continued practising with the Bombers as a territorial exemp

LOS ANGELES -- Candace Parker has waited her entire pro career to make the WNBA Finals. Now in her ninth year, she has a shot at winning the only major title to elude her and shes not living up to her lofty standards.Parker and the Los Angeles Sparks are back home tied 1-1 with the Minnesota Lynx heading into Game 3 on Friday night. The Sparks could close out the series with a pair of victories at home and earn their first league championship since winning back-to-back titles in 2001 and 02.But theyll need a better effort from Parker, who was held to six points on 3 of 12 shooting in a 79-60 loss at Minnesota in Game 2. She had 14 points and nine rebounds in Game 1.In the playoffs in years past, Ive raised my game and been able to be that threat and I want to do that for my team, she said Thursday after practice. Im not talking about just scoring; Im talking about having a presence. When a play needs to be made, whether its on offensive or defensive end, Im ready to make it.The Sparks offense runs through two-time league MVP Parker and current MVP Nneka Ogwumike, whose 14 points -- including 2 in the final period -- in Game 2 also was down from her Game 1 output.I want to see that same chemistry that weve been seeing the whole year, Ogwumike said of her and Parker. I want to see more rebounding and seeing us running.So does coach Brian Agler, who was left wondering where the duos focus and urgency went in Game 2.Just being aggressive. Just being more on their front foot than their back foot, he said of his MVP duo. Playing and using the skills that they have, their athleticism, their basketball instincts and their intelligence. Theyre elite in those kind of ways. We need to find ways to bring that out.The Sparks missed 17 of 20 3-pointers in Game 2.A lot of that was because of our energy and effort, Parker said. I dont think we were as focused as we were in Game 1.Fridays game is being played at Galen Center on the USC campus, not far from the Sparks home at Staples Center, where the Kings are hosting their NHL home opener. The Lynx lost twice on the Sparks home court by three points each in the regular season.Its a control game, Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve said. Theres no adjustment that somebody is going to make that is going to catch somebody off guard.Minnesota struck first in the first two games, grabbing offensive rebounds and scoring to start.We know they are going to come in and jump on us from the start. We have to be able to stop their run and go own our run, Minnesotas Seimone Augustus said. Thats how its going to be the entire night. Its going to be a heavyweight bout. If they throw a punch, we have to throw a punch right back. No matter what, we cannot give up on our defensive and offensive schemes.According to ESPN, the first two Finals games on ABC and ESPN2 averaged 520,000 viewers, a 5 percent increase from last years Finals featuring Minnesota and Indiana. Cheap Old Skool Vans Wholesale . Houston won 3-0 to advance to face New York in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Last in the game, Di Vaio and Romero got into a shoving match with several Houston players. Romero appeared to elbow and kick Houston defender Kofi Sarkodie. Cheap Old Skool Vans . -- Team after team passed on Andre Ellington in the draft. http://www.cheapoldskool.net/ . PETERSBURG, Fla. Old Skool Vans China . The 27-year-old Scrivens will be joining his third NHL club since signing with the Toronto Maple Leafs as a free agent in 2010. The move also reunites with him with head coach Dallas Eakins from their time together with the American Hockey Leagues Toronto Marlies. Cheap Vans Old Skool . Speaking to the Chicago Tribune at baseballs Winter Meetings in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, Boras called the former home of the Expos a "tremendous environment" for baseball. WINNIPEG -- He may sit on the bench but the Winnipeg Blue Bombers have signed a 20-year-old junior football receiver for their game Friday night against the Toronto Argonauts. Its a Cinderella story for Brett Carter but also a sign of how banged up the Winnipeg receiving corps is right now. "I cant put it into words," said a grinning Carter. "Its unreal. Im so thankful for the opportunity." And Bombers coach Tim Burke says Carter should be ready for anything. "He might get his chance to get out there and play in a CFL game," he said. Carter will back up slotback Jade Etienne while Rory Kohlert will move from that spot to fill Cory Watsons position. Watson is expected to be gone two-to-four weeks with a hamstring injury. "I think Rory Kohlert will do a great job running routes," said Burke. "Well have to find a different way to block . . but well be fine." Argos coach Scott Milanovich isnt concerned about Winnipegs woes. "Ive got my own problems," he said. "This really is a new team." The Argos will be trying out a new receiver as well Friday in John Chiles. "Were excited to see what he can do," said Milanovich. Theres a lot on the line for both Winnipeg and Toronto as all four teams in the East Division head into action with underwhelming 1-2 records. "Would we like to be 3-0, yeah," said Argos receiver/kick-returner Chad Owens. "But were just going to continue to work. Its a very long season." Quarterback Ricky Ray said the Argos can certainly help themselves with a win but added that wont be easy against a Winnipeg defence thats recorded a league-leading 18 sacks. "You watch film and they can get after the quarterback," he said. The loss of Watson certainly complicates matters for the Bombers. Not only is he their leading receiver and best blocker at that position, but as a Canadian hes also a ratio changer. With Chris Matthews and Terrence Edwards also out, import Doug Pierce is getting another chance to start at receiver. And hes excited about that after spending most of his year and aa bit with the Bombers as a backup.dddddddddddd "Ive been ready to go since last year, the end of the season, but a little extra work never hurt anybody," he said after Thursdays walkthrough. Burke said he apologized to safety Dan West after re-examining his hit on Watson that injured the receiver on the final play of Wednesdays practice. Shortly after Watson was hurt, Burke vented about West shoving the receiver out of bounds but added Thursday that Watson wasnt without blame. "You never should say anything until after youve watched the video," Burke said. "I apologized to Dan for making him the villain. . . Cory had a part in it. "He shouldnt have stiff-armed Dan." Watson caught a long pass and stiff-armed West on the helmet before being pushed out of bounds and falling to the ground. Carter, 20, attended Winnipegs training camp and appeared in both exhibition games before being released. He continued practising with the Bombers as a territorial exemption and was expecting to do so until the start of the Winnipeg Rifles junior season next month before signing with the CFL club. The Bombers have been impressed with his enthusiasm and ability. "What a great moment for him and Im excited," said quarterback Buck Pierce. "Were proud of him and we know that he can play." Pierce says hes excited at the prospect of facing Torontos defence. The unit has struggled -- allowing 32 points and 162 yards rushing per game, both league highs -- but Pierce is expecting an aggressive gameplan from Argos defensive co-ordinator Chris Jones. "(Jones) wants to go out there and brawl," he said. "My mentality coming into this game is its going to be a fight. "Its going to be a fight and Im ready for 12 rounds of it . . . Whoever they bring, Im going to get the ball out and Im going to make plays when plays are available." Winnipegs defence has been solid but its offence has failed to click and Pierce admits the doubters wont go away until that changes. "Those question marks are still kind of floating around," he said. ' ' '