Dein erstes Forum » Beaty, whose victory pushed Strong

MINNEAPOLIS -- The Minnesota Lynx have a core group of players participating in their fifth WNBA Finals in the last six seasons. The Los Angeles Sparks only have one player who has made it this far before, and she is a seldom-used reserve.When it came to poise, consistency and playmaking in Game 1, however, the Sparks looked like the battle-tested group. And now the Lynx are left to lean on their experience to dig out of another hole.The defending champion Lynx turned the ball over 16 times and looked lost defensively against the Sparks pick-and-roll in the 78-76 loss on Sunday and got back to work on Monday knowing that if they dont clean things up, their pursuit of a record-tying fourth title will swirl down the drain.If you dont handle a pick-and-roll any better than what we did, we looked like a high school team that was going against it for the first time, coach Cheryl Reeve said on Monday. That was disappointing. And throwing it right to them.The Lynx committed 11 of their 16 turnovers in the first half and had two more in the final three minutes of the game, and the Sparks took advantage. They scored 18 points off of Minnesotas turnovers while only allowing four points off of their own 12 miscues. It was a clean, calm performance for a group that includes 12th-year pro Alana Beard and ninth-year star Candace Parker, both of whom have finally made it to the leagues biggest stage.I was happy with how poised and focused we were, Sparks coach Brian Agler said. We only have one player that has even been in this situation before. But we do have veteran players. They look at this as this is their moment to get this opportunity. ... Candace and Alana, they have played long careers and they dont get this (every year). So they know how to cherish this moment.Game 2 of the best-of-five series is Tuesday night in Minneapolis, and the Lynx dont have to look back far to find inspiration and comfort in a precarious position. They lost Game 1 at home to the Indiana Fever in last years finals, but ultimately prevailed in five games for their third championship.So there is no panic, but there is also a realization that their opponent this season with Parker and Beard and MVP Nneka Ogwumike and sharpshooter Kristi Toliver presents a far bigger obstacle.You have to really rely on each other in moments like this, said Lynx forward Maya Moore, who was scoreless in the first half but scored 18 in the second. This team has really been doing that all season with our ability to make adjustments and bounce back. This is the greatest challenge of the season for us, having to bounce back in a tough loss at home. Im confident that we will be better as each game goes on.Just like during a tense regular season series, the matchup between the teams with the two best records in the league was tight all the way through Game 1. No team led by more than five points and Beard hit the game-winner on a shot from the corner just before the final buzzer sounded. The big finish and the anticipated matchup delivered ratings that were 25 percent higher than last years broadcast of Game 1. The 0.5 overnight rating on ABC was the highest for a Game 1 since 2010, though it likely was smaller thanks to competing against the NFL on Sunday afternoon.I think were really good at handling high-pressure situations, Ogwumike said. I think youre going to see that more from us in this series and as well from them. The game was remarkably close. Thats what the finals is all about. You have the two best teams duking it out and it literally came down to the last play. We just have to understand we need to give ourselves as much of an advantage as we can.Reeve said she was awake until 3 a.m. trying to figure out what caused the sloppiness.The stuff that we were doing that was controllable on our end was the headscratchers, Reeve said. Were going to watch the video and theyre going to see it. Whether they want to or not doesnt matter. We will watch every possession. Khalfani Muhammad Jersey . He said Tuesday thats a big reason why he is now the new coach of the Tennessee Titans. Whisenhunt said he hit it off quickly with Ruston Webster when interviewing for the job Friday night. Joe Dineen Jersey . Capitals head coach Adam Oates said Ovechkin was injured in the first period against the Vancouver Canucks on Monday and clarified it was not a head injury. http://www.cheapbroncosjerseysauthentic.com/?tag=authentic-sam-jones-jersey . It was the second consecutive win for the Pacers (2-5), who lost their first five preseason games. Jeff Teague led the Hawks (1-5) with 17 points and eight assists and Al Horford had 12 points and seven rebounds. Mike Scott scored 15 of his 17 points in the second half. Connor McGovern Jersey . But what about the officials? Every sport has officials and they also have stories about hard work and sacrifice but their accomplishments are seldom recognized by anyone outside their inner circle. Von Miller Jersey .C. -- Glenn Howard needed an extra end to move into the Masters Grand Slam of Curling final. AUSTIN, Texas -- The Texas players who packed the room were there to hear their coach speak. Some fought back tears.They heard Charlie Strong plead for a win this week to get their senior teammates to a bowl game. They heard him suggest that a win against TCU might be enough to save his job.And then dozens of them mobbed Strong with hugs amid laughs and praise as a teacher, mentor and builder of men.He doesnt want to fail us, and we dont want to fail him, senior defensive lineman Paul Boyette Jr. said as tears ran down his cheeks. He taught me what it really means to be a man ... My heart hurts for him.Strongs players clearly love him. It may not be enough to save him.Strong faced his weekly news conference on Monday amid reports that he will be fired after Fridays game, the result of a 5-6 record so far this season after last weeks loss to lowly Kansas, and a 16-20 mark over the past three years. The game against TCU (5-5) could be Strongs final game.Next year, I want to come back, Strong said. They said we will be evaluated after that game. I dont know how they will be thinking, but winning that game would help.Athletic director Mike Perrin on Sunday dismissed multiple reports that Strong would be fired as rumors, and said no decision would be made until after the game. Perrin didnt show up at Strongs news conference Monday and neither did school President Greg Fenves, who has publicly supported Strong but has been silent on his future since the Kansas loss.Strong didnt think a decision on his future was already made and expected school administrators to live up to that promise.The highest-ranking school official to attend was Greg Vincent, vice president for diversity and community engagement. Vincent broke through the scrum of players to hug the first black head football coach in program history.Whats most important to me as an educator, vice president and professor, is how he develops these young men, Vincent said.Strong has two years and nearly $11 million left on a five-year guaranteed conntract.ddddddddddddHe admitted the wins and losses dont stack up but he tried to make a case Monday that he should stay despite his poor record on the field.He noted key injuries that decimated his first season, top-level recruiting and a two-deep roster packed mostly with freshmen and sophomores that he and his staff brought to Texas. The foundation for greatness is there, he said.This group of guys will win a national championship, Strong said with a nod to the players in the room. I stand by that statement.But Texas hasnt even been close to winning the Big 12 and may not qualify for a bowl game for the second consecutive year.Strong also said hed evaluate his job tenure not just in wins and losses, but as leader for young men who need a father figure in their lives. When Strong first arrived, he set his core values that included no guns, no drugs, respecting woman and honesty. The discipline message connected with fans as Strong dismissed 10 players in his first year.Theres no direction for a lot of young people, thats part of my job, Strong said. When they leave this place, they know who they are.Wide receiver Jacorey Warrick said a group of older players mobilized to get their teammates to attend the news conference to support their coach.He doesnt have the support of people who are trying to get him out, but the people who really matter, the players, you can see where their support lies, Warrick said.Strongs situation was noted among Big 12 coaches on Monday on their weekly conference call.Kansas coach David Beaty, whose victory pushed Strong to the brink at Texas, called Strong one of the finer individuals that Ive met in college football.My heart aches for him -- I mean, it aches for him and his staff, Beaty said.---More AP college footba