ting to the tee box.Thankfully, Palmers playing partners that day -- Rocco Mediate and John Mahaffey -- milked their pre-shot routines to the max, and all was fine for Palmer, who hit his first shot at 2:03 p.m. for w

LAS VEGAS -- Four years after Linsanity, Jeremy Lin returns to New York a different player, a more mature person, and with a much different role.Lin said Saturday he signed a three-year, $36 million contract with the Brooklyn Nets in free agency because he was given an opportunity that has been rare during his six-year NBA career: to quarterback a team as the starting point guard.Its going to be collective, and Brook [Lopez] is going to be a big, big part of it as well as other players, Lin, speaking while watching the Nets at the Las Vegas Summer League, said in his first public comments since signing his new deal. But Im definitely coming in [understanding] what my role is. Im the playmaker. Im the point guard. Ive got to lead. Ive got to be an extension of the coach, and Im not shying away from that role at all.For me, being 27 now, thats something I wanted. Its a challenge I wanted to embrace, and I cant wait to do that. ... Im going to be the guy bringing it up the floor and leading the team. And thats definitely something that appealed to me.In six seasons with five teams, Lin has been a full-time starter for only one of those seasons, during the 2012-13 season in Houston, where he started 82 games and averaged 13.4 points and 6.1 assists.After enjoying a successful season in Charlotte, averaging 11.7 points off the bench, Lin said he was looking for a long-term home with a bigger role.New Nets coach Kenny Atkinson, who developed a strong relationship with Lin as an assistant coach with the Knicks during the 2011-12 season, when Lin exploded on the NBA scene, pitched to Lin a chance to be his floor leader.I dont think there will be a quarterback controversy right off the bat, Atkinson joked when asked about handing the ball over to Lin. I think that everybody thinks Jeremys best position is that combo guard off the bench. We took a little, kind of outside-of-the-box idea and said he can be our full-time point guard.Lin was born in California; his parents immigrated here from Taiwan in the mid-1970s.He still has a large following around the U.S., including in New York, where Linsanity was born while he played for the Knicks. Lin averaged 14.6 points, 6.2 assists and 1.6 steals in 35 games with the Knicks in 2011-12. However, during a breakout 11-game stretch, he averaged 23.9 points and 9.1 assists in 2012.Lin became a phenomenon and an international star in Asia, as well. Now he returns to New York uncertain of what the expectations for him might be in his second New York stint, albeit this time with Brooklyn.I am pretty far removed from that, Lin said of his Knicks stint. I dont forget about it like its a bad memory. But for me, I am so far past that. In terms of expectations, when I talk about me growing as a person, one of those ways is the expectations for myself, from the team.Expectations are going to be the same for me. I am going to go in and keep my mind right, keep trying to play for God. The last few years, I have been able to live with the results. There have been disappointing times -- my Lakers season [in 2014-15], losing in the first round. There definitely are going to be a lot of disappointments. But I know I did things what I felt like was the right way.Atkinson has built a stellar reputation for developing players, particularly point guards. He said he believes Lin can be a full-time starting point guard despite being given few opportunities to do so.I saw it in flashes in New York that he can distribute the ball, Atkinson said. I think he has got great vision. I think if you look at his attributes, he can play the point-guard position and he can defend the point-guard position. I see him leading our team. I see him being a great pick-and-roll combination with Brook. I think that is part of the reason we got him -- we challenged him with that role.Atkinson also said he thinks Lins experience in Brooklyn will be different from his time with the Knicks and the pomp and circumstance surrounding Linsanity.I think much different, Atkinson said. That was a little happenstance, all the things that happened around circumstances. This is a long-term thing, and coming to a system that was maybe a little different to what he was playing in New York. It will be a little different to him. But I think he is smart enough to be able to adjust to a new system, new team. That is one of the things I trust -- his adaptability. Custom Joe Morgan Jersey . -- Whether Jeremy Hill deserves a prominent role in LSUs offence this early in the season is a matter for debate. Custom Barry Larkin Jersey . 