ht. A fire aboard American Airlines Flight 383 from Chicago to M

Steve Nash believes Kobe Bryant is ahead of schedule in his recovery from Achilles surgery, is hopeful that the Los Angeles Lakers will finally find the chemistry they lacked a year ago and is finding himself fueled by the memories of an injury-filled season. On Tuesday, however, basketball wont be his sport of choice. The two-time NBA MVP gets to become a soccer player again -- if only briefly. The Lakers guard who grew up playing soccer and still has deep ties within the sport will have a tryout of sorts with Inter Milan, before the storied team opens play in the Guinness International Champions Cup tournament thats coming to the U.S. next week. The tournament features eight club teams from around the world, with a winner to be crowned in Miami Gardens, Fla. on Aug. 7. "Its a dream come true to get a chance to try out, not just to try out but to take the field with Inter Milan, one of the great, storied franchises in professional sports," Nash said in an interview with The Associated Press. "I feel like a little kid." Tournament officials said the tryout will take place in New Jersey, two days before Inter Milan opens its portion of the Guinness event in Indianapolis against Chelsea. And Nash expects to be feeling a fairly ramped-up level of nervousness when he laces up his cleats for that training session. "Its going to be a lot higher than it is playing basketball, for sure," Nash said. "I still get nervous for basketball games from time to time. When I get out on the court, I dont get nervous, but before. To go out there with guys that I look up to and watch play, its definitely going to raise the nerves. Ill be really nervous and really excited." The tournament begins Saturday when AC Milan visits Valencia. Juventus and Everton meet Wednesday in another first-round game, with the other opening matchups being the Inter-Chelsea game and Real Madrid taking on the L.A. Galaxy on Thursday. The European clubs are primarily using the event as preseason training and the matches will allow for many more substitutions than normal, as is common with exhibition matches. "Guinness has kind of taken it to another level by making a tournament out of it," Nash said. "Theres stakes involved. For Guinness to bring seven of the worlds biggest clubs over and play with the Galaxy, thats phenomenal exposure for the game and itll help grow the game in North America." The Victoria native played soccer and hockey as a child before starting his basketball career as an eighth-grader, primarily because most of his friends at the time were spending more time taking corner jumpers than corner kicks. His father, John, played professional soccer in South Africa and England, and Nash remains an avid soccer fan and is part of the ownership group for the Vancouver Whitecaps of Major League Soccer. As far as his "real job" goes, Nash said hes encouraged for the coming NBA season. Hes working his way back to being 100 per cent physically. His first season with the Lakers was an injury-filled one, where he was limited to 50 games because of a broken left leg and a strained right hamstring. "Ive had a really good summer of training and rehabilitating," Nash said. "Im not 100 per cent, but Im pretty close. Good enough to go out there Tuesday. Im thrilled Ive had this time to build myself back up, and I believe Ill have a great year." Last season was a struggle for the Lakers, and the off-season hasnt exactly been tranquil, either. Dwight Howard left Los Angeles for Houston, Bryant has been working his way through rehabilitation for his Achilles, and the Lakers added new pieces like Chris Kaman, Nick Young and Wesley Johnson. "Were all just excited for another opportunity," Nash said. "Weve got some terrific players coming off of difficult seasons. I know Pau Gasol after his injuries, Kobes coming off a difficult injury, I was injured for the better part of the season. The three of us are eager to get back out there and theres other guys, Jordan Hill, Steve Blake, who missed a lot of time last year. "Were excited to see what we can make of ourselves. We really are going to try for the second consecutive year to find chemistry and identity, but were excited for it, so well see." Nash said he isnt letting go of the bad memories from last season, using them instead as motivation for the coming year. And when the new season starts, he said he wouldnt be at all surprised to see Bryant -- who tore his Achilles tendon in April -- not just ready, but raring to go. "I dont think hed have it any other way," Nash said. "I know hes very focused and determined and he plans to come back as strong as ever, probably in record time." Chief Bender Jersey . The CFLs leading rusher kept adding to his gaudy numbers this season and scored the winning touchdown with just over two minutes to play. The New Westminster, B.C., native plowed three yards into the end zone for the last score of a heated, see-saw battle between the two teams with the best records in the CFL. Caleb Frare White Sox Jersey . PAUL, Minn. https://www.cheapwhitesox.com/3704e-yolmer-sanchez-jersey-white-sox.html . World champions Tatiana Volosozhar and Maxim Trankov of Russia won the gold medal with 237.71 points, Moore-Towers and Moscovitch followed at 208.45 and Ksenia Stolbova and Fedor Klimov of Russia were third at 187. Bo Jackson Jersey . It was Kerbers third final of the year after losing to Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia in Monterrey in April and to Petra Kvitova of Czech Republic in Tokyo two weeks ago. The 10th-ranked German improved her record in finals to 3-5. Michael Jordan White Sox Jersey . On Saturday night, the normally free throw-challenged centre did just that. Howard scored 18 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter, including 13 of 19 free throws in a 2 1/2-minute stretch, and the Houston Rockets beat the Denver Nuggets 122-111. CHICAGO -- After a difficult day of travel to the World Series, Albina Maddon was met by police at Chicago OHare International Airport.First of all, they had to tell her shes not being arrested, her son, Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon, said Saturday. Beanie, being from Hazleton, Polish Catholic, she would have imagined the worst first. They always do.The 83-year-old Albina planned to travel from her home south of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, to attend Game 3 on Friday night. A fire aboard American Airlines Flight 383 from Chicago to Miami caused extensive delays.Maddons mom had driven two hours to Philadelphia International Airport, and her delayed flight didnt leave until about 90 minutes before game time. Maddon spoke with Cubs traveling secretary Vijay Tekchandani, and they contacted the police.My niece and nephew, Michael and Christine, were also part of the party, the manaager said.dddddddddddd So I guess they threw them in the back there and just rushed them on in, and got her up to the will-call window, escorted her in. And they got there by the second inning.Maddon said his mom is retired from Hazletons Third Base Luncheonette, a restaurant owned by the Maddon family.She goes up there for her morning coffee. Its a great conversation for maybe at least the next two years, Joe Maddon said. Shes there till midnight after the game. I see her in the parking lot for the first time. Gets back at 1 oclock, whatever, after going all day, and then shes going to be here tonight. God bless her. Those tough Polish ladies, man. I grew up with them. Theyre awesome. They can really clean. They can cook, and shes the best mom ever. ' ' '