DALLAS -- Coach Rick Carlisle accused referee Marek Mazanec Womens Jersey David Jones of twice entering the Dallas Mavericks' huddle during a timeout to bait point guard Deron Williams into a technical foul. "For the first time in a 33-year NBA career, I saw a referee make a point of going out of his way and walking into our huddle and baiting one of our guys into getting a technical," Carlisle said after Wednesday's 102-96 loss to the Detroit Pistons, which extended the Mavs' losing streak to a season-worst four games. "I've never seen anything like that in my years in this league. I don't see how that can ever be excusable." Williams was whistled for the technical foul with 7:33 remaining in the third quarter. Detroit's Reggie Jackson missed the free throw, so the technical did not impact the outcome of the game, but Carlisle brought it up without prompting during his postgame news conference. Jones, who is in his 26th season as Elias Lindholm Womens Jersey an NBA official, declined to speak to a pool reporter due to confusion with the process of making the request. Williams opted not to discuss the details of the confrontation that led to his technical, which was his first of the season. "I made a decision about 10 years [ago] in my career that I wasn't going to comment about officials," Williams said. "Save my money. I already got a technical. That's money right there, so I'm not going to comment any further and risk any more money." Carlisle declined to reveal the specifics Larry Bird Womens Jersey of the conversation between Jones and Williams but reiterated that Jones "clearly" intended to bait Williams into a technical. "Went out of his way," Carlisle said. "Could have walked away, made a point out of going back. I said, 'Hey, I got it. I got it. Let it go.' He goes, 'No,' and he walked back essentially into our huddle, and he baited Deron Williams into getting a technical. "I don't think that that's right. I don't think that that's http://www.officialnuggetsshop.com/authentic-3-ty-lawson-jersey.html right. An official's job is to defuse the situation, not to blow it up. The referee that we're talking about is an experienced guy, and I've never seen anything like this."

DALLAS -- Coach Rick Carlisle accused referee Marek Mazanec Womens Jersey David Jones of twice entering the Dallas Mavericks' huddle during a timeout to bait point guard Deron Williams into a technical foul. "For the first time in a 33-year NBA career, I saw a referee make a point of going out of his way and walking into our huddle and baiting one of our guys into getting a technical," Carlisle said after Wednesday's 102-96 loss to the Detroit Pistons, which extended the Mavs' losing streak to a season-worst four games. "I've never seen anything like that in my years in this league. I don't see how that can ever be excusable." Williams was whistled for the technical foul with 7:33 remaining in the third quarter. Detroit's Reggie Jackson missed the free throw, so the technical did not impact the outcome of the game, but Carlisle brought it up without prompting during his postgame news conference. Jones, who is in his 26th season as Elias Lindholm Womens Jersey an NBA official, declined to speak to a pool reporter due to confusion with the process of making the request. Williams opted not to discuss the details of the confrontation that led to his technical, which was his first of the season. "I made a decision about 10 years [ago] in my career that I wasn't going to comment about officials," Williams said. "Save my money. I already got a technical. That's money right there, so I'm not going to comment any further and risk any more money." Carlisle declined to reveal the specifics Larry Bird Womens Jersey of the conversation between Jones and Williams but reiterated that Jones "clearly" intended to bait Williams into a technical. "Went out of his way," Carlisle said. "Could have walked away, made a point out of going back. I said, 'Hey, I got it. I got it. Let it go.' He goes, 'No,' and he walked back essentially into our huddle, and he baited Deron Williams into getting a technical. "I don't think that that's right. I don't think that that's http://www.officialnuggetsshop.com/authentic-3-ty-lawson-jersey.html right. An official's job is to defuse the situation, not to blow it up. The referee that we're talking about is an experienced guy, and I've never seen anything like this."

