LOS ANGELES -- Derrick Rose is at a crossroads in his basketball career and one of the biggest moments in what could be a make-or-break year for the former NBA MVP didnt happen on the court.It happened in a court.Rose was vindicated Wednesday in a $21.5 million lawsuit that accused him and two friends of raping an ex-girlfriend when she was incapacitated from drugs or alcohol.The reticent Rose, who remained stoic most of the trial including during his testimony about intimate sex acts, smiled outside court, thanked jurors and put his arm around some who posed for photos with the hoops star.I am thankful that the jury understood and agreed with me, Rose said in a statement. I am ready to put this behind me and focus on my family and career.Jurors in Los Angeles federal court had sat through graphic testimony with somber expressions, but it took them less than four hours to conclude there was a lack of evidence to support the womans claims and dismiss her account as unbelievable.It felt like she was playing us, said Jared, 25, one of several jurors who spoke to reporters outside the courthouse, none of whom gave full names. The second her lawyer started questioning her, she would start crying. ... That could be realistic, but I feel lm pretty good at reading people, and I felt as if it was false.The case included X-rated testimony from the men about poolside group sex at a mansion Rose rented in Beverly Hills in the summer of 2013 and multiple sexual encounters throughout an August night and into the next morning.The woman, who had previously dated Rose for less than two years, denied having sex at his place, saying she had a few tequila shots and felt drugged before going home. Her lawyer said the defense fabricated the story to make it look like she had willingly had sex with all three men.Her testimony was impaired by a blackout that erased most memories of the night except for flashes that included the three having sex with her at her apartment as she slipped in and out of consciousness.The woman pieced together events of the night by reviewing text messages to Rose, but the defense used those to say she was lucid and sober and had been angling for sex throughout the day and had invited him over.The issue for the jury was whether she consented to sex or was too intoxicated to do so. The men all said she was alert and willing when she stopped the three outside her bedroom door and said, One at a time.The tense two-week civil trial sidelined Rose during several preseason games with the Knicks as he attempts to prove himself with the new team and rebound from major knee injuries that hurt his career with the Bulls in his native Chicago.Rose, 28, is in the final year of a five-year deal that will pay him $21.3 million and the case threatened more than his bank account and reputation. Defense lawyer Mark Baute told jurors a lot was riding on their decision.Any finding he had sexually assaulted the woman could have violated a morals clause in his player contract and a lucrative deal with Adidas and jeopardized his career and the future of family and friends who rely on him for financial support, Baute said.Defense lawyers tarred the woman as a gold-digging liar who tried to sway jurors through emotions. They claimed she was angry he had dumped her, so she set him up and brought the lawsuit in hopes of a big payoff.They portrayed Rose and his childhood pals, Ryan Allen and Randall Hampton, who both work for him, as victims in the case.All three men were innocent from Day 1, Baute said.The womans lawyer called the men sexual deviants who conspired to gang rape her after she was drunk and incapable of consenting to sex. Attorney Waukeen McCoy said the case wasnt about money, but about holding the men accountable for moral and legal wrongdoing.Los Angeles police have an open investigation into the womans claims.The Associated Press does not generally name people who say they are victims of sex crimes.The accuser, who had become emotional and trembled at times while testifying, buried her head in her hands as the verdict was read. She left the courthouse without comment.Her attorney said she was devastated and he was considering appeal options.Its a shame for women, for this country, that a celebrity can come into court and slut-shame a woman like my client, attorney Waukeen McCoy said.After dismissing the jury, Judge Michael W. Fitzgerald offered his best wishes to the woman with her studies and to Rose in his career except when the Knicks play the Lakers. Fake Shoes From China . After dropping their final six games of December, the Wild opened the new calendar year with four consecutive wins. Following a loss to Colorado on Saturday, Minnesota