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is that a little preparation can make
CLEVELAND -- At 7-foot-3, Zydrunas Ilgauskas towered over everyone yet stayed completely down to earth. Discount Fake Yeezy Boost . Soft-spoken and doggedly determined, Ilgauskas, who overcame serious injuries and personal tragedy to become one of Clevelands best and most beloved players, will have his No. 11 jersey retired Saturday night during an elaborate halftime ceremony certain to be emotionally poignant. The seventh player in team history to receive the honour, Ilgauskas joins Austin Carr, Nate Thurmond, Bobby "Bingo" Smith, Larry Nance, Brad Daugherty and Mark Price in having his number raised to the rafters of Quicken Loans Arena. All of them have career credentials worthy of the tribute, but the celebration for Ilgauskas goes far beyond any statistics. "Throw basketball stuff out the window," Cavs coach Mike Brown said. "Hes a terrific human being." Ilgauskas will be joined at the celebration by his wife, Jennifer, and their adopted sons, Deividas and Povilas. Hell be surrounded by family members, friends, former coaches and teammates, including LeBron James, who was invited by Ilgauskas and wanted to support the player known simply as "Z." "Probably one of the most talented guys I ever played with," James said. Ilgauskas conquered career-threatening foot injuries to become a two-time NBA All-Star as well as the Cavs career leader in rebounds (5,904), games played (771) and blocks (1,269). Hes second on the scoring list, behind only James. A gentle giant off the floor, Ilgauskas accomplished it all through hard work, enduring endless hours of grueling rehab and treatment to fulfil a dream that began as a small boy playing soccer and volleyball in Lithuania. Ilgauskas spent 12 seasons with the Cavs, and for a long stretch of his tenure he was the only good thing about the franchise. That all changed when James arrived in 2003, and along with Ilgauskas -- an odd couple if there ever was one -- they led the Cavs to their only NBA finals appearance in 2007. One of the enduring moments in Cleveland sports over the last 30 years was James and Ilgauskas wrapping their arms around each other to celebrate the Cavs win over Detroit in the Eastern Conference finals. After being traded, Ilgauskas followed James to Miami and played one season with the Heat. Ilgauskas retired in 2011, but returned to the Cavs the following year and has been working as a special assistant to the general manager. Hes always been special. Ilgauskas connected with Cleveland fans like few pro athletes. Big Z endeared himself with his perseverance, resilience, loyalty and a dry, self-deprecating sense of humour. Shortly after undergoing his second major foot surgery, Ilgauskas quipped he "had as much hardware as Home Depot" in his feet. The Cavs selected Ilgauskas with the 20th overall pick in 1996, and after a promising rookie season in 1997-98, he encountered the first of many medical obstacles. Shortly after signing a six-year, $71 million contract, he broke his left foot just five games into the 1998-99 season. It didnt heal properly and Ilgauskas sat out the entire 1999-2000 season. Ilgauskas seemed poised to become one of the leagues top centres, but felt a sharp pain in his left foot during a game in Miami. Ilgauskas took himself out, and broke down in the locker room after, knowing his playing days might be over at 25. After visiting foot specialists across the country, Ilgauskas underwent a risky operation to have his left foot radically reconstructed. He tortured himself during workouts to get back, and spent countless hours getting treatment on his feet, which required extensive icing before and after he played. It all paid off when Ilgauskas was named an All-Star reserve in 2003. There were other hardships, the most challenging in 2007 when he and Jennifer lost the twins she was carrying. Through it all, Ilgauskas was the consummate teammate. "Zs like a big brother to me," Cavs centre Anderson Varejao said. "He helped me a lot in this league, with everything, basketball, on the road. When I got here I didnt speak any English. He put me under his wing and took care of me. Hes a big part of my life." And in Cleveland, Ilgauskas has always been so much more than big. Cheap Fake Yeezy 2019 . -- Valentin Zykov scored in overtime as the Baie-Comeau Drakkar rallied to a 3-2 victory over the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada on Sunday in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League playoff action. Fake Yeezy Boost 350 . 