NEU » layed two of the top 12 teams in the countr

SURREY, B.C. -- Paris Jackson has no difficulty remembering the last time he started a CFL game. It was in 2009. Barring any unforeseen changes, he will finally start at slotback again Saturday as his B.C. Lions visit the Edmonton Eskimos. "Man, Ive been waiting for that for three years," said Jackson, an 11-year veteran who has spent his entire career with the Lions, after a practice this week. "Ill be very emotional." Jackson is slated to replace Shawn Gore, who suffered a head injury in a win over Toronto last week. Gore is going through the leagues concussion protocol. In the past four seasons, Jackson, 32, has battled negative perceptions about his age and speed. The Vancouver natives career was first derailed by a wonky knee, and then Lions general manager Wally Buono launched a youth movement in the receiving corps. In 2011, a day after the Lions won the Grey Cup, Jackson stood before reporters talking -- and feeling -- like he had played his last game as a Lion. "I didnt think I was going to be with the team," he said. "I knew I was still going to play, because I still had that passion in my heart, that drive." But Buono, the clubs former coach, and current head coach Mike Benevides appreciated the way Jackson persevered through his minimal playing time without complaint in the championship season. So they gave him another chance. The B.C. bosses also considered that he had undergone arthroscopic knee surgery in each of the previous two off-seasons. Playing largely on special teams, he recorded just seven receptions for 117 yards in 2011, and caught just 10 passes for 127 in 2012 as the Lions reached the Western Final. "Its been hard," he said about his limited playing opportunities. "But these young guys, I see the talent in them, and I totally understand, because I was in the same situation eight, nine years ago trying to take someones spot." Now, he has outlasted Geroy Simon, a future hall of famer who was traded to Saskatchewan in the off-season. And Jackson is showing that he has potential for more, depending on how long Gore is out. Jackson filled in for him admirably against the Argos, posting four receptions. During one stretch, he caught a pair of back-to-back passes -- something else he had not done for a while. "Oh, man, it felt great," he said. "Its been three years. I sat down on the sideline after that. I didnt really realize its been three years since I got back-to-back catches." Jackson dismisses a suggestion that he is like a cat with nine lives. He attributes his career revival to hard work, dedication and his willingness to be a leader for young receivers like Gore, Courtney Taylor and Nick Moore. "You really can see that Im back to how I used to be," said Jackson, who has shed down to 210 pounds from 225 or 235 in order to reduce pressure on his knee. "Im confident, Im healthy and, at the end of the day, I dont believe in nine lives. Ive been in this league for 11 years. Ive been a starter for a lot of those years, and they wanted to go young. Now, Geroys not here and weve got Shawn Gore hurt and a couple other guys could be banged up a little bit. "So its time for a veteran guy like me to step up." Gores injury is one of a number that the Lions are facing as they try to improve on their 1-1 record in the young season. Linebacker Adam Bighill (ankle) is also out after getting hurt against Toronto, and centre Angus Reid (back) and kicker Paul McCallum (groin) have yet to play this season. But Benevides has no qualms about inserting Jackson, who was Buonos first draft pick (sixth overall) when the GM moved to B.C. from Calgary. "Paris is a pro," said Benevides, a former Stampeders assistant. "Hes been here as long as any of us have, since 2003. a Paris Jackson is a tremendous player, and hes going to be great for us." Accordingly, quarterback Travis Lulay is not worried about any disruptions to the offence. "Paris is a luxury to have, having a veteran guy coming off the bench," said Lulay. "If your depth isnt good and you have a starter get hurt, sometimes you wonder about that. As a quarterback, you can second-guess if the guy knows what hes doing, if hes going to be in the right spot. But with Paris, thats just not the case." Jackson took a pay cut after the 2011 season and has been gradually increasing his salary while playing on yearly contracts. "If my role can increase and money can increase, then Ill be here," he said. "If it decreases, then theres no need for me to be here." At the moment, there is a need, and he is determined to fill it. "Now, Ive just got make sure I get as many reps as I can to catch back up to a few years that Ive lost," he said.Cheap Jordan 12 Ovo . MORITZ, Switzerland -- Fog prevented downhill racers from getting their Olympic dress rehearsal. Red Air Jordan 12 Retro .C. -- Charlotte Bobcats coach Steve Clifford said after all of these years in the NBA hes still amazed at some of the things