the Year twice and nominated for the Ballon dOr award in 2009. He

BOSTON - Commissioner Gary Bettman says new Quebec City arena or not, the NHL is not looking at expansion right now. He made the comment at a media availability Saturday prior to Game 2 of the Boston-Montreal playoff series when a Quebec reporter said there is sentiment in Quebec that the NHL looks more favourably on Seattle than Quebec City when it comes to future expansion. And Quebec City is building a new arena while Seattle isnt, the reporter noted. "Were not considering expansion right now," Bettman replied. "We have not engaged in (an) expansion process." "If we reach a point in time where we decide we want to go through a formal expansion process, then well evaluate all potential applicants and opportunities," he added. "I answer the questions that I get asked. I get asked about Seattle far more — other than days like today — than I get asked about Quebec City. "But were not ready to expand." Earlier, when Bettman was asked for his views on work starting on a new arena in Las Vegas, the commissioner said it was good news for Las Vegas and the people who visit it. "Beyond that we havent made any plans. We, as I repeatedly have said, have received expressions of interest from people who might want to own a franchise in Las Vegas — as we have from a number of other cities — but were not involved in any expansion process." Cheap Authentic China Jerseys . "Thank you for the warm welcome," Beckham said on an 80-degree February morning. In this case, it was soccer weather. The sport moved a step closer to returning to South Florida on Wednesday, when Beckham confirmed he has exercised his option to purchase a Major League Soccer expansion franchise in Miami. Cheap China Jerseys .C. - Phoenix Suns coach Jeff Hornacek says guard Goran Dragic will return to the starting lineup against the Charlotte Hornets after missing the last two games with a strained back. http://www.cheapchinajerseysfree.com/ . -- The Chiefs have signed seven players to reserve/future contracts, including running back Joe McKnight, a former fourth-round pick of the New York Jets. Cheap NFL Jerseys China .com) - New England Patriots starting center Bryan Stork will not play in Sundays AFC Championship against Indianapolis due to a knee injury the rookie sustained last week.AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- Al Jefferson beat up the Detroit Pistons in a key game in the chase for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The Pistons are hardly the first team he has punished. Jefferson scored more than 30 points for the sixth time in nine games and led the Charlotte Bobcats to a 108-96 victory over Detroit on Tuesday night. He added 12 rebounds and seven assists, and sent Andre Drummond and Greg Monroe to the Pistons bench with foul trouble. "Hes a bad matchup for the entire league right now," interim Pistons coach John Loyer said. "We knew exactly what we was going to do -- they ran the same plays they always run -- but theres not much you can do to stop him." Jefferson had 24 points and 14 rebounds on Dec. 20 when the Bobcats rallied from a 20-point deficit to beat Detroit 116-106. "These games are what it is all about, especially with the Pistons chasing us," Jefferson said. "If you had told us before the season that we would be in this position, we would have been very satisfied. There are 28 games left, and were in the hunt." Kemba Walker scored 22 points, and Josh McRoberts added 14 points and 10 rebounds to help the Bobcats extend their lead over the Pistons to 1 1/2 games for eighth place in the Eastern Conference. "Our guys talked about it before the break, and said that everyone needed to do something to get ready for the rest of the season," Bobcats coach Steve Clifford said. "Whatever they did, they were all ready to go tonight, and it was obviously a factor." The teams will conclude the home-and-home set at Charlotte on Wednesday night. Drummond, coming off his MVP performance in the Rising Stars game on Friday, had 16 points, 11 offensive rebounds and 11 defensive rebounds for Detroit. That wasnt enough to overcome a terrible shooting performance by his teammates. "We didnt have the energy and concentration that I would have expected," said Loyer, who is 1-2 after replacing Maurice Cheeks last week. "Thats very disappointing. You cant let a good NBA team, and I think Charlotte is a good team, post that kind of start. "We had two good practices after the break, but it didnt carry over into tonights game.dddddddddddd." Detroit got double-doubles from all three post players. Monroe finished with 18 points and 10 rebounds, and Josh Smith added 12 points and 11 rebounds. The Pistons shot just 39.8 per cent, with Smith making only 5 of 17 attempts. The Bobcats got off to a quick start, making their first seven shots. Only four missed free throws by Michael Kidd-Gilchrist kept Detroit from digging itself a bigger hole. Even when Charlotte missed a shot, the Bobcats got the offensive rebound and found McRoberts for an open 3-pointer. "It was very important to us to have a great start," Jefferson said. "We know how important these games are, and we were able to start off the game by setting the tone." The Bobcats free-throw shooting didnt get any better -- they missed 11 of their first 14 attempts -- but they maintained a double-digit lead for most of the second quarter. Charlotte was ahead 54-43 at halftime. Detroit could have gotten a point at the start of the second half, following a technical foul called on Walker as the teams left the court for the break. Jennings, though, missed the free throw. Detroit was outshot 58 per cent to 36 per cent in the first half, but Charlottes struggles from the line and eight offensive rebounds in the second quarter kept the Pistons in the game. The Bobcats quickly moved ahead 67-49 within the first 5 minutes of the third quarter, but Drummond was active enough on the offensive boards to pull Detroit within 79-67, heading to the fourth period. He went to the bench with his fifth foul with 9:47 to play, ending the Pistons run. Detroit also started missing its free throws, going 1 for 7 to start the second half. NOTES: The Bobcats are 2-0 this season against the Pistons with both wins coming at the Palace. ... Detroits Rodney Stuckey, a subject of trade rumours because of his expiring contract, went 1 for 9 from the floor in the first half and finished with two points in 17 minutes. ... Jefferson pulled off a rare feat when he was able to talk an official into changing a call. Tony Brown whistled Jefferson for a delay-of-game violation, but after a brief discussion, the call was overturned. ' ' '