LONG POND, Pa.
Vince Wilfork Texans Jersey . -- Juan Pablo Montoya felt at home among a throng of his Colombian countrymen and fans in a
very unique celebration spot. He detoured from the traditional Victory Lane
party straight to the one thrown in his honour in the Pocono Raceway
grandstands. The fans bounced, danced, cheered and unfurled flags for the
Colombian driver who wouldnt make them wait long this season to celebrate a
victory. Montoya zipped toward the checkered flag to the sight of hundreds of
Colombian fans waving the flag and cheering him on. His win in the IndyCar race
Sunday at Pocono Raceway was the highlight of a triumphant return to open-wheel
racing after seven years in NASCAR. Up ahead, a serious run at the IndyCar
championship. "I think people know Im coming," Montoya said. Montoya saved his
deepest gratitude for car owner Roger Penske. Penskes faith in bringing the
talented and tempestuous Montoya aboard was rewarded. "I knew it was going to
take a little bit of time," Montoya said, "but having the opportunity to run for
Roger, its unbelievable. Ive worked really hard physically and mentally to get
here, and I feel in a really good place right now. Im really happy. Montoya won
for the first time in the CART/IndyCar Series since 2000 and had his first major
victory since he won a road-course race at Watkins Glen in NASCAR in 2010. Helio
Castroneves was second to make it a 1-2 finish Sunday for Team Penske. With
double points awarded in the 500-mile races, Castroneves moved into a tie for
the points lead with Penske teammate Will Power. Carlos Munoz, Ryan Briscoe and
Scott Dixon completed the top five. Montoya, who won from the pole, took the
lead for good when Tony Kanaan was forced to pit for fuel with four laps left.
Montoya took it from there and continued to stamp himself a player in the
championship hunt. He moved to fourth in the standings. "As soon as we signed
him, I knew he would be an asset for us, and a headache," Castroneves said.
Montoya damaged his front wing when he connected with Power on a pass for the
lead on the 167th lap. Powers penalty troubles continued at Pocono when he
blocked Castroneves on the 171st lap and had to serve a drive through penalty,
effectively ending his shot at victory. "You tell them, Lets keep each other on
the track," Penske said. "But that was a little tight right there." After only
two top 10s in his first seven starts, Montoya reeled off a third, second and
seventh in his past three. Now, he has the win needed to erase any lingering
doubts that has move back to open wheel was the right one. Here are 5 things to
know from the IndyCar race at Pocono: POWER PENALTY: Powers latest penalty cost
him a shot at racing for the win -- and his spot alone atop the points
standings. Even worse, his ill-timed block almost derailed a podium finish for
Penske teammate Castroneves. Power was hit with a blocking penalty on
Castroneves late in the race and his drive through penalty cost him a shot at
racing for the win. He finished 10th. Power said he tried to let Castroneves go
and had no intention of blocking him. He unleashed a profanity over the radio
toward IndyCar and was told to cool down by Penske president Tim Cindric. "Thats
not doing us any good now, is it? Get your head on straight and go," he said.
Power has been smacked with a rash of penalties this season that have cost him
strong runs at the checkered flag. He was annoyed when he had to watch the
replay after the race for NBC Sports. "It was another penalty and other drive
through and another really good opportunity lost," Power said. "Time after time
it happens to me and no penalty." NEWGARDEN RUN: Josef Newgarden said this
weekend hed have to grade his season an F. On Sunday, that stood for fantastic.
