Herausforderungen » Avalanche beat the Carolina Hurricanes 4-2

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- Maurice Cheeks is ready for a new challenge, undaunted by the fact that the Detroit Pistons have been a revolving door for coaches lately. Cheeks is the franchises fourth coach in six seasons, so is he concerned about a job where so many others have failed? "If we thought like that, nobody would be coaching," Cheeks said. Cheeks was introduced Thursday, nearly two months after Lawrence Frank was fired. The coaching search took a while because the Pistons need this decision to work out. Detroit went 54-94 in two seasons under Frank amid sagging attendance. The previous two seasons under John Kuester werent any better. The Pistons havent made the playoffs since being swept in the first round in 2009 -- in Michael Currys only season at the helm. Cheeks is Detroits ninth coach since the 1999-2000 season. "We wanted to make sure we took our time and went through as many possible scenarios as weve come across," team president Joe Dumars said. "We feel like we got the right guy for what were trying to do." This is the third head coaching stop for Cheeks. He went 284-286 with the Portland Trail Blazers and Philadelphia 76ers. Cheeks coaching tenure in Portland is perhaps best remembered for a heartwarming moment when he rushed to the rescue of a 13-year-old girl who forgot the words to the national anthem before a game. But hes never been past the first round of the playoffs. "Everything you go through is a learning experience," Cheeks said. "Im here to make my own way, put my own stamp on this team. It has nothing to do with Philadelphia or Portland." Detroit drafted Greg Monroe, Brandon Knight and Andre Drummond in the lottery the last three years, and the Pistons have the No. 8 pick this year. Theyve been able to build a nucleus of young players with potential, but Detroit has lacked a legitimate star who could lift the team into the post-season and help draw fans. This off-season is an important one for Dumars after the team cleared salary cap space by trading veterans Ben Gordon and Tayshaun Prince in the last year. "This team has a lot of young talent," Cheeks said. "You go across the board, and youve got players that just have to be honed." Jonas Jerebko, a 26-year-old forward whose playing time dipped last season, was at Thursdays news conference. "Hes going to demand respect, and thats something we need," Jerebko said. "I feel like hes a great fit for our young team." Jerebko said he was shooting around with a couple other players earlier Thursday when Cheeks tried to set the tone for the future. "I had a couple flip-flops on or something -- you know, messing around," Jerebko said. "He told us: When youre in there, youve got to put in work. ... Thats what you want as a player -- you want somebody to tell you what to do. I wont be wearing my flip-flops out there." Cheeks spent the past four seasons as an Oklahoma City Thunder assistant. The Chicago native was a four-time All-Star over 15 seasons in the NBA, helping the Sixers win a championship in 1983. Next season will mark the 10-year anniversary of Detroits championship in 2004. Since then, the team has parted ways with the stars from that team, and the Pistons also have a fairly new owner. Tom Gores took over the franchise two years ago. Hall of Famer Phil Jackson helped with Detroits coaching search as a consultant, but Dumars said there was "a 100 per cent consensus" to hire Cheeks. Dumars is the teams most obvious link to its more successful past, and he acknowledges that no matter how many changes the team makes, fans will take a wait-and-see approach until the Pistons start winning again. "I think people are always skeptical until you prove yourself," Dumars said. "Im not here to try and prove to people in the press conference that everything is perfect. What I am saying, though, is were not going to stop working until we get it right. I think thats all you can do in this position." Cheap Nike Sb Shoes Online . Laudrup revealed Thursday he was notified of his dismissal in "the briefest of letters which gave no reasons why such hasty and final action was deemed necessary. Nike Sb Sale . "Hes going to have hip surgery on Jan. 7, and hell be expected to rehabilitate for four to six months beyond that," Canucks general manager Mike Gillis said Friday in an interview. http://www.cheapnikesbaustralia.com/ . A lawyer for MLB, Matthew Menchel, confirmed Wednesday the league dropped its case against Biogenesis of America, its owner Anthony Bosch and several other individuals. The lawsuit had accused Biogenesis and Bosch of conspiring with players to violate their contracts by providing them with banned performance-enhancing substances. Nike Sb Shoes Australia . "It was nerve-wracking, but we pulled through," said Collaros, who threw four touchdown passes to lead the Toronto Argonauts (8-4) to a 33-27 win over the Calgary Stampeders (9-3) in front of 28,781 fans at McMahon Stadium. Cheap Wholesale Nike Sb Shoes . Duchene scored two goals and had an assist, helping the Colorado Avalanche beat the Carolina Hurricanes 4-2 on Friday night to match the best 10-game start in team history. The Washington Redskins expect offensive lineman Bryan Stork to report to the team, a source close to the situation said, though it remains uncertain whether this completely ends his retirement talk.NFL Network first reported the news.The Redskins traded a conditional seventh-round draft pick to New England for Stork, a former starting center. It had already been reported that the Patriots were going to release him, which is when the Redskins offered a deal. The source said Stork gave Washington the initial impression he was excited to join the team, but talk of his possible retirement soon followed. Its uncertain whether that was over health concerns -- hes had four concusssions -- or another reason.ddddddddddddStork started 17 games in his two seasons with New England, including in the Super Bowl win over Seattle his rookie year. In Washington, hell provide depth at center, and possibly guard, though theres a chance hell eventually push starter Kory Lichtensteiger for the starting job.Earlier in the day, Redskins coach Jay Gruden said he wasnt sure what the latest was with Stork, though he added, I dont have any timetable. Wed like him here as soon as possible. Wed like to get him in, get a look and go from there. ' ' '