MANAUS, Brazil -- Pure class and pure power. [url=http://www.hockeyhurricanes.com/nathan-gerbe-hockey-jersey/]Nathan Gerbe Jersey[/url] . Skill and strength. Creative vision and clinical finishing. Andrea Pirlo and Mario Balotelli are a study in contrasts on the football pitch. And off it. Together, t

MANAUS, Brazil -- Pure class and pure power. Nathan Gerbe Jersey . Skill and strength. Creative vision and clinical finishing. Andrea Pirlo and Mario Balotelli are a study in contrasts on the football pitch. And off it. Together, they provide Italy with two distinct weapons and on Saturday both players stood out in a 2-1 win over England at the World Cup. Pirlo set up Italys opening goal without even touching the ball and Balotelli headed in the winner early in the second half. "We take our hats off to their skill," England coach Roy Hodgson said. It was an evening reminiscent of the 2012 European Championship, when Pirlo and Balotelli combined to lead Italy to the final of the European Championship. This time, after a few errant passes from Pirlo, the midfield maestro broke open the match by stepping over a cross and fooling the England defenders to let Claudio Marchisio fire in from long-range in the 34th minute. "Pirlo is a player who can add quality in every area of the pitch," Italy coach Cesare Prandelli said. "Whether its a tight triangle, going far forward or whatever, he can handle himself in any area." At 35, Pirlo is a veteran of the Italy squad that won the 2006 title. Modest and quiet, his personality couldnt be farther from the brashness that the 23-year-old Balotelli displays. After England equalized two minutes later, Balotelli showed his nose for goal by attempting a sharply angled lob shot after drawing goalkeeper Joe Hart out of position in first-half added time. England defender Phil Jagielka headed away the danger but that only seemed to increase Balotellis appetite. Five minutes into the second half, the AC Milan forward finally found the target, leaping over Gary Cahill to head in by the far post following superb work down the right flank and a perfect cross from Antonio Candreva. "Im really happy. Its a special feeling," said Balotelli, who proposed to his Belgian girlfriend a few days ago. "Ive never played in a World Cup and its fantastic. I dedicate this victory to my future wife, who is here, to my family, and to my friends." Balotelli hadnt scored for Italy since October but the enigmatic striker now has 13 goals in 30 appearances for the Azzurri and has silenced any doubts about his lineup status. Ciro Immobile had been pushing Balotelli for the centre forward spot after leading Serie A with 22 goals and a hat trick in a warmup match last week against top-flight Brazilian club Fluminense. "I think he can score many more," Prandelli said. "Ive said it before. (Balotelli) has enormous potential. He needs to convince himself that his movements up front are decisive enough to finish actions. He gave everything he had but Im convinced he has margins for improvement." When Immobile replaced Balotelli in the 73rd, the crowd at the Arena Amazonia showered him with a loud applause. And when the final whistle blew, Balotelli put his finger to his lips as if to silence the criticism he routinely faces. Then he winked to a TV camera. Born in Sicily to Ghanaian immigrants and raised by Italian foster parents, Balotelli is also subjected to racism constantly back home. Before kickoff Saturday, Balotelli tweeted, "ITALIANS. Whatever squad you support, today there is only the Azzurra squad! Hate, jealousy, contempt, lets put it all aside and ALL be united!" United with Pirlo, Balotelli and Italy are tough to beat. Justin Faulk Jersey .C. -- Authorities say the brother of Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Roddy White has been shot and killed outside a South Carolina nightclub. Jake Bean Jersey . Phoenix originally signed Barbosa to a 10-day contract on Jan. 8 after Eric Bledsoe injured his knee and then signed him to another 10-day deal. http://www.hockeyhurricanes.com/lee-stempniak-hockey-jersey/ . Thats the feeling that eight Canadian Football League teams are experiencing right now in advance of the expansion draft to stock the Ottawa Redblacks. MIAMI -- LeBron James has this summer on his mind, and is already starting to plan for next season. The summer of 2014, that can wait. James said Tuesday that he is not thinking about the possibility of becoming a free agent in 12 months, though he did acknowledge that the prospects of competing with Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Erik Spoelstra and Pat Riley for several more championships with the Miami Heat is more than a tiny bit intriguing. "Thats the goal," James said. "Thats the ultimate finish. And we all hope that can happen, obviously." James final interview session of this season revealed plenty in 17 minutes, including that hes already feeling an itch to get back on the basketball court after just a few days off, that hell stop at nothing to give longtime girlfriend Savannah Brinson anything she wants on their wedding day in a couple months, and that hes making no secret of his hope that the Heat bring back at least the majority of this years championship roster. The most interesting news, however, was when he spoke of his short- and long-term plans. First, hes vowing to come back better next season, which is no small promise from someone with four MVP awards, two Finals MVP awards and who