d finished the first half 35-46.BREWERS MOVEAfter the game the Brewers optioned OF Keon Broxton to Triple-A Colorado Springs

MIAMI -- Hassan Whitesides talents are apparently not limited to the dunks and defense that convinced the Miami Heat he was worthy of a $98 million contract this offseason.Turns out, he also does a very respectable Shaquille ONeal impression.When I met him, he was just, `Big fella, youve got to dunk everything, Whiteside said, perfectly mimicking ONeals oft-imitated tone. `I like how you play. Dunk everything.Sounding like ONeal, thats the easy part.Playing like ONeal, thats now the challenge.The Heat guaranteed Whiteside a fortune, and hes now starting to realize that the teams fortunes -- with Dwyane Wade now in Chicago and questions surrounding Chris Bosh health -- are on his copious shoulders. Its a challenge he says that hell embrace, insisting hes still fueled by so many teams passing on him.Each month hes been with us, hes gotten better, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. And I think thats a great statement to make. For two straight years, hes gotten better. Seems like each week, each game that hes played, hes understanding his role. Hes playing with a great motor right now.Hes also coming off a season the likes of which no NBA center had managed in nearly a quarter-century.Whiteside averaged 14.2 points, 11.8 rebounds and a league-best-by-far 3.7 blocks per game last season. The last player to finish a season averaging so much in each of those three categories was Hakeem Olajuwon, in 1993-94.In a league where only nine players -- DeMarcus Cousins, Karl-Anthony Towns, Andre Drummond, Dwight Howard, Anthony Davis, Pau Gasol, DeAndre Jordan, Julius Randle and Whiteside -- averaged a points-rebounds double-double last season, a truly elite big man is a rarity these days.He is going to be an essential part of what we do, Heat president Pat Riley said.He was one of seven big men to get deals this summer averaging $16 million or more in free agency. Whiteside, Drummond, Howard, Al Horford and Joakim Noah got deals that will pay them a combined $682 million over the coming seasons. Timofey Mozgov and Ian Mahinmi each got $64 million over the next four years -- and they have career averages of 6.9 and 5.1 points, respectively.In Atlantas case, for example, giving Howard $70.5 million over three years came down to dollars and sense.I still think that players like Dwight, Atlanta coach Mike Budenholzer said, have a huge impact on what you do.Whiteside insists that he isnt just a back-to-the-basket player. Hes lobbying each day to have freedom to bring the ball up after rebounds, is working on improving his outside game, even tried to put on a 3-point shooting display for Spoelstra after one recent practice.But he knows the Heat need him to dominate around the rim, on both ends.And thats where he thinks he can separate himself from any center out there.I can score and I can defend, Whiteside said. Youve got guys at the (center) position that can score but they cant guard a shoebox. And youve got guys who are really great defenders but they couldnt score on a shoebox. I just want to be balanced.Whitesides meteoric rise is a story almost like none other in the NBA. The Heat signed him as a free agent a month into the 2014-15 season, doing so in part out of desperation and in part because he captured their attention by dominating a game against the teams NBA Development League affiliate in Sioux Falls. Not even two years later, hes got a max deal.His game, he said, doesnt mimic one past player. Hes taking pieces from several.I wanted to take Hakeems shot-blocking abilities, Whiteside said. I wanted to take Kevin Garnetts face-up jumper. I wanted to take Tim Duncans bank shot. I wanted to take Kobe Bryants work ethic. And Shaqs aggressiveness.Whiteside was the featured guest at a Heat promotional event for fans on Sunday, one of those meet-and-greet appearances where some autographs get signed and selfies get taken. Whiteside was pulling up to the arena and slowed down when he saw about 200 people lined up on a sidewalk, wondering why they were all there.It took him a moment to realize that the fans -- many of whom wore Whiteside jerseys, and one who wrote Whitesides name and No. 21 on his biceps and wanted to flex for the Heat center -- were there for him.Only 23 months after he first hit Miami, the Heat will go as he goes now.It takes a little getting used to, Whiteside said. But I know what the challenge is, and Im ready.Derrick Rose Jersey . Uniteds eighth defeat of a wretched campaign means Liverpool, which currently occupies the fourth and final Champions League place, could go nine points clear of its fierce rival by beating West Bromwich Albion on Sunday. Charlie Adam scored both of Stokes goals at Britannia Stadium either side of Robin van Persies equalizer, with a miserable day for seventh-place United capped by first-half injuries to centre halves Jonny Evans and Phil Jones that forced