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Kansas City Chiefs http://www.officialeaglesnflauthentics.com/alejandro-villanueva-jersey_c-391.html were fined and stripped of two draft picks by the NFL for a violation of the league's anti-tampering policy for having improper contact with wide receiver Jeremy Maclin before the start of last year's free-agent signing period. The Chiefs will lose their third-round draft pick this year and their sixth-round choice next year. The Chiefs were also fined $250,000. Coach Andy Reid was fined $75,000, and general manager John Dorsey was fined $25,000. The league said the Chiefs contacted Maclin directly during the league's negotiating window that takes place before the signing period. Teams are allowed then to contact only agents for prospective free agents. The Chiefs, Reid and Dorsey may appeal O'Brien Schofield Womens Jersey the penalties. Chairman Clark Hunt said in a statement that they "will continue to explore our options under the appeal process." "While we respect Commissioner [Roger] Goodell and the process, we believe that the penalties proposed in this case are inconsistent with discipline enforced in similar matters -- particularly given the league's inconsistent communication of its policies on contact with potential free agents,'' Hunt said. "As an organization, we take great care to conduct ourselves with integrity and operate within the guidelines of the NFL. We have been fully cooperative and transparent with the league in this matter, and we are disappointed with the league's decision. I want to make it clear that I fully support the leadership of both Coach Reid and John Dorsey." Troy Vincent, the NFL's executive vice Kavell Conner Womens Jersey president of football operations, said in a release announcing the decision that in "assessing discipline, the goal is to balance the seriousness of the violation of an important and longstanding competitive rule (the Anti-Tampering Policy), with appropriate recognition of the club's history (no prior offenses), and the cooperation shown by both the club and individual employees. The discipline should be sufficient both to deter future violations and encourage cooperation in future investigations. The assessment of discipline here accounts for the fact that the club and its personnel were fully cooperative and forthcoming in the investigation. In this case, our staff had full access to all of the information requested, including electronic and telephone records, and unrestricted access to all club people whom we sought to interview.'' If they lose this year's third-round http://www.nfllionsofficials.com/Kyle-Van-Noy-Jersey pick, the Chiefs would have seven selections in this year's draft. They have an extra fifth-round pick acquired in a trade last year with the Seattle Seahawks.

TAMPA, Fla. -- Though Landis Sims Buster Posey Authentic Jersey was born without hands or half his legs, he signed a minor league contract with the New York Yankees on Monday. Sims, 10, was called an inspiration by manager Joe Girardi after signing the deal. Upon completion of the contract, Sims took batting practice with a group that included Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira prior to the Yankees' spring game against the Houston Astros. Sims, represented by CC Sabathia in his negotiation with Yankees assistant general manager Jean Afterman, will receive a payment in honorarium. Sims is a 4-foot-11, 105-pound second baseman from Elizabeth, Indiana, which is near Louisville, Kentucky. He has no legs from the knees down and wears prosthetics, which have Derek Jeter's No. 2 on the knees. Without hands, he plays Little League with a soccer shinguard inserted into his baseball glove. This allows him to play defense. It works so well, he sometimes even pitches. At bat, he uses the help of a prosthetic John Kruk S Jersey that allows him to cup the bat for his swing. Sims offered inspiration for the Yankees on Monday. Girardi first met Sims two years ago. Through a Yankees public relations representative, Sims was supposed to just watch batting practice on the field. After Girardi met him, the manager took Sims to meet his hero, Jeter. Sims was in the Yankees' pre-workout meeting Monday morning, where the team watched part of a documentary being made by filmmaker Eric Cochran. It shows Sims' positive attitude. "People can overcome extraordinary circumstances," said Girardi, who, along with communications director Jazon Zillo and Afterman, came up with the idea of the contract. "It's amazing what the mind can do." Sims' mother, Amanda Haag, calls Paul Kariya Youth Jersey her son a blessing. His stepfather, Jeremy Haag, says he is an inspiration.

