Neuigkeiten » expense to Florida for another try with the Twins. His only

Editors note: The 2016-17 college basketball season will be the Year of the Freshmen, featuring what could be the best class weve ever seen. Over the next two weeks we will get familiar with the best of the best, examining who they are and where each of the top 10 prospects in the 2016 ESPN 100 came from.Read more: No. 10 Dukes Frank Jackson | No. 9 Kentuckys Malik Monk No. 8 Michigan States Miles Bridges | No. 7 Washingtons Markelle Fultz No. 6 Kentuckys DeAaron Fox | No. 5 Kentuckys Bam Adebayo No. 4 UCLAs Lonzo Ball | No. 3 Dukes Jayson Tatum No. 2 Kansas Josh Jackson | No. 1 Dukes Harry GilesDURHAM, N.C. -- On Nov. 15, Frank Jackson will don his No. 15 jersey for Duke University, step on the court at Madison Square Garden -- The Worlds Most Famous Arena -- and take on Kansas in a nationally televised game between two preseason top-five teams.The next day, Will Watanabe, Jacksons best friend, will board a flight to Tokyo, where hell begin his mission with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Watanabe will spend two years in Japan, not even venturing home for a long weekend.Win or lose, Jackson will return to Durham immediately following that Kansas game, where hell settle back in as one of the big men on campus. More than 34,000 fans will continue to track his moves on Instagram, while another 12,000 will read his 140-character messages on Twitter.Watanabe said he wont be able to use Instagram, Twitter or any social media during his 24 months in Japan. He wont even have a smartphone. Instead, hell share the one phone he has with his Mormon traveling companion, and theyll be able to use it only for LDS purposes. In fact, Watanabe can call home just twice a year -- Christmas and Mothers Day -- and will have access to email once a week.Naturally, you can guess who is jealous of whom.I really wish I was going too, Jackson said.Instead, Jackson has opted to make basketball his mission, and his mission basketball -- the perfect combination for a person who values his faith even more than his crossover.We dont have multiple wives, Jackson explained. We dont all have 20 kids. Were not a cult. Were Christians. Were normal. We believe in being good people.This, in some ways, is Jacksons mission: breaking down the perceptions and stereotypes that still chase Mormons to this day. With offshoot sects of their religion drawing attention thanks to reality TV shows such as Sister Wives and Big Love, LDS members are still viewed with a quizzical, if not altogether skeptical, eye. Many people either dont understand what Mormonism is or they base their opinions on misinformation.The very thought that Jackson even toyed with deferring his college basketball career for a mission might have sounded crazy.But up until last year, Jackson had every intention of going away on a mission. Peppered with questions about his future as he traveled the recruiting circuit, he remained steadfast in his desire to be a missionary. It was not because he felt he had to. He simply wanted to.Jackson essentially was reared on three principles: to compete, to succeed and to serve.We never cared what they wanted to do, Jacksons father, Al, said. But whatever it was, they were going to excel.Al lived the message he preached, setting a rather high bar for his five kids to meet. A former college basketball and baseball player at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, he graduated from the rigorous academic school and then earned a masters degree from John Hopkins. He put those degrees to use in Washington, D.C., working for 13 years as both a lobbyist and consultant, involved in providing counsel on national issues that frequently included homeland security. He turned that experience into a position as a state senator, appointed to a vacant seat in Utah in 2014.Eh, he was only a state senator, Frank joked about his dad.That is the essence of the oldest boy and second youngest of five kids in the Jackson family.Jackson and his older sister, Kayla, were the alpha dogs in the house. Each wanted things their own way and were downright competitive -- and occasionally combative in the process. Since the two left for college -- Kayla is at BYU and will marry on Dec. 22 ?during her younger brothers lone break from hoops -- Al and his wife, Juleen, cant help but notice how peaceful their home is now.But Al was no fool. He made sure his sons goal to rule the roost would go through him, and Al was ready to meet or block his son as necessary, sometimes quite literally. The two started squaring off in hoops just as soon as the boy could swish a bucket on the six-foot Fisher-Price hoop in the basement. Al never once let his son win.Id scream, Youre the biggest jerk ever. Youre an old man. You couldnt let me score a couple of times? Frank Jackson said. And he never did.Yet, almost every single time, after hed storm off forsaking his dad, Jackson would return for more, sometime within minutes.He has worn us out since he got here on this Earth, his father said, obvious pride in his voice. But he learned to be competitive.Such bullheadedness might seem mutually exclusive to a faithful life, but as fervent as Al and Juleen were about teaching their kids to work for what they wanted, they were even more devoted to their faith. Juleen was born in Sandy, Utah, and raised a Mormon. She was working as an intern in