CHICAGO - Magic Johnson joked about his involvement in the controversy surrounding Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling on Sunday while delivering the keynote address at the National Restaurant Association Show. Johnsons remarks focused on his restaurant and food services businesses, but he did briefly mention the Sterling situation at the start of his 50-minute talk. "These last two weeks, I dont know," he said. "I thought I should go back to the food service industry because these last two weeks have been unbelievable. "But Im glad to be here and even with that said, I still have a big smile on my face." Johnson, the NBA Hall of Famer turned entrepreneur, was thrust into the news because part of Sterlings racist rant on the audio released by TMZ last month focused on him. Sterling complained that his female friend, V. Stiviano, had posed for a picture with Johnson and posted it on Instagram. Within days of the tape being released, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver announced that Sterling was banned from the league for life and he was fined $2.5 million. Silver also announced he would ask the other NBA owners to force Sterling to sell. Sterling made no public comments for a week before agreeing to do a lengthy sit-down interview with CNN. He apologized during the interview, but then veered into an attack of Johnson, saying he wasnt a good role model for the children of Los Angeles because he was promiscuous and developed HIV. Sterling also questioned what Johnson has done for minorities. "Man, I didnt know that taking a picture with someone would mean ." Johnson said Sunday. "Im not going to stop taking pictures, so I just hope it doesnt happen anymore. But theres no room in our society for racism." That was all Johnson had to say about the matter during his talk. He didnt stop to take questions from reporters after the event and none of the questions asked by the audience during the address concerned his controversy or his possible interest in buying the Clippers. . Some members of the U.S. Congress arent so sure. They say Russia isnt doing enough to assure that athletes will be protected at the Feb. 7-23 games, happening not far from an Islamic insurgency that Russias huge security apparatus has struggled for two decades to quell. Russia may run greater risks in towns outside the tightly controlled Olympic zone. Suicide bombs last month a few hundred kilometres (miles) away have increased concerns, and an Islamic warlord has urged his followers to attack the Sochi Olympics, Russian President Vladimir Putins pet project. . Mired in an offensive slump, Lowry - the NBAs leader in taking charges this season - did what he has learned to do best, standing his ground and drawing a crucial offensive foul on the Cavaliers all-star point guard. Fast forward 30 seconds to the Cavs next possession, with the home team still trailing by three, Spencer Hawes - one of the leagues best passing big men - threw an interception, intended for Tyler Zeller and picked off by DeMar DeRozan.
http://www.cheapsenatorsjerseysauthenti ... gel-jersey. The 23-year-old Poland international is back as first choice at Arsenal after losing his regular spot in the team on occasions over the last three seasons. . Signs of a turnaround have emerged in this series at Minnesota. Brian Roberts had three doubles and a triple for the first four-extra-base-hit game of his 14-year career, and the Yankees used their bullpen to preserve a 6-5 win over the Twins on Friday. . For the first time all night, as the Raptors were on the clock to make the 20th overall selection, no one had the slightest idea what was about to happen. No leaks, no whispers, nothing.ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Bills coach Doug Marrone is maintaining his faith and patience in EJ Manuel despite the rookie quarterbacks latest dud. "He has the ability to do it," Marrone said Monday. "Theres no doubt in my mind." That doesnt mean Marrone is anywhere close to being satisfied with Manuels development, and the lack of consistency the first-round pick out of Florida State has shown in failing to string together one good outing after another. "Do I want to be standing here today having to go through these pains of whats going on? Absolutely not," he said. "But Ive learned over the years that this is the stuff you go through. And you have to just put your head down and just keep working." Manuels performance is under the microscope a day after a 27-6 loss at Tampa Bay that pushed the Bills (4-9) to the brink of extending the NFLs longest active playoff drought to 14 consecutive seasons. In dropping to 3-6 on the season, and 0-4 on the road, Manuel went 18 of 33 for 184 yards while throwing four interceptions to double his season total. He led an offence that managed a season-low 214 yards, converted just one of 11 third-down opportunities and crossed midfield just three times. "He did not play well," Marrone said. And yet when it came to laying blame, the coach noted there was plenty to go around in a game where very little went right for a young team showing signs of regressing in having lost seven of nine. "Hey, if everything was going well around him and he was the culprit, it would be easy for me to say wed go ahead and pull him and put another quarterback in there. I dont have any problem with that," Marrone said. "But at the end of the day, we need to make sure that people around him are doing what theyre supposed to do." Two of Manuels interceptions came on passes that glanced off receivers hands. Protection was an issue, with Manuel being sacked seven times. The running game -- usually the Bills streength -- was relatively non-existent in managing a season-low 67 yards and led by Manuel, who scrambled five times for 29 yards.dddddddddddd And penalties were an issue, with Buffalo being flagged 11 times for 114 yards. That included an offensive holding penalty against rookie receiver Robert Woods, which negated C.J. Spillers 83-yard touchdown catch early in the third quarter. The Bills defence was inconsistent, too. Buffalo limited the Buccaneers to two field goals off five turnovers and held them to 28 yards offence in the second half. The damage, however, was done in the first half, when the Bills gave up two lengthy scores, starting with Bobby Raineys 80-yard touchdown run on the second play from scrimmage. Add it up and Buffalo, which travels to play Jacksonville (4-9) on Sunday, is assured of finishing its ninth straight season without a winning record. "We will get this thing turned around," running back Fred Jackson said. He then paused, before adding: "Im sure people are sick of us saying that." Frustration is beginning to set in a day after the Bills veteran leaders were given the opportunity to voice their concerns during a closed-door, 25-minute meeting immediately following the loss. Centre Eric Wood, on Monday, said the Bills need to "grow up" if they want to make the transformation from losers to winners. "Just a couple of weeks ago, we were saying were not far off from where we want to be as a team, and then you go and lay an egg like yesterday, and you feel like youre starting over at Square 1," Wood said. "Were not. We have good players on this team. Weve just got to do some growing up." Defensive tackle Kyle Williams said player accountability is a concern. "I think you look at where we stand right now, you can question everything," Williams said. "Everythings a red flag. Everythings discouraging right now. But we have to get guys, all of us, to respond and respond better." ' ' '
