Sports FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2013

Giants and Packers set to clash in pivotal game EAST RUTHERFORD: The New York dence but have yet to approach top form. different in three weeks with benchwarmer who was elevated from the Giants are desperate to take the next step “We’re definitely a 3-6 team,” defensive slated to start for Green Bay, practice squad. “He’s a guy who puts a lot in a steep climb into the playoff picture back Antrel Rolle said on Wednesday, dis- who are tied with the Bears and trail the of time and work into his craft.” Tolzien while the are striving to missing a suggestion that the Giants con- Detroit Lions (6-3) by one game in the NFC performed well in a losing effort against halt a slide in Sunday’s showdown sider themselves better than that. “We North. “This is a long year,” Green Bay the visiting Eagles, completing 24-of-39 between old rivals. can’t mistake that under any means, but coach Mike McCarthy told reporters at the for 280 yards with one touchdown and Green Bay have lost their last two our level of confidence is definitely rising Giants practice facility in a conference call. two interceptions. games with quarterback each and every week.” “Two weeks ago, things looked different “I expect him to do well, probably even sidelined with a broken collarbone to slip Eli Manning, who ranks 31st among than they do today. It’s important to stay a little better knowing he’s going to be to 5-4 in the competitive NFC North, while NFL , has cut down on the focused on who you are each and every the starter and that we’re game planning New York have won three in a row to stir flurry of interceptions he threw at the start week and what you need to do to get it for his skills.” hopes after opening 0-6 in the mediocre of the season but has failed to get the done. That’s our plan when we come up Green Bay may choose to lean on rook- NFC East. The teams are both accustomed passing game in top gear. to New York.” ie running back Eddie Lacy, who gained to success as winners of three of the last “We’re still fighting. We’re still fighting Seneca Wallace came in for Rodgers 150 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries six Super Bowls. The two old franchises to get back on track and get back to after his injury in a home loss the Bears. against the Bears and has rushed for 669 have won 21 NFL titles between them — where we need to be,” Manning told When Wallace was sidelined last Sunday yards this season. Green Bay, a record 13, and the Giants reporters by his locker. “We can’t let any at home against Philadelphia, Tolzien Giants pass-rusher Jason Pierre-Paul eight — including seasons before the more slip away.” stepped up. “He’s a very confident kid, said his shoulder, hurt in last week’s victo- advent of the Super Bowl. New York also ranks a lowly 29th in he’s a smart kid,” Jordy Nelson, Green ry over the Oakland Raiders, still bothered New York, Super Bowl winners of the yards rushing. The Packers, champions of Bay’s top receiver with seven touchdowns, him and he was not sure about playing on 2011 and 2007 seasons, are gaining confi- the 2010 season, will be starting a third said about the former San Francisco Sunday. — Reuters

Inquiry can restore image — UCI chief

JOHANNESBURG: Cycling has a difficult process of soul-searching to get through if it is to restore its reputation after years of doping scandals, new International Cycling Union (UCI) president Brian Cookson said yesterday. “Let’s get all of the allegations out, find out more of the history, let’s find out who was involved, what were the procedures, how did people manage to avoid tests for so long and yet be still using such serious substances and proce- dures,” Cookson told Reuters in an interview. “I think there is a lot of work still to be done there. (I) think we’ve got to go through that process to restore our image and the reputation of our sport.” The UCI and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) had this week agreed the terms of an inquiry into doping in cycling, Cookson said, and details would be announced in the next few weeks. Cookson, who won a contentious election for the UCI presidency in September, told Britain’s Guardian newspaper on Wednesday that he wanted disgraced American Lance Armstrong, who was stripped of his seven Tour de France titles for doping, to contribute to the inquiry. “I don’t think it is proper to use the phrase ‘truth and reconciliation’ but what we are trying to do is similar to that,” Cookson told Reuters in ST PAUL: Nazem Kadri No. 43 of the Toronto Maple Leafs passes the puck away from Dany Heatley No. 15 of the Minnesota Johannesburg on the fringes of the World Wild during the third period of the game. — AFP Conference on Doping in Sport. “There (are) a fair amount of details to be agreed. The important thing is that it will be gen- Wild drop Maple Leafs uinely independent and take evidence from who- ever wants to come and talk to it and we’ll be ST. PAUL: Zach Parise and Jason Pominville scored in the Schenn, who had a goal and an assist during Philadelphia’s 5-0 agreeing the final details of what can be offered shootout, lifting the Minnesota Wild to a 2-1 victory over the win against Ottawa the previous night, opened the scoring late in by way of incentive to testify and what the pow- Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday night. the first period and got the tiebreaker late in the second. Emery ers of the commission will be. Parise tied the game late in the third period for Minnesota, got the start one night after Steve Mason shut out the Senators. “We are really trying to look forward. We’ll give which has won five of six and is 8-1-2 in its last 11. The Wild have Penguins captain Sidney Crosby scored his ninth goal of the sea- it an appropriate name that will help focus peo- been involved in three straight shootouts - winning two. son, and first in eight games. Marc-Andre Fleury made 19 saves ple’s understanding on reform, reconstruction Mason Raymond scored a power-play goal for Toronto, which for Pittsburgh, which has lost three straight for the second time and revalidation of our sport.” has scored just three regulation goals in its last four outings. this season. Cookson said he planned to make the UCI’S Jonathan Bernier had 33 saves. drug testing more independent. WADA, who are Josh Harding had 19 saves for the Wild in relief of Niklas STARS 3, OILERS 0 hosting the Johannesburg conference, would Backstrom, who was run over by Toronto’s Nazem Kadri 7 minutes Kari Lehtonen stopped 22 shots for his 23rd career shutout to advise on the structures of the inquiry commis- into the game. Kadri’s elbow appeared to hit Backstrom in the lead Dallas. Rich Peverley, Antoine Roussel and Tyler Seguin sion and make sure it complied with their code, head. Kadri was also assessed a match penalty for illegally hitting scored for the Stars, who have won four of their last five games. he said. Mikael Granlund in the head in the second period and likely faces The Oilers have lost four straight and are 1-8-1 in their last 1o Cookson said he felt cycling was making a long suspension. games. Edmonton was also blanked at home for the third consec- progress after the huge loss of credibility to its utive game, setting a new franchise record, and has totaled just showpiece events and Armstrong’s confession that FLYERS 2, PENGUINS 1 two goals in the last five on home ice. he had used illegal, performance-enhancing drugs. Brayden Schenn scored two goals and backup goalie Ray Peverley got the Stars on the scoreboard with 9:15 left in the “A lot of progress has been made but there are Emery stopped 30 shots to lead the Philadelphia Flyers in a 2-1 second period when he knocked in a rebound of his own shot for many steps ahead yet,” Cookson said. —Reuters victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Wednesday night for his fourth goal of the season. Seguin and Roussel had empty-net- their third straight victory. ters 38 seconds apart in the final minute to seal Dallas’ win. —-AP