HEREIN SPAZIERT » ed. The left-hander is probably the main reason the As

SAN ANTONIO -- Kawhi Leonard could have been devastated by losing last seasons NBA Finals. Instead, he vowed to get better. Just think -- the San Antonio Spurs youngest star is only getting started. Hes a champion now, with the Spurs beating the Miami Heat 104-87 on Sunday night in Game 5 of the NBA Finals, finishing off a 4-1 triumph. And after watching the Heat celebrate last season, Leonard was the pick as MVP of the series, accepting his award from 11-time champion Bill Russell. "Everybody is just living in the moment right now," Leonard said. "Really dont know whats going on." Hell figure it out quick. After all, the Spurs know titles -- this one being their fifth since 1999. When Commissioner Adam Silver announced Leonard as the MVP, he was mobbed by his teammates and Spurs coach Gregg Popovich roared with laughter, knowing Leonard would have to do what he hates most -- talk about himself. "Right now, its just surreal to me," Leonard said. "I have a great group of guys behind me." Leonard had 22 points and 10 rebounds, his third straight big game in the series. He fouled out in the fourth quarter, which was barely noticed after the job he did helping keep LeBron James in some sort of check over the final three quarters. When it was over -- actually, a few seconds before it was over -- James led a group of Heat players down to the Spurs bench for the first round of congratulatory hugs. The first one he gave, and rightly so, was to Leonard. It was James taking the trophy from Russell in each of the last two seasons, after Miamis titles. This time, the night belonged to Leonard, a 22-year-old who the Spurs have long thought was the heir apparent to the Big 3 of Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker. "The first two games, he didnt play so well," James said about Leonard. "I thought he attacked more in the last three games, shot the ball extremely well." Added Heat guard Dwyane Wade: "Its like he just played free. ... Hes the future of this team." The Big 3 in San Antonio is still championship-good. But their key guy now might be Leonard, who just took over this series. "Hes a great learner and hes super competitive, has a drive to be the best thats really uncommon in our league," Popovich said. "He walks the walk. I mean, hes there early, hes there late. He wants more. He wants me and the coaches to push him. So I just talked to him about not being in that defer sort of stage. The hell with Tony, the hell with Timmy, the hell with Manu, you play the game. You are the man." In this series, he absolutely was. Leonard averaged 17.8 points on 61 per cent shooting. And he became the youngest Finals MVP since Duncan won it for the Spurs in 1999. Troy Brown Jr. Jersey . Steve has built a solid reputation throughout the years - first as a hockey player, then as an NHL general manager and now as a scout. Otto Porter Jersey . -- Crystal Webster avoided elimination at the 2013 Capital One Road to the Roar Olympic pre-trial curling tournament with an 8-5 win over Amber Holland on Thursday. http://www.cheapwizardsjerseys.com/ . The injury will keep the Finnish forward out of the Olympics. The 29-year-old has 20 goals and 41 points in 56 games this season, his first with Tampa Bay. Throwback Wizards Jerseys . Louis Cardinals. He was 48. The commissioners office said Bell died in his home state of Ohio. Bell had not been feeling well over the weekend and had been scheduled to see doctors later Monday at the Cleveland Clinic. Michael Jordan Jersey .com) - The Ottawa Senators will try to keep their slim playoff hopes alive when they face the Chicago Blackhawks who are trying to secure their place in the post-season.A generation of fans have never seen the Kansas City Royals play a postseason game. Thatll change on Tuesday when the Royals host the Oakland Athletics in the American League wild card game at Kauffman Stadium. There have been 713 playoff games contested in Major League Baseball since Kansas City beat the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 7 of the 1985 World Series. None of those games, though, have involved the Royals, who return to the playoffs for the first time in 29 years. Kansas City ended the year 89-73, just one game back of the American League Central champion Detroit Tigers. The Royals actually had a chance to force a playoff game for a division title with a win and Detroit loss on the final day of the regular season, but the Tigers won their game against Minnesota to lock up the title. When I went into Spring Training, I felt like 90 wins would have a good chance of winning the division and we got 89 and, of course, Detroit got 90 and I was right, Kansas City manager Ned Yost said. (Our players) are still ready for the challenge ahead. There have been teams that have won the World Series from the wild card game and they know that. Thanks to a terrific starting staff and a mighty effort from the bullpen, the 89 victories by the Royals were the most since they won 92 in 1989. Kansas Citys bullpen trio of Greg Holland, Kelvin Herrera and Wade Davis is truly a formidable force, having combined for a 1.28 ERA and 258 strikeouts in 205 1/3 innings in the regular season. That makes life a whole lot easier for Tuesday starter James Shields, who certainly earned his Big Game moniker down the stretch, as Kansas City won four of the right-handers five starts in September. Shields also pitched to a 2.31 ERA in the final month, his second-lowest monthly mark