Norway won both cross-country sprints on Tuesday at the Sochi 2014 Olympics, with Ola Vigen Hattestad winning a crash-filled men

Norway won both cross-country sprints on Tuesday at the Sochi 2014 Olympics, with Ola Vigen Hattestad winning a crash-filled mens event, while Maiken Caspersen Falla took gold on the womens side. Dustin Pedroia Red Sox Jersey . Hattestad managed to avoid the carnage midway through the mens final, as a crash took out three skiers, essentially leaving two men vying for gold. The Norwegian posted a time of 3:38.39, outlasting Swedens Teodor Peterson, who took silver with a time of 3:39.61. Fellow Swede Emil Joensson ended up with the bronze, well back at 3:58.13. Norwegians took gold and silver in the womens sprint. Falla finished in first in a time with 2:35.49, and her teammate Ingvild Flugstad Oestberg just stretched for the silver medal over Russias Vesna Fabjan. Oestberg finished in 2:35.87, and Fabjan ended up with a time of 2:35.89. U.S. skier Kikkan Randall, who was gunning to become the first American to win gold in cross country, made a surprising exit in the quarters of the womens sprint, after finishing fourth in the deepest heat of the round. Norways Marit Bjoergen, who won the skiathlon on Saturday and was the defending Olympic champion in this event, was eliminated in the semis. No Canadians advanced to the semifinals of either event. Alex Harvey was Canadas best hope for a medal in the mens event, but was eliminated in the quarter-finals, finishing fourth in his heat. Harvey, of Saint-Ferréol-les-Neiges, Que., needed to finish in the top-two of his heat or post one of the two best times out of the rest of the competitors to advance. He finished the race with a time of 3:37.89. Canadians Devon Kershaw, Jesse Cockney and Len Valjas all failed to crack the top 30 in the qualifying round and didnt advance. Kershaw finished in 56th, Cockney in 53rd, and Valjas in 36th. Two Canadian women advanced to the quarter-finals, but couldnt get through their heats. Daria Gaiazova of Banff, Alta., finished fifth in the second grouping, and Perianne Jones of Almonte, Ont., placed fifth in the final heat. Chandra Crawford, Canadas 2006 Olympic champion in the event, finished out of the top 30 in the qualifying round and didnt advance to the quarter-finals, placing 44th. Teammate Heidi Widmer finished just ahead of Crawford in 43rd. Canadian coach helps Russian out Though Canada was shut out of the medals, the Canadian cross-country teams head coach received a cheer from the crowd. Justin Wadsworth handed Russias Anton Gafarov a spare ski during the first heat of the mens semifinal. Gafarov crashed during the heat and broke his ski in the process, and despite being out of the race he was determined to finish the race. As he laboured, Wadsworth ran onto the slope, handing the Russian a spare ski so he could continue the course and cross the finish line. Steven Wright Red Sox Jersey . - The Green Bay Packers got back to work on Friday without star quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Brock Holt Red Sox Jersey . The 25-year-old native of Milford, Conn., has 18 points in 41 games this season. The five-foot-eight 166-pound centre also has 28 points (10-18) in 15 games with AHL Oklahoma City. http://www.redsoxapparelsshop.com/mookie-betts-jersey-c-32/ . -- Louisville backup quarterback Reggie Bonnafon ran for two touchdowns and passed for another and the No.DETROIT - Calvin Johnson didnt even play when the Detroit Lions beat Minnesota in October.Megatron is back now, and his return to form has helped the Lions move closer to a playoff spot.Johnson has surpassed 140 yards in each of his past two games, and Detroit enters its last home game of the regular season brimming with confidence after back-to-back victories.The Lions would be almost assured of a berth in the post-season if they win their next two games — at home against Minnesota on Sunday and at Chicago the following weekend.It feels good. Were in a good spot right now, Johnson said. We just have to keep stacking those wins.Detroit beat Minnesota 17-3 earlier this season. That was without Johnson, who missed a month with an ankle injury, but his return has helped the Lions offensively. Their past two games were wins over Tampa Bay and Chicago, by identical 34-17 scores.Matthew Stafford has played some of his best football of the season lately, and with a defence that stuffs the run and pressures quarterbacks, Detroit can be difficult to handle if its offence contributes at all.Theyre really explosive. They didnt have (Reggie) Bush or Calvin Johnson when we played them the first time, Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said.Bush is another weapon coming out of the backfield and the things that he does in the screen game. With Calvin Johnson comes another opportunity for them to continue to make big plays.Detroit (9-4) finishes the regular season with a game at Green Bay, so the two before that are crucial. The last thing the Lions need is an upset loss at home this weekend.Like the Lions, the Vikings (6-7) have won two in a row. Minnesota has also won four of its past six, although the victories came against weaker competition such as Tampa Bay, Washington and the New York Jets.Here are a few things to watch when Detroit hosts the Vikinngs:STAFFORDS SURGE: It hasnt been a great statistical season for Stafford, but his past two games have been impressive. Carl Yastrzemski Red Sox Jersey. The Detroit quarterback went 34 of 45 for 390 yards and two touchdowns against the Bears on Thanksgiving, then he went 26 of 34 for 311 yards and three TDs against the Buccaneers last weekend.ANOTHER CHANCE: Minnesotas Teddy Bridgewater was sacked eight times in his teams first meeting with Detroit this season. That was only the second start for the rookie quarterback, and he also threw three interceptions.Over his past six games, however, Bridgewater has nine touchdown passes and three interceptions.ON THE LINE: Minnesotas injury-plagued offensive line has looked better lately. Guard Brandon Fusco and tackle Phil Loadholt are on injured reserve — each with a torn pectoral muscle — but backups like Joe Berger seem to have helped stabilize things.I think its going well. I think thats what were here for, to be able to come in and play, Berger said. Obviously we lost some very good players, so weve just got to try to fill it up as best we can.Stafford, meanwhile, has been sacked a career-high 39 times. Thats part of the reason Detroits offence was struggling until the past couple of weeks.RUNNING GAME: Detroit has the leagues No. 1 defence against the run, and the Lions have shown some signs of developing a better running game. Joique Bell had 174 yards on 41 carries over the past two games.DEFENDING THEIR TURF: The Lions have a chance to finish 7-1 at home with a victory this weekend. Detroit only won six home games total over the previous two seasons.We always want it to be a tough place to play, defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh said. Always want to find ways to win at home, as its always tough to go on the road and get wins.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL Cheap Red Sox Jerseys Cheap Orioles Jerseys Cheap Mets Jerseys Cheap Phillies Jerseys Cheap Nationals Jerseys Cheap Cubs Jerseys Cheap Reds Jerseys Cheap Brewers Jerseys Cheap Pirates Jerseys Cheap Cardinals Jerseys Cheap Diamondbacks Jerseys Cheap Rockies Jerseys Cheap Dodgers Jerseys Cheap Padres Jerseys Cheap Giants Jerseys ' ' '