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PORTLAND, Ore. -- Trail Blazers forward Meyers Leonard has found himself after the hardest year of his life.It started at the beginning of last season, when Leonard gambled by turning down Portlands $40 million contract extension offer. Then he dislocated his shoulder twice, finally succumbing to surgery and watching as his team went to the playoffs.Now, he views the adversity as a victory of sorts -- because it brought him to the place hes at today.I believe that everything happens for a reason, he said. And Im flat-out excited for what the future holds.Portlands 7-footer is poised to return from the shoulder injury that finally caught up with him last season. His rehab is ahead of schedule and hes been practicing with the team during training camp. Theres no timetable yet for his return to games.The Blazers, who defeated the Utah Jazz 98-89 on Monday night in the preseason opener, are looking to build off of last seasons success when they surpassed expectations by going 44-38 with a second-round playoff appearance.Leonard, who turned down that initial extension offer last October, embarked on last season hopeful that hed make a statement in his fourth NBA season. He had already turned heads with his 3-point shooting ability, a rarity for a big man.He would go on to play in 61 games, including 10 starts, with a career-high 8.4 points and 5.1 rebounds a game. He also had 86 3-pointers.But he dislocated his shoulder in November during a game against the San Antonio Spurs and missed seven games. He dislocated it again during a practice in March and about a week later it was determined hed need surgery for a torn labrum.Leonard knew all along something was wrong and it just added to his anxiety. For the first time in his life he feared failure, he said.It was the hardest year of life. Not even close. I lied to my entire family the whole year. I told them I was OK. I wasnt. I come from nothing and I turned down $40 million, he said.His outlook started to shift this summer after he signed a four-year, $41 million deal with the Blazers.Leonard said he keeps two journals each day, one to record all that he is thankful for, and another to keep him focused on his life goals. He said his faith has also grown.Hes not self-conscious about revealing his foibles or the transformation.I think a lot of times listening to other players speak, listening to myself speak in the past, it feels like a lot of times its scripted answers, kind of giving you guys what you want to hear. Certainly, sometimes thats just the way it is, he told reporters when training camp opened. But I like to be a little more open, be honest, with things. Thats just the way I am, I guess.Leonard has already been at work this summer on his game. Hes looking to do different things in the post this season and be more of a threat outside of spacing the floor. Hes good with whatever role falls his way, too.My goals and my thoughts going into this season is to do to whatever I can to help the team, he said. Im in a really good place in my life right now, on and off the court. Im very confident, my mind is clear. Im excited for this year. Timothy Weah Jersey . -- Stanfords Kevin Danser knelt on one knee and hardly moved on the sideline as Michigan State celebrated its Rose Bowl victory and his Cardinal teammates made their way to the locker room. Julian Draxler Paris Saint-Germain Jersey . Ronaldo produced a spectacular individual performance on Tuesday, scoring all three goals and guiding Portugal into the next years World Cup in Brazil with a 3-2 victory in Sweden. The Real Madrid forward has scored 66 goals in 2013, but the last three may be the boost he needs to upstage Messi after FIFA unexpectedly extended the voting period for the Ballon dOr to Nov. http://www.parissaintgermainfcstore.com/Women-Arthur-Zagre-Paris-Saint-Germain-Jersey/ . Ancelotti says Ronaldo has recovered from a hamstring injury but "but he doesnt feel comfortable yet so we wont risk him." Madrid is third in the Spanish league, six points behind leader Barcelona, going into Saturdays game against Valladolid. Thiago Silva Paris Saint-Germain Jersey . The 20-year-old Pelicans big man glanced up and smiled widely at the well-wishers -- a fitting end to a day he wont soon forget. Davis responded to his selection earlier in the day as a Western Conference All-Star with 26 points and 10 rebounds, and the New Orleans Pelicans overcame a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit to defeat the Minnesota Timberwolves 98-91 on Friday night. Colin Dagba Jersey . The incident occurred at 19:56 of the second period of the Kings 4-2 road win over Edmonton on Sunday. Nolan punched Oilers forward Jesse Joensuu in the jaw in front of the Kings goal during a scrum. NEW YORK -- Jason Heyward made a diving catch with runners on first and second and two outs in the ninth inning after pinch-hitter Reed Johnson hit a go-ahead single with two outs in a two-run top half, leading the Atlanta Braves to a 2-1, comeback victory over the New York Mets on Monday night. Playing for the first time after missing six games with a strained right hamstring, Heyward made a long run to his right and slid along the wet grass to hold his glove up after grabbing pinch-hitter Justin Turners fly ball. The Braves took advantage of catcher John Bucks passed ball to score twice in the ninth against closer Bobby Parnell. The Braves did not get their first hit off Dillon Gee until Freddie Freeman led off the seventh with a single. But the NL East leaders ended their two-game skid against Parnell (5-5). With shortstop Omar Quintanilla playing behind second base in a shift, Brian McCann singled through the opening at short to open the ninth. Evan Gattis followed with a bloop single to right-centre. David Wright then fielded Dan Ugglas grounder and stepped on third before leaping over a sliding pinch-runner Jose Constanza. Bucks passed ball on a high fastball put runners in scoring position before Chris Johnsons grounder tied it. Batting for reliever Jordan Walden, Reed Johnson then lined a single to centre for the lead. Craig Kimbrel hit Buck with a pitch with one out in the rainy ninth, drawing the Mets fans ire as he tried to get comfortable in the steady downpour by walking off the mound after nearly every pitch. Pinch-runner Andrew Brown advanced to second on a wild pitch and Quintanilla drew a 10-pitch walk. Turner, in his first game off the disabled list, hit liner to the spacious gap in left-centre at Citi Field, but Heyward, who was playing in centre field because B.J. Upton is on the disabled list, made a flat out dive to preserve the Braves first win in three games. Kimbrel earned his 28th save. Walden (4-1) pitched the eighth for the win. Julio Teheran kept pace with Gee, allowing just Ike Davis RBI single in the fourth inning. Teheran put ruunners on base in each of the first four innings, but picked off leadoff man Eric Young Jr.dddddddddddd after walking him in the first. Teheran couldnt overcome Marlon Byrds leadoff triple in the fourth, though. Byrd hit a sinking line drive to right field that went under the glove of a charging Justin Upton and rolled to the wall. Byrd raced around second and the fans cheers began to swell but turned to a collective "aww" when he was held at third rather than try for an inside-the-park homer. Davis followed with a sharp grounder under diving first baseman Freeman for the 1-0 lead. It was Davis first RBI since he drove in two runs July 5, his first game back from the minors. The popular first baseman got his first extra-base hit in 54 plate appearances in the second inning, when he doubled just inside the left field line. Davis homered on June 2 before the drought started. The Braves wasted a big chance in the seventh when Freeman led off with their first hit. Atlanta then loaded the bases with one out on a single by Gattis and Uggla was hit by a pitch. Gee threw his gutsiest pitches of the night with the bases jammed. First Chris Johnson grounded to third baseman Wright, who rushed the slow bouncer and threw home for a fielders choice. Then Gee tossed two pitches in the dirt that pinch-hitter Joey Terdoslavich chased for an inning-ending strikeout. Mets fans gave Gee a loud cheer as he walked off the field. Gee was lifted after 96 pitches and seven innings, allowing two hits and three walks. He has tossed 13 2-3 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run. NOTES: Mets rookie centre fielder Juan Lagares was named NL player of the week. He went 7 for 10 with two doubles, one homer and five RBIs over his last three games. ... The Braves are putting LHP Paul Maholm (wrist strain) on the 15-day DL. Rookie Alex Wood will make his second big league start in his place. Atlanta CF B.J. Upton (leg muscle strain) ran for the first time since going on the DL July 14, retroactive to the 13th. But Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said Upton likely will not be ready to be activated when eligible this weekend. ' ' '