Vorstellung » ere, Que., will compete in one last event, the seas

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Michael Jordan anticipates the Charlotte Hornets will make another big splash this off-season. Jordan said Monday with three draft picks and more than $13 million to spend in free agency the Hornets are in position to make a "big difference" in upgrading their roster. "I think we made a difference last year with Big Al (Jefferson) and some of the acquisitions -- and I dont anticipate this year being any different," Jordan said. Behind Jefferson, who was recently named third-team All-NBA, Charlotte made the playoffs for the first time since 2010 -- the year Jordan took over as majority owner. Jordan is hoping Jeffersons success will convince other big-name free agents to come to Charlotte. "I always thought Charlotte was a great destination," Jordan said. "Big Al has proven that you can come here and make a big difference. Hopefully we can look at that and attract some other superstars." Jordan spoke Monday following a presentation at Hornets Nest Elementary school in which he, along with Lowes and Fox SportsSouth, donated $250,000 to Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools. The event marked the organizations first community service initiative since the changing its name from Bobcats to Hornets last month. The Hornets have the ninth, 24th and 45h picks in this months draft. If forward Josh McRoberts decides not to opt out of contract the Hornets will have all five starters from last season under contract -- and still have at least $13 million to spend under the NBA salary cap. If McRoberts opts out the team could have closer to $17 million free under the cap. "This year we have a lot of flexibility and Ive been speaking to that over the last three or four years -- flexibility is very important and we are going to use every resource to try to better the team," Jordan said. Charlotte finished last season 43-39 and earned the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. However, Jefferson injured his foot in the first game of the NBA playoffs and Charlotte was swept by the Miami Heat. Still, it was a big step in the right direction for a franchise that went 28-120 over the two previous seasons, by far the worst record in the NBA during that span. Jordan said he was "very proud" of what his team accomplished under first-year coach Steve Clifford. "The guys came out and took the initiative from coach and he was able to bond (them) and put together a good effort from the team," Jordan said. Jordan said Jefferson, who signed a three-year, $41 million contract last July 4 -- the largest ever given out by the franchise -- was better than advertised. But he said what was even more surprising is how quickly his new teammates adjusted to playing with a dominant low post presence. "Everybody surrounded him and we got better," Jordan said. "McRoberts was a huge part of that. So I think we got better as the year went along." Jordan said Jefferson, who was the only player in the Eastern Conference to average 20 points and 10 rebounds per game last season, deserved to be an All-Star. Jordan wouldnt say specifically what position the team might look to upgrade this off-season, instead saying he wants to find players who truly want to play in Charlotte. Another key, he said, is developing a core of young players including Kemba Walker, Jeffery Taylor, Michael-Kidd-Gilchrist and Cody Zeller. "We have a bunch of young talent that we still are trying to nourish into some better basketball players," Jordan said. "So summer is when we have to make our big leap." Zapatillas Salomon Baratas . Louis Cardinals continued their offensive tear with a 9-5 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers in the opener of a four-game series. Salomon Baratas Chinas . Canada will host the second stop on the circuit, the 2014 Skate Canada International in Kelowna, British Columbia from October 31 - November 2, 2014 at Prospera Place. http://www.baratassalomon.es/ . It will be their 15th head-to-head meeting and fourth in the post-season (Sunday at 2pm et/11am pt on CTV) and for his part, Brady isnt downplaying just how big the game is for him. "Im excited - Its everything you could ask for as an athlete," the New England Patriots quarterback told WEEI Radio in Boston on Monday. Comprar Salomon Baratas . Fourteen players were suspended last summer by Major League Baseball as part of the Biogenesis drug scandal, ranging from All-Stars to also-rans. Salomon Baratas Chinas Online . Moments after scoring and setting off another wild celebration at Minsk arena, Platt leapt into the arms of Belarusian captain Alexei Kalyuzhny.LA PLAGNE, France -- Reigning Olympic moguls champion Alex Bilodeau will retire at the end of the World Cup season. The Canadian Freestyle Ski Association made the announcement on Friday. Bilodeau, of Rosemere, Que., will compete in one last event, the season-ending World Cup in La Plagne, France on Friday before hanging up his skis. The 26-year-old is currently 31 points behind Deux-Montagnes, Que., native Mikael Kingsbury for the Crystal Globe -- awarded at the end of the season to the athlete at the top of the overall world standings. Bilodeaau won the FIS moguls World Cup title in 2008-2009.dddddddddddd Bilodeau took gold medals at both the Sochi and Vancouver Winter Games, making him the only freestyle athlete to win back-to-back Olympic titles. Kingsbury took silver in Sochi last month, and has won the Crystal Globe the last two seasons. On the womens side, Olympic champion Justine Dufour-Lapointe of Montreal trails American Hannah Kearney by only five points in the world standings. Kearney has won four FIS moguls World Cup titles, including the last three seasons. ' ' '