Whilst the U. Tony Gonzalez Womens Super Bowl Jersey .S. Embassy may have issued a travel advisory for Montreal due to the escalating crisis around student protests, Impact supporters have voted with their feet for the most eagerly anticipated match of the season at Olympic Stadium. On Saturday afternoon, a standing room only crowd of well over 60,000 will be all ears, eyes and football noise for their home date with David Beckham and the Los Angeles Galaxy. Representing a three-fold increase from when the Impact last took to the pitch for a home league match against the Portland Timbers back in late April, Beckham-mania has truly captivated la belle ville similar to the manner Giants Stadium was packed to the rafters back in August 2007 when over 66,000 showed up to watch Beckhams maiden bow in New York. Although Saturday represents the first time Beckham is in Montreal for work-related purposes, affairs of the heart led to Englands most capped outfield player paying a visit to Montreal shortly after his sending off at the 1998 World Cup Finals in his nations second round Argentine defeat. Unlike Thursday night when Beckham arrived at the airport along with the rest of the Galaxy squad amidst a phalanx of light bulbs and autograph requests, it was aboard a tour bus from Mansfield, Massachusetts from which he presented himself at a nondescript border crossing some 50 miles south of Montreal back in summer 1998. This though was no ordinary tour bus. Neither were Beckhams circumstances, having flown back with the defeated England squad to London on Canada Day to a nation seemingly baying for Beckham blood following whats now one of the most infamous red cards in all of world football. His moment of madness whilst laying prone on the St. Etiene surface, he lashed out at Diego Simeone in full glare of the referee. A recipient of death threats as an actual effigy of Beckham was left hanging outside a London pub, a thoroughly dejected and demoralized Beckham sought the sanctuary of the U.S. to be reunited with his then fiancée Victoria Adams. Better known as Posh Spice, Beckham left all his England cares behind him as he briefly joined the Spiceworld tour that on July 10th played to a sold-out show at the Bell Centre. Hardly recognized by anyone, Beckham did though take the time to sign an England shirt that was destined for a charity event on behalf of the Montreal Childrens Hospital. Beckhams other connection to Montreal was a late summer 2009 report from the New York Times that suggested an interest on his part to leverage his option to purchase an MLS franchise into some form of partnership stake with Impact owner Joey Saputo. Saputo has never directly responded to that suggestion but Beckham was a willing participant when the subject came up in the pre-match press conference staged at Olympic Stadium on Friday. "There was truth to it obviously, I have that option in my contract so its something that Ive obviously thought about but Im still playing so you know its not right for me to own a team whilst Im still playing," Beckham stated to the standing room only media throng. That interest was clearly mutual and whatever initial discussions took place, they must have been beneficial as they led to face-to-face talks between Beckham and Impact principles. "Yeh, I met the guys," added Beckham. "I think theyre great guys, and I think they are really good business people." The Impact ship has already sailed sans Beckham, who could not have been more complimentary to the job Impact president Joey Saputo is doing. "Its great to see them in the league now," said Beckham. "Its great to see their ideas, and their dreams come out and be shown within the MLS. So its good." With the Galaxy off to a club worst start, having already suffered as many defeats through nine matches as the they did through the entire 2011 season, Saturday at Olympic Stadium represents a stern test for the MLS champs in what is certain to be a cauldron-like atmosphere and playing against a club thats fresh off last weeks splendid Sporting occasion. The Impact may be smarting from their midweek inertia in Toronto when, yet again, they failed in what is now their eighth straight attempt at defeating Canadas original MLS franchise in Amway Canadian Championship play. They do, though, put their unbeaten home record on the line Saturday. This for a club that has grown in confidence and MLS stature as their inaugural season plays out. From a position of four defeats in the first fivefixtures and just the solitary point from their home opener back on March 10th to today and their most recent five matches where the Impact have only been beaten once down in Dallas back in mid April, courtesy of a brace of late goals. Now with the Impact having put to bed those so-termed historic first victories both at home and on the road and having never truly referred to themselves as a genuine expansion club, Saturday afternoons encounter is much more than another home date. With the Whitecaps having already shown their playoff credentials as they sit nestled in fourth spot in the Western Conference, the Impact have a genuine possibility of following up last weeks defeat of the Eastern Conference leaders by claiming the scalp of the current league champions. With that, a growing belief that their current position amongst the cusp of playoff candidates is not merely a Montreal mirage. To claim the points, the leagues 19th franchise will need to ensure Beckham, who thrives and feeds off regal occasions, is not given license to roam the vast areas of the Olympic Stadium pitch, spraying balls all over to the very fast advancing Roy Keane and Landon Donovan. Like how Beckham did through last seasons successful playoff run, reward of which is a trip to the White House next Tuesday. If the Impact do have a glaring weakness for all to see, its their alarming foul count, which is part and parcel of the football Jesse Marsch has them playing. On Saturday though, theyll need to guard against their instincts and be very disciplined. Word has it, this Beckham fella knows a thing or two about dead ball situations. Montreal Impact Vs LA Galaxy - Saturday 4pm et/1pm pt on TSN. Michael Turner Womens Jersey . 