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Some of the sports stories The Associated Press is covering Wednesday. Latest Adidas Basketball Shoes . A full Sports Digest will be sent by about 3 p.m. All times EST:- For every Peyton Manning who survived a rough rookie year on his way to NFL stardom, theres a much longer list of players rushed onto the field too early or with not enough help before being discarded in the continuing search for the franchise quarterback. Not even being picked first or second overall is a guarantee, but the first 24 games of a career are a pretty good measure of future success -- or failure.- BALTIMORE -- The Baltimore Ravens understand how embarrassing it would be to lose to the winless Cleveland Browns on national television. They would rather focus on the benefits of a victory, which would thrust them into sole possession of first place in the AFC North.- The Cleveland Browns are winless, 0-9 for the first time in franchise history. They are ranked dead last at No. 32 in the AP Pro32. And now they must play on a short week at their hated rival, the Ravens -- who used to be the Browns before fleeing to Baltimore in 1996.- Nick Saban is on the verge of another milestone victory, another number that gives a glimpse at how dominant his teams have been at Alabama. A victory by the Crimson Tide against Mississippi State on Saturday in Tuscaloosa will be Sabans 40th when Alabama has been ranked No. 1, matching Bobby Bowden and Woody Hayes for the most by a coach.- While offensive stars like Lamar Jackson and Deshaun Watson more often than not command the lions share of the ACC limelight on game day, there are plenty of stars on the other side of the ball who have helped elevate the conference to new heights.- There is no Heisman hype for the Big 12 Conference, even with some impressive performances this season from players like Oklahoma receiver Dede Westbrook and Texas running back DOnta Foreman. Still, the Big 12 isnt likely to have a player in New York next month for the Heisman Trophy ceremony. Maybe next year.- COLLEGE STATION, Texas -- Texas A&Ms Trevor Knight is the highest profile graduate transfer in the Southeastern Conference this season, jumping in to fill a major void at quarterback for the 10th-ranked Aggies. However, teams across the league are sprinkled with players who moved into the SEC as graduate students after careers at other schools.- PHOENIX -- On the last full day of the annual general managers meeting, Major League Baseball goes over possible rules changes.- MIAMI -- Dwyane Wade will play Thursday in Miami for the 525th time, and for the first time in some other teams uniform. When the Chicago Bulls visit the Heat, itll be a homecoming for the three-time NBA champion.- COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Some of Americas best soccer players returned this week to central Ohio, where a 20,000-seat stadium named for its insurance company sponsor is considered a spiritual home of the mens national team.- East Kilbrides players are the talk of Scottish soccer and beyond thanks to a 27-match winning run that has the tiny community-led club from the outskirts of Glasgow dreaming big. Wholesale Adidas Nmd Mens .C. -- Al Jefferson joked that he feels he can score from anywhere on the court. Adidas Nmd Mens Clearance . -- For the first time in two months, an opponent was standing up to Alabama. http://www.cheapnmdsneakersireland.com/adidas-basketball-shoes.html ., and Rudi Swiegers of Kipling, Sask., took sixth spot on Saturday in pairs at the NHK Trophy ISU Grand Prix figure skating competition. CHICAGO -- The St. Louis Cardinals are headed home to make one last try for a sixth consecutive playoff appearance.Carlos Martinez pitched six solid innings, but St. Louis was shut down by Jon Lester in a 3-1 loss to the Chicago Cubs on Sunday night.The Cardinals lost for the third time in four games, wasting a chance to improve their playoff positioning. They remain a half-game back of San Francisco for the second NL wild card after the Giants lost 4-3 at San Diego earlier in the day.I think were in a good position right now, Martinez said through a translator. I also think we have a great shot at winning the World Series.The Cardinals dropped two of three against the major league-leading Cubs, finishing a 5-5 road trip. Next up is a season-ending seven-game homestand against last-place Cincinnati and Pittsburgh beginning on Monday night against the Reds.St. Louis rolled to a 10-4 victory on Saturday, but it scored just two runs in its three losses during its mini-slide.Were going to have to mix and match and make something happen, manager Mike Matheny said.David Ross homered and Ben Zobrist had three hits as Chicago finished with a major league-best 57-24 home record. Its the most home wins for the Cubs since they went 58-19 at the West Side Grounds in 1910.Lester (19-4), one of the top candidates for the NL Cy Young Award, struck out seven in 6 2/3 scoreless innings. The left-hander allowed three hits and walked one while improving to 10-0 with 1.34 ERA in his last 13 starts.Hes done that most of the season, Matheny said. We took a few good at-bats, but overall we couldnt string them together. Once again, that big hit, we were missing.Ross, who plans to retire after the season, was greeted with a long standing ovation when he came to the plate in the second inning. St. Louis catcher Yadier Molina walked halfway to the mound, forcing the unassuming Ross to take in the moment, and he took off his batting helmet to acknowledge the cheering crowd.Ross then struck out, but he got another chance in the fifth and drove Martinezs second pitch oveer the wall in left for 1-0 lead. Buy Adidas Basketball Shoes Online. Ross clapped his hands as he rounded first on his 10th homer and the cheers continued after he reached the dugout, prompting a curtain call.It was just fitting that David would hit a home run, isnt it? Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. I mean it had to have happened tonight.The Cardinals pulled within one on Jhonny Peraltas two-out RBI single in the eighth, but Brandon Moss flied to center with runners on the corners. Willson Contreras responded with an RBI single in the bottom half and Aroldis Chapman worked the ninth for his 16th save with the NL Central champions and No. 36 on the year.Martinez (15-9), pitching with a heavy heart after the death of Miami pitcher Jose Fernandez in a boating accident, allowed two runs and six hits. He struck out six and walked four.He had lots of juice, Matheny said. Its probably the hardest sinker Ive ever seen him throw. A couple of those were 97 (mph). He was locked in. He wanted it bad today, and he was good enough for us to win.RESTING AND MOURNINGSt. Louis shortstop Aledmys Diaz, who is dealing with some arm fatigue, got the day off. Diaz also was a childhood friend of Fernandez.Matheny said he would have scratched Diaz had he been in the lineup. Diaz declined an interview request through a team spokeswoman.Hes pretty stoic. You see how he goes about his business, Matheny said. Thats kind of how hes handling this right now. He was a close, close friend, so hes trying to figure out how to mourn for his friend right now and take all the information in. None of that is easy.UP NEXTCardinals: LHP Jaime Garcia (10-12, 4.59 ERA) faces Cincinnati RHP Tim Adleman (2-4, 4.06 ERA) on Monday night.Cubs: RHP Kyle Hendricks (15-8, 2.06 ERA) pitches for Chicago in the opener of a four-game series at Pittsburgh. RHP Chad Kuhl (5-3, 3.73 ERA) gets the ball for the Pirates on Monday night.---Jay Cohen can be reached at http://www.twitter.com/jcohenap ' ' '