strong to play for Vancouver,

CONCORD, N.C. -- Jimmie Johnson is hoping hes on the verge of turning around a disappointing season. The six-time Sprint Cup champion won the pole Thursday night for the Coca-Cola 600, turning a lap at 194.911 mph at Charlotte Motor Speedway in the third round of NASCARs knockout qualifying format. It was the first pole of the year for Johnson, who has yet to win a race this season. "It certainly shows that were going to be strong this weekend," Johnson said. "I dont know that it sends the same message that winning two or three races will send. But I would love to rattle off two or three wins and have people fear the No. 48 as they have in the past. I dont think a pole position does that to the garage area, but you have to start somewhere." Brad Keselowski qualified second and will start on the front row for the seventh time this season. Kasey Kahne was third, followed by Danica Patrick and Clint Bowyer. Sprint Cup points leader Jeff Gordons struggles in practice runs carried over to qualifying. He didnt make it out of the first round of qualifying and will start 27th -- one spot behind last weeks All-Star race winner, Jamie McMurray. Johnson has won six Sprint Cup races at the Charlotte, twice from the pole. He said he isnt concerned that he hasnt won a race this season, which would secure a spot in the Chase for the Cup. What has bothered him is the lack of consistency. "We have been close to some wins and been pathetic at other tracks," Johnson said. Johnson was asked if he agrees with the notion that some detractors have enjoyed the fact that he hasnt won yet. "I think there are some people getting satisfaction out of it," Johnson said. "But if I win, I win too much. If I dont win, they say you arent winning enough. So it doesnt matter what I do, I cant win." Johnson was a non-factor in the All-Star race last week at the track in his bid for a three-peat. He said his crew changed the setup in his car this past week, borrowing some advice from teammate Kasey Kahne. "We learned some things from last week," Johnson said. Keselowski said he was bummed he got beat out for the pole -- again. It was the sixth time this season he has qualified second. "Its like kissing your sister," Keselowski said. Patrick will start in the top 10 for the third straight week. She was fast throughout the qualifying session with the top lap in the second round of 194.595. But her lap in third round was more than one second slower. Joey Logano, who is off to the best start of his young career with two wins this season, will start eighth and will be considered one of the favourites on Sunday. Logano has already won twice this season and has historically run well at Charlotte with three top-five and six top-10 finishes in 10 career Cup starts at Charlotte. Track temperatures reached 106 degrees at the start of qualifying, but cooled significantly as the sun set behind the grandstand and the speeds picked up dramatically. Drivers had problems in the first two turns early in qualifying complaining their cars were tight, and had to adjust on the clock. Under the new format all cars are allowed 25 minutes to qualify with the top 24 based advancing to 10-minute session in round two. From that group, the top 12 advanced to the final, five-minute round. "The great thing about the new qualifying sessions is there are multiple opportunities to get it right and that is a good thing," Keselowski said. "That is why it is so much fun." Nike Roshe Flyknit Herr . -- Police say a man with a handgun approached baseball great Cal Ripkens mother in a bank parking lot in Maryland and demanded her car, but she activated a key alarm and he left. Nike Roshe One Print . 24 - Sunday, Nov. 30. The honor is the first of Alexanders career. Alexander (6-8, 220, West Virginia) averaged 26.7 points on 57 percent shooting from the floor (35-of-62) to go with 9. http://www.rosheonedam.net/nike-roshe-one-flyknit/nike-roshe-flyknit-dam.html . LOUIS -- Tony La Russa will become the second retired manager to lead an all-star team next summer, joining Hall of Famer John McGraw. Nike Roshe One Flyknit Sneakers . -- Frederik Gauthier scored twice and tacked on an assist as the Rimouski Oceanic extended their win streak to 11 games by defeating the visiting Rouyn-Noranda Huskies 5-2 on Saturday in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action. Nike Roshe One Herr . The 114th-ranked Lorenzi broke Monacos serve to go up 4-3 in the decisive set and held on to close the match in 2 hours, 34 minutes at the Ibirapuera Arena. The 32-year-old Italian squandered a match point before losing the second set, but was in control in the third to pick up the win in the ATP 250 tournament in South Americas biggest city.VANCOUVER - Jay DeMerit got the deal he wanted Monday and provided the troubled Vancouver Whitecaps with some stability at the same time. The teams captain signed a new contract after protracted negotiations. The deal eased some of the pressure on the Whitecaps caused by MLSs 2013 top scorer Camilos departure to a Mexican team and uncertainty surrounding the availability of 2014 first-round