Newgarden started last after an accident in practice, then stormed his way to
the front and led seven laps at the end of the race. He finished a solid eighth
for Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing. He surrendered the lead when he no choice but
to make one final pit stop for fuel on Lap 194. "It was a big strategy race,"
Newgarden said. "Considering nobody did much passing today and because it was
more of a track position, fuel mileage and strategy race, I thought we did a
really good job of keeping up and making the moves when we needed to. That
helped get us into the top 10." HAWKSWORTH OUT: Jack Hawksworth missed the
IndyCar race Sunday at Pocono because of a heart contusion. Hawksworth was
injured Saturday in an accident during the second practice session. He was
evaluated and released from the infield care centre. Hawksworth stayed overnight
for observation at a hospital and was released Sunday. Hawksworth will be
re-evaluated by the IndyCar medical team Tuesday before being cleared to drive
next week at Iowa Speedway. KANAAN CANT: Tony Kanaan dominated most of the race
and led 78 laps. Montoya, who won from the pole, took the lead for good when
Kanaan was forced to pit for fuel with four laps left. "Its obviously
frustrating to dominate a race like that and not win," Kanaan said. "We just
missed going the full 500-mile distance by a few laps and its heartbreaking when
those things happen. But that is racing, as they say, and we will focus on Iowa
now and put it behind us." SPEED RACER: The average speed of 202.402 mph was the
fastest 500-mile race in IndyCar history. The 200-lap race was caution-free for
the first 158 laps until Graham Rahal spun to bring out the yellow. The 158
consecutive laps of green flag racing to open a race was the longest stretch for
a 500-mile race in IndyCar history.
Keshawn Martin Jersey . Howard had 17 points and a career-high-tying 26 rebounds in his Houston debut, James Harden added 21
points and the Rockets cruised to a 96-83 win over the Charlotte Bobcats on
Wednesday night.
Shane Lechler Texans Jersey . On Sunday, head coach Patrick Roy said the teams leading scorer will skate at Mondays morning
practice and the club will make a decision on his status for Game 6 at that
point.Remember when Alonzo Mourning refused to play in Canada? How about Raptor
power forward Antonio Davis? After blossoming into an All Star in Toronto, he
opted out of his contract because he felt uncomfortable that his kids were
singing O Canada. And learning the metric system. These were actual reasons he
gave. I do not predict Amir Johnson feeling similarly. Something is happening —
has happened — and it is a genie for whom the bottle will forever be too
cramped. Turns out, after two decades of tumult and failure, subtly and
steadily, Toronto has turned into a basketball mecca. In a fitting end to the
roundball dominance of Chicago, Los Angeles and New York, each respectively has
been or is being upset by Wizards, common decency and your Toronto Raptors. This
isnt emphatic hype from a success-starved fan. This is real. This is how the
future of Toronto basketball is going to play out. (Results guaranteed or your
money back.) First, Toronto is going to beat the Brooklyn Nets. They are going
to do this because they are faster, stronger, better coached and more talented.
My words to Garnetts ears, I think theyre tougher too. Id confidently go to
battle against KG, Pierce and Deron Williams with Lowry, Amir and Jonas.
(Toronto can also selectively deploy Tyler Hansbrough, forcing Brooklyn to be
mindful of his ever-present Metta World Peace potential. Observe when Hansbrough
is deployed in a game. Always during a "Charles Oakley moment" when a teammate
is being manhandled or has taken a series of tough fouls, and it is time for a
guy made of elbows to contribute. Last game he played for 8 minutes, committed 3
fouls, and even touched the ball a few times.) The only reason the series goes
seven is Torontos lack of experience. Heading into Game 5, the Raptors are now
nearing the point of enough collective savvy and bend-but-dont-break guile to
beat these paper tigers. The New Jersey Nets of Brooklyn are going down.
