"I think everybody was kind of watching," catcher

The Phoenix Mercury returned from the WNBAs month-long Olympic break with a rousing win while the Los Angeles Sparks turned in one of their most uneven performances of the season in a decisive loss.If that pattern remains the same when the Mercury and Sparks square off Sunday in Phoenix in a crucial Western Conference showdown it could be the sign of some changes in the pecking order as the leagues regular season runs through its final nine games.But dont count on it. Los Angeles (21-4), which has been the best team in the WNBA all year, still holds the leagues top seed and is far from pushing any panic button despite its loss Friday to a surging Seattle squad.The Sparks scoring and rebounding leader, Nneka Ogwumike, is one of the favorites for league MVP, poured in 28 points (15 of which came in the fourth quarter) in a losing cause and shows no signs of slowing down.A win on the road against Phoenix (11-14), which currently holds the seventh-seed in the WNBAs new playoff system, would get Los Angeles back on track and ahead of Minnesota, which is a half-game back in second.The game is ultra-important to Phoenix as well for both momentum sake and the help in would give in the Mercurys push for the postseason. Six of Phoenixs final nine games are against teams that are above the Mercury in the standings, and two other are versus squads that are hot on Phoenixs heels.The Mercury are a veteran bunch, with the ultra-talented Diana Taurasi leading the way in both scoring and assists and 6-foot-9 center Brittney Griner a force in rebounding and blocked shots. Phoenix has won three of its past four games, with a 79-77 home loss to Chicago in late July the only defeat in that stretch.Los Angeles beat the Mercury 77-71 on June 17 at Staples Center and the two teams play a third time on Sept. 13 in Los Angeles. Wholesale Paul George Shoes . Manuel was offered a position the day he was fired. He accepted earlier this week and the team made the announcement Friday. Paul George Shoes Outlet . After dropping their final six games of December, the Wild opened the new calendar year with four consecutive wins. Following a loss to Colorado on Saturday, Minnesota rebounded the following night to blank Nashville 4-0, but then had the tables turned on them Tuesday. https://www.cheappaulgeorgeshoes.com/ . -- Chicago Bears cornerback Tim Jennings was selected Monday to his second straight Pro Bowl, while guard Kyle Long made it after a solid rookie season. Clearance Paul George Shoes . Oaklands loss to Seattle clinched the ALs best record for the Red Sox with one day to spare in the regular season. "I think everybody was kind of watching," catcher David Ross said. "Demp (Ryan Dempster) came out before he went to the bullpen and was just yelling that they lost. Paul George Shoes For Sale . PETERSBURG, Fla. WORCESTER, Mass. -- The first openly gay player to be drafted by an NFL team is heading to Massachusetts to talk about his life.Michael Sam is scheduled to deliver a lecture at Clark University in Worcester on Tuesday.From Hitchcock High to the NFL will chronicle Sams experiences as a water boy in high school, to an All-American playing career at the University of Missouri to his selection by the St. Louis Rams inn the 2014 NFL draft.ddddddddddddThe defensive end was released by the Rams, was on the Dallas Cowboys practice squad and played for the Montreal Alouettes in Canada.He won the Arthur Ashe Courage Award and was named one of GQs Men of the Year.The lecture is free and open to the public. ' ' '