FIVE QUICK NBA THOUGHTS 1. DERRICK ROSE (Bulls): Had a major knot in my stomach when I heard about his knee injury. Feel awful for him. Hes one of my favourite players to watch. Its a significant blow to him and his team. There is no doubt that the Bulls, based upon their remaining players, outstanding coaching and the winning atmosphere in their organization, will still be a Playoff team. There will be some big discussions for GM Gar Forman to have with president John Paxson and the Reinsdorf family as to which direction to take this thing. Without Rose, theyre not a championship contender. With the pending contractual free agency issues on the horizon with Carlos Boozer and Luol Deng it will be fascinating to see if they buy, hold or sell. High stakes are involved here and lots will happen there in the Summer of 2014. This injury sets off a potential chain reaction that will send some competitive ripples around the Eastern Conference. 2. WESLEY MATTHEWS (Blazers): Portland is red hot and hes been outstanding at the off guard spot. He is shooting the lights out from behind the arc at 52 per cent and is an excellent finisher off the bounce and in transition. The former second-round pick was a bold free agent signing a few years back and hes paid huge dividends. Forget where guys are picked. Can they play and do they have a winning vibe about them? Hes got both. Good get. 3. DJ AUGUSTIN (Raptors): Has had a tough start to his run with the Raptors but it was great to see how prepared he was when Dwane Casey inserted him in the second half vs. Washington on Friday night. A pro all the way. Two huge assists and a dagger three-pointer. He made huge plays that swung the game in his teams favour. I see lots of guys pout and hang their heads and act like babies when things dont go their way - its nice to see a guy who keeps an even keel and in spite of the challenges he was having is not going to let it get him down. Im quite impressed by that. The Raptors backup point guard situation needs stability. Maybe those limited minutes against the Wizards will get him on track and give his confidence a boost. The Raps need it. 4. MARC GASOL (Grizzlies): Hes out indefinitely with a knee injury. Loved the pickup of Kosta Koufas from Denver in the off-season. Nice opportunity for him to play big minutes alongside Zach Randolph. Former Raptor Ed Davis will get some run as well - its a defining time for him since the Grizzlies didnt pick up his contract option. With all due respect to both of these guys, Gasol is the much better player yet at this time of year if you can get guys like this to fill in and produce then you become a stronger team later in the year when youre at full strength. Theyll miss the high-low action that he brings to their team along with his physical/tough play. 5. RAPTORS HOME STAND: Toronto has three more games this week at the ACC before heading out west. Brooklyn will be desperate for a W, the Heat are a tough match-up for the Raps and then Denver will bring its up-tempo act into town. Can I sign up for a 2-1 week and an 8-8 mark as they head west? I would take that right now if I could. Build the momentum and confidence early in the season and it carries over over the long haul. Lay the groundwork and foundation now. Eddie Robinson Jersey . Louis Cardinals a hard-fought victory. The Colorado Rockies intentionally walked Yadier Molina with one out and runners on first and third to load the bases for Kozma. Phil Maton Jersey . Jesus Navas bookended yet another huge home win for City by scoring after 14 seconds and again in second-half stoppage time, with Sergio Aguero also netting in each half to add to an own goal by Sandro and a brilliant strike by Alvaro Negredo. https://www.cheapindiansonline.com/768u-...ey-indians.html. The Rainbow FlickNext up is the Rainbow Flick, or as you probably know it, the trick that everybody at soccer camp thought they knew how to do. Indians Jerseys 2019 .Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg have been neck and neck all season, with 17 points separating the rivals and double points on offer for the race.Tensions between them have spilled over during the campaign and the pairs fragile relationship was evident during Thursdays pre-race news conference, when Rosberg goaded Hamilton by advising him to race cleanly. Larry Doby Jersey .7 million, one-year contract.The deal, announced Friday, includes a $50,000 performance bonus if the left-hander appears in 60 games.TORONTO – Amid the pomp and circumstance of the home opener, the great Roy Halladay throwing out the ceremonial first pitch and the major league debut of Yankees phenomenon Masahiro Tanaka, it could be easy to lose the significance of Dustin McGowans role in Friday nights festivities. Yet there he was, toeing the rubber to throw the first pitch of the first inning for the first time since September 26, 2011. Even greater an accomplishment, considering his significant injury history, is that McGowan is healthy to begin a season for the first time since 2008. Not many pitchers undergo three shoulder surgeries and another on a knee and continue to throw in the best league in the world. McGowan is a rare exception. Hes allowing himself to enjoy the experience but not enough to distract him from the task at hand. "I have a little bit but the last few days, my focus has been on what Ive got to do to get the Yankees out," McGowan told TSN.ca. "It feels like Ive got a lot of stuff going on in my head but thats part of it. Im ready." The shoulder surgeries chronicle like this: in 2008, to repair fraying of the labrum; two years later, in 2010, to repair a torn rotator cuff; in 2012, an arthroscopic procedure. McGowan underwent the knee surgery in 2009. Yet there he was on April 4, 2014, starting Torontos first home game of the season. His wife Jilly and their two children were in attendance. At the time McGowan spoke to TSN.ca, he was trying to arrange for his brother-in-law to be in the crowd, too. The result matters because the game counts in the standings. But in its own way, the fact McGowan is on the mound in the first place, the fact he went to the Blue Jays late last season and told them he wanted to take one more shot at being a starting pitcher and the fact he achieved the goal seems just as important as the result itself. "To be honest with you, I am," manager John Gibbons said, admitting to surprise. "All hes been throughh, hes defying all the odds really.ddddddddddddSo many guys thats happened to disappear and then to be able to maintain most of it, I mean hes not popping it like he once did but theres still plenty there." There really is no plan for McGowan because nobody knows what lies ahead. Hes tired of being asked how his shoulder feels after every bullpen session and each outing but those are important questions. The Blue Jays intend to monitor McGowans innings for as long as this experiment goes. The club, should it choose, could utilize its three April off days to push McGowan back, giving him extra off days in between appearances. If his shoulder starts to ache, or "bark" as players often say, McGowans bosses want to hear about it. "Ive told him multiple times, any concerns at all, youre not doing this for us, youre doing this because you want to do it," said general manager Alex Anthopoulos. "He had no problems at all last year. We would have loved to have been able to stretch him out but we werent in a position to do it." Halladay tosses ceremonial first pitch It was an all-too-familiar scene: the great Roy Halladay back on the mound for the home opener in Toronto. But he wasnt in full uniform and he only had the ceremonial first pitch to deliver. It was a strike. "Its pretty cool to be back," said Halladay. "It doesnt seem that long ago when you walk in. It feels like I was just here. Its exciting. Im enjoying retirement but this is pretty cool to be able to come back here." Halladay has settled in the Tampa Bay area and went to the Jays season opener against the Rays on Monday at the behest of his son. He worried that sitting in the stands would be uncomfortable so soon after his retirement. "I had my doubts," said Halladay. "But, honestly, I enjoyed it and I have no regrets, no disappointments. Im actually really happy with the choice I made and it was the right choice I made." ' ' '