31, the CFL club announced Monday. The team also has yet to decide on the future of Doug Berry, who began the season as a consultant to the head coach but took over the offensive co-ordinators duties in July. http://www.customredsjersey.com/custom-tom-seaver-jersey-large-362w.html .com) - Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray and Roger Federer were easy first-round winners Tuesday at the Australian Open. Custom Reggie Sanders Jersey . -- The Magic have their first victory of the new year. Dave Concepcion Jersey Large ., and Rudi Swiegers of Kipling, Sask., took sixth spot on Saturday in pairs at the NHK Trophy ISU Grand Prix figure skating competition. A look at Arnold Palmers farewell rounds at the Masters, U.S. Open and British Open:---MASTERS:Something didnt feel right. Six holes on a Saturday morning in front of a barely arriving crowd was no way for Arnold Palmer to close out his illustrious career at Augusta National.Palmer wanted to go out his way, and two years after his originally scheduled farewell to the Masters, he did.The Kings closing-round 84 came on a sun-splashed Friday afternoon in 2004 and wrapped up an even 50 years of competition at the major he propelled straight into American culture.He won the first of his four green jackets in 1958 -- a week during which a phenomenon known as Arnies Army began.That win gave him a lifetime ticket to Augusta. The Masters had long embraced a tradition of letting past champions enter the tournament for as long as they liked.But as that list of champions grew longer, and older, and, frankly, less illustrious, the club tried to set some boundaries.Palmer was among the first to be given the hint, and in 2002, he was set to play his last round -- at age 72.Rain delayed play early that week, and what couldve been Palmers last day in a competitive round on the grounds finished under gray, misty skies near the crack of dawn -- with his first shot struck from the 13th fairway.Didnt feel right, and after meeting with then-chairman Hootie Johnson, Palmer was given the chance to make it an even 50 years. He closed out his playing days in 2004, though he would go on to hit the ceremonial first tee shot for years after that.If you just use your imagination, youll understand the emotion, Palmer said after his closing round.Among those on hand to watch him were Col. Joe Curtis, who came to Augusta for 49 years, the last few in an electric wheelchair, specifically to watch one man.He has a way of making everybody think hes looking at them, Curtis said that day. Thats called charisma.---BRITISH OPEN:On his final trip over the ancient stone bridge that crosses the famous Swilcan Burn at St. Andrews, Palmer stopped and posed for pictures.He knew the significance of the moment and wanted to savor it.Many of his colleagues did, too.Nick Faldo, Brad Faxon, Steve Elkington and David Duval sat on the stone steps of the clubhouse and watched Palmer finish. Duval had a camera and took pictures. They had prime seats as Palmer walked up the 18th fairway for the last time at the British Open in 1995, 35 years after he first played golfs oldest major.Palmer took his time finishing, giving the thousands on hand a glimpse of a 65-year-old legend playing his last shot on the last hole of his 23rd and final Brittish Open.ddddddddddddIan Baker-Finch and Peter Baker, who were in Palmers group, finished first so Palmer could be the last to putt out. He hunched over in his usual stance and gently tapped the ball into the hole.Palmer smiled, shook hands with Mark McCormack of International Management Group, Michael Bonallack of the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, waved to the crowd once more and walked away for good.Its over, Palmer said.He signed for a 75, which was considerably better than his first-round 83, but not good enough to make the cut.As I was coming up 18, I kept thinking about 1960 and what it led to, Palmer said later, his voice cracking with emotion. A lot of great years and a lot of happy times.Before Palmer traveled to the Old Course in 1960, the British Open had fallen off the radar of American golf. The year before, at Muirfield, no American pros were in the field. It was too far away and not nearly as profitable as stateside events.Nonetheless, having won the Masters and the U.S. Open, Palmer deemed it important to go to St. Andrews and win the British Open. He created talk of a professional Grand Slam for the first time and came oh-so-close to a third straight major. He lost by one to Kel Nagle and decided to come back for the challenge.He won the Claret Jug in 1961 at Royal Birkdale and in 1962 at Royal Troon, bringing the Open back to international prominence and making his farewell a moment to savor.---U.S. OPEN:He got there with 30 seconds to spare.Arnold Palmers last U.S. Open came at what was essentially his home course -- Oakmont Country Club, only about 40 miles from his home in Latrobe, Pennsylvania.He had so much trouble working his way through the throng of well-wishers, Palmer barely made it to the first tee on time. He had only his putter with him -- his caddie was also having trouble getting to the tee box.Thankfully, Palmers playing partners that day -- Rocco Mediate and John Mahaffey -- milked their pre-shot routines to the max, and all was fine for Palmer, who hit his first shot at 2:03 p.m. for what was, officially, a 2 p.m. tee time.It was all that passed for drama over the two days.Palmer shot 77-81 over his final two rounds at Oakmont, often thought as one of the most difficult U.S. Open tracks (which is saying something).When it was over, the 64-year-old was awash in tears.As he sat down for the post-round interviews, he said: I cant get it started, then buried his head in a towel and tried to regain his composure. ' ' '