LONDON -- While critical of Dennis Rodmans trips to North Korea, incoming NBA commissioner Adam Silver says the former all-star also helped raise awareness of leader Kim Jong Uns "repressive regime.
Kendrick Lewis Ravens Jersey ." Rodman took a group of retired NBA players to the pariah state this month to play a game as a gift for Kim, a move criticized by some members of the U.S. Congress, human rights groups and the NBA. Rodman, the highest-profile American to meet Kim, has stressed he is not a statesman and is only seeking to build cultural ties between Pyongyang and Washington through basketball. But the 52-year-old Rodman has been denounced for not trying to use his influence with Kim to secure the release of Kenneth Bae, an American missionary with health problems who is being held in North Korea on charges of "anti-state" crimes. Although Rodman has been accused of becoming a public relations tool for North Koreas government, Silver regards the publicity from the trips helping to shine a light on a country with a poor human rights record. "As negative as that trip was in so many ways it also brought attention to a critical issue in North Korea that ... most Americans hadnt focused on at all in terms of a repressive regime," Silver said on Thursday in London ahead of a game between the Brooklyn Nets and the Atlanta Hawks. At the start of the Jan. 8 game in Pyongyang, Rodman sang "Happy Birthday" to Kim, who was seated at the stadium, and bowed deeply as North Korean players clapped. Silver, who succeeds David Stern as commissioner on Feb. 1, said the NBA persuaded some former players not to participate in the game. "We did talk directly with certain other players who decided not to go," Silver said after appearing at a meeting organized by the Sport Industry Group. "In terms of any damage done to the NBA, we dont think there was any damage done to the NBA ... the fact basketball happens to be very popular in North Korea I dont think is a negative for our league. "And it just demonstrates that its not just basketball but all sports bring tremendous opportunities." And, with the Nets owned by Russian businessman Mikhail Prokhorov, the NBA is looking beyond the U.S. for more investment in franchises. Stern said there are discussions with investors from China, Latin America and the Middle East, in particular those in oil-rich United Arab Emirates whose "connection to the governing families is quite close." Efforts to grow the NBA beyond U.S. shores in Britain have been limited, despite Thursdays regular-season game at the O2 Arena being the fourth in four years at the venue. While acknowledging that "football is king" in England, the NBA feels that its efforts to intensify interest have not been matched by a commitment from the government and local groups to promote the game and build facilities. Silver described the club infrastructure as being "not on a par" with other basketball nations. "We would have thought there would have been more growth," Silver said. "For whatever reason basketball hasnt caught on here," he added. "And I think there has been an absence of leadership and we have to fill the vacuum." Having expected a strong basketball legacy from the 2012 London Olympics, the NBA was disappointed the chance was not grasped. "I would say lost opportunity rather than wasted opportunity -- every government has their priorities but given how popular a venue (basketball) was during the Olympics, it should have been the launching pad for additional things happening," Silver said. "There are all kinds of reasons why governments should be getting behind the sport." Stern went further, saying: "I know the debate about physical activity in schools, but if you shut down the gyms you cant have basketball games."
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Will Hill Ravens Jersey .com) - Charlie Davies netted a pair of goals, including the series-winner on Saturday, as the New England Revolution battled the New York Red Bulls to a 2-2 draw in the second leg of the Eastern Conference Championship at Gillette Stadium and advanced to MLS Cup final via a thrilling 4-3 aggregate victory.BOSTON -- David Krejcis third career hat trick couldnt have come much easier. Krejci scored twice while all alone in the slot, then added an empty-net goal with 14 seconds remaining of the Boston Bruins 4-1 win over the Florida Panthers on Tuesday night. "I didnt think I had another option," Krejci said when asked about his reputation to set up teammates for empty-netters instead of shooting. "I also knew I had two goals already, so why not go for it?" Jarome Iginla added a goal and an assist for the Bruins, who kept former Boston goalie Tim Thomas busy all night with 39 shots on goal. The Bruins welcomed back Thomas, who may be saying goodbye to Florida after a series of deals general manager Dale Tallon made to retool the struggling Panthers lineup. The biggest move was bringing back goalie Roberto Luongo in a trade with Vancouver, leaving the Panthers for the moment with the two goalies from the 2011 Stanley Cup finals. Thomas, the 2011 Conn Smythe Trophy winner after the Bruins beat Luongo and the Canucks in seven games, said he needed to speak with Tallon before commenting on his future and whether he would consider waving his no-trade clause if the Panthers asked. "Ive got to see the situation and see what theyre thinking," Thomas said. "Thats something that hadnt been really discussed up until this point." Thomas showed why a contender may be interested in the 39-year-old, making 35 saves. He allowed three goals before Krejci scored in an empty net. "Defensively, we werent very good," Florida coach Peter Horachek said. "And there were a number of people that didnt compete. If you have that, you dont have consistency of your whole group, then youre going to run into problems." Boston backup goalie Chad Johnson had a much quieter night, facing 24 shots as the Bruins beat Florida for the seventh straight timee.
Benjamin Watson Ravens Jersey. Johnson had a shutout until Florida defenceman Brian Campbell lifted a high backhander from the blue line toward the net. The puck deflected off Boston defenceman Matt Bartkowskis stick with 7:13 left. The Bruins scored twice in the first period, then took a 3-0 lead on Krejcis goal with 48 seconds left in the second. Kevan Miller fed a pass to the slot to Krejci, who stood all alone and had enough time to set up a wrist shot that beat Thomas on the stick side. Thomas also had little chance on Krejcis first goal after defenceman Tom Gilberts turnover next to the net. Krejci grabbed the puck, faked Thomas into going down and lifted a wrist shot in. The Bruins scored again when Thomas allowed a long rebound off a shot by Jordan Caron and the puck bounced to Iginla at the opposite circle for a one-timer. Thomas was on the bench, pulled for the extra skater as the Panthers tried to rally, when Krejci completed the Bruins first hat trick in more than two years. Krejci was also the last Boston player to score three goals in a game, doing it against New Jersey on March 1, 2012. "David has always been a pass-first kind of guy, but hes got a good shot," Boston coach Claude Julien said. "I think his approach this year has been a little bit more about shooting." Notes: Johnson has won six of his last seven starts, with the only loss coming in overtime at Buffalo last week. ... The Bruins improved to 2-1-1 since the Olympic break. ... Florida last beat Boston on March 15, 2012. ... In addition to the Luongo deal, the Panthers also traded defenceman Mike Weaver to Montreal for a fifth-round draft choice in 2015, and signed forward Brad Boyes to a two-year contract extension. ... After Bostons second goal, Thomas skated to the Panthers bench and switched masks after starting the game with a nondescript black helmet with a cage.
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