Das Forum » excited to play our ho

NEW ORLEANS - When DeMar DeRozan found out he had made his first NBA All-Star Game two weeks ago, receiving the news on the team plane upon landing in Denver, he wasnt surprised but instead described the feeling as a surreal one. Now - 48 hours before the main event - the Raptors leading scorer is soaking it all in, still a little starry-eyed, mindful of how far he has come and what its taken to get him to this point. "Its starting to become real now," he told TSN.ca Friday afternoon, as the All-Star participants gathered in the cavernous ballroom of a New Orleans hotel for their annual media day circus. "I think when I really go out there, put the jersey on and head to the arena Sunday evening [it will really hit me]." The 24-year-old DeRozan does not have to look very far to find mementos of his NBA journey, the closest one will be sitting adjacent to him on the Eastern Conference teams bench when the game tips off on Sunday. Heat forward and fellow All-Star reserve Chris Bosh was one of the first to pull DeRozan aside upon arrival in New Orleans this weekend. Bosh - the Raptors last representative in the All-Star Game, four years ago - left for Miami following DeRozans rookie season. He, as much as anyone, can attest to DeRozans growth as a player and the message he had for his former teammate was just that. "Im proud of you," he told the Raptors guard. "It means a lot," DeRozan said of Boshs kind words. "We were just laughing because I remember being the only rookie, 19-years-old on the Raptors, him being a star and seeing all the things he was going through when he was [in Toronto] and how he had to carry the team on his back." "After he left I had to step up and learn. Its just crazy, we were laughing at how fast time flies. It seems like yesterday I was that rookie who wouldnt shoot the ball and passed it to Chris every time." There was pressure on DeRozan to contribute right out of the gate, starting 65 games - most of them alongside Bosh - as a rookie in Toronto. He was, to his own admission, a deer in the NBA headlights. He attempted fewer than seven shots per game - which more than doubled in his second year, without Bosh in the lineup - yet averaged less than an assist in over 21 minutes a night. At the time, becoming an All-Star was not even on his radar, his focus was self-preservation and proving his worth as an NBA player. "Youre always stuck in the moment," he remembered. "You stay on course with your everyday tasks and you work towards something like this, you just work every single day. I knew if I just stay consistent, stay focused and didnt get down on myself too much I knew I had a chance." Five seasons later - one year removed from signing a long-term contract extension - his work ethic has not wavered, if anything its gotten stronger, more relentless. "Im proud of DeMar," said Terrence Ross, who has become a protégé of DeRozans. "Hes put in so much work. To see him here is like, man, I wish we could give him more for all hes done. Im just happy hes here getting a chance to prove to the world what he can do." Now that hes here, now that hes come this far he knows not to take it for granted. DeRozan - who is tied for fourth in the league in minutes played, also nursing an ankle injury - could have used the time off but youll never get him to admit it. Hes honoured to be representing the third-place, division-leading Raptors on the world stage. He was caught off guard when his agent called to deliver the leagues invitation to participate in Saturdays Skills Challenge, an event usually reserved for point guards, one thats out of his comfort zone. Originally he declined but it didnt take much prodding to convince him to change his mind. "Everybody doesnt get a chance to be a part of All-Star Weekend," he said when he was announced as a participant last week. "The big thing for me is to go out there and have fun. I think it will be cool to go out there and represent my team as much as I can and you never know, I might mess around and win it." DeRozans attitude is a refreshing change of pace from many of todays star players who decline invitations to participate in All-Star Saturday Night each year to preserve their energy, prevent injury or simply because they feel like theyve graduated from it. Sure, LeBron still wont dunk but perhaps times are changing after all. For the first time since 1988 three All-Stars will compete in the Slam Dunk contest, one of them, Damian Lillard will participate in all five major events this weekend. His rationale is on par with DeRozans. "Im happy Im really a part of the weekend," said Lillard, another first-time All-Star. "Ive gotten great reception from the fans. Fans are excited about having someone who is participating in the All-Star Game being in all the events." DeRozan is considered a long shot to defeat Lillard, the reigning champion, in Saturdays Skills Challenge but hes not putting too much pressure on himself. For him, the weekend is all about embracing a new opportunity, his first real All-Star opportunity. Outlet Adidas On Line . - Skiing far more aggressively than in her season debut a day earlier, Lindsey Vonn was in provisional 10th place after the first 45 skiers in a World Cup downhill on Saturday. Scarpe Adidas Outlet . This week, topics cover the Blue Jays rotation, the futures John Gibbons and Alex Anthopoulos, protecting pitchers and a bonus question on his