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Saying the time http://www.officialeaglesnflauthentics.com/bradley-fletcher-jersey_c-409.html was right, an emotional Peyton Manning thanked family, friends and former teammates, coaches and opponents Monday as he ended his historic NFL career. After taking a few moments to compose himself, Manning opened his remarks to a packed meeting room with a recollection of his first pass, first touchdown and first game as a pro. And he recalled meeting Hall of Famer Johnny Unitas during that rookie season. "I had a chance to shake Johnny Unitas' hand and he said, 'Peyton, you stay at it,'" Manning said. "Well, I have stayed at it, I stayed at it for 18 years. And I hope old No. 19 is up there, with his flattop and maybe his black high-tops on and I hope he knows that I have stayed at it. "There's just something about 18 years; 18 is a good number, and today I retire from pro football." In just under 13 minutes, Manning also Mark Sanchez Authentic Jersey tried to thank two NFL cities and two franchises, as well as the University of Tennessee, and he tried to sum up his 18 seasons, five MVP awards, two Super Bowl wins and a pile of records. And he even signed off with an "Omaha." Manning said he called each of his former coaches over the past few days -- Jim Mora, Tony Dungy, Jim Caldwell and John Fox -- and he spoke to Broncos coach Gary Kubiak. Manning said later he had called each of the coaches in the order in which he had played for them. Manning also told a story about his daughter Mosley asking him if Super Bowl 50 was "the last game." "Yes, Mosley it's the last game of the season," Manning said. "Then she asked, 'Daddy, is this the last game ever?' And that's just when I shook my head in amazement because I was thinking, 'Mort and Adam Schefter had gotten to my 5-year-old daughter to cultivate a new source.'" All in all, it was a celebration of Manning's four years with the Broncos and 14 seasons with the Indianapolis Colts, as well as an appreciation of his Hall of Fame career. Broncos CEO/team president Joe Ellis, executive vice president of football operations/general manager John Elway and Kubiak all spoke before Manning. A short tribute video was also shown in an invitation-only gathering in the team meeting room at the Broncos' complex. Ellis opened the event, calling it "an http://www.vikingsnflofficialproshops.com/adrian-peterson-jersey_c-383.html historic day'' and said Manning had "made our team better, made our organization better and made our community better.'' Ellis added he "looked forward'' to Manning's induction into the team's Ring of Fame as well as the Pro Football Hall of Fame. There is a five-year waiting period for both. Manning had wrestled with the decision about whether or not to retire until late last week. On Saturday night, Manning started to notify many in his most-trusted inner circle of his intentions. Manning made a call to Kubiak as well that night. "I revere football, I love the game,'' Manning said. "So, you don't have to wonder if I'll miss it. Absolutely, absolutely I will ... there were players who were more talented, but there was no one who could out-prepare me.'' More than a dozen of Manning's former Alan Page Authentic Jersey teammates were in attendance -- 13 posed for a picture with Manning -- and several times there was applause during Manning's remarks. Manning closed the speech -- which he said he had rehearsed only two or three times -- with a reference to a scripture (2 Timothy 4:7).

TORONTO -- Class is in session for a http://www.officialnuggetsshop.com/authentic-35-kenneth-faried-jersey.html cherubic Toronto Maple Leafs roster representing the next phase of the team's rebuild. Called up earlier this week, prospects William Nylander, Kasperi Kapanen, Nikita Soshnikov and Zach Hyman are getting their NHL feet wet now, which was always part of the plan post-trade deadline after the front office jettisoned a number of veterans. The current NHL roster now has 10 players who played in the AHL at some point this season. They're in the hands of professor Mike Babcock. The process of adjusting to NHL life can be overwhelming for these prospects at times. It's a steep learning curve. "You got to learn to win, you got to learn to compete," the Leafs head coach said Thursday in explaining that apprenticeship. "The guy across from you feeds his family. When you first arrive in the league, you don't have a wife and kids. Then you do have a wife and kids, and when you do have a wife and kids, you understand what responsibility is, so you want your job and you understand how you compete for your job. When you're a kid, you always think you're going to get the puck back. Once you get older, you know it's too hard to get it back, so you hang onto it all the time. There's lots to learn. They're works in progress. But it's got to be a night on every night." Babcock often compares NHL life Zach LaVine Womens Jersey to family life, the values and lessons of both worlds often crossing over in his views and beliefs. On Thursday, he was asked after the morning skate by veteran Toronto Star columnist Rosie DiManno about a statement he made last week in which he said his No. 1 job was to make his players better men; No. 2 was to make them better players. "One hundred percent," Babcock reaffirmed Thursday. "That's the big thing. It wouldn't matter to me if you're 32 or 42, I believe [in] people doing right every day. And I believe the essence of who you are and the measure of who you are as a man is being a good human being. There's no slipperiness about you, you're honest every day with your effort and how you treat people and the respect you have for the game and for your family, all those things together. The more good people you have on the team, obviously talent is a part of that, but the more good men you have, when you have a certain talent base, the more you win. I'm a big believer in that. So, we're going to have good people here, and we're going to have good players." There's no question this next phase Ben McLemore Kids Jersey for the Leafs is more about teaching and parenting than anything else. The NHL's highest-paid coach is being tasked with grooming these kids into players and men, to create the culture on and off the ice that's been lacking in these parts for, well, a long, long time. It's a tall order. But again, Babcock can dip into his own personal life as a father of three to help shape his approach at the rink. "I think your approach changes with every person you coach," he said. "They're at a different stage of your life. One thing that's happened to me is that I've got kids as old as them or older, kids that are athletes and who want to do well. I understand how people need to be spoken to and talked to, but http://www.authentictwinsshop.com/authentic-6-tony-oliva-jersey.html I also understand what accountability is and doing it right. People that love you in your life, and this the biggest thing for me, you hear about a players' coach, what does that mean? The people in your life that love you and care about you, they make you better. And sometimes they have hard decisions and hard discussions with you. But they make you better. Sometimes you don't like [those discussions]. So what? They make you better."

