~Tritt herein~ » the 2014 NBA DRAFT, this TSN Original feature c

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - In the closing laps at Martinsville Speedway, Jeff Gordon could see Dale Earnhardt Jr. ahead of him with enough time to formulate a plan on how to handle his teammate if Gordon could catch him.Earnhardt had been eliminated from the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship field one week earlier and was racing only for a trophy. Gordon, still eligible to win the title, wanted to win last week to grab the automatic berth into the final round of NASCARs playoffs.So what would have happened?I would have moved him for sure. Theres no doubt in my mind, Gordon said after finishing second to Earnhardt at Martinsville. Everybody who is out there racing has to weigh risk versus reward. For me, to win this race, its worth taking a lot of risk, even if you upset your teammate.I think everybody out there thats not in the Chase understands that if that guy can win that race and put himself in Homestead for the championship, you can pretty much guarantee that youre going to get the bumper or get slammed or something.Well, Gordon got slammed on Sunday at Texas Motor Speedway and he didnt like it one bit. He confronted Brad Keselowski on pit road following the race, and an exchange of words escalated quickly — with an assist from Kevin Harvick — into a full-blown melee between the crews.Both champions were left bloodied — Gordons lip and Keselowski spitting blood after taking a shot to the cheek — even though neither driver appeared to throw a punch or get close enough to each other to actually fight.But for the second time in four races, Keselowski was attacked in a post-race fracas because his aggressive driving upset someone. It happened at Charlotte last month when Denny Hamlin had to be restrained from going after him, then Matt Kenseth jumped him from behind before he was quickly pulled away.This time, Gordon was primed for a smack-down. He called his shot on his team radio when he said he was going to beat up Keselowski, who on a restart during an overtime two-lap sprint to the finish tried to wedge his car in between Gordon and teammate Jimmie Johnson to grab the lead.There were two laps left at the time and Keselowski, in a hole in the Chase standings, needed that win to grab one of the four spots in the Nov. 16 championship finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. He saw a gap and went for it, just as any driver with his season on the line should have done. Gordon himself said just seven days earlier everyone should expect Chase drivers to be aggressive.The problem was that Keselowski and Gordon made contact, causing Gordon to spin after his tire went flat. Racing for a win and a spot at Homestead moments earlier, he wound up finishing 29th and is fourth in the eight-driver Chase field.Its understandable that Gordon was angry. But its unfair to hold Keselowski to a different standard, even if his body of work has drawn the ire of the majority of the garage.Keselowski had as much on the line as Gordon, and it was a go-for-broke, risk versus reward moment where Keselowski let it all hang out.Brad Keselowski is a champion who competes to win in every race, which is what I expect of him, team owner Roger Penske said in a statement Monday. While the actions by others following the race in Texas were unfortunate, Brad has my 100 per cent support as we now move on to Phoenix for the next stage of the NASCAR championship.The late Formula One champion Ayrton Senna said repeatedly throughout his career that drivers always compete to win. If you no longer go for a gap that exists, you are no longer a racing driver because we are competing, we are competing to win, he said in 1990.Senna and so many other greats raced under those standards. Gordon himself said just a week ago that aggression is warranted at this stage of the season. Why is not OK for Keselowski to do the same?Some other elements of the Sunday night fight that should be addressed:HARVICK THE PUPPET MASTER: The pit road fight might never have happened had Harvick not rushed in from behind the scrum and shoved Keselowski in the back toward the tempest. Fists were flying seconds later, and Harvick backed his way out and returned to a bystander role.Harvick is the quintessential Machiavellian character in NASCAR. Hes always loved stirring the pot and pulling the strings from behind the curtain. Its part of his game, and climbing into the head of his competitors gives Harvick an edge.He knew exactly what he was doing with that shove: Also in a hole in the Chase, Harvick benefits from all the other title contenders being locked into a drama that disrupts their focus as they head this week to Phoenix.Harvick has won three of the last four races at Phoenix and should be the favourite Sunday. But Gordon was in another league when Hendrick Motorsports tested at Phoenix last month, and Keselowski has already proved once in this Chase (at Talladega) that he can produce in must-win races.Unless NASCAR takes issue with Harvicks role as instigator in this brawl, he walks away scot-free as two of his top rivals find themselves in an uncomfortable spotlight.___CREW MEMBERS: Harvick contends he was simply telling Keselowski to handle his business after the on-track incident with Gordon, and theres been fan backlash that Keselowski was hiding behind his crew members when Gordon approached.The reality is, Gordon and Keselowski were never getting close to each other to have a reasonable discussion or even a fight. Theres always a cavalry of adrenaline-fueled crew members who jump into these post-race confrontations, and Sunday nights was a Hendrick Motorsports schoolyard brawl. Punches were thrown from every direction and multiple video angles show Keselowski took at least one to the face and one to the back of the head.The most egregious action came from a member of Kasey Kahnes crew who rushed in from behind and threw haymakers in defence of Hendrick driver Gordon, who at one time grabbed at Keselowskis firesuit but was quickly pulled away.NASCAR is reviewing the entire matter, and Hendrick Motorsports said Monday it was also doing an internal review. Kenseth dodged a penalty after Charlotte because he didnt throw a punch at Keselowski, and NASCAR doesnt have much of a reason to punish Gordon or Keselowski.But the goonlike behaviour from the crews must sternly be addressed — and halted. The drivers started this on the track and had the right to end it off of it without the assistance of others. J.J. Watt Womens Jersey . The Americans, skipped by John Shuster, seized the advantage in the eighth end by scoring five points for a 7-3 lead. The Czechs pulled two back in the ninth, but Shusters team of third Jeff Isaacson, second Jared Zezel and lead John Landsteiner ended with another point to secure the last Olympic berth on offer. Kahale Warring Texans Jersey . The group of Slava Fetisov, Igor Larionov, Vladimir Konstantinov, Sergei Fedorov, & Slava Kozlov were a dominant force for The Wings at one point in the 90s. http://www.texansrookiestore.com/Texans-Jj-Watt-Jersey/. The South Africa international, who rejoined the club last month on loan from Tottenham, opened the scoring in the sixth minute with a powerful shot into the roof of the net. Kahale Warring Womens Jersey . -- During a players meeting following the All-Star break, Jermaine ONeal promised his teammates to play the rest of the regular season like he would never play again -- because he very well might not. Tytus Howard Texans Jersey . Called on from the college ranks to replace Andy Reid, Kelly implemented a whole new atmosphere in the City of Brotherly Love and now has the Eagles in the playoffs for the first time since 2010.TORONTO - Its a week that changes the lives of the top prospects in basketball and hockey. As future stars prepare to make the big leap to the professional ranks, TSNs Draft Week delivers wall-to-wall coverage of both the NHL and NBA Entry Drafts, highlighted by exclusive live coverage of both events. The 2014 NBA DRAFT airs on Thursday, June 26 at 7 p.m. ET on TSN (live coverage moves to TSN2 at 8 p.m. ET), while the 2014 NHL DRAFT airs Friday, June 27 at 7 p.m. ET on TSN. TSNs exclusive live coverage of the 2014 NBA DRAFT and 2014 NHL DRAFT is available for live streaming and on-demand viewing to TSN subscribers through TSN GO. TSNs Draft Week puts the spotlight on CHL standouts Aaron Ekblad, Sam Reinhart, Sam Bennett, and Leon Draisaitl, as well as Canadian college hoops phenoms Andrew Wiggins, Tyler Ennis, and Nik Stauskas. Highlights of TSNs Draft Week coverage are listed below (visit TSN.ca for more details). 