TOBLACH, Italy -- Alex Harvey was solid in a fifth-place result on Saturday in his final World Cup cross-country ski distance race prior to the 2014 Olympic Winter Games. After spending a week doing high-altitude training in Italy, the 25-year-old from St-Ferreol-les-Neiges, Que., bounced back into race form while challenging for the podium in the mens 15-kilometre individual start classic-ski race. Harvey clocked a time of 37 minutes 30.1 seconds. "That was a solid race from Alex today. He started out conservative and then made up ground throughout the race," said Justin Wadsworth, head coach of the Canadian cross-country ski team. "This week is all about shaking out the cobwebs after being at altitude so it was a good day." Harvey set a pace ahead of the eventual winner, Russias Alexander Legkov, in the final lap. Legkov set the time to beat at 37:02.7. Switzerlands Dario Cologna was second at 37:05.6, while Swedens Marcus Hellner rounded out the podium in third with a time of 37:20.3. Four other Canadians hit the start line including two relative rookies to the World Cup, Graeme Killick and Jesse Cockney, along with Olympic veterans Devon Kershaw and Ivan Babikov. Kershaw, from Sudbury, Ont., finished 39th with a time of 39:31.7, while Killick, from Fort McMurray, Alta., placed 40th (39:32.3). Cockney, from Canmore, Alta., was 51st (39:48.6), while Babikov, also from Canmore, finished 62nd (40:24.4) in the wet and mild conditions. "Devon and Ivan struggled with their skis today in the conditions," added Wadsworth. "All of the guys are feeling really good and I think are looking good heading into the Games." Whitehorses Emily Nishikawa was the lone Canadian to start in the womens 10-kilometre classic-ski race. Nishikawa placed 40th after clocking a time of 30:06.8. Norways Marit Bjoergen finished on top at 26:54.2. Therese Johaug, also of Norway, grabbed the silver medal with a time of 27:30.9, while Swedens Charlotte Kalla skied to the bronze after stopping the clock at 27:37.1. The final World Cup race prior to the start of the Olympic Winter Games takes place on Sunday in Toblach, Italy. . Malone will become an unrestricted free-agent and as per the collective bargaining agreement, the Lightning will be responsible for two-thirds of the remainder of his contract over twice the length of the rest of the deal. . His head snapped back from the impact and hit the floor. The All-Star power forward was all right afterward, a relief for the Minnesota Timberwolves.
https://www.cheapoilers.com/1475s-leon- ... ers.html.C. - Blair Jones scored the eventual winner in the third period as the Abbotsford Heat defeated the Oklahoma City Oil Barons 3-2 in American Hockey League action on Friday. . The injury will keep the Finnish forward out of the Olympics. The 29-year-old has 20 goals and 41 points in 56 games this season, his first with Tampa Bay. .2 million in 2012, according to tax returns the league has submitted. LOS ANGELES -- NBA Hall of Famer Magic Johnson says Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling has badly outdated views about minorities and is shockingly ignorant about HIV and AIDS for such a prominent public figure. "Hes living in the stone ages," Johnson said in an interview that aired Tuesday with CNNs Anderson Cooper, a day after Sterling made his first public comments since racist recordings emerged last month and earned him a lifetime NBA ban. "You cant make those comments about African-Americans and Latinos. You just cant do it." In Sterlings interview with Cooper, Sterling repeatedly brought up the ex-NBA stars HIV and called him an unfit role model for children. Johnson mostly avoided lashing back at criticism from Sterling, who at one point cut off Coopers listing of Johnsons achievements to loudly say "Hes got AIDS!" Johnson, who is HIV positive but does not have AIDS, said he was surprised Sterling didnt make the distinction. "Heres a man who you would think would be educated, and a man who is smart enough to build this type of wealth and own a team and have an incredible platform to change the world," Johnson said. "But hes doing it in a negative way." Johnson is now a part-owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers and was once a part-owner of the Lakers after the playing career that was cut short by his contracting HIV in 1991. "I came out like a man, I told the world," Johnson said of his famous public press conference announcing his retirement. "I didnt blame nobody else. I understood what I did was wrong. And I hope that I was able to help people." Johnson, who said he has known Sterling since he first came to LA to play for the LLakers more than 30 years ago, said he didnt know how he got stuck in the middle of a situation that should have been a personal dispute between Sterling and V.dddddddddddd Stiviano. Stiviano recorded Sterling making racist comments about a photo of herself and Johnson on Instagram. "Hes trying to find something to grab on to help him save his team," Johnson said, "and its not going to happen." Sterlings comments won him a quick and stinging rebuke from NBA commissioner Adam Silver, who said owners were working quickly to force Sterling out of the league. On Tuesday his fellow owners in the leagues advisory/finance committee met via conference call, discussed the CNN interview and reviewed the status of the charge for termination of the Clippers ownership. Silver or an owner has to formally charge Sterling in writing with violating Article 13 of the NBAs constitution. A hearing would then be held and require a three-fourths vote of the board of governors to force Sterling to sell the team he has owned since 1981. Clippers coaches and players, in Oklahoma City on Tuesday for their playoff series against the Thunder, were asked about Sterlings latest comments, and most said they were doing their best to ignore them. "I wasnt looking for him to say anything, to be honest," coach Doc Rivers said. "I was focused on our guys, and being above all that. Hes going to keep doing what he does, and we have to keep doing our jobs." Centre Ryan Hollins said the teams playoff success amid the constant controversy is "a tribute to Doc and the character of our guys." "I think weve always just had the mind-set of basketball first," Hollins said. ' ' '
