NEWS » f Steve Larmer and Dirk Graham, guy

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson announced to screaming throngs of Kings fans Friday that the deal to sell the NBA franchise to a group led by software tycoon Vivek Ranadive has been signed. The announcement at a City Hall rally brings to an end nearly five months of manoeuvring by Johnson to secure a new ownership group, convince the council to commit to building a new downtown arena, and to show the NBA that the capitol city of the most populous state in the nation has the fan base to make the venture successful. "This was one heck of a comeback," Johnson, a former NBA All-Star, said on a stage shared with two dozen investors, fans and politicians who had worked to keep the franchise in the city. Earlier this week, NBA owners rejected a bid to move the franchise to Seattle. Investor Chris Hansen, whose agreement to buy the team from the Maloof family and move them to the Pacific Northwest shocked the city in January, fought to acquire the team to the bitter end. He even negotiated to buy a minority share when it became clear the league opposed relocation. Johnson said that the deal reached between the Maloofs and the Ranadive group did not include an investment from Hansen. NBA Commissioner David Stern praised Hansens proposal and said the NBA might consider expansion once a new TV deal is in place. The mayor was conciliatory toward Seattle, but said he focused throughout the negotiations on promoting Sacramento as thriving city with 19 sellout seasons, one of the longest streaks in the NBA. "Seattle is a great city and we want them to get a team. For us, it was never a competition. It was about our community telling our story," Johnson said, adding: "Its about not letting someone take something thats not theirs." The NBA is expected to officially approve the sale next week. A person familiar with the deal previously told The Associated Press that the Maloofs had reached an agreement to sell a 65 per cent controlling interest at a total franchise valuation of $535 million. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because they werent authorized to talk publicly. The plan for the Kings future includes a $447 million downtown arena that will be built on at the western gateway to the city near the Sacramento River. The Sacramento ownership group also includes 24 Hour Fitness founder Mark Mastrov, former Facebook senior executive Chris Kelly and the Jacobs family that owns communications giant Qualcomm.Cheap MLB Jerseys Nike 2020 . That gave fans outside Joe Louis Arena another chance to ask for autographs from the 19-year-old whose stardom in the NHL has arrived earlier than most expected. Wholesale Baseball Jerseys . The visitors took a deserved lead in the 16th minute with midfielder Yohan Cabaye curling the ball beyond Adrian from inside the penalty area. https://www.mlbjerseyschina.us/ . 4 Villanova with a 96-68 drubbing on Monday. Wragge hit 9-of-14 from behind the arc, matching Kyle Korvers school record for 3-pointers in a game set in 2003, as Creighton (16-3, 6-1 Big East broke a conference record with 21 treys in the rout. Clearance MLB Jerseys .ca NFL Power Rankings, overtaking the Denver Broncos and remaining ahead of NFC competition San Francisco, Carolina and New Orleans. Cheap Nike MLB Jerseys . Brandon Morrow allowed five runs on six hits over three innings. He struck out two, walked one and hit a batter. Edwin Encarnacion had a two-out, bases loaded two-RBI double in the third inning.TORONTO -- One of the great reminders Hockey Hall of Fame induction weekend affords is of the place international hockey plays in helping judge honored members.As youve heard me say before, its not the NHL Hall of Fame, its the Hockey Hall of Fame.Thats incredibly true yet again with this years class.For as much we remember Eric Lindros for changing the NHL with his formidable skill and physicality, hes also one of the more decorated Team Canada players: he played in three world junior championships, a world championship, a Canada Cup, a World Cup of Hockey and three Olympic Games.Helping Canada snap a 50-year Olympic gold medal drought in hockey at Salt Lake City topped them all.I look back to 2002 as a pretty big moment, Lindros said Friday after receiving his Hockey Hall of Fame induction ring.We had the World Cup in 96 that we lost in the last five minutes or so in Montreal. I dont know what happened there. Whoa. And then in 98, we lose in the shootout in the semis to the Czechs and Dominik Hasek after playing really good hockey for the whole tournament.So then to come back in 2002, and it ties in with Pat [Quinn] being our coach, it felt great to bring it back. That was a nice time.The late Pat Quinn also coached Canada to a championship title in the 2004 World Cup of Hockey, a memory his daughter Kalli Quinn fondly recalled Friday.My favorite memory from 04 was sitting in his coachs office after the game with family and friends and just having laughs and carrying on, Kalli said. We actually brought the family and team bus to the post-reception. We all figured out a way to get there.And yes, her father had his trademark cigar in hand.But it wasnt lit, she said with a laugh.Sergei Makarovs eyes lit up when he remembered the 1981 Canada Cup in which Russia crushed Canada 8-1 in the final game -- a Canadian side that had Scotty Bowman behind the bench and the likes of Wayne Gretzky and Guy Lafleur on the roster.It was not expected for us to win like that, Makarov said. The games between Russia and Canada, it doesnt matter what age, theyre always hard. You dont expect 8-1. For us, it was a big surprise.Speaking of Gretzky, The Great One often says the 1987 Canada Cup finals were some of the best hockey hes ever been part of, with Canada edging Russia 6-5 in Game 3. Superstars on each side left it all on the ice in a historical display of hockey.It was a great three games, 6-5, 6-5, 6-5, said Makarov, one of the best players of the tourrnament.dddddddddddd Top-level hockey, and it was so good. I totally agree with Wayne on that.Rogie Vachon backstopped Team Canada to glory in the first-ever Canada Cup tournament, held in 1976, as the team MVP.One of the great highlights of my career, Vachon said Friday after getting his Hall of Fame induction ring. We had Bobby Orr and Guy Lafleur and all these guys. The Canada Cup is right there with some of my best memories.The debate that rages is which Canadian team was more talented: Orrs squad in 76 or Gretzkys in 87?If you look at the lineup we had, it was just so much fun, said Vachon. We played seven games and I ended up giving up 10 goals. My defense was unbelievable. Guys like [Serge] Savard and [Larry] Robinson, they would say, Make the first save and dont worry about the rebound.Of note, Vachon added, is that Team Canada got very serious in its preparation for that tournament.In those days, thats when we really started to watch video, he said. Video was never popular before in the NHL. But when the Canada Cup came in, we spent a lot of hours watching the Russians and the Czechs [to] see how they play, when they pass, when they shoot.Lindros introduced himself on the big stage as an 18-year-old playing in the 1991 Canada Cup with and against big NHL stars. But what he remembers most was how two veterans took care of him.When I think back to 91, I think of Steve Larmer and Dirk Graham, guys that were ... the glue of that team, guys that took time to help some of the younger guys immensely, he said. I remember Larms always taking me out for dinner and just being around for me. Both Dirk and Steve were guys that I truly remember from that.What people tend to forget, however, is that Lindros also played in a non-NHL Olympics, joining Canadas national team for the 1991-92 season while he waited for the Quebec Nordiques to trade him.It was great, Lindros said of the team that earned silver in at the 1992 Albertville Olympics. We had Joe Juneau, Sean Burke, Kevin Dahl, Dan Ratushny -- a good team and a great group of guys. But with Hockey Canada, you might not have a game for, like, three weeks. So youre training and going to practice three weeks straight, and all of a sudden you go and play 17 games in 21 days in 14 countries. It was a tight group because of that. We were together a lot. We had fun. ' ' '