in guaranteed money. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because financial terms were not announced. ESPN first reported the terms. "At the end of the day I couldnt see myself playing in another jersey," Gould said. "Id just look funngoals this season, including a franchise

Canadas Kevin Koe is trying his best to avoid distractions and focus on curling as he prepares for the upcoming mens world curling championship. There have been a few challenges for Koe in the leadup to the competition, which opens Saturday at Beijings Capital Indoor Stadium. Chief among them is news that there are changes coming to his rink next season. Koes current lineup features second Carter Rycroft, third Pat Simmons and lead Nolan Thiessen. Rycroft, whose wife is pregnant, has already said hell be taking a year off after this season. Kevin Martin confirmed to The Canadian Press that Marc Kennedy and Ben Hebert will be leaving his rink to join Koes team next season. Koe preferred to keep his focus on the world championship and declined to comment on the coming changes. The future plans of Simmons and Thiessen were unclear. It was the first major shakeup in whats expected to be a summer of significant change on the mens curling scene now that the four-year Olympic cycle is complete. The timing is less than ideal for Koe and his teammates. Gerry Peckham, the Canadian Curling Associations high-performance director, expects Koe to be able to lock in on the immediate task before him. "Our analysis of his performance skills and performance attributes would suggest that hes an incredibly focused individual and is seldom distracted by anything external to the game at hand," Peckham said. "I think those teammates have looked in each other in the eye again, squared their shoulders, are shaking each others hands and are now moving on to complete this journey of a world championship." Koe won gold in his only previous appearance at the world championship, taking top spot at the 2010 playdowns in Cortina DAmpezzo, Italy. At this years event, Canada will be a favourite along with Scotland, Sweden, Norway and China. The 12-team field is rounded out by the Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Japan, Russia, Switzerland and the United States. "Canada used to be known obviously as a big favourite going in all the time but you quickly realize how the gap is changing," Koe said. "Our experience in 2010 was awesome in Italy and it was a great feeling to win. But this is just as important for us. "To get to be two-time world champs would be pretty neat and kind of validate our first win." Koe arrived early in the week so that hed have time to adjust to the 14-hour time change. He was greeted by plenty of smog, heat and humidity. Hes also still getting used to the various culinary options in the Chinese capital. "Its a bit of a culture shock for us," Koe said in a recent interview. "Big difference from what were used to. Obviously a huge city but it will be a great experience." Koe had a strong performance at the Tim Hortons Brier and is enjoying another solid year on the World Curling Tour. Hes third on the money list and fourth in the order of merit standings behind only Olympic champ Brad Jacobs, Howard and Jeff Stoughton. The only change from the 2010 lineup is that Simmons has replaced Blake MacDonald on the Calgary-based rink. "We dont get too excited or too worked up as a team," Koe said. "Were pretty calm. Obviously the experience of being to one (world championship) will help for sure, especially when youre coming to a foreign country where everything is different. "At least we can rely on the experience once we actually get on the ice of knowing weve been to the worlds and we did well last time." Its the first World Curling Federation world championship event to be staged in China. The venue was used for volleyball competition at the 2008 Summer Olympics. The Chinese team skipped by Rui Liu is coming off a fourth-place result at the Sochi Games. Scotlands Ewan MacDonald has three world titles to his name although this is his first appearance as skip. Thomas Ulsrud, who won Olympic silver at the 2010 Games in Vancouver, will skip the Norwegian team. "We know most of these teams and theyre all pretty good," Koe said. "Not too many easy games out there." Swedens Niklas Edin is not back to defend the title he won last year in Victoria. Instead, Oskar Eriksson will skip the Swedish entry. Round-robin play will continue through Thursday evening and tiebreakers will be used if needed to determine the top four teams. The Page playoff system will be used ahead of the medal games on April 6. Koe said the ice conditions in the venue will be a huge factor. "They do have some great icemakers but its really warm here," he said. "Its supposedly pushing 30 (degrees Celsius) here and they had an event in the facility early in the year and there was a lot of problems. But I think theyve brought in some dehumidifiers and air conditioning to cool the arena down. "Thats the big worry here. If the ice is good, I for sure like our chances. Bad ice would be a bit of an equalizer I think. But when you have some of the best icemakers in the world, Im sure theyll get it figured out." Canada has won gold three of the last four years at this event. Stoughton was victorious in 2011 at Regina and Howard won at Basel, Switzerland in 2012. The Canadians are scheduled to open against Denmarks Rasmus Stjerne on Saturday. "You have four very solid, confident, resolved individuals (who are) mentally tough," said Peckham. "I think they realize the significance and the importance of this world championship to themselves individually and as a collective, and