Für unsere Gäste » by injuries.The Sabres acquired him in a m

RIO DE JANEIRO -- Diana Taurasi has been there, done that, and won literally everything there is to win in womens basketball -- no, really. Everything.NCAA titles at Connecticut. WNBA titles with Phoenix. Three Olympic gold medals (and counting....). Pro and college most valuable player awards and European titles in Russia, where she pulls down a $1 million-plus annual salary. She was actually paid by her Russian team not to play for the Mercury last summer, the better to rest her body for this years overseas run all the way to -- are you kidding? -- a seventh European title. So it was no surprise at all really when Taurasi -- the ultimate winner -- seemed to take it a little personally Tuesday when Serbia, the U.S. teams third-round opponent at the Rio Summer Olympics, had ambitions of muddying this pretty picture. Serbia actually took a one-point lead with eight minutes gone in the first quarter -- a rarity against this U.S. team -- only to see Taurasi answer by scoring 11 of the United States next 15 points.Nine of them came on three consecutive 3-pointers that left her shoving her hands straight down each side of her shorts as if she was putting them back into imaginary holsters by the third one she made.The U.S. jumped back out to a 31-21 lead, and the Americans never looked back on the way to a 110-84 win. Taurasi had 22 of her team-best 25 points in the first half. The six three-pointers she made broke her own Olympic record of five.We knew what was up -- theyre European champions for a reason, Taurasi said of Serbia after the game. Its good for us to be challenged.The U.S. has now won 44 straight Olympic games and is chasing its sixth straight gold medal.Taurasi, now 34, could score in the mid-20s any time she wants, but shes smart enough to realize she doesnt have to do that for this talent-laden team. Like a lot of stars, she knows its often when you score that matters most, not necessarily how much. She keeps a close eye on the emotional temperature of the team, whooping when they make a steal, barking when they miss a screen, keeping everyone engaged.Tuesday, the U.S. hit a little scoring drought after a hot start. Olympic first-timer Elena Delle Donne, the reigning WNBA MVP, picked up two quick fouls almost as soon as she came in the game and went back to the bench when Taurasi -- who has never been timid about shooting, anyway -- seemed to get all Shakespearean and decide: If not noweth, then when?It was mostly about the group we had in the game at that time, she stated. We said, We need to get on a run. And so she shot -- one, two, three 3-pointers in a row. The net barely twitched. She bounced up and down and let out a little woo-hoo after the last of them. She was enjoying this. And her teammates were enjoying it too. If not Serbia.Wheeew, she was hot, wasnt she? swingman Angel McCoughtry said. She just had that look.The way Taurasi is willing to switch between taking this team on her shoulders and deferring to her enormously talented teammates doesnt make her unique on this squad of wall-to-wall stars. But shes still the best at demanding the ball, and shes the most fun to watch, if only because of her swagger and attitude. One of her nicknames is White Mamba, which can sound a little silly until you realize it was Kobe Bryant, the original Mamba, who gave her the name.Taurasi, of course, loved it. She plays like she thinks shes the biggest bad ass on the court. But off the court, say the other players, shes the best teammate you could ever want.Brittney Griner, the 6-foot-8 former Baylor center who now plays year-round with Taurasi in Russia and the WNBA, smiled the other day when asked if Taurasi has drifted away from the surprise motivational phone calls she used to make to her before games, skipping pleasantries like hello and getting right to the point -- Are you going to show up tonight or what? -- then hanging up before Griner could get a word in.She still does it, Griner says, laughing, but now she just says that stuff to my face.Taurasi often seems to be channeling U.S. coach Geno Auriemma, her mentor and alter ego at UConn, when she dissects games the U.S. has just played and nitpicks about what needs to be cleaned up.Much like Auriemma, she got a little impatient after the United States past two games and gave a Geno-esque answer when asked a spin-off of the perennial UConn question: Is the U.S. womens teams dominance in Olympic play bad for the game?When Taurasi was asked this a few days ago after routing Spain, she said, If