oving Hansbrough twice in the second quarter, then not backing away quickly enough for a referee who stepped in. Dwyane Wades aching right knee is still lim

WWE world champion AJ Styles has been on a whirlwind ride over the last 10 months. Marek Schwarz Jersey . Since making his WWE debut at the Royal Rumble in January, hes had memorable showdowns with Chris Jericho, Roman Reigns, John Cena and Dean Ambrose?--?to say nothing of James Ellsworth.The most shocking element is how quickly hes accumulated a massive following in the WWE, after decades in the wrestling industry working for every other major company in the world, and risen to the top of the ranks in the company.With Tuesdays release of WWE 2K17, ESPNs Tim Fiorvanti had?the chance to talk with the face that runs the place on SmackDown Live about his love of all things video games, his incredible run over the last year, dream opponents and much, much more.ESPN: AJ, its pretty well documented that youre a big gamer. I saw a video from about 10 years ago where you had a PlayStation 2, an Xbox, a GameCube and a SEGA Dreamcast with a video screen attached, among a great many other things in your game room at home. Whats the setup like these days?AJ Styles: If were talking about my setup now we could talk about all the retro games that I have, like my collection of hand-held systems that most people have forgotten about, but I also still have systems that can play the old games like a RetroN 5 and other craziness. I also have my arcade machines, and then we can move on to the PS4, and the Xbox One, but I like to play my Xbox 360 as well. So I have pretty much everything, man -- I have an addiction, and I admit that.ESPN: When youre on the road, how much of that do you end up taking with you? Is it more about the consoles or the handhelds when youre done wrestling for the night?AJ: Well I actually take my Xbox 360 on the road. I still enjoy playing my 360 because the last game that they made for college football was 2014, so I have it just so I can play that game. There are also some games [for that system] that I never really got into, but now I really enjoy them, like this game called Bullet Storm. I didnt realize how fantastic this game was at the time, but Im rocking it right now and its awesome. Its to a point where a lot the guys will go, What game is that dude? Im like, Dude its actually kind of old. So yeah I still like rocking the 360.ESPN: You have three kids -- are they as enthusiastic as you are when it comes to video games? Have you instilled that in them?AJ: Theyre not as well rounded as I am. My oldest son likes Madden. Thats the one he wants to play, or baseball on the PS4. My second-oldest son, he cant wait for me to get home and take him WWE 2K17. My third son, hes on the Wii U, enjoys Mario Maker and whatnot. So theyre all involved, but theyre all in different age groups.ESPN: Lets talk about WWE 2K17 for a little bit. I think its pretty cool, at least for somebody whos followed your career, that in 2016 in a WWE video game you can have AJ Styles face Samoa Joe. What is that like for you, considering all the different places both of your careers have been?AJ: Its pretty neat. I remember Joe telling me when he signed with WWE, and how cool I thought it was that my buddy is going to come in and make a difference, and I knew he would. Then he makes it in time to be in the game this year, which was unbelievable. I dont know how many people made me in 2K16, but Ive seen a lot of different AJ Styles, and the fact that they dont have to do it this year Im sure is a relief to them. Its just really neat being a part of it all, man.ESPN: In terms of some of the guys who you faced prior to signing with WWE, like a Joe, like a Nakamura, how much are you looking forward to the opportunity to showcasing those kinds of matches for a WWE audience in the future?AJ: Absolutely, I am. I mean, the chemistry I have with both those guys, and other guys that are coming up through NXT or a part of NXT, its kind of one of those things where you cant rush it. But all this stuff is gonna eventually happen. We just have to be patient.ESPN: As the WWE World Champion, you are playing a pretty massive role in whats going on in Smackdown Live right now, where everythings been very well received. For you in particular, we have as our No. 1 in our Power Rankings and were certainly not alone. What is it like to have your work recognized and your level of performance recognized to the degree it has since you joined WWE?AJ: Its huge. Thats what you work for, is to be recognized. Its nice to know that the hard work that youve put in all these years is finally getting the, I dont want to say praise, but you know. I busted my tail for so long, Im just glad its getting recognized now as part of the WWE. Because lets face it, the WWE is the biggest company out there when it comes to wrestling. Im just happy that Im being recognized as somebody who works hard, I guess.ESPN: Ten or 15 years ago, maybe even further back, when you thought about having a career in the WWE, is this sort of what you imagined? How does it compare in terms of what your dreams were and how its actually playing out?AJ: I dont think you