ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Bobby Ryan helped the U.S. to the silver medal in the 2010 Olympics. Unless Ryan gets a spot for the Sochi Games to replace an injured player, he will not have a chance to help the Americans go for gold. The U.S. Olympic hockey team was announced Wednesday after Torontos shootout victory over Detroit in the NHL Winter Classic. "We did not pick the 25 best players," general manager David Poile said. "We picked the 25 players we thought gave us a chance to win the gold medal." Ryan was perhaps the most surprising omission on the 25-man roster. Jack Johnson and Erik Johnson, a pair of defencemen who played in the Vancouver Games, also didnt make the cut. Jimmy Howard, who couldnt make enough stops to help the Red Wings beat the Maple Leafs, appears to be the Americans third goaltender behind Jonathan Quick and Ryan Miller. At Sochi, the U.S. forwards will be: David Backes, Dustin Brown, Ryan Callahan, Patrick Kane, Ryan Kesler, Phil Kessel, T.J. Oshie, Max Pacioretty, Zach Parise, Joe Pavelski, Paul Stastny, Derek Stepan, James van Riemsdyk and Blake Wheeler. John Carlson, Justin Faulk, Cam Fowler, Paul Martin, Ryan McDonagh, Brooks Orpik, Kevin Shattenkirk and Ryan Suter will be on defence for the Americans. Miller was named MVP of the ice hockey tournament at the Vancouver Games, but he wasnt a lock to keep a spot because Quick, one of many players on the team who has been injured this season, has been perhaps the worlds best at stopping shots the past two seasons. Howard, Schneider, Gibson, Tim Thomas and Craig Anderson also were options for the selection committee. To play to their potential, a lot of banged-up players will have to get healthy this month and stay that way through February. Players who couldve potentially been on the team, but werent selected include: Ben Bishop, Keith Yandle, Kyle Okposo, Cory Schneider, Brandon Saad and Dustin Byfuglien. The Americans expect to be a medal contender after they were regarded as young underdogs in 2010, when they were a goal away from knocking off the host Canadians. The team will be led by Pittsburgh Penguins coach Dan Bylsma. He has been at ease publicly, saying he likes the Americans chances to win gold for the first time since the Miracle on Ice victory in 1980. . Portland won Game 4 Sunday night at the Moda Center and are now up 3-1. The last time the Blazers won a playoff series came in the 2000 Western Conference semifinals against the Utah Jazz. . Bring on Freddy Garcia. The well-travelled 36-year-old right-hander earned his second NL victory since 2007, and his first since he joined the Atlanta Braves last month, pitching six innings to help beat Miami 6-1 Thursday.
http://www.cheapcavaliersauthenticjerse ... zic-jersey. JOHNS, N. . Meeks has agreed to a $19.5 million, three-year deal with Detroit, a person familiar with the situation said Tuesday night. The person, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because free agents cant sign contracts until the leagues moratorium ends July 10, also said Cartier Martin had agreed to a one-year contract with the rebuilding franchise. .A. Happ. The Toronto Blue Jays will be looking to improve the starting rotation ahead of next season and pitchers like Happ have a chance to show they belong as the disastrous 2013 campaign draws to a close. SAN ANTONIO -- The San Antonio Spurs needed a pick me up after a disappointing loss and a series of injuries, and they got it Sunday night by stepping all over the Milwaukee Bucks. Patty Mills had 20 points, Tim Duncan had 11 points and 13 rebounds in limited action, and San Antonio rolled to a 110-82 victory over Milwaukee that kept the Bucks winless in the new year. Marco Belinelli scored 14 points, Jeff Ayres and Nando De Colo had 13 points apiece, and Kawhi Leonard added 11 points in 21 minutes for San Antonio. After hanging their heads following a 109-100 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday night, the Spurs were feeling pretty good after trouncing the Bucks. "(My confidence is) going through the roof, man" Ayres said. "You dont see me out there? Im having fun, dunking on people and stuff. Its awesome. Life is good." Even San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich was in a light-hearted mood, joking about the season debut of athletic, 6-foot-9 forward Malcolm Thomas. "I thought he was real active," Popovich said. "He blocked (two) shots. You know we dont block shots; thats not part of our program . thats a joke." The merriment came at the expense of adding to Milwaukees misery. The Bucks have lost nine straight, dropping those games by an average of 15 points. Making matters worse for Milwaukee, starting off guard Luke Ridnour left the game after spraining his right wrist late in the first quarter. The wrist bent back after it was sandwiched between Mills and Ekpe Udoh as Ridnour attempted to roll off a screen. He still attempted a 19-foot jumper, but feverishly signalled for a sub as he clutched his wrist in pain. "The X-rays were negative, which is a good sign," Bucks coach Larry Drew said. "Right now it looks like hes in a splint and I dont know how long he will be out." It swelled right away, as soon as he did it and that was a big concern. I guess well go back and I believe hell get an MRI." Brandon Knight scored 21 points, Giannis Antetokounmpo added 11 points and John Henson had 10 points and 11 rebounds for Milwaukee, which trailed by double digits the entire second half. San Antonio played without starters Tony Parker and Tiago Splitter, former starter Danny Green and 3-point specialist Matt Bonner. Parker missed the game with a bruised right shin that stiffened in the second half of the Spurs loss to the Trail Blazers. "We were missing a lot of guys so thatt was a little worrying, but overall I think we did a good job," San Antonio guard Manu Ginobili said.dddddddddddd "Everybody got to play and everybody played well. Guys made shots and its a good feeling." The Spurs bench scored 58 points, with only one coming from Ginobili. Duncan played only 27 minutes, sitting out the fourth quarter as San Antonio built its lead to as many as 28 points in the second half after breaking the game open early. The Spurs went on a 15-0 run bridging the first and second quarters, taking a 29-16 lead that essentially put the game out the Bucks reach. Milwaukee went scoreless for five minutes, missing six shots, committing two turnovers and an offensive foul. Hensons 20-foot jump hook with 11:18 remaining in the first half ended the drought. Mills opened the run with the first of his four 3-pointers, sinking a 25-footer with 4 minutes left in the first quarter. "They move the ball, they make the right play and they get the open shot," former Spurs guard Gary Neal said. "Patty was the recipient of good ball movement today and he was able to knock the shots down. You have to give credit where credit is due, that system has been in effect for a long time and its been successful for a long time." Even the notoriously tough Popovich was able to give his team a figurative pat on the back afterward. "Coaches are sick puppies," Popovich said. "Theres always things you can improve and do better. You look at the film, try to keep your standard and get ready for playoffs, but overall it was a good performance." NOTES: Parker received the La Gazzetta Dello Sports European Player of the Year award before the tipoff. Parker led France to its first European Championship in the off-season. . Neal was greeted by apathy when he entered the game, receiving little reaction in his first game in San Antonio since leaving in the off-season as a free agent. . Bonner missed the game with a broken nose he sustained after taking an elbow from the Trail Blazers Thomas Robinson in the first quarter Friday night. . Spurs analyst Sean Elliott quickly grabbed his notebook and paperwork during the first half when Duncan walked toward the scorers table with a mischievous grin. Earlier this month, Duncan playfully tossed Elliotts things during a timeout. Duncan laughed as he stood over Elliott, failing to find anything to toss at his former teammate. . San Antonios mascot, the Coyote, made a behind-back, three-quarter-court shot during a timeout. ' ' '
