Die Chilluminati » punch line: "I just wanted to kno

TORONTO -- The Oakland Athletics could be a American League playoff team not because theyre a great hitting club but because theyre opportunistic. Toronto Blue Jays manager John Gibbons knows that "they make you pay if you dont throw strikes." In beating the As 5-4 Saturday afternoon at Rogers Centre, the Blue Jays did some of that themselves. Opportune offence gave them an early lead, then Jose Reyes solo homer in the seventh was enough insurance to help them snap a two-game skid. The Blue Jays got only five hits, and three of them were from Jose Bautista, but they manufactured runs thanks to some walks and other Oakland mistakes. "I think youve just got to take advantage of it," Gibbons said. "Any time you can get those freebies, that puts extra pressure on a pitcher, you get guys on, he throws more pitches. All those little things add up over time." They added up to three early runs against As pitcher Sonny Gray, who was making his first career major-league start. Bautistas 27th home run of the season in the first inning was a two-run shot because of Maicer Izturis walk, and Reyes fielders choice scored Brett Lawrie in the second after the third baseman got on thanks to a strikeout and passed ball. "Thats why you always preach on the other side, Dont walk batters," Gibbons said. "It puts you in a jam, and it also puts you in a bad frame of mind." Even if he wasnt perfect, Gray didnt implode, surrendering only three earned runs in six innings. But with another small-ball run in the third, the Blue Jays gave starter Mark Buehrle a cushion to work with. Buehrle was efficient, if not spectacular, giving up three earned runs on seven hits and striking out five in 5 1/3 innings including a home run to As right-fielder Josh Reddick. The big lefty improved to 8-7 this season, as Gibbons called the performance "typical Buehrle." "I kind of feel like I stole the win today. It was one of those ones that you dont feel like you deserve," he said. "I feel like Im not doing my job if I dont go at least six innings." Buehrle got the hook in the sixth after allowing his third run and putting a runner on third. All-star lefty reliever Brett Cecil got Toronto hit a batter before recording two big outs to leave the game unscathed. As Gibbons kept spinning the bullpen wheel, it kept working out for the Blue Jays. Aaron Loup for two outs, Sergio Santos for one and Darren Oliver for three got Toronto to reliable closer Casey Janssen. "They all fell in line, did their jobs," Gibbons said. "Great effort by the bullpen." Reyes line-drive home run gave that bullpen some breathing room, and Janssen needed the insurance run. Reddick led off the ninth with a homer, and the next two As batters reached. "It got hairy there, no question," Gibbons said. With catcher Derek Norris back bothering him, backup Stephen Vogt pinch-hit with two on and no outs and couldnt get his bunt attempt in the right spot. Janssen fielded it and threw to third to force out the lead runner, easily the biggest defensive play of the game. "I dont think that was a gamble," Janssen said. "I think I field my position well. The bunt wasnt good enough where my clock in my head said I had a chance." A flyout and a strikeout got a relieved Janssen his 21st save of the season. "I had to grind, it wasnt pretty, I didnt draw it up getting a lead-off homer and then the first two guys on," he said. "I think this was one of the more satisfying closes Ive had this year." Air Jordan 12 NZ . Serbia captain Bogdan Obradovic said his team will include 9th-ranked Janko Tipsarevic and 27th-ranked Viktor Troicki as he decided to let the top-ranked Djokovic rest. Jordan 12 Online Sale .J. -- John Elway says Peyton Manning cannot stamp himself as the greatest quarterback in NFL history even if he wins the Super Bowl on Sunday. http://www.airjordan12nz.com/ . Catch all the action on TSN2 and TSN GO at 9pm et/6pm pt. San Antonio took the series lead Monday night with a 122-105 home victory in Game 1. The Spurs used a balanced scoring attack and clamped down defensively late in the third quarter to claim the win. Wholesale Jordan 12 NZ .com) - Rakeem Christmas scored 21 points, B. Air Jordan 12 Retro NZ . Toronto announced the deal with the restricted free agent on Saturday. The terms were not disclosed.ST. LOUIS -- Jeff Fisher has never