(Sidenote on Donald Sterling: I would be neglectful not to mention the shadow
hanging over an otherwise terrific first round of NBA playoffs. This is a
teachable moment to talk about prejudice, especially when a Toronto club has
experienced something similar. Remember when Harold Ballard warned us of the
Soviet threat in 1979, proclaiming no Russian would ever play for the Maple
Leafs, that they were "parasites and barnacles who steal our money?" I think
Nikki Borschevsky told me that story. It was just the kind of boldly regressive,
anti-humanistic rhetoric which helped spurn a generation of iconic movie
villains from Ivan Drago to Boris the Blade. We may never see the same yield of
film icons, but after commissioner Adam Silvers welcome and decisive
announcement, I guarantee this whole affair ends in the plus column. Before you
can explain to your mother that "Instagram is like Twitter with more pets,"
Magic Johnson will own an NBA team and Donald Sterling will not. Let him waste
away in his underground lair, using his billions for, oh, I dont know, drumming
up support to bomb North Korea? Backing anti-climate change lobbyists? Pouring
millions into Monsantos nuclear corn division? Im not really sure what
super-villains are into these days.) Speaking of villains, up next will be
Miami, a team Toronto will not get past. This second round series is whats known
in the business as "valuable experience". Any team on its way up bonds, grows
and learns how to win by getting beat bby the best.
Keith Mumphery Jersey. Do not be surprised when T.O. finds a way to win a game, maybe two (possibly three). This years Heat
have a touch of the Nets in them (see: slow, creaky). They also have Lebron so
they will be winning. 2014/15. Critical mass. The season NBA fans will remember
as the Canadian Invasion. The one lasting achievement of the Vince Carter-era is
inspiring a generation of local athletes to basketball greatness. The talent
emerging is staggering, and some of it a credit to Carter as the deified player
who sparked their imagination as kids. He, and two-time MVP Steve Nash, have
long been the main influences for young Canadian ballers. In 1996, Nash was
drafted 15th overall, the highest pick in NBA history for a Canuck. But years
would pass. Bill Wennington would retire. Carter would move on to half-ass it in
other cities. The Northern Uprising would start afresh in 2011, when Cleveland
drafted Toronto-native Tristan Thompson 4th overall, a new record. Emerging San
Antonio Spurs point guard Cory Joseph, a native of nearby Pickering, was drafted
29th. By 2012, a record five Canadians would be drafted, led by Orlando forward
Andrew Nicholson (taken 19th). 2013 would be uncharted territory for Canadian
ball. It was the first time two Canadians were selected in the lottery,
including 13th selection, Toronto-native Kelly Olynyk and, shockingly, another
Toronto-native, Anthony Bennett, going first overall. FIRST OVERALL. And he
wasnt supposed to be the guy to accomplish that. That honour was being reserved
for 2014s expected draft class hero, Raptor fan, and Toronto-native Andrew
Wiggins (note the geographic trend). He may still wind up chosen first overall.
Highly-touted Toronto-born Tyler Ennis is also declaring for this years draft
and expected to go in the first round. 7-foot-5-inch Sim Bhullar (of Toronto)
has a chance to be drafted as the first NBA player of Indian descent.
Mississauga-native Nik Stauskas is considered a potential lottery pick. The list
is long. Peruse the 2014 mock draft board. I did the math. Toronto is the best
represented city in the world. Though the seminal players in Torontos basketball
history may not be the most beloved, Marcus Camby, Vince Carter, Tracy McGrady
and Chris Bosh represent a considerable quantity of upper echelon talent which
will someday appear as the bedrock on to which greater success was built. They
are testament that superstars can be developed in Toronto, in Canada, where
Vince Carter led fan voting for the All Star game four times, and Terrence Ross
has been turning on young fans with dunk championship flare. More winning will
build more local talent. Perceptions will change. A noteworthy cogitation to
pull all this accounting together. It is entirely plausible there could come a
day — there will come a day — when great players around the league are nagging
their agents, opting out of contracts early, even colluding with their talented
buddies...to come to Toronto. With so much homegrown talent pouring into the
league, the standard could well be broken soon, where the prominent talents want
to come to Toronto rather than dismiss it. To some extent, it is going to
happen. To what extent, will be exciting to witness. >> Gallays Poll #8
<< Who would you most like to see receive a hard foul from Tyler
Hansbrough?(A) Kevin Garnett (most likely)(B) Jason Kidd (less likely)(C) Jay-Z
(unlikely)(D) All of the above (almost certainly)
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