LONDON -- Wayne Rooney scored a brace as Manchester United twice came from behind Sunday to extend its unbeaten run to 12 matches in all competitions with a 2-2 draw at Tottenham but lost more ground in the Premier League title race Rooney levelled the score from close range in the first half against the run of play after Kyle Walker had put Tottenham in front. Rooney then salvaged a point for the Red Devils from the penalty spot in the 57th minute shortly after Sandro had restored Spurs lead with a superb strike in the 54th at White Hart Lane. "He played well again," United manager David Moyes said about Rooney. "He deserves the adulation hes getting. Hes playing well, scoring goals. When the moments come, hes taking them." The result brought some relief to under-fire Tottenham manager Andres Villas-Boas but left both teams unsatisfied. Defending champions Manchester United now trail leader Arsenal by nine points. "Were not as close as wed like to be," Moyes said. Ninth-place Tottenham is lagging 10 points behind the Gunners and will rue its missed chances. "It was a good response to a big defeat to Manchester City," said Villas-Boas, referring to the 6-0 loss at City last weekend that put his future in doubt. "It was not perfect, but it was a good response from a group of players that wanted to do well. The result kept us in touch with a group of teams at the top." Villas-Boas lashed out at journalists for a perceived lack of respect in the aftermath of his teams drubbing. "A couple of articles attacked my integrity and my achievements with the club," Villas-Boas said. United was again without the injured Robin van Persie while Nemanja Vidic started after recovering from a head injury. Villas-Boas made three changes from the Spurs side that lost to City, with Vlad Chiriches, Mousa Dembele and Nacer Chadli replacing Younes Kaboul, Lewis Holtby and Erik Lamela. Looking for its first home win against United in 12 years, Tottenham got off to a strong start and dominated possession in an entertaining first half. United keeper David De Gea boxed a corner from Walker in the first minute and the visitors were kept in their own half by strong pressing from Tottenham. United left back Patrice Evra was lucky to escape a booking when he fouled Aaron Lennon, with referee Mike Dean playing the advantage. Spurs first clear chance came when Tom Cleverley clumsily lost the ball before Lennon -- who was excellent throughout the match down the right flank -- threatened De Gea with a low shot. United responded with a move ignited by Wayne Rooney, who stole the ball from Chiriches before serving up Antonio Valencia. But the England forwards attempt at goal from Valencias resulting cross was blocked by Sandro. Tottenham was logically rewarded for its dominance after a clumsy challenge from Jonny Evans led to a free kick that Walker converted from 20 yards (meters) with a low shot drilled under the jumping United wall in the 18th minute. Tottenham continued to press as a painfully slow United team struggled to string passes together. Spurs should have scored in the 28th after Roberto Soldado started a brilliant move with Paulinho, crossing the ball for the Brazilian who played it back for Soldado behind Evans. But the Spanish striker, alone in front of goal, fired his shot over. Tottenham was made to pay for its missed chances after an error by Walker, who flicked a cross back into Rooneys path. The United forward made the most of the golden chance and scored from close range with a clean finish in the 32nd, prompting chants of "Rooney, Rooney" in the away stand. The second half started slowly until Sandro turned Cleverley with a fine dribble and silenced the United fans with a superb swerving shot into the top right corner in the 54th. The lead hardly lasted as Spurs keeper Hugo Lloris fouled Welbeck in the box two minutes later. Rooney slammed the penalty past the Frenchman to equalize and move above Robbie Fowler into 5th place in the all-time Premier League top scorers, with his 164th goal. "It is not the first time that I have seen us concede penalties against Manchester United where players leave their leg to make contact and then fall down," Villas-Boas claimed. "I can understand it is difficult for referee Mike Dean to analyze but I dont think he is in a good position to judge and for me it is a bad call." Lennon received a standing ovation as he came off to be replaced by Andros Townsend before Soldado was substituted by Jermaine Defoe, but Villas-Boas attempts to shake Uniteds defence did not pay off. Townsend failed to connect with Walkers precise cross in the 79th minute at the end of a counterattack. "Tottenham had their own pride, which they showed today in their performance," said Moyes, admitting the result was disappointing. "I think the big games are all to come in the second half of the season ... There will be a lot of teams now looking to chase them (Arsenal) down and hopefully we will be one of them." . - The first sign that Kansas Speedway was going to be a heartbreaker for Hendrick Motorsports should have come during qualifying when Jimmie Johnson inexplicably spun and earned one of his worst starting spots since 2005. . Hawkins severely sprained his left ankle while making a diving catch during training camp and went on injured reserve with a designation he could return midway through the season. He was back at practice Wednesday.
