strictly rely on it. I think the way we play and the way we compete helps lure free agents. I think when players from across the league come and see this place, theyll be very excited about it. But to me, the most exc

ANDORRA LA VELLA, Andorra -- Chris Froome is finally receiving acclaim from fans alongside the roads of the Tour de France.The British rider with Team Sky has been widely applauded and even lauded for his panache after pulling off a surprise downhill attack to take the yellow jersey.Its quite a turnaround from last year, when Froome was booed, spat upon, and had urine thrown on him.Certainly. The atmosphere out on the road has been fantastic, Froome said on Monday on the races first rest day. The crowds have been great, none of that silly nonsense that we had last year at all so far. I hope it stays that way.When Froome won the Tour in 2013 and 2015, he was not only suspected of doping, but also criticized for riding in an overly calculated manner with little creativity. That changed with Saturdays daring descent and stage win in the Pyrenees.My main focus is obviously the race. But if its entertaining at the same time then great, Froome said. Im not going to change my racing just for entertainment stake. Im going to do whatever I can to try and win the race.Froome holds a 16-second lead over fellow British rider Adam Yates, and is 19 seconds ahead of Dan Martin of Ireland. His main rival, two-time runner-up Nairo Quintana of Colombia, is fourth, only 23 seconds back.The only major incident involving Froome so far came when a fan running alongside the road got too close during Saturdays eighth stage. Froome responded by landing a left jab to the spectators face.The race jury fined Froome 200 Swiss francs ($203) for inappropriate behavior.I accept it. ... I felt it was the right thing to do, Froome said. He was dangerous at that moment. There have been quite a few incidents with fans in the past few days. Thats just part of the sport, I guess.Another issue that has become part of the sport recently is concern over mechanical doping.Femke Van Den Driessche of Belgium was banned from cycling for six years after a motor was found in her bike at the womens world under-23 cyclo-cross race in January. And in April, French television program Stade 2 claimed to have detected widespread mechanical doping at two Italian races by using roadside thermal cameras.The UCI, cyclings govering body, responded by checking hundreds of bikes at the Tour with thermal imaging equipment.When Froome was asked about a suggestion that the reason he hasnt been able to attack successfully uphill in this Tour was because he doesnt have a motor in his bike, Sky team principal Dave Brailsford responded for the rider.Weve been tested every day, Brailsford said. We actually got an email from the UCI yesterday saying thank you for being the most cooperative team out of everybody in the bike checks.If someone is stupid enough to have the idea of coming here with a motor in their bike, for sure theyll get caught, Brailsford added. The whole discussion about bikes and motors is becoming -- given the level of testing -- something that we need to maybe just reconsider slightly.Froome, meanwhile, seems more focused following the birth of his son, Kellan, in December.Its given me a lot of added motivation, he said. Its given me a lot more energy just for life in general. I love to think of him looking back on these years, when he gets a little bit older and understands it all, and being proud of his old man.The Tours next mountain-top finish comes in Stage 12 on Thursday at the legendary Mont Ventoux, on Bastille Day.Froome was the stage winner when the Tour last scaled Ventouxs barren, 1,909-meter (6,263-foot) peak in 2013.Ventoux was also the site of an epic contest between Lance Armstrong and Marco Pantani in 2000, and where British rider Tom Simpson died in 1967 after he used a lethal cocktail of amphetamines and alcohol.When I got to the top last time I had to get on oxygen support, I was so tired, Froome said. Its one of the most iconic climbs. To win up there again would be unreal, out of this world.Its going to be interesting to see whos really going to go that deep for the victory there, or are people going to be waiting a little bit knowing theres a time trial the next day? Froome wondered.The race heads to the Alps in the third week, with a rare mountain time trial wedged in between several more grueling Alpine stages.Thats where, Froome said, the race will be won or lost.---Andrew Dampf on Twitter: www.twitter.com/asdampf Swell Water Bottle Cheap . R.J. Umberger scored twice to lead the Blue Jackets to a franchise-record for consecutive wins with a 5-3 victory Tuesday night over the Los Angeles Kings. Swell Bottles Wholesale . -- The goal posts lying flat on the field, Arizonas fans lingered on the field, congregating around the locker room entrance nearly 30 minutes after rushing out of the stands. http://www.swellwaterbottlesale.com/Swell-Traveler-Bottle-Sale/ . -- PGA TOUR Canada member Steve Saunders took a three-stroke lead Saturday in the Web. Swell Water Bottle Clearance . Francis told several hundred members of the European Olympic Committees that when sport "is considered only in economic terms and consequently for victory at every cost . Swell Water Bottle Sale . -- Stanford squashed Oregons national championship hopes again, schooling the Ducks in power football. EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- With Kobe Bryant retired after two decades in purple and gold, the Los Angeles Lakers are entering a new and somewhat uncertain era featuring a first-year head coach and a roster built around several promising young players.And as the illustrious franchise seeks to reclaim its place among the NBAs elite after three straight seasons of missing the playoffs, and after posting their worst record ever last season, the Lakers looked ahead Wednesday to one of the most exciting, and certain, elements of their future: their state-of-the-art $80 million training complex.Standing before the imposing shell of a two-story, 120,000-square-foot structure that is expected to open by summer 2017, Lakers officials offered a glimpse Wednesday into the new facility while also announcing a long-term partnership with UCLA Health, whose name will grace the not-yet-finished building. Lakers officials said the UCLA Health Training Center will be triple the size of the teams current training facility, the Toyota Sports Center, which sits less than a half mile away. (The Lakers have practiced at the Toyota Sports Center since 2000 and today share the complex with the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League.)Construction on the Lakers spacious new complex -- which, for the sake of convenience, isnt far from Los Angeles International Airport -- began in September 2015. It will house the Lakers business and basketball operations, as well as the teams D-League affiliate, the D-Fenders. Other impressive features include a barbershop, multiple whirlpools, cryogenics chambers, a theater, kitchen and more.We want players to treat this place like a second home, said Lakers chief operating officer Tim Harris.UCLA Health has also been designated as the exclusive in-game health provider for Lakers players, including at the new facility. Aside from speaking well of the new facility and all that it will offer, Lakers officials emphasized injury prevention -- a buzzword in todays NBA -- as key to their new partnership with UCLA Health.All of this, all of this, is with an eye towards prolonging the careers of these great athletes, Harris added, addressing a group of Lakers players in attendance at Wednesdays event outside the facility. It wasnt just about athlete care. It was about prevention, performance and prolonging their careers.Lakers president Jeanie Buss echoed that point, adding, We just retired a player who playeed 20 years in the NBA in Kobe Bryant and maybe we can keep pushing that, and certainly with the partnership with UCLA Health, that will give us those kind of resources.ddddddddddddWearing hard hats, fluorescent orange safety vests and goggles, Lakers players toured their future home.Its more than helpful, said guard DAngelo Russell. The 82-game season, plus more including the playoffs, is wear and tear on your body. It starts with the rehab and trying to keep your body 100 percent before every practice, before every game, before every road trip. [Its great] just knowing that you have the best people going into the practice facility every day to help your body do that for you.Speaking of the facility, Lakers rookie head coach Luke Walton, a former Lakers player, referenced many new features, such as an underwater treadmill. But one change especially caught his attention: larger ice baths. The Toyota Sports Center features single-person metal tubs; the new center, which will house three rehabilitation pools, can hold up to 15 at a time, Walton said.But will the glittering new facility help attract potential free agents, especially after the Lakers have struck out on big-name targets in each of the past four summers?I think it can, Walton said. I dont think you strictly rely on it. I think the way we play and the way we compete helps lure free agents. I think when players from across the league come and see this place, theyll be very excited about it. But to me, the most exciting [thing] is the ability to train the guys we already have in here. Weve got a great group of guys, a good young core, and to be able to have them in a place like this and work with them every day is going to be a lot of fun. Buss pointed out that, regardless of the new facility, she believes free agents have always been excited about the Lakers.She added that she believes the new facility will further establish the commitment of the organization to be on the cutting edge. In the Lakers current training facility, 11 championship trophies line the window of Buss office that overlooks the practice court -- and a smiling Buss said that feature will continue at the new facility so that the players will always be reminded of what the goal is and to be inspired by the work that they have to put in to get that trophy. ' ' '