tive will step into the ring Tuesday again
tive will step into the ring Tuesday again
WINNIPEG -- The coach and general manager of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers say wins are the only thing that will show whether theyve assembled a better team this season. "I want to say our fans are going to see a team that theyre proud of, that regardless of the outcome on each particular game, that the fans are going to leave the stadium knowing that we gave it all," GM Kyle Walters said Friday on one of the conference calls CFL teams are having with the media as they prepare for the new season. But there were no bold predictions as to whether the Bombers are a better team yet than they were last season. "Its all words until we hit four wins," said Mike OShea, the former Toronto special teams co-ordinator preparing for his rookie season as a CFL head coach. Last season, the Bombers tied their worst record ever in the 18-game schedule as they finished in the CFL cellar at 3-15. "What does better mean?" asked Walters. "Thats the beauty I guess of our line of work that better is quantifiable with wins and losses." The teams on-field balance sheet shows additions and subtractions since that last troubled season ended. General manager Joe Mack got his pink slip well before the final game and coach Tim Burke was sacked after it was all over. Since then, the biggest loss was defensive star Henoc Muamba. The Canadian linebacker who was Winnipegs top defensive player, top Canadian player and top player overall in 2013 signed with the Indianapolis Colts of the NFL. And one possible import replacement, former Tennessee Titan Gerald McRath, didnt pan out. He went to the teams mini-camp in Florida and the defensive staff didnt see what they were looking for in the veteran. "Its not something were worried about," said OShea, pointing to players still on the roster who can fill the hole. The Bombers also lost Canadian special teams linebacker James Green and import receiver Wallace Miles to the Ottawa Redblacks in the CFL expansion draft. They lost receiver and 2012 CFL rookie of the year Chris Matthews to the Seattle Seahawks of the NFL but picked up free agent Nick Moore from the B.C. Lions, the third leading receiver in the CFL in 2013. They traded Canadian receiver Kito Poblah to the Lions for defensive back and four-time CFL all-star Korey Banks. The Bombers lost free agent offensive lineman Justin Sorensen, last seasons starter at centre, to the Edmonton Eskimos and are looking to use their second overall pick next week to select someone in the CFL draft they hope can be a starting centre. Overall though, Walters says this years draft offers a diminished pool because of rule changes regarding the NFL draft and red-shirted freshmen. "Youre going to see some real good players drafted next week," he said. "Theres just not the depth." The Bombers also struck out in every bid to land a bona fide starting CFL quarterback, although they insist theyre thrilled with former Saskatchewan backup Drew Willy, who has been guaranteed the job even before training camp starts. Both Walters and OShea were emphatic Friday that nothing will change that. "He demonstrated down in Florida to be very accurate," said OShea. "Hes not afraid to go down field . . . He took risks in practice. He didnt try to play it safe. . . He absorbed the playbook very quick. He showed some leadership, I dont forsee that changing from the start of training camp to the end." OShea said theyre not going into camp with a wait-and-see attitude. "What weve done in the off-season I believe is showing that were not waiting to see whats going to happen next, were taking a real active step in creating what we want to happen next," he said. Nike Zoom Online Shop . The struggling New Orleans Pelicans were simply overmatched. Crawford hit seven 3s on his way to 24 points, and the Clippers beat the Pelicans 123-110 on Monday night. "We understand what we do well. If we all do what we do well, well make our team stronger," Crawford said. Nike Zoom For Sale . - The Seattle Sounders busy off-season continues with the team acquiring defender Chad Marshall from the Columbus Crew in exchange for a 2015 third-round pick and allocation money. http://www.wholesalenikezoom.com/. Winning more at home probably should be on the list. The Flames look to avoid a fifth defeat in six home games by winning a sixth straight meeting with the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday night. Nike Zoom Cheap . Jamies number grades given are out of five, with five being the best mark. Henrik Lundqvist, New York Rangers (4) – He had a strong game Sunday; was very good in tight with big saves on Crosby, Malkin and Neal in-crease. Wholesale Nike Zoom .I shared with him how much I appreciated all he had done for us, Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge said of that Thursday night farewell.GLASGOW, Scotland - When Ariane Fortin missed out on the London Olympics, she took her frustration and heartbreak to the gym.And she worked, until strength replaced heartache and all the anger was gone. It took years.Now the 29-year-old, whose heated battle with Mary Spencer for a spot on the Olympic team was chronicled in the documentary Last Woman Standing, is gunning for gold at the Commonwealth Games.Those three years (from Olympic qualifying until now) were really hard, Ive got to say. For sure they were hard, Fortin said. But I feel like its shown me I have mental toughness that I didnt even know I have.I was not always strong and on top of things. Im really proud of what I went through because it really made me better and stronger.The St. Nicholas, Que., native will step into the ring Tuesday against Phathiswa Thingana of South Africa.Fortin and Spencer have been two of Canadas finest female boxers for years — Fortin is a two-time world champion while Spencer has won three world titles.They were also great friends. So it was a bittersweet moment when the International Olympic Committee announced it was adding womens boxing to the schedule for the London Olympics, but only three of the eight weight classes would be contested.Fortin and Spencer were forced to move up to the same weight class — 75 kilos — and the friends became fierce foes.Spencer beat Fortin for the spot on the Olympic team, and was touted as one of Canadas gold-medal favourites in London. But once there, she lost her first bout and was eliminated.Fortin lost her Own The Podium funding. There are shots of a forlorn Fortin working out alone in her Quebec gym in Last Woman Standing.Months went by before she could bring herself to watch footage of boxers in her weight class competing in London.I dont remember when it was but it was a few months after that I sat in my living room and watched the whole thing, Fortin said. It was kind of emotional, intense. But I needed to do that, and now its past me. I really feel like its past me.Its been really hard but I feel like Ive gained a lot from it, and now Im really inn a positive mood.ddddddddddddWithout a spot on the national team, though, the few fights Fortin has had over the last three years shes arranged herself.Then Fortin defeated Spencer twice to earn a spot on the Commonwealth Games team. Her confidence grew at a recent international tournament in Poland, where she won three of her four fights.I didnt know where I was internationally, what level, Fortin said. And this tournament, it really gave me confidence, it really showed me that I was at that level, and those three years that we spent at home, we didnt just spend them waiting for nationals. We really trained hard and really believed that we could beat Mary. Its funny but Ive had some comments about my fights ... people who knew me before, and said, Wow youve improved a lot. Canadian coach Daniel Trepanier said hes seen the growth in Fortin, who arrived at the Games with just 15 losses in 130 bouts.For sure not making the Olympics in 2012, seeing Mary go to London, made her stronger, it gave her more will to go further, said Trepanier.He wasnt surprised the seven-time Canadian champion decided to stick at it, resetting her sights on Rio, rather than retiring.Its every athletes dream to go the Olympics, Trepanier said. And right now, shes in the drivers seat. Shes now one of the top athletes in the world.Fortin and Trepanier hope the IOC will eventually increase the number of womens weight classes at Olympics, but it wont happen before Rio.Thats what it is for now, Fortin said. Marys still boxing. Of course Im going to face her again at nationals. Nationals is going to be a hard tournament in 2015.I know its not going to be given to me. Now that Ive passed the national level, now Ive beaten Mary ... Ive still got to work. This is just the beginning and I have to be very conscious of that.Mandy Bujold is Canadas other female boxer in Glasgow. The world champion from Toronto, who boxes in the 51-kilo division, is scheduled to fight Wednesday.Womens boxing made its Pan American Games debut three years ago in Guadalajara, Mexico. Spencer and Bujold both won gold there. 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