http://www.bearsrookiestore.com/Bears-A ... on-Jersey/. The team made the announcement after Saturdays 6-5 loss to the Cincinnati Reds. RHP Kenny Giles will be called up from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to fill Adams spot on the roster. . Anor had not scored since getting his first two goals of the season vs. Philadelphia on March 22 but struck with laser precision from distance in the 56th and 75th minutes. Montreal (3-10-5) lost its third straight and Impact coach Frank Klopas said it literally was a case of his players not stepping up. . -- The court fight over NFL concussions should heat up soon as a judge in Philadelphia weighs the fairness of the proposed $765 million settlement.CLEVELAND -- As shot after shot dropped through the net, it became clear LeBron James was going to have one of those special nights. The kind he has every so often. The kind he has when Dwyane Wade sits. James scored 43 points -- 25 in a bewildering first-quarter shooting display -- and Chris Bosh added 21, leading the Miami Heat to a 100-96 win Tuesday night over the Cleveland Cavaliers, who played their first game without injured All-Star guard Kyrie Irving. With Wade out resting his sore knees, James took it upon himself to carry the Heat. The same thing happened on March 3 and James responded by scoring a career-high 61 against Charlotte. "I dont know, its one of those zones," James said, trying to explain how he made 10 of 11 shot and five 3-pointers in the dizzying opening quarter. "When I started the game off, I felt like I could have gone for 50 or 60." James added two crucial blocks and dropped six free throws in the final two minutes, and Bosh had a key rejection to lead the Heat to just their third win in eight games. With Wade out, the Heats two other megastars picked up the slack. Jarrett Jack scored 22 and Dion Waiters added 17 and 11 assists for Cleveland, which was also without starting forward Luol Deng (sprained ankle). Irvings expected to miss two weeks with a strained biceps tendon, an injury that further damages the Cavs fading playoff hopes. Cleveland fell six games behind Atlanta for the final playoff spot. "Our guys hung in there and they competed," Cavs coach Mike Brown said. After one quarter, it was: James 25, Cavs 25. And like the other 20,000 plus in attendance, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra marveled at James accuracy. "That had nothing to do with me," Spoelstra said. "Truth be told, its not like Im absolutely in love with those type of plays, but he had it rolling. So I took a step back for a little bit." The four-time MVP had 31 points at halftime and 37 after three quarters, but the Heat entered the final 12 minutes tied as they were unable to shake off the Cavs, who shot 60 per cent from the floor through three and had all five starters in double figures. With James content to distribute the ball, Bosh scored nine straight points to put Miami ahead 93-88 with 2:24 remaining. Cleveland cut it to three on a basket by Anderson Varejao and had a chance to get closer but James -- with an assist from Udonis Haslem -- snuffed a dunk attempt by Spencer Hawes. Just 11 seconds later, Bosh turned away Waiters and James made a pair of free throws to make it 95-90 with 1:06 remaining. After empty possessions by both teams, James blocked a drive by Waiters and Bosh split a pair of free throws, giving the Heat a 96-90 lead.dddddddddddd Jack made two 3-pointers in the final 15.7 seconds, but both times James answered by hitting two free throws to close it out. Spoelstra was most pleased with Miamis defence down the stretch. "Probably my favourite play was the double block," he said. "U.D. and L.J. going for that. It should be a layup. It should be a dunk. To make that play, those are the things I like to see." James improved to 13-1 against the Cavaliers, the team he left after seven seasons as a free agent in 2010. James made his first six shots -- four of them 3s -- and showed most of his offensive repertoire in the first quarter. He hit fadeaways, runners and a thunderous breakaway dunk. The only shot James missed came on a "heat-check" 3-pointer from way beyond the arc. "Thats what makes LeBron unique in this league," Spoelstra said. "In todays age, there are players who would be looking for numbers with that type of start to see if you can go for 70. LeBrons just trying to play the game the right way. It takes great maturity. Hes selfless." It was James second visit to Cleveland in 10 days. He had been back on March 8, when former teammate Zydrunas Ilgauskas had his jersey retired by the Cavs, who may one day raise the No. 23 James wore to the rafters of Quicken Loans Arena. Much pregame hype focused on the All-Stars future. James can opt out of his contract with Miami this summer and become a free agent, and one of his possible destinations could be Cleveland. Asked directly if he wants to play for his former team again, James was noncommittal. "As of right now, its too hard for me to think about," he said. "We have 20 or less games before we gear up for no sleep for two months, hopefully. So for me to try and take my mind somewhere else when I know whats on its way is almost impossible." NOTES: Wade will be re-evaluated Wednesday when the Heat visit Boston. ... James has yet to fill out his NCAA tournament brackets and didnt seem to be in a hurry to do it anytime soon. "Im terrible," he said. He was then reminded about the $1 billion Gilbert and tycoon Warren Buffett are offering for anyone who picks the games perfectly. Doesnt he want the billion? "No," James said. "Im just going to ask him for it." Its unclear whether he meant Gilbert or Buffett. ... Spoelstra intends to keep C Greg Oden in the starting lineup, a drastic change for Miami, which has favoured smaller, shooter-heavy lineups. Oden made his third start and finished with six points in 14 minutes. ' ' '
