o did not go to Rio. The likes of Jason Day, Dustin Johnson, Rory Mcilroy and Jordan Spieth have had far more time off at this point in the season than has ever been the case in the FedEx Cup era.It sho

COLUMBIA, S.C. -- The Southern Conference will keep four league championships in North Carolina despite the NCAA and the Atlantic Coast Conference withdrawing championships because of the state law restricting the rights of LGBT people.The league said it will honor commitments for these tournaments: mens soccer in Greensboro, mens and womens basketball in Asheville and mens golf in Pinehurst.We dont want to punish the local host communities by pulling the championships out of the state this year, Commissioner John Iamarino said Friday. That point did resonate with presidents and chancellors.The league said in a statement its presidents and chancellors reaffirmed their resolute opposition to legislation that discriminates against any individual.Iamarino said his conference was prepared for criticism in light of the NCAA and ACC decisions over the North Carolinas law, which excludes gender identity and sexual orientation from local and statewide antidiscrimination protections. It also requires transgender people to use restrooms at schools and government buildings corresponding to the sex on their birth certificates.HB2 was signed into law this year by Republican Gov. Pat McCrory, who has defended it as a commonsense safety and security measure.The Southern Conference is headquartered in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Its 10 schools -- Citadel, Chattanooga, East Tennessee, Furman, Mercer, UNC Greensboro, Samford, VMI, Western Carolina and Wofford -- are in Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.The decision on the championships came after two conference calls among league leaders.While not unanimous, we found enough common ground to get to this point, Iamarino said.He said the league was influenced by the North Carolina host communities, all urging the conference to hold its events as planned. In Asheville, Iamarino said he met with about 30 people, including some from the LGBT community, who promised to fight the HB2 law but wanted the basketball tournaments to remain.Iamarino said the venues involved are privately controlled and the league is confident of there will be an inclusive atmosphere at the events. The mens golf event will be held at Pinehurst Country Club and the basketball at a neutral site in Asheville.The soccer will be played on the Greensboro campus.Earlier this month, the NCAA removed seven championships from North Carolina, including first- and second-round games of the mens basketball tournament scheduled for Greensboro. The ACC soon followed suit, pulling 10 of its championships from the state, including the football title game that was scheduled for Charlotte.The ACC on Thursday relocated the football game to Orlando, Florida.Iamarino said Southern Conference presidents and chancellors will meet in May to see if more action is necessary. He said theres concern similar laws could extend beyond North Carolina.This could be a long-term issue, he said.Iamarino said hes also concerned the schools against keeping the championships in North Carolina might take their own actions, perhaps boycotting the league events played there.Its a real concern, he said. Well continue to communicate and prepare for everything. Jerseys China .Y. - Jerome Samson scored once in regulation and again in the shootout as the St. NFL Store Online . Vokoun departed practice on Saturday morning after discovering swelling in his thigh. He was taken to a local hospital where the clot was revealed. The club announced the surgery following a 5-3 exhibition loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets. http://www.cheapnfljerseyswholesale.com/ . -- Charlie Graham stopped 67 shots as the Belleville Bulls edged the visiting Guelph Storm 6-5 on Saturday in Ontario Hockey League action. Cheap Authentic Jerseys . Newcastle dominated in the early stages but City weathered the storm and then raised its game in extra time. Negredo broke the deadlock from close range after a simple move in the 99th minute before Dzeko took the ball round goalkeeper Tim Krul to seal the victory in the 105th. Clearance NFL Shop . -- Three close looks at the bucket, three misses. 1. Ryder Cup talkThere was a time when a U.S. Ryder Cup team was decided only on points, with no captains picks. As recently as two years ago, the core of the team was determined following the PGA Championship, with the picks coming a few weeks later.Now, with the help of a task force, the United States has pushed back the eight who automatically qualify to following this weeks Barclays -- or two weeks after the PGA Championship is played. And then captain Davis Love III has another two weeks to pick three players after the BMW Championship. Two weeks after that, following the Tour Championship, he will make the last selection.What does it all mean?Not much.Certainly pushing back the selection of the team and the captains picks closer to the actual playing of the Ryder Cup is a good idea. It was always silly to have the entire team decided six weeks prior to the competition, when form has much time to change.Love can