When we play that type of basketball

MINNEAPOLIS -- As the Minnesota Vikings filed into their locker room at the Metrodome for the last time, Leslie Frazier was there to greet them with a handshake and a hug. The Vikings picked up one more victory at the soon-to-be-demolished stadium, perhaps a parting gift for the popular coach. Fittingly, the Detroit Lions left on the losing end. Cordarrelle Patterson scored two touchdowns, including the go-ahead catch in the end zone in the fourth quarter, and the Vikings beat the Lions 14-13 on Sunday afternoon in the final game of the Metrodomes 32 seasons. From Patterson to Adrian Peterson, player after player passionately voiced their support for Frazier, whose record over three-plus years is 21-33-1. Peterson promised to make his plea directly to the owners on Monday. Frazier urged the front office to bring him and his staff back. "I just have a lot of belief in my abilities as a coach and have a lot of belief in the guys on our team and a lot of belief in our staff, and for that reason you dont have to walk in fear," Frazier said, flashing a brief smile. "You just know that things are going to work out." Owner Zygi Wilf declined to comment about a decision on Frazier, who has one season left on his contract. General manager Rick Spielman was mum, too. The Lions held Calvin Johnson out because of a nagging knee injury. Matthew Stafford stopped his turnover streak and completed 22 of 33 passes for 217 yards and a third-quarter touchdown pass to Bush, but the Lions finished 7-24 at this stadium, which was inflated in 1982. They finished the year with six losses in their last seven games despite holding a fourth-quarter lead in all of them, putting coach Jim Schwartz on the metaphorical hot seat, too. "Its definitely been very rocky, and its not been easy to deal with," said running back Reggie Bush. "Its been an emotional roller coaster, going from being in first place to where we are now, thats not how you want to end the season." Schwartz fell to 29-52 over five full years. Both he and Frazier have made the playoffs once. "We cant worry about decisions we dont make," Schwartz said, adding: "Id certainly like to be back. I think we have unfinished business here. Weve come a long way in these years, but we still have some ground that we can make and Im anxious to have a chance to do that." There will be no more business in this building, which will be torn down next month to make room for a new domed venue on the same site. The Vikings will play outside the next two seasons at the University of Minnesotas facility. "I love the stadium. But when you see the pictures of the new one, youre anxious and excited to get into the new one," said Peterson, who was held out due to a sprained foot. He set the NFLs all-time single-game rushing record here in 2007 with 296 yards. Third-stringer Matt Asiata filled in with 14 carries for 115 yards. Jared Allen had two sacks to pass the double-digit mark for the seventh straight season. Cassel had the winning touchdown throw. He was the quarterback at the end of all five Vikings victories this year, two in injury relief of Christian Ponder. The Vikings also narrowly avoided setting a franchise record for most points allowed, leaving the 1984 team still holding that dubious mark. This still might not have been enough to save Fraziers job, however. "I enjoyed playing for Leslie. He came in each and every day with a demeanour to try to get this team ready to play, and I respect that about him and how he went about his business. There never was anybody, especially in his case, hanging his head when things didnt go our way," Cassel said. Patterson wasnt ready for the opening kickoff, slapping the goalpost and trying to fire up fans behind him when the ball sailed in the end zone. Chase Ford caught it for a touchback. Patterson quickly refocused, though. Late in the first quarter, he took a pitch in the backfield, immediately reversed course and ran right toward the sideline. He slipped between Ndamukong Suh and Devin Taylor, then snaked his way through the rest of the defence for a 50-yard gain, the longest rushing play in Vikings history by a wide receiver. NOTES: Patterson finished his rookie year with nine TDs, including six in the last five games. ... Bush and fellow RB Joique Bell each finished with 500-plus yards receiving. They combined for 2,709 yards and 15 TDs. USA Soccer Shirts .com) - Australian Open champion Li Na, former Wimbledon winner Petra Kvitova and former world No. Custom USA Soccer Jerseys . "Ive still got it," Seattles ace said with a sly grin. Riding that fastball carrying a little more zip, Hernandez took a shutout bid into the ninth inning as the Mariners beat the Los Angeles Angels 3-1 on Wednesday night. On the verge of a brilliant shutout and first complete game since Aug. https://www.cheapusasoccer.com/. Mars announced Saturday that the Rock and Roll Hall of Famers will join him as part of his halftime show. Super Bowl halftime performers often