then of course representing this curling nation of Canada. "So I think theyve gone out the door with their game face on." The world championship will return to Canada next year as Halifax plays host. Mitchell Robinson Jersey . “Momentum is only as good as the next days starter,” the long-time Baltimore Orioles manager famously quipped. Mario Hezonja Jersey .com) - The Atlanta Hawks have stepped up to every challenge during their 14-game winning streak and will face another daunting task Friday with Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and the Oklahoma City Thunder in town. http://www.cheapknicksjerseys.com/?tag=cheap-kevin-knox-jersey . Alen, 28, hit .315 with five home runs, 59 RBI and a career-high nine stolen bases for the Goldeyes last season. He is the longest serving catcher in Goldeyes history, having already spent five seasons with the organization. Cheap Knicks Jerseys . The underachieving franchise finished 17th in the 19-team league with a 6-17-11 record this season. "Our soccer team is absolutely in complete disarray," said Leiweke, drawing laughs during an Empire Club luncheon speech about the future of MLSE teams and plans to improve them. Willis Reed Jersey . "Back in 2011, when they announced that the game was coming here, we knew that it was going to be pretty important that we had a good year and hopefully could get into it, let alone win it, so I felt some pressure obviously within for sure," Taman said Monday, less than 24 hours after the Riders won the championship.LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- Robbie Gould saw no reason to shop around. The Chicago Bears announced a four-year extension with Gould on Friday, locking in one of the most accurate kickers in NFL history through the 2017 season. A person familiar with the situation said the deal is worth $15 million and includes more than $9 million in guaranteed money. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because financial terms were not announced. ESPN first reported the terms. "At the end of the day I couldnt see myself playing in another jersey," Gould said. "Id just look funny in another colour I think." Gould has converted 86 per cent of his attempts in nine seasons and ranks as the third most accurate kicker in NFL history behind Mike Vanderjagt (86.5 per cent) and Nate Kaeding (86.2 per cent). He has hit 26 of 29 field goals this season, including a franchise record 58-yarder against Cincinnati in the opener. He has 11 game-winning field goals in his career. With 1,021 points, Gould is closing in on Kevin Butlers team record (1,116) "I thought it was important that I remain a Bear," Gould said. "I think it means a lot for my career. I think it means a lot to be able to do some things down the road individually but also I think if Im going to hold a trophy up, I want to hold it up with the Chicago Bears." The deal comes as the NFC North-leading Bears prepare for an all-or-nothing finale against the rival Green Bay Packers at Soldier Field on Sunday. The winner captures the division title and advances to the playoffs. A tie would also do the job for the Bears (8-7). Gould was one of many Chicago players with expiring contracts, including quarterback Jay Cutler, return specialist Devin Hester and cornerbacks Charles Tillman and Tim Jennings. "Youve got guys that are up that if the deal weve struck gives a little extra money to keep guys around, then Im all for it," he said. "At the end of the day, all I want to do is win a championship. Hopefully we can start by doing it this weekend." The deal was a bit of a surprise considering general manager Phil Emery said at the start of training camp he didnt see the Bears extending any contracts during the season because they were up against the cap.dddddddddddd. He also wanted the focus to be on the field and not the negotiating table. That announcement did not sit well with Gould, who was critical at the time. But any hurt feelings were soothed. He and Emery were on the same page in one key area, though. "I think we both agreed on what our vision was," Emery said. "And our vision was that together, some day we would hugging one another and had a big smile on our face and holding up that championship trophy. So the extension of Robbie Gould gives that some legs now and into the future and am very happy to announce that." With the season winding down, Emery said there was some money available to extend a contract. "We didnt use all the remaining emergency fund that we had," Emery said. "We were very open the last couple weeks of internally discussing the possibility of signing at least one player if we could find somebody that would fit into that equation. We were not aggressive in terms of our pursuit of those players." Goulds agent, Brian Mackler, contacted the Bears this week, and they reached an agreement over the next few days. There still will be plenty of issues for the Bears to address after the season, given all their expiring contracts and problems on defence, but one task is out of the way. A "negotiation can go as fast as you want it to go," Gould said. "Its all about, can you get on the same page, do they have the same value or number in mind that you have. I think, realistically, it was probably the easiest negotiation Ive ever been a part of. I appreciate the Bears that they think that highly of me to get something done before the end of the season." Note: WR Earl Bennett remained away from the team tending to a family matter in Texas and is questionable for Sundays game. LB Lance Briggs (shoulder), the only other Bears player on the injury report, is listed as probable. 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