LAKE PLACID, N.Y. - Calgarys Elisabeth Vathje won the silver medal in the season-opening World Cup womens skeleton race on Friday.Vathje finished with a two-run time of one minute 51.90 seconds in the World Cup debut.Britains Elizabeth Yarnold finished first in 1:51.13, while Austrias Janine Flock slid to bronze in 1:52.04.Im so excited and a little overwhelmed, Vathje said. My goal was top-six today, but I really had no expectations.My first run was pretty good so going into that second run, I just relied on my years of experience here and let er fly.Vathjes silver medal was a strong start to the season for Canadas new-look skeleton squad. Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton is sending five new athletes onto the World Cup circuit this year.I know the skeleton program is struggling right now so I really saw these first World Cups as a great opportunity to say Canada is still here, and we can win, said Vathje. With this result, I will now be a lot more relaxed heading into Calgary next week. I have a lot of experience there so Im looking forward to it.Calgarys Lanette Prediger finished 11th, while Madison Charney of Brooks, Alta., placed 19th.In the mens race, Latvias Martins Dukurs won the gold with a time of 1:47.42, while his brother Tomass Dukurs slid to the silver at 1:47.72. Matthew Anotine, of the United States, claimed the bronze at 1:47.86.Dave Greszczyszyn of Brampton, Ont., led Canada with an eighth-place finish.Barrett Martineau of Calgary finished 16th. DreMont Jones Youth Jersey . The Rangers announced after Thursdays 4-2 loss to the New York Yankees that they would purchase Williams contract from Triple-A Round Rock. The 32-year-old Williams was released by Houston earlier this month after going 1-4 with a 6. Phillip Lindsay Broncos Jersey . - The Jacksonville Jaguars are leaning more toward playing injured quarterback Blake Bortles against Tennessee on Thursday night. http://www.broncosrookiestore.com/Bronco...Freeman-Jersey/. Their 9-19 record remains identical to the crosstown rivals in Brooklyn and trails both Toronto and Boston in the Atlantic Division. Raymond Felton, their declining point guard, is back on the sideline nursing his third injury of the season. Peyton Manning Womens Jersey . Canadas 5-1 loss to Finland in the semifinal ranks as the tournaments most-watched game with a record 2.7 million viewers, the largest ever for a World Juniors game played outside of North America, and winning Saturday as the most-watched program on Canadian television. Gary Zimmerman Womens Jersey . Maximilian Arnold put Wolfsburg ahead in the eighth minute, when the stationary Fallou Diagne allowed him to guide Patrick Ochs cross beyond the helpless Freiburg goalkeeper, and Ivica Olic doubled the lead three minutes later after Luiz Gustavo did well to set him up.BROOKLYN, NY -- On the Toronto Raptors bus ride to practise Saturday, talk wasnt about the upcoming game against the Brooklyn Nets. It centred around the Los Angeles Clippers and owner Donald Sterling. The NBA is investigating a report of an audio recording in which a man identified as Sterling tells his girlfriend not to bring black people to games. "Guys more than anything are saying, Something has to addressed, something has to be said," said Raptors forward Steve Novak, who spent two seasons (2008-10) with the Clippers. The league said it is in the process of authenticating the validity of the recording posted on TMZs website. In the recording, the man questions his girlfriends association with minorities. TMZ reported the woman, V. Stiviano, who is of black and Mexican descent, posted a picture of herself with Lakers Hall of Famer Magic Johnson on Instagram -- which has since been removed. "Theres definitely not a place for it in the NBA, in this game," Novak said. "What makes it so strange is hes been an NBA owner for that many years (33), hes not someone who isnt associated with African Americans, someone whos benefited that much from African Americans. . . theyve been such a positive part of his life. "Sometimes theres very successful people who arent very good people," Novak added about the American business magnate. The man in the recording asked Stiviano not to broadcast her association with black people or bring black people to games. He specifically mentioned Magic Johnson on the recording, saying "dont bring him to my games, OK?" "I will never go to a Clippers game again as long as Donald Sterling is the owner," Johnson responded on Twitter. He also said the alleged comments are "a black eye for the NBA" and felt bad that friends such as Clippers coach Doc Rivers and point-guard Chris Paul had to work for Sterling. "I dont blame him. I wouldnt either," DeMar DeRozan said of Johnsons decision to boycott games. DeRozan, who grew up in Compton just south of downtown Los Angeles, said he felt for the Clippers players, who lead their Western Conference playoff series against Golden State 2-1. "Honestly, especially right now in the playoffs, theyre trying to win their series so its going to be interesting to see (how the players handle the situation),&quuot; DeRozan said.dddddddddddd Landry Fields added: "Right now theyre kind of in a tough position. Theres still playoffs to be played. But it is sad that now this has become an issue rather than Clipper basketball." DeRozan was asked if he could play for an owner like Sterling. "I dont know man, I dont know. I dont know," the all-star said with a shake of his head. "Me personally, I dont stand for nothing like that. It would be tough, itd be tough." Added Raptors coach Dwane Casey: "If its true, its a sad commentary on our society . . . on our society as a whole, being an African American myself." Novak said the allegations are no surprise, players have known about previous discrimination cases against Sterling. He said the NBA must take action. "I think its personal to each and every guy," Novak said. "More than anything I dont think the league can sit back and say it didnt happen, if it did. "Theres no way that should be tolerated. I dont think in any workplace in the world you can speak that way about anybody, and in our league especially." New NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in a press conference before the Grizzlies playoff game in Memphis that the audio is "disturbing and offensive." "All members of the NBA family should be afforded due process and a fair opportunity to present their side of any controversy, which is why Im not yet prepared to discuss any potential sanctions against Donald Sterling," Silver said. "We will, however, move extraordinarily quickly in our investigation." Novak added its a huge black eye to the NBA ownership group. "The owners in the NBA are such an impressive group of people," he said. "Look at all the owners and what theyve done, and all the good things that they do, and so for something like that to come out, to be grouped as an NBA owner type-thing is unfortunate." Sterling has been involved in several lawsuits over the years. Novak played for the Clippers when the owner was sued by the U.S. Department of Justice in 2009. Sterling agreed to pay US$2.73 million to settle allegations by the government that he refused to rent apartments to Hispanics and blacks and to families with children. Sterling is the longest-tenured owner in the NBA since Lakers owner Jerry Buss died last year. ' ' '