open a 45-35 lead, and then made his sixth shot in a row,

NEW YORK -- Marking the 67th anniversary of the day Jackie Robinson broke baseballs colour barrier, the Rev. Jesse Jackson praised Commissioner Bud Selig for the strides the sport has taken in minority opportunities over the past two decades. Jackson travelled to baseballs 1992 winter meetings to criticize its lack of minorities in management, and he pushed for change. Selig retired Robinsons No. 42 in 1997 on the 50th anniversary of the big league debut of the Brooklyn Dodgers first baseman. Selig established a Diverse Business Partners program the following year and in 1999 started requiring clubs to consider at least one minority for each manager and major executive opening. MLB also sponsors 35 Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholars. Jackson said Jackie Robinson Day had become "a national holiday for all practical purposes." "To honour Jackie in this way honours the best in America," Jackson told Selig on Tuesday at MLBs third Diversity Business Summit. "In many ways, had Jackie not succeeded you could not have Atlanta Falcons or the Braves or the Carolina Panthers. You could not have these southern teams if Jackie had failed." Robinsons daughter, Sharon, presented Selig with a large plaque. Jackson spoke from the audience after Seligs speech and told him "you took to heart that challenge." "I guess if youre commissioner long enough, things can turn around," Selig said later. For the first time since Robinsons number was retired, no players in the major leagues were wearing No. 42. Players using the number were grandfathered at the time of Seligs announcement, and the last to use No. 42 was Yankees reliever Mariano Rivera, who retired at the end of last season. "Today all of our players league-wide will wear No. 42 to celebrate the man who helped change the future course of our game and more importantly our country," Selig said. A ceremony had been scheduled for Yankee Stadium to unveil a plaque commemorating Nelson Mandelas visit to the old Bronx ballpark in 1990. The Yankees game against the Chicago Cubs was rained out, and the ceremony, which includes Zondwa Mandela, a grandson of the late South African president, was pushed back until Wednesday evening. Selig frequently points out that Robinsons first game occurred more than a year before President Harry Truman desegregated the U.S. military and seven years before the Supreme Courts Brown v. Board of Education decision that ruled state laws requiring segregated public schools were unconstitutional. "Baseball must continue to be more than just a game on the field," Selig said. "The games remarkable ability to serve as a common bond should be used to create opportunities for all people regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation or gender." Selig became acting commissioner in 1992 and got the job permanently in 1998. He plans to retire in January. He said the Diverse Business Partners program had led to purchases of more than $1 billion in goods and services from minority- and women-owned businesses. But the percentage of African-American players in the major leagues has been cut in half since peaking at about 18 per cent at times from the mid-1970s to mid-1980s. Seattle Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon, who is black, says some of this generations players dont know of Robinsons accomplishments. "They dont know a lot about the history, and I dont really blame it all on them. I think their generation is a generation that was force-fed these things," he said, holding up a smart phone. "Everythings now. Not much of an appreciation for the past and what it meant, particularly when it comes to baseball and baseball players. The paths that were paved for them, I dont think they really get it, or really understand it." Zack Britton Jersey . People familiar with the case told The Associated Press on Friday that arbitrator Fredric Horowitz could issue his decision this weekend. Billy Martin Yankees Jersey . Starters, when they struggle, have to live with it for five days. For Sergio Santos and Steve Delabar, two of the three men who authored one of the ugliest pitched innings in Blue Jays franchise history on Thursday night, the bounce-back chance came right away. https://www.cheapyankees.com/2901g-jordan-montgomery-jersey-yankees.html .The league also seems to have a fairly active Twitter account www.twitter.com/bikinihockey that features the description “We provide a positive alternative to the hockey community and a venue for adult female hockey athletes to continue in their sport. Didi Gregorius Yankees Jersey .Commissioner Adam Silver said Wednesday it is inevitable that the league will one day take after European sports and have sponsor names on team jerseys. Aaron Judge Yankees Jersey . -- Rory McIlroy birdied his last