my experience going to Sochi and being a

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa -- The Lions won back their place in Super Rugby despite losing 23-18 to the Southern Kings in the second leg of their South African promotion-relegation playoff on Saturday. The Kings dropped out of the southern hemisphere rugby competition after just one season and following a stirring comeback to win away at Ellis Park. Agonizingly for the Kings, it just wasnt by enough points. Both teams finished level on log points following the two-game series having won one game each and both taken a bonus point from their loss, eventually leaving the Lions to prevail on points difference. The Johannesburg-based Lions took the first leg at the Port Elizabeth-based Kings Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium by 26-19 last week for an overall points total of 44 in the two-game series. The Kings finished with 42 points and had needed just one more score of any kind in the final six minutes of Saturdays game to retain their place in Super Rugby. The Lions will be South Africas fifth team in the 2014 season and rejoin the Bulls, Sharks, Stormers and Cheetahs having been dropped from the competition last year for the Kings without a playoff. The Kings faced the promotion-relegation contest as the last-placed South African team in the seasons standings. They will have to play another season back in domestic competitions before getting another chance at Super Rugby in a playoff against South Africas bottom-placed team next year. Both teams scored two tries on Saturday, with flankers Derick Minnie and Jaco Kriel going over for the Lions to help them to a healthy 18-9 lead with around 15 minutes to play. The Kings were revived by the sin-binning of Lions centre Stokkies Hanekom in the 66th and surged back into contention when prop Schalk Ferreira bashed over near the posts two minutes after Hanekom left the field. Wing Scott van Breda finished off a sweeping counter that started inside their own 22-meter area for the Kings second try and converted his score for an 18-point haul and a 23-18 lead for the visitors with four minutes to go. The Kings needed one more score to take their overall points total above the Lions, but couldnt find another opportunity as the Lions accepted the loss and held on to possession for the final minutes. Custom Angels Jerseys . Sgt. Eric ONeal says most of the arrests at Monday nights game were for public drunkenness, though one person was taken into custody on suspicion of trying to steal a seat from the stadium. Reggie Jackson Jersey Large . -- Three close looks at the bucket, three misses. http://www.customangelsjersey.com/custom-reggie-jackson-jersey-large-238x.html . - The Oakland Raiders re-signed offensive lineman Khalif Barnes on Friday. Cheap Custom Angels Jersey . How great will be revealed in the next couple of days at the board of governors meeting in Pebble Beach, Calif. Custom Angels Jersey China . -- The boos poured down on Tom Brady and the New England Patriots at the end of a horrible first half. TORONTO -- The question, which doesnt yet have an answer, is what a successful World Cup of Hockey means in the Olympic equation.On the eve of this tournament dropping the puck here in this hockey-mad country, one ponders: If the event ends up being a smashing hit, will that lead NHL owners to believe theyve found their new, best-on-best vehicle? After all, NHL owners have never been that enamored with shutting down their season in mid-February for an Olympic tournament they make no money from.To which Alex Ovechkin on Thursday reminded the hockey world that nothing replaces the Olympics, no matter how much fun and entertaining the World Cup of Hockey might be.I asked the Washington Capitals superstar if, as in the lead-up to the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, when he threatened to play even if the NHL didnt participate, he felt the same way about the South Korea Olympics in 2018.My decision is the same, he responded. So I dont know whats going to happen right now, but we just have to wait [for] what they say and well see. ...Its a situation where you dont know whats going to happen, he added. But obviously, I said Im going to play.Ovechkin doesnt speak for all NHL players; in fact, I think theres a wide range of thoughts and beliefs about how the league should proceed.First and foremost, though, its foolish to think that the level of success of this World Cup isnt related in any fashion to the Olympic discussion. It has to be, regardless of the decision. Theyre tied to each other in some fashion.Yeah, definitely, agreed Team Canada captain Sidney Crosby. This will be something that people are going to compare, that players are going to relate to when youre talking about making a decision like that. Theres so many factors: the timing of it, where the Olympics are, but the fact is, if theres an ability to put on an event like this, its an option and it probably makes the decision harder, especially if people enjoy it. You can only do so many things and you want to be involved in everything, but at the end of the day, this looks like its going to be a great event -- I havent been able to be part of it before. ... Ive had great experiences in the Olympics; well have to see what happens.Its all a moot point if the International Olympic Committee doesnt change its tune when it comes to paying for players insurance and travel costs, something the IOC has always done dating back to Nagano 1998.Still, I think the Olympic question goes beyond that. Vancouver 2010 and Sochi 2014 were held in countries rich in hockey history. Will playerss care as much about wanting to travel across the world to nonhockey countries?Depends on whom you ask.ddddddddddddOne hundred percent, young Canadian phenom Connor McDavid said Thursday, without hesitation, when asked about wanting the NHL to stay in the Olympics. For some of the guys that have been there, the answer might be a little bit different, but for us young guys that have never had an opportunity to play and win an Olympics, I think it would be something a little bit different. For me, personally, Ive always dreamt of playing in the Olympics and representing my country there. The World Cup is awesome and all that, and its similar in that kind of sense. But do I hope it takes over the Olympics? Not at all. I definitely want the Olympics to be an option for NHL guys.Two-time Team USA Olympian Patrick Kane doesnt want the World Cup to be a replacement for the Olympics; rather, he wants the World Cup to be an important add-on to the best-on-best competitions.I dont know if you want to think of it as a substitution; for me, I look at it as having the chance to play for your country every two years at such a high level, said the Chicago Blackhawks star, last seasons Hart Trophy winner as NHL MVP. Hopefully, its something thats put in there along with the Olympics.Echoed Boston Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask of Finland: I dont think you can ever replace the Olympics, but if you can add to it, and keep them both in the picture, I think that would be a great thing.Besides, Rask said, the opportunity to sell the game in a new market like South Korea could be of great benefit.I think it would be a great thing for hockey to go there and kind of showcase for Asian people, show what hockey is all about, said Rask. I think Olympics are great. If we have a chance to go, I think we should go.Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price knows where his vote lies.The Olympics are a special event, and I really enjoyed my experience going to Sochi and being able to experience that world event, he said. It was really special for me and family to be able to go and take that in. It would be kind of sad to not be able to do that again.Perhaps, in the end, what a successful World Cup of Hockey truly means for the NHL and the NHLPA is enhanced leverage in talks with the IOC.As in: Weve got our own great tournament now, so if you dont play ball, were gone.First, however, this tournament has to be a hit.Were about to find out. ' ' '