Die Macht » joying a three-day break from action

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- Wrestling legend Ric Flair, a special guest at Atlanta Falcons training camp Tuesday, praised star receiver Julio Jones while calling out Washington Redskins cornerback Josh Norman.The Nature Boy, a guest of Jones, addressed the Falcons following practice, firing up the entire squad with his trademark Wooooooo! before breaking the huddle.Afterward, Flair shared a special message about Jones with ESPN and called out Norman, the former Carolina Panthers cornerback who will suit up for the Redskins against the Falcons on Thursday night.This is the Nature Boy Ric Flair at Falcons training camp with my main man, my brother, Julio Jones, the greatest wide receiver in the NFL, Flair screamed. Thats right, Josh Norman: The best. Nobody catches up to Julio Jones. Wooooooo! Go Falcons.Flair, who used to live in Charlotte but now resides in the Atlanta area, expanded on his thoughts about the Falcons.I met Julio at Lake Lanier, and my family has been big Falcons fans, Flair said. I am a Falcon fan now. Its easy to say youre a fan of Tom Brady and the Patriots. But now, I want someone in this conference (NFC South) to step up, and this could be Atlantas year. The Panthers gave up a lot on defense. I think (the Falcons) can do it, if everyone stays healthy.I think Julio is one of the most wonderful, most polite, most articulate guys Ive ever met. From texting and talking and just being so kind to people. He doesnt have to be, but hes such a quality guy. Hes first class.Flair expressed an equal amount of respect for coach Dan Quinn after meeting the Falcons coach for the first time Tuesday. The respect is mutual.You could see the energy, Quinn said of Flair. (He) was talking with us and having some fun. 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The match started slowly for Ivanovic, who surrendered her first two serves as Hantuchova took a 5-3 lead. CALGARY, Alberta -- The Calgary Flames host the Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday night at the Scotiabank Saddledome in a battle of two well-rested teams.Both the Flames (16-13-2) and Lightning (14-13-2) have enjoyed a break in their schedules since they last played on Saturday night.While the Flames beat the Winnipeg Jets 6-2 at home on Saturday for their sixth straight win, the Lightning dropped a 4-3 decision to the Pittsburgh Penguins in Tampa earlier the same evening.Although the streaking Flames are back in contention, Calgary coach Glen Gulutzan cautioned that his players will have to continue to build on that momentum to stay in the mix in the highly-competitive Pacific Division.We have moved the bar for ourselves in the last month, Gulutzan said. Everybody knows about our start, we dug ourselves a hole and we are starting to get ourselves out of it. Weve got a lot of work to do, but we have a great group.Included in that group is goaltender Chad Johnson, who has gone 9-1-0 in his past 10 starts.Obviously, it starts with (Johnson) back there in the pipes, said center Sean Monahan, who has shrugged off a slow start to his season with the Flames by recording points in seven straight games, which is a career high.Hes giving us that confidence to go out there and work for him. When were getting the chances were putting the puck in the back of the net. I think that comes down to us sticking to our structure and keeping it simple. Thats why were getting our chances.While the Flames are on fire, the same cant be said for the Lightning, who have gone 1-6-1 in its past eight gaames and 4-7-1 since superstar center Steven Stamkos suffered a meniscus tear in his right knee.ddddddddddddAfter enjoying a three-day break from action, Tampa Bay will play three road games in four nights starting with Wednesdays tough test against Calgary. The Lightning will then play the Canucks in Vancouver on Friday before taking on the Oilers in Edmonton the next night.Weve had a little time to practice, Lightning coach Jon Cooper told the Tampa Bay Times on Tuesday. Weve had a little rest. Were going to need that going on the road here especially that were playing three in four nights. I think every team that we play is sitting home waiting for us for a couple of days, so we have to be on our game.Despite the slump his team is in, Cooper said his players have kept up a positive attitude.Nobody wants to be in the situation that were in, but we are in that situation and we have to work our way out just like everybody else, said Cooper.The Lightning recalled right winger Erik Condra and defenseman Slater Koekkoek from the AHLs Syracuse Crunch on Monday. Koekkoek was sent down to the AHL for two games to get some much-needed playing time before being called back up.Hes taking big steps, positive steps every single year, Cooper told the Times. When our D corps finally got healthy, we could afford to play him some games in Syracuse. Hes definitely part of our team. Hes coming with us out west. Our goal is to get him in and getting back helping us. ' ' '