Regeln im Forum » March 2012 -- by serving as rival coaches on "The U

DENVER -- New Denver Nuggets general manager Tim Connelly says re-signing free agent shooting guard Andre Igoudala is his No. 1 priority. Connelly was formally introduced on Thursday by team president Josh Kroenke. "The last guy we talked to before coming in for this press conference was Andre," Connelly told reporters. "Hes such a pro that hes out there (on the court) working out." The Nuggets top defender, Igoudala recently opted out of the final year of his contract after averaging 13 points a game last season. His situation is just one of several Connelly will have to deal with as he tries to help the Nuggets become a genuine playoff contender. The 36-year-old Connelly comes to the Nuggets from New Orleans, where he served as assistant general manager under Dell Demps. He replaces NBA Executive of the Year Masai Ujiri, who took the GM job with the Toronto Raptors last week. Considered a rising front-office talent, Connelly inherits a team that won a franchise-most 57 games during the regular season only to bow out in the first round of the playoffs again, this time to Golden State. Besides the potential loss of Igoudala, the Nuggets will be without Danilo Gallinari for the start of next season as the Italian forward recovers from an ACL injury. And Connelly, with Kroenke, also will have to find a replacement for NBA Coach of the Year George Karl, who was let go on June 6 after the early payoff exit. The Nuggets interviewed former Memphis Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins on Wednesday and have also interviewed Indiana Pacers assistant coach Brian Shaw, but have not set a specific deadline for hiring a coach. "I dont think we want to put a concrete timeline on anything," Connelly said. "Theres the potential to talk to additional candidates, and weve talked to two great candidates. The two guys weve interviewed are tremendous, and I look forward to going into Joshs office and seeing where we are in that process." Finding the right personality fit for the coaching job is most important to Connelly, who said he wont dictate a style or philosophy with the new coach. "I would never try to impose any strategic restraints on a coach," Connelly said. "Im looking for a good guy whos excited to have the job and build off where we are presently." Kroenke, who offered Connelly the job during a Saturday night dinner, was bullish about his new hire. "Im really excited to have Tim here, and its going to be a lot of fun moving forward," Kroenke said. "I hope Nuggets fans are as excited as I am. Ive known Tim the last several years, and weve stayed in loose contact. "It became a very easy decision to hire him and bring him here after a couple dominoes started to fall." One domino was assistant GM Pete DAlessandro leaving to become general manager for the Sacramento Kings late last week. "Pete and I discussed the position, and I think hes going to have a wonderful opportunity in Sacramento," Kroenke said. "Once that happened, I didnt waste any time and it was a quick decision for me. There was one person I wanted to bring in and immediately discuss the job with, and that was Tim." Kroenke said the prospect of re-signing Igoudala, the teams highest-paid player at more than $14 million, is very good. "I think 100 per cent," Kroenke said. "I had a good conversation with his agent last week. Andre is somebody we definitely want to bring back, and Andre is aware of our intentions to bring him back as well." Connelly thanked Ujiri as he said how happy he was about the new job. "I feel great about where the team is," Connelly said. "Theres a winning culture ingrained here, and its a heck of a team Im inheriting. I look at the roster and think Im the luckiest guy in the world." Authentic Mike Iupati Jersey . Halladay signed a one-day contract with the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday that allowed the veteran right-hander to retire as a member of team with which he broke into the majors and spent the bulk of his distinguished 16-year career. Authentic Markus Golden Jersey . "It doesnt get any better than that," Giambi said. "Im speechless." The Indians are roaring toward October. Giambi belted a two-run, pinch-hit homer with two outs in the ninth inning to give Cleveland a shocking 5-4 win over the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday night, keeping the Indians up with the lead pack in the AL wild-card race. http://www.cheaparizonacardinalsjerseysauthentic.com/?tag=authentic-budda-baker-jersey . They hope to persuade the other team owners and commissioner Roger Goodell to put pressure on Redskins owner Daniel Snyder to drop the nickname they find offensive. "Given the way the meeting transpired," Ray Halbritter, an Oneida representative and leader of the "Change the Mascot Campaign," said Wednesday, "it became somewhat evident they were defending the continued use of the name. Authentic Adrian Wilson Jersey . Both players have lower body injuries that will keep them out of the lineup until at least January 31, which is the first game they can be activated from IR. Cheap Cardinals Jerseys Authentic . Scott Kazmir allowed four hits in seven shutout innings, Michael Brantley hit a two-run homer in a