Die Macht » tell the truth and then it happen and t

TORONTO -- American tennis legend Pete Sampras offered some words of praise for Milos Raonic just hours after the Canadian star helped make Rogers Cup history. Raonic and fellow Canadian Vasek Pospisil both advanced to the semifinals at the mens event in Montreal, marking the first time in the Open Era that two Canadians will meet in the semis. Sampras, in Toronto for a Legends Cup exhibition event with fellow former world No. 1s Jim Courier and John McEnroe, says the No. 13-ranked Raonic is due for a breakthrough but it wont come easily. "Hes up against (Novak) Djokovic and (Andy) Murray and Roger (Federer) and four great players, and it takes time," said Sampras. "I think hes a threat already. I think hes got a huge game, monster serve, willing to come in and do some things and get to the net." Sampras is second all-time in Slams won (14) and weeks spent as the worlds No. 1-ranked player (286). He won two Australian Opens, seven Wimbledon titles, and five U.S. Opens. He exited pro tennis by winning his very last match in the 2002 U.S. Open final against Andre Agassi. Sampras reflected back on his own career and the time it took him to find the kind of success that has so far eluded Raonic in the majors. "I didnt figure this game out until I was probably 22 or 23, so when everything was settled in I was physically and mentally great. I knew where I stood in the game," he said. "It just takes time. I know Milos does the right things; he works hard; he wants to do well. "He just has to be patient. It isnt going to happen overnight." The 41-year-old Sampras is often asked about the state of the American game. When the new ATP ranking are released, there will be no American men in the top-20 for the first time. "People ask me all the time whats wrong with American tennis. I dont know why," he said. "Its looking a little slim. Were in decent shape, but obviously we want our guys to be ranked No. 1 like we were in the 90s. "The world has gotten a little better. Maybe the U.S has gotten a little bit complacent. I really dont know. I think what happened in the 90s with Andre, me and Jim was rare."NCAA Jerseys For Sale . Scott won the Australian PGA last week in his first event in Australia since winning the U.S. Masters in April. American Matt Kuchar, ahead by two strokes with four to play and even with Scott with one to go, double-bogeyed the 18th after taking two shots to get out of a bunker. Wholesale College Jerseys . On Mar. 16, coming off a "fight of the year" performance at UFC 154 the previous November, St-Pierre faced Nick Diaz at UFC 158 in what would be his eighth defence of the welterweight title. Using his superior athleticism, St-Pierre cruised to a five round, unanimous decision victory setting up a much-anticipated title defence against number one contender Johny Hendricks. https://www.cheapncaajerseysjustwholesale.com/ . Q: Team Canada announces their Olympic roster three weeks from today. Who is general manager Steve Yzerman watching? LeBrun: Over the last 48 hours, hes taken in the home-and-home between the Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche with Jamie Benn and Matt Duchene being the obvious targets. NCAA Jerseys . The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the Lions have not announced the hiring, which was first reported by ESPN. Lombardi, the grandson of former Green Bay Hall of Fame coach Vince Lombardi, has been an offensive assistant on Sean Paytons New Orleans staff since 2007. Cheap NCAA Jerseys China . LOUIS -- Heading into the final stretch of the season, the issues for the Chicago Bears banged-up defence only seem to be getting worse.SEATTLE -- Once Ken Griffey Jr. got the phone call about the honour the Seattle Mariners wanted to bestow upon him he started getting nervous about having to be the centre of attention. Standing before a large audience and getting lauded is not a circumstance where Griffey feels comfortable. "I grew up in a household where it was a lot easier to talk about somebody else than talk about you," Griffey said. "My dad came home hed always say How did the team do? What did you do? would always be the last question. "Having this, I understand the honour that it brings. Am I nervous? Yes. Its a lot easier to be in centre field and stand at home plate than to talk in front of thousands of people." The greatest player ever to wear a Seattle Mariners uniform is back this weekend to become the seventh inductee into the Mariners Hall of Fame on Saturday night. Itll be an emotional night for Griffey, but also for many fans and former teammates who were witness to arguably the best all-around player of his day. Jay Buhner choked up on Friday when talking about his close friend and outfield mate for most of the 1990s. "Every time he came to the plate we were expecting a human highlight reel," Buhner said. The two-day celebration began on Friday when Griffey was lauded by former teammates and opponents during a luncheon on the field Friday. During the 90 minute luncheon, Griffey looked uncomfortable at times receiving all the focus. But when he finally spoke, Griffey was calm and relaxed, cracking jokes about times in the clubhouse and his former teammates. Of the previous six inductees to the teams Hall of Fame, five are players, all of which played with Griffey and showed up to support their former teammate. Griffey was even razzed by his father, who sat next to his son on the stage, and reminisced about the two playing together in 1990 in Seattle. "It was tough. The biggest thing was he was the boss and I didnt like that at all," Ken Griffey said. If there ever was an induction to Seattles Hall of Fame that goes without debate, its Griffey. Griffey spent 13 of his 22 seasons in the majors with the Mariners and was the face of the franchise for most of the 1990s. He was drafted by Seattle in 1987 with the No. 1 overall pick, made his debut at the major league level two years later and went on to have one of the finest careers in baseball history. Griffey finished with 630 home runs -- sixth all-time -- aand was a 13-time All-Star and the 1997 American League MVP.dddddddddddd Griffeys arrival in Seattle immediate brought relevance to a franchise that earned little in its first decade of existence. He was a marketing magnet, known for his glowing smile and backward hat -- which Griffey says was a product of having to wear his dads hat that way as a kid and not a fashion statement. He won legions of fans with his style of play and the obvious fun he was having while being among the best in the game. Among those paying tribute to Griffey via video on Friday were one-time Seattle teammate Ichiro Suzuki -- who greeted Griffey with "What up George?" -- and Willie Mays. "He was just a good player, a player young people should emulate a little bit and make sure their kids look up to him," Mays said. "Name another centre fielder who can do the things that he did when he was playing. He did a lot of things that I did and its very hard to do. Hell get into the Hall of Fame with no problem." Most Seattle fans have put aside any resentment from Griffey strong-arming his way into a trade to Cincinnati before the 2000 season. There also seems to be little bitterness from Griffeys abrupt retirement in 2010 after a story leaked about Griffey sleeping in the clubhouse during a game and eventually announcing his departure from the club by driving off in the middle of the night. "When I got the phone call asking me where I was, I was in Montana. But like I told everybody from Day 1, I didnt want to have a press conference, I didnt want to be a distraction," Griffey said. "I told Chuck (Armstrong) and Howard (Lincoln) that from Day 1, I was not going to be a distraction to this ballclub. People when you tell the truth and then it happen and then people believe its supposed to happen a certain way they get upset. Ive always said I didnt want a press conference, I didnt want a farewell tour. It wasnt me. I did the best way I thought was easier for everybody, was to get in the car and drive off." Despite the way his career ended, Griffey remains thankful that he got to end his career playing for the Mariners and not just honoured for what he did in Seattle. "People didnt ask me who the best player was I ever played with. The question assumes the answer," former Seattle first baseman Alvin Davis said. "By far the most talented, best player I ever played with is Ken Griffey Jr." ' ' '