been afraid to buck a trend, draft a troubled player or grant a second chance. The coach of the Rams stuck with Adam "Pacman" Jones and Kenny Britt when he was at Tennessee, despite their off-field problems. Britt is now reunited with Fisher in St. Louis. Fisher recently rehired Gregg Williams, the defensive co-ordinator who was given a one-year suspension by the league for the bounty scandal with the Saints. It was not a surprise that it was Fisher who helped Michael Sam make history as the first openly gay player drafted by an NFL team. "He is an amazing leader, and even better, hes a better man," said Wade Davis, the head of an advocacy group for lesbian and gay athletes. Davis currently is doing some work with the NFL. "He looks at everything from all angles and hes not afraid to take on a challenge." The 56-year-old Fisher deflects any praise for being a trailblazer, insisting it was simply a football decision to upgrade one of the NFLs top pass rushes by taking Sam at No. 249. "In our world, nobodys going to agree with what you do 100 per cent of the time because everybody has opinions, and thats fine," Fisher said. "Im concerned about whats going on in the building, with the staff and players, the direction were headed. Thats always been the case." At least on the field, Fisher can relate to the challenge for Sam. He also was a seventh-round pick, the fourth wheel of a star-studded Southern California secondary that featured Ronnie Lott, Dennis Smith and Joey Browner. He then carved out a career playing under Mike Ditka for a Super Bowl winner in Chicago and is entering his 19th season as an NFL head coach. Lott, a Hall of Famer, recalls Fisher smoothly making the switch from wide receiver to cornerback. "To me, its easy to play wide receiver because you know where youre going," Lott said. "Having to react, respond and do it with confidence and knowing youre not going to win every play, thats the mindset on defence. The determination he had then has stayed with him." Not long after Sam came out in February, Fisher said hed have no problem having him on the team, that this was an age of diversity. Turns out it wasnt just talk. Several picks before the Rams took Sam, Fisheer broached the subject with owner Stan Kroenke and general manager Les Snead.dddddddddddd Ditka said he wasnt surprised it was Fisher who stepped up when every other team was backing away from Sam. Ditka, who once traded all his draft picks to land Ricky Williams, called it a "pretty gutsy move." Players have fallen in lockstep with their coach on the question of picking Sam. Defensive end Chris Long called it a "football move" and so did linebacker James Laurinaitis. "I dont think it was courageous," Laurinaitis said. "I think its a calculated move by the organization. ... If you have the opportunity to draft a guy that you think is extremely productive and maybe you had a higher grade on him than where he is, you go ahead and take that. I think football-wise, it was a very smart decision." Fisher wouldnt say how far Sam slid on the Rams draft board. The coach joked that divulging that information might affect Sams rookie contract. Titans broadcaster Thom Abraham remembers Fisher in 2009 after Tennessees 0-6 start removing his sport coat, tie and shirt at the podium of a civic function to reveal a Peyton Manning jersey underneath. The punch line: "I just wanted to know what it felt like to be a winner." "Picking Sam did not surprise me one bit," Abraham said of Fisher. "Hes confident in his ability to be out front, and almost represent the NFL." Sam has had several off-season workouts and more practices are on tap this week with the veterans. Long said Sam was working hard and former Missouri teammate, receiver T.J. Moe, said the team viewed Sam simply as someone trying to make it in the NFL. "He is on the team. Theres a 90-man roster, it doesnt go 89 and then Michael Sams over there, this is the gay team, this is the straight team," Moe said. "Michael Sam is on this team and hes treated just like anybody else." And if Sam struggles, nobody that knows Fisher well doubts the coach will have any problem cutting him loose. "He doesnt like doing that part of it," said Brad Hopkins, a former Pro Bowl offensive tackle who played his entire NFL career under Fisher. "But he knows it has to be done, and that you cant make everybody happy." ' ' '