behind the 1.60 ERA he posted in April. This is what its all about, said Shields, who ended the year 14-8 with a 3.21 ERA. This is what playoff baseball is all about. Youve got to push aside some of your aches and pains and go after it. Shields is no stranger to the postseason, having appeared in six games for the Tampa Bay Rays and has gone 2-4 with a 4.98 ERA. When I came over here, I knew exactly what was going on, said Shields. I knew that this citys been wanting a championship team for a long time, and a playoff team. Hopefully we did the city proud. Weve got a long way to go still, but were going to keep grinding. Oakland, meanwhile, is very lucky to be in this position, as it was one of the worst teams in baseball after the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline that saw the Athletics acquire left-hander Jon Lester from Boston for slugger Yoenis Cespedes. Starting with a series loss in Kansas City from Aug. 11-14, the As dropped eight of their final 14 series and 30 of their last 46 games. But thanks to a remarkable first half, they ended the year, 88-74 In fact, Oaklands post-All-Star break winning percentage of .433 is the lowest in MLB history for a team that reached the postseason. We went through some real challenges this year, but those things can make you tougher, too, Oakland manager Bob Mellvin said.dddddddddddd Its a relief off everyones shoulders that were here now, took the journey that we did. Were in, and I know Im going to sleep better tonight. While the Royals are appearing in their first postseason game in decades, the As are back in the playoffs for the third straight year and for the 26th time in franchise history. Only the New York Yankees (51), Los Angeles Dodgers (28) and St. Louis Cardinals (27) have been to the postseason more. Ive been saying the last two weeks, if we get in, the last two months would be forgotten. And now I can say that with confidence, said Josh Reddick. All the naysayers and the negative vibes, theyre all gone now. We got in. Ive been saying it for months -- two division titles, out Game 5, get in with the wild card, Win the whole thing. Oaklands struggles may be traced back to the Lester deal, but he certainly cant be blamed. The left-hander is probably the main reason the As were able to hold on, as he went 10-7 after the deal with a 2.52 ERA. We had Jon targeted for this, said Melvin. Thats why you have a guy like that. When he takes the mound, the teams going to feel awfully good about their chances. Plus Lester has owned the Royals over the course of his career, going 9-3 with a 1.84 ERA in 13 career starts against them, including 3-0 with a 2.61 ERA in three outings against them this season. And he no-hit the Royals in 2008. Lester owns one of the most impressive postseason resumes around, going 6-4 with a 2.11 ERA in 11 starts and two relief appearances in October. That includes two starts in the World Series last year in which he allowed one earned run in 15 1/3 innings. Hes the top pitcher in the game right now to have in that spot, Reddick added. Weve all seen what hes done with the Red Sox. Weve got nothing but confidence in him. After 2,001 big league games, Oakland slugger Adam Dunn, who was picked up in an August deal with Chicago, will play in his first postseason game on Tuesday. He had held the distinction of being the active player with the most career games without a postseason appearance. To be honest with you, its what you work for your whole career and I dont know how fair it is that I get there with the fruits of their labor, but beggars cant be choosers, said Dunn, who joined the As on Sept. 1. Im happy. Kansas Citys nearly historic bullpen went 72-1 in the regular season when leading after seven innings and 79-1 when leading after eight. The As, meanwhile, led the majors with 13 wins when trailing after seven and eight wins when trailing after eight. I think its a similar matchup, said As shortstop Jed Lowrie. They have a really strong bullpen, I think we do, too, and its going to be two frontline starters pitching for one big game. It should be a good game. The As and Royals have met once in the playoffs -- in the 1981 AL Division Series, which Oakland swept, 3-0. The Royals, though, won five of the seven regular season matchups this year. Tuesdays winner will face the AL West champion Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the ALDS beginning on Thursday. Cheap Buffalo Sabres Gear Wholesale Calgary Flames Jerseys Cheap Adidas Colorado Avalanche Jerseys Montreal Canadiens Outlet Store Wholesale New Jersey Devils Jerseys Adidas Arizona Coyotes Jerseys Cheap Adidas Boston Bruins Jerseys Cheap Adidas Carolina Hurricanes Jerseys Chicago Blackhawks Shop Free Shipping Wholesale Columbus Blue Jackets Jerseys Dallas Stars Shop Free Shipping Cheap Adidas Detroit Red Wings Jerseys Anaheim Ducks Jerseys China Wholesale Edmonton Oilers Jerseys Florida Panthers Shop Free Shipping Wholesale Los Angeles Kings Jerseys Minnesota Wild Outlet Store Cheap Adidas Nashville Predators Jerseys Cheap Adidas New York Islanders Jerseys New York Rangers Winter Classic Jerseys Cheap Adidas Ottawa Senators Jerseys Cheap Adidas Philadelphia Flyers Jerseys Wholesale Pittsburgh Penguins Jerseys Cheap Adidas San Jose Sharks Jerseys St. Louis Blues Winter Classic Jerseys Wholesale Tampa Bay Lightning Jerseys Toronto Maple Leafs Outlet Store Vancouver Canucks Outlet Store Cheap Adidas Vegas Golden Knights Jerseys Cheap Adidas Washington Capitals Jerseys Cheap Adidas Winnipeg Jets Jerseys ' ' '