two holes Thursday for a 7-under 63 to take the lead after one round of the Honda Classic. CLEVELAND -- On a night of celebration, there were two surprising, strange sights: LeBron James back on Clevelands bench. The Knicks back in the NBA playoff chase. Carmelo Anthony shook off a congested chest and a horrid shooting start to score 26 points, leading New York to its third straight victory, 107-97 over Cleveland on a Saturday when James was briefly reunited with the Cavaliers. Amare Stoudemire added 17 points and 12 rebounds for the Knicks, whose winning streak began after a seven-game slide and amid reports Phil Jackson may accept a job in New Yorks front office. Anthony missed his first six shots, but found his touch in time to help the Knicks in their late-season run at the playoffs. J.R. Smith scored 17 and Tyson Chandler added 15 points and 11 boards for New York, which is 3 1/2 games out of the final post-season spot in the Eastern Conference. "You can see something different over the last couple of games," Anthony said. "It seems like everyone has a sense of urgency right now. Were playing for something. We control our own destiny. We want to win as many games as we can down the stretch." Kyrie Irving had 30 points, eight assists and eight rebounds for the Cavs, who retired centre Zydrunas Ilgauskas No. 11 jersey at halftime. Spencer Hawes had 21 points for Cleveland, which dropped to 0-4 in March. The Knicks were as good as done just a few days ago. But with New York fans ready to write them off again, and coach Mike Woodsons future looking shakier than ever, the Knicks have responded with wins over Minnesota, Utah and Cleveland. Theres still plenty of work to do, and the Knicks will likely need some help, but a dreadful season to this point has some hope. "Theres no room for error," Woodson said. "We have to play each possession like its our last possession. The mental approach is a little different now. Its been a tough season for all of us. Now, theyre playing for something." The Knicks made four 3-pointers during a 14-1 run early in the fourth to take control. With New York down 80-77, Pablo Prigioni drained a 3, Smith followed with a long-range shot and Prigioni dropped another 3 to give the Knicks an 88-81 lead. After a Cleveland turnover, Anthony made his fourth 3-pointer, putting the Knicks ahead by 10 with 7:38 left. Cleveland never recovered and the Knicks outscored the Cavs 30-17 over the final 10 minutes. "Were fighting for our lives," Cleveland coach Mike Brown said.dddddddddddd "This team was a game behind us and I just feel like we didnt come out with the right mindset to compete with this team for the eighth spot." The loss put a damper on an otherwise memorable night for the Cavs. At halftime, they retired Ilgauskas jersey during a poignant ceremony. The big man overcame serious foot injuries early in his career to become the clubs career leader in rebounds, games played and blocked shots. Ilgauskas thanked Cleveland fans during the ceremony, which included James sitting again on Clevelands sideline. James, who famously left Cleveland as a free agent in 2010, kept a low profile as Ilgauskas jersey was raised to the rafters, but afterward he greeted his close friend and then posed for photos on the floor with former teammates Delonte West and Daniel "Boobie" Gibson. Anthony said the long halftime break helped. "It was good for me because I got some rest," said Anthony, who was unaware James was at the game. "I got a chance to lay on the floor and let Z do his thing. He took some time up. I appreciate him for that." Anthony couldnt buy a basket in the early minutes before heating up. He scored nine straight points to help the Knicks open a 45-35 lead, and then made his sixth shot in a row, a 3-pointer, to give New York a 14-point cushion. Hawes made consecutive 3-pointers to get the Cavs within six, but Smith dropped the first of his five 3-pointers and New York pushed its lead to 58-43. Irving, though, closed the second quarter with seven quick points to pull the Cavs to 58-50 at halftime. NOTES: The Knicks made 14 3s. ... Cavs C Anderson Varejao played 9 minutes after missing the previous 12 games with a sore back. ... James flew in from Chicago to support Ilgauskas, his teammate for eight seasons in Cleveland. With the Heat playing on Sunday, James chartered a jet to witness the ceremony. Dressed smartly in a dark suit, James sat in a luxury suite during the first half before coming down to the floor at halftime to see Ilgauskas jersey raised to the rafters. ... Beginning with a game in Phoenix on Wednesday, the Cavs will play six straight games -- three at home, three on the road -- against teams currently in playoff position. After the Suns, Cleveland will travel to Golden State and the Los Angeles Clippers before hosting Miami, Oklahoma City and Houston. ' ' '