really can compare this to anything. Who would have thought that Hey man, by the way, as soon as you get to the WWE, youre gonna get a rocket attached to you. Its gonna be unbelievable. The Royal Rumble being as crazy a night as it was for me, and then within nine months Im the world champion. Thats huge. I dont think anyone expected that, including myself. Time has everything to do with that. I dont think that would have happened years ago. The WWE has changed so much since then as well. Who knows -- if there had been no Daniel Bryan, would there have been no AJ Styles here in WWE? So theres a lot of factors that come into play when talking about the past and where I would see myself in this situation years ago.ESPN: Im curious, do you feel like theres a match or a series of matches that really helped you raise your game, raise your profile, and really put you over the top in terms of actually coming to the WWE?AJ: I dont know. I dont know that they go out and look at other matches and go Thats a guy we need in the WWE. I dont know how that process happens. I think there are definitely guys I worked with before that now work here in the WWE, and they might go This guys great, lets give him a shot.ESPN: What about from your side? Is there something you feel like you picked up while you were in Japan thats really kind of been key to your success that youve had here in the WWE?AJ: I think that I made a lot of noise in my career, and with my work ethic when I was in Japan. I think a lot of people were noticing what was going on. Especially with Tanahashi and Nakamura, having so many amazing matches with those guys. Whos to say? Do I think Vince McMahon was looking at my matches in Japan going We need him? No. He wasnt, hes too busy. Theres no way. But somebody may have been looking and going all right, I like this guy. Lets give him a shot.ESPN: For people who havent watched New Japan or dont really know what its like, what was your experience like being able to main event a Wrestle Kingdom show in front of a Tokyo Dome crowd?AJ: I was also a fan of Japanese wrestling [before I went there]. I watched a lot of VHS tapes from Japan, and to be able to wrestle in the Tokyo Dome at one of the biggest shows of the year was really cool for me. It was my Wrestlemania moment before I had a Wrestlemania moment. And to be able to say that I did a WrestleKingdom and a Wrestlemania in the same year, I dont think theres too many people that can say theyve done that. And I love that. I love being one of those guys that can say that I was on two of the biggest shows of the year.ESPN: Given the chance, whether you have three or five or 10 Wrestlemanias ahead of you, is there a list you have, like a must-face guy or a dream opponent that you would like to face at some point?AJ: I always say when it comes to dream matches that is not up to me, thats up to the WWE Universe. Thats up to the fans. But there is a guy on SmackDown that I have yet to wrestle yet thats certainly gonna happen at some point, and thats Randy Orton.ESPN: My very last question, Ill swing back to WWE 2K17. If you have to choose one of your greatest opponents to face in the game ...AJ: Sting.ESPN: Okay, Ill make it harder -- one of your great opponents who has never been in a WWE video game to be in a future edition of WWE 2K, in an AJ Styles story mode or just to be able to use them in the game.AJ: Oh man. Thats never been in the WWE. Wow, thats tough, man. That may be the most difficult question Ive ever had. I mean think about that, who would you love to see in there that hasnt been there at least in one of the games, because theyve had so many legends in there before. Phew.How about Jushin Thunder Liger. When you think about all the maneuvers and stuff that hes come up with and what hes done in the ring, thats a pretty big gap to fill. So thatd be pretty cool. Blues Jerseys 2020 . Ashley Youngs cross was inadvertently headed by Chester into his own net in the 66th minute, allowing United to claim a third straight league win. "We had to dig deep with our fighting spirit and weve done that," United striker Wayne Rooney said. Martin Brodeur Jersey . Darren Helm scored on Detroits sixth attempt in the shootout and then Jonas Gustavsson stopped Andrew Shaws shot, lifting the Detroit Red Wings to a 5-4 win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday night. https://www.cheapblues.com/2244z-nathan-...rsey-blues.html .com) - The Montreal Canadiens embark on their first road trip of the season as they head out west to battle the Calgary Flames on Wednesday night. MIAMI -- Standing on the cusp of the NBA Finals has tended to agree with the Miami Heat in each of the last two seasons. When the Heat have gotten a game away from the title round, theyve finished the task as quickly as possible. And here they are again. A third straight Eastern Conference title is now just one win away for the reigning champions, though if the way this series has gone so far is an accurate indicator, that win will hardly come easily. The Heat -- without suspended forward Chris Andersen -- will visit the Indiana Pacers on Saturday night, leading the best-of-seven East finals 3-2 and in position to close out their