it was difficult holding back the tears as we celebrated the

PINEHURST, N. Jabaal Sheard Jersey .C. – No one expected Phil Mickelson to win last years British Open championship. Its not the style of course or game that has favoured the lefthander. Yet win he did. By contrast, everyone is expecting Mickelson to win this week, in the championship he wants to win more than any other and has broken his heart six times. Golf fair? Golf understandable? Not when it involves Lefty. Here at Pinehurst, Mickelson will try one more time to not only break through and win the tournament he wants most, but also to join that exclusive club of career grand slam winners that has just five members. "Its a career goal of mine to win all four majors," Mickelson admitted. "I feel like the five players that have done that, have separated themselves from the other players throughout all time. It shows that they have a complete game. If Im able to do that, I feel that I would look upon my own career differently." It wasnt that long ago that Mickelson had no majors and everyone wondered if hed ever get his first. And certainly last year, very few were predicting hed win the Open Championship. Now hes on the edge of greatness, but that edge is a wide chasm he must get across. For the first time since 2003, Mickelson comes into the Open without a victory. Worse than that, he hasnt even managed a top-10 finish. Still, he remains relatively optimistic. "I feel as good about my game today as I have all year," he stated. "Its not saying a lot, because I havent played well all year, but last week was a good week for me. I started to slowly put it together." Last week was a tie for 11th spot at the FedEx St. Jude Classic, and a far cry from what he wants here. The weak link in his game this year has clearly been his putting. Hes ranked 103rd in Strokes Gained –Putting. A year ago, he finished the year in sixth. Things have gone so poorly on the greens that this week, Mickelson has decided to change things up after conferring with putting coach Dave Stockton. "The greens here are quick," Mickelson stated, "and so Im actually going to go back to the claw grip this week in an effort to have a little bit lighter grip pressure and create a softer roll so that I get some of the hit out of it. I was running them way by last week and by taking my bottom hand off the putter, it eliminates some that hit." Of course it wouldnt be a major if Phil wasnt taking some sort of risk. Two drivers. No drivers. Phrankenwood. Driver when he should hit three-wood. Sometimes the moves pay off, other times he slaps his head and scolds himself. And he waits for another year, another chance. After six silver medals, Mickelson says he tries not to look at what might be possible, what it would be like to raise the trophy he wants more than any other on Sunday evening. He knows the disappointment too well. But he is, after all, only human. "I try not to, because I dont want to get ahead of myself," he said. "But its only natural that its going to. Occasionally Ill catch myself, but I really try not to, because I really just want to focus on what I need to do to get ready for Thursday. If I can do that, hopefully Ill give myself a chance on the weekend. But when I jump ahead, that never really works out good, at least in the past . . . six times." This will be Mickelsons 24th attempt at winning the U.S. Open and he believes it may be his best. Of course he said something like that last year, too. And the year before. If nothing else, Phil is the eternal optimist. But this course might just prove him right. Pinehurst No. 2 is tailored to a game such as Phils – or at least Phils when hes on. He proved that back in 1999 although the last time around, in 2005, he was a non-factor in a tie for 33rd. "This place is awesome," he gushed. "It is just a wonderful site. This is the first -- well I really believe that this week is testing a players entire game. Because it forces you to make decisions, make good decisions, to choose the right club off the tee, hit solid iron shots into the green, and utilize your short game to save strokes. Theres no luck involved with the hack-it-out rough that sometimes we have around the greens. Its just a wonderful test that is, I think, the best test Ive seen to identify the best player." Whether Mickelson can be the best player this week is the question a lot of people are asking. Its also a question hes asking himself. And one hes hoping he can finally answer. Ryan Grant Jersey . Many of those eyes are in the United States of America, a country that the sport has wanted on its side for some time. On Sunday the football Gods delivered once again, only this time it was time for good old USA to experience as much heartache as joy. Clayton Geathers Jersey . According to the Globe and Mail, a decision between the NHL and the Players Association should come within the six months. "I can tell you, (a decision) shouldnt take all that long," NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly told the Globe and Mail. http://www.coltsfansshop.com/Colts-Johnny-Unitas-Draft-Jersey/ . When a game is in the balance, however, they still have the personnel and the experience to end up with the two points.After 20 years of ups and downs following Leicester City, Jordan Halford considers what it would mean to him and his fellow fans if the Foxes were to complete the greatest achievement in the history of English football... Its your