Herzlich Willkommen » lopas taking over as coach after Carlos de lo

The NHL has not decided whether to let its players participate in the Olympics beyond this year, casting doubt on who will be competing for hockey gold in four years. With the league set to push pause on its season for next months Sochi Olympics, Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly also is allowing for the possibility of a security issue that could keep the players from travelling to Russia at all. "As of now, we do not doubt that all necessary steps are being taken by the Sochi Organizing Committee, the Russian government and the IOC to ensure the safety of the athletes and guests in Sochi," Daly wrote Monday in an email to The Associated Press. "Obviously, if something significant were to transpire between now and February 9 that causes us to question that conclusion, we will re-evaluate. I dont expect that that will become necessary." Russian security has been looking for three potential female suicide bombers, one of whom is believed to be in Sochi. The country has assembled what is believed to be the biggest security operation ever for an Olympics with more than 50,000 police and soldiers. "The NHLPA continues to be in contact with Olympic and security officials regarding plans for the Olympic Games in Sochi, and will work closely with all concerned to monitor matters in advance of and during the Games," NHL Players Association spokesman Jonathan Weatherdon wrote in an email. Swedens Daniel Alfredsson has competed in each of the last four Olympics with players from the league and is looking forward to a fifth and probably final time next month. The 41-year-old Detroit Red Wings forward said it would be "bad" for the NHL to take the unique experience away from its players in the future. "Its an unbelievable experience," Alfredsson said. The NHL and the players association will decide on future Olympic participation after Sochi, just as they have done since the top players started participating in the games in 1998. League officials just arent sure freezing their league for two-plus weeks in the middle of the season is good for business -- especially when the Olympics are not in the U.S. or Canada. "The North American experiences have been better than far-away Olympics for a host reasons, including exposure," Daly said in a recent interview with the AP. "When you have a North American-based Olympics, you can have a shorter period without NHL games. Were going to have the longest break weve ever had, and that could interrupt momentum for teams and have an effect on their competitiveness based on how many players they have playing, and how many injuries they have in Sochi." The NHL had 150 of its players -- at least one for each of the 12 countries in the tournament -- picked to play. The league will not have any games from Feb. 9 through Feb. 24, a 16-day window that is between major American sporting events: the Super Bowl and the NCAA mens college basketball tournament. Instead of directly benefiting from the decreased competition for time and money from casual fans, the league can only hope that allowing its players to be in the Olympics draws more people to the game. "There are potential negative impacts with participating midseason in the Olympics and that factors into the overall analysis of whether its a good idea for us to go or not," Daly said. When the Sidney Crosby-led Canadians beat the Americans for gold four years ago in Vancouver, nearly 35 million people watched on TV. "Its pretty obvious to say its good for the game," Chicago Blackhawks and U.S. forward Patrick Kane said. But even if theres a rematch in the gold-medal game on Feb. 23, the audience likely will be much smaller because the puck is scheduled to drop at 4 p.m. in Sochi and at 7 a.m. or earlier in North America. Would the NHL let its players compete in the Winter Olympics only when theyre held in North America? "I dont think thats where we would go, but I wouldnt rule it out," Daly said. Players, seemingly universally, want to play in the Winter Olympics for the sixth straight time in 2018 in South Korea -- and beyond. The NHL and NHL Players Association have been in talks about bringing back the World Cup of Hockey that wouldnt conflict with the leagues regular season. Daly said the NHL and NHLPA are both in favour of creating a uniform international calendar. "A World Cup should clearly play a part in that," Daly said. NHL players, meanwhile, dont want a World Cup of Hockey -- perhaps every two years -- to replace an opportunity to play in the Olympics. "The World Cup would be cool, but the Olympics are something else," said Swedish and Detroit Red Wings goaltender Jonas Gustavsson, who was picked to play for his country in a second straight Olympics. "Its all the best athletes in all the sports in one place, trying to get gold. To take the best hockey players out of the Olympics would be wrong and would be a shame." Mario Hezonja Jersey . "It was awesome," he said. Coming off an ugly three-game sweep at the hands of the Yankees, Toronto found itself in a deep hole early after the Reds put an eight spot up on starter Liam Hendriks (six runs in 1 2/3 innings pitched) and Todd Redmond in the second. Enes Kanter Jersey . -- In the stadium program sold at the Miami Dolphins game on Halloween, Richie Incognito was asked whos the easiest teammate to scare. http://www.knickssale.com/kids-anthony-m...