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COPPER MOUNTAIN, Colo. Reggie Jackson Jersey . -- Lindsey Vonn eased into her first day of downhill training, holding back on her opening run just so she could get accustomed to cruising at that rate of speed again. By her fifth and final pass at the U.S. Ski Teams speed centre on Wednesday, Vonn was charging so hard through the two-mile course that she bent over in exhaustion soon after finishing, trying to catch her breath. More and more, the four-time overall World Cup champion is feeling like her old self again as her surgically repaired right knee gets stronger. The knee felt "really good," Vonn said as she scrambled for the warmth of the lodge following the bitterly cold workout session. "Everything is good," said Vonn, whos preparing to defend her downhill title at the Sochi Olympic in three months. "I feel fresh and training hard. Everything is perfect." The 29-year-old Vonn shredded her anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments in a crash at the world championships in Schladming last February, but has progressed much faster than anticipated. She even thought about competing at the season-opening race in Soelden, Austria, on Oct. 26, only to skip it to give her knee more time to recover. Asked if there were any regrets about sitting out that competition, Vonn said: "I was definitely disappointed. Its hard to say no for me. But I felt like I needed more time." These days, all of her decisions are based on one thing: Being in the starting gate at full strength for Sochi. Vonn will make her return to the World Cup circuit in Beaver Creek later this month, with boyfriend and pro golfer Tiger Woods possibly even showing up to cheer her on. "Well see," Vonn said, laughing. For the next few weeks, Vonn will be working on her speed events. She feels like she has her super-G dialed in and now turns her full attention toward the downhill. "My skiing in general is really, really good right now, especially in super-G," said Vonn, who captured an Olympic bronze medal in the super-G in Vancouver four years ago to go with her downhill title. "I just need to get a couple of more miles on the downhill." On her first run Wednesday, Vonn was caught off guard by how much velocity she was picking up on the hill, saying it took her a moment to adjust. She quickly got the hang of it, though, cruising through the course at about 75 per cent of her typical race speed. Vonn treated the morning workout almost like she would a training session at a World Cup stop. Run after run, she pulled a journal out of her bag and jotted down notes about her equipment. Once finished, she slipped into a different set of skis and headed back up the lift for another pass. "I just felt good ... for my first day of downhill," said Vonn, who lives in nearby Vail. "Yeah, it was good." The goal now? "Get faster," she said. "I need more miles." Mike Trout Angels Jersey . PAUL, Minn. Josh Hamilton Authentic Jersey . -- Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Percy Harvin will have minor shoulder surgery soon to address a nagging injury he played with last season.You Cant Buy Class. Arsenal Forever. So reads a banner hanging from the stands at The Emirates. Although meant to be a subtle message to opponents about the professional manner in which Arsenal conducts itself, the words can be turned into a negative as a way of describing Arsene Wengers timid, and rather unproductive, approach to the transfer market in recent years. Following the sensational signing of Mesut Ozil on Monday, Arsenal ensured that banners message can no longer be misconstrued again. The word class can often be a confusing one in this sport, with the receiver of the word far too often left confused by its actual meaning from the one who delivered it. "Oh he is such a class player," is a phrase often muttered by pundits, but this really tells us nothing about how good the player they are describing really is. Does this mean he is better than most? As good as he should be? League average? When identifying a class system in soccer it is important to clarify what one actually means by such a description. Far too often in any sport, average (at best) players are called good and good players are described as great. This is why I close my eyes, grit my teeth and almost fall off my chair every time I hear a footballer described as world class. And, by the way, it happens every week. In the last week alone I have heard Paul Pogba, Yohan Cabaye, Danny Welbeck and even Maxi Urruti described as world class footballers. Of course people are entitled to their own opinion and we do not all judge talent the same, but for me there is nothing beyond world class standard for a footballer. It is the pantheon of great present day footballers, a group of players who have performed at the highest level on the biggest of stages, players who will be remembered when their careers are over as being some of the finest players to play the game. In this fantastic sport there are many average players, even more good players, some very good players and then there are great players, the world class players who would be picked by managers all over the world if they were asked to pick a World XI today. Of course there are examples of players moving up and down such class systems by virtue of form and injuries. Brazilian Kaka was once, without doubt, a world class star but hasnt been at that level for close to five years now. Wayne Rooney is another one who eighteen months ago would have been considered to be world class but, for me, is not there at the moment. However, unlike Kaka, he could one day be back to that level. It can, of course, work the other way as well. Gareth Bale, who this week went to Real Madrid for a world record fee, has only reached world class status in the last year despite many pinning this on to him the moment he dribbbled past Maicon a few times in Milan back in October 2010. Rod Carew Angels Jersey. When Bale departed the shores of the United Kingdom late on Sunday evening many described it as a blow to the Premier League to lose a legitimate top star to La Liga. Little did they know, less than 24 hours later, the league would bolster its star appeal with Arsenals signing of Ozil. Ozil arrives in North London for a reported fee that is less than half the amount Tottenham received for Bale, but the German is certainly not half the player the Welshman is. Transfers in 2013 are no longer given the time needed to be allowed to be assessed. Social media has created a giant ocean full of tweeters jumping in head first on the deal, with many today sinking to the bottom with shambolic, naïve comments on Ozils value and whether or not Arsenal actually need him. I usually prefer to give a player some time to get adjusted to their new surroundings, watch him closely in different scenarios to see how he adapts ,but in the case of Ozil to Arsenal none of that is necessary. Ozil is a world class player whose signature captured by Arsenal is enough to make Gunners think they are dreaming. They have found a true difference-maker, a star that plays at such a high level he instantly takes Arsenal fans back to the days of watching The Invincibles. Footballing intelligence, a phrase underused in the game because it cannot be graded by watching highlights or reading statistics, is what makes Ozil so special. Rarely does he misplace a pass and if he does its because he was thinking quicker than the man expected to receive the ball. He thrives being the teams central creator, where he will be able to showcase his outstanding vision in the final third and, perhaps more importantly, on counter attacks which will most certainly often go through him. The Gunners won Sundays North London derby because they were simply better in the transition game and already this season the majority of their goals have come from plays that have started deep in their own half. Ozils lateral movement will confuse many a Premier League defender and team-mates like Santi Cazorla, Jack Wilshere and Theo Walcott will all benefit from playing close to him each week. For the first time in a long time this is not a lets wait and see how good he is kind of signing for Arsenal fans. Ozil will be sensational for their team. Five years ago on the clubs official website, the top 50 Arsenal players of all time were revealed following votes by thousands of their fans. The truth is no current Arsenal player in the past five years has done enough to threaten a spot in that list. If they keep hold of Ozil for more than a year they wont just need to re-do the Top 50, they will need to change the Top 10. wholesale jerseys cheap jerseys ' ' ' |