fault I support this team.Those were the first words I reluctantly uttered to my Dad in rather more colourful language after departing Vicarage Road on 12 May 2013, having witnessed the most harrowing 20 seconds in 17 years of following my beloved football team. There had undoubtedly been worse moments following Leicester City. Neil Youngs winner for Manchester City in the 1969 FA Cup final after my then 15-year-old Dad had cycled round to his Uncles on the Friday night to pick up two tickets to the game, our record fourth FA Cup final defeat in 20 years. Neighbours Nottingham Forest winning the First Division title in 1977/78 and subsequently the European Cup in 1978/79 and 1979/80 and not to mention two agonising play-off defeats against Blackburn Rovers and Swindon Town in the early 90s. Leicester City goalkeeper Peter Shilton tries in vain to save the winning goal from Manchester City footballer Neil Young in the 1969 FA Cup final Allan Nielsens 90th minute winner for 10-man Tottenham Hotspur in the 1999 Worthington Cup final at Wembley, Roy Essandohs dramatic injury time goal to give lowly Wycombe Wanderers a place in the 2001 FA Cup semi-final at Filbert Street and relegation to the third tier of English football for the first time in our history after a goalless draw at promoted Stoke City in 2008 were all just a sample of the inherent misery of following Leicester in my short lifetime.But this somehow eclipsed those. After scoring a last-gasp winner at the City Ground on the final day of the season to beat rivals Forest and clinch a play-off spot, Anthony Knockaert looked as though he would again be the hero and fire Leicester to the newly-rebuilt Wembley for the first time.But after being awarded a dubious penalty, Knockaert stepped up ahead of both regular penalty takers David Nugent and Chris Wood, who had been substituted, only to see his spot kick and tame rebound saved by Watford goalkeeper Manuel Almunia in the seventh minute of stoppage time.I took my glasses off in preparation so they didnt break and stood next to a friend, who had broken his leg, to celebrate with him. You know what happened next. My Dad proclaimed before the game that he had seen it all following City, but he hadnt seen anything like that. It was the closest thing to a bereavement I have experienced; there was an inconsolable girl in floods of tears next to me, makeup streaming down her face. The away end was like a morgue in stark contrast to the scenes of pure jubilation on the pitch. We didnt leave the ground or speak to each other for what seemed an eternity afterwards. I still to this day havent watched it back.Yet almost three seasons later, Leicester City are five games away from being crowned Champions of England for the first time in our 132-year history. Troy Deeney breaks Leicester hearts in THAT play-off semi-final My earliest recollection of falling in love with Leicester coincidentally came at the same ground 17 years earlier, when Muzzy Izzets header again gave us a play-off spot on the final day of the season. Leicester had been relegated from the Premier League in their only season in the newly-fangled top flight back in 1994/95 after Steve Walshs brace had made it third time lucky in the 1994 play-off final with a 2-1 win over local rivals Derby and were top of the second tier when Mark McGhee unexpectedly quit to join Wolves in December 1995. Leicesters Steve Walsh scores the winning goal against Derby in the 1994 Division One play-off final I was told we lost 1-0 to a harsh penalty against Blackburn Rovers in 1992, while a year later in 1993 in true Foxes fashion we somehow managed to come back from 3-0 down in 12 second-half minutes only to again lose to a 84th minute spot kick against Swindon Town. My Dad said after unearthing from celebrating the equaliser, he was several rows away from his seat.After beating Stoke in the semi-final, we found ourselves in a fourth play-off final in just five years against Crystal Palace in 1996 under the guidance of Martin ONeill. Having trailed to Andy Roberts 14th minute strike, City hit back through a Garry Parker penalty to take the game into extra-time and with 6ft 7ins Australian goalkeeper Zeljko Kalac stepping off the bench in preparation for a dreaded shootout, Steve Claridge shinned home the winner with the last kick of the game to send City back to the promised land for the second time. It was my first trip to Wembley and I can still recall singing Super Stevie Claridge walking down the stairs beneath the famous Twin Towers aged just six. Leicester won the 1996 second division play-off final What followed was the most unprecedented period of success in the clubs history. Following promotion, City established themselves in the Premiership with four successive top ten finishes while ONeill also ended Leicesters 33-year wait for a major trophy, winning the Coca Cola Cup with a 1-0 win over Middlesbrough in a replay at Hillsborough. Leicesters League Cup final with Middlesbrough went to a replay after a draw at Wembley The Foxes reached the final again a year later only to lose to Spurs, but a Matt Elliott brace in 2000 meant City clinched the Worthington Cup after beating Tranmere Rovers 2-1 to lift their first ever trophy at the old Empire Stadium. I asked my Dad on the coach after the game why he was drinking champagne, 16 years without a domestic trophy later, I understand why.Leicester also qualified for the UEFA Cup in 1997/98 and 