-jersey/.During the week, McCoy told reporters he respected Hoyer for his intelligence, athleticism and how he conducts himself on and off the field. This wasnt an act, some attempt at psyching out Hoyer. Patrick Ewing Jersey . It was just business as usual for the Thunder at home. Durant scored 32 points and the Thunder beat the Bulls 107-95 on Thursday night for their eighth straight win. Noah Vonleh Jersey . Bach, a 59-year-old German lawyer, was elected Tuesday as president of the International Olympic Committee. He succeeds Jacques Rogge, who stepped down after 12 years. Bach, the longtime favourite, defeated five candidates in a secret ballot for the most influential job in international sports, keeping the presidency in European hands.CHICAGO -- New coach Frank Yallop believes the Chicago Fire "with a bit of tinkering, is a good squad." A defensive specialist who coached San Jose to a pair of MLS Cup championships a decade ago, Yallop, from Vancouver, was hired Thursday to replace the Frank Klopas. He was fired Tuesday after New York eliminated the Fire from the MLS playoff race for the third time in the last four seasons. "I think the nucleus of this squad is good," Yallop said after agreeing to a multi-year contract. "Its making sure I get the best out of the guys I have and adding some players I feel will enhance the team I already have." Fire owner Andrew Hauptman made the decision to fire Klopas and managing director Javier Leon, the teams general manager, in the wake of Sundays 5-2 loss to New York, though he admitted the move was being considered for some time. Klopas and Leon had worked together in the front office since 2008, Klopas taking over as coach after Carlos de los Cobos was fired early in the 2011 season. "Its the body of work," Hauptman said. "Weve had six years of leadership. I didnt take the situation lightly. Frank and Javier put their heart and soul into the club. It was time for a change." The Fire finished 14-13-7, with 51 points, identical to Montreal, but missed the playoffs on goal differential. They made the playoffs last season but lost to Houston in the first round. Yallop, the MLS coach of the year in 2012, was fired by San Jose after the Earthquakes started the 2013 season 3-6-6. They rebounded after Mark Watson took over, but like the Fire, missed the MLS playoffs on a points tiebreaker.dddddddddddd "I wouldnt say it was a parting of the ways, but it was the best thing for both parties," Yallop said. Chicagos last Eastern Conference Final appearance was in 2009. The Fire has missed the playoffs three times in the last four seasons. That was too often for Hauptman, a Los Angeles-based businessman who bought the team in 2007. "I wont shy away from wanting to compete," Hauptman said. "But its important to show patience as well." He did that through several coaching changes, from Denis Hamlett to de los Cabos to Klopas. Leon has headed the front office since 2008, shortly after Hauptman bought the team. Hauptman said he wanted to move quickly so Yallop can take over control of soccer operations. "We can have a seamless transition," Hauptman said. Yallop will meet with his players early next week. "This team has always been difficult to play against," said Yallop, when San Jose was 1-0-2 against the Fire in its last three MLS matches when he coached. The 49-year-old Yallop was 117-107-84 in 11 seasons with San Jose and the Los Angeles Galaxy. He also coached the Canadian national team, leading it to the third round of qualifying for the 2006 World Cup. The Earthquakes won the MLS Cup in 2001, his first season in charge, when he also picked up the first of his two coach of the year awards. The Earthquakes beat the Fire for the 2003 MLS Cup, his second title in three seasons. A defender, he played for Ipswich Town in the English League for 13 years, joining Tampa Bay of the MLS in 1996. Internationally, made 52 appearances with Canada. Authentic Bills Jerseys Dolphins Stitched Jerseys Cheap Patriots Jerseys Wholesale Jets Jerseys Wholesale Texans Jerseys Cheap Colts Jerseys Jaguars Jerseys Store Authentic Titans Jerseys Authentic Broncos Jerseys Authentic Chiefs Jerseys Cheap Raiders Jerseys Chargers Jerseys Store Cheap Ravens Jerseys Wholesale Bengals Jerseys Cheap Browns Jerseys Steelers Jerseys Store Wholesale Cowboys Jerseys Wholesale Giants Jerseys Authentic Eagles Jerseys Cheap Redskins Jerseys Authentic Falcons Jerseys Panthers Jerseys Store Wholesale Saints Jerseys Authentic Buccaneers Jerseys Wholesale Cardinals Jerseys Cheap 49ers Jerseys Seahawks Jerseys Store Wholesale Rams Jerseys Wholesale Bears Jerseys Authentic Lions Jerseys Cheap Packers Jerseys Vikings Jerseys Store ' ' '