t pro TD - and the Lions had a 20-3

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WEST BROMWICH, England -- Striker Nicolas Anelka announced he has terminated his contract with Premier League club West Bromwich Albion with immediate effect on Friday after being suspended for five matches by the Football Association for a racially aggravated goal celebration. The former France forward, whose career has been marred by controversies, was suspended last month for performing a gesture which is known in France as a "quenelle" and regarded as anti-Semitic. Anelka said on his Twitter account on Friday that he decided to leave the club because he could not accept West Broms conditions for being allowed back into the squad. "Proposals have been made for me to rejoin the group under certain conditions that I cant accept," Anelka said in French on his 35th birthday. "Wishing to keep my integrity, I took the decision to free myself and end the contract linking me with West Bromwich Albion until 2014, with immediate effect." In January, Anelka hinted that he could end his career at the end of the season but also mentioned interests from clubs including Lazio in signing him. Anelka performed the quenelle as he celebrated scoring in West Broms 3-3 draw with West Ham last December. The gesture involves pointing one straightened arm downward while touching the shoulder with the opposite hand. It was popularized by French comedian Dieudonne MBala MBala, who has been convicted for inciting racial hatred and anti-Semitism. After his suspension was announced at the end of last month, both Anelka and West Brom decided not to appeal the sanction. In Anelkas witness statement, the striker said he became aware of Dieudonne in about 2000, met him once, and watched recordings of his shows. He said he made the gesture "purely to say hello to my friend." Anelka, who had previously been photographed performing the salute, joined West Brom last summer after two disappointing seasons at Shanghai Shenhua and Juventus. The former Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City, Bolton and Chelsea player is one of the most talented and controversial players France has produced since former Manchester United great Eric Cantona. After growing up in a Parisian suburb, Anelka started his career at Paris Saint-Germain and was quickly spotted by Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who signed him in 1997. Known for his immense technical skills, Anelka played a big part in the Gunners winning both the Premier League and the FA Cup but missed out on a place in the France team that won the 1998 World Cup. Anelkas sometimes nonchalant attitude and apparent lack of commitment to the team started to anger the Arsenal fans, who gave him the nickname "Le Sulk." Anelka then joined Real Madrid, where he won the Champions League, before moving to PSG, Liverpool, Manchester City, Fenerbahce and Bolton. The much-travelled Frenchman then struck up an electric partnership with Didier Drogba at Chelsea, winning the Premier League title and two FA Cups with the Blues. Anelka caused the biggest controversy of his career with the French national team, when he was sent home from the 2010 World Cup after insulting then-coach Raymond Domenech in the dressing room. The stubborn Anelka refused to apologize and ended his international career in the wake of the scandal with 14 goals in 69 appearances. .5 million. The 25-year-old Varlamov is thriving under first-year coach and Hall of Fame goaltender Patrick Roy, posting a 26-9-5 record with a 2. . Toronto dropped a 7-2 decision to the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday afternoon, with only a pair of late runs preventing a second straight shutout loss. Josh Willingham belted a two-run homer in the first inning and Kendrys Morales hit a bases-clearing double in the seventh as the Twins took the rubber game of the three-game series. http://www.hockeyteamcanadajerseystore. ... da-jersey/. The Giants chances of winning the division were dealt a serious blow by the three-game sweep at the hands of the lowly Padres. The Giants open a three-game series at Dodger Stadium on Monday night. San Francisco is still in good shape to clinch a wild-card berth, although it dropped into a tie with Pittsburgh in the race for the top spot. .C. - Goodyear has warned teams that increased speeds at Charlotte Motor Speedway will put a heavy emphasis on the right front tires in Saturday nights race a€” a potentially key development for drivers trying to advance in the Chase for the Sprint Cup Championship. . He will play 10th-seeded Feliciano Lopez in Sundays final, after the Spanish left-hander defeated Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic 7-6 (7), 6-4.VANCOUVER -- It was after Week 2 of the CFL season when the B.C. Lions were stumbling along winless and looking like a team with no chance at playing in a championship Grey Cup game that they are set to host. That feels like a long time ago now after quarterback Kevin Glenn had 301 yards and two touchdowns Saturday, as the Lions rolled over the Montreal