practice squad to their 53-man roster.Hed been through this

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INDIANAPOLIS - The Pacers biggest win so far this season came Monday — off the court. Bastian Schweinsteiger Jersey . One day after breaking out of a slump by beating Oklahoma City and hours before Miami rested its star players, essentially ceding the top seed in the East, the citys Capital Improvement Board approved a new deal that would help the Pacers stay financially competitive in one of the NBAs smallest markets. In exchange for providing $164 million to pay for operating costs at Bankers Life Fieldhouse over the next 10 years, the Pacers agreed to extend a lease agreement that will keep them in Indy for up to 13 more seasons. Board members voted 8-0 in favour of the deal. "This is a major factor helping us get on solid financial ground going forward," Pacers president Jim Morris said Monday. Its not the first time the Pacers have sought public assistance. Three years ago, team owner Herb Simon contended that he was losing money and could not continue to afford paying $15 million in annual operating costs. The CIB stepped in and agreed to spend up to $33.5 million through 2013. Now the quasi-government agency that runs Bankers Life Fieldhouse, home of the citys NBA team and WNBAs Indiana Fever; Lucas Oil Stadium, home to the NFLs Colts, and the citys convention centre will spend in excess of $10.8 million annually over the life of the deal. The contract runs for 10 years and includes three one-year extensions with the Pacers having the option for the first of those years. The last two will be mutually agreed upon. In return, the Pacers have agreed to stay at Bankers Life Fieldhouse and will give city leaders the "right of first offer" in the event the 79-year-old Simon dies and his heirs attempt to sell the team. The provision means the city could designate a new potential owner and that person would be able to make the first offer on the team or could match an offer from someone else. "With this agreement, one of our citys most important facilities will get some critical upgrades and continue to be home to some of our most amazing events," board president Ann Lathrop said after the vote. Critics argue that Simon, who is estimated to be worth more than $1 billion according to Forbes magazine, should foot the bill and that city leaders should fix roads and find more money for its understaffed police department. Mayor Greg Ballard contended the money in this deal couldnt be spent on those services anyway, though the new deal could create more money for those purposes. "By law, this money cant go there anyway," he said. "Its Economics 101. Youre trying to create more revenue for everything else. The assumption is that the pie is one size and thats not true at all. Youre trying to expand the pie." Simon has been frugal with his payroll. Larry Bird, the president of basketball operations, has made it clear Simon will not pay the NBAs luxury tax — the penalty for going substantially over the leagues salary cap. And the CIB investment should help the Pacers bottom line. The deal calls for the board to pay: — $3.7 million annually for fieldhouse operating expenses such as liability insurance, security and utilities; — $7.1 million in reimbursements for management of the arena, a price that includes an annual 3 per cent annual escalator clause: — $26.6 million in capital improvements to "major systems" such as locker rooms, concession stands and seating; — and half of the cost from the scoreboard the Pacers installed two years ago, taking over ownership at the end of the lease. The Pacers and Fever are the primary tenants at Bankers Life, but the arena hosts up to 500 different events throughout the year — everything from Indiana state basketball championships to concerts and other shows, all of which experts say helps the city prosper. But its the Pacers who needed the most help, and Morris believes this deal will keep them more competitive for the long run. "Were doing better," he said. "Weve had 28 sellouts this year, our attendance is up 15 per cent and our sponsorship is up. But weve had a tough 10 years and weve had substantial losses. Were making progress. For 10 or 11 years, we tried to find a way for the franchise to pay for the operating expenses of the building and we just couldnt." Xabi Alonso Bayern Munich Jersey . Cruz set the tone with a two-run homer in the first inning, and Baltimore scored eight times in the eighth to pull away for a 12-3 victory in Game 1. The major league leader with 40 homers during the regular season, Cruz added an RBI single to his early blast off Max Scherzer. Thomas Muller Bayern Munich Jersey . Napoli hit two home runs, Jonny Gomes and prized rookie Xander Bogaerts also connected, and the Red Sox kept up their dizzying scoring spree at Yankee Stadium by bashing New York 13-9 Saturday for a fifth straight win. http://www.bayernmunichfcproshop.com/kids-javi-martinez-bayern-munich-jersey/ . - The RBC Canadian Open will return to Glen Abbey Golf Club next year, marking the 27th time that the national open championship will be played at the Oakville, Ont.ENGLEWOOD, Colo. - In his six months in New Orleans, undrafted linebacker Todd Davis was waived four times, bouncing back and forth between the Saints practice squad and their active roster.Now hes part of Denvers deep linebacker corps thats being tested following injuries to Danny Trevathan (dislocated left kneecap) and top tackler Brandon Marshall (sprained right foot) last weekend.Marshall is expected back for the playoffs. Hes hoping the Broncos can wrap up a first-round bye in Cincinnati on Monday night without him. That would give him a month to get well before Denver would host a divisional round game the weekend of Jan. 10-11.The Broncos claimed Davis off waivers Nov. 13 from New Orleans, where he played primarily on special teams, although he didnt arrive in time to play at St. Louis three days later.I just wanted to bring something to the team. Special teams, backup on defence, whatever it was, I just wanted to do something positive and just bring something to the team every day, Davis said.Davis found an immediate comfort level in Denver. Not just on special teams, but on defence, where he fits the mould that defensive co-ordinator Jack Del Rio favours in his linebackers: smaller, quicker, instinctive.It felt like home. It didnt feel like I was coming here as much as an outsider or anything, Davis said. It just felt like the right fit. As soon as I got here, it felt good.And he proved a quick study.He quickly began appearing in some of the teams specialty packages ahead of drafted rookies Lamin Barrow and Corey Nelson. When Marshall got hurt Sunday, Davis logged 28 snaps from scrimmage and with Von Miller lined up at defensive end, he was often the only linebacker on the field when Denver sealed its 22-10 win at San DDiego. Kingsley Coman Jersey. I think hes adapted quickly, coach John Fox said. He does have good football awareness and football character. I think hes done a very good job in this short time.Davis could find himself with an even bigger role over the next two weeks as the Broncos await Marshalls return.Its quite a turn of events for Davis, who went undrafted after earning All-Big Sky Conference honours with 131 tackles his senior year at Sacramento State. His poor times in the 40-yard dash scared away NFL scouts.Aw man, yeah. I think it was just me putting too much on myself, trying to go out there and be fast and trying to do too much, Davis said. I think it was just me putting too much on myself, trying to do too much, trying to be too fast. I mean, Im out there running sprints the day before, trying to be the best I can be and then by the time I got to pro day my body, I think my body was just gassed.The Saints signed him a month before training camp started, and he was waived every month starting in August, bouncing back and forth from the practice squad to their 53-man roster.Hed been through this drill so many times, he thought nothing of it when he was demoted in November.Their plan was to bring me back, he said.So, he turned off his phone when he went to work out on the Saints off day.When he turned it back on, his phone began buzzing with all the messages hed missed.It was crazy that my phone was off at such a critical time, Davis said. Because truthfully, I didnt really think Id be going anywhere.Now hes trying to help Denver go deep in the playoffs.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL___Follow AP Pro Football Writer Arnie Melendrez Stapleton on Twitter: http://twitter.com/arniestapleton NFL Jerseys China ' ' '