Clanregeln » old at the Basketball World Cup

PITTSBURGH -- Ben Roethlisberger and Eli Manning are inextricably linked. Taken 11 picks apart in the 2004 NFL draft, the two quarterbacks have spent the last dozen years watching each other from afar, using the others success as a measuring stick of their own accomplishments.The resumes are nearly identical. Two Super Bowl victories. Four Pro Bowls apiece. A steady ascension into the upper stratosphere of the NFL record books. Both are already in the top 10 in career touchdown passes, with Roethlisberger on the cusp of joining Manning in the top 10 in all-time yards passing.Just dont call it a rivalry.When they take the same field for just the fourth time as professionals on Sunday when Manning and the streaking New York Giants (8-3) visit Roethlisberger and the Pittsburgh Steelers (6-5), the focus will be on keeping pace in a frenetic playoff race, not trying to match each others stats.I dont know if there is any extra motivation, Roethlisberger said. Just trying to win a football game against one of the best teams in football should be motivation enough.In an alternate universe, Roethlisberger might have been the guy behind center wearing Big Blue.For a few minutes during draft day in 2004, he thought he was heading to New York with the fourth overall pick. Instead, the Giants took Philip Rivers, then shipped Rivers to San Diego as part of a megadeal that sent Manning -- the top overall pick -- to New York. Roethlisberger, wearing a black pinstriped suit with a gold tie, heard his name called a little over an hour later when Pittsburgh used a first-round pick on a quarterback for just the fifth time in franchise history.He doesnt spend a lot of time thinking about what might have been. Neither does Manning. Thats for others.You always want your quarterback draft class to be well thought of and respected down the road, Manning said. You hear about the 83 draft class and other certain years. You want to be thrown in that mix someday.Just not yet. Both in their mid-30s and signed through the rest of the decade. Maybe theyll reunite at the Hall of Fame one day, though Roethlisberger stressed hopefully thats a long way off.Some things to look for as the Giants seek their seventh straight win while Pittsburgh tries to begin another December run like the ones that propelled the Steelers to the playoffs in each of the last two seasons.JPP IS BACK: Jason Pierre-Paul has had 5+ sacks, two forced fumbles and a fumble return for a touchdown in his last two games, along with 12 tackles. The end is the current NFC defensive player of the week for his career-high three sacks, forced fumble and 43-yard fumble return for a touchdown against Cleveland. The seven-year veteran is the first NFL player with at least three sacks and a fumble-return touchdown of at least 40 yards in the same game since 1982, the first year individual sacks became an official statistic. He is the first Giants player with at least three sacks and a touchdown in the same game since George Martin on Nov. 24, 1985.HOMECOMING: New York coach Ben McAdoo grew up in Homer City, Pennsylvania, about an hour east of Pittsburgh. This isnt the first time hes found himself going up against his childhood team. His family put together half-Steelers/half-Green Bay Packers jerseys for the 2011 Super Bowl when McAdoo was the tight ends coach for Green Bay. A win on Sunday would make him the first rookie head coach to win seven consecutive games since Jim Harbaugh did it with San Francisco in 2011.KICKING IT: Giants punter Brad Wing had his best game of the season against the Browns with a net average of 44.7 yards on nine punts, landing a career-high five inside the 20-yard line. Placekicker Robbie Gould isnt so hot. The veteran signed after the release of Josh Brown last month has missed three extra points in the past two games. He needs to start hitting them if he wants to keep his job. He has hit both of his field goal attempts in five games.AB vs. OBJ: The game will feature two of the NFLs most talented (and most flamboyant) wide receivers in Antonio Brown and Odell Beckham Jr. Browns 10 touchdown receptions are tied for the NFL lead; Beckham is tied for fourth with eight. Both are also featured in the punt return game. Asked when Beckham is at his most dangerous, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin responded whenever they snap the ball.---AP Sports Writer Tom Canavan contributed to this report.