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MINNEAPOLIS -- Cole Aldrich was vacationing with his wife in Italy when a lifelong dream came to fruition.He had sealed a deal to play for the Minnesota Timberwolves, the team he grew up watching in suburban Minneapolis. Because of the time difference, a giddy Aldrich decided to send his father a text message rather than give him a call.I think I said, `Dad, Im coming home, Aldrich recalled on Thursday.The message did not quite have the effect he had planned on.I thought you were coming home from vacation! Walter Aldrich hollered from the back of the room.Alas, Aldrich meant he was coming home for good. To play basketball for the Timberwolves, to live in the home he returns to every offseason after spending the first six seasons of his NBA career bouncing around with five other teams.Ive been a Timberwolves fan all my life, Cole Aldrich said. Whether it was in another city playing for New York or Oklahoma City or wherever, I always tried to keep tabs. And you root for your city. For me to be home, Im going to go out there and play hard. Im not going to guarantee a championship or anything like LeBron, but just Im going to try to do all I can to help us win games.Aldrich was a high school standout at Bloomington Jefferson in suburban Minneapolis before going on to win a national championship at Kansas. The 7-foot center was the 11th overall pick by Oklahoma City in 2010, but had a hard time finding footing in the league while starting his career with a team that had quickly emerged as a Western Conference power.Most lottery picks you go to a team thats struggling and you usually get your opportunity right away, he said. For me, the opportunity really didnt come until probably four years into the league. Through that transition you just have to grit your way through it.He spent two years in OKC and also played for Houston, Sacramento and New York before delivering his best season as a pro with the Los Angeles Clippers in 2015-16. He emerged as a productive and efficient backup to DeAndre Jordan, and new Timberwolves coach Tom Thibodeau went after him in free agency to provide some much-needed depth behind big men Karl-Anthony Towns and Gorgui Dieng.Aldrich got a three-year, $22 million contract from the Wolves, but he doesnt expect the money to change him.Ive been wealthy my whole life. Great family, friends. Thats what its all about, Aldrich said.He said he had talks about joining Thibodeau in Chicago with the Bulls a few years back and feels uniquely suited to play for a coach who values toughness and defense. Aldrich pointed to a scar over his left eyebrow and then popped out his fake front tooth to serve as his credentials.As you can tell, Ive got a few scars and Ive got a missing tooth, he said with a smile. It kind of fits the groove. Just exciting to play for him and the organization is going to be a really good few years.Aldrich was a freshman in high school when Kevin Garnett led the Timberwolves to the Western Conference finals against the Los Angeles Lakers in 2004. The Wolves havent been back to the playoffs since, and the hometown kid wants desperately to be a part of the team that breaks that dubious streak.I remember the atmosphere and the excitement, he said. Being in the playoffs this last year and my first few years, just seeing those crowds and knowing what our city would be (like) to have that crowd would be awesome. Fake NBA Jerseys . -- Former San Diego Chargers safety Paul Oliver was found dead at his Atlanta-area home Tuesday night, and a medical examiner said Wednesday that the ex-player committed suicide. Wholesale NBA Jerseys . Dukurs winning time was 1 minute, 45.76 seconds, a quarter-second better than Russias Alexander Tretiakov. Lativas Tomass Dukurs was third, 1.41 seconds off the pace. 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Gloucester overcame their poor recent run of results to earn a well-merited 27-27 draw with last seasons Aviva Premiership runners-up Exeter at Sandy Park.It could have been even better for Gloucester, who recorded their second draw of the season, had Damian Welch not finished off a driving line-out 30 seconds from time to level. Gareth Steenson was wide with the touchline conversion attempt.The visitors had stunned an out-of-sorts Exeter with a fiercely committed performance including strong defence that unsettled their opponents, who made a glut of errors to concede tries to Matt Scott, Charlie Sharples and Ben Morgan.Greig Laidlaw converted all three and kicked a penalty. Billy Twelvetrees added a long-range penalty.Aimless kicking from Steenson and Will Chudley, coupled with numerous handling errors, were responsible for a poor performance from Exeter. Ian Whitten scored two tries for them, Thomas Waldrom and Welch the others with Steenson converting two and adding a penalty.An already injury-hit Gloucester were forced to make two late changes to their starting line-up with Billy Burns and Gareth Evans withdrawn to be replaced by Mark Atkinson and Morgan.However Sharples was fit to make his 200th competitive appearance for Gloucester and his team tackled strongly in the opening period to keep the home side in check.Their efforts were rewarded in the 12th minute when Lachie Turners error gave the visitors a line-out and platform in the Chiefs 22 from which they capitalised when Scott broke through to score.Laidlaws conversion gave the visitors a 7-0 lead at the end of an error-ridden first quarter before Exeter deservedly drew level.A succession of drives close tto the visitors line saw Waldrom power past the attempted tackles of Paddy McAllister and Twelvetrees for a try which Steenson converted.dddddddddddd.Within two minutes, Gloucester had regained the lead when Sharples celebrated his milestone by leaping higher than Steenson to gather a well-judged kick from Laidlaw to race away and score.Television replays seemed to indicate that James Hook had put a foot in touch just prior to Laidlaws kick but the score was allowed to stand.Exeter soon responded with their second try when an excellent run from the impressive Sam Hill saw him evade an attempted tackle from Tom Savage to send Whitten over.Steenson converted before Twelvetrees fired over a penalty from inside his own half to give Gloucester a 17-14 interval lead.After the restart, the hosts had wind advantage but continued to make basic errors to go further behind. Laidlaw fired wide with a penalty chance but another opportunity soon came his way and this time he made no mistake.Worse was to follow for Exeter when the visitors scored their third try. Luke Cowan-Dickie was dispossessed by Morgan, who sent David Halaifonua away down the left touchline. The wing evaded Chudleys tackle to create the try for the supporting Morgan with Laidlaws conversion giving his side a 27-14 lead with 20 minutes remaining.Exeter threw on the cavalry with Henry Slade and Chudley both substituted before Whitten scored his second try with 10 minutes remaining.Steenson missed the conversion but kicked a penalty before Welchs late effort saved the day for Exeter. ' ' '