new rivals on their own floor for the second straight season. "Were desperate, too," Heat forward and four-time NBA MVP LeBron James said Friday. "Were desperate to get back to the NBA Finals. So both teams are desperate in their own sense of theyre trying to keep their season alive and were trying to advance." The teams have alternated wins and losses through the first five games, and if that trend holds, then its the Pacers turn to prevail on Saturday and send the series back to Miami for a winner-goes-to-the-finals Game 7 on Monday night. If the Heat -- who have won each of their last six potential series-closeout games, including two in the 2011 and 2012 East finals -- win, then the championship round against the San Antonio Spurs will begin in Miami on Thursday. "You cant start thinking about opening up the invitation," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "Thats over there. You cant even think about that." The Pacers saw their season end a year ago on their home floor, at Miamis hand, in Game 6 of a second-round series. So Indianas biggest source of motivation on Saturday may be the desire to avoid the indignity of watching Miami advance in Indianapolis for a second straight season. "Game 6 will really determine how much weve grown, because weve been in the same ditch, I guess, being in the same predicament," Pacers star Paul George said. "Going 2-2, losing in Miami, then coming back home and losing at home. So well see where were at. Weve done well all year, especially in the post-season, dealing with adversity and overcoming games where we didnt play as well as we wanted." The shirts in Indiana say "Gold Swagger" for a reason. Even down 3-2 against a team that hasnt lost back-to-back games since early January, the Pacers still have plenty of confidence, and it starts with a coach who came into the series insisting his club had genuine belief that it could knock off the champions. "Its not just false talk," Indiana coach Frank Vogel said. "Theres a reason Im confident. I like to tell these guys that Im not an optimist. Thats what my image is. Im a realist. And when I look around at what I see in the room when Im talking to this team, and what I see on the court, and the level of execution that were capable of ... it gives me real confidence in this basketballl team. Oskar Sundqvist Jersey. Our guys understand its not just happy talk." Adjustments will be made by both sides before Saturday, of course. But at this point, its more than likely that the sides are out of ways to tactically surprise one another. A play here, a play there, that might be the difference, and that sort of thinking is shared by both sides. "Its about effort," Pacers centre Roy Hibbert said. "Its about who wants it more, who wants to get that offensive rebound, who wants to get that blocked shot, who wants to get the loose ball. We just have to come out with more determination. Its not anything the coaches can tell us, its about whats in here. Its lose or go home right now." Sometimes, its not even about what happens on the court. The Heat were losing 44-40 at halftime on Thursday in Game 5, when veteran Juwan Howard -- who appeared in seven games for all of 51 minutes this season after being re-signed by Miami -- went on a shouting spree in the locker room. James followed that up with a fiery, slightly profane speech of his own, and Miami went on a 30-10 run not long afterward that served as a springboard to victory. "His purity, respect level, the credibility that he has, it resonates with our guys and specifically it resonates with the guys in the locker room," Spoelstra said of Howard. "They hear what he says. It means something. And it was raw communication. Were at that point right now where it has to be real, has to be raw, has to be eye-to-eye. These are desperate times. Theres no looking back. Its either us or them." James said Friday that he couldnt even remember specifics of some things he had yelled the previous night. "Absolutely not," James said. "You just let the game speak for itself, I guess." Vogel said he expects that reserve forward Tyler Hansbrough, who sprained an ankle in the second half of Game 5, will be available on Saturday. Andersen, the backup big man who is 15 for 15 from the floor in the series and has made his last 18 shots overall, was suspended Friday night for shoving Hansbrough twice in the second quarter, then not backing away quickly enough for a referee who stepped in. Dwyane Wades aching right knee is still limiting him and Chris Boshs numbers are nowhere near what the Heat would want right now, so the defending champions arent exactly at their best, either. Still, the Pacers know that the challenge theyre facing now -- needing to go 2-0 against Miami in a three-day span to get to the finals -- is enormous. "One game at a time," George said. "We have to come home and play a good game. Everybody is going to have to step up and play a huge role. I know in the back of their mind they want to get the job done and be finished. So were going to have to come out and bring it." Or else, the Heat will be finals-bound, one more time. "The close-out game," Heat forward Shane Battier said, "is always the toughest." ' ' '