Allgemeines » been our hottest forward in the last 15-20 games

VIRGINIA WATER, England - It was not an easy phone call for European Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley — breaking the news to Luke Donald that he was being left off the team to face the United States at Gleneagles this month. Donald is a former No. 1 who has lifted the trophy with Europe on each of his four Ryder Cup appearances. But he was the big omission when McGinley picked Stephen Gallacher, Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter as his three wild-card selections Tuesday. "That was a very, very difficult conversation — my relationship with Luke is very close," said McGinley, who was Donalds playing partner for the Englishmans first Ryder Cup match. "He was very, very disappointed, and rightly so. ...His record in the Ryder Cup stands with anybody in the game." Donald has one of the best short games in the world and is a brilliant putter, making him a key player in Europes wins in 2004, 06, 10 and 12. But he has struggled for form this year after making changes to his swing. Second place at the RBC Heritage in April was his last top-30 finish on the PGA Tour, a shadow of the player who rose to No. 1 and was the leading money-winner on both sides of the Atlantic in 2011. McGinley said Donald reacted in classy fashion when told he wasnt being selected. "Even though you have not picked me, I still believe youll be a great captain," McGinley quoted him as saying. "His last few words were: Go Europe. I think that says a lot about Luke." McGinley has three rookies in the 12-man team that will face the U.S. in Scotland from Sept. 26-28, with Gallacher joining Victor Dubuisson and Jamie Donaldson. The other players who qualified automatically for McGinleys team were Rory McIlroy, Henrik Stenson, Sergio Garcia, Justin Rose, Martin Kaymer, Thomas Bjorn and Graeme McDowell. McGinley announced his captains picks at European Tour headquarters at Wentworth hours before U.S. captain Tom Watson was to reveal his. McGinley said it came down to a choice between Donald and Westwood. "Lee just slightly pipped him," McGinley said. For McGinley, the fact Gallacher lives only 35 miles (56 kms) from Gleneagles and would be a crowd favourite did not factor into the decision-making process. "Theres no doubt Stevie Gallacher has proved himself and earned his spot on this team," McGinley said. The 39-year-old Scot narrowly missed out on automatic selection after finishing third at the Italian Open on Sunday. A top-two finish would have seen him oust McDowell as the final qualifier. But it was Gallachers eighth top-10 finish in 2014, leaving him as the form player of the four in contention. Gallacher has played well at Gleneagles in recent years, losing out in a three-man playoff at the Johnnie Walker Championship in 2013. "Of course its a concern to me that hes a rookie, and its very difficult to pick a rookie for a Ryder Cup," McGinley said. "But Ive said all along from day one, Im not afraid to pick a rookie if he proves himself." Gallachers uncle, Bernard, captained Europe in the Ryder Cup in 1991, 93 and 95. "Its massive for me and my family," Gallacher said after calling into the news conference. "It was a long day yesterday (waiting for the call) ... A couple of drinks settled me down nicely." Europe is defending the trophy after its 14 1/2-13 1/2 win over the United States at Medinah in 2012. Poulter, Westwood and Donald have been stalwarts for Europe over the past decade, helping the team win five of the last six cups, but havent been in top form this year. Poulter usually saves his best performances for the Ryder Cup. He has 12 wins from 15 matches, and is on a seven-match winning streak — the last four coming at the "Miracle in Medinah" when Europe came from 10-6 down on the final day to retain the cup. "Ian Poulter is a bundle of energy whenever you speak to him. You could feel the energy coming down the phone," McGinley said. Westwood will be playing in his ninth straight Ryder Cup, with his accuracy from tee to green likely counting in his favour. He has played well below his best for much of 2014 but won the Malaysian Open in April and responded to calls from McGinley to show some form by shooting a final-round 63 at the Bridgestone Invitational last month before finishing tied for 15th at the PGA Championship. "I think Paul has picked me for my experience," Westwood said. "I have played under eight different captains and pretty much seen all it can throw at you." Wholesale Soccer Jerseys . "Im very pleased to be able to add a quarterback with Adrians experience and skill set," Calgary head coach and general manager John Hufnagel said in a statement. Cheap Soccer Jerseys Authentic .com) - The Buffalo Bills will return to the friendly confines of Ralph Wilson Stadium on Sunday when they welcome the upstart Cleveland Browns to town. https://www.soccerjerseyschina.us/. PAUL, Minn. Wholesale Soccer Jerseys China . Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports reports that the Raptors have traded forward Steve Novak along with a second-round pick to the Utah Jazz in exchange for guard Diante Garrett - who will then be waived. Stitched Soccer Jerseys . Scolari says that although Brazilians have the right to complain about the government and demand improvements, perhaps the protests wont be coming at the "right time.DALLAS -- Jamie Benn brought his golden touch to the ice for the Dallas Stars. The Canadian Olympian had a goal and two assists to lead Dallas to a 4-1 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday night. Kari Lehtonen made 29 saves for Dallas (28-21-10), which moved back into eighth place, the final playoff spot, in the Western Conference. Tyler Seguin, Brenden Dillon and Cody Eakin also scored for the Stars. Dallas scored two of its goals short-handed in regaining the momentum it had with a 6-1-2 record in the nine games before its 19-day Olympic break. While most of Dallas players hadnt been in a game for 2 1/2 weeks, Benn took on penalty-killing duties for Canada in the Olympics. "The more you penalty kill, the more comfortable you are with it," he said. "Ive got quite a bit of penalty-killing time lately and a lot more tonight, so I feel comfortable out there. I thought our group did a great job on the kill tonight and keep building off that." Benn looked completely at home on the penalty kill late in the second period he took the puck away in the Dallas end, skated the length of the ice, faked Hurricanes goalie Anton Khudobin to his left and put the puck behind the goalie to his right. "Every once in a while, (Benn) comes out with some magic and great skating," Kari Lehtonen said. "He makes highlight-reel goals and great passes." Seguin scored 3:18 into the game, and Dillon gave Dallas a 2-0 lead with a short-handed goal at 6:13 of the first. Benn, who scored two game-winning goals for Canadas gold medal-winning team, assisted on both. "Any time Jamie Benn is going up the ice, youve got to expect a goal," Dillon said. "He just keeps proving every game and every day that hes one of the best players in the world. I think after the Olympics everybody knows that. He just keeps getting better and better." On Dillons goal, the Stars penalty killers skated in two-on-two, but one of the Hurricanes had broken his stick. Benn dropped a pass at the top of the slot to Dillon, who shot into the left side of the net. Carolina coach Kirk Muller rued the Hurricanes poor start. "We werent happy with our first period tonight," he said. "When you give a team like that the opportunity and advantage its hard to come back." The Hurricanes had allowed only two short-handed goals, fourth-fewest in the league, in their first 58 games.dddddddddddd. "We really very seldom get scored on on the power play," Muller said. "Its a couple of mistakes early on that cost us." Lehtonen played for bronze medal-winning Finland in the Olympics. Valeri Nichushkin, whose backhand pass set up Seguins goal, played for Russia. "I thought (Lehtonen) gave us some real big saves, timely saves," Stars coach Lindy Ruff said. "He kept them off the board for the first 40, and in the third he made a few more quality saves." Benn, the Stars captain, said all of his teammates appeared ready. "A little rusty I guess, maybe a little tired sometimes, but I thought our team came out great," he said. "They took care of their bodies over the three weeks and were ready to go tonight." Eric Staal scored for Carolina at 2:42 of the third period. Eakin had an empty-net goal in the final minute. Dallas had finished the first period with an 11-10 advantage in shots on goal, and had an 11-8 advantage in shots in the middle frame. "In the third, we started playing a little bit better, but it was too late," Hurricanes centre Elias Lindholm said. "I dont think we were ready to go from the beginning." Carolina, which had returned to the ice Tuesday against Buffalo, took the first eight shots of the third period, including Staals 16th goal. Andrej Sekera recorded his 100th career assist on the goal. The Stars have 66 points, one more than ninth-place Vancouver. Carolina has lost five of its last seven games. NOTES: Dillons six goals this season include two of the Stars seven short-handed scores. . The Hurricanes had allowed two short-handed goals in their first 58 games. . Carolina forward Alexander Semin, a Russian Olympian, left Thursdays game because of a lower-body injury. Muller said, "Its tough because hes been our hottest forward in the last 15-20 games." . Seguin has 12 points (four goals, eight assists) in his last nine games. . Benns gold medal and Lehtonens bronze from the Olympics were on display. Fans could have their pictures taken beside the medals. . Carolina was 0 for 5 with a man advantage. The Hurricanes havent scored in their last 22 power plays (six games) on the road. . The Stars have allowed only 13 goals in their last 10 games. ' ' '