without point guard Michael-Carter Williams, who was dealt to the Bulls by Milwaukee during training camp but missed the last month with a sore left wrist.In exchange for Carter-Williams, Milwaukee

DENVER -- Patrick Roy carefully contemplated the Colorado Avalanches sales pitch as he sank putts on a golf course in Florida. New team President Josh Kroenke was in his group, along with former teammate-turned-executive Joe Sakic, and they were teeing up an opportunity Roy simply couldnt turn down. Not again. Four years ago, the team asked him to come on board as coach. The Hall of Fame goalie just wasnt ready. This time around, the deal was sweetened -- a chance to coach and have a say in hockey-related decisions. He couldnt pass up this chance, agreeing last week to a four-year deal with a mutual option for a fifth season. "I was afraid in 2009, that maybe I missed one of best opportunities of my life," Roy said at his introductory news conference Tuesday. "Here I am in 2013, same opportunity. I truly feel that sometimes, the biggest mistake were making as a coach is you want to go too fast." The fiery goaltender has mellowed since his retirement a decade ago. Well, as much as he can anyway. Roy has been serving as coach and general manager for the Quebec Remparts of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League over the last eight seasons, which he feels has prepared him for taking over as a first-year NHL coach. But theres this hanging over his head: The stigma that great players dont make great coaches. "Im not nervous about that," said Roy, who won the Memorial Cup title with the Remparts in 2006 and finished with a 348-196 mark. "To be honest with you, I checked one interesting stat: 100 per cent of the coaches who are coaching now in the NHL were rookies at one time in their careers. "My No. 1 quality is that Im not afraid to put in the time." He has plenty of help, too, as the 47-year-old Roy joins forces with Sakic to fix a squad thats missed the playoffs three straight seasons. Roy and Sakic worked well on the ice, helping the Avs to Stanley Cup titles in 1996 and 2001, and believe it will carry over to the front office. "We have different personalities -- Im more laid back and hes more fiery -- but at the end of the day, weve always agreed on the same things," Sakic said. "When it came to hockey, we were always on the same page." Roy couldnt agree more. "Im extremely proud Joe and Josh gave me the opportunity to be part of that new era," said Roy, who wouldnt reveal the winner of their golf match. "Thats the way Im looking at it. Joe and I had an opportunity to be part of something really special in the past. I think were going to also be part of something very special in the future. "We might not win the Stanley Cup next year. But were going to have a Stanley Cup attitude." Some of Roys players showed up for the festivities, with captain Gabriel Landeskog, forward Paul Stastny and goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere sitting in the front row. Growing up, Giguere was a big fan of Roy, pretty much becoming a goalie because of him. "What I admired most was his winning attitude and self-confidence," Giguere said. "He could speak up in the papers and back it up the next day. Thats extremely hard to do. He knew he was going to win. He knew he was the best player. Thats something that I always admire of him, something I always try to do somewhat, not to his level but my level." Theres an awe factor with Landeskog, too. This was Roy stepping in, one of the winningest goaltenders of all time. "Its obviously a little different shaking hands with a Hall of Famer. That doesnt happen every day," Landeskog said. "We have to realize hes here to get our best, here for the teams best." Roys inheriting an Avs squad coming off a season in which they finished last in the Western Conference. The gloomy season led to the firing of coach Joe Sacco in late April. But its not all gloom for this franchise -- the Avs do possess the No. 1 pick in the upcoming draft. Whats more, they also boast a youthful core with Matt Duchene, Ryan OReilly and Landeskog all under 23. Still, there are some that believe Roy was a nostalgic hire by the Avalanche, a chance to bring back a fan favourite from the glory days. "Fair enough to hear that," said Roy, whos won four Stanley Cups, including two with Montreal. "It doesnt bother me one bit. I dont want to sound cocky by saying this and I dont have a crystal ball, but theres not too many rookie coaches saying theyre coaching after winning four Stanley Cups as a player and a Memorial Cup as a coach." See, hes mellowed. As a player, the passionate goaltender always stood his ground -- even challenging other goalies to fights -- and once uttered one of the best quips when Chicago forward Jeremy Roenick said something about him during the 1996 playoffs, only to have Roy retort: "I cant hear