of Cope flying out medical supplies from Manchester to France, via Geneva, when it might be more easily sourced locally were batted back by Brailsford.If that was the sole purpose of someone flying out, it would be an

Tim Duncan never wanted the spotlight, only the trophies. He never wanted the endorsements, only the camaraderie. He never wanted the accolades, only the collective achievement.So when one of the most understated superstars in sports decided to finally call it a career after nearly two decades of excellence, he made the announcement with a 15-foot bank shot and not a boisterous slam dunk.No big news conference. No victory lap. Not even a canned quote in the press release. Just a simple goodbye on Monday from the quiet anchor at the foundation of the San Antonio Spurs dynasty.Just as he has for so much of his 19 seasons, the 40-year-old Duncan let others do the talking for him.Congrats to Tim Duncan. Probably a top 5 all time player and undoubtedly a top 5 all time teammate, tweeted Warriors coach Steve Kerr, who played with Duncan in San Antonio. Wow, what a career.Fifteen All-Star appearances, five championships, three NBA Finals MVPs, two NBA MVPs, one coach, one team. Forever.The Spurs made the playoffs in all 19 of his seasons and won 71 percent of their regular season games with No. 21 in the middle.The best (power forward) ever! Spurs forward LaMarcus Aldridge tweeted. Thanks for the memories old man. A great player and teammate.Few would dare argue.Duncan was the No. 1 overall pick in 1997 and teamed with coach Gregg Popovich, point guard Tony Parker and shooting guard Manu Ginobili to turn the Spurs from a solid franchise that could never quite get over the hump into the model for American sports.The constant staple of their franchise, Clevelands LeBron James said earlier this year.The unassuming Duncan was the only player to start and win a title in three different decades. Nicknamed The Big Fundamental for his clinical approach that favored bank shots over dunks, he was a member of the All-NBA first team 10 times and is one of only three players -- joining Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Robert Parrish -- to win at least 1,000 games in his career. He is fifth on the NBAs career list in blocks, sixth in rebounds and 14th in scoring.He joined Larry Bird and Michael Jordan as the only players to be named college basketballs player of the year, the NBA rookie of the year, and the MVP of the All-Star game and the NBA Finals.Even tho I knew it was coming, Im still moved by the news, Ginobili tweeted. What a HUGE honor to have played with him for 14 seasons! (hash)ThankYouTD.NBA Commissioner Adam Silver called Duncan one of the most dominant players in NBA history and lauded him for an understated selflessness (that) made him the ultimate teammate.For two decades Tim represented the Spurs, the city of San Antonio and the league with passion and class, Silver said. All of us in the NBA family thank him for his profound impact on the game.The reluctant star was often overshadowed in the public eye by more outsized personalities like James and Kobe Bryant, who also retired this year after 20 seasons, all with the Los Angeles Lakers. But he leaves this game as one of the leagues true giants, perhaps the best power forward to ever play and one who left as indelible a mark on his franchise as any player to come before him.This will always be Timmys franchise. Always, Parker said during the 2013 NBA Finals. Should do a statue for him outside the AT&T Center.The last time Duncan spoke to reporters was on May 12, when the Spurs had just been eliminated by the Thunder in Game 6 of the Western Conference semifinals.There were hints in that game of Duncans plans, even though he later exercised a contract option to clear the way for his return. He had always said that he would walk away when he felt he could no longer have a significant impact on the game, and for most of the series the younger Thunder big men had their way with him and the Spurs on the glass.With the Spurs getting blown out and the fourth quarter set to begin, Popovich and his veteran star had a brief conversation on the bench. Duncan then played all 12 minutes of the fourth quarter without coming out for a rest, finishing with 19 points and soaking up every second he could in the last game he would ever play. And when the game was over, Duncan waved to the visiting crowd and pointed a finger toward the roof as he headed to the locker room.Timmys never been a very outspoken or emoting sort of individual on the court, Popovich said earlier this year. Everybody does it differently.And Duncan was truly one of a kind.In 1997, after an injury to star David Robinson, the Spurs plunged in the standings and ended up with a chance at the No. 1 overall pick. They won the lottery, and it was a no-brainer to choose Duncan, the polished, two-way big man who had spent four years at Wake Forest.The Spurs won 36 more games in Duncans rookie year than they had the previous season and were NBA champions in his sophomore campaign. They also won titles in 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2014, the last one a dominant run to redemption over James and the Miami Heat after losing