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFLKen Stabler Jersey . I cant pinpoint a date, but I do remember a player from my youth. Brian Downing was with the Chicago White Sox at a time when I listened to every game I possibly could on the radio. That particular season the late great Harry Caray was calling the White Sox games. Mark Ingram Jr. Jersey . -- Aaron Murray threw for 408 yards and three touchdowns, ran for another score, and led No. http://www.customsaintsjersey.com/custom-jonathan-vilma-jersey-large-1052e.html . Rinne played two periods in his first game since left hip surgery in early May. Gabriel Bourque scored 3:07 into the second period and Austin Watson tallied 5:15 later for Nashville. Shy Tuttle Jersey . Neymar curled home a free kick from just outside the area to put the 2014 World Cup host ahead in the 44th minute. Three minutes after the break, a simple through pass from Paulinho freed Oscar and the Chelsea star rounded goalkeeper Jung Sung-ryong to extend Brazils lead. Jammal Brown Jersey . Their experience showed Tuesday as the No. 10 Badgers blunted a Saint Louis surge to win 63-57 and advance to face West Virginia in Wednesdays finals of the Cancun Challenge.RIO DE JANEIRO -- Like so many kids, Kyrie Irving dreamed about putting on the uniform of his home country and playing in the Olympics.For Australia, mate.Born in Melbourne, where his father played professionally, the starting point guard for the heavily favored U.S. mens team was still considering the possibility of playing for the Aussies just a few years ago.I was very serious, man, he said.But as fate would have it, Irving followed the advice of his college coach, the one who mentors him to this day and the one who once told him he could be the guard of your era and chose to play for the Americans.Im glad that he decided to do that, said Mike Krzyzewski, the U.S. coach who had Irving for a short time at Duke.Irvings surface roots Down Under will be just one of the subplots Wednesday when the U.S. team, which has barely broken a sweat during its first two games in Brazil, faces unbeaten Australia. The Aussies are the surprise squad of the Rio Games and are a group loaded with NBA talent, championship rings and big game-experience.They have great camaraderie and theyre talented, Krzyzewski said. Theyre all NBA players so they understand what it is to play against our guys.Along with his unique connection to the Aussies, Irving will be going head-to-head with Matthew Dellavedova, his former teammate in Cleveland with whom he now shares a lifelong bond after they won a title together earlier this summer.Cavaliers teammates for three seasons, theyre friends turned foes for one day.Irving expects the hard-nosed Dellavedova, a tenacious defender with a knack for getting under an opponents skin, to come at him from the outset. Hes ready.Just like I should be worried about him, he should be worried about me, Irving said Tuesday before practice. It goes both ways. Hes a great defender as well, but my job is to win the basketball game for the U.S. and Im going to do everything possible to do that. So when we step on the floor, theres no friendships. That goes out the window automatically.After he turned pro following an injury-shortened freshman year, Irving could have played for Australia, which has been competitive in the Olympics but has yet to win a medal in the games or FIBA championships. He understood it would be a long climb for him to be reecognized as one of the top point guards in the U.ddddddddddddS. with Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook, Stephen Curry and Deron Williams among those ahead of him in the deep American pool.At Krzyzewskis urging, Irving had declined an invitation to play for Australia as a 17-year-old but was now giving it more consideration.And thats when Krzyzewski swayed him to join Team USA.He had a choice, the coach said. I just wanted him to always think of the very best that could happen for him and obviously playing for the United States and maybe being the starting guard on the Olympic team, thats the highest. And he had the capability of doing that. I knew that at a young age.But it wasnt like you had to put any pressure on him. I think he just needed to know that once you make the decision, then thats the country youre going to play for.Irving has felt at home from the moment he first slipped on a USA jersey. He impressed coaches and players with his quickness and ball-handling during scrimmages for the U.S. Select Team against the team that went to London in 2012, and two years later was named tournament MVP while leading the Americans to gold at the Basketball World Cup.If not for Krzyzewski, Irving could be wearing green and gold, not red, white and blue.He was a huge part of the decision, Irving said. I mean, hes Coach K. As a young fella, he definitely did tell me I had a chance to be a part of something bigger than myself and ultimately being the starting point guard on the U.S. Olympic team. I never thought it would happen as soon as it has.Its crazy to see how it has worked out.Its worked out to this point in these games for Australia, which has beaten medal contenders France and Serbia to open the tourney. The Aussies, who have five NBA starters and received a huge lift from center Andrew Boguts quick recovery from a knee injury, have a chance to show they can stand with the worlds basketball powers.As for Irving, Dellavedova, who signed with Milwaukee earlier this summer, said he didnt have anything special planned for their reunion.Ill say, gday, he said, But well probably catch up more when everything is finished. ' ' '