D.C. when she met Al; about three weeks into their relationship, she brought him along to church.Raised a Baptist in South Carolina and Maryland, Al was skeptical. He held plenty of his own stereotypes about the Mormon faith, tantamount among them that few members were of his race.?Instead, at an inner-city church in D.C., Al found a congregation diverse in color and socioeconomic status. Kids, many of them without fathers, loved the former basketball player, and soon Al was not only a regular at church, but he was also in charge of the youth hoops team. His faith grew in lockstep with his relationship with those boys -- many of whom he stays in touch with to this day -- and in 1992, he converted.A year later, Al and Juleen were married. When Frank was 11, the growing family moved to Utah. Surrounded by kids of his own faith, Frank grew up as they all did, dreaming about the day they would head off on their mission.?When you grow up in the LDS culture as Franklin did, going on a mission is just a natural progression, Al said. We talked to him about it since he was a baby, but we really didnt have to talk about it. Thats what all the kids did.Watanabe actually was the better athlete, at least at first. He matured faster than most of his buddies, which means he also grew taller earlier, and so when his club team played Jacksons, Watanabe usually emerged the victor. He was cocky about it too, reminding Jackson who owned the court.Genetics eventually sucked the air out of Watanabes braggadocio, and by the time the two started training at a nearby gym that concentrates on agility and speed work, Jackson left Watanabe in the dust.He could jump higher than everyone else, do all the drills faster, Watanabe said. He just stood out.One night, Jackson dropped 30 points in a high school game as a freshman, and his father thought perhaps those Fisher-Price throwdowns had their merit. BYU thought the same. When Cougars coach Dave Rose offered Jackson a scholarship in 2013, the freshman quickly accepted.The Provo school seemed ideal, with a very good basketball program and one that understood his Mormon faith. Deferring entry to BYU for a mission would be more the norm, not the exception there. But one year later, as Jackson worked his way up the recruiting ladder, he also worked up the courage to get out of his commitment.He kept the Cougars in his final list but also added Utah, Stanford and Duke.To the Blue Devils, who struggled without a true point guard for much of last season, Jackson was a prize worth fighting for. By the end of his senior season, he ranked No. 10 in RecruitingNations ESPN 100. Skeptics questioned just how good a player out of the less fertile Utah recruiting bed could be, but scouts loved his speed, playmaking and especially that alpha-dog competitiveness.The way Al, who knows a thing or two about excellence, figured it, there arent a whole lot of people in the world who can claim to be among the very best in their fields. Mike Krzyzewski, Al reasoned, can. Saying yes to Duke, then, was easy.Saying no to a mission? That was altogether different.It was a really hard decision, Frank Jackson said. Very hard.There were no ultimatums and no pressure. Everyone -- coaches, parents, friends -- said they would honor whatever decision he made.But how do you decide between a lifelong dream and a lifelong dream?Jackson opted not to. He decided he could do both.The purpose of an LDS mission is not simply to proselytize but also to live by example. Jackson realized that while he wouldnt?immerse himself as Watanabe and his other friends will, he would have a pulpit and a platform that they dont have. Every interview, every television appearance offers a chance to explain what being a Mormon is -- and more, its a way to demystify the religion.Im in the spotlight, Jackson said. Everyone is watching us. I can use that as a chance to be a light in the world, in a sense, to show people how I live and what I believe.As it turns out, Jackson can do a little old-fashioned missionary work too. He already has connected with people serving their missions in the Raleigh-Durham area and his semi-fame has helped them speak to people who otherwise might have declined.Jackson also has found a church and is quickly becoming an active member of the congregation.Its in Chapel Hill.They know Im a Duke player, but so far so good, Jackson said. Well see what happens when we play Carolina.Blue Devils and Tar Heels coexisting? That certainly has to qualify as good missionary work. Jesus Molina Mexico Jersey . "Were just throwing s--- at the wall hoping something sticks," said Tortorella about the possible line combinations for Fridays game against Columbus. The Canucks have lost five straight games and six of their last seven, leaving them in a logjam in the Pacific Division, currently sitting fifth - good for ninth in the Western Conference. Paul Aguilar Mexico Jersey .In my heart and mind Im competing for India, luge competitor Shiva Keshavan told The Associated Press in an email interview. Every day Im flooded with messages from Indians all over the world telling me they are supporting me. http://www.nationalsoccermexico.com/jorge-torres-mexico-jersey/ . The mixed zone is not a place to make friends. Rodolfo Pizarro Mexico Jersey . Zvonareva, who won the tournament in 2009 and 10, couldnt handle her opponents big groundstrokes in only her third event back after 17 months out with