have collaborators. USA Soccer Jerseys China .C. - Brent Sutter scored 1:32 into extra time as the Charlotte Checkers came from behind to defeat the visiting Abbotsford Heat 5-4 on Sunday in American Hockey League action. USA Soccer Gear . No such luck. Wiggins owned the end of Parkers impressive homecoming. The Kansas star scored 16 of his 22 points in the second half, outplaying Parker down the stretch and helping the fifth-ranked Jayhawks knock off No. NEW ORLEANS -- Rudy Gay went from ejection to redemption in just a couple of days. One game after a miserable showing in Oklahoma City, Gay tied a career high with 41 points and the Sacramento Kings cruised to a 114-97 victory at the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday night. "Honestly, I didnt even know how much I scored," Gay said. "It was more about getting the win." In a loss two nights earlier to the Thunder, Gay scored only six points before being sent off the court with two technical fouls in the fourth quarter. But Gay hit 16 of 25 shots in the Big Easy, including 5 of 8 from 3-point range, to match a point total he last put up on Dec. 13, 2009, in Miami. It was going so well for Gay that he casually walked the ball up the court with an eye on the clock late in the third quarter, and then drilled a pull-up jumper from 27 feet. "He put on a show tonight, coming off a game in Oklahoma City where he didnt play very well and got thrown out," Kings coach Michael Malone said. "He wanted to bounce back and show everybody what he is capable of." DeMarcus Cousins had 18 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks for the Kings, who have won five of eight. Isaiah Thomas added 20 points and 11 assists. "When in doubt, go to Rudy and youll get an assist," Thomas said. "He really carried us tonight." Tyreke Evans scored 17 for New Orleans, which trimmed a 23-point deficit to six shortly before halftime, only to fall behind by 23 again in the third quarter and remain behind by double digits the rest of the way. Anthony Davis scored 16 points and blocked four shots, and New Orleans rookie centre Jeff Withey had a career-high 14 points, but that was not nearly enough to prevent the Pelicans from losing for the ninth time in 10 games. The latest loss came one night after the Pelicans snapped an eight-game skid in Memphis. "We just didnt have a lot of juice collectively from our starters tonight and certainly didnt play with any kind of intensity that was comparable to what we did last night," Pelicans coach Monty Williams said. "That is just part of being a pro and understanding that when you have an emotional win like we did last night, theres a quick turnaround." Quincy Acy grabbed 10 rebounds for the Kings, who outrebounded New Orleanns 46-35.dddddddddddd The Kings were the sharper team from the outset, shooting 70 per cent (14 of 20) in the first period, during which they scored 38 points and built an 18-point lead. "Obviously I could point to a few things, but that would be emotional and I dont want to do that," Williams said. "Theres some things Ive discussed with our team that they need to be better at, and they understand. ... Were not the type of team that can just put our jersey on and step onto the floor. Weve got to go out and play with a high level of energy." New Orleans had 10 players in uniform, out of 15 on the roster. Ryan Anderson (herniated disk), Jrue Holiday (stress fracture, right shin) and Jason Smith (right knee) were injured. Reserve shooting guard Anthony Morrow was sick and newly acquired guard Tyshawn Taylor was not with the team. All 10 active players had checked in before the first quarter ended, in part because four players --Davis, Al-Farouq Aminu, Greg Stiemsma and Alexis Ajinca -- each had two fouls in the period. The Kings lead grew to 23 on Gays 3 midway through the second quarter, and it might have been worse if not for Witheys 12 points in the period. New Orleans enjoyed momentum for only the last half of the second period, scoring on 10 of its last 11 possessions. Witheys dunk sparked a 12-3 spurt, capped by Roberts fast-break layup. Next came an 11-2 run during which Evans scored eight, trimming Sacramentos lead to six before Derrick Williams free throws gave the Kings a 64-56 halftime lead. The Pelicans second-quarter surge put them in striking distance of a memorable comeback, but Sacramento opened the third with a 17-4 run. The surge began with two baskets by Cousins and included two 3s by Gay, the second making it 83-60. "When we play that type of basketball, were a tough team to beat," Cousins said. "Weve got a long way to go to grow as a team, but were definitely on the right path." NOTES: The Kings conclude a six-game road trip Wednesday night at Houston. They are 2-3 on the trip so far. ... Four players spent at least one season of college under current Kentucky coach John Calipari: Cousins, Davis, Evans and Darius Miller. All are former Kentucky players except Evans, who played at Memphis, Caliparis previous stop. ' ' '