you dont like watching good basketball, go watch rowing.Tuesday, asked the same bad-for-basketball question again, she laughed wearily and said, I dont even know how to answer it anymore. Would it be better if we lost by 50? ....We have 12 women that dedicate their lives to the game of basketball year-round -- overseas, USA, the WNBA. So theyre knocking us for doing that?Its a bit disrespectful, I would say.The U.S., now 3-0 in Rio, plays Canada Friday, then has one more game before its on to medal-round play. Said Taurasi: We just need to come out of that locker room, and do what we do.David Montgomery Youth Jersey . "Theyve both been real good," said Babcock. "Havent changed our minds." A decision has seemingly been made - Sundays Group B-deciding tilt against Finland ahead - but it could not have been an easy one. Price opened the tournament with a sturdy 19-save performance against the Norwegians, yielding just one goal. Roquan Smith Jersey . Sgt. Eric ONeal says most of the arrests at Monday nights game were for public drunkenness, though one person was taken into custody on suspicion of trying to steal a seat from the stadium. http://www.chicagobearfootballauthentic.com/customized/ . A lawyer for MLB, Matthew Menchel, confirmed Wednesday the league dropped its case against Biogenesis of America, its owner Anthony Bosch and several other individuals. The lawsuit had accused Biogenesis and Bosch of conspiring with players to violate their contracts by providing them with banned performance-enhancing substances. Akiem Hicks Bears Jersey .Y. - Detroit goaltender Jonas Gustavsson has earned NHL first star of the week honours after winning in his first three appearances of the season. Ha Ha Clinton-Dix Jersey . And follow TSN.ca right through Deadline Day for all the updates. From Pierre LeBrun While Anaheim GM Bob Murray said earlier this season he was not going to trade Jonas Hiller despite the fact hes an unrestricted free agent on July 1, some sources have told TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun that Murray might be willing to move another goalie.BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Buffalo Sabres forward Evander Kane is set to return on Wednesday, and star center Jack Eichel might not be too far behind.Coach Dan Bylsma announced that Kane will play against Ottawa in his first game since missing 11 with broken ribs.As for Eichel, Bylsma said he was meeting with a doctor to have his sprained left ankle evaluated and could soon be cleared for on-ice workouts.I dont want to suggest that its going to be today or tomorrow or the next day that hes getting on the ice, but hes progressing quite nicely, Bylsma said of Eichel, one of the NHLs top rookies last season.Thats encouraging news for a banged-up team that lost Kane and Eichel to injuries a day apart a month ago.Eichel was hurt during practice on Oct. 12, a day before Buffalos season opener against Montreal. Kane was hurt in a 4-1 loss to the Canadiens, when he lost his balance and crashed into the end boards.Its not feeling pretty good, but its well enough where I can contribute, Kane said, assessing his ribs. I feel I can be a difference-maker on the team, so Im looking forward to proving that and going out there tonight and showing it.Kane spent the past week taking part in individual drills, including contact sessions -- the most physical of which occurred on Monday.Hes a two-timme 20-goal-scorer and hard-hitting player who is being counted on to fill a spot on one of Buffalos two top lines.ddddddddddddIn his eighth NHL season, Kane has seen his production slowed by injuries.The Sabres acquired him in a multiplayer trade in February 2015 with Winnipeg and after Kane had season-ending shoulder surgery.He also has encountered off-ice troubles.Last week, a Buffalo judge agreed to dismiss charges against Kane stemming from altercations he had with three women and a bouncer at a bar in June. He was accused of grabbing the women by the hair and neck.Erie County District Attorney Michael Flaherty referred to Kanes behavior as arrogant, boorish and surly, but not criminal.Kane denied the allegations, and his lawyer said the agreement does not include an admission of guilt.Kane said his only concern this past month was getting healthy.I really havent felt like anythings been hanging over my head outside of not being able to play, he said. Now that Im healed up and ready to go, thats what Im looking forward to.Bylsma said center Tyler Ennis is being evaluated for what he called a mid-body injury and wont play against Ottawa. ' ' '