ople.- TEMPE, Ariz. -- The Arizona Cardinals beat the 49ers Thursday night, a victory they sorely needed. Now coach Bruce Arians has given his players five days off before preparing for a Monday night game a

Melbourne Citys derby heroes have revealed the origins of their revved-up performance in Saturday nights A-League trouncing of Melbourne Victory.It all began with a slip of the tongue from Victory skipper Carl Valeri.The midfielder is one of the most respected players in the league after spending a decade in Italian football and winning an A-League championship with Victory in his first season back in Australia.When he speaks, others listen.So when he said City players would be feeling a fear factor when they arrived at Etihad Stadium for the match, City players stored it away.Man of the match Luke Brattan and wonder-goal scorer Tim Cahill both said it was a huge motivator to go out and unleash their potential against the league heavyweights.In big games like this, its expected there will be a bit of banter in the press during the week. Ill do it myself, Brattan told AAP.Someone from their camp said that we feared them during the week.We loved it. We used it as motivation but we stay humble and look forward.Cahill reminded his teammates prior to kick-off of Valeris words, published by the Herald Sun.They said were going to fear (Victory) coming in here. I dont think we feared nothing, Cahill told Fox Sports.Of course, while motivation is one thing - having the talent, fitness and strategy to pull off the win is another.Brattan was one of the busiest men on the park, bustling between defence and attack to allow John van t Schips side to monster possession and starve Victory of opportunities.The 26-year-old credited Citys backroom staff for improving his conditioning after arriving less than game-fit.The Manchester City player was loaned to Bolton Wanderers last season but didnt make a start for the club.I wasnt playing a lot, wasnt training regularly. (Last year) just was not a great year, he said.I didnt come back in great shape but the medical staff have got me in great shape now.I had a bit of a problem with my back but thats all sorted now too. Wholesale Ultra Boost . Thats about all he can do right now, so hes trying not to think about when he might be able to play again for the Los Angeles Lakers. Cheap Adidas Ultra Boost White . Haas said he "felt a lot of pain" in his right shoulder when he slammed his racket to the ground in frustration after losing his serve at 3-3 in the first set. http://www.stansmithdiscount.com/discount-nmd-shoes.html . The 17-year-old native of Marystown, N.L., pulled out of Skate Canada International last month in Saint John, N.B., with the same problem. Cheap Stan Smith Shoes Sale .J. -- Josh Cribbs was in the Pro Bowl in February and out of a job six months later. Discount Adidas Nmd .com) - Yankee Stadium is the home of the Bronx Bombers, but on Sunday afternoon it will open its gates to host the latest addition of the Hudson River Rivalry. Some of the sports stories The Associated Press is covering Friday. A full Sports Digest will be sent by about 3 p.m. All times EDT:- CHICAGO -- With the best record in baseball, the Cubs begin their bid for a World Series title that has eluded them for 108 years. Jon Lester starts in Game 1 of the NLDS against the Giants Johnny Cueto. Game starts 9:15 p.m.- WASHINGTON -- In a matchup of past Cy Young Award winners, Max Scherzer of the Nationals and Clayton Kershaw of the Dodgers are on the mound for Game 1 of their NLDS. Game starts 5:38 p.m.- ARLINGTON, Texas -- Yu Darvish makes only his second postseason start for the Texas Rangers, who are down 1-0 in the ALDS after Toronto won the opener 10-1. The Blue Jays counter with 20-game winner J.A. Happ. Game starts 1:08 p.m.- CLEVELAND -- With the Boston Red Sox down 1-0 in the ALDS, David Price -- winless as a starter in the postseason -- starts Game 2 against Cleveland Indians ace Corey Kluber. Game starts 4:38 p.m.- Two college football games Friday night involving Top 25 teams: No. 3 Clemson at Boston College (7:30 p.m.); No. 19 Boise State at New Mexico (9 p.m.).- Stories on key college football games Saturday: No. 1 Alabama-No. 16 Arkansas; No. 8 Texas A&M-No. 9 Tennessee; No. 10 Miami-No. 23 Florida State; No. 17 North Carolina-No. 25 Virginia Tech; No. 20 Oklahoma-Texas.- LOS ANGELES -- The woman accusing Derrick Rose and his friends of rape returns to the witness stand for cross-examination. She has filed a $21.5 million lawsuit against the NBA star, who is beginning his first season with the Knicks.- Tiger Woods is set for his first tournament in more thaan a year, signing up for next weeks Safeway Open in California.dddddddddddd Woods last played in August 2015 at the Wyndham Championship before having two more back operations.- INDIANAPOLIS -- NCAA relocates its mens basketball regional tournament to Greenville, South Carolina, after withdrawing the event from Greensboro, North Carolina, because of that states law restricting the rights of LGBT people.- TEMPE, Ariz. -- The Arizona Cardinals beat the 49ers Thursday night, a victory they sorely needed. Now coach Bruce Arians has given his players five days off before preparing for a Monday night game against the Jets.- LONDON -- With the Russian doping scandal still causing discord across international sports, Olympic leaders meet Saturday to consider ways of revamping a battered and distrusted global drug-testing system.- The U.S. national soccer team plays an exhibition game against Cuba in Havana in preparation for next months World Cup qualifier against Mexico. Game starts 4 p.m.- Winless France is home against Bulgaria in a European World Cup qualifier. Portugal, coming off a loss to Switzerland, hosts Andorra.- PYEONGCHANG, South Korea -- The IOC says Pyeongchangs preparations for the 2018 Winter Olympics are on course but South Korean organizers must step up efforts to promote the games worldwide.- VATICAN CITY -- Val Ackerman, the first president of the WNBA, discusses the role of women in international sports at the first global conference on faith and sports at the Vatican. ' ' '