a shoulder injury. Zvonareva made her comeback in January in Shenzhen and played in the Australian Open but lost her first matches at both tournaments. Rodolfo Pizarro Jersey .com) - The Edmonton Oilers and Vancouver Canucks both take aim at their first wins of the season on Saturday, as the Canucks open their home slate at Rogers Arena.KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Canadian left-hander Andrew Albers still remembers exactly what he was thinking about as he drove the 40 hours from Arizona to Florida for one last chance at being a big league ballplayer. "I just wanted a shot," he said. The North Battleford, Sask., native made the most of his tryout with the Minnesota Twins that day two years ago, earning a minor league contract. On Tuesday night, Albers got an even bigger shot at realizing his dreams when he made his major league debut against the Kansas City Royals. Just like he did back then, Albers made the most of it. He allowed four hits while pitching into the ninth inning, leading the Twins to a 7-0 victory at Kauffman Stadium. "Its hard to put into words, but it was special to go out and have that kind of performance in your debut," he said. "Unfortunately, its probably not going to get much better from there." The first big leaguer from Saskatchewan in more than 20 years, Albers only allowed a collection of singles to one of the hottest teams in baseball, and at one point retired 15 straight. He ended up two outs shy of his third straight complete game dating back to his days with Triple-A Rochester, and the first shutout in a big league debut since Detroits Andy Van Hekken did it in 2002. Casey Fien wound up finishing it up when Albers began to labour in the ninth inning. "I didnt want to go out there and take him out," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said, "but he was completely out of gas there at the end. Wow that was fun to watch." The Twins took most of the pressure off Albers with a big night at the plate. Brian Dozier homered and drove in three runs, and Justin Morneau of New Westminster, B.C., and Chris Colabello also went deep. All that damage came against Shields (6-8), who even balked in a run during his worst start in nearly two years. The former All-Star gave up three runs in the first inning and never settled down the rest of the evening, labouring through six innings on an uncomfortably humid night. "Sometimes this can happen," Shields said, "but Ive got to do a better job." The Twins hammered Shields right from the start. Doziers homer was the first leadoff shot for Minnesota since Denard Span went deep against the Phillies on June 12, 2012. Jamey Carroll promptly worked a walk and Morneau, who came into the game hitting .371 against Shields, added a two-run shot later in the first to stake the Twins to a 3-0 lead. Shields continued to struggle with his command in the second inning, walkiing Chris Herrmann to lead it off and then plunking Clete Thomas.dddddddddddd Doug Bernier laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt to move both runners up, and Herrmann scored on Doziers sacrifice fly. Colabello hit his third homer of the year in the fourth, and then plunged Shields into more trouble with a leadoff single in the sixth. Herrmann added a single to put runners on the corners, and a balk by Shields on a pickoff move to third base brought in another run. Dozier drove in his third run of the game with a single to make it 7-0. It was the first time Shields allowed at least seven runs since Aug. 21, 2011, when he was still with Tampa Bay. The three homers he allowed were the most since June 2 of the same year. "He just had trouble getting the ball down," Royals manager Ned Yost said. "Command was the issue most of the night for him. After the second inning it got a little better." Albers couldnt have gotten a whole lot better. The first big leaguer from Saskatchewan since 1991, when Terry Puhl retired, Albers showed promise when he was drafted by the Padres in 2008. But he needed Tommy John surgery the next year and was released before showing what he could do with a rebuilt elbow, finally ending up with the Quebec Capitales of the Can-Am League when he was healthy enough to pitch again. Albers failed to impress in a pair of big league tryouts in Arizona in 2011, but he was willing to drive at his own expense to Florida for another try with the Twins. His only other option was to head home to North Battleford and get on with life, and Albers showed just enough to earn himself a job. "For a guy whos not a prototypical prospect, for them to stick with me the way they have, its pretty special," said Albers, who was 11-5 with a 2.86 ERA at Rochester before getting called upon to replace fellow Canadian Scott Diamond in the Twins rotation. "You dream about this," he said, "but you never know if itll actually happen." Notes: The Royals will recall LHP Danny Duffy from Triple-A Omaha to start Wednesday night against the Twins Samuel Deduno. It will be Duffys first big league start since May 2012 after having Tommy John surgery. ... Twins 3B Trevor Plouffe was held out of the lineup as a precaution after tumbling head-first into the dugout to catch a foul ball Monday. ... Twins SS Pedro Florimon (sore left wrist) took BP and could start Wednesday. ... Twins OF Darin Mastrioianni (left ankle stress reaction) left to begin a minor league rehab assignment with Triple-A Rochester. ' ' '