elf.And then I will go home, he said.We wish that he wouldnt, wish that he would suddenly change his mind and announce that hell be back for another season. Its just a wish, and after 67 years he

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- A year after Patrick Kanes career appeared in jeopardy because of a sexual assault claim, the Chicago Blackhawks star was named one of the alternate captains for the United States for the World Cup of Hockey.Its a huge honor for sure, Kane said. Its one of those things I dont know if I was expecting to receive that, but at the same time, I still think its a responsibility I can handle and hopefully take somewhat of a leadership role and take charge.The sexual assault case in his hometown of Buffalo, New York, was dropped Nov. 5 for what the prosecutor said was a clear lack of evidence, and Kane quickly put the off-ice troubles aside. He had an early 26-game points streak and became the first American-born player to win the Art Ross (top scorer) and Hart (most valuable player) trophies.Sometimes you look back, its almost like a blur, it went by so quick, he said. It didnt seem like it at the time but it was a really fun year.He had 106 points (46 goals, 60 assists) to become the first player to crack the 100-point mark in four seasons, and finished 17 points ahead of runner-up Jamie Benn of the Dallas Stars.He was on a roll early, got his confidence going and never looked back, said David Backes, the Boston center and U.S. teammate.Along the way Kane might have grown up as well. The incident in Buffalo was the latest of several brushes with the law in his career.Im 27 years old. Im going to be 28 later this year; you want to maximize your potential, he said. You want to get all you can out of your prime while youre still young, maybe advance that prime into your later years too. Thats where my thinking is now.U.S. and Columbus Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella knew Kanes reputation but did not know him before the Americans training camp opened Monday in the Ohio city.He has matured. We all see that, the coach said. A lot of things have gone on with him obviously. Just talking to with him one-on-one here in the past couple of days you can see the maturity.Thats why Kane was named an alternate captain, along with the Minnesota Wilds Ryan Suter, to captain Joe Pavelski of the San Jose Sharks.I want (Kane) to take more responsibility now, Tortorella said. Hes ready for more responsibility as a leader of a U.S. team where before it was `Kaner, go play and hes really good at it. I think hes ready for more responsibility and Im ready to give it to him because he deserves it.The game has always come easy for Kane, who has won Stanley Cups with the Blackhawks in 2010, 13 and 15 and a silver medal at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. But last season he went to a different level.He was the best player in the league last year, Montreal Canadiens winger Max Pacioretty said. Not many people can play the game the way he does. Hes special.He, Kane and Pavelski form the top line for the U.S. and they need to come through for any chance of winning the eight-team tournament. The U.S plays World Cup favorite Canada in an exhibition games Friday in Columbus and Saturday in Ottawa.The focus will be on Kane but this time for a good reason.I sometimes catch myself over the summer saying, `OK, you did it once but can you do it again? Can you prove yourself again? Kane said. It gave me a little bit of motivation over the summer, a lot of motivation. I want to get back to the level, stay there and do it as long as I can. Its fun when youre producing like that on the ice. You feel awesome. Vapormax Store . - After leading the Saints to a fourth playoff appearance in five seasons, Drew Brees expressed confidence in the direction of his team and, perhaps more importantly, showed a willingness to listen to contract proposals if the team needs his help getting under the NFLs salary cap. Vapormax 2020 . A forerunning sled crashed into the worker Thursday at the Sanki Sliding Center. The unidentified worker broke both legs and was airlifted to a nearby hospital. https://www.cheapvapormaxoutlet.com/ . Now, correct me if Im wrong but I saw one official distinctly pointing at the net indicating a good goal but after an inconclusive review they overturned the goal. Shouldnt the ruling on the ice (good goal) stand after an inconclusive review? Why was this overturned? James Veaudry Pembroke, ON -- Hey Kerry, Youll get a lot of these, but why was the Montreal goal against Nashville Saturday night overturned? Eller puts the puck on net and the on ice ruling from the ref behind the net is a Montreal goal. Vapormax 2021 .C. -- After a listless first half, the Washington Wizards used a big third quarter run to beat the Charlotte Bobcats Bradley Beal scored 21 points and the Wizards used a 17-0 run in the third quarter to take control of what had been a close game and beat the Bobcats 97-83 on Tuesday night. Discount Nike Vapormax . Ryan Garbutt had a goal and two assists as Dallas snapped a six-game losing streak with a 5-2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday night. It was in the middle of the Barry Bonds home run chase, and I was sitting with Vin Scully in the broadcast booth at Dodger Stadium.The Dodgers were playing the Giants, and Vin had been kind enough to agree to an interview before the game. I was writing a column about his views on Bonds, though the conversation would eventually cover everything from his days at Fordham to Willie Mays.First, though, I had a confession to make.I was one of those kids with the transistor radio, I told him. Under the pillow at night, listening to the game.I dont remember what Vin said in response, but Im sure it was gracious because Vin Scully is nothing if not gracious. Its simply in his DNA, and has been since he was a kid growing up in New York.Yes, he had probably heard the same thing a