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KATIE AND I spent a lot of time playing together. The earliest memories I have of Katie were playing at her house while my mom got her hair styled by Katies mom. Around age 7, I ended up playing baseball with her dad as my coach. Of course, Katie was on the team as well, and Coach Frank treated her the same way he treated everyone else. She was always the most energetic ballplayer, but she could be intense on occasion; I wouldnt be the first to call her a firecracker. However, regardless of the outcome of a days ballgame, she was always happy to be with her friends -- the team.I first learned there was something wrong with Katie when my mom told me she had collapsed and was in the hospital. I was barely 12 at the time. We learned later that she had a rare form of brain cancer. I talked to Katie on the phone, and it was clear she only saw chemotherapy treatment as a bump in the road. She was a confident girl, even in the face of adversity.Katies wish was to bring her old team -- some of her closest friends -- back?together to watch a Seattle Mariners baseball game. The wish was simple, and for Katie it was perfect because it combined the two things she loved: her friends and baseball. I was ecstatic when I learned I was going to see all of my friends again, but moreover, I would get to see Katie. Everything else was just icing on the cake.On Katies wish day, my former teammates gathered in the outfield at Safeco Field. They were told I would not be able to attend because I had moved to Franklin, Tennessee, the same year Katie and her family moved to eastern Oregon. Except on that day, I was actually standing behind the center-field wall. As the announcer told my friends there was a surprise waiting for them, the wall opened and I ran to Katie. The most memorable part of the entire day came as Katie and I were hugging. She couldnt believe that I was actually in front of her, which prompted me to repeatedly tell her, Im here! Im here!The rest of the day is summed up in the original video segment of her Wish. The next day, however, would be the last time I saw her as we played catch near her hotel. True to our nature, we got into a small competition of who can throw harder while tossing the ball around. It makes me happy that my last moments with her were baseball-related.My mother told me of Katies death when she picked me up from school in the car almost a year later. The reality of her death didnt settle in until a couple of weeks later while I was lying in bed and finally came to terms that my best friend had passed. Those who have felt a similar pain know that realization is not fun.I used to only be able to look at Katies Wish from a childs perspective. It used to be difficult for me to understand the importance of Katies Make-A-Wish experience in the context of everything else going on in her life at the time. As Ive grown older, Ive realized that being able to forget about illness for a day to just have fun is a priceless experience for a child and their family.Katie, you will always be my best friend.DeSean Jackson Jersey . Once again, DeLaet finished tied for second at a PGA Tour stop on the weekend, this time at the Waste Management Phoenix Open. The pride of Weyburn, Sask. Mike Quick Womens Jersey . The nimble-footed quarterback got his wish, dashing through the snow and a weary defence all the way into the NCAA record book. http://www.eaglesrookiestore.com/Eagles-Andre-Dillard-Jersey/ . - NASCAR announced a 33-race schedule for the 2014 Nationwide Series with virtually no changes from this years slate. Wes Hopkins Womens Jersey . 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Miles Sanders Womens Jersey .Y. -- Buffalo Bills coach Doug Marrone has drawn on his Syracuse connections once again by hiring Rob Moore to take over as receivers coach.Simon Mignolet insists Jurgen Klopps Liverpool are still a work in progress ahead of their Saturday Night Football clash against Tottenham.Klopp, who moved to Anfield in October, started his Liverpool career with a 0-0 draw with Spurs and despite some inconsistent performances along the way, there have been plenty of positives for the German as he prepares for his 39th game in charge of the Reds.The former Borussia Dortmund boss has already led his side to a Wembley final this season and master-minded his sides progress to the Europa League quarter-finals, knocking out Manchester United on their way to a tie against his old club. Liverpool, who sit seven points behind fourth, are also still in the hunt for a Champions League place but Mignolet, speaking in an exclusive interview with Sky Sports, thinks there is still room for improvement.Away from home at Tottenham I think we played a good first game under Klopp, Mignolet said. The gaffer came in and I think you saw the changes he made immediately as we got a good result away from home.Hes tried to change many things since hes come in. It wasnt easy at the beginning because we had so many games. When you play a lot its difficult to change things because you are constantly recovering and then going back into the next game, he added. Klopp takes charge of his 39th match as Liverpool boss against Tottenham Over the time hes been here everybody has seen what hes tried to change in different aspects of our game, both in attack and defence and with the mentality of the players.Its still a work in progress and we are still trying to do that on a daily basis together with him.Klopp is well known for his exuberant touchline celebrations and Mignolet thinks the passion the German shows on the sidelines is beginning to rub off on the Liverpool players. Mignolet thinks Klopps positive attitude is starting to rub off on the players It was the initial change when he arrived, Mignolet said. He wanted us to be positive and he wanted us to bbe on the front foot.ddddddddddddAlso, his enthusiasm and his character was very positive towards the players. You felt he was behind all the players and you could see it in the games.Hes playing his own game on the sidelines and thats what you want as a player because you feel hes there behind you and that only makes it easier to play as a player on the pitch. Mignolet signed a new long-term deal at Liverpool in January Liverpool showed their faith in Mignolet by handing him a new five-year deal in January, but things have not gone quite as well for his Belgium team-mate Christian Benteke, who is ruled out of the clash with Tottenham through injury.Benteke has scored just seven goals in 24 appearances for the Reds since his big-money move from Aston Villa, but Mignolet has thrown his support behind the 25-year-old, claiming he still has plenty to offer at Anfield. Mignolet has backed Christian Benteke to come good at Liverpool When you are a striker you want to score goals, Mignolet said. You want to play every single game but weve got such a big squad and everybody is fighting for a place in the starting 11.It isnt always easy to play every game but Christians got that mentality to keep his head down and focus on the next game. He will always be ready when called upon. Hes had a few problems with a couple of injuries this year as well but everybody knows what his abilities and qualities are and you know he can help you out at both ends of the pitch.Hes shown that in the past. He can score very important goals but he can also hold the ball up for us which is good to give the defence a breather. We know what he can do and hell always work hard to help us out.Watch the full Simon Mignolet interview on Soccer Saturday from 12pm.Also See:Klopp: Clash a final for SpursSky Live: Lliverpool v SpursWATCH: Reds players prankedLallana wins PFA Fans award ' ' '