CLEARWATER, Fla. – Who knows the secret? Who Mariano Rivera Womens Jersey knows the secret to unlocking the mystery that is Hector Olivera? Defected from Cuba in September of 2014. Signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers last May for $62 million. Then traded away abruptly last July to the Atlanta Braves. Traded away after just 19 minor league games. Traded away in a complicated three-team deal that required the Dodgers, essentially, to eat nearly half of Olivera’s contract and left the Braves on the hook for only about $33 million of it. Traded away for reasons no one has ever fully explained. But whatever the Dodgers thought of Olivera, he’s now a puzzle for the Braves to solve. And who knows the secret? Who knows the secret to solving that puzzle? Well, here’s a thought: It’s possible no one knows better than his manager. Long before Hector Olivera became Jordan Clarkson Womens Jersey a Brave, Fredi Gonzalez established a connection with him. And now, all these months later, the Braves need that connection to pay dividends. Back in January of 2015, when Olivera was still a man without a team and, for all intents and purposes, a man without a country, the Braves manager flew to the Dominican Republic to pay him a visit. So what was he doing there? He was there, Gonzalez said Friday, because “the guy is 30 years old -- 29 years old at the time. And we’re considering investing a lot of money in him. So we’ve got to make sure what kind of guy this guy is.” Gonzalez had already been to the Dominican twice that winter -- once to take a look at a number of Cuban defectors who were working out, a second time for a showcase just by Olivera. But this third time? This time was just “to talk,” Gonzalez said. “And I ended up talking with him,” the manager remembered, “for quite a long time.” Asked Friday what struck him Derick Brassard Womens Jersey about Olivera, Gonzalez replied, with zero hesitation: “His maturity, obviously, because he was 29 years old. And he wasn’t talking about getting race cars and stuff like that. “We talked about how many games he played in Cuba,” the manager went on. “You know, he only played three or four times a week. But he goes, `You know, Fredi, the stuff that I’ve got to go through to play three or four times a week, it’s almost the equivalent of playing 160 games a year. I’ve got to wash my uniform. I’ve got to drive 2 ½ hours to practice. There’s no food.’” But the conversation kept going. Gonzalez asked “about what would happen in certain situations, what kind of guy you are when you’re 0-for-30, or 0-for-27.” He was assured Olivera could handle it. Gonzalez asked how Olivera treated umpires -- and was told: “You can look at the record. I’ve never been thrown out of a game.” Gonzalez remembers it all http://www.authenticbruinsshop.com/authentic-17-milan-lucic-jersey.html vividly -- in part because he had to cancel his birthday party to take this trip. But he knew this was something he had to do, because these are the types of questions a manager has to ask. And the type of questions an organization has to answer.