thousand times before. Somehow, though, I still had to tell him how much it meant.His voice has been part of the soundtrack of my life for so long I cant remember ever being without it. His presence on the radio every spring was always a reminder that while everything changes, this never did.It changes now, for reasons as ancient as mankind. We all get old, and Vin is no exception, even if he has weathered the ravages of time well. Hes still remarkable at age 88, but wants to get out before people start whispering about his age.His last game after 67 years calling the Dodgers will be in San Francisco. Fittingly enough its on the 80th anniversary of when he was walking home from grammar school, and saw in the window of a Chinese laundry that the Giants had been beaten by the Yankees in the World Series.Ive considered him a friend for the better part of a half century, even though before that day we had never met. Our friendship was always a bit one-sided, with Vin in front of the microphone and me listening wherever I could.It pains me that hes walking away after 67 years. Not just because Ill miss him, but because there is a sobering realization that there simply isnt any more.No more Vinny to greet us wherever we may be on a beautiful night from Dodger Stadium. No more descriptions of how glorious the mountains beyond Dodger Stadium look in the fading sunlight from his perch behind home plate.No more seamlessly weaving stories in between pitches about players or things you didnt know.Im hardly alone. If anything, Im just one of many in a loosely formed community that calls Vinny their own.And we all have our own stories to tell about the hours listening to his soothing voice.It could have been any summer evening at Dodger Stadium. Often it was a nondescript game somehow made interesting in the way only Vinny could.Deuces are wild, he might say in the seventh inning. Two on, two out, a 2-2 count. Score tied 2-2.My favorites were from the 1960s Dodgers of my youth when any ball hit out of the infield was thought of as an offensive explosion. On the rare occasion there would be a Dodger home run, and Vinny would match it with a call.A way back, she is gone!!! Vinny would call out, drawing out the words for added dramatic effect.I knew him while riding in my dads car from my first baseball game in the L.A. Coliseum. I knew him on an elementary school playground, transistor radio to my ear, as Sandy Koufax mowed down the Yankees in the opening game of the 1963 World Series.I knew him on a June evening in 1968 when Don Drysdale set a scoreless streak of 58 2/3 innings. Two days earlier, Robert Kennedy had been assassinated just a mile orr two away after winning the California presidential primary and the world seemed to be falling apart.ddddddddddddSomehow, Vinny brought a bit of comfort, just like he did on so many nights with the little red radio under my pillow and his voice taking me to places both near and far away.Hi everybody and a very pleasant evening to you wherever you may be, he would greet me, and I was pretty sure he was talking just to me.My two sons are grown now but they have similar memories because Vinny was always on in our house or in our cars. They grew to love him too, and theres not too many summer days that go by without a call or a text from one of them about Vinny telling the history of beards during a game or describing how the Beatles escaped Dodger Stadium in an ambulance after they played there.Vin made calls that will live in baseball history. He memorialized Henry Aarons home run to pass Babe Ruth and Kirk Gibsons home run to win Game 1 of the 1988 World Series.He brought me into a Dodger Stadium one September night in 1965. At the time Id never been to Dodger Stadium, but I could picture myself there when he called out the time on the scoreboard as Koufax was pitching a perfect game against the Cubs.I would think that the mound at Dodger Stadium right now is the loneliest place in the world, he said in the ninth inning. He is one out away from the promised land, and Harvey Kuenn is comin up.Vinny thought Koufax was the best pitcher ever, and on that we definitely agreed. He and I are also in agreement that Willie Mays is the best player we ever saw, though he actually saw Mays and I mostly only heard Vin describe the great things he did.His final game at Dodger Stadium -- where he has described nearly 5,000 games over the years -- will be Sunday against the Rockies. Vin said this week that he hoped to focus on the game and not let his impending departure overshadow it, as if thats possible.Then its three final games in San Francisco. Hell do those in typical Vinny style, trying not to draw undue attention to himself.And then I will go home, he said.We wish that he wouldnt, wish that he would suddenly change his mind and announce that hell be back for another season. Its just a wish, and after 67 years he owes us nothing, particularly his time.He wants to watch his grandkids -- he has 16 grandchildren and three great grandchildren -- play ball. Yes, hell miss the games, but mostly hell miss the people at the ballpark.I will miss all of that, I know I will, he said. I will just do the best I can to live with it.Well do the best we can to live without Vin, too. For some of us lucky enough to have been along for a lot of the ride it will be harder than others.It was a few weeks after I first saw Vin that a hand addressed envelope came in the mail. Inside was a note from him thanking me for my nice words about him.Ive seen him several times since, but have never mentioned that my kids had it framed for me. It now hangs in a prominent spot on my office wall, and I make sure everyone who visits gets a look.Even so, Vin Scully thanking me just doesnt seem right.Not with all that I have to thank him for.----Tim Dahlberg is a national sports columnist for The Associated Press and a Southern California native. Write to him at tdahlberg(at)ap.org or http://twitter.com/timdahlberg ' ' '