2000/01, the clubs first European competition since 1961, where they suffered a 4-1 aggregate defeat to eventual semi-finalists Atletico Madrid and a 4-2 aggregate defeat to Red Star Belgrade respectively. This is as good as it gets for Leicester, proclaimed ONeill. Dont get used to this, scorned my Dad. But aged 11 I didnt heed their warning, I thought this was normal. Leicester won the League Cup in 2000 However, shortly after winning the League Cup in 2000 things began to unravel. Academy graduate Emile Heskey signed for Liverpool in March for a club record fee of £11million, before ONeill himself was lured to boyhood club Celtic that summer. England under-21 coach Peter Taylor was his replacement and after an unbeaten eight-game start to the season City topped the English pyramid in October after a 0-0 draw with Sunderland.When Taylors side travelled to Arsenal on Boxing Day, they were fourth in the Premier League, just three points off the Gunners in second but after a 6-1 thumping at Highbury, City went into freefall finishing the campaign with 12 straight defeats on the road and picking up just three points from their final 10 games to slump to 13th. The honeymoon was over.The following campaign saw City bid farewell to their Filbert Street home of 111 years with just five league wins all season and relegation from the top flight, before moving into the 32,500-seat Walkers Stadium at the start of 2002/03. At a cost of £37million, City were subsequently placed in administration in October before going on to clinch promotion back to the Premier League under Micky Adams. Leicester City celebrate promotion from Division One It proved to be a false dawn rather than the start of a revival and after just a year back in the top flight, Leicester were again relegated to the rebranded Championship. It was a period which saw me fall out of love with my boyhood team, disillusioned with the spiralling direction the club were going under Craig Levein and then Rob Kelly. In February 2007, ex-Portsmouth owner Milan Mandaric bought the club but following a string of managers, City were relegated to the third tier of English football for the first timee in our history in 2008. Anthony Castonzo Jersey. It was our lowest ebb in 124 years.I spent my 19th birthday at Edgeley Park as City were held to a goalless draw with Stockport County in our first away game in League One, sat in the home end at Whaddon Road as we trounced Cheltenham Town 4-0 and travelled to Brighton on a Tuesday night as we squandered a 2-0 lead to lose 3-2 at the Withdean Stadium. The fog was so thick that night we could barely see the goals at the opposite end.Despite further setbacks at Swindon and Peterborough, away wins at Hereford and Southend either side of a late Steve Howard winner at home to Leeds saw us bounce back to the second tier at the first attempt. The trips to Edgar Street and Roots Hall still rank among my favourite days following City. We might have been a big fish in a small pond, but it was the first time in my life I had seen my team crowned champions after 13 years of following Leicester.I remembered once again what it was like to feel proud of your hometown. Leicester City won the League One title Our resurgence continued the following season under Nigel Pearson as we finished fifth in the Championship, only to suffer a heart-breaking penalty shootout defeat in the play-off semi-final against Cardiff after fighting back from 2-0 down on aggregate to lead 3-2. I had to inform my Dad who was hospitalised later that evening that we wouldnt be going to Wembley following his operation after Yann Kermorgants chipped penalty.In August 2010, the club embarked on a new era in their history as Milan Mandaric sold the club to a consortium led by King Powers Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha but after winning only one of our first nine games, manager Paulo Sousa was sacked following a humiliating 6-1 defeat away at Portsmouth in front of the Sky cameras and replaced by former England manager Sven-Göran Eriksson. With Leicester just one point off the play-offs after 13 games in the 2011/12 season, the Swede left by mutual consent and Pearson returned to the helm after a brief hiatus at Hull.City looked destined for promotion at the end of January, but following a disastrous run of just two wins in 16 league matches Leicester sneaked back into the play-offs after beating rivals Nottingham Forest on the final day with Bolton failing to beat Blackpool. Just eight days later, the season was brought to a shuddering halt in the cruellest of fashions by Deeneys Watford.Neutrals marvelled at one of the most thrilling climaxes to a game of football ever seen; while Watford fans gloated on the pitch in front of a crestfallen away end and celebrated a trip to Wembley where they would eventually go on to lose to Crystal Palace. On 13 November 2013, City exacted revenge with a 3-0 win to go top of the SkyBet Championship and while my Dad tumbled down the stairs in jubilation breaking his glasses in the process, I still couldnt bring myself to return to Vicarage Road. Leicester celebrate promotion to the Premier League After a 3-1 defeat away at Brighton in December, City embarked on a 21-game unbeaten run to return to the top-flight after a 10-year absence and following a 1-0 win against Bolton at the Reebok Stadium, City clinched the second division title for the seventh time in their history when fittingly