Gästebuch » ended up marginally ahead in their most recent battl

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Ron Rivera stressed a few years ago that he wanted the Carolina Panthers to become relevant in the NFL.Put a big checkmark in that box.Behind NFL MVP Cam Newton, the Panthers have become a hot ticket in the Carolinas and neighboring states -- more so than ever. Following a third straight NFC South championship and a trip to the Super Bowl, fans are abuzz about the Panthers heading into 2016 season hoping the franchises first Vince Lombardi Trophy is close.The Panthers sold out all 60,000 tickets -- they were available for free online -- in a matter of hours for their annual Fan Fest practice, which was held Friday night at their downtown stadium.Yes, were talking about practice.This week the team shattered its yearly training camp attendance record at Wofford College -- and the camp isnt even half over. Through their first seven practices the Panthers attracted nearly 80,000 fans to their practice facility in Spartanburg, South Carolina, about a 90-minute drive from their home base in Charlotte.When you have sustained success it creates more and more momentum, Panthers President Danny Morrison told The Associated Press. People around the country and certainly in the Carolinas have seen a very unselfish team -- a team that loves playing football. And we have a lot of unique individuals.Few are unique as Newton, one of the more excitable, confident and entertaining quarterbacks ever to play in the NFL.The sixth-year quarterback has become a polarizing figure to some who dont particularly enjoy his elaborate touchdown celebrations or the way he bolted off the podium after Carolinas 24-10 loss to the Denver Broncos in the Super Bowl. But hes become the most popular athlete the Charlotte area has ever known.Newton immediately captures the crowds attention when he steps on the field at Bank of America Stadium.Near the end of practice, he made like an orchestra conductor for the crowd as he led the wave. Moving his arms, he got fans to do it in slow motion, extra fast and backward. He even had the wave going in two different directions, all the while smiling from ear to ear.Fans responded to his energy with a chant of MVP.Nothing Cam can do surprises me anymore, said fullback Mike Tolbert with a laugh.Luke Kuechly is much more reserved than Newton, but no less loved in the Carolinas. When No. 59 makes was shown on the stadiums videoboards, the crowd roared Luuuuuuke!When you have individual stars like we have that only adds to the excitement around training camp, Morrison said.Rivera said the players have been overwhelmed by the amount of fan support this summer. The team drew more than 22,000 fans for its first night of practice at Wofford College as optimistic fans anticipate a return to the Super Bowl -- albeit with a different outcome.We love the support because it brings a lot of energy and the players feed off that energy, Rivera said. The tempo goes up and guys get really competitive.The teams support has steadily increased since 2013, when the Panthers won the first of its three straight NFC South titles. Before that, the Panthers had never been to the playoffs in back-to-back seasons.My first year I came in here you could find a seat anywhere in the stands. Now its a packed house, so thats great, said fourth-year defensive tackle Star Lotulelei.Morrison said the metrics the team uses to measure its growth in popularity -- including social media, TV ratings and attendance -- suggest interest in the team is at an all-time high.Along with winning, Morrison also attributes the growing fan base to what he calls second generation fans.The Panthers entered the league as an expansion team in 1995, so it has taken some time to establish a fan base. But with the team headed into its 22nd season, many of the young fans who grew up watching the Panthers have now become adults and are raising their children as fans.Certainly that is making a big impact, Morrison said.---Online: AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed: www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Air Max 720 Soldes . 