Dein erstes Forum » stand on the grid and have so man

REGINA - Olympic gold-medal favourite Mark McMorris is in "great spirits," despite a fall that fractured a rib and nearly derailed his dream. Don McMorris, the snowboarders father, says Mark is moving around quite well after the incident during Saturdays slopestyle event at the Winter X Games in Aspen, Colo. "When we left him (Sunday), he could bend over and touch his toes because of where (the injury) is at," Don McMorris told The Canadian Press on Monday. "You know a cracked rib in the front, you couldnt do that, but where its at (around the back), he could bend to his toes and could raise his knees up to kind of his chest. "He was really doing better than we all thought. Hes got five or six days before he has to worry about riding and hes got the best people around him." Mark McMorris caught his snowboard on the lip of a rail and went sliding down the bar on his right side before landing hard on the snow during the final. He stayed on the ground for a few minutes before riding down the hill under his own power. It seems the 20-year-old Regina native lost focus. "He probably hit that rail through the week, I dont know 50 times, and never had a problem with it or any of the rails because thats, I think, one of the strongest parts of his riding," said Don McMorris, who was in Aspen when his son fell. "But obviously he was focused on what he was going to do on the jump line because he was going to try something pretty major." Don McMorris says his son didnt hurt much at first, but the pain got worse as the afternoon wore on. Mark McMorris finished with a silver medal at the event, but was "pretty down," said his father. Mark McMorris had said being an Olympian is a dream come true. He was the two-time defending Winter X Games champion in slopestyle. When he was named to the Olympic team earlier this month, McMorris said hes been "preparing like a mad man." The fall raised questions as to whether he could compete in Sochi. "He was really scared, not necessarily about his own well-being, I dont think, but that he wouldnt get to go to the Olympics," said Don McMorris. "That was really playing on his mind and when he does that, he just gets really quiet and doesnt really talk or say much to anybody. "And you could just tell that he was really scared and worried about not getting to fulfil his dream." The elder McMorris says the tough part was waiting to hear what the team doctors had to say. He describes it as an agonizing wait of about three hours. They eventually decided Mark would go to Sochi, as planned. "I cant tell you what he said because that would not be printable," joked Don McMorris. "He was really relieved." A fractured rib usually takes six weeks to heal, so Mark McMorris wont have time to fully recover before the Games start Feb. 7. But his father is cautiously optimistic. "Yes, Im optimistic, (I) have to be," he said. "I mean maybe too optimistic because theres going to be a lot of pain and . . . you dont know how the body will react, but compared to what it could have been, were pretty happy." Wade Baldwin Jersey . -- Mississippis Andrew Ritter said his game-winning, 41-yard field goal felt good off his foot. Marc Gasol Jersey . The San Angelo, Texas product, who was a high school and college quarterback sensation in the Lone Star State, will start his first CFL game with the Saskatchewan Roughriders (9-4) on Friday at Mosaic Stadium against the leagues top team, the Calgary Stampeders (11-2). http://www.thegrizzliesofficial.com/Auth...izzlies-Jersey/. Louis Blues were workmanlike, methodical and -- most of all -- effective on Monday night. Mike Conley Jersey . To get things started, heres a little photo tour to get you acquainted with all the main characters. Allen Iverson Jersey .3 million qualifying offer to outfielder Michael Cuddyer on Monday.MONTREAL -- Racing fans can expect the annual revving of high-speed engines at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve for at least another decade, as the Formula One Group reached an agreement worth more than $200 million to bring the Canadian Grand Prix back to Montreal through 2024. The Grand Prixs future in Montreal was secured with the help of substantial governmental investment: $62 million from the federal government, $50 million from Quebec, $62 million from Tourisme Montreal and at least $32 million from the City of Montreal. Montreal mayor Denis Coderre was on hand at the racetrack on Ile Sainte-Helene for the announcement on Saturday morning, alongside ministers of infrastructure and transport from the provincial and federal governments. "This is the place to be this weekend, and this is the place to be for the next 10 years," said Coderre, who worked on the deal for several months with Formula One. "The Canadian Grand Prix is part and parcel of Montreal. It is one of the big international events that builds on Montreals outstanding reputation and ranks it among the worlds great cities." As a condition to the agreements success, the City of Montreal also agreed to renovate the track, including making improvements to the team paddocks, the control tower, and the on-site medical centre, for which it will spend $25 million to $40 million. Coderre promised work would begin this fall and would be completed in time for the 2017 Canadian Grand Prix. "The importance of this showcase to Montreal is beyond measure," said the mayor. "If Montreal wants to present itself as a metropolis, and join the ranks of other great cities around the world, we have to maintain this high level of authority. Its our signature. Its part of our DNA. It is one of the big international events that builds on Montreals outstanding reputation." The deal is big. Montreals Formula One weekend attracts visitors from around the world, and repeatedly rakes in roughly $70 million to $90 million a year. It is broadcast in 150 countries and watched by approximately 300 million viewers worldwide. And its not just great for the City of Montreal, says former-F1 champiion Jacques Villeneuve.dddddddddddd. Beyond the dollars and cents, Villeneuve believes the track named after his father is simply one of the most exciting in the world from a racing standpoint. "Its great for the teams and the drivers because its a fun track," he said on Friday in anticipation of the announcement. "Its a good venue. Everybody likes coming here. They come in a few days early. Its party time all week. Theres good energy." Villeneuve ranked Montreal as one of the top-four racing destinations, together with Monaco, Melbourne, and Singapore. "Its one of the few races that look different, where theres action," he said. "If you look at the modern tracks, you could be anywhere. They all look the same. And you fall asleep on your couch. Its one of those few that you need to keep on the calendar to keep Formula One special." Circuit Gilles Villeneuve -- all 4.3 kilometres of it -- is known for its sharp hairpin turn after the pit area, early safety cars, its tight Senna curves, and the kilometre-long straightaway along the Olympic basin that allows for speeds up to 300 kilometres per hour. Red Bulls Sebastian Vettel, who finished third behind Mercedes drivers Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg in Saturdays qualifying session, says Montreal is one of his favourite races of the year. "Its one of the few places in the calendar where the whole city really parties all weekend long and embraces the Grand Prix and really appreciates it," he said. "For us, thats a great feeling, to stand on the grid and have so many fans during the drivers parade and when you race. Seeing the full grandstands makes your job extra special." "Its a great track, the fans are fantastic, so enthusiastic," added Rosberg. "Im very happy and Im sure everybody else is that well be coming here more often in the future." Notes: This year marks the 35th running of the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal. The race gets underway Sunday afternoon. a In 2009, Montreal was removed from the F1 season when the provincial government refused to pay more to renew the race. The event returned the following year. ' ' '