predictions for the MLB playoffs. http://www.adidasscarpescontate.it/ . The Calgary Stampeders announced both moves on Wednesday. Parker played 17 regular season games with the Stampeders in 2013, setting career-highs in catches (21) and yards (217). Scarpe Adidas Scontate . On Wednesday night, they showed that stellar defence and a little small ball can get the job done too. With pinch-runner Kevin Pillar aboard after Dioner Navarro opened the bottom of the ninth with a single, Anthony Gose dropped down an excellent bunt along the first-base line. Scarpe Adidas Saldi . Directly ahead was open field, the end zone and the Seattle Seahawks place in the NFC championship game.GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Downcast before the final game of what had been a difficult road trip, the Ottawa Senators found a way to dig out a little momentum in the desert before heading home. Cory Conacher scored at 2:48 of overtime, Jason Spezza completed a natural hat trick to erase a two-goal deficit and the Senators ended a four-game losing streak with a 4-3 win over the Phoenix Coyotes on Tuesday night. "We came into this game with a little different attitude and it showed in most parts of the game," Conacher said. "Obviously, we took five to 10 minutes off and they got a couple of goals, but for the most part I think that we showed we can be a really good team." Ottawa had gone through a rough opening stretch of the season, following a win over Buffalo with a 0-2-2 run heading into Tuesdays game. The players talked after their morning skate about trying to end the road trip on a positive note and did just that, rallying from a 2-0 deficit behind Spezzas fifth career hat trick. Even after Phoenix tied it late in regulation, the Senators didnt let down, pulling out the two points on Conachers one-timer on a pass from Marc Methot in the extra period. Milan Michalek added a pair of assists for Ottawa, which will open its home season Thursday against New Jersey after earning six of a possible 12 points on the road trip. "Were excited to get home, excited to play our home opener," Spezza said. "Weve played six games now and we havent played at home. Were excited to play in front of our fans, see our families, play in our own arena." Coming off a five-game road trip, the Coyotes knew they had a tough night ahead of them, expecting to be tired and the Senators to play angry. Phoenix couldnt match Ottawas intensity early, but managed to keep it scoreless after an ugly first period and went up 2-0 early in the second on quick goals by Rob Klinkhammer and Radim Vrbata. The Coyotes responded after Spezzas hat trick, tying it on Mike Ribeiros first goal with the team, but couldnt finish it off in overtime to end a three-game winning streak. "What you try to do in a game like that, everyone in your group is contributing a little bit," Coyotes coach Dave Tippett said. "Maybe not to their normal standard, but everybodys got to contribute a little bit..ddddddddddddThe problem tonight was probably half a dozen guys didnt contribute much at all and thats where you come up a little bit short." The Senators were coming off a pair of ugly losses, allowing a combined 106 shots against San Jose and Anaheim. Goalie Craig Anderson didnt last long in the loss to the Ducks, pulled after giving up two goals on nine shots in the first four minutes. Ottawa was much better in its own end early against the Coyotes, allowing one shot in the first 14 minutes while outshooting Phoenix 12-4 in the first period. "Coming off a road trip, you always want to have a good start at home, but we were lucky to come away from that 0-0," Coyotes defenceman Michael Stone said. The Coyotes changed things in a hurry at the start of the second period. Phoenix created a couple of quick scoring chances and Klinkhammer turned one into his third goal of the season, punching in a rebound less than 90 seconds into the period. Vrbata followed with his fourth goal 1:12 later, wristing a shot from the left circle that Anderson had trouble seeing through traffic. The Senators managed to gather themselves after the flurry. Ottawa pulled within 2-1 when Spezza punched in his second goal of the season after a shot by Patrick Wiercioch slid under Smith and bounced between the goalies skates. Spezza had another easy chance on his second goal of the game early in the third period, shooting to an empty net after Smith went out of his crease to play the puck, but had to let it go after it crossed out of the trapezoid in the corner. Spezza completed the natural hat trick a few minutes later on a power play, ripping a slap shot from the right circle past Smiths stick side. The Coyotes picked up the pressure late and tied it on Ribeiros redirect, but Conacher ended it in overtime, sending the Senators home happy. "Now were heading home and hopefully we can put together some games," Spezza said. "Getting those two points gives us a lot of confidence." Notes: Milan Michalek went up 18-17-1 in his head-to-head matchup with older brother Zbynek, Phoenix defenceman, with the Senators win. ... Coyotes LW Mikkel Boedker had his 100th career point with an assist on Vrbatas goal. ... Coyotes D Derek Morris did not play due to an upper-body injury. Wholesale Hoodies NFL Shirts Outlet Jerseys NFL Wholesale Cheap NFL Jerseys Free Shipping Wholesale Jerseys Cheap Cheap NFL Jerseys China Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys ' ' '