what Jeremy says, because Ive got my two Stanley Cup rings plugging my ears." Roy unintentionally played off that phrase Tuesday, when he was asked about the golf outing/meeting with Sakic and Kroenke a few weeks ago. "Joe has always been a very loyal hockey player, a loyal person. Its easy for me to work with Joe," Roy said. "Josh, as a president, wants stability, wants to see a coach there for a long time. That sounds really good to my ears." Roy chuckled. "I could have my Stanley Cup rings plugging my ears, but they are no longer there," he said. Saints Jerseys China . The No. 1-ranked Nadal tweaked his back warming up for the Australian Open final, which he lost almost four weeks ago in a major upset against Stanislas Wawrinka. His first stop after the layoff is the clay in Rio as he tests the back and tries to stay healthy for the French Open in three months. Cheap Saints Jerseys . -- Aaron Murray threw for 408 yards and three touchdowns, ran for another score, and led No. https://www.saintsjerseyssale.com/ .C. -- Todd Fiddler scored a hat trick, including the overtime goal, as the Prince George Cougars survived an 8-7 win against the Kamloops Blazers in Western Hockey League play Sunday. New Orleans Saints Shirts . Ferrer, trying to win his fourth title on Mexican soil, will next play South Africas Kevin Anderson, who eliminated American Sam Querrey,7-6 (2), 6-4. Also Wednesday, Gilles Simon (6) of France beat Donald Young of the United States 6-4, 6-3, Ukraines Alexandr Dolgopolov downed Frenchman Jeremy Chardy 6-3, 6-4 and Croatias Ivo Karlovic defeated Dudi Sela of Israel 7-6 (4), 6-2. Fake Saints Jerseys . Takahashi, who had a 10-point lead after the short program, received 268.31 points after the free skate to finish 15 points ahead of second-place Nobunari Oda. MILWAUKEE -- The Milwaukee Bucks kick off a stretch of three straight home-and-home sets Wednesday when they host the Chicago Bulls at the Bradley Center.The Bucks face Chicago on back-to-back nights and do the same next Tuesday and Wednesday against the Cleveland Cavaliers. They wrap up that stretch with games against Washington to bookend the Christmas holiday.Its a daunting challenge for the Bucks, who lost three in a row after winning six of eight contests to move to two games above .500.Its hard to beat an NBA team back-to-back, Bucks coach Jason Kidd said Wednesday. Its tough to beat a team twice in 48 hours, no matter who youre playing. LeBron (James), Chicago, Brooklyn but were professionals. Everybody has pride, and everybody wants to win.Chicago comes into the game looking to bounce back after blowing a 21-point lead and falling 99-94 to Minnesota on Tuesday night at the United Center.Jimmy Butler finished with 27 points and nine rebounds in the contest while Dwyane Wade dished out eight assists but was ejected down the stretch for arguing with the officials.Butler, who like Wade played collegiately in Milwaukee for Marquette, has been red-hot of late, averaging 25.9 points, 7.9 rebounds and 4.5 assists over his last eight games.In 17 career games against the Bucks, Butler averages 13.4 points per game on 47.5 percent shooting.Jimmy Butler is playing at a very high level, Kidd said.Point guard Rajon Rondo sat out the Minnesota game with an ankle injury and will be a game-time decision Thursday at Milwaukee.Jerian Grant started in Rondos place and played 19 minutes while Isaiaah Canaan covered another 27 minutes off the bench.ddddddddddddondo was having one of his best practices of the year (Monday), Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg told the Chicago Tribue. He was all over the place. He was talking, he was cutting, he was moving. And it was kind of a freak play right at the end of practice. He didnt really land on anybody. Just kind of landed on it wrong and tweaked it.Its point tender right now. Hes limping pretty good. Hopefully with a couple more treatments the next few days well get him back for the Milwaukee games (Thursday and Friday).Chicago will be without point guard Michael-Carter Williams, who was dealt to the Bulls by Milwaukee during training camp but missed the last month with a sore left wrist.In exchange for Carter-Williams, Milwaukee acquired Tony Snell, who started 22 games and averaged 8.3 points with 4.2 rebounds. Snell is struggling of late especially from 3-point range, going 5 for 23 in his last five games.Three-pointers are a problem of late for the Bucks defense. Milwaukee was leading the league in defensive 3-point percentage but dropped to second after the Raptors made 14 of 25 attempts Tuesday in Toronto.The Bulls, meanwhile, are 30th in the league shooting the 3 (30.7 percent) but make up for that shortcoming inside.This is a team that puts a lot of pressure on you in the paint and mid-range, Kidd said. We cant give them threes.And weve got to protect the paint.The Bulls won three straight against Milwaukee. ' ' '