other superstars declined to play, but the players who did accept invites have had a few weeks to work on getting better on the court and getting along off it.Were a group of guys that range from age of

Theyve played in what some describe as the most hostile derby in the world, but Stephen McManus and Stephen Pearson were showing off their more charitable side on Thursday. The former Celtic players were promoting Macmillan Cancer Supports Longest Day Golf Challenge as they raise money in memory of a family friend of former Hoops captain McManus.Kenny Monaghan, the club professional at Linlithgow Golf Club where part of the event will take place, lost his mother to cancer five years ago. On May 20, the Motherwell duo will attempt to play four rounds of golf in one day between Monaghans home course and Kingsfield Golf Club.On the charity event, McManus said: Were taking part in the golf event that they do, which is four rounds in one day, so its going to be a hard shift but were looking forward to raising as much as we can.I think were looking at trying to raise around the £10,000 mark, which would be great. Stephen McManus and Stephen Pearson promote the Macmillan Longest Day Golf Challenge alongside Ryder Cup hero Stephen Gallacher Pearson and McManus were joined by Celtic fan and Ryder Cup hero Stephen Gallacher at Bothwell Castle Golf Club on Thursday as they sought tips on a sport they are less familiar with and seemingly less accomplished at.Under the pressure of the Sky Sports News HQ cameras, McManus missed a very makeable putt before being quizzed by our reporter Luke Shanley. Leigh Griffiths scores in Celtics 2014/15 League Cup semi-final win over Rangers Motherwell lost 2-1 at home to Celtic last Saturday, with McManus able to see up close any frailties Rangers might expose in Sundays Old Firm Scottish Cup semi-final.He played in 18 Old Firm derbies during his time at Celtic, winning eight of them, and he thinks his old side will be too strong for Rangers.He said: Rangers and Celtic will both be going into the game full of confidence. But when you play in an Old Firm game, form goes out the window. Stephen McManus playing for Celtic against Rangers in 2009 after Kyle Lafferty left him with a head cut I think you need to fancy Celtic strongly as well, just because they have more experience in their side for these games. If you take away Kenny Miller and Lee Wallace, its a new environment for a lot of the Rangers players.When you look at the Celtic side, they have that little bit more experience and I think their class will be too much for Rangers on the day.McManus team-mate Pearson had a superior record in the derby with Rangers while he was at Celtic Park. In the seven ties he was involved in, Celtic won five and were beaten only once. Stephen Pearson battles with Jeremy Clement in a 1-1 Old Firm draw in 2004 And he believes a similar result will occur on Sunday, despite admitting the gap between the clubs has closed since last years League Cup semi-final.The former Derby County midfielder said: Theyve had a far better season this season under Mark Warburton so theyll be up for the game. It will be a tough challenge for Celtic, but I think its one theyll come through.Watch Rangers v Celtic in the Scottish Cup semi-finals live on Sky Sports 2 from 11am on Sunday. Also See: Souness: Celtic big favourites Vote: Celtic, Rangers greatest Old Firm derby like nothing else Walker fancies Hoops to win Nike Just Do It Shoes Sale . Calgary scored on the first shift, and Michael Cammalleri scored twice as the Flames cruised to a 5-2 win over the Washington Capitals on Saturday. NMD Sale . Halladay signed a one-day contract with the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday that allowed the veteran right-hander to retire as a member of team with which he broke into the majors and spent the bulk of his distinguished 16-year career. https://www.wholesaleshoesforcheap.com/kevin-durant-shoes-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. Air Jordan 7 Sale . The Masters champion and winner of last weeks Australian PGA has a three-round total of 14-under 199 at Royal Melbourne. "Im in a really good position for tomorrow," Scott said. Nike Shox Sale . On Saturday night, the normally free throw-challenged centre did just that. Howard scored 18 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter, including 13 of 19 free throws in a 2 1/2-minute stretch, and the Houston Rockets beat the Denver Nuggets 122-111. RIO DE JANEIRO -- There were so many questions about their cushy accommodations it seemed the Americans were on vacation.Yes, the U.S. mens basketball team is staying on a cruise ship, with gorgeous views of Brazils beautiful beaches.But the Americans didnt come to Rio de Janeiro for fun and sun.We know whats our task at hand, veteran Carmelo Anthony said. This is business for us. Were going out there to take care of business.The U.S. team had its international introduction Thursday with its Olympic news conference, answering plenty of questions about where theyre staying (the luxury yacht) and whos not playing (LeBron James and Stephen Curry).It was the usual spectacle for a team that always draws a crowd at the Olympics, no matter who is on the roster. This one features 10 players with no Olympic experience, with only Anthony and Kevin Durant back from the team that won the Americans second straight gold medal in 2012.Theyre still considered the team to beat even with their inexperience, which is why Paul George had such trouble with his first attempt at Portuguese.A local journalist tried to teach him the word for underdog, then asked if there was any chance the U.S. could fill that role.Of us being underdog? he said. No, I dont think were the underdog.Try heavy, heavy favorite.The Americans open on Saturday against China, a team they beat by 49 and 50 points in exhibition play. So that game shouldnt be close, and it might be a while before they get one -- if they get one -- that is. But the U.S. players say they arent thinking that way.You have to worry about everybody, forward Draymond Green said. Every team is here for a reason. They qualified somehow. ... We cant come out here and say, `Oh, were the United States and were supposed to win, or `We have this person and that person and were supposed to win. We have to be locked in every game. If you dont, youll get beat.The Americans arrived in Rio on Wednesday from Housston, where they completed their exhibition tour.dddddddddddd. They held their first practice at the arena Thursday as they get their sea legs under them.Anthony stayed on a cruise ship in his first Olympics, when they finished third in 2004 in Athens. Theyre on a ship again, along with the U.S. womens team, in part because of a shortage of hotel space compared to recent hosts Beijing and London, and Anthony doesnt see why its such a big deal.Its no different than us staying in the hotel, he said. Its not like were cruising around. Were docked. We have the same amenities as if we were staying in the hotel.He joked that the beds were small for basketball players, but its expected to be smooth sailing for this group. The Americans may have seemed vulnerable when James, Curry and a number of other superstars declined to play, but the players who did accept invites have had a few weeks to work on getting better on the court and getting along off it.Were a group of guys that range from age of 24 to, I dont know how old Carmelo is, 40? center DeAndre Jordan said. So we have so much fun together and everybodys so competitive and we all want to win, and when you got guys like that, it makes it that much more fun.Anthony is actually 32, and his first Olympic experience 12 years ago was a mostly miserable one. He plans to leave better than he came in.I know what it felt like when kind of the rest of the world was supposedly catching up with the USA as far as from a basketball standpoint. So I know what it felt like to be at the bottom and I know what it feels like to be at the top of the game as well, Anthony said.My goal is to help this team and lead this time to a gold medal.---AP Sports Writer Tom Withers contributed to this report.---Follow Brian Mahoney on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Briancmahoney ' ' '