Forum » This was another solid win in the right direction.

MIAMI -- LeBron James dispensed with his menacing black mask at the NBAs request and switched to a clear protective cover for the Miami Heats game Saturday night against the Orlando Magic. The black mask made its debut Thursday night in James first game since he broke his nose. He said he received word from league officials Friday that they wanted him to instead wear something that would allow opponents to see his face. "Its not a league rule, but its the leagues request that you dont wear the black one," James said before Saturdays game. "The reasons they told me didnt make sense to me, but Im just a player. I will abide by the request." James scored 20 points to help the Heat earn their seventh consecutive victory, 112-98. Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said NBA Commissioner Adam Silver spoke Friday with Nick Arison, son of the team owner, about the matter. James said he didnt want to make a big issue of it. "Im good with the NBA," James said with a smile. "I am not against the NBA. I had a request, and I fulfilled it." Teammate Dwyane Wade said he warned James the league would give the black mask a thumbs-down. "I told him after Thursdays game, You have fun, because it aint happening the next game," Wade said. "It was fun. A lot of attention, a lot of T-shirts are going to be made, a lot of Instagram posts. Now we move on to something else." James agreed that the black mask was a marketing success, with feedback he received universally positive. He said he may give the mask to charity so it can be auctioned off. "Everyone loved it," James said. "I got stuff, from You look very menacing, to You look like a superhero, to You look amazing. A little bit of everything. No one told me it was terrible." Not even league officials. "I think they loved it as well," James said. Discount Air Max 90 . The game had many controversial incidents that, upon closer inspection, were not as controversial as many believed. The Formations Toronto FC lined up in its usual 4-4-2 formation, with Nick Hagglund slotting in at right fullback and Bradley Orr at centreback in place of the injured Mark Bloom and Steven Caldwell, respectively. Cheap Air Max 90 White China . On Wednesday night, they showed that stellar defence and a little small ball can get the job done too. With pinch-runner Kevin Pillar aboard after Dioner Navarro opened the bottom of the ninth with a single, Anthony Gose dropped down an excellent bunt along the first-base line. http://www.outletairmax90cheap.com/outle...mens-cheap.html. Dane Dobbie and Shawn Evans each had two goals and two assists for the Roughnecks (8-5), who outscored Minnesota 6-2 in the fourth quarter after being tied through 45 minutes. Curtis Dickson scored once and set up three more for Calgary and Dan MacRae, Geoff Snider, Tor Reinholdt, Karsen Leung and Matthew Dinsdale. Wholesale Air Max 90 Black . -- Oakland Athletics starting pitchers Jarrod Parker and A. Air Max 90 Black Gold . Mesoraco hurt his hamstring while scoring from second in Friday nights 5-4 loss at Atlanta. Chapman was hit by a line drive during an exhibition game on March 19, breaking his nose and a bone above his left eye. The left-hander looked strong while throwing 43 pitches in batting practice before Saturday nights game against the Braves.GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Having dropped three consecutive games to Southeastern Conference rival Tennessee, No. 6 Florida had been waiting for a chance to end the losing streak. The Gators welcomed it and wanted it -- and it showed. Michael Frazier II scored 17 points, Scottie Wilbekin added 13 and Florida handled Tennessee 67-41 on Saturday for the teams 11th consecutive win. The Gators (17-2, 6-0 SEC) beat the Volunteers for the first time in nearly two years and extended their school record for consecutive home wins to 26. "We had a little chip on our shoulder because they kicked our butts the last three times," said Florida centre Patric Young, who added 10 points. "I can actually remember each loss, and the last one was the worst because they were on the court celebrating. They punched us, and we didnt respond well the last three years. "Tonight, we were so ready for whatever they had to throw at us. We were all locked in." Especially on the defensive end. Florida held the Volunteers (12-7, 3-3) to a season-low in points and shooting percentage (27). The Volunteers backcourt really struggled, with leading scorer Jordan McRae, Antonio Barton and Josh Richardson combining to make 2 of 29 shots. "They turned us over, they sped us up, they did a great job," Tennessee coach Cuonzo Martin said. "We forced some shots, but you give that defence credit for doing that." Jarnell Stokes led Tennessee with 16 points and 10 rebounds -- his 10th double-double of the season. Stokes kept the Vols in the game early, but faded down the stretch. Jeronne Maymon chipped in eight points and seven boards. "This is just my observation, but I thought those guys, Stokes and Maymon, were so incredible on the backboard with their effort," Gators coach Billy Donovan said. "To offensive rebound and to chase balls like they did, they got worn down, they got tired and rightfully so. Those guys are carrying around a lot of weight and size and strength." The Gators led 26-19 at halftime and pulled away with a 21-5 run after the break. Wilbekins floater in the lane got things started, and Fraziers consecutive 3-pointers really opened it up. After Will Yeguetes dunk and Dorian Finney-Smiths conseecutive layups in transition, the Gators pulled ahead by 17 and looked really in rhythm.dddddddddddd The only thing left at that point was to start making some highlight plays, and boy, they did. Kasey Hill hit a pull-up jumper. Young followed with a nifty, reverse post move and later got the sellout crowd rocking with a one-handed dunk on an alley-oop feed from Frazier. It was just what Florida had hoped for after the last three meetings. "Its a gift to be desperate," Donovan said. "I thought we played closer to our identity and our potential than we have before. I think the last two games we didnt do that. Its encouraging to me to see our guys come out with that kind of focus." Florida coasted from there, winning for the 16th time in its last 17 games. The only loss in that stretch was a buzzer-beating defeat at then-No. 12 Connecticut in early December. Florida shot 48 per cent from the field, including 5 of 16 from behind the arc. The Gators scored 38 points in the paint, made 10 of 13 free throws and finished with a season-low six turnovers. Stokes posed problems for Florida early. But Donovans full-court press gave McRae, Barton and Richardson fits. The Vols had just 13 turnovers, but they ended up taking countless ill-advised shots and had little, if anything, come easy. "It was our defence," Frazier said. "They couldnt score, which was the game plan for us, to lock down and guard on defence." The defensive gem helped Florida sweep its fifth straight Thursday-Saturday setup in conference play. This one came after the team was stuck in Tuscaloosa overnight Thursday because of mechanical plane issues. The Gators returned home around noon Friday and had to alter their practice schedule, but they showed no problems against Tennessee. Florida, which has lost in three straight regional finals in the NCAA tournament, is trying to build a resume that will get it a No. 1 seed and plenty of momentum for a season that started with high expectations. This was another solid win in the right direction. "I feel like for us seniors, its just a little bit more important for us knowing its our last go-around," Wilbekin said. "We have a different level of focus." ' ' '