SAN ANTONIO -- Spurs guard Manu Ginobili Tug McGraw Youth Jersey stepped outside the team's locker room 15 minutes before tipoff of Wednesday's 97-81 win over the Detroit Pistons and declared that doctors have cleared him to return to action after his recovery from testicular surgery. Ginobili, who has missed 11 games so far, couldn't provide a firm timetable for his return, but he expects to hit the court again sometime next week, saying, "I'm pretty sure that it will happen." "Bottom line: very unfortunate situation [and] play," he said. "Got hurt badly, and nobody expected anything like that. I had to sit for a month. It was very painful. The first week was very tough. But after that, I started to get better. "It was not much experience on this because it never happened before in the franchise. The doctor never had an athlete [suffer such an injury]. So we were just figuring it out. But a few days ago, he told me I was clear to do whatever I wanted to do as long as I don't feel pain or discomfort afterward. I'm progressing great. I practiced a little bit. I'm feeling good. I've been lifting, conditioning. I'm ready to play." Ginobili participated in workouts with the Tony Oliva Youth Jersey team on Sunday and Monday. During the portion of the session open to the media, he didn't appear to be slowed by any lingering discomfort. Ginobili admitted that although he's been lifting, conditioning and practicing, his workout sessions haven't featured the same physicality he would experience in real games. Most of the on-court work performed by Ginobili has been with the team's video staff, which "tried to push me around a little bit," he said. The return of Ginobili should help fortify a Spurs team that clinched its 19th straight trip to the postseason on Wednesday. Ginobili vowed that once he returns, he will play with the same reckless abandon that has cemented his reputation around the league for more than 14 seasons. "I'm not hesitating, I'm not in doubt, I'm not afraid," he said. Ginobili suffered the testicular injury with 2:26 left to play in a Feb. 3 win over the New Orleans Pelicans, and the Spurs declared him out for at least a month after he underwent surgery. He suffered the injury when Ryan Anderson's right knee caught him squarely in the groin area just as he turned toward Anderson. Ginobili collapsed to the floor and http://www.officialtimberwolvesshop.com/authentic-14-nikola-pekovic-jersey.html fell back down again multiple times as team trainers tried to assist him to the locker room. "Usually when that happens, it hurts for a little bit. And then after three minutes, you're back at it," Ginobili said. "It was three minutes, five minutes, 10 minutes, 20 minutes, an hour, an hour and a half, and I was still in the same level of pain. So when we got to the clinic, once we did an MRI, [the doctors said], 'We need the surgery, and it's got to be right now.' When they told me it was going to take a month or a month and a half, unbelievable. It was a very unfortunate situation. It was a perfect storm for this type of thing." Ginobili said he is pain free, but said he will wear a protective cup probably for the rest of the season. Ginobili also mentioned that initially after the injury he wasn't thinking about returning to the lineup. "I thought if I don't play, I don't care. I just Kings Rajon Rondo Youth Jersey want to heal," he said. "I want to feel good. So the first week, coming back to play wasn't a priority. When you have a health problem, and I don't want to be dramatic, but I was struggling. I just wanted to get healthy, get well."

Tanner Glass Youth Jersey Wasn't that long ago that it would have been unthinkable that a U.S. roster for a best-on-best tournament would not include winger Phil Kessel. But it is a reflection of American depth on the wings and of Kessel's declining stature that the Pittsburgh Penguins winger was not among the first 16 players named to Team USA Wednesday afternoon. What makes Kessel's absence so eyebrow raising is that of the 13 skaters named Wednesday, 11 were members of the U.S. Olympic team in Sochi in 2014. Kessel was a member of both the Sochi Olympic team and the 2010 Olympic team that lost to Canada in the gold-medal game in Vancouver. David Krejci Kids Jersey But in spite of being traded by the lowly Toronto Maple Leafs to the Penguins last summer, Kessel has failed to find a consistent scoring groove. While many believed he was primed for a run at the Rocket Richard Trophy playing with either Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin (both named to their respective World Cup of Hockey rosters on Wednesday, by the way) Kessel finds himself tied for 51st in the NHL in goals with 19 and the Penguins are in a dogfight to hold onto a postseason berth. One has to imagine that a strong finish to the end of the regular season and a good playoff showing for the Penguins, if the Pens end up qualifying for the postseason, will see Kessel among the final four