PARIS - Michael Schumacher is showing "small, encouraging signs" that he may awake from his coma, his agent said Wednesday, more than two months after a ski crash left the Formula One champion with severe head injuries. Updates since Schumachers accident have offered few details and limited optimism for the man who once drove the worlds fastest cars and motorcycles but was critically injured on a familiar ski slope during a family outing. Wednesdays statement was little different, describing "an extremely intimate and fragile situation" for his family. "It is very hard to comprehend for all of us that Michael, who had overcome a lot of precarious situations in the past, has been hurt so terribly in such a banal situation," Sabine Kehm, a family representative, wrote in a statement. "We are and remain confident that Michael will pull through and will wake up. There sometimes are small, encouraging signs, but we also know that this is the time to be very patient." Small signs that physicians are watching for could include fluttering eyelids, or efforts to breathe without a ventilator. "This doesnt change ones opinion of Schumachers situation in general. Its still very difficult to predict what his long-term recovery will be like and if he does wake up and comes off the ventilator," said Dr. Tipu Aziz, professor of neurosurgery at Oxford University. "In all likelihood he will be severely disabled," said Aziz, who has not been involved in treating Schumacher. Schumacher, known affectionately as Schumi, was hospitalized with severe head injuries after the Dec. 29 ski accident, which split his helmet as he crashed into rocks on the slope at the Meribel ski station in the French Alps. Doctors put him into a coma to rest his brain and decrease swelling, and they operated to remove blood clots, but some were too deeply embedded. Neurologists not involved in his treatment say full recovery appears increasingly unlikely, given the comas duration and the extent of his injuries. "Every brain injury is different and no two routes to recovery will be the same," said Luke Griggs, a spokesman for Headway, a British brain injury charity. "It is fair to suggest that any patient waking from a three month-long coma will face the prospect of a long and challenging road to recovery, with the eventual outcome uncertain." AP medical writer Maria Cheng contributed from London. . -- ETwaun Moore had 14 points in 30 minutes, and the Orlando Magic defeated the Detroit Pistons 87-86 on Sunday night. . After losing a shutout bid in the dying seconds of Sundays win over the Colorado Avalanche, Luongo would not be denied against the punchless Oilers and is now just one back of Patrick Roy for 14th on the all-time list.
http://www.cheaprangersauthenticjerseys ... jersey.com) - The Carolina Hurricanes hope to remain perfect at home in January on Friday night as they welcome the Vancouver Canucks to PNC Arena. . After not scoring 40 points in the opening quarter in the last five seasons, the Rockets have done it five times this season and twice in the last three games. . J.J. Hardy drove in a run for the Orioles, who bounced back from an 8-4 loss in the series opener on Friday. Fresh off the 15-day disabled list, Derrek Lee went 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Jake Arrieta (7-3) gave up three runs on five hits over six innings to pick up the win.As Cristiano Ronaldo continues to adapt his game, Gareth Bale has the chance to become Real Madrid’s most important attacking player, writes Adam Bate. According to Guillem Balague, it was only when it became apparent that Cristiano Ronaldo was likely to be staying at Real Madrid this summer that Robert Lewandowski cooled on the idea of signing for the Spanish club. It was the enormous potential of a Bale-Lewandowski partnership that appealed to the Pole. Competing with Ronaldo was a different matter.Its a nugget of information that puts Bales decision to join Real in the summer of 2013 into context. The Welshman had made his name at Tottenham by showcasing a similar skill-set to Ronaldo with his dribbles down the flank, long-range shots and distinct style of taking free-kicks. Indeed, Bale has visibly modelled his approach on the celebrated forward. So its perhaps understandable that there have been times in his three-year stay in Madrid that finding the right role within the team has not seemed straightforward. While predecessor Mesut Ozils reputation for selflessness complemented Ronaldo perfectly, Bales similarity was seen as something that counted against him. See Bales latest trick as he juggles a golf ball between a club and his feet The statistics bore that out in that first season. While the campaign was a triumphant one, culminating in a Champions League victory in which both men scored, Ronaldos presence did inhibit Bales effectiveness. In fact, he netted more goals in the seven games he started without Ronaldo than the 17 in which they were named in the starting line-up together.Even now his scoring record when Ronaldos not around is a goal a game. In his first two seasons in Madrid, he scored 19 in 44 starts when the Portuguese played too. However, those numbers began to change last season. Bale scored 15 goals in 19 La Liga games alongside Ronaldo and suggestions of issues between the pair began to dissipate. Bale stepping out of the shadow? With Ronaldo Without Ronaldo Apps Goals Apps Goals 2013/14 17 7 7 8 2014/15 27 12 3 1 2015/16 19 15 2 3 TOTAL 63 34 12 12 There were several factors in that.dddddddddddd Rafael Benitez had prioritised Bales positioning, giving him opportunities more centrally, and Zinedine Zidane continued to encourage this freedom of movement. But the biggest change was simply the ticking of time. The 31-year-old Ronaldo is a very different animal to the one that once tore at opposition defences.In their first season together, Bale and Ronaldo averaged 2.5 and 2.4 successful dribbles per 90 minutes respectively. But Ronaldos dribbling numbers have been falling year on year to such a degree that last season he recorded the lowest figures of his career to date. His dribbling days are all but over. Its as an accumulator of goals that he excels now. Dribbling differences Dribbles per 90 Gareth Bale Cristiano Ronaldo Difference 2013/14 2.5 2.4 +0.1 2014/15 2.3 1.6 +0.7 2015/16 2.2 1.4 +0.8 He is now just a goalscorer, La Liga expert Terry Gibson told Sky Sports. He is now almost a full centre-forward. It was in this role that Ronaldo helped Portugal to glory at the European Championship this summer, scoring three times - including the opener against Bales Wales in the semi-final - but seldom being involved in the build-up play.Ronaldos game has changed and the onus is on him to adapt. But for Bale, its an opportunity for him to seize the initiative and become the driving force of this Real Madrid team. The players who were once deemed too similar can now complement each other - the dribbler and the finisher. Those at the club are far from oblivious to the changes. Bale was told next season he would be the focal point of Real Madrid. When he has been given the opportunity, he has embraced it fully and enjoyed himself. Ronaldo has been limiting his influence on the game. Guillem Balague Bale was told next season he would be the focal point of Real Madrid, said Balague recently. When he has been given the opportunity, he has embraced it fully and enjoyed himself. Ronaldo has been limiting his influence on the game. He is picked to play in and around the box so there is more work to do for the others and more work to do for Bale.Bales efforts in France impressed in Spain. In his AS column, Lothar Matthaus rated him alongside Antoine Griezmann as one of the two faces of Euro 2016 while Marca talked of his reputation and importance to Real Madrid continuing to grow. A contract that expires in 2019 is expected to be extended to the summer of 2021 or beyond. In the more immediate future, theres a big season ahead. Bale reports for duty at the end of July having had some time to relax, proposing to his long-time partner and embarking on a golf tour of Scotland. His competitive return will come in the European Super Cup against Sevilla in Trondheim in the first week of August. Ronaldo will not be fit.The plan for Zidane and Real is that the 2016/17 journey ends with what theyre already calling Duodecima - the clubs 12th European Cup success. And where is the final to be played? Bales home city of Cardiff. He might have lost his personal battle with Ronaldo at Euro 2016, but Bale could yet be the big winner as the power shifts at Real Madrid. Win Sky Q Ultra HD with Sky Sports 43 LG TV plus a Sky Q Ultra HD package including Sky Sports to be won EVERY DAY - enter now! Also See: WATCH: Bales golf skills Ronaldo wants new deal ' ' '
