Michael van Gerwen showed early signs that he could reach the very top in darts, says three-time BDO world champion Martin Adams. World No 1 Van Gerwen will target the Premier League trophy in this Thursdays Play-Off night at The O2, live on Sky Sports 2.But the 59-year-old Adams first came across the Dutchman when he was a youngster and the pair have shared four matches, with both men winning two apiece. I think the first time I ever saw Michael would have been an exhibition night in Holland, Adams told Sky Sports.I cant remember what year, but he struck me as a very talented young player. He was a young player, who was good at what he was doing, and he looked like he could have a good future. Martin Adams on Michael van Gerwen He was very young. He looked like he should have been in bed and not playing out as it were. He knew how to score, how to count. Thats always a big bonus in any darts match.He was a young player, who was good at what he was doing, and he looked like he could have a good future. He certainly had a talent for it.Wolfie Adams was beaten 7-5 by a 17-year-old Van Gerwen in the 2006 World Masters final, but Mighty Mike then endured a worrying slump in form. Michael van Gerwen fired in a 164 checkout during his Premier League win over Phil Taylor in Rotterdam Van Gerwen has since re-emerged as the sports top player and Adams believes young talents need time to develop their mental strength.Adams said: No, I wouldnt say I was surprised, no. He had a spell when he first went to the PDC where nothing went right at all and you did question his mind. Will he ever come out of that slump and climb back up?Something clicks and I think he stopped thinking about it and just concentrated on his darts and winning.If theyre thinking too much about it, thinking about who theyre playing, and how good that player is - forget all that. Just get on and play your game. Think about how good you are. You know how good you are - go and prove it. Dont tell me how good you, show me. Adams played alongside Van Gerwen on the BBO tour before the Dutchmans switch to the PDC Youve got to have self-belief, youve got to not worry about your opponent, worry too much about what hes going to do. Youll be seeing what hes going to do, because hell be doing it in front of you.Take advantage of his mistakes, his mistakes will be missed doubles. Take advantage of that and thats what Michael does. He does it very, very well.Van Gerwen set a record average of 123.4 earlier in the Premier League season, the highest mark in the history of televised darts. Michael van Gerwen set a new record for the highest televised average score, beating Phil Taylors previous record Adams insists sky-high averages are a regular occurrence, although he accepts that Van Gerwen might not ever hit those scoring heights again in front of the cameras.My guess is, thats not the highest ever average thats been recorded somewhere, he said. It might be the highest ever recorded on telly. Adams open to Slam return Martin Wolfie Adams happy to return to this years Grand Slam of Darts Those sort of games will crop up so often by different players. It could be Michaels most exceptional game of all time and ever. He might not ever achieve again, he may do, he may not.I dont read too much into it personally. If youve got the rub of the green, you take advantage of it.Watch the Premier League Darts play-offs from The O2 Arena on Thursday at 7pm, Sky Sports 2. Also See: Sky Live: PL Darts Play-Offs Darts stars hidden helpers PL Darts: Road to O2 MVGs quickfire quiz . -- Zach Johnson asked his short-iron approach on the par-4 18th to "Do something right, baby. . He has spent much of his adult life trying to give back to his native South Sudan, the war-torn African nation the Cavaliers forward and his family fled when he was a young boy.
http://www.cheapbillsjerseyssale.com/?t ... ersey-sale. Teams one through twenty competing in Englands top flight are each fatally flawed. A wide-open, highly competitive and mistake-filled season has followed. .A. remained bitter for Henrik Lundqvist and the Rangers on the long flight back home to New York. .com) - Jahlil Okafor erupted for 25 points and 20 rebounds as No.It will take the last game of the regular season to determine what seed the Toronto Raptors will be for the playoffs. The Raptors have to get through the pesky New York Knicks Wednesday at Madison Square Garden and can lock up the third spot in the Eastern Conference with a win or a Chicago loss in Charlotte. Listen to the game live on TSN Radio 1050 at 8pm et/5pm pt. Toronto will fall to the No. 4 spot if it loses and the Bulls top the Bobcats. In the postseason for the first time since 2007-08, the Atlantic Division- champion Raptors set a franchise record for wins with Mondays 110-100 victory versus the Milwaukee Bucks at Air Canada Centre. Greivis Vasquez started in place of DeMar DeRozan and made five 3-pointers en route to 25 points, while Kyle Lowry added 24 points for Toronto, which posted its team-best 48th win. DeMar DeRozan, who was held out of Mondays win over Milwaukee for rest, will return to the lineup. The previous record of 47 wins was achieved twice in 2000-01 and 2006-07. "I always have been ready for any opportunity since I got here," Vasquez said. "Im all about winning and they gave me a chance to start, and I want to help the team win and have a presence in games." Jonas Valanciunas recorded 14 points and 13 rebounds as the Raptors reached the 100-point mark for a seventh straight game. DeMar DeRozan, who was held out of Mondays win over Milwaukee for rest, will return to the lineup. His 22.8 scoring average is the highest since former Raptor and current Miami center Chris Bosh averaged 22.7 ppg in 2008-09. DeRozan is posting 24.2 points in the last six games. The Raptors have won nine of their last 11 games and will try to work on their 22-18 road record at MSG. They have won four of the lastt five road contests.dddddddddddd New York spoiled Brooklyns chances of locking up the No. 5 seed in the East with Tuesdays 109-98 victory over the Nets at Barclays Center. With All-Star forward Carmelo Anthony shut down for the rest of the season with a shoulder issue, rookie Tim Hardaway, Jr. posted a team-best 16 points. Amare Stoudemire, J.R. Smith and Shannon Brown scored 14 points apiece, while Cole Aldrich ended with 13 points and 13 rebounds for the Knicks, who missed out on the eighth seed in the East. The Knicks have won three in a row and six of the last eight games. "You enjoy it more when youre in (the playoff hunt), when youre fighting for something." Smith said of the win. Meanwhile, an MRI on Anthonys shoulder revealed a small tear in the labrum of his right shoulder. The injury will not require surgery and he will be evaluated in a month. This could be Anthonys last season with the Knicks and he is a pending free agent. He will miss the playoffs for the first time in his career and averaged 27.4 ppg this season. Anthony could opt out of his contract this summer and test free agency. The Knicks, of course, hope to make some changes with Phil Jackson as the new team president and that could mean the departure of head coach Mike Woodson. Stoudemire is expected to sit Wednesdays game for the Knicks, who have an 18-22 record at home and will not participate in the postseason for the first time since the 2009-10 campaign. Toronto is 2-1 against New York this season and won the first meeting at Madison Square Garden 95-83 on Dec. 27. These two Atlantic Division inhabitants have split the last 10 games. Lowry is averaging 24.0 points, 8.0 assists and 4.7 rebounds in three games against the Knicks this season. ' ' '
