We actually had to restrict him a little bit because he was going to the USA Basketba

Dale Earnhardt Jr. has missed the past 17 NASCAR Sprint Cup races. The one Sunday at Phoenix International Raceway was by far the most difficult one for him to watch.Earnhardt, the defending winner of the PIR fall race, watched as his substitute driver, Alex Bowman, led a race-high 194 laps only to finish sixth after a wreck battling Matt Kenseth for the lead on a restart with two laps remaining.Watching Bowman vie for the win reminded Earnhardt of how nervous he would get watching his father, a seven-time Cup champion, battle for victories. Not only was Bowman going for the win but he was in the difficult position of having to race drivers who also were attempting to advance to the championship round of the Chase for the Sprint Cup.This whole day has been about damn miserable watching that race, Earnhardt said on The Dale Jr. Download podcast released Monday and produced by his JR Motorsports team. Golly. I dont know how fans do it.For the longest time, I havent felt that way since watching Dad race. I remember it so clear now, all the nerves and sick feeling in your stomach, even halfway into the race.Earnhardt hopes to return to racing next year as he continues to rehabilitate from a concussion suffered in June at Michigan.Im so happy because our cars are so good, Earnhardt said. Im going to get into that thing next year and its going to be as good or better than when I got out of it.I feel like a very lucky guy in that regard. ... Man, Im really looking forward to getting back on the track, cutting some laps and just being a driver. I miss it, especially as I am getting more and more healthy and more confident in my health. I miss it more and more.When he returns, Earnhardt said he hopes he doesnt lose the perspective he has gained from his extended absence.It was hard being a fan, Earnhardt said about the race Sunday. I really got a new appreciation for what thats like. I had forgotten. I got caught up in what Ive been doing the last several years and had forgotten what that was like.Im seeing so many new perspectives, a lot of them unintentionally, which change the way I see everything about it. It will be a little bit different when I get back in the car, and I will try not to forget what I learned. Toni Lydman Jersey . -- Arizona raced out to a big lead and did not back off, hitting the accelerator instead. Tage Thompson Jersey . The quest begins with what is supposed to be an easy one, although Germany has traditionally been a stubborn opponent to Canadian teams at international tournaments. https://www.cheapsabres.com/533v-donald-audette-jersey-sabres.html . Miller finished in two minutes, 6.09 seconds, one day before the first medal race on the Alpine schedule. The 36-year-old American also turned in the top time in Thursdays opening training session. Alexander Mogilny Jersey .C. at the helm of the top team in the Eastern Conference. His tenure as the GM in Vancouver was all too brief. Though he led the Canucks to what was then a franchise record-shattering campaign in just his second season, Nonis was gone and replaced one year later. Buffalo Sabres Gear . Murray beat Sam Querrey 7-6 (5), 6-7 (3), 6-1, 6-3 to clinch Britains opening-round victory against the United States on Sunday at Petco Park. "Im proud of the way Im playing just now, because I had to do a lot of work to get back to where I want to be," Murray said after celebrating with his teammates on the red clay court in a temporary stadium in left field of the downtown home of baseballs San Diego Padres. PHOENIX -- A month ago, LeBron James was asked on a podcast to name an under-the-radar promising young gun in the NBA.He named Devin Booker, predicting the 19-year-old Phoenix Suns guard will be a really, really, really All-Star player in this league.It just means Im on the right path, Booker said Monday at the Suns media day. I know I still have a long way to go, but to hear those words from one of the greatest to ever touch a basketball, its an unbelievable feeling. But at the same time, it still makes you want to work that much harder.The Suns, who have missed the playoffs in six straight seasons, have been looking for a superstar since Steve Nash left, and they just might have one in the making.I think you have certain players that come into this league that have their God-given ability and the mindset to have a true opportunity to be great, Phoenix center Tyson Chandler said.Chandler said Booker has the opportunity to be definitely tops at his position in two or three years.The designated shooter off the bench in his one season at Kentucky, Booker was selected by the Suns as the 13th overall pick in the 2015 draft.We knew at a minimum hed be a knock-down 3-point shooter, general manager Ryan McDonough said. But at Kentucky you really didnt get to see the other stuff that he has.At first, he rode the bench in Phoenix, but as Eric Bledsoe and Brandon Knight were injured, Bookers playing time grew.It was, Chandler said, a blessing to him, because it gave him the opportunity to play big minutes, learn, learn from his mistakes.Booker averaged 13.8 points per game, made the all-rookie team and, most impressively, became the fourth-youngest player in NBA history to score 1,000 points. The only younger ones who did it at a younger age are James, Kobe Bryant and Kevin Durant.Booker will turn 20 on Oct. 30.Whats impressed me about him more than anything is he hasnt let that get to his head, McDonough said. Like a lot of our guys, he was here pretty much all summer.dddddddddddd He wanted to play in summer league. We actually had to restrict him a little bit because he was going to the USA Basketball all-select team after summer league. But his work ethics been off the charts.Booker said hes put on 5 to 10 pound in upper-body strength this offseason.I knew thats one thing I had to do, he said. Toward late in the season last year, I think people started to get more physical with me. They realized I could play a little bit so they tried to take the bully route.His off-the-court persona has only enhanced his reputation among Suns fans who have weathered so much losing.For example, when the Suns chose Booker to represent the team at the draft lottery this year, he took along 16-year-old Jenna Warren and her family.Booker had met Warren, who has Down syndrome, after seeing her yell her encouragement during warmups at Suns games. Hed invited her in a video on social media.McDonough said Booker is a natural in dealing with the public.Its nothing really that we coach him to do or ask him to do, he just does it. He comes to us with a lot of ideas about things like that on his own, McDonough said. Its really rare. ... He handles all of it really well. Its something hes just had, honestly, from the moment he showed up here.With Bledsoe and Knight healthy, there is a crowd in the Suns backcourt. Someone will have to sit. But expect Booker to get plenty of time on the court.You cant be jealous of somebody elses success, Bledsoe said. Youve just got to let them shine and be happy for them.Theres a chance that the 6-foot-6 Booker will be used some at small forward. Of course he believes he could handle it.He has all the tools, Suns free-agent signee Jared Dudley said. We expect him to eventually take over this franchise. ' ' '