The Rays are 14-15 since the All-Star break, recovering from a terri

After the first two weeks of the regular season in the CFL, parity seems to be the word to best describe what has unfolded. The Saskatchewan Roughriders are the only 2-0 team, and the Tiger-Cats are the only 0-2 team but could easily have been in the .500 club if not for a dropped screen pass in the second-to-last play of Week 1 versus the Argos. The leagues offences got off to a fast start in Week 1 with the four opening games producing a total of 277 points, or an average of 69.3 points/game. That average was the third highest scoring first week in the leagues history. In Week 2 the defensive coordinators decided enough was enough, and shaved a hundred points off the top and dropped the total count to 177 points or 44.25/game, although a monsoon in Guelph also contributed. There were a few other interesting developments over the first two weeks that are worth noting. The first that comes to mind is the new wave of receivers that seems to be emerging. With Geroy Simon missing both games to start the season due to injury, the positions all-time leader and senior statesman is still looking for his first catch as a Saskatchewan Roughrider. Nik Lewis, who has known nothing but 1,000-yard seasons in his nine years in the CFL, currently ranks 16th amongst CFL pass catchers. The Alouettes Jamel Richardson, who is entering his tenth season, finds himself out of the top 20 after the first two weeks of the CFL season. Cliche time - "Its not where you start but where you finish." Im sure that all three veterans will start to take their games up a notch and climb back up the list. In fact Simon (age 37) said prior to the Riders game against Calgary that he probably could have played in the contest and will be ready to go this week if the coach and training staff give him the green light. And as long as they stay healthy, Lewis (31) and Richardson (31) will have their big games, and when the dust settles will be past the 1,000-yard mark. However, football fans could be witnessing the beginning of a changing of the guard at the receiver position. It may not be completed this year or even next, but there are some talented young receivers who are quickly making names for themselves. Calgarys Joe West is a big target with strong hands who can also run by people, as witnessed in Calgarys first passing play of Week 2 vs. Saskatchewan when he caught a 64-yard deep ball. He would add a touchdown in that contest, his third of the season after two weeks. Nick Moore of the BC Lions had a monster game in Week 2 in his clubs home opener, pulling in six catches for 107 yards. Moore, who is actually lining up in Simons old position, currently ranks fourth among CFL receivers after two weeks. There are also a couple of young Canadian receivers making some noise early and will be interesting to watch, including the Bombers Cory Watson who is just outside of the top 10 and the Eskimos Nate Coehorn, who is only two spots back of Watson. Also of note after the first two weeks was the first on-field incident that forced the leagues head office to hand out the first fine of the 2013 season. In cased you missed it Saskatchewans Dwight Anderson in Week 1 in Edmonton made what the officials believed was a "throat thrashing" gesture. Anderson aggressively disagreed with the call on the field and proceeded to get a second objectionable conduct penalty, and eventually the fine was added to the punishment. What was not reported was the way that head coach Corey Chamblin handled his players lack of composure. Following the game the team levied its own fine, and asked that Dwight Anderson do some volunteer work in the community. Chamblin explained his philosophy on the punishment when he said, "I think honestly that a players time is more important to them than their money, so when it comes to fines, I think they will better get the message if I take their time not their money." However Chamblin wasnt done just yet. His philosophy in cases like the Anderson case is to try and help the player first as a person and second as a football player. Chamblin said, "every one of us can improve ourselves, and I want to help Dwight improve as a person first, then the rest will take care of itself." As the third part of Andersons punishment Chamblin made the veteran defensive back read a book. Yes, in fact he said that they would both read a book written by Jon Gordon called, "The Energy Bus," and then discuss it together. The book is essentially about how we approach life and work, and how to do it in a positive and forward thinking way. It will be interesting to see how Dwight Anderson responds to what is a refreshingly unique and genuine approach by Corey Chamblin. And finally, speaking of discipline, the Ticats Chris Williams continues to be a topic of discussion, even thought the returner/receiver is sitting out the season over a contract dispute. Lindsey Lamar, the five-foot-nine speedster out of South Florida, is the main reason that Williams name has come up as much as it has in the first two weeks. Lamar is making Tiger-Cat fans forget about Williams in a hurry, as he already has registered a kick return touchdown, and despite some ball handling issues in the monsoon game against Edmonton in Guelph - which produced enough rain to drown a duck - Lamar in about a month in the Hammer has become one of the those guys that gets you up out of your seat every time he touches the ball. I also have to respectfully disagree with my colleague at TSN, Milt Stegall, who suggested that the Ticats have somehow disrespected Williams in a recent panel hit? For the record, it was Williams and his first agent that made the mistake of signing the first