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MINNEAPOLIS -- Candace Parker and the Sparks jumped with joy on the court, joined in celebration by a guy named Magic Johnson who once made basketball championships a habit in Los Angeles.Parkers old college coach, the late Pat Summitt, was there in spirit too.Nneka Ogwumikes short jumper with 3.1 seconds left, off the rebound of her blocked shot, gave the Sparks a 77-76 victory over the defending champion Minnesota Lynx in the deciding Game 5 of the WNBA Finals on Thursday night for the franchises first title in 14 years.Parker had 28 points and 12 rebounds to earn MVP honors of the Finals and her first WNBA title, capping a trying year marked by the death of the beloved Summitt, with whom she won two NCAA championships at Tennessee.The journey to get here I wouldnt have wanted to do it with anybody else, Parker said. Its amazing when you surround yourself with good people how fun it is.Sparks coach Brian Agler started his postgame news conference by playing a recording of the Tennessee fight song, Rocky Top, from a phone in front of him at the podium. Parker cried as she leaned over to hug her coach.Ive never been around somebody that has been critiqued so hard, Agler said, and Ive never been around anyone Im happy for than Candace.Said Ogwumike: Shes been through so much. Shes probably the most misunderstood person in the league. I told her I wanted her to get one.Parker heard Summitts voice in her head, recalling the time-worn advice to focus on defense and rebounding.You cant control if shots go in or shots dont, but what you can control is defense and rebounding, Parker said.Rebekkah Brunson made one of two free throws with 23.4 seconds left to give the Lynx a 74-73 lead. Parker answered with a layup on the other end that Maya Moore countered with a jumper. Then Ogwumike hustled her way over to the loose ball after Sylvia Folwes blocked her first attempt. She coolly swished it.Lindsay Whalens heave from just inside halfcourt bounced high off the backboard, setting off the celebration for the Sparks and silencing the sellout crowd of 19,423.Moore had 23 points and 11 assists for the Lynx, who fell short of matching the WNBA record of four championships. The Houston Comets won four straight titles from 1997-2000. The Lynx played in the finals for the fifth time in the last six years. They won three.The team that won this game deserved to win the game, Moore said, so its just hard to have it come that close.Chelsea Gray reeled off 11 consecutive points for the Sparks, capping that run with a smooth up-and-under layup to put them in front 60-59 early in the fourth quarter. Parkers putback with 3:06 left gave L.A. a 71-63 lead, putting the Lynx in trouble.But Moore seized the moment with a 3-pointer that brought Minnesota within four points, and Parker forced an off-balance 3 on the other end. Whalen stole the ball from Kristi Toliver and finished the fast break with a layup to tie the game at 71, setting up the final flurry.On the next play, Ogwumike hit a jumper that appeared to come after the shot clock expired. The officials signaled for a review but never looked at the basket. Los Angeles led 73-71 with just over a minute left. Seimone Augustus answered with a jumper, but those points proved to be critical.Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve, making sure to credit the Sparks for their performance was livid about the non-call afterward.Its not enough just to apologize and send out a memo that they got something wrong, OK? These players are so invested, and something must be done about the officiating in this league. Because it is not fair to these great players that we have, Reeve said.The WNBAs new postseason format with the field ordered by overall record regardless of conference sure worked well, leading to this classic matchup between the two teams that fought all summer for the top seed and featuring several of the leagues biggest stars.I hope that we gained a lot of fans from around the world and around this country, Augustus said.The game was remarkably close, with 24 lead changes and 11 ties with no team ever leading by double digits.CHAMPIONSHIP ATMOSPHEREThe sea of green T-shirts donned by almost everyone in the crowd produced a deafening soundtrack from start to finish befitting a game for the trophy.Even Johnson was there, wearing all black while sitting courtside to root for the Sparks team hes a part-owner of and spoke to after the loss at home in Game 4 on Sunday. His presence was all the more impressive considering the Dodgers, the other pro club hes invested in, were playing baseball in Los Angeles at the same time in Game 5 of their National League championship series.They had to believe they could do it on a tough home court. This team Minnesota is tremendous, Johnson said. We just beat the champions so I give them a lot of credit to.WOLF TRACKSThe Lynx had celebrity backing, too, with Timberwolves players including Karl-Anthony Towns, Andrew Wiggins, Ricky Rubio, Cole Aldrich and Nemanja Belica in the seats to support the women they share an arena with. Artturi Lehkonen Jersey . 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 . Charlie Lindgren Canadiens Jersey . 10 VCU 85-67 on Thursday night at the Puerto Rico Tip-Off. The Seminoles (4-0) have scored at least 80 points in each of their games. http://www.canadienssale.com/authentic-henri-richard-canadiens-jersey/ . Schenn scored the game-winning goal and added two assists to lead the Philadelphia Flyers to a 4-1 win over the Calgary Flames at the Scotiabank Saddledome on Tuesday. Maurice Richard Canadiens Jersey . After Martin Skrtel put the Reds in front from close range at Stamford Bridge after only four minutes, Hazard hit back in the 17th with a superb strike. Etoo gave Jose Mourinhos team a decisive lead from Oscars back pass in the 34th. Serge Savard Jersey . -- Charlie Graham stopped 67 shots as the Belleville Bulls edged the visiting Guelph Storm 6-5 on Saturday in Ontario Hockey League action. Jim Sterk will become Mizzous new Athletic Director, University of Missouri Interim Chancellor Hank Foley announced today.Sterk, who joined San Diego State University in 2010, has overseen the most successful five seasons in SDSUs athletic history with 32 team conference championships for the Aztecs since the beginning of the 2011-2012 academic year and the fourth-highest combined winning percentage in the country in football and mens basketball. In addition, SDSU is one of only four schools nationally to have appeared in six consecutive NCAA tournaments and have its football team play in five straight bowl games.This is a wonderful day for Mizzou and Tiger fans everywhere, Foley said. Jims leadership in intercollegiate athletics is unparalleled, and we are thrilled he is going to bring his talents, energy and passion for working with student-athletes to Columbia. He is just what Mizzou needs at this time.This past year SDSU set a school record with 13 programs setting multi-year highs in the Academic Progress Report released by the NCAA with 313 individuals honored for their academic achievements. The athletic department also is coming off a record fundraising year for scholarships and a new basketball facility. He was named the 2015-2016 Under Armour AD of the Year by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics, which highlights the efforts of athletic directors for their commitment and positive contributions to student-athletes, campuses and their surrounding communities. Sterk was also recently named to the NCAA Division I Mens Basketball Committee.My passion is building upon the successes of good athletic programs and helping to make them great, Sterk said. Whether it is guiding and mentoring student-athletes, working with coaches to ensure they have the resources they need or cheering with the fans, I realize that athletics is one of the most visible programs at a university. Mizzous recent entry into the SEC makes it highly visible, and I am excited about the opportunity to help continue to lead it on the national stage.Foley says Sterk was chosen from a varied and impressive field of candidates with input from an advisory committee composed of faculty, staff, students and athletