Pirate Galaxy » of the past four seasons, and he is a lead

MADRID -- By himself, Lionel Messi has already scored more than Real Madrids top three forwards combined.The Barcelona star is off to one of the best starts of his career with 14 goals in 11 matches, two more than what Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema have netted so far with Madrid.And Messi has done it despite being sidelined for three weeks because of an injury.Messi has been superb, Barcelona coach Luis Enrique said simply.The Argentina forward hadnt started a season with so many goals since 2011-12, when he scored 14 times in 10 matches.So far, Messi has already scored eight more goals than he did last season at the same point. He has two hat tricks and is the leading scorer in both the Spanish league and the Champions League. In his last six games, he has scored 11 goals, with six coming in the three games he played since recovering from a right groin strain.Messis rivals at Madrid have not come close to him this season.Ronaldo has nine goals, but that includes five with Portugal in World Cup qualifying. He is currently in a slump in the Spanish league with only two in six matches.I prefer that he always scores two or three goals a game but Im not worried, Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane said Tuesday. Hes not scoring with the chances that hes getting at the moment but the important thing is that hes getting chances. Hell score soon and everyone will relax.Benzema scored his fourth goal of the season in a Spanish league game last weekend, while Bale has netted seven times in 14 appearances. Three of his goals came in three World Cup qualifiers with Wales.Seven of Messis goals this season were scored in the Spanish league, with one in the Spanish Super Cup and six from a couple of hat tricks in the Champions League.The current form could leave the 29-year-old forward in position to again win the Ballon dOr award for the worlds best player. He has already won the award five times, including last season.Messis great scoring start is somewhat of a surprise because in the last few years he has taken more of a playmaker role after the additions of Luis Suarez and Neymar. The trio broke scoring records in each of the last two seasons, with Suarez leading the way last season. The Uruguay striker has opened with 10 goals in 13 appearances, while Neymar has found the net six times in 10 matches this season.Barcelona plays Espanyol in the Catalonia Super Cup on Tuesday, but neither Messi nor any of the other regular starters will be playing.Messis next chance to increase his goal tally will likely be Saturday against last-place Granada, a team that has already conceded 23 goals in nine Spanish league matches.---Tales Azzoni on Twitter: http://twitter.com/tazzoni. His work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/tales-azzoni Air Jordan 3 Nz Online .J. -- Marty Brodeur beat the Pittsburgh Penguins yet again. Authentic Jordans Shoes Wholesale . Ivanovic was leading 7-5, 1-0 when Hantuchova withdrew after falling 0-40 behind in the second game. The match started slowly for Ivanovic, who surrendered her first two serves as Hantuchova took a 5-3 lead. http://www.airjordan3nz.com/ . -- Jonathan Drouin gave Halifax the boost it needed to edge host Sherbrooke Phoenix 3-2 in a shootout in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action. Air Jordan 3 Nz Sale . The scientists believe the small earthquake during a Marshawn Lynch touchdown was likely greater than Lynchs famous "beast quake" touchdown run three years ago, which also came against New Orleans during a playoff game. Cheap Authentic Jordan 3 . Aside from the trilogy main event title fight, there are a number of intriguing matchups in the heavyweight, welterweight and lightweight divisions. CHICAGO -- White Sox ace Chris Sale returned to his team Thursday to face the crosstown Cubs at Wrigley Field.He arrived on the last player bus to Wrigley, walked into the cramped visiting clubhouse, scanned the room and smiled. He hugged teammates Dioner Navarro and Matt Albers, then did a lap around the clubhouse, greeting each player sitting at his locker.Good to see you, pal, said third baseman Todd Frazier.?Sale wasnt allowed around his teammates during his five-day suspension following his jersey-tearing incident last weekend. Instead, he stayed home to prepare for Thursdays start -- or perhaps fine-tune his nascent tailoring skills.In absentia, Sales presence nevertheless loomed large on Wednesday in the Sox clubhouse, where his teammates were asked by the marauding media horde how the pitcher would be received upon his return.In [the clubhouse] with open arms, outfielder Adam Eaton said. When he pitches, he puts on a good show. Im sure it wont be any different when he comes back.Said Navarro: Its weird, its a crazy situation, but I