2014 NBA DRAFT on TSN - On-site at Barclays Center in Brooklyn: TSN complements its exclusive live coverage with Canadian news updates throughout the evening, with Kate Beirness joined by analyst Leo Rautins, with breaking news updates from reporter Matthew Scianitti. - On-site at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto: TSN basketball analyst Jack Armstrong covers the Toronto Raptors on draft night with live reports from the ACC, including news updates and interviews with Raptors team officials. Specials: - THE CANADIAN REVOLUTION: airing as part of SPORTCENTRE the evening of the 2014 NBA DRAFT, this TSN Original feature chronicles the rise of this years rich collection of Canadian talent, and includes interviews with Canadian prospects Wiggins, Ennis, and Stauskas.- CABBIE PRESENTS: Cabral "Cabbie" Richards is on-site at the Barclays Center to conduct interviews with this years draftees, highlighted by one-on-ones with Wiggins and Ennis, who discuss what the NBA Draft means to them.- DAVE NAYLOR INTERVIEWS VINCE CARTER: The TSN Radio host sits down with the Toronto Raptors legend to discuss the growth of basketball north of the border since Carter made his debut with the team in 1998.- BRUCE ARTHUR ON BASKETBALL IN CANADA: The Toronto Star columnist and panelist on TSNs THE REPORTERS WITH DAVE HODGE contributes his perspective on the historic nature of the 2014 NBA DRAFT. 2014 NHL DRAFT on TSN - On-site at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia: - Host James Duthie is on the Draft stage interviewing GMs and players following their selection. - Gord Miller hosts TSNs Draft Panel featuring Hockey Insider Bob McKenzie, TSN Director of Scouting Craig Button and analyst Pierre McGuire. - Hockey Insider Darren Dreger gives the latest on breaking trades from the Draft floorr while reporter Ryan Rishaug follows the prospects as they wait to hear their names called.dddddddddddd All TSN Radio stations are live and on location in Philadelphia for the 2014 NHL DRAFT, delivering live coverage and a focus on their local market. In addition, NBC Sports Network airs TSNs 2014 NHL DRAFT coverage in the United States. French-language coverage of the 2014 NHL DRAFT is available on RDS. Specials: - BOB MCKENZIES DRAFT RANKING SPECIAL (Monday, June 23 at 7:30 p.m. ET on TSN): Alongside host James Duthie, Draft Expert Bob McKenzie releases his final list of the consensus Top 30 ranked players heading into the NHL Draft. - NHL ON TSN: MOCK DRAFT (Tuesday, June 24 at 7:30 p.m. ET on TSN): TSN Director of Scouting Craig Button plays the role of the NHLs 30 General Managers, completing a mock draft of the first round, making all 30 picks. - NHL ON TSN COUNTDOWN TO THE NHL DRAFT (Thursday, June 26 at 7:30 p.m. ET on TSN2): James Duthie hosts this 30-minute countdown special live from the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, and is joined by Draft Expert Bob McKenzie, TSN Director of Scouting Craig Button, Hockey Insider Darren Dreger, and reporter Ryan Rishaug. - PLAYING TO LOSE (Tuesday, June 24 at 8 p.m. ET on TSN): Fronted by Michael Farber, this 30-minute TSN Original documentary revisits the events leading up to the 1984 NHL Draft, in which the Pittsburgh Penguins altered the course of their franchise by securing the #1 overall pick and the right to select Mario Lemieux – but did they deliberately lose to secure the top pick? TSN Digital TSN Digital platforms complement the networks live Draft Week coverage with the highlights listed below. NBA Draft: - A complete mock draft from TSN Radios 1 On 1 basketball experts Will Strickland and Duane Watson- Blog posts and podcasts from the 1 On 1 hosts focusing on the biggest storylines leading up to draft day- Complete player profiles of key Canadian prospects- Exclusive Draft webisodes from host Kate Beirness and analyst Leo Rautins- Comprehensive draft news, including team reports and prospect profiles- Online exclusive videos featuring news, features, and highlights, as well as NBA Combine footage NHL Draft: - Extensive prospect ranking lists from both Bob McKenzie and Craig Button, as well as from NHL Central Scouting and International Scouting Services- On-demand video and complete draft list from the NHL ON TSN: MOCK DRAFT- Comprehensive draft news, including team reports and prospect profiles- Exclusive Draft webisodes from Hockey Insider Darren Dreger and reporter Ryan Rishaug- Historical features on the 50 years of the NHL DRAFT- Blog posts, podcasts, and videos from the 2014 NHL DRAFT ' ' '