sing an opposing player on the break, its very seldom he doesnt come away with the block or get the player to reverse course and dribble away from the basket out of fear of his reach and athleticism. To have any chance at converting a fast break with James trailing, attempting a dunk would be the path

LONDON -- Russias hosting of the World Cup is becoming increasingly problematic for FIFAs leaders after the International Olympic Committee withdrew support for sporting events being staged in the doping-tainted nation.The IOCs move followed this weeks second damning World Anti-Doping Agency report, which accused Russia of state-sponsored doping.The scandal landed at FIFAs door after Russian soccer was for the first time implicated in the alleged doping cover-up by a country that has been entrusted with soccers most prestigious event in 2018.Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko, whose department is accused of orchestrating the deception, is also head of the countrys soccer federation and is a member of FIFAs ruling council.Soccers governing body is standing by the 2018 hosts -- just as it has done throughout six years of scrutiny since the contentious vote to hand the World Cup to Russia for the first time.Preparations for the World Cup are in full swing, Dmitry Peskov, Russian President Vladimir Putins spokesman, said Wednesday. FIFA said yesterday that they are preparing for the World Cup to be held in Russia.And 2018 is not the only countdown. FIFA is less than 11 months from staging the Confederations Cup, an eight-team warm-up competition, in Russia.Dick Pound, the former WADA president who authored the earlier report on doping in Russian track and field, said FIFA now has another credibility issue to confront following McLarens findings.Still recovering from its own corruption scandals, FIFA is now under the new leadership of President Gianni Infantino and secretary general Fatma Samoura, a newcomer to sports governance but with diplomatic experience from the United Nations.In the last 18 months, FIFA has leaked a lot of oil and has a lot of reputational exposure, Pound, a Canadian lawyer and former IOC vice president, told The Associated Press. (Russia) is one of the ethical exposures they have to wrestle with now it involves doping.The escalating doping scandal is not the only issue to cause problems for Russia, though, as it prepares for the World Cup.The safety of fans attending the tournament is under the spotlight after Russia was threatened with expulsion from the European Championship last month over the violence perpetrated by hooligans in France.And only this week, Putin ordered organizers in St. Petersburg to speed up construction of the citys troubled World Cup stadium. Putin instructed officials to adopt comprehensive measures to eliminate the gaps in the stadiums construction schedule and gave similar instructions to authorities in Samara and Kaliningrad for their venues.The fact that stadiums are being built for the World Cup should not dictate any discussion about stripping Russia of its hosting rights, according to Pound.There are lots of countries in Europe and elsewhere that could accommodate a World Cup at a couple of years notice, Pound said.When FIFA was asked Wednesday if it retained full confidence and trust in Russia as World Cup hosts, the governing body referred the AP to an earlier statement announcing a full inquiry into the 11 positive tests of Russian soccer players that WADA investigator Richard McLaren said were made to disappear in the state-sponsored doping program from 2011 to 2015.FIFA said it will be in charge of anti-doping programs at the World Cup ensuring the highest standards including the latest science and recommendations by WADA. That will see doping samples flown to laboratories outside Russia during the World Cup for testing.But the IOC, which has announced a series of measures to punish Russian athletes and officials implicated in doping, doesnt believe the country should be hosting any sporting events.In an uncharacteristically tough edict, the IOC executive board ruled Tuesday that it would not organize or give patronage to competitions there for the foreseeable future.Despite those moves, FIFA is still standing by its council member Mutko, who was accused by McLaren of having personally intervened in his role as Russian sports minister to cover up a positive doping test for a foreign player in the Russian Premier League.Perhaps its not a coincidence that the minister of sport is also president of the football federation, Pound said.