LeBron James does. http://www.cheapjordans12retro.com/ . On June 12, just as the sun sets on the magnificent historical city of Sao Paulo the inventors, innovators and purveyors of “joga bonitowill” open their campaign. The opponent, Croatia and all its football might and will. As opposites do attract we are set for a corker of an opener. All Pink Air Jordan 12 Retro . Dukurs winning time was 1 minute, 45.76 seconds, a quarter-second better than Russias Alexander Tretiakov. Lativas Tomass Dukurs was third, 1.41 seconds off the pace. Jon Montgomery of Eckville, Alta. All Black Air Jordan 12 Retro . Halladay signed a one-day contract with the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday that allowed the veteran right-hander to retire as a member of team with which he broke into the majors and spent the bulk of his distinguished 16-year career.STORRS, Conn. -- Geno Auriemma expected his young team to go through growing pains early in the season as they adjusted to life without the Huskies Big Three.So far theyve grown up pretty quickly.Freshman Crystal Dangerfield scored 19 points, Katie Lou Samuelson added 16 and No. 3 UConn extended its winning streak to 77 games with a 72-61 victory over second-ranked Baylor on Thursday night.I think we grew up a lot, Auriemma said . Came of age so to speak. That doesnt mean were older enough to not grow some more.The streak is the second longest in womens college basketball history, standing 13 short of the school record set by the Huskies from 2008-10. With stars Breanna Stewart, Morgan Tuck and Moriah Jefferson gone to the WNBA, Auriemma wasnt sure what to expect from his team early.So far hes been impressed after victories over No. 12 Florida State and now Baylor.What I saw today was surprising, the Hall of Fame coach said.With the game tied at 54 early in the fourth quarter, UConn took over. The Huskies scored 16 of the next 18 points to put the game away. Dangerfield, a diminutive guard, made a spectacular layup with 4:03 left that brought the near sellout crowd to its feet and made it 62-56. Baylor (2-1) couldnt recover.I wont disappear in big games, Dangerfield said. I want to attack. I want to be in those situations. I feel like I have the experience to do it, so Ill be there.Unlike during the 75 games leading into this season where the Huskies (2-0) won every game by double digits and most were decided by halftime, this seasons squad has had to pull out its first two wins in the final quarter.We can fight. We can push back. I think we kind of showed the rest of the country, like OK, its not going to be as easy as you think it is to beat UConn this year, Gabby Williams said.Trailing 40-38 midway through the third quarter, UConn scored 12 of the next 13 points to open up the lead. Kia Nurse got the run started with a jumper and Dangerfield capped it with a 3-pointer.Baylor wouldnt go away, going on a 12-2 run to tie the game at 54 early in the fourth quarter. Alexis Jones, who led the Lady Bears with 23 points, keyed the spurt.ddddddddddddUConn contained 6-foot-7 Baylor sophomore Kalani Brown. She had 25 points and 19 rebounds in a win over No. 9 UCLA on Monday. She had just nine points and five rebounds against the Huskies as she was saddled by foul trouble.I thought we faced a lot of adversity tonight, Baylor coach Kim Mulkey said. Calls, momentum. We hung in there even through mistakes. We got to crunch time and we had wasted possessions. Those things have to be fixed and they will.BIG PICTURE:Baylor: The Lady Bears were trying to get a measure of revenge, as the Huskies ended their 69-game home winning streak on Jan. 13, 2014. That was the last meeting between the teams until Thursday. ... Preseason All-America Nina Davis was scoreless in 24 minutes.UConn: Two games in and the Huskies have already played two of the top 12 teams in the country. Before the regular season is finished, UConn will have played six of the other top eight teams in the poll. Its the first time the Huskies have opened the season with two ranked opponents since 1998-99. They played three consecutive ranked teams (Duke, Arkansas and UCLA) that season. ... The Huskies have won 50 straight home games. ... The UConn Huskies unveiled their championship banner from last season before the game.POLL IMPLICATIONS:UConn should move up at least one spot in the poll while Baylor will drop at least one place.SERIES HISTORY:These teams played five times between 2010 and 2014 -- the only meetings between the storied programs until Thursday night.UP NEXT:Baylor: After playing back-to-back top 10 teams, the Lady Bears return home to face Mississippi Valley State on Sunday. Baylor has only played top 10 teams in the first three games of the season one other time, in 2012. The Lady Bears split those games, beating Kentucky and losing to Stanford.UConn: The Huskies travel to LSU to face the Tigers on Sunday.---Follow Doug on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/dougfeinberg ' ' '