony's game is based on absorbing contact from defenders, and creating a fair share of his own, so he tends to relish what little time he gets to recuperate on the bench.

But Woodson has been coaching the team with increasing desperation, to save the Knicks' season and perhaps his own job. Consider Tyson Chandler, who played 37 minutes last week against the Milwaukee Bucks in his return after missing six weeks with a fractured right leg. Woodson said he had "no choice." So Chandler played and played, until he finally began having cramps in overtime. Anthony played 55 minutes in that game.

On Monday, Anthony sprained his ankle while battling for a rebound with the Magic's Tobias Harris.

He attempted to walk it off on the sideline before determining that he was in too much pain, a rare admission for him. He retreated to the locker room after a season-low 24 minutes, and watched bits and pieces of the Knicks' 103-98 victory on television as he iced his ankle and kept it elevated.

"I'm walking," Anthony said in response to a question about whether he was in serious discomfort.

The Knicks said Anthony's availability on Wednesday would be a game-time decision, which was widely interpreted as good news. Anthony indicated that he hoped to play.

"I don't want to miss that game," he said. "It's Christmas in the Garden."

In an interview Tuesday on ESPN Radio, Woodson said Anthony had received treatment at the team's training facility in Greenburgh, N.Y. Woodson said Anthony would be reassessed on Wednesday morning after another round of treatment. "We've got to weigh it out," Woodson said.

One Knick who will not play is Raymond Felton, who returned to the lineup against the Magic after missing six games with a hamstring injury and proceeded to strain his right groin in the fourth quarter. The Knicks said Felton would meet with the team's training staff on Wednesday to decide on a timetable for his return.

Anthony has become close to indispensable for the Knicks. He might be addicted to isolation sets, but he is averaging 26.3 points and shooting 44.7 percent while facing waves of defenders. He is also averaging 8.8 rebounds in 39.4 minutes per game, both career highs.

There was always the danger that Anthony's heavy workload might cost him. Injuries are sometimes the product of fatigue. Pablo Prigioni, 36, broke his toe last week when he tripped running upcourt against the Washington Wizards after he had averaged 34 minutes in the previous three games — a significant increase in his playing time in the absence of Felton.

Now both players are sidelined.

"We've been an injury-prone team," J. R. Smith said. "But we've always had guys who step in and fill those roles, and that's what's going to have to keep happening."

If Anthony misses Wednesday's game, it would most likely mean more shot attempts for Smith and Andrea Bargnani, who was on the bench when the Knicks built a huge early lead against the Magic. He returned to hit a pair of key jumpers, an encouraging sign for a player whose contributions have been questionable.

When Anthony sprained his left ankle last season, he missed just two games — and he said that sprain was more severe.

"Melo's a tough kid," Woodson said. "He doesn't sit down that often."

Anthony dismissed the suggestion that it might be in his best interests to miss a game or two, lest he rush back and cause additional damage.

"I'm hardheaded when it comes to that sometimes," he said.


15.03 | 0 komentar | Read More
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