only hope that some of the players on the bubble such as Bubba Watson, Rickie Fowler and Matt Kuchar at least show some spark during the first three playoff events to make the selections an easy call.Kuchar won the bronze medal at the Olympic golf tournament and played some solid golf to even make the field, but he hasnt won this year. Watson and Fowler have done little in the past six months.Neither has Zach Johnson, who is in good shape to make the team on his own, based mostly on last year, including winning The Open.And then there is Jim Furyk, who has played well recently, but has the most losses in U.S. Ryder Cup history.Furyk is really the only player outside of the top 8 automatics who has distinguished himself of late, shooting 58 at the Travelers Championship and posting some high finishes.2. Why does last year count?When the U.S. Ryder Cup Task Force was formed following the 2014 disaster at Gleneagles, it came up with Love as the captain and instituted change in the points structure. It eliminated points for the fall PGA Tour events that start the new season -- a move that caught PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem by surprise -- but still gave them for the major championships.Zach Johnson is basically on the team because of his Open win at St. Andrews more than a year ago. Justin Thomas is not because his win at the CIMB Classic didnt count.The PGA of America prefers points be given out to keep the Ryder Cup out front as much as possible. But wouldnt it make more sense to start the process six months out? Or even at the beginning of the year? If the idea is to get players who are most in form, counting anything from the previous year makes little sense.3. The case for FurykFuryk, 46, the newly-crowned Mr. 58, will be a polarizing decision. Hes already a vice captain, so hes part of the team regardless. That makes the decision even tougher for Love, who knows Furyk will be there anyway. He has played in nine Ryder Cups and hes in good form, so those are positives. But he is 10-20-4 and has lost the most matches in U.S. Ryder Cup history, including his past three in singles.One of those losses was the blown 1-up lead with two holes to go against Sergio Garcia in 2012 -- lossing to two pars for a point that was crucial.dddddddddddd Some of Furyks poor record can be attributed to multiple partners during the years. And hes had a nearly reverse record in the Presidents Cup. You can argue for or against him and not be wrong.4. And the European team is set ... save for the picksWith one week to go, the European Ryder Cup team is set: Rory McIlroy, Danny Willett, Henrik Stenson, Chris Wood, Sergio Garcia, Rafael Cabrera-Bello, Justin Rose, Andy Sullivan and Matthew Fitzpatrick. With five rookies, it is understood that captain Darren Clarke is leaning toward veterans in his three remaining picks, which will be made Tuesday. Conventional wisdom has him taking Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer.But then things get interesting. Does he take Scotlands Russell Knox, who would have made the team on points had he been a member of the European Tour when he won last year in China? What about long-hitting Thomas Pieters, who nearly defended his title last week at the Czech Open? Clarkes decisions wont be easy.5. Padraigs Olympic sojournNot only did Padraig Harrington play for Ireland in the mens Olympic tournament, he stuck around with his family for the second week, never touched his clubs and seemingly enjoyed the experience immensely.6. A year without TigerTuesday marked the one-year anniversary of Tiger Woods last competitive round. He shot 70 at the Wyndham Championship to tie for 10th after contending for most of the event. At the time, it was seen as a positive step after what had been his worst year as a pro.Of course, it turned out to be nothing to build on. A few weeks later he had the first of two back surgeries. His agent, Mark Steinberg, said he continues to make progress but there is no timetable for a return. In retrospect, this story from a year ago had a lot more meaning.7. Making his first Ryder Cup teamFitzpatrick did it Sunday with a top-5 finish at the Czech Masters.8. No excusesOne of the benefits to the Olympic golf tournament standing between the PGA Championship and the start of the FedEx Cup playoffs is it offered a three-week break to those who did not go to Rio. The likes of Jason Day, Dustin Johnson, Rory Mcilroy and Jordan Spieth have had far more time off at this point in the season than has ever been the case in the FedEx Cup era.It should cut down a good bit of the malaise that typically affects the playoffs, as the long season takes its toll. Not even a huge pot of money can shake some guys out of a funk if their golf game is off. A three-week run of playoff events begins Thursday at the Barclays before another week off prior to the Tour Championship. It will be interesting to see the level of play.9. The ageless Gary PlayerAt age 80, Gary Player was everywhere in Rio. Watching other sports. Serving as team leader for both the men and women golfers from South Africa. Even hitting balls on the range one day to keep his game in shape. Its hard to think of anyone who served as a more positive influence on golf in the Olympics. ' ' '