Neues » have helped me along the way

ATLANTA -- Portland coach Terry Stotts and his staff were having an informal meeting in the hallway outside their locker room when LaMarcus Aldridge returned from a postgame TV interview. The assistants greeted Aldridge with compliments and high fives. Stotts had only one word for his high-scoring forward: "Thanks." Aldridge had 25 points and 16 rebounds in his return after missing seven games with a lower back contusion, and the Trail Blazers beat the Atlanta Hawks 100-85 on Thursday night to end a three-game losing streak. "It felt good to be back," Aldridge said. "I didnt feel 100 per cent but I did what I could do and luckily I made shots." Damian Lillard added 21 points for the Trail Blazers, who had lost seven of 10 and were in danger of falling out of the fifth spot in the Western Conference playoff standings. Lillard said Aldridge, who posted his team-leading 37th double-double of the season, made the difference. "Were a whole different team with him," Lillard said. "Hes our best player. He brings balance to our team. We had an inside presence and we were able to play inside-out, like we have all year. I just think with him out there we just got more quality shots. "Having him back allows everybody to fall into place. The game just comes easier for everybody." Aldridge said the win was "very important, just for our mental psyche, our confidence ... the standings." The Hawks have lost five straight. They lead the Knicks by only 1 1/2 games in the race for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Jeff Teague, who was scoreless in Wednesday nights loss at Minnesota, led the Hawks with 22 points. Lou Williams had 16 points, including 13 in the final period when Atlanta closed the deficit to six points. Atlantas Kyle Korver missed his fifth straight game because of back spasms and centre Pero Antic sat out after he twisted his right ankle at Minnesota. The Trail Blazers led 53-37 at halftime. The Hawks narrowly avoided their season low for points in the opening half. Atlanta opened the second half with a 15-5 run, capped by DeMarre Carrolls 3-pointer, to trim the lead to 58-52. Williams had eight points in Atlantas 10-0 run that again cut Portlands lead to six points at 80-74. A three-point play by Aldridge pushed the lead back to double digits at 87-76. Korver, the 3-point specialist, has not played since March 18, when Atlanta beat Toronto for its fifth straight win. The Hawks have not won since losing Korver. Its only the latest in a string of ugly losing streaks for Atlanta the last two months. Atlanta has lost 19 of 25 and had streaks of eight and six straight losses in that span before the latest slump. Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer said "there were stretches where we really competed" against the Trail Blazers. "We cut some leads and got it to six at one point," Budenholzer said. "The whole group, in trying times and trying circumstances, has given a lot. Jeff Teagues energy throughout the game allowed us to be close. Were finding ourselves. We need to be disciplined and focused. In those stretches where were not, it can hurt us and it can bite us." Portland closed each of the first three periods with 3-pointers -- by Mo Williams, Wesley Matthews and Lillard. Officials needed a review to confirm there was time remaining in the first half when Matthews launched his long 3. Nicolas Batum had 12 points for Portland and Robin Lopez and Matthews each had 11. Mo Williams had 11 assists and eight points. NOTES: The Trail Blazers, who beat Atlanta 102-78 in Portland on March 5, won their first season series over the Hawks since the 2007-08 season. ... Seattle Seahawks QB Russell Wilson attended the game. ... Elton Brand had 11 points and 12 rebounds as the fill-in starter for Antic... The Hawks season low for first-half points was 34 against San Antonio on Jan. 24. ... The Hawks are 10-20 against the Western Conference. Nat Moore Dolphins Jersey . Mitchell first announced on Twitter that he has signed with the Steelers and his agent Brian Hamilton confirmed the signing to The Associated Press. Financial terms were not released. The Steelers have not announced the addition of Mitchell. Christian Wilkins Dolphins Jersey .com) - The Tennessee Titans agreed to terms with running back Jackie Battle on a one-year contract Friday. http://www.dolphinsrookiestore.com/Dolph...Clayton-Jersey/. Chief prosecutor Gerrie Nel also accused Pistorius of tailoring his testimony to fit the evidence at the scene. Pistorius denied the accusations. Nel alleged that the Olympic runner changed his aim with his 9 mm pistol to ensure that he hit Steenkamp as she fell back against a magazine rack in a toilet cubicle. Dan Marino Dolphins Jersey . The White Sox said Wednesday they acquired left-handed pitching prospect Sean Bierman and infielder Ben Kline, who both played at Class A this season. The White Sox dealt Crain to Tampa Bay on July 29. Christian Wilkins Womens Jersey .com) - The Chicago White Sox have officially announced that the club has agreed to terms with utilityman Emilio Bonifacio on a one-year, $4 million contract that includes a team option for the 2016 season.On April 6, 1996, MLS was born. A crowd of 31,683 saw San Jose Clash beat DC United 1-0 thanks to Eric Wynaldas 88th-minute goal, and much has changed two decades on. One man in the sell-out Spartan Stadium crowd that day was Chris Wondolowski, current San Jose Earthquakes captain, all-time top scorer and USA international. The occasion made a clear impression on the 13-year-old, who is now fifth in the all-time MLS scorers list with 112 goals, 32 behind leader Landon Donovan. He