it was such a competitive sport when I was younger

NEW YORK -- The NBA gave J. Air Max 97 Rosa .R. Smith a warning -- and then a $50,000 fine when he ignored it. The league penalized the New York Knicks guard again Wednesday, this time for "recurring instances of unsportsmanlike conduct" after he tried to untie an opponents sneaker for a second time in two games. Smith untied Mavericks forward Shawn Marions shoe while they were standing next to each other during a free throw attempt at Dallas on Sunday and was warned not to repeat the act by the league office. Coach Mike Woodson had said before Tuesdays home game against Detroit that Smith shouldnt be doing things like that, but the reserve guard then tried it again on Greg Monroe during a free throw attempt -- with league disciplinarian Rod Thorn in attendance. "Ive always said I dont condone things that I know you shouldnt do and no, Im not happy about this, because again, he was warned, he comes back and he makes the same mistake and its not right," Woodson said during a radio interview with ESPN New York. "Im going to address it tomorrow when he comes in here for work, because its unacceptable, I mean it really is. I mean, its unprofessional. Thats the only word I can use, or two words. Its just, you cant do that. You just cannot do that." But Smith does keep doing things like that in whats becoming an expensive season for the reigning Sixth Man of the Year. Smith was suspended without pay for the first five games of the season, costing him about $253,000 of his $5.6 million salary, after violating terms of the leagues anti-drug program. He was then fined $25,000 in November for using hostile and inappropriate language toward the Pistons Brandon Jennings on his Twitter account. Smith is shooting under 35 per cent from the field and averaging 11.3 points, a drop of about seven per game from last season. Air Max 97 Virgil Abloh . "Yeah, [I heard them]," he said. "They made me miss the free throw." A year ago, Lowrys post-game antics may not have been so well received but what was snide and snarky is now endearing quick wit. Air Max 97 Marroni . The ninth-seeded Safarova doused Swede Johanna Larsson 6-2, 6-3 on the green clay at Family Circle Tennis Center. The Czech player was a finalist here two years ago and captured back-to-back doubles titles in 2012 and last year. http://www.airmax97outlet.it/scontate-air-max-97-ultra-17.html . Lineup news, Fantasy tips and more in Scott Cullen’s Statistically Speaking. HEROES Blake Comeau – The Penguins winger had a hat trick in a 4-3 overtime win against Toronto.CALGARY - Ivanie Blondin was built for speedskatings mass start race that could make its Winter Olympic debut in 2018.The 24-year-old from Ottawa has won four World Cup medals in as many races this season, including two gold. Blondin leads the overall standings for the womens World Cup mass start.Her short-track speedskating background gives her the tools to jostle for position among the 23 other skaters all leaving the start line at the same time.Blondin also has the endurance to race the 16 laps — over six kilometres — and finish strong. She won a World Cup bronze in the 5,000 metres Nov. 23 in Seoul, South Korea. Blondin finished fourth in a 3,000 on Dec. 13 in Heerenveen, Netherlands.Mens and womens mass start races will be on the menu at the world single distance championships Feb. 12-15 in Heerenveen.The International Skating Union has asked the International Olympic Committee to include a mens and womens mass start in the 2018 Winter Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea. The IOCs executive board will meet in April to approve the 2018 program.If mass start races get the green light for 2018, thats good news for Blondin.Its for sure my main event, she said Tuesday at the Olympic Oval.Its great. Its a little nerve-wracking too because its like oh my god, its real and I actually have a shot, a real good shot at getting an Olympic medal for my country at the next Olympics. Its a little scary and a little frightening, but Im excited more than anything too.Blondin started short-track speedskating at age 14, but switched to long-track at 20. Skaters race against each other in pairs in long-track, but they generally dont come in contact with each other. Theyre more concerned with the clock and their coaches barking out split times.The mass start in long-track incorporates some of the elbows-up contact of short-track races, as well as the cat-and-mouse strategy of passing competitors at the right time in the race.My comfort level skating in a group of girls or a pack is a lot higher than most of the girls who are out there, Blondin said.Coming from short-track, esspecially in Canada, it was such a competitive sport when I was younger that I know how to get around people, I know how to make room for myself, I know how to push people and stay on my feet and I know how to get pushed too. Air Max 97 UL17 HAL. The inner warm-up lane is part of the race track for the mass start. According to the rules, if a crash occurs on the first lap involving six or more skaters, the race will be stopped and re-started immediately.Points are awarded for three intermediate sprints during the race and the final sprint to the finish, but the points are weighted so first, second and third over the finish line earn the medals.As a long-distance specialist, Blondin doesnt chase intermediate sprint points. She paces herself to be in good position and have enough in the tank for the final dash.Im always going for the podium, she said. Thats pretty much my tactic.Blondin has returned to Calgary and her training base at the Oval for the holidays and also for the Canadian single distance championships starting Friday. She intends to race the womens mass start Monday at the Oval.The next World Cup races are Jan. 31 and Feb. 1 in Hamar, Norway. Blondins strategy in World Cup mass start races are to draft behind the top skaters and make her move towards the end of the race.Its all about position, being smart and saving your energy for the last little bit, Blondin said.In an effort to become a stronger all-around skater and contend in the 1,000 and 1,500 metres, Blondin says shes worked on sprint speed this winter. That in turn has given her the power boost to pass other skaters during the mass start.I think training more for all-around and having the variety of being a little bit sprintier with the long distance is a great combination for that specific of an event, Blondin said.She has no shortage of challengers in the mass start. Irene Schouten of the Netherlands edged Blondin for gold Dec. 7 in Berlin, Germany.Many of the South Korean women also have a short-track background. Theyll pull out all the stops to win a medal on home ice in 2018. ' ' '