three-run first inning and the Indians maintained their hold on an AL wild-card spot with a 4-1 win over the Houston Astros on Saturday night.SEATTLE -- Liz (Girlrilla) Carmouche has already made history as the first openly gay fighter in the UFC. Now the former U.S. marine is set to do it again as she faces Brazilian Jessica Andrade in the first bout between openly lesbian fighters in the mixed martial arts organization. Carmouche still cant quite believe it is her in the spotlight as pioneer. "I never thought after being so closeted in the marine corps to being now in the UFC that I would ever be that person, let along be somebody who could be open or be somebody thats pioneering and knocking down doors," said Carmouche, who fights Andrade (9-2) on Saturdays televised UFC card at KeyArena. "So Im just embracing every moment and just grateful that it is happening." Andrade, a pint-sized fighter with a big smile, says she hopes she is helping open the door for others to be open about who they are and how they feel. "In the end, whatever your sexual orientation, it doesnt affect how you work, who you are or what you do," Andrade said through an interpreter. She too is enjoying the moment as she becomes the first Brazilian woman to fight in the UFC. Thanks to a Seattle shopping expedition, she was sporting brand new red Air Jordans on Thursday. "Kid size," explained the interpreter. Carmouche (7-3) was thrown in the spotlight in February when she challenged bantamweight champion (Rowdy) Ronda Rousey at UFC 157. Carmouche was submitted in the first round but not before dragging Rousey into some deep water at the Honda Center in Anaheim. The 29-year-old Carmouche is hard not to root for. While the "UFC Primetime" TV show in advance of the fight showed Rousey commuting in a luxury car, Carmouche was driving a beater with a cracked windshield. A furniture manufacturer, having seen her admit she couldnt afford a kitchen table, reached out to offer her a freebie. Her life remains the same, but has changed significantly on one front. While she still answers the phone at the San Diego Combat Academy, she reports that quick trips to the supermarket or corner store are a thing of the past. Carmouches story has touched a nerve, well beyond her sexual orientation. "It never turns into anything quick, it turns into something longer," she said. "Getting to hear peoples stories, getting to hear the way I impacted peoples lives. Them just wanting to talk to me and interact." While she admits it sometimes plays havoc with her schedule, she says she relishes the attention. "Other days, getting to hear that I could actually influence peoples lives, that they have a role model now to look up to, that just blows my mind," shee said.dddddddddddd The five-foot-six Carmouche says the ripple effect of her title fight has been seen at her gym. "When we started off, I had one other consistent teammate. And now we have 10 women that want to fight. Thats a huge difference." She says it has upped her game, helping her train with a variety of talented women. Kids have also told her they see her as a role model. "Thats just changed my life for the better," she said. "I never thought Id be that person but I accept it with open arms," she added. She feels no pressure from that role, saying she walks the proper path. She rarely drinks and says if she goes out at night, she does so responsibly. She doesnt do drugs and takes care of her body. Carmouche has been invited to appear in several Pride parades, attend openings of LGBT centres and speak to kids. She says she believes there will be a day when her sexual orientation will no longer be an issue, pointing to the advancement of gay marriage and the repealing of discriminatory laws. "I do see that day is coming," she said. "But just like you still have racism now and you still have just people that are ignorant to everything, its still going to be there and I dont think thats going to go away." Carmouche was originally slated to face Miesha Tate in Seattle but Tate was shifted to face Rousey in the co-main event of UFC 168 on Dec. 28 in Las Vegas. Rousey and Tate will set up their rematch -- Rousey won by first-round submission in Strikeforce in March 2012 -- by serving as rival coaches on "The Ultimate Fighter" TV show. "I am bummed out," Carmouche said of missing out on facing Tate. "Im grateful that the UFC still kept the fight. . . . Im still having the opportunity to fight. I wish it could have been Miesha but Im glad Im still in the UFC fighting." Andrade was in the kitchen back home in Brazil, cooking a dinner of pasta and sausage when her coach showed up at the door with news that the UFC had called. For the 21-year-old Andrade, its her first fight in the U.S. But she is no shrinking violet, having fought in Russia last time out. Plus she fought seven times in 2012. "Im ready," she said through an interpreter. "I know what to do." Listed generously at five foot three, Andrades Brazilian nickname "Bate Estaca" means piledriver -- she got it after being disqualified for trying the illegal move during an early Brazilian jiu-jitsu competition. The fourth-youngest fighter in the UFC, she has won seven of her last eight fights. "She may be short but she packs a good punch," said Carmouche. ' ' '