Join us » os play through it. Hes been scufflin

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. -- The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame will soon welcome two of the sports game-changing stars -- one big and one small.Shaquille ONeal and Allen Iverson headline the Class of 2016 which will be enshrined Friday night. Joining them in the 10-member class will be NBA and international star Yao Ming, longtime Michigan State coach Tom Izzo, WNBA star Sheryl Swoopes, NAIA coaching legend John McLendon (posthumous), former referee Darell Garretson (posthumous), executive Jerry Reinsdorf, ABA star Zelmo Beaty (posthumous) and early African-American pioneer Cumberland Posey (posthumous).Hall of Fame chairman Jerry Colangelo, a 2004 inductee, said it might be one of the top five classes he has seen.I think its an extraordinary class, Colangelo told The Associated Press. Its true that each year we think its a great class. But some years some of them do stand out.ONeal, a four-time NBA champion and seventh on the all-time scoring list, was always must-watch television for what the 7-footer did both on and off the court. He again drew all eyes to him during Thursdays jacket ceremony for the inductees.After he slipped on his custom orange blazer, Shaq theatrically waved off Hall of Fame president and CEO John Doleva, clearing the way for the man who once called himself The Big Aristotle to strut solo across the stage as camera bulbs flashed.Then, when he was seated on the dais, Shaq sprung to his feet and relieved Doleva, who was struggling to reach the massive shoulders of the 7-foot-6 Ming. Shaq grabbed the jacket and gleefully assumed the role of impromptu butler for his fellow big man.His antics started much earlier. Swoopes told a story of Shaq promising her $1 million if she would fake a fall during the class walk to the stage. She declined, but only because she said Shaq wouldnt show me the money.Later, Shaq explained that his bravado was only his attempt to savor every moment of the experience. He said his speech Friday will be a love letter to those who helped him achieve a basketball dream that didnt seem real when he was a teenage army brat.I dont memorize a lot of stuff, but I have this one memorized, ONeal said of his speech. I wouldnt miss it for the world. I bought about 1,000 tickets to each event. All my family, everybody will be there. Its just great.He said being in the same class with a guy like Iverson was appropriate for two players who brought their own unique styles to the NBA -- Shaq as an imposing force in the middle and Iverson as a small player whose skill and personal bravado still resonate today.He had a lot of heart, ONeal said of Iverson. Were similar in the aspect that we did it our way. ... I was only going to do it my way. He did it his way. Cultural icon. A lot of things were implemented because of his style -- with the dress code -- and the way he wears chains and big tattoos and all that stuff. He made it cool for that to happen.Iverson missed Thursdays jacket ceremony, arriving late to speak with the assembled media. He got emotional when he was asked about the people who he credited for his success and highlighted John Thompson, his college coach at Georgetown, as well as Larry Brown, his longtime NBA coach with the Philadelphia 76ers.Thats the only thing that gets me here, is my teammates. My teammates and my coaches, said the former NBA Rookie of the Year and 2001 MVP. Thats the only reason Im here. All those guys sacrificed their games and sacrificed things for me.Shaq said Iversons crossover of Michael Jordan during his rookie season in 1997 was the definition of the kind of player Iverson was.Everybody talks about his move against Michael Jordan, Shaq said. You got to have (guts) to pull off a move against a legend like that.Yao ushered in a new era of international basketball when he left China to become the top pick of the NBA draft in 2002. As a member of the Houston Rockets, he earned All-Rookie honors and would go on to be an eight-time All-Star. He was named a three-time FIBA Asian Championship MVP.When Im walking through the Hall, for the first time I feel Im so small, Yao said. I look up to the roof top and all the pictures around ... I really sense all the people before me that Mr. Naismith made possible with the life he had.---Follow Kyle Hightower on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/khightower Brad Wieck Jersey Cubs . -- Cam Newton pranced into the end zone, placed his hands over his chest and did his familiar Superman pose. Dustin Pedroia Jersey Red Sox . Bryant, who signed a five-year, $34 million contract as a free agent with Cleveland in March, reported symptoms on Monday morning, a team spokesman said. https://www.discountjerseysonline.com/steve-pearce-jersey-red-sox-734 . Self was acquired from the Buffalo Bandits in a trade for Alex Hill midway through last season, and made his debut in Rochester on March 16, 2013. Craig Kimbrel Jersey Red Sox .Y. -- Injured Buffalo Sabres forward Marcus Foligno did not practice with the team Monday and head coach Ron Rolston said its unlikely hell play in Wednesdays season opener in Detroit. Hanley Ramirez Jersey Red Sox . The Cincinnati Reds remain perfect with their speedy rookie outfielder in the starting lineup.In the midst of a terrible slump, Amos Ramon stepped up to play the heros role at Shaw Park on Tuesday night. With 6,147 fans cheering wildly, Ramon delivered a bases-loaded double in the bottom of the eighth inning to drive home two runs and give the Winnipeg Goldeyes a 6-4 win over the visiting Sioux Falls Canaries. Coming to the plate zero-for-three on the evening and one-for-36 in his last 11 games, Ramon took a fastball the opposite way to score pinch-runner Jordan Guida, along with Josh Mazzola, as the Goldeyes came back from a 4-1 deficit after an inning an a half to score one in the second, two in the seventh and two more in the eighth. With the win, the Goldeyes got back to .500 at 30-30, won their third straight game and stayed seven-and-a-half games back of the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks in the race for first in the American Associations North Division. It was also a great way to start an 11-games-in-10-days homestand. "Amos has been scuffling lately, but hed lined out earlier in the ball game and after that he took some better swings and had some better at-bats," said Goldeyes manager Rick Forney. "You know how Amos can be when he gets going, when he heats up and gets some confidence. Maybe that was the hit that will get him going again. "Were going to let Amos play through it. Hes been scuffling, but hes done a lot of great things for us the past couple of years and hes earned everybodys patience." Sioux Falls opened the scoring with three runs in the first off of Goldeyes starter Matt Rusch, but Winnipeg answered witth a single run in the bottom of the first, as Tyler Graham singled, stole second and scored on a single by Ryan Scoma.dddddddddddd After Sioux Falls took a 4-1 lead in the top of the second, the Goldeyes answered with a run in the bottom of the second as Fehlandt Lentini doubled, stole third and scored on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Luis Alen. The Goldeyes tied the game in the seventh, as Alen walked and went to third on a single by Tyler Graham. Graham stole second and then Alen scored on an error by Sioux Falls shortstop Cory Morales. Graham then came home on a double by Ray Sadler and the Goldeyes had tied it up at 4-4. That set up Winnipegs huge eighth inning. Casey Haerther had a terrific at bat to lead off the inning and drilled a single to centre. Mazzola then walked and Haerther was replaced by pinch-runner Jordan Guida. Lentini laid down a bunt that moved Guida and Mazzola up 90 feet, Alen was walked intentionally and then Ramon delivered the double that won the ball game. Brendan Lafferty (2-1, 4.65 ERA) got the win in relief of Rusch, who was rock solid through seven innings after a rough first inning. Closer Patrick Keating earned his 12th save. Sioux Falls reliever Kirk Clark (0-3, 4.37 ERA) suffered the loss in relief of starter Mitchell Clegg who allowed only two runs on six hits through six innings. The Goldeyes and Canaries will meet in Game 2 of this three-game series on Wednesday night, 7:00 p.m. at Shaw Park. Pete Gehle will get the start for Winnipeg, while Adam Champion will take the ball for Sioux Falls. ' ' '