them off. Christian Wood Pistons Jersey . The giant slalom world champion slipped during her first run in the morning, landing on her back and then twisting forward before getting her leg caught in the protective material on the side of the slope. https://www.pistonsrookiesshop.com/Joe-Dumars-City-Edition-Jersey/ .C. at the helm of the top team in the Eastern Conference. His tenure as the GM in Vancouver was all too brief. Though he led the Canucks to what was then a franchise record-shattering campaign in just his second season, Nonis was gone and replaced one year later. Grant Hill Pistons Jersey . -- Ken Appleby made 32 saves for his first shutout of the season to lead the Oshawa Generals to a 2-0 win over the Belleville Bulls on Wednesday in Ontario Hockey League action. Isiah Thomas Jersey . McCarthy, a player who played some games in the second tier for Wigan at the start of this season, would go on to shine inside Evertons midfield, outplaying the man he was brought in to replace, on one of the grandest stages in English football. On Saturday, it was fitting that Manchester Uniteds most recent dagger into the chest was delivered by Frenchman Yohan Cabaye, a wonderfully gifted central midfielder who put on an outstanding effort for Newcastle at Old Trafford.ST. LOUIS -- Stephen Piscotty savored the moment of his second career grand slam. Then he got some chow.The St. Louis Cardinals budding star remembered an empty stomach caused by all that time at the ballpark after a rain-soaked, twice-delayed 9-8 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers that completed a three-game sweep on Sunday. He hadnt eaten since breakfast and the game lasted just over six hours counting stoppages.I hadnt eaten before the homer, so maybe theres something to staying hungry, Piscotty joked.Brandon Moss had a go-ahead double in a two-run fifth, and rookie Aledmys Diaz hit his 11th homer. The Cardinals lead the season series 7-2.But it was a long slog to get there.I think guys feel like they played two, manager Mike Matheny said. Coming out with a win, it doesnt matter.Besides falling short, the Brewers had no complaints.They did the best they could to make the field playable, manager Craig Counsell said. There was nothing you could really do. Just miserable weather.The start was delayed by rain 1 hour, 20 minutes, there was a 14-minute stoppage in the middle of the sixth and a third delay of 55 minutes in the top of the Brewers two-run seventh. Perhaps a few thousand of a crowd of 41,148 stuck it out for a game that officially lasted 3:48.Pitchers on both sides had trouble gripping the ball.It seemed like it was always coming down hard when our guys were trying to make pitches, Matheny said. It ended up really saturating the field. I mean right there at the end you still saw puddles all over the place, but the guys stayed the course.Piscotty is 5 for 9 with 13 RBI with the bases loaded this season, including his first career slam on May 27 at Washington, and for his career hes 8 for 15 with 18 RBI. He connected on a full count against Blaine Boyer with two outs in the sixth for an 8-2 lead, and got the full effect.Around first base you really hear the crowd start to roar and thhe fireworks go off, Piscotty said.dddddddddddd Its a fun trip around the bases.Michael Wacha (5-7) allowed two runs and nine hits and escaped his fifth and final inning when Aaron Hill grounded into a double play on a 3-1 count with the bases loaded. Kirk Nieuwenhuis hit a two-run double in a four-run ninth and the go-ahead run was at first when Seung Hwan Oh struck out pinch-hitter Martin Maldonado for his second save.Chase Anderson (4-9) has lost three straight starts, allowing 15 earned runs in 10 2/3 innings and was pulled after his fifth walk, with one out in the fifth. Jacob Barnes gave up Moss RBI double for the lead and Jhonny Peraltas sacrifice fly.He was not his normal self, Counsell said of Anderson.Ramon Flores two-run double put the Brewers ahead in the fourth and Ryan Braun had four singles. Milwaukee is 13-26 on the road with one series win and four splits in 13 attempts, and finished the first half 35-46.BREWERS MOVEAfter the game the Brewers optioned OF Keon Broxton to Triple-A Colorado Springs and purchased the contract of IF Will Middlebrooks from Colorado Springs. LHP Chris Capuano was transferred to the 60-day disabled list from the 15-day DL.SURPRISE STICKAnderson, who entered a career .077 hitter, singled in the second.ROSENTHALS WOESTrevor Rosenthal, who lost his closer job about a week ago, faced four hitters in the seventh, retired none of them and was charged with two runs.UP NEXTCardinals: Carlos Martinez (7-5) is to start against Pittsburgh. He is 3-0 with a 1.06 ERA in his last six starts, allowing no runs in three of them. He is 3-4 with a 4.02 ERA against the Pirates.Brewers: Milwaukee is 9-2 in starts by Junior Guerra (5-1) entering an 11:05 a.m. game at Washington. The right-hander will be facing the Nationals for the first time. ' ' '