rebounded the following night to blank Nashville 4-0, but then had the tables turned on them Tuesday. Cheap Fake Shoes . LOUIS -- Rookie Tavon Austin has missed another day of practice, lessening the odds hell be ready for the St. https://www.fakeshoes.net/ . Thats not a comment on the suspension that banished the Portland Winterhawks general manager and coach from his Western Hockey League teams bench for most of the 2012-13 season. Wholesale Fake Shoes . Neymar curled home a free kick from just outside the area to put the 2014 World Cup host ahead in the 44th minute. Three minutes after the break, a simple through pass from Paulinho freed Oscar and the Chelsea star rounded goalkeeper Jung Sung-ryong to extend Brazils lead. Wholesake Fake Air Jordan 1 . Those lessons were more than enough to overwhelm the Utah Jazz. Lou Williams scored 25 points and the Hawks continued their offensive upswing as they rolled to an easy 118-85 victory over the Jazz on Friday night, winning their third straight and for the fourth time in five games.We continue to celebrate Sky Sports 25th birthday this week, by looking back at some of the most memorable moments from the last quarter of a century. One highlight was Europe staging the greatest fightback in Ryder Cup history to retain the trophy with a one-point victory at Medinah.The United States started Sundays singles needing just four-and-a-half points to reclaim the trophy, but Europes heroes won eight of the 12 matches and halved the last to leave the home team shell-shocked. Martin Kaymer holed the putt which saw Europe retain the trophy Luke Donald set the tone for the day with victory over Bubba Watson in the opening match, and Europe won the next four to turn the scoreboards into a sea of blue.It was Martin Kaymer who collected the crucial 14th point when he held his nerve to sink a knee-knocking six-foot putt to secure a one-up victory over luckless veteran Steve Stricker.The 39th contest looked set to end 14-14 with Francesco Molinari one down after 17 to Tiger Woods, who then missed a three-footer for par and generously conceded the hole to the Italian - the only halved match of the week. 25 years...25 moments Vote for your favourite moment on Sky Sports Donalds 2&1 win over the Masters champion was swiftly followed by a crushing 5&3 victory for Paul Lawrie over FedEx Cup champion Brandt Snedeker.Poulter on song againIan Poulter then claimed a remarkable 12th win from 15 Ryder Cup matches when he edged out Webb Simpson on the last. Poulters putt late on Saturday kept Europes hopes alive Poulter had rescued Europe from the brink of despair the previous day when he birdied the last five holes to earn him and Rory McIlroy an amazing win over Jason Dufner and Zach Johnson in the final fourball of the day. That helped Europe cut the overnight deficit to 10-6 when all was beginning to look lost.ddddddddddddMcIlroy was involved in more drama on Sunday as he got his tee-time mixed up and arrived at Medinah just 10 minutes before his match with Keegan Bradley. It made no difference as he beat the American 2&1.Justin Rose produced the finish of the day as he birdied the last two holes - nailing a 50-footer at 17 - to snatch a one-hole victory over Phil Mickelson. Francesco Molinari and Jose Maria Olazabal celebrate after the victory Dustin Johnson finally got a point on the board for the home side as he beat Nicolas Colsaerts, and 2010 hero Graeme McDowell slumped to defeat to Zach Johnson.Jason Dufner held off a spirited fightback from Peter Hanson, but Lee Westwood looked back to his best in a 3&2 win over Matt Kuchar and Sergio Garcia pipped Jim Furyk at the 18th after the American bogeyed the last two holes.All eyes turned to Kaymers battle with Stricker as they arrived on the 17th tee all square, and the German rattled in a tricky four-footer for par to take the lead. USA 13.5 Europe 14.5 USATiger WoodsBubba WatsonJason DufnerKeegan BradleyWebb SimpsonZach JohnsonMatt KucharPhil MickelsonSteve StrickerJim FurykBrandt SnedekerDustin JohnsonCaptain: Davis LoveEuropeRory McIlroyJustin RosePaul LawrieGraeme McDowellFrancesco MolinariLuke DonaldLee WestwoodSergio GarciaPeter HansonMartin KaymerNicolas ColsaertsIan PoulterCaptain: Jose Maria Olazabal Kaymers birdie putt at 18 raced six feet past the hole, and Stricker piled on the pressure when he sank a brave par putt from 10 feet.But Kaymer was up to the task as he found the centre of the cup to ignite the European celebrations, and Woods concession moments later was the final act of an enthralling stage in Chicago. Also See: Vote for your favourite moment Ryder Cup latest news Beckhams 25 years of Sky Sports Golf live on Sky Sports 4 ' ' '