to them in seven games the previous season.He was a 38-year-old All-Star in 2014-15 and even as his minutes were reduced to save the wear and tear on his body for the playoffs, he remained a force on the defensive end and on the glass.He had 140 different teammates in his career and he handled taking the baton from Robinson in 1998 just as gracefully as he did passing it to Kawhi Leonard in 2014.The Spurs added Pau Gasol and Dewayne Dedmon to beef up their front-court depth in anticipation of Duncans decision. But even though Duncans production has been in decline, they will never be able to replace the backbone of the organization.I think it goes way beyond the championships and the winning, said Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer, a longtime Spurs assistant. I think the culture that really, hes kind of the pillar its been built around. It is almost impossible to quantify.And now he steps away, not stomping out the door like Bryant did with his 60-point finale, but tip-toeing away with no fanfare.The modesty with which he handles himself is so refreshing, said Timberwolves GM Scott Layden, who spent the previous four years in the front office in San Antonio. Hes a great example for everyone.---Freelance writer Willie Ramirez in Las Vegas contributed to this report. Richard Dent Youth 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. Walter Payton Bears Jersey . LOUIS -- Rookie Tavon Austin has missed another day of practice, lessening the odds hell be ready for the St. http://www.bearsfootballpro.com/Authentic_Walter-Payton_Bears_Jersey/ .R. Smith realized how easily basketball can be taken from him, and he wasnt going to take his place in the NBA for granted anymore. Richard Dent Jersey . -- Bryant McKinnie came out of his stance and lowered his shoulder into a practice squad player, causing a crisp thud to reverberate in the Miami Dolphins practice bubble. Mike Ditka Youth Jersey . -- Kyrie Irvings last-minute 3-pointer helped seal another victory for Cleveland -- and the Cavaliers longest winning streak since LeBron James left. The mystery package at the centre of a UK Anti-Doping investigation contained the decongestant Fluimucil, Team Sky principal Sir Dave Brailsford said on Monday.Speaking at a Culture, Media and Sport select committee hearing, Brailsford confirmed the nature of a delivery made by British Cycling coach Simon Cope to Team Sky at the 2011 Dauphine Libere, a key race in the build-up to the Tour de France, after fellow cycling chiefs had pleaded ignorance.Committee chair Damian Collins MP had earlier asked British Cycling president Bob Howden, chair of the British Cycling ethics commission Dr George Gilbert and former Team Sky coach Shane Sutton about the package, with none of the three able to offer any new information.When Brailsford appeared later, he said: [Team Sky doctor Richard] Freeman told me it was Fluimucil for a nebuliser. That was what was in the package. It was what Dr Freeman told me.Fluimucil is a decongestant used for clearing mucus.Brailsford was not party to the issue of the package at the time but subsequently launched an investigation and determined the particulars.Brailsford also told the committee the medical records of Sir Bradley Wiggins, Team Skys lead rider at the event, had been passed to UKAD.My understanding is they have been made available to UKAD, he asserted.Brailsfords disclosures came after a confusing morning at Westminster, which began with committee chair Collins producing an email from UKAD encouraging questions about the mystery package due to wide public interest in the subject.That appeared to directly oppose the understanding of British Cycling, which claimed UKAD had asked it not to ttalk about the issue due to their own ongoing investigation into alleged wrongdoing at Team Sky and cyclings national governing body.ddddddddddddowden and Dr Gilbert, chair of the organisations ethics commission and Brailsford himself all reiterated their surprise at UKADs communication with the committee, indicating it represented a sharp change in their policy.A British Cycling statement issued later said: Throughout this process UK Anti-Doping have instructed British Cycling not to comment on their investigation and to avoid making our own enquiries as the policing of anti-doping falls wholly within their remit. This was reiterated with specific regard to our evidence to the select committee.Brailsford, British Cycling, Cope, Freeman and Wiggins all strongly deny breaking any anti-doping rules.Several follow-up questions surrounding the efficiency of Cope flying out medical supplies from Manchester to France, via Geneva, when it might be more easily sourced locally were batted back by Brailsford.If that was the sole purpose of someone flying out, it would be an extreme step. The facts of the matter are that Simon Cope was flying out anyway, he said.Its the easiest possible way. Hes got his own store in Manchester, hes coming out already. It may be where the whole situation has been slightly misled...that the whole purpose of Simon Copes trip to the end of the Dauphine wasnt to deliver a package. He was coming anyway. He was coming and he was asked to bring something from the doctors store. ' ' '