4 jersey of former defenseman Rob Blake this coming season. The ceremony will take place prior to the Kings January 17 game against Anaheim. With the NFL season approaching, its time to sign up for Fantasy Football League Manager on TSN.ca. Then, its time to research, prepare and get ready to build your team to win bragging rights in your own league. Anyone that enters the contest will also have the opportunity, via draw, to win a Football Getaway Experience, which includes flight, hotel, spending money and tickets for your choice of an NFL regular-season game. Start with rankings, projections, injury reports and articles in the Fantasy News section of TSN.ca so that you have a good idea what to expect for the 2013 NFL season, paying attention to rookies, sleepers, position battles and more. There is not merely one way to build a winning team, so its important to maximize value. Given the nature of the sport, and the injuries that occur throughout the season, its important to build depth on your fantasy roster, so that you have a viable alternative at the ready when one of your starters is hurt or, at the very least, on a bye week. For years, running back has been the one position on which to focus and, while there has been some variance in recent seasons, it remains the safest way to build a team. 16 backs rushed for at least 1,000 yards last season (23 averaged at least 60 rushing yards per game), and 13 had at least eight rushing touchdowns, so getting two runners in the early rounds isnt a bad way to go. Of course, even that approach comes with the caveat that running backs get injured -- something about carrying the ball and being the target of 11 angry men -- but with most leagues employing at least a couple of starters at RB and then potentially a flex position or two, securing the services of running backs that are clearly number one on their teams depth chart is a safe play. The appeal of quality runners stands in contrast to a league that is becoming increasingly focused on passing. Scarcity means value, though, so while there are more productive options at quarterback and the receiver spots, the top running backs hold their value. Part of the reason that there isnt such urgency to go for a quarterback early is that a dozen quarterbacks threw for at least 3,900 yards last season and the quarterback ranked 13th in passing yardage, Cam Newton, alsoo had more than 700 rushing yards. Fake Yeezy China Factory. With a dozen quarterbacks throwing at least 25 touchdowns, that pretty much assures a productive starter for most leagues, especially considering that most leagues require only one starting quarterback. That doesnt mean settling for any quarterback, because Drew Brees and Aaron Rodgers are better bets than the 10th or 12th quarterbacks picked, but if you end up with Tony Romo, Andrew Luck or Eli Manning, there shouldnt be major regrets. As NFL teams throw the ball more frequently, there is a wider net to cast over wide receivers that could contribute to your fantasy squad. 32 wide receivers averaged at least 60 receiving yards per game last season, while 25 scored at least seven touchdowns. Again, theres obviously more appeal at the top end, where Calvin Johnson is a difference-maker and Brandon Marshall, Andre Johnson and Dez Bryant could all be top-tier producers, but there was value to be found from lesser-knowns like Cecil Shorts and T.Y. Hilton too and there will be young receivers that emerge this season as well. Get one or two proven guys and then secure depth at the position. Tight end is an interesting proposition, since Jimmy Graham is at the head of a thinning class. Jason Witten and Tony Gonzalez are reliably productive too, but what about Rob Gronkowski? Under normal circumstances, he would challenge Graham for the top spot at the position, but after an offseason of surgeries, Gronkowski presents a risk. Then, there is a large group of similarly-productive options. Like the quarterback position, its better to get one of the best but, if that doesnt happen, youre not necessarily going to regret having the 10th-best tight end. Kickers and defences are late-round concerns. There is too much variability in their production to invest early selections, no matter how good you think the Niners defence is going to be or how many times you think Stephen Gostkowski will boot it through the uprights. The bottom line, though, is that a little preparation can make your team better come draft (or auction) day and TSNs Fantasy Football League Manager will be there every step of the way to help you enjoy the 2013 season. Click here to sign up and start building your team today! ' ' '
- Created: Aug 8 '19
- Admin: miaowang123
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