Alouettes 41-5 for their second straight victory. Glenn was impressive, going 23-for-31 before leaving late in the third with a minor muscle strain that he says isnt serious. As for those critics coming after Glenn and his Lions after Week 2 -- when they lost 24-9 to the Als in Montreal -- the quarterback says everything is right on track. "Its a marathon, and you want to gradually get better every week," he said. "Last week we werent perfect and naturally this week we werent perfect, but we made plays when they were called upon. "We want to make sure were growing as a team till the end of the year when youre playing your best football." Wide receiver Emmanuel Arceneaux caught three touchdown passes, including both of Glenns, as the Lions moved to 2-2 after last weeks impressive 26-13 win in Regina. The Als (1-3), meanwhile, have just one win on the season -- against B.C. -- and it was a tough outing for Montreal quarterback Troy Smith, who finished with a scant 45 yards passing before being replaced in the fourth. "Its not what we are, but it was what we were tonight," said a downcast Als head coach Tom Higgins. "Credit the B.C. Lions, they did almost everything that they needed to do. We did not execute." The West Coast has rarely been kind to the Alouettes as theyve now been outscored 163-30 in their last four games in Vancouver. Their last win in B.C. was way back in 2010, when the Lions played in Empire Field for one season. But as easy as it is to point to Montreals damning history in Vancouver some of the credit must go to an improving quarterback in Glenn. The 35-year-old veteran, brought in in the off-season to back up injured started Travis Lulay, has been steadily improving as of late and feeling more comfortable with the Lions offense. "Thats what happens when youre a new guy on a new team -- it takes a little time to get comfortable and get going," said Glenn. "And everybody wants it to happen faster, but sometimes its just what happens. It takes a couple games to get in the groove and the game plan running your way." Glenn surpassed a milestone on the first play of the game. He ducked a hard tackle before throwing a 16-yard bullet down the middle to slotback Courtney Taylor that put him over 40,000 career yards. Glenn then found Andrew Harris, who carried it for a gain of 33 yards to put B.C. at the 23 and a ffirst down.dddddddddddd Two incompletes later and Paul McCallum kicked a 30-yard FG for the games first score. Glenn was efficient on the Lions next possession, getting his team to the 36 before heaving a 35-yard TD strike to wide receiver Arceneaux for an early 10-0 advantage. That drive took only five plays and 62 yards. The Als got on the board soon after as Brandon Whitaker took Montreal 41 yards on two rushes before a B.C. roughing the passer call put the Alouettes at the 35. After Troy Smiths pass was nearly picked off, Sean Whyte kicked in a 42-yarder to make it 10-3 at 4:31 of the first. McCallum kicked B.C. to a 13-3 lead at 3:48 of the second thanks to a drive by Glenn. He slung a 25-yard pass to slotback Shawn Gore before finding both Stefan Logan and Taylor to put B.C. inside the red zone. Glenn couldnt finish the drive, so McCallum kicked it in from 16 yards out. It got worse for Montreal minutes later when a blocked punt by Khreem Smith was recovered by defensive tackle Eric Taylor, who huffed it 19 yards to put the Lions back in scoring position. Courtney Taylors 7-yard TD was called back to the one, but backup QB Travis Partridge punched it in - his first pro TD - and the Lions had a 20-3 lead at the half. B.C. went right back to work in the third as a scampering Glenn found Arceneaux for a 35-yard gain and then again down the middle to put the Lions back in the redzone. From deep in the pocket it was once again Glenn connecting with Arceneaux as B.C. took control with a 27-3 lead at seven minutes. Smiths nightmare game continued on the next possession when rookie DE Alex Bazzie sacked him for a quick three and out. "Some of the challenges that people just dont know is theres times when its just not the quarterbacks fault," said Higgins. "(Smith) is standing there and someones not running where theyre supposed to. We need to examine all of those things." Lions backup John Beck came in for the third and picked up where Glenn left off, hitting Arceneaux with a 27-yard touchdown pass to make it 34-3 and put the game out of reach. That was Arceneauxs third major of the game. "Mannys an elite player," said Lions head coach Mike Benevides. "Hes a big time player. As hard as he works and as gifted as he is, Im not surprised at all (hes playing well). Im so grateful thats he on our team." Notes: The Lions honoured the 1994 Grey Cup Champion team at halftime ... Safety Matt McGarva left the game in the first quarter with a knee injury and did not return. ... The Als and Lions have split their season series 1-1 since 2007. ... The Lions continue their home stand in Week 5 with a visit from the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (3-1). Montreal has a bye before hosting the Argos in Week 6. ' ' '