Ankündigungen/Bekanntmachungen » d NHL team in Toronto would be a

Sochi, Russia (SportsNetwork.com) - The queen is still on top, but her reign has some worthy challengers. South Koreas Kim Yuna began her quest for a second straight Olympic gold medal by posting the top score on Wednesday in the womens short program at the Sochi Olympics. But Kims advantage is slim. She scored a 74.92 as the 17th performer and her lead held solid until Italys Carolina Kostner put together a routine that netted her a score of 74.12. Russias Adelina Sotnikova then sent the home crowd into a frenzy with a routine that scored at 74.64, putting her a mere .28 behind Kim, known in her home country as Queen Yuna. Canadas Kaetlyn Osmond damaged her short program with a heavy stumble en route to a score of 56.18. She is currently 13th. Kims score on Wednesday was good enough to put her first going into Thursdays free skate, with medals awarded following that event. Kim, a two- time world champion, is aiming to become the first repeat gold medalist in the ladies singles since Katarina Witt in 1984 and 88. The 23-year-old used a score of 78.50 in the short program en route to gold four years ago in Vancouver and was solid in Sochi despite a foot injury suffered in September that held her out of action until December. Japans Mao Asada, who won a silver four years ago, fell during her routine and was 16th with a score of 55.51. The U.S. saw its three skaters finish in the top seven, led by Gracie Golds score of 68.63 that landed her in fourth. Ashley Wagner was sixth following a score of 65.21, putting her behind 15- year-old Russian fan-favorite Yulia Lipnitskaya. She earned a score of 65.23 despite a fall during her routine on a triple flip. Another 15-year-old had a solid showing in American Polina Edmunds, who set a new season-best with a score of 61.04 to put her in seventh place. The American woman have something to prove after failing to win an Olympic medal for the first time since 1964 four years ago in Vancouver. In fact, theres only been one U.S. medalist in the ladies singles in the past two Olympics and that was a silver by Sasha Cohen in 2006. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Jersey .C. -- Cam Newton wasnt flawless on Sunday. Robert Horry Jersey . The 12th-ranked Haas served well throughout the match at the Ibirapuera arena, allowing only one break point to the 152nd-ranked Italian. Both players held serve until the first-set tiebreak, when Haas stepped up his game to easily clinch the set. http://www.lakersteamofficial.com/Magic-Johnson-Lakers-Jersey/ ." Those traits were clear to the 24,071 at Olympic Stadium on Saturday as the Impact dominated the scoring chances but settled for a 2-2 draw with the New York Red Bulls in a battle of still-winless Major League Soccer teams. Michael Cooper Lakers Jersey . JOHNS, N. Wilt Chamberlain Lakers Jersey . With timely hitting and good pitching, the Marlins are one win away from sweeping the slumping Houston Astros.11) The last NFL team to lose a game this season, assuming there isnt an undefeated record on the horizon, will be the Cincinnati Bengals, Arizona Cardinals or Philadelphia Eagles. Prior to the season, if I had asked you to nominate 10 teams as the ones most likely to stay undefeated the longest, would any of those three have made your list?12) Should LA Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw win the National Leagues MVP award? I am not in favour of pitchers being considered unless there is no other logical choice, but there really isnt, and when Kershaw pitches, the Dodgers know that if they can score four runs, they will win. And they know that three or two or one might be good enough. That makes Kershaw mighty valuable.13) In the proud history of the Montreal Canadiens, captains have included Toe Blake, Jean Beliveau, Maurice and Henri Richard, Serge Savard, Yvan Cournoyer, Bob Gainey and Saku Koivu. Even if the current Habs roster doesnt include a player who has yet risen to that level, shouldnt the Canadiens have one captain instead of four players who share the honour?14) Modern-day baseball analysts are fond of dismissing the significance of a pitchers won-lost record. Okay, I get it, but in trying to explain the Baltimore Orioles successful season, doesnt the 16-5 record of Wei-yin Chen count for something?15) TV banners can be awfully corny, but can you really argue with one that says the Hamilton Ticats are "rolling up the wins" with their 3-0 record at Tim Hortons Field?16) Not that the Vancouver Canucks are new to goaltending controversy, but this is different. With Roberto Luongo and Cory Schnneider gone, the Canucks goalies are Ryan Miller, Eddie Lack and Jacob Markstrom.ddddddddddddCoach Willie Desjardins says he is comfortable with the idea of carrying all three into the season. Really? If healthy, Miller is good for 60-70 games. So the third guy, likely Markstrom, would be uncomfortable with the idea, wouldnt you say? 17) Was Gary Bettman kidding when he said a second NHL team in Toronto would be a bad idea because its media coverage would be dwarfed by that afforded the Maple Leafs? The idea of a second Toronto team is a constant source of media discussion. Imagine if it actually existed. 17) What is worse for a general manager than the team blowing games? The GM blowing money, of course. After the Atlanta Braves lost their 14th of 18 games in September to be officially eliminated from playoff contention, general manager Frank Wren was fired. Among the contracts he leaves behind is B.J. Uptons 5-year, $75 million deal that has three years remaining. An outfielder who hits barely above the .200 mark, Upton has come to be considered one of the least productive rich players in baseball history.18) Will we say that Masahiro Tanaka is the first pitcher to recover from successful non-Tommy John surgery?19) When Anquan Boldin rips NFL officials and blames them for the San Francisco 49ers 1-2 record, does Roger Goodell put him on a list of players he would have suspended in any other year but cant worry about this year?20) Perhaps the Derek Jeter farewell tour has been over the top, but wont he be missed when we try to find another example of how an athlete should conduct his career? ' ' '