Nxwh's Blog (233)

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- While much of the nation is buried in snow, glazed by ice or just plain shivering in the cold, its time to play ball in the desert. Spring training officially began Thursday when Arizona Diamondbacks pitchers and catchers reported, with their first workout set for Friday. On the other side of suburban Phoenix, in Glendale, Los Angeles Dodgers pitchers and catchers report on Saturday. Full-squad workouts for both teams begin next week. The Diamondbacks and Dodgers…

MINNEAPOLIS -- While the rest of the NBA and their own fans clamour for the Minnesota Timberwolves to hire a coach and make a move with Kevin Love, the organization is remaining patient with two decisions that could determine the fate of their franchise for the next five years. The team is letting the search for a replacement for the retired Rick Adelman play out and has yet to see any potential trade talks involving Love, who can opt out after next season, or any of its other players…

TORONTO -- Canadian international Dwayne De Rosario is happy to be back home, saying he has unfinished business with Toronto FC. "This is my city," the Toronto native said upon his arrival Wednesday night. And the 35-year-old former league MVP says he is hoping to making 2014 a memorable year. "Im really looking forward to it," De Rosario told The Canadian Press. "I like the vision that (MLSE president) Tim Leiweke has. Its along the same lines and goals that I had when I came here the…

Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment president and CEO Tim Leiweke has big plans for Toronto FC, and its going to start with a search for two premier strikers. Speaking to TSNs Brian Williams, Leiweke outlined some of his short-term plans to improve the club in time for the 2014 season. "Im going to be in Europe in the next few weeks to find two world class strikers for that soccer team once and for all - stop the chatter and perform and deliver." Williams asked Leiweke if there is a…

INDIANAPOLIS -- The Eastern Conferences top team just got more imposing. On Saturday, the Pacers added size and scoring punch to their roster by signing mercurial free agent centre Andrew Bynum for the rest of the season. Team officials did not release additional details about the contract and said Bynum was expected to join the team sometime next week. "We are obviously happy to have him join our team," Larry Bird said in a statement issued by the team less than 12 hours before…

MINSK, Belarus -- Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin has recovered from a right leg injury and is in action for Russia against France in the quarterfinals of the hockey world championship (Live NOW on TSN2). Ovechkin missed the final group match against Belarus on Tuesday after injuring his right leg in a collision during Russias game against Germany. The forward needed hospital treatment Sunday after taking a hit to his right knee from Marcus Kink midway through the third…

FALL RIVER, Mass. -- Prosecutors in the murder case against former New England Patriot Aaron Hernandez want the judge to recuse herself because, they said Wednesday, she and the lead prosecutor have a public history of antagonism and she has shown bias. Bristol County Assistant District Attorney William McCauley wants Judge Susan Garsh to remove herself from the case, he said during a hearing in Fall River Superior Court. McCauley did not detail his reasons in court, but a new filing…

NORTH SYDNEY, N.S. - Luke Kirwan scored two goals to lead the United States to gold with a 4-0 victory over Pacific at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge. Colin White had a goal and an assist for the U.S., and Christian Fischer also scored. Jeremy Bracco recorded three assists. Canadas Zach Sawchenko was constantly tested in net, stopping 48 of 52 shots in the losing effort. American goaltender Michael Lackey, meanwhile, made just 12 saves for the win. Pacific defeated Russia 7-3 on…

ST. LOUIS - Michael Wacha doesnt mind a little bad weather. Wacha had to wait out yet another lengthy rain delay, Matt Carpenter drove in three runs and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Chicago Cubs 6-4 Sunday. St. Louis took two of three from the Cubs and has won four of six. Chicago has lost three of four. Rain has figured in all three of Wachas starts this season. He actually seemed to embrace a third-inning downpour that halted play against the Cubs for 46 minutes. "Im used to it,"…

Indianapolis, IN (SportsNetwork.com) - Indiana Pacers forward Danny Granger is expected to make his season debut on Friday after missing the teams first 25 games with a left calf strain. Granger appeared in just five games last season before a lingering left knee injury required season-ending surgery. While attempting a comeback in early October, Granger pulled a calf in the same left leg. "Theres no way to simulate game intensity," Indiana head coach Frank Vogel said of Grangers…

