Regeln » ities. That forced Littleton to quickly familiarize himself

MONTREAL -- The isolation of Quebecs soccer community begins this weekend. Hundreds of Ontarians are pulling out of a weekend tournament in Montreal, the mass shunning prompted by a political dispute over Quebec soccers ban on turbans. The Montreal host association has confirmed that 20 Ontario youth teams are not being allowed to come to play. An official with the Lac St-Louis Regional Soccer Association said about 170 teams, mostly from the Montreal area, were invited to take part in the weekend tournament. Director-General Edouard St-Lo says Ontario teams are not being allowed to take part because they cant get travel permits from the Ontario Soccer Association. "Why they revoked their permit? I cant tell you," St-Lo said when reached Thursday by telephone. This week, the Canadian Soccer Association suspended the Quebec Soccer Federation over its controversial turban ban. The suspension includes prohibiting Quebec teams from participating in -- or hosting -- interprovincial matches and national competitions. The dispute has attracted international news coverage and drawn in numerous politicians. It has also placed different value systems on a collision course. The current Parti Quebecois government, critics of laissez-faire multiculturalism, are defending the right to banish certain displays of religious faith from the public space in the name of secularism. The PQ has placed its support behind the QSF. One nationalist newspaper columnist in Montreal has even used the dispute to illustrate the need for Quebec independence. In an echo of the intergovernmental disputes that frequently typify Canadian federalism, Premier Pauline Marois has argued that the national association has no right to tell the provincial one what to do. However, the national body argues that it is indeed the recognized authority within the country and its decisions are binding on provincial associations. Even the Quebec federations bylaws debunk the premiers claim. The QSFs rule No. 5 says: "(The QSF) is affiliated to, and under the jurisdiction of, the Canadian Soccer Association and is subject to its rules unless it has received a specific exemption." The marching orders are clear elsewhere. In Ontario, an employee at the Toronto Soccer Association said the group takes its instructions from the Ontario Soccer Association. The TSA, which has 16 member clubs, is among the local associations to have received a notification from the provincial body indicating that until the situation is resolved it cannot approve anything that has to do with Quebec. The sanctions imposed by the national body have also received support from a number of federal politicians, in different parties. Even within Quebec, there are small pockets of resistance to the turban ban. In the more Anglo, more pro-Canada western tip of Montreal, there are hints that some local leagues might try to defy the anti-turban edict. Fern da Silva, president of the Pierrefonds Soccer Association, said in an interview that he doesnt agree with the provincial order. About 2,500 children -- including about a dozen who wear turbans -- play in the soccer group in the northwest section of the city. "In the club, weve decided that were going to do whatever we feel is right," da Silva said. "You may go to any field and not see any kid with a turban and then you might get a game where there are two or three... So far weve been able to get along, regardless of the ruling, and we havent had any issues." The provincial federation has threatened to fine referees if they let players play in religious headwear. However, da Silva said he is leaving it up to his referees to decide what to do. "My refs have already been told to be very objective about it and look at it and if theres really, really a safety issue, well deal with it," he said, adding that the Quebec federations argument that turbans are a safety issue "is totally erroneous." But da Silva isnt letting the Canadian Soccer Association off the hook, either. He said the CSA has to shoulder some of the blame because, he said, it had been unclear in its wishes and previously left the impression that provincial bodies were free to decide as they wished. Da Silva said hopes the issue is resolved as soon as possible "and we all get back to what were supposed to be doing -- looking after the kids on the field and getting as many kids as possible on the fields." As for this weekends tournament, St-Lo says hes scrambling to replace the out-of-province teams with other local teams. "Thats what were working on," he said, adding that he didnt foresee any problems trying to replace the 20 Ontario teams.Carson Wentz Eagles Jersey . -- Al Jefferson found a groove just in time for the Charlotte Bobcats. Wilbert Montgomery Jersey . It says Pocklingtons lawyer filed the appeal Friday in a California court. CTV Edmonton also says Pocklington gave a $100,000 cash deposit as part of the conditions of his bail, and that he will be out on bail until his appeal is heard. http://www.theeaglesshoponline.com/Youth-Dallas-Goedert-Eagles-Jersey/ .com) - Following a late-game loss to the reigning NBA champs, the Toronto Raptors will look to sustain their recent high-level play as they travel to Indiana to take on the Pacers. Miles Sanders Eagles Jersey .Y. - General manager Billy King says the Brooklyn Nets are looking to add a big man and confirmed the team worked out centre Jason Collins, who would become the first openly gay active NBA player if signed. Carson Wentz Jersey .C. at the helm of the top team in the Eastern Conference. His tenure as the GM in Vancouver was all too brief. Though he led the Canucks to what was then a franchise record-shattering campaign in just his second season, Nonis was gone and replaced one year later.THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. -- Ask Los Angeles Rams defensive end Robert Quinn for his first memory of Monday Night Football and nothing comes to mind.Oh shoot. Yeah, you got me stumped on that one, Quinn said.Coach Jeff Fisher remembers its infancy when the antics of Howard Cosell and Don Meredith captivated the nation, and it offered the only chance to see everything that happened in the NFL that week.Things have changed, Fisher said. Back in the day when Howard and Don and the rest of them were doing it, that was the only way you got to see highlights from the weekend. Now you get to see highlights moments after they happen.Playing a game on Monday night is no longer a novelty, the television broadcast accompanying it no longer a cultural phenomenon, but the Rams season opener at the San Francisco 49ers will mean plenty to linebacker Cory Littleton.`Monday Night Football, everybody in America watching it, Littleton said. Its exciting.Littleton seemed set for a limited role this season as an undrafted free agent from Washington before the Rams cut veteran Akeem Ayers last week. When Ayers signed with the Indianapolis Colts, it all but locked the Rams into using five defensive backs as their primary personnel package with Littleton backing up starting hybrid linebacker-safety Mark Barron.All you can do is just keep pushing forward, Littleton said. Yeah, there might be changes around you, but ultimately you cant control that.It doesnt really change anything for us, added middle linebacker Alec Ogletree. We feel like we played mostly nickel throughout the whole season last year, and most teams do play nickel more because it is a passing league.Littleton thrived as an outside linebacker as the Huskies led the Pac-12 in points and yards allowed last season. He had 65 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and six sacks as a senior, showing good range and versatility that has carried over through this summer.ddddddddddddLittleton wasnt sure he would get the opportunity because of a rule that limits the contact rookies can have with their teams until the end of the academic year. For schools on the quarter system, including Washington, rookies like Littleton had to wait until well into June to participate in conditioning workouts or organized team activities. That forced Littleton to quickly familiarize himself with a new team and scheme.Littleton said the coaches were understanding, but that it was just a crappy situation.There was nothing I could do about it, Littleton said. Try to learn and do everything as fast as possible, thats the only thing I could do.Littletons quick maturation actually seemed to strengthen his case for making the final roster. After recording three tackles in the Rams second preseason game, Littleton believed for the first time that he could make the team.Cory really didnt get to do much until he got to training camp, so I think that speaks volumes for him because he had a short period of time and he showed us what he can do, coach Jeff Fisher said.On Monday night, Littleton will go from watching the game to playing in it.Every time we go to a new stadium its just like Im a little kid in a candy store with a big old smile on my face because these are the places I have been seeing on TV for years or these are the players I have been seeing on TV for years or this is my favorite player, Littleton said. Its just a great experience.---Online:AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '