CHARLOTTE, N.
Luiz Gustavo Brazil Jersey .C. - Michael Jordan said theres no way Kobe Bryant and this years US Olympic
basketball team couldve beaten the 1992 Dream Team. Jordan told The Associated
Press on Thursday that he laughed — "I absolutely laughed" — when hearing
Bryants comments that the squad training in Las Vegas could take down Jordan and
company. Jordan said theres "no comparison" which team was better. "For him to
compare those two teams is not one of the smarter things he ever could have
done," Jordan said at a celebrity golf tournament in Charlotte. Jordan said the
1992 team, which included 11 future Hall of Famers and won its six Olympic games
by an average of more than 43 points en route to capturing the gold medal, was a
better overall team largely because of the experience it put on the floor. "I
heard Kobe say we were not athletic," said a smiling Jordan as he sat in a golf
cart puffing on his cigar while waiting to tee off. "But we were smart. He said
we were too old, but I was 29 and in the prime of my career. Pip
(Scottie Pippen) was 26 or 27, (Charles) Barkley was 29, Patrick (Ewing) was 29
and Chris Mullin was 29. Almost everybody was still in their twenties." Jordans
response came after Bryant said in Las Vegas that this years team could pull out
a win against the Dream Team if they faced each other in their primes. Bryant
said this years team has a bunch of racehorses, players who are incredibly
athletic while the Dream Team consisted mainly of players at the tail end of
their careers." Bryants comments received immediate and sharp rebuttal from some
members of the Dream Team, including Barkley. Jordan joined in on Thursday.
"Most of us were in the prime of our careers, at a point where athleticism
doesnt really matter," said Jordan, the owner of the Charlotte Bobcats. "You
have to know how to play the game." Jordan shook his head when asked why he
thinks Bryant made the comments. "I imagine hes trying to say it to legitimize
his own Dream Team," Jordan said. "But to me its not even a question what team
is better." Jordan said Bryant was entitled to his opinion — even though he said
its just plain wrong. "For him to make that comparison, its one of those things
where it creates conversation," Jordan said. "I guess well never know. Id like
to think that we had 11 Hall of Famers on that team and whenever they get 11
Hall of Famers you call and ask me who had the better Dream Team. Remember now,
they learned from us. We didnt learn from them."
Kaka Jersey .Note: Three points for a regulation win, two for an overtime/shootout win, one for an overtime/shootout
loss. Wednesdays resultsAt TorontoSweden 5 Switzerland 1Czech Republic 4 Russia
1At MontrealCanada 5 U.
Fred Brazil Jersey .com) - Former champion Maria Sharapova and third seed Simona Halep notched wins, while former runner-up
Ana Ivanovic was a stunning opening-round loser on Day 1 at the Australian Open.
TORONTO -- Relief came in the form of James Reimer lifting his arms after making
a shootout save on Antonie Vermette. By beating the Phoenix Coyotes 2-1 in a
shootout at Air Canada Centre on Thursday night, the Toronto Maple Leafs shook
off the gloom and doom of recent struggles. "It hasnt been a good feeling around
here the past couple days," said winger Joffrey Lupul, who scored the shootout
winner. "Its funny how even with an ugly, grind-it-out win like that, you come
to the rink tomorrow feeling a lot better about yourselves." The Leafs (18-16-3)
can feel better about themselves beyond shootout goals by Lupul and
James van Riemsdyk and a couple of stops in that competition from Reimer, who
made 34 saves in regulation and overtime. Instead, this was a victory to savour
for stronger play in regulation and the elimination of the kind of mistakes that
led to 10 losses in their previous 13 games. "I thought individually guys really
limited our turnovers and the chances we gave up for them to try and get
opportunities," said centre Peter Holland, who assisted on Troy Bodies
first-period goal. "It just goes to show that when we do execute what we plan on
doing, things will fall into place for us." Maybe it was about time. Coach Randy
Carlyle spent eight-plus hours at the rink Wednesday with the coaching staff on
a day off for players devising what he hoped was a plan to turn the Leafs
fortunes around. Presented at the morning skate was a blue print that included a
harder forecheck and more aggressive defensive zone play. For the most part, the
Leafs followed that against Phoenix (18-10-6). A strong forecheck was evident on
Bodies first goal of the season and first in a Leafs uniform, thanks to work
from Holland and Jerry DAmigo. The puck got out to defenceman Cody Franson at
the point, and Bodie was in a perfect spot to put the rebound in on Canadian
Olympic candidate Mike Smith. "(Forechecking is) something weve been stressing,"
Bodie said. "I think we did a good job of it on the goal. We got a good dump and
we had two guys in on it right away and then the third guy joined. We were able
to come out with it." Tighter defence than Toronto displayed in a loss two days
earlier to the Florida Panthers helped the lead stand up until Martin Hanzal
scored 15:08 into the third. Reimer, who started only because Carlyle said
Jonathan Bernier was dealing with an unspecified "ailment," was satisfied with
how his teammates contained the Coyotes and rebounded from a frustrating loss to
Florida. "We all make mistakes," Reimer said. "We sometimes dont show up in a
way we want to. I think youre judged on how you respond. I thought we did a
great job tonight. We really came collectively and everyone bought in." Reimer
turnedd aside attempts from Radim Vrbata and then Vermette in the shootout, but
it was Smiths almost-save on van Riemsdyk in the first round that caused a
lengthy review.
Filipe Luis Jersey. . Referee Paul Devorski assured Coyotes coach Dave Tippett that "110 per cent" it was in the net, and
video review found it inconclusive so the goal stood. "Youve got to take him for
his word," Tippett said. Devorski never signalled that it was a goal on the ice,
which caused Smith some confusion. "He came and whispered it in my ear like its
a goal, and he didnt really give a signal that it was," Smith said. "He made the
call, he said he saw it go in. Its unfortunate, but thats the way it goes." Like
the Leafs, the Coyotes were satisfied with an improved performance, despite this
being their third straight loss. "We definitely took some good things out of
that game," said Smith, who made 26 saves. "Its not all bad. We did a lot of
good things well in the third period there to give ourselves a chance to get a
point. As long as were in games, were giving ourselves a chance to win hockey
games, I think well be pleased with it." Toronto didnt play perfectly, but
players were nonetheless pleased with not only the result but the five-on-five
play throughout regulation. "I thought we were pretty strong for pretty much the
full 60 and we did things the right way, so that was definitely an improvement,"
van Riemsdyk said. "We stayed patient, kept it simple and guys did their job,
guys battled hard. It was a good two points." Reimer was critical of his
teammates after the loss to the Panthers, saying that some or all of the Leafs
players dont show up for the entire game. Given how long he paused before
delivering that answer Tuesday night, it was well thought-out. "Obviously I was
frustrated, but I try and always answer (with) the way Im feeling -- in an
honest way," Reimer said Thursday night. "Whether Im frustrated or whether Im
happy, I try and answer objectively. I just answered how I thought I saw it."
Relief was all over Reimers face after beating the Coyotes, and his words backed
that up. "Really proud of the way the guys worked," he said. "They put in an
honest effort. It was just a good game all around. I thought we played solid for
60 minutes." NOTES -- Gilbert Brule was in the lineup for the Coyotes, his first
NHL appearance since May 15, 2012. Tippett said Brule, who played 12:39, was
"flying" in his Phoenix debut ... Defenceman Mark Fraser and Paul Ranger and
tough guy Frazer McLaren were healthy scratches for the Leafs. ... Phoenix
recalled defenceman Rostislav Klesla on Thursday morning to replace
Zbynek Michalek, who returned to Arizona to undergo further evaluation of a
lower-body injury.
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