MADRID, Spain -- Xabi Alonso is set to play his first game since last season when his Real Madrid hosts Sevilla on Wednesday in the Spanish league. The 31-year-old Spain midfielder hasnt played since Madrid lost in the Copa del Rey final to Atletico Madrid in May due to back and foot injuries. Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti says "Xabi is available. Hes training and I think that tomorrow he will be on our bench and Ill try to give him a few minutes." Alonso had back surgery and after…

TORONTO -- The Toronto Blue Jays started last season with an April swoon that they never really recovered from. Buoyed by a four-game winning streak and a return to the .500 mark entering play Thursday night, manager John Gibbons said the feeling around the team is much better now than this time last year. "No doubt. I think last year was a little bit of a shock to everybody," Gibbons said during a pre-game availability. "But I think they always had a good attitude. But everybody was kind of…

One of the greatest MCs of all time with Cabbie. Nas was very introspective and almost humble at times during the interview. Nas put on a special anniversary concert to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Illmatic at the Kennedy Center in Washington accompanied by the National Symphony Orchestra. cheap jerseys from china free shipping . MLB.com reports that the Blue Jays have interest in acquiring second baseman Gordon Beckham from the Chicago White Sox and adds that general manager Alex…

MINNEAPOLIS -- The excuses came ready made for the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday night. Blake Griffin and Jamal Crawford were out with injuries. They were playing their fourth game of a five-game road trip. Chris Paul would have none of that. "I said, Fellas, lets be who we are. We got who we got, lets keep the train moving," Paul told them. "We said, No excuses." And no mercy on a Minnesota Timberwolves team that just wants this massively disappointing season to end. Darren Collison…

TORONTO – Ten years into the NHL career of Joffrey Lupul and it would appear as though a ceiling has not been reached. Instead, at the ripe old age of 30, his performance would suggest that he is only getting better with age. Lupul has already scored five times this season, giving him 16 goals in 19 regular season games dating back to the 2013 campaign. His career, once legitimately in doubt because of injuries, has only climbed higher in Toronto. Through 116 games as a Leaf, he has…

SINGAPORE - Former Olympic swimming champion Ian Thorpe placed seventh in the 100-metre individual medley final at a World Cup event in Singapore on Friday in his first competitive race in five years. The Australian finished in 56.33 seconds — which was better than his heat time of 56.74 seconds — but well behind South African winner Chad Le Clos time of 53.06 seconds. The 29-year-old Thorpe retired in 2006 after winning five Olympic gold medals and 11 world titles and setting 13…

MINNEAPOLIS -- In the wake of a blowout loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Minnesota Twins focused on sending the NL club back to California with a pair of losses. Thanks to Scott Baker, they were able to achieve just that. Baker struck out nine while pitching into the eighth inning and Ben Revere had two hits to help the Twins win the three-game series with a 1-0 victory Wednesday. Baker (6-5) allowed six hits and walked one in 7 1-3 innings, dropping his ERA to 3.15. Minnesota…

BROSSARD, Que. -- Goalie Carey Price and defencemen Andrei Markov and Alexei Emelin werent on the flight when the Montreal Canadiens left Tuesday to face the Blackhawks in Chicago. Coach Michel Therrien said he will give the three players a rest ahead of the NHL playoffs. The Canadiens play Wednesday night in Chicago and return home to face the New York Islanders on Thursday night before ending the regular season Saturday against the New York Rangers. "At this stage, a lot of players…

MINSK, Belarus -- Russia coach Oleg Znarok was banned for the ice hockey world championship final against Finland for making an obscene gesture toward Sweden assistant coach Rikard Gronborg. The incident was prompted by Mikael Backlunds hit against Sergei Plotnikov in the final seconds of their semifinal on Saturday that Russia won 3-1. The disciplinary panel of the International Ice Hockey Federation banned Znarok Sunday for making a throat-slashing gesture toward Gronborg during…

DETROIT -- The Detroit Red Wings signed defenceman Jonathan Ericsson to a $25.5 million, six-year contract Wednesday to keep him off the market in July. "He wouldve been tough to lose in free agency," Red Wings general manager Ken Holland said. "This was a big priority because in a two-year period, we lost Nick Lidstrom, Brian Rafalski and Brad Stuart. We couldnt afford to lose Big E, too." Detroit drafted Ericsson with the last pick in the 2002 NHL draft, 291st overall, and he has…