think if somebody can handle it, its him.Youve probably heard the story by now and read more than a few Scissorshands cracks on your favorite social media outlet. Last Saturday, the White Sox planned to use throwback jerseys, but Sale was unhappy with the decision. So he proceeded to methodically cut up those jerseys. He said his beef was a competitive issue; the uniforms were uncomfortable and didnt allow him to pitch at his best.During an interview on MLB.com, Sale said he regretted not being there for his teammates during the suspension, but not so much for the act itself.Do I regret standing up for what I believe in? Absolutely not, he said. Do I regret saying business should not be first before winning? Absolutely not.As tales of the incident spread like a surreal wildfire through the league, Sale was scratched from his scheduled start and suspended the next day. The immediate consequence was that, at the last minute, six White Sox relievers had to step in to soak up Sales innings. They collectively held down the Detroit Tigers and set up Eatons walk-off hit to win that game.Then the White Sox reeled off three more Ws, the first two in similar walk-off fashion, and took the first two of four games against the Cubs. A late-game collapse Wednesday brought the Sale-less spree to a halt. Still, rather than Throwbackgate destroying clubhouse unity, the entire sequence seems to have drawn the White Sox closer.That kind of stuff can ruin a team, Frazier?said. It can be even littler -- Ive seen littler stuff put a team in the hole. I just think the guys are determined to play the game right.I think when we found out the bullpen was going to have to go, they kind of took it upon themselves to step up. Thats all you can ask for as a player. Were professionals; youve got to be ready for change.When Sale takes the mound Thursday, hell be pitching for a chance to give the White Sox a resounding win in the four-game, two-ballpark series, which would gett the Sox back to .dddddddddddd00.?Maybe its the calm before the storm, maybe its not, Frazier said. Well see. Im just happy were on the roll were getting here. You can see it a little bit. You can see it in everybodys faces. Its a little more chipper, I guess you can say.Were ready to go. I think were going to get on a great, big roll here. I think its going to be an exciting time for the White Sox.If it seems as if weve seen this scenario play out before, thats because it has. After first baseman Adam LaRoche retired late in spring training upon being told he could no longer bring his son into the clubhouse, Sale accused White Sox executive Kenny Williams of lying to the team, saying, Somebody walked out of those doors the other day, and it was the wrong guy.With that controversy still lingering, the White Sox raced to a 23-10 start, and they hope this current post-controversy upturn can stretch as long as that start did.Seems like every time we have a little bit of a stir, things go right, Eaton said. Beginning of the season went really well for us. This little stir, its been a positive thing. When [Sale] comes back, Im sure he wont miss any step in his hop. Im sure hell be just fine.After attributing the White Soxs resilience to the presence of a few well-placed veterans on the roster, manager Robin Ventura said hes not expecting any resentment toward Sale from his teammates.Players always have their teammates back, Ventura said. Its no different in our clubhouse. I think its going to be fairly normal. Hes going to be prepared to pitch. Our guys are going to be prepared to play.Sale has finished in the top six in American League Cy Young voting in each of the past four seasons, and he is a leading contender for the award this season. Since the beginning of the 2012 season, Sale ranks third among all pitchers in strikeouts, and seventh in both wins and ERA.Here is what I know about Chris: Chris is a good kid, who has a good heart, who does a lot of things nobody sees, said pitching coach Don Cooper. Certainly on top of all of it, hes a quality pitcher, a high-level pitcher.Robin [Ventura] said he was one of the best in the league (but) Ill take it a step further. I think hes in the top 10 on the face of the Earth.Despite what appeared to be an act of utter petulance, Sale seems to remain high in the esteem of his teammates. Hes the ace, and that title extends all the way from the mound to the clubhouse, and beyond.Hes our teammate, Eaton said. Hes our guy. (Despite) all the things that are swirling around about his character and who he is as a player, hes my brother. I enjoy every second with him on the field and off the field.He cant be a better person. With that, Ill be excited to see him. Im sure hell be in the same form he has been the entire year. Hell go out there and produce, and be Chris Sale.The Associated Press contributed to this report. ' ' '