forwards named on June 1. But it's far from a lock. The problem facing Kessel, a right-handed shot, is that the U.S. has a plethora of quality wingers hoping for a spot on this team and many of them are also right-handed shots, such as Kyle Okposo of the New York Islanders and Bobby Ryan of the Ottawa Senators who were not among the first 16, either. Among the forwards already named Blake Wheeler, T.J. Oshie and the league's leading scorer Patrick Kane are right-hand shots. Add in the fact that Kessel can primarily play only in the top six given that he is not a particularly strong two-way player or penalty killer, and it is not beyond the pale that Kessel cannot find a place on this roster come June 1. Of course, if he is left off the final roster and the Americans struggle offensively in Toronto, there will be no shortage of second-guessing. But there's no way to quibble with Kessel's absence from the top 16 at this point in the season. Julius Randle Kids Jersey Random thoughts on the American 16: Must admit that at no point did I ever have Justin Abdelkader on any of our shadow rosters but he is a left-handed shot and brings size and has experience for the Detroit Red Wings playing with skilled players Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg. He is a versatile player and can play up and down the lineup. Still, was a bit of a surprise that Abdelkader got the nod over Ryan or two-time Olympian David Backes or even Nick Foligno, who is a left-handed playing for head coach John Tortorella for the Columbus Blue Jackets and who a year ago was the top-scoring American player. Speaking of Ryan, the Senators winger represented one of the most emotional of decisions for the U.S. management team when he was left off the Sochi roster. He has had a solid season for Ottawa with 21 goals but has just two in his last 11 games and there is a streaky element to Ryan's game that the management team obviously felt needed further observation. Like Kessel, a strong finish and a possible playoff berth for Ottawa would put Ryan in good stead to join the World Cup roster. Finally, the other surprise -- slight but http://www.authenticyankeesshop.com/authentic-33-kelly-johnson-jersey.html a surprise, nonetheless -- for us was the naming of Dustin Byfuglien of the Winnipeg Jets to the first 16. Byfuglien was named ahead of Kevin Shattenkirk of the St. Louis Blues and Cam Fowler of the Anaheim Ducks -- both important parts of the blue line corps in Sochi -- but it's a testament to Byfuglien's unique skill set and the fact the World Cup games are going to be played in the smaller NHL rink at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto that paved the way for Byfuglien's place on the initial roster offering.

The Colorado Avalanche scooped up Justin Faulk Kids Jersey one of the speediest forwards available when they acquired Mikkel Boedker from the Arizona Coyotes, but is it a deal that really addressed their primary need to improve defensively? The Avs -- owners of the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference heading into a pivotal clash with the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday -- are now one of the fastest teams in the conference with Boedker joining other fleet-of-foot forwards Nathan MacKinnon and Matt Duchene. The Avalanche power play has been skidding with just two goals in seven games, and Boedker, 26, will clearly get a chance to help out. But the question that still plagues the Avalanche is whether they are deep enough defensively to stay with teams like the Los Angeles Kings, Anaheim Ducks and Chicago Blackhawks -- their likeliest first-round opponents should they make the playoffs. Of the eight Western Conference teams J.R. Sweezy Kids Jersey currently holding a playoff spot, the Avalanche are the only team with a negative goal differential (minus-9). Colorado also ranks 22nd in goals-against per game (2.83). Part of the question about defense might have been answered soon after the Boedker deal, when it was announced that the Avs had acquired New Jersey defenseman Eric Gelinas for a third-round pick. The Avs sent veteran Alex Tanguay, who is 36, to the Coyotes in the Boedker deal. Both Tanguay and Boedker can become unrestricted free agents this summer. Their salaries are almost identical, so the Avs are not taking on more salary or term while improving their offensive potential. The Coyotes also got a couple of prospects in Conner Bleackley -- a 2014 first-round pick (23rd overall) by the Avs who is still playing major junior hockey in the Western Hockey League -- and defenseman Kyle Wood, who is also still playing juniors and was a 2014 third-round pick (84th overall) by the Avs. If you said you could get a first-round http://www.officialbroncosnflauthentic.com/WOMENS_YOUTH_DANNY_TREVATHAN_JERSEY.html pick and a third-round pick for Boedker, that would be a pretty good return. But do you really want former first- and third-round picks that another team deems expendable?