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Mandel calls the meetings productive, but he is keeping mum on the details until he can brief city councillors Friday. Mandel says NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman acted as a helpful mediator in discussions with members of the Katz (KAYTZ) Group, which owns the Edmonton Oilers. ATLANTA -- The Houston Rockets are winning with James Harden performing like the teams new franchise player. The Atlanta Hawks struggled in the start of their new era without their longtime franchise player. Harden continued to shine at the start of his Houston career, scoring a career-high 45 points to lead the Rockets to a 109-102 victory over the Hawks on Friday night. Harden, traded to the Rockets from Oklahoma City on Saturday, topped 30 points for the second time in his first week with his new team. "Hes pretty good, Id say," Rockets coach Kevin McHale said. "He just kept battling and playing." Jeremy Lin, who had 21 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists, said Harden makes a "big time" difference. "He frees everybody up," Lin said. "He knows what hes doing. Were thankful that he showed up." Marcus Morris had 17 points for Houston. Rockets centre Omer Asik had a career-high 19 rebounds but did not score, missing seven shots from the field. Lou Williams led the Hawks with 22 points in his Atlanta debut. Josh Smith had 18 points and 10 rebounds. Williams averaged a career-high 14.9 points per game with the Sixers last season when he was runner-up to Harden for NBAs Sixth Man of the Year Award. Williams appears bound for another year as a sixth man. Harden is thriving in his new role as a starter. "Its a lot different," Harden said. "Having the offence run basically through you, its a lot different, but thats my job now so Ive got to get used to it." Harden said he wasnt focused on his impressive scoring in his first two games. "I dont even worry about it," he said. "I just go out there and play hard." The Hawks traded six-time All-Star Joe Johnson to the Brooklyn Nets in July for five players and a draft pick. Johnson averaged more than 20 points in five of his seven seasons as Atlantas top player. "Were still trying to establish an identity," Hawks coach Larry Drew said. "That may take a little time to do." Drew said his team struggled in rebounding and on defence, especially in helping stop Hardens drives. "When he gets the basketball in transition, hes going to get to the basket," Drew said. "It wont be just one guys responsibility, it will be a team responsibility." With the game tied 92-92, Harden had consecutive baskets, including a three-point play, to give Houston the lead for good. Chandler Parsons 3-pointer with 1:55 remaining pushed the lead to 100-994. Sean Weatherspoon Pink Jersey. Harden was 14 of 19 from the field and 15 of 17 from the free throw line. Hardens 17 free-throw attempts matched Atlantas total. Harden, who signed a five-year, $80 million contract extension with Houston following the trade, had 37 points, 12 assists and six rebounds in a 105-96 win at Detroit in his debut on Wednesday night. Houston led after each of the first three periods. The Rockets took a 68-52 lead in the third before Atlanta cut the deficit to 81-74 at the end of the quarter. A basket by Smith with 7:12 remaining gave Atlanta an 88-87 lead, its first since the opening period. "We were just trying to put together as many stops as we could," Williams said. "We battled our way back into the game to even get it to that point." The Rockets are 2-0, but McHale said the team needs work on closing out wins. "We need a few days together in the gym where we can slow some things down and figure out how we want to finish games," McHale said. After a preseason of sampling lineup combinations, Drew had two newcomers -- Devin Harris and Kyle Korver -- join Al Horford, Smith and Jeff Teague. Drew said he had "a little indecision" about Harris starting at shooting guard as the coach worried about the defensive matchup with Harden, who at 6-foot-5 is at least 3 inches taller than Harris. DeShawn Stevenson, who could match Hardens height -- and at least come close to matching Hardens beard -- became an important player off the bench for Atlanta. Stevenson had 12 points on four 3-pointers, including one at the buzzer to end the first half. Teague had 14 points and seven assists and Horford had 14 points. The Rockets had a 58-36 advantage in rebounds. "We have some things that we really have to focus in and work on," Drew said. "There were areas in this game where we werent very good, very polished, particularly on the boards." Drew said his perimeter players were beaten for too many long rebounds. "We didnt play well, yet we gave ourselves a chance in fighting back," he said. Notes: Houston F Patrick Patterson started after missing the opener with a strained left quad. C Greg Smith (strained left foot) did not play. ... Hardens previous career high was 40 points against the Suns on April 18. ... Hawks C Johan Petro was inactive. ... Stevenson fouled out in the final minute. ... Harden is the first player to score 40 points against Atlanta since LeBron James had 43 points on March 18, 2011. ' ' ' |