played in the 20th anniversary match on Saturday evening, a 1-1 draw against DC United at the Earthquakes new Avaya Stadium courtesy of another 88th-minute San Jose goal, in front of their 18th straight sell-out crowd. Wondolowski also has 31 caps for the USA national team The Earthquakes epitomise the rise of MLS in recent years. Their 29 per cent rise in attendances from 2014 to 2015, helped by their own exclusive stadium, aided the leagues overall 12.5 per cent rise, the largest in its history.The total MLS gate has more than doubled to 7.3m since David Beckham first arrived at LA Galaxy in 2007, and on the pitch, the product has matched the growth.The teams are more international than ever, the players arrive from overseas younger, youth academies are developing and the competitiveness remains. Wondolowski, now 33, has seen it all since making his debut in 2005.The league just keeps growing exponentially, its amazing to see the growth and development of each team and each player, Wondolowski told Sky Sports. The teams are so deep, the product out there just continues to grow. San Jose Clashs Eric Wynalda celebrates scoring the first MLS goal back in 1996 The league reaches so far globally now, with Sky Sports as well, its all over the world. Its a huge thing, and the players were bringing in too match that.Passionate and organised supporters groups have added colour to what was previously a seen as merely a spectator sport in the US, and the league sits ninth in average attendance figures across world league football, ahead of Eredivisie, the Championship and both the Argentine and Brazilian top flights.Back in 1996, it was the noise and camaraderie that struck a chord with Wondolowski.It was fun to watch it, it was just loud, he recalls. I remember being excited for professional soccer in the area, and there was still the buzz of the 1994 World Cup.Playing soccer is what we strived for. I remember going to Grizzlies (indoor soccer) games before that, and I thought it was a cool thing to have professional soccer. The 33-year-old attended the first MLS game, and has 114 goals in the competition It was crazy, hectic. We got there early for tailgate, and there was just people everywhere. I think its crazy to see where it has gone. It has continued to take these strides. Its amazing.Its great to have a stadium to call our own, for the fans, the team and the community. It gives us a sense of identity, and I love playing there. The fans drive us through the 90 minutes, its great to see.Two years after the World Cup in 1994, US soccer fans had an appetite for a major professional league, cue the birth of MLS.Jump forward to nnow, and promising national team performances both in the womens and mens game means the hunger for soccer is arguably at an all-time high, and this summers US-hosted Copa America tournament gives the game another chance to reinforce its ever-growing status in American sport.dddddddddddd Jurgen Klinsmanns USA side are in transition after the 2014 World Cup Jurgen Klinsmanns national side have been in and out of form since exiting the World Cup at the last-16 stage in 2014, but Wondolowski is excited for the summer festival of football, and says the concern surrounding the US side is solely from outside the camp.The Copa America is a great tool to have to show the fans some great soccer, not only from the US team but to have the South American players, their teams and some of the best players in the world, to see them up close. We dont always get that opportunity here.Hopefully people can take advantage of it because its a special thing that doesnt happen often.Any time you are with the national team you have to play at a high level, even the training is very demanding. I always try to play to the best of my ability because you want to be out there. You take every practice and every shot seriously. USA have been in and out of form since the World Cup in 2014 Its always a transition period (in national team football), and in any cycle there are always ups and downs, its how you deal with it.Klinsmanns transition period since Brazil has been rocky; wins against Germany, Mexico and the Netherlands have been levelled out by defeats against Jamaica, Panama and Guatemala.They are close to qualifying for Russia 2018, but the next challenge will be to get through a less than desirable Copa America group against Colombia, Costa Rica and Paraguay.Theres always going to be panic moments, but I dont think the team is panicking, and I know for sure the coach isnt, and to a player everyone believes in the system and believes in each other. Attendances are up in MLS, helped by the passionate and organised supporters groups Its kind of funny to see everybody around it very nervous and very critical. But its part of it, and its how you rebound from it that makes the team.For Wondolowski personally, Donovans record is not yet in his sights. Three goals in four appearances this season edges him closer, and shows the 33-year-olds touch in front of goal remains.Right now I cant reach it, I cant reach it in a game, I probably cant reach it in a year, so right now its not even a thought.I enjoy coming out here every day, I really do, I look forward to coming to training and I enjoy the game. Its what drives me.It also helps to have great team-mates around me who have helped me along the way, again, thats the joy of it, and it keeps me going.Watch live MLS this weekend on Sky Sports, including New York Red Bulls v Sporting Kansas City, NYCFC v Chicago Fire and LA Galaxy v Portland Timbers. Also See: 10 MLS questions for Lloyd Sam Ronaldinho set for MLS or China MLS round-up Live MLS on Sky ' ' '