The nice thing about today is that were in control of our o

Few things have made NHL teams grumble more this season than the advent of the new five-day bye weeks which go into effect for all 30 clubs in the second half of this season.Many a coach and team executive has complained about the impact it has had on the already compressed schedule. Well, get used to it, it appears.Sources within both the NHL and NHL Players Association say the five-day bye weeks are part of the discussion again as both sides finalize the Los Angeles All-Star Game negotiations (the NHLPA got the five-day bye week last year as part of the Nashville All-Star format agreement).Now, if the NHL ends up participating in the 2018 Winter Olympics next season, that two-week break would stand instead of the five-day bye week, a period in which players cant practice either -- theyre away from the rink for five days, period.However, should the NHL pull the plug on South Korea, and well perhaps know more this week on that subject at the board of governors meeting in Palm Beach, Florida, then the five-day bye week would very likely return as part of the 2017-18 schedule, sources on both sides confirmed.The players value a break in the second half to rest their weary bones ahead of the stretch run. Heck, its why 700 players love Olympic participation even though only an elite minority of them get to play in the actual tournament. The rest of the players just love the break itself.But some coaches and GMs feel the five-day bye week just further compresses an already crazy schedule while also further limiting practice time.Dont forget the players have CBA-mandated days off every month as well.Its particularly tougher on Western teams with more rigorous travel schedules.The five-day bye weeks arent pleasing everyone, but it appears theyre here for another season if theres no NHL in South Korea. Nike MLB Jerseys For Sale . With the short-handed Warriors needing help from someone -- anyone -- to stop a three-game skid, ONeal returned from right knee and groin injuries that had sidelined him for four games and put up season highs with 18 points and eight rebounds. It was just enough to help lift Golden State to a 102-101 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday night. MLB Jerseys From China . -- Golden State Warriors coach Mark Jackson asked his players a simple question during Fridays morning shootaround: How many of them had ever been on a team 14 games over . https://www.mlbjerseys2020.com/ . -- Claudio Bieler hadnt scored since early September, and not from the run of play since mid-July. Wholesale MLB Jerseys . It was the second consecutive win for the Pacers (2-5), who lost their first five preseason games. Jeff Teague led the Hawks (1-5) with 17 points and eight assists and Al Horford had 12 points and seven rebounds. Mike Scott scored 15 of his 17 points in the second half. Cheap MLB Jerseys From China . The nimble-footed quarterback got his wish, dashing through the snow and a weary defence all the way into the NCAA record book. STORRS, Conn. -- American Athletic Conference Commissioner Mike Aresco noted the difference on Tuesday.His conference, which a day before had been facing the potential loss of two or even four of its highest-profile programs to the Big 12, finds itself in a stronger position after the Power Five league decided not to add anyone, he said.The silver lining in this, and it wasnt always great over the last six months ... is that we got a lot of attention, Aresco told The Associated Press. The brand has never been better known.Of the 11 schools interviewed as candidates by the Big 12, seven of them: UCF, Cincinnati, UConn, Houston, South Florida, SMU, and Tulane are members of the AAC. Three other league schools, Temple, Memphis and East Carolina, were dropped as candidates earlier in the process.Aresco said that kind of exposure helps him make the argument that his league plays at a Power Five level and should eventually be considered part of a Power Six.I think we can build on that and build on our `Power Six narrative, he said. Now, we can resume, reinforce and refocus. I think if the perception is there that we are on that level, we have a chance.Aresco said part of that will be approaching ESPN soon about the possibility of re-opening the Americans TV contract. The league is in the midst of a six-year, $126 million deal with ESPN that expires in 2020.The Big 12, by comparison, has a 13-year, $2.6 billion television contract it signed in 2012.Aresco said he hopes ESPN will be willing to talk about a new deal before the AAC contract hits the open market in 2019.We need a contract that is closer to what the P-55 has than what we have now, he said.ddddddddddddIn the meantime, schools such as UConn, which wont see the hoped-for financial windfall from joining an actual Power Five conference, said they will have to do a better job raising money at the institutional level.UConn athletic director David Benedict said Tuesday that means better ticket sales, fundraising, local media contracts and sponsorship deals.The nice thing about today is that were in control of our own destiny, he said. We dont have anything that is holding us back from moving forward, because were not waiting for someone that we dont have any control over to make a decision that really is going to have an impact on our future.He didnt comment on whether the Huskies are interested in considering other conference options, such as rejoining the Big East for basketball, but said the school is committed to making the American the best conference it can be.Cincinnati football coach Tommy Tuberville, meanwhile, said he still believes his school will get another shot at the Power Five over the next five or six years.This is not the end of the line, he said. Theres going to be huge turnover, theres going to be a realignment, theres going to be things happen.But Aresco said that while he doesnt have a crystal ball, he believes there will be substantial period of quiet before there is any more talk of conference realignment, and for the American, thats a good thing.That will give us a chance to continue building the brand, he said. ' ' '