carries the tag of "best player in the world." And then next summer, it certainly sounds as if hes going to give the prospects of staying in Miami a good, long look. "This is what we came here for, so that would be the ultimate," James said. "But you can never ... I dont know, life changes, things happen, and we have to be prepared for that. But this is what we all want to be here for, thats to be able to compete for a championship each and every year. And if we can do that, then itd be awesome." James scored 37 points in Game 7 of the NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs, carrying the Heat to their second straight championship in a season where he picked up his fourth MVP award. Hes gotten to the championship series in all three of his seasons with Miami, falling to Dallas in 2011, then beating Oklahoma City last season and the Spurs this year. The team gathered for physicals and a quick meeting on Tuesday, and now begins the process of scattering for vacation and other business. James will make his annual trip with Nike to China next month, not long after Wade does some business there. And already, James sounds like hes missing the group that he spent the past nine months with. "Its like, Damn, I wish we could come back in the locker room, have another practice, take another flight, have another bus ride with those 15 guys," James said. "Thats what its all about. You miss the guys throughout the summer. I know my family probably doesnt want to hear that, but its the truth." It was not a Finals without speed bumps for James, who failed to score 20 points in any of the first three games against the Spurs. And after Miami lost Game 5 in San Antonio, James had to prepare without one of his most faithful sounding boards. Maverick Carter, James longtime friend and perhaps his most trusted confidant, wouldnt talk with him for days after Game 5, other than challenging him by saying that great players have to be great in the biggest moments. James responded with 32 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists in Game 6, then the 37-point outburst in Game 7. "TThats why I like the guys around me, off the court," James said. Carolina Hurricanes Jerseys. . "Its not just a bed of roses with us. Theyve been around me too long to allow me to be careless or not stepping up to the plate at the highest level, not in basketball but in everything." The Heat are expected to announce by Sunday that they will pick up an option on point guard Mario Chalmers, one of three potentially departing players -- Ray Allen and Chris Andersen being the others -- identified by James on Tuesday as being "huge parts of our team." James, who was completely exhausted after Game 7, said hes already feeling rejuvenated physically and is eager to get back to work, which may not be great news for opponents. "Im going to come back a better player," James said, "because I owe it to my teammates. ... Im obsessed with success." James said he hasnt taken much of a look at who might be available for Miami this summer in free agency yet, in part because the season just ended and in part because he thinks the current Heat roster, if brought back essentially intact, would be good enough to contend for the title in 2014. If Riley, Spoelstra, managing general partner Micky Arison and salary-cap guru Andy Elisburg find a way to improve the roster, then James -- who plays just about every position on offence and defends them all on defence -- certainly wouldnt complain. Still, it says something that hes not demanding upgrades, either. "My mindset is at a point where there is no relief," James said. "I love the burden. I love what I have to do for this team to win. If it happens and we get someone who relieves something from me as far as a big or a wing guy or something, then itd be good for our team. But Im not going up to those guys or approaching this summer saying I need help. Im coming back saying if we come back with this roster, were going to compete for a championship." The way he sees it, if he gets better and the Heat get healthier and other players find ways to improve, then he likes his chances next year. "This year coming, which will be here soon, thats our focus," James said. "Our focus is on how were going to get better this year coming up, and how were going to prepare to be better with all these other teams getting better, to be able to keep that trophy here." So he gets one ring when next season starts, and another a couple months beforehand, when he and Brinson finally tie the knot. Hes let his fiancee do most of the planning, though James has been involved in some decisions. His approach has been steadfast since proposing shortly after the clock struck midnight and the calendar flipped to Jan. 1, 2012 -- its her day. "Im involved enough to where everythings going to go right," James said. "The most important person is Savannah. Shes happy, then Im happy. Thats all that matters. I dont really care about nothing else. I dont really care about nobody else there on that day besides her." Then comes a new season -- and the same questions he heard going into his infamous Decision summer of 2010, when he left Cleveland for Miami. "Ive been in this position before," James said. "Ive heard it before. It cant get any worse than my season before I became a free agent in 2010." Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Jerseys From China Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys ' ' '