game, Philadelphia captain Claude Giroux scored the winning goal

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. -- Former NBA Commissioner David Stern prefers to look at the sale of the Los Angeles Clippers for a record $2 billion and not the decades of Donald Sterlings "interesting" ownership that came before it. Speaking on Thursday at a media availability before he is to be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, Stern said the unprecedented offer from former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer to buy the troubled franchise "is an exclamation point on the health of the league." Stern said that the price being paid for the Clippers "is just the next step" in a process that has brought stability to franchises like the New Orleans Hornets, who were seized by the league in 2010 when owner George Shinn couldnt pay his debts. The renamed Pelicans are now ensconced in New Orleans, as are the Bucks in Milwaukee and the Kings in Sacramento, all under new owners. The Clippers should be next, now that a California probate judge has cleared the way for Shelly Sterling to sell the team she co-owned with her husband to avoid having the franchise seized by the league. While praising new commissioner Adam Silvers handling of the matter, Stern insisted he couldnt have acted under his own tenure because Sterling managed to sidestep definitive legal judgments in two cases where he was accused of racism. (Still, Silver waited just four days, needing no such cover from the legal system, before fining Sterling $2.5 million and banning him for life for racist comments to a girlfriend.) Asked if he wishes he had done more, Stern said: "There were challenges." "It was an interesting ownership period," he said. "Im not going to say anything now that will disturb the waters that will hopefully calm a bit between Adam and Mr. Sterling." Stern headed a group of 10 Hall of Fame inductees who will be honoured on Friday night by the Springfield shrine. Also in the class of 2014 are former NBA stars Alonzo Mourning and Mitch Richmond and NCAA championship-winning coaches Nolan Richardson of Arkansas and Gary Williams of Maryland. The womens team from Immaculata College, which won three straight national championships in the 1970s, is also being honoured, along with Lithuania star Sarunas Marciulionis. Former Indiana Pacers coach Bob "Slick" Leonard, the late Nat "Sweetwater" Clifton of the New York Knicks and the late Guy Rodgers of Temple round out the class. Speaking with a cane at his side because of recent hip-replacement surgery, Stern said he was proud to have helped the league grow during his 30-year tenure from a league that broadcast its championship on tape-delay to one of the most powerful in the world. The NBA he took over had 23 teams and broadcast revenue of about $10 million per year; when he left, the 30-team league was bringing in $900 million in TV revenue alone. "Youve got to give credit where credit is due," Richmond said. "Hes one of the guys who propelled our league to another level." Asked if there was anyone in the class he was especially proud to be honoured with, Mourning pointed across the room at the commissioner and said, "David Stern, without a doubt." "Twenty-two years ago, he welcomed me into the league," said Mourning, who wore his 2013 Miami Heat championship ring on his right hand. "And now, after 30 years, of his impact on the league ... were going into the Hall together. So that makes it special." Richmond said he had only been at the Hall one other time, for the induction of former teammate Chris Mullin in 2011. Richmond was excited just to find a picture of himself, as part of two Olympic teams. Now hell be added to the ring of honour on his own. Authentic NBA Jerseys Wholesale .S. Olympic hockey management team have been making what he called "ghost rosters" since August. Cheap NBA Jerseys . Jones took a beating, the worst one of his record reign, in a bout against Alexander Gustafsson that knocked the light heavyweight champion on the canvas for the first time in his career and put his belt in jeopardy. http://www.wholesalejerseysnba.com/ . The young man, never lacking confidence, thought he could be really good. Cheap NBA Jerseys Free Shipping .Those stars, most notably the top line of James van Riemsdyk, Tyler Bozak and Phil Kessel, struggled against the Montreal Canadiens and must be better as the Leafs look ahead to facing the Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Rangers this weekend. NBA Jerseys China . Dancevic won his singles match on Friday, defeating Go Soeda 6-4, 7-6 (2), 6-1, to even the best-of-five series at a game apiece. World No. 18 Kei Nishikori defeated Peter Polansky in the opening match, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4.The red-hot St. Louis Blues will try to remain undefeated against the defending Stanley Cup champions this season when they visit the Chicago Blackhawks for Wednesdays Central Division showdown at United Center. Catch the game on TSN2 starting at 8pm et/5pm pt. With an 8-0-1 record in March, the Blues have vaulted to the top of the NHL standings. A recent victory over the Winnipeg Jets made St. Louis the first team to reach the 100-point mark this season. St. Louis currently sits first in the league with 101 points -- two more than the Boston Bruins. The Blues also are four points ahead of both Anaheim and San Jose in the West standings and hold an eight-point lead over both Chicago and Colorado for first place in the Central. The Blackhawks are currently third in the Central and nine points behind St. Louis. Chicago has a chance to make up some ground in the division race tonight, but St. Louis has gotten the better of the reigning champs so far in 2013-14. The Blues also have earned points in 22 consecutive divisional games (20-0-2), extending a franchise record. The Blues are 3-0 against Chicago this season and have claimed four straight overall in the series. However, each of the last three encounters between the clubs have been decided by just one goal. That includes a 6-5 shootout victory by the Blues in the last meeting on Dec. 28 in St. Louis. Chicago failed to hold a pair of two-goal leads in that meeting in late December and the Blues forced the game beyond regulation by scoring twice during a 1:17 span late in the third period. Still, these clubs have split the last 10 meetings overall and St. Louis has lost 10 of 13 in Chicago despite winning the last two matchups in the Windy City. The Blues won their third straight game Monday night against visiting Winnipeg. David Backes scored twice, including the game-winner with 6:51 left in the third period, as St. Louis secured a 3-1 win over the Jets at Scottrade Center. Backes broke a 1-1 tie with a power-play goal at 13:09 of the third before being credited with an empty-netter at 18:49.dddddddddddd Winnipegs Jacob Trouba hauled Backes down from behind with only an empty net in front of him, resulting in a goal. Brenden Morrow scored St. Louis other goal, while Ryan Miller made 16 saves to improve to 7-0-1 since being acquired on Feb. 28 by the Blues. Miller will get another chance to improve on his brilliant start with the Blues tonight. The former Buffalo Sabres netminder is 2-2-0 with a 2.08 goals against average in four career games against Chicago. St. Louis is kicking off a four-game road trip on Wednesday and is 22-9-3 as the visiting team this season. T.J. Oshie will be back for the Blues in the opener of the swing after missing Mondays test to spend time with his wife and the couples newborn daughter. The Blackhawks have lost three of their last four games, but were able to pick up a point in Tuesdays 3-2 overtime loss in Philadelphia. Chicago grabbed an early 2-0 lead by scoring twice in the first 3:51 of the game, but the Blackhawks wouldnt find the net again. After Scott Hartnell scored twice in the first period to even the game, Philadelphia captain Claude Giroux scored the winning goal with just 4.2 seconds left in OT to give the Flyers the victory. With time winding down in the extra session, Giroux flew down the right wing into the zone and from the circle he snapped a laser on net, using Duncan Keith as a screen, and it went in and out of the left corner for the win. Andrew Shaw and Keith had the goals for Chicago. Antti Raanta gave up all three goals on 37 shots. "I think we did a lot of good things tonight. But, definitely really frustrating the way we gave that point up," said Keith. Blackhawks No. 1 netminder Corey Crawford expects to get the start tonight. He is 9-2-3 with a 2.45 GAA in 14 career games against the Blues. Chicago is beginning a four-game homestand on Wednesday and also will host Carolina, Nashville and Dallas during the stay at United Center. The Blackhawks are 21-6-7 as the home club this season. ' ' '