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. Nike Air Max 270 React Soldes . In what the team had called a retirement, Ryan said Thursday that he is resigning as chief executive of the Rangers in a move effective at the end of this month. http://www.maxnikepascher.fr/grossiste-air-max-270/max-270-homme.html . Hazard cut in from the left and scored with a swerving right-footed shot for ninth goal of the season, which proved to be enough for the victory despite Chelseas forwards again lacking a cutting edge up front. Vapormax 2019 Pas Cher . The Cleveland Indians, Tampa Bay Rays, and Texas Rangers all won on Sunday meaning the Rangers will host the Rays in a play-in game on Monday. Air Max 90 Femme Pas Cher . -- If Henry Burris has his way, he will be the starting quarterback to lead the Hamilton Tiger-Cats back to the Grey Cup next year.BOSTON – He is the other Bruins stopper. Not the 6-foot-9 all-encompassing mountain that is Zdeno Chara, but the reigning (and likely repeat) Selke Trophy winner and the “underrated” thorn in the Leafs side. “I think hes got to be one of the best two-way forwards in the game,” Tyler Bozak remarked to TSN.ca. “He doesnt do flashy stuff at all, but its like he never makes a wrong play. He always does the right thing. Its hard for him to make mistakes I guess.” “Hes a guy that can hurt you offensively, but at the same time hes going to frustrate you on the defensive end,” added Ryan OByrne, a frequent opponent as a former member of the Montreal Canadiens. Patrice Bergeron doesnt command the seismic attention of Chara, but remains as significant a detriment to the Maple Leafs chances of success in a first round series with Boston, set to continue with Game 2 on Saturday evening at TD Garden. A determined and pesky presence at both ends of the rink, Bergeron is an all-around pain to deal with, because as Bozak points out, “theres not really an aspect of his game that he lacks”. “Hes one of those guys that does everything well really,” Jay McClement, a strong defensive pivot himself, noted. “Hes good at faceoffs and hes always in the conversation for the Selke every year and for good reason.” While he did not score or manage a point in the Bruins dominant Game 1 win on Wednesday night, the 27-year-old draped himself over Torontos top line of Bozak, Phil Kessel, and James van Riemsdyk, Kessel, most prominently, held off the scoreboard for the fifth time in five meetings with Boston this season. “He plays the game honest,” said Bozak, his unit rarely seeing a moment free of Bergeron in the series opener. “Hes always on the right side of the puck. He doesnt get caught in situations where he leaves someone out to dry. I just think hes a really honest player.” “Hes never out of position,” OByrne opined. “He leans on you and he just doesnt give you much room.” Chara has made life unquestionably difficult on Kessel, the Leafs leading scorer who is still without an even-strength goal against his former team, but so too has Bergeron. Not overly imposing physically – actually listedd at about the same size as Bozak – the native of LAncienne-Lorette, Quebec achieves his success defensively with determination and intelligence, instinctively scoping out the play with anticipation and effective positioning.dddddddddddd “I think hockey smarts is probably one of the biggest assets you can have,” said Bozak, “and I think his are right up there with the tops.” “To play that type of role you have to be smart and read the plays,” added McClement. “Hes one of those guys that was probably a very offensive player growing up and then added that two-way part to his game.” Centering Bostons swift top line of Brad Marchand and Tyler Seguin, Bergeron is a challenging force on the draw, leading the league at 62.1 percent in 2013, including an almost unbeatable 67 percent mark at home. “He was someone that early in my career I had a really tough time beating and someone that I tried to learn some stuff from,” Bozak mentioned. In his first one-on-one battle with Bergeron – March 9, 2010 – the Leafs top line centre lost 11 of 17 draws, but ended up marginally ahead in their most recent battle, winning 6 of 11 clashes in Game 1. “Positioning, strength, his timings really good,” Bozak remarked of Bergerons faceoff skills. “I think another thing [is] he changes it up a lot, he doesnt just stick [to one move] and do the same thing … so he keeps you guessing and youve got to try and keep him guessing so its [kind] of a mind game.” Its those heady defensive traits and faceoff acumen that additionally make Bergeron one of the leagues most effective penalty killers, the Toronto power-play shut down in 10 of 11 opportunities in the regular season, 1-3 in the series opener, the lone goal ensuing with Bergeron in the box. Factor in his stealth production offensively, 35 points in 44 career games against the Leafs, including a team-leading four points in four meetings this season, and its no wonder that Bergeron is labeled as "underrated" by OByrne. “Hes not a flashy player,” said the Leafs defender, “but hes going to contribute offensively for sure and thats why he maybe goes under the radar a bit. “Hes a key part of that Boston team and maybe is a little underrated.” ' ' '