contract. Also, while actual numbers have not been made public, it is rumoured that once Williams received NFL interest the Ticats offered him an extension that would have compensated him handsomely, by CFL standards. If he didnt want to extend, because he wanted to give the NFL a shot after this season, Im sure Tiger-Cats owner Bob Young would have been fine with negotiating better money in the 2013 season to ensure he would honour the last year on his deal. Williams is making a mistake or getting bad advice or both. A football players window to play is very small at the best of times. If the tiny returner is afraid of getting hurt by playing out his contract in Hamilton, he should be reminded that you can get hurt in a light strip workout in the off-season, or lifting weights in a gym. Football players have to work on improving every day, because you can bet that the guy they are competing with in camp is improving, and sitting out a year will not help Chris Williams improve his game. The CFL gave Williams a chance when no one knew who he was. If there is any one that has been disrespected here, it is the Canadian Football League and the Hamilton organization, by Chris Williams.Cheap NBA Jerseys Free Shipping . Team physician Dr. Steve Traina performed the surgery Friday. Robinson was injured in a spill underneath the Nuggets basket during the first quarter of Wednesday nights loss to the Charlotte Bobcats. Wholesale Nike NBA Jerseys .ca look back at each of the Top 10 stories of 2013. Today, we look back at Boston Strong - a citys recovery from tragedy. http://www.cheapnbajerseysnike.com/ . Sulaiman, 44, was chosen unanimously Tuesday in a vote by the leadership, the World Boxing Council said. Sulaiman becomes the sixth president of the organization. Cheap NBA Jerseys Authentic . But what about the officials? Every sport has officials and they also have stories about hard work and sacrifice but their accomplishments are seldom recognized by anyone outside their inner circle. Cheap NBA Jerseys China . The lawyers filed a 33-page amended complaint Tuesday in federal court in Manhattan, expanding on the suit originally filed Oct. 3 in New York Supreme Court. Arbitrator Fredric Horowitz last week refused to compel Selig to testify in the grievance, and Rodriguez then walked out of the hearing without testifying.ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- One day after Wil Myers returned to face the Rays, another former Tampa Bay player will oppose his former team Tuesday.San Diego Padres right-hander Edwin Jackson, who made headlines for and against the Rays, will oppose Tampa Bay left-hander Blake Snell in the middle game of a three-game series at Tropicana Field.Jackson pitched for Tampa Bay from 2006-08, then threw an unusual no-hitter for the Arizona Diamondbacks against the Rays on June 25, 2010. He somehow walked eight batters in a 149-pitch gem.The 32-year-old veteran opened this season as a reliever with the Marlins (0-1, 5.91 ERA in eight outings), but he has fared well since joining the Padres (3-1, 3.62 ERA in five starts). His last outing saw him scatter two hits over seven scoreless innings while striking out seven in a win against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday.For his career, Jackson is 3-2 with a 2.54 ERA in his career against the Tampa Bay.While Jackson has appeared with 11 major league teams, Snell has made just 11 major league starts. The rookie is 3-5 with a 3.18 ERA and coming off his worst outing of the season, when he lasted only 1 2/3 innings and gave up five runs (two earned) in a loss to the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday.Snell has 58 strikeouts in 56 2/3 innings, for the best rate in the American League among rookie pitchers with 50 or more innings. His only previous interleague outing was a strong one, when he struck out nine and held the Rockies to one hit in six scoreless innings at Colorado on July 19.Theres been a lot of impressive things about Blake Snell, Rays manager Kevin Cash told MLB.com. His confidence, not to be confused with cockiness -- the confidence and the way he feels he can go out tthere and compete has been so impressive.dddddddddddd The way he acted right after that game is pretty impressive. ... I know hes itching to get back out there.The Rays have had improved starting pitching since the All-Star break, with Mondays starter, Drew Smyly, improving to 3-0 in his past five starts with a 2.25 ERA. He has more wins in those five starts than in his first 18 this season. On Monday, he used a deceptive mix of pitches to leave the Padres hitters guessing.The Rays are 14-15 since the All-Star break, recovering from a terrible month entering the break, and improved starting pitching has been a big part of the turnaround.Snell is just coming into his rhythm as a young starting pitcher, but Smyly said the staff as a whole has built a positive momentum in the past month, one it hopes to continue through the final six weeks of the season.You have to go out there and believe, to execute pitches and expect good results to come, Smyly said. I dont know if its luck, but everything evens out over the course of the season.After giving up three runs in the first two innings Monday, the Padres are looking for a quicker start Tuesday.We just didnt play that well, didnt come out with the intensity we should have early in the game, said Myers, who went 1-for-4. I think we need to do a little better job, me especially -- the whole team needs to do a better job early in the games, because weve been fighting late. But those first few at-bats early in the game are just as important. Thats one thing we need to do going forward, making sure we have more intensity early in the games. ' ' '