environments like the international game sometimes

SURREY, B.C. -- B.C. Lions quarterback Thomas DeMarco is looking forward to taking centre stage again Friday against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers -- but hes not promising an encore grand performance in his second CFL start. "I have one game under my belt," said DeMarco after B.C.s last full practice Wednesday. "Im not a veteran. Theres certain things I still have to get used to but, having the success of last game and building off of that, Im hoping to keep it going." DeMarco, a second-year pro who is filling in for injured starter Travis Lulay (shoulder), led the Lions to a last-play 24-22 victory over the Saskatchewan Roughriders in Regina last weekend. The 24-year-old was calm under pressure as he led the Lions down field and completed a third-and-long pass to set up Paul McCallums winning field goal. But DeMarco is not getting too excited about his press clippings. "The biggest thing is, in a short week, you just got to take a few things you wanna work on that were going to do in this game -- and make sure that you limit your mistakes quickly and have a very keen sense to focusing on this game," he said. "So right now, that last game I had, its over with, done with, and now Im focused on Winnipeg." If the Lions (8-4) can beat the Bombers (2-10) for a second time this season, they will gain a share of first place in the West Division, at least temporarily, with the Calgary Stampeders. DeMarco is starting to feel more comfortable with B.C.s offence after taking the starters reps in practice this week. "The more accustomed that I get to running the show and making sure that I have those reps, its only going to get better from here," he said. Coach Mike Benevides tried to get DeMarco and the rest of his team accustomed to playing in Winnipegs new stadium by pumping in loud music during practice. The quarterback handled the hostile environs in Regina, save for some first-half troubles, without a glaring amount of difficulty. He is expecting another rowdy crowd in the Manitoba capital. "I thought we did well with that (crowd in Regina)," he said. "Its going to be a passionate crowd, just like it was in Saskatchewan. We love playing in front of them. We like the excitement thats going to happen. Were going to do the same thing (a silent count) we did in Saskatchewan. We had a pretty good sense of how to communicate, and I think we should be fine." But he suggested his unspoken communication with receivers is still a work in progress. He could also have to get used to some receivers in different roles. Paris Jackson is slated to go in at wide receiver as Marco Iannuzzi deals with a leg injury suffered on a key late punt return against the Roughriders. Manny Arceneaux, who missed the game in Saskatchewan, is also questionable after aggravating a groin injury late in practice Wednesday. But Benevides believes DeMarco, who was never drafted in the NFL and needed six pro tryouts, the last with B.C. in adverse weather in the Washington, D.C., area, to get a contract, can shine again. Benevides lauded DeMarco for his efforts in last weekends win over Saskatchewan and a strong relief appearance in place of the injured Lulay in a victory over Montreal a week earlier. "It hasnt surprised me, because Ive seen Thomas always come through when hes been challenged," said Benevides. "Any time any quarterback can do what he did in that environment with 38 seconds left, (its) tremendously impressive. The last two games hes been in, hes been giving us a chance to really protect the football, and Im looking for him to continue to grow, because with more repetitions and success in games, the more confidence comes along." DeMarco, an Old Dominion product, has competed 24-of-44 passes for 265 yards and three touchdowns this season. He has yet to thrown an interception in his brief CFL career. Benevides said the young signal-caller has not let the added pressure of being a starter get to him. "Thomas has got an outstanding level of confidence," said Benevides. "He also has a quirky personality. He kind of lets (things) roll off his back, and hes got a tremendous sense of humour." But a flu bug within the team has not been a laughing matter. Backup quarterback Buck Pierce, who is slated to return to Winnipeg after a trade earlier this month, was sick Wednesday and stayed away from practice. "Its the first time Ive taken this many reps since training camp," said backup QB Joey Elliott. "So it was good to actually get back in there." Pierce is still slated to travel with the team Thursday. But Elliott, who was released by the Bombers after last season, is making sure that he is prepared just in case. "If Buck is down, Ill be ready to go," said Elliott. "But with it just a basic cold, Buck should be ready to go, and I know hes really excited to be heading back to Winnipeg." Max Hall is slated to get the call for Winnipeg, which has had many struggles at the quarterback position this season. But the Lions are also preparing for Justin Goltz, who started against them at B.C. Place in August. Benevides said the team has studied Hall mostly, because he has seen most of the action between the two. But nickleback Korey Banks said it does not matter which quarterback they face. "Were past that now," said Banks. "Were into the point now where were going to prepare for ourselves. ... If were on our Ps and Qs, were gonna win." Notes: The Lions will head straight to Winnipegs new stadium to check it out after arriving Thursday. ... Special teams player Tim Cronk will get into the lineup as a result of Stu Foords knee injury suffered in Saskatchewan. ... B.C. defensive back Dante Marsh is questionable after leaving practice early with an injury that Benevides didnt have details on. Willie Brown Raiders Jersey . In fact, with a few improvements, this could very well be a decent team over the next few seasons. I will go into more detail when digging into the Canucks Off-Season Game Plan, which will be coming earlier this year since they are part of the non-playoff contingent, there are some reasons to think this is a favourable situation for President of Hockey Operations Trevor Linden and whomever he selects to be the new general manager. Donald Penn Jersey . A criminal complaint filed in Hennepin County District Court said his girlfriend told police they got into the argument early Thursday at his suburban Minneapolis home. http://www.theraidersfansclub.com/Black ... 74.Derrick Rose scored 23 points, and the Bulls pulled away from the Nets for a 105-80 victory on Wednesday night. Chicago held Brooklyn to 29 points on 26. Kenny Stabler Raiders Jersey .cas NHL Play of the Year showdown continues today with a man whos spent most of his career on highlight reels and a goalie actually "reaching back" for a save. John Matuszak Jersey . On Wednesday night, they showed that stellar defence and a little small ball can get the job done too. With pinch-runner Kevin Pillar aboard after Dioner Navarro opened the bottom of the ninth with a single, Anthony Gose dropped down an excellent bunt along the first-base line.TORONTO -- Jay Triano has set a gruelling summer schedule that will see Canadas mens basketball team play six games in six nights -- in three different countries. It wont be easy. But then again, thats the point. "We want it to be challenging. Youve got to go through these tough times in order to build your team," said Triano, Canadas head coach. The Canadian men failed to qualify for this summers basketball World Cup, and Triano said it was obvious at the qualifying tournament that what his young squad needed was international experience. So Canada Basketball set up this summers European tour that will see the team play 11 games between July 24 and Aug. 12. Among their opponents: five of the worlds top-15 ranked teams. "Were playing Slovenia in Slovenia, Croatia in Croatia, Spain in Spain. . . were going to be in some crazy basketball environments. And its what we need, we need to get these players playing the international game and understanding it a little bit more, when the conditions arent perfect," Triano said. "That was the goal. "We could have a training camp and bring guys in. But these guys train all year round with their respective NBA teams, we wanted to make sure we got more experience playing the games." Among their opponents, the 25th-ranked Canadians will play No. 2 Spain, seventh-ranked Turkey, Serbia (11), Slovenia (13) and Angola (15). Eight of the 11 teams will be using the games as part of their preparation for the World Cup. "The other three -- Italy, Bosnia and Georgia -- are kind like us, theyre playing games to get better and not have an off summer," said Triano, whos also an assistant with the Portland Trail Blazers. The Canadian players will gather in Toronto for a three-day camp, July 20-22 at the Air Canada Centre. With several of Canadas top young players such as Andrew Wiggins and Tyler Ennis gearing up for the June 26 NBA draft, Triano isnt sure who hell have this summer. Wiggins, Ennis, Nik Stauskas, along with several other Canadians hoping to hear their name called in the draft, are currently travelling around the NBA, working out for teams. Theyll head from the draft to play in the NBA summer league. "Its going to be a lot of NBA players on our team. But there are probably four or five guys who are in the draft that we have to wait until they get drafted and then confer with theeir team and then decide in conjunction with their team and their agents and them whats best for them," Triano said.dddddddddddd"Obviously we would love them all to play this summer but we also have to build a relationship with them moving forward and its going to be a busy summer for the guys who are in the draft." Hed like to take a page out USA Basketballs book and have players commit to more than one year. "We cant just all of a sudden, first time they play for our national team, is next summer at the Pan American Games, and then weve got to try to qualify for the Olympics," Triano said. "Were trying to build a basketball program, but we still have to be respectful to the fact that these guys are trying to get their careers on track and trying to do the right thing with the NBA." Triano said hell field his strongest team at next summers Pan Am Games in Toronto. Its perfect preparation for the FIBA Americas qualifying tournament for the Rio Olympics. Plus, its in Toronto, "so thats exciting," he said. With the likes of young stars like Wiggins, coupled with talented NBA players such as Tristan Thompson, Canadian mens basketball could be on the cusp of enjoying unparalleled success. "I would say the only negative is that were just so young. Even our NBA players are very very young players," Triano said -- Thompson (Cleveland Cavaliers) is only 23, while Andrew Nicholson (Orlando Magic) is 24. "This summer is a great summer for them, they can play lots of games, and we play in crazy environments like the international game sometimes presents," Triano said. "And well see what we get from that experience and then next summer weve got the Pan Ams here in Toronto and then the Olympic qualifying tournament later in the summer." Canada went 3-4 to finish sixth at last summers FIBA Americas qualifying tournament for the World Cup. One of their victories came against eventual winner Mexico. Triano pointed out his young team was up against the likes of Luis Scola (Argentina/Indiana Pacers), who at 34 years old is well-versed in the international game, and 32-year-old Jack Martinez of the Dominican Republic. "Its just the savvy play," he said. "And thats why when we finished we said we had to find a way next summer to play more international games." Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Jerseys From China Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Cheap Jerseys ' ' '