Lloyd Dyer - one of three survivors from Nigel Pearsons 2008/09 League One title winning squad - scored the decisive goal.As Wes Morgan hoisted the trophy aloft following the final game of the season against Doncaster, it was difficult holding back the tears as we celebrated the belated return of top-flight football beneath glorious sunshine on the hallowed turf at the King Power Stadium.On 16 August 2014 I celebrated another birthday with a 2-2 draw with Everton in our first Premier League game in a decade. Things were to get better as City acquitted ourselves well at the start of the season coming back from 3-1 down at home to Manchester United with half an hour left to win 5-3 and becoming the first team to beat United from a two-goal deficit since the leagues launch in 1992 in the process.But a run of just two wins in 24 league games meant that an immediate return to the Championship beckoned with City cut seven points adrift at the bottom with just 19 points from 29 games. Following a miraculous run of seven wins from our final nine games, City completed the greatest escape ever witnessed in the Premier League with a game to spare to ensure survival before Pearson was sensationally sacked following a disastrous pre-season trip to Thailand. Leicester City players celebrate their remarkable Premier League survival His predecessor Claudio Ranieri was widely ridiculed following his appointment at the King Power Stadium after his spell in charge of Greece and Leicester were heavily tipped for relegation at the start of the season. Odds of 5000-1 to win the Premier League seemed as likely as finding the remains of a King buried underneath a city centre car park, but with a team built under the steady stewardship of assistant manager Craig Shakespeare and football revolutionary Head of Recruitment Steve Walsh, the Foxes require just three more wins to be crowned the most unlikely champions in the history of the Premier League.Ranieri, dubbed The Godfather at the King Power Stadium, has kept his squad grounded with his charismatic persona and could be given a guard of honour from his former employers under the watchful gaze of Roman Abramovic on the final day of the season at Stamford Bridge if he wins the first title of his career. Leicester have embraced their Italian manager Claudio Ranieri Kasper Schmeichel, son of Manchester United legend Peter, could follow in his Dads footsteps by winning the Golden Glove and establishing himself as Denmarks number one goalkeeper while captain Wes Morgan, who was signed for just £1million from rivals Nottingham Forest and competed in the Copa America for Jamaica, has been Leicesters most improved player and could lift the trophy against Everton on Saturday May 7 live on Sky Sports.Robert Huth was exiled from Stoke City and his performances have even caught the attention of Germany manager Joachim Löw ahead of EURO 2016 and Danny Simpson, who was cast away by Queens Park Rangers, and Austria captain Christian Fuchs, who joined on a free transfer from German club Schalke 04, have been instrumental in a back four that has kept a remarkable 13 clean sheets from 23 games as the Italians side close in on the title.In midfield, Marc Albrighton was deemed surplus to requirements at Championship-bound Aston Villa, while Danny Drinkwater was named man of the match on his England debut against Netherlands at Wembley after having been released from Manchester United and finding his home at Leicester after a series of loan spells. His tireless midfield partner NGolo Kante cost the Foxes just £5million from French side Caen and has arguably been the player of the season having made the most interceptions in the league while Algerian winger Riyad Mahrez has set the Premier League alight and has been linked with a move to Barcleona, despite having cost Leicester just £400,000 from Ligue 2 side Le Havre. Striker Jamie Vardy broke Ruud van Nistelrooys record of scoring in 11 consecutive Premier League games earlier in the season and has gone from Stocksbridge Park Steels to a 21-goal Premier League striker who may lead the line for England at Euro 2016 in France before the release of a Hollywood blockbuster to chart his remarkable ascent to the pinnacle of English football.If the Foxes go on to clinch a fairytale first ever top flight title in the next month, it would be a glorious vindication for supporters across the country that in an era dominated by the big four and despite years of seemingly relentless misery that the impossible dream can be achieved. In short, it would be a triumph for football.For my hometown, a proud multicultural industrial landscape in the heart of rural England, Wes Morgan would be welcomed on a trophy parade that would surpass Diwali, Hanukkah and Christmas all rolled into one before the club embark on their assault on Europes elite in the Champions League next season.Its my Dads fault I support this team. After 20 years of ups and downs, arent I thankful now. Also See: Premier League video Fixtures Table Live on Sky Get Sky Sports Get a ￡10 free bet! Cheap Blackhawks Jerseys Cheap Avalanche Jerseys Cheap Team USA Hockey Jerseys Cheap Stars Jerseys Cheap Wild Jerseys Cheap Predators Jerseys Cheap Blues Jerseys Cheap Jets Jerseys Cheap Ducks Jerseys Cheap Coyotes Jerseys Cheap Flames Jerseys Cheap Oilers Jerseys Cheap Kings Jerseys Cheap Sharks Jerseys Cheap Canucks Jerseys Cheap Golden Knights Jerseys Cheap Winter Classic Jerseys ' ' '