---Rob Harris can be followed at www.twitter.com/RobHarris and www.facebook.com/RobHarrisReports Asics Gel Lyte Mt Black .Y. -- Jayna Hefford scored the winning goal Friday as Canada survived a scare with a 4-3 win over Sweden at the Four Nations womens hockey tournament. Reigning Champ Asics Gel Lyte 3 Grey .com) - The game was all punts and field goals before Kodi Whitfields catch. http://www.asicsshoesoutletstores.com/cheap-asics-gel-lyte-v-sale.html . As he recorded his 23rd and 24th points of the evening, a segment of the sellout Air Canada Centre crowd expressed their appreciation for the Raptors point guard with a smattering of MVP chants. Asics Gel Quantum 360 Knit Mens .J. -- Pitcher Carl Pavano is retiring after 14 major league seasons. Asics Gel Quantum 360 Black . -- Canadian Andrew Wiggins got the ball on the wing, made a nifty spin move and then let go with a soft floater from about 10 feet that swished through the net in Allen Fieldhouse. NEW ORLEANS -- It is now widely known as The Block, and Golden State Warriors forward Andre Iguodala has heard about it countless times.Believe me, I hear it all the time, he said in an interview centered on The Block.The iconic scene took place at Oracle Arena in Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Warriors. The scoreboard read 89-89 with 4:39 remaining in the contest, and both teams would struggle on offense for the duration.In the midst of that four-minute span of missed field goals and turnovers, it became apparent that whichever team scored first likely would exit the arena victorious. The Warriors were shut out, ending the game with 89 points, while the Cavaliers benefited from the heroics of?Kyrie Irving, whose clutch, step-back 3-pointer over Stephen Curry propelled Cleveland to its first NBA championship.However, before Irvings pivotal trey, the Warriors had what appeared to be a relatively favorable two-on-one fast-break opportunity with a little under two minutes to go that ended, for them, in disaster.Curry and Iguodala had Cavs guard J.R. Smith backpedaling. Curry dropped a bounce pass to Iguodala, who maneuvered around Smith for a layup attempt, when out of nowhere, LeBron James entered the picture and smacked the ball against the backboard for a memorable, momentum-changing chase-down block. That was the Warriors best shot at scoring down the stretch.James is the games supreme shot-blocker in transition. When hes chasing an opposing player on the break, its very seldom he doesnt come away with the block or get the player to reverse course and dribble away from the basket out of fear of his reach and athleticism. To have any chance at converting a fast break with James trailing, attempting a dunk would be the path to take.Does Iguodala have any regrets about how he attacked that play? Does he second-guess going for a layup? He provided his assessment for the first time since The Block.If J.R. is not there, Im dunking it. Well, I dont know if Im dunking, though, because I was about to die out there, Iguodala said while busting out in laughter. But I give him all respect. When he blocked it, I thought somebody got shot. I laugh about it all the time. People try to joke on me. I still get menntions all day from fans always talking about the block.ddddddddddddIm like, Man, that s--- was so dope to me, too. I was a fan. That s--- was amazing. When he blocked it, I was like, Damn, somebody got shot. I thought it was funny. Somebody just made a good play. What you want me to do? If you enjoy the game of basketball, you should just be like, Dude made a great play. F--- it.In large part because of The Block, the Cavaliers raised the championship banner Tuesday at The Q during the ring ceremony prior to tipping off against the New York Knicks. It was the first game of a TNT doubleheader on opening night.The Warriors hosted the San Antonio Spurs in the second game. ESPN asked Klay Thompson if he watched the Cavaliers ring ceremony to add fuel to his fire after the way last season ended and he said, Hell nah.Draymond Green didnt watch it either, saying, I dont need to look at that to get me motivated.The Warriors were later blown out that evening by 29.That made it three straight losses at home dating back to the Finals. In the past two seasons, the Warriors lost only four regular-season games at home. One legendary play changed the fortunes of both teams.But for a veteran like Iguodala, The Block, he says, wont define his legacy. Hes at peace with what occurred. Instead of sulking and overthinking what he could or should have done, hes giving credit where its due.I looked back at it too, and had I came in from a different angle, I could have [dunked it], he explained. But you know who made the play? J.R. made the play. Because I came in thinking dunk and then I took off and he swiped [at the ball] and I had to move the ball. If you look, I moved the ball [to my right]. I just tried to finish the play.People dont realize, somebody just made a great play. Theres nothing to change about somebody making a great play because I even thought I could have went off to the other side [of the rim], but [LeBron] was so high over the rim, he would have had both sides covered. I mean, I wouldnt have changed anything about it. 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