draft choice Andre Lewis. "Negotiations are never easy," said DeMerit. "Im just happy that we got (the deal) done." DeMerit who has made a strong recovery after missing most of last season with a torn Achilles tendon suffered in the first game, will suit up for the fourth year of Vancouvers MLS existence. The 34-year-olds re-signing was anticipated after he and the club expressed a desire to extend his contract late last season, but negotiations took longer than he expected. Terms of the contract were not disclosed, but DeMerit indicated it does not extend beyond one year. "Ultimately, for me, Im at an age where I have to go one year at a time," said DeMerit. "At this stage of my career, there is no such thing as a long-term deal. There are only short-term deals." DeMerit, who joined Vancouver after playing in England and has been the Whitecaps captain since their MLS inception, said he had to confirm that he was "still here because of the right reasons." DeMerits reasons included a desire to remain in the Vancouver area. He is married to retired Canadian Olympic snowboard cross gold medallist Ashleigh McIvor and plans to live in the region well beyond his playing days. "What this does is commit me to the future of being in B.C., whether its on the playing field or off the playing field," he said. "I came here for a reason three years ago, and that was to help develop soccer in North America and help develop the Vancouver Whitecaps as an MLS franchise. "What this contract does is solidify that for the future." He also felt it was important to give the Caps some stability after Camilos departure. The Brazilian striker bolted the team to train with Queretaro of Mexicos top league and then angered team officials by donning his new squads jersey before a transfer deal was completed last week. "As the leader for (our) club, I have to provide stability," he said. "Thats part of my role, definitely, in these types of situations." DeMerit has often praised Camilo for his unique shooting and scoring abilities. But the captain contended that Camilos absence will not affect the Whitecaps, who missed the playoffs in 2013 even though the former Vancouver star scored 22 goals. "Im sure the message from day one will be: Everyone who is here is here and the past is the past," said DeMerit. "What you have to consider is thhat were all in this together.dddddddddddd And, when you have that, then you realize that certain players arent here anymore and you dont dwell on those things anymore, and the easier it is to move forward. "And what we have to do here is move forward." But the Caps still must address the nagging question of which newcomers will move the club ahead. In contrast to Toronto FC, the Whitecaps have not made any star acquisitions since Carl Robinson, who has never been a head coach before, replaced the fired Martin Rennie. "Theres no secret that we still need to make a few more additions that will help the character of this club and help the experience of this club," said DeMerit. "But I think that the nucleus is there (in) both older and younger players that are here and have already contributed. Now, its just (about) making sure that we add to that and all the guys contribute in their own way and make sure that we can have a successful season." DeMerits primary personal goal is to remain healthy for the entire season after he was injured while going up for a header early in the 2013 season opener against Toronto FC. Robinson said the central defenders ability to shine after he recovered and became "a rock again" late in the campaign is not a concern. "I think (his comeback) shows a little bit about his comport," said Robinson. "Everybody wrote him off — and maybe me included — last year because he had an horrific injury on the first day of the season." Robinson said DeMerits re-signing will help the team go in "the right direction" and deal with the uncertainty that has arisen in wake of Camilos departure and confusion about whether Lewis, a 19-year-old Jamaican who was chosen seventh overall in the MLS SuperDraft, will play in MLS this year. "We want players that want to be at the club," said Robinson. "(DeMerit) wants to be at the club and we want (him) be at the club, and thats why he continues to be at the club. For growth in any type of club, you need stability, and (DeMerit) is part of that stability." Lewis, who has expressed a strong to play for Vancouver, has already signed with the lower-tier New York Cosmos. But Robinson said he expects that the midfielder will be at Vancouvers upcoming training camp. "I think theres an agreement between Major League Soccer and the Cosmos (for Lewis to join the Whitecaps)," said Robinson. "Were looking forward to having him in camp once his visa arrives." Notes: Robinson said central defender Andy OBrien has overcome injuries that kept him out of the lineup for much of last season and will be ready for training camp. … Players will undergo physicals Saturday and begin the on-field portion of their training camp Monday. cheap nfl jerseys cheap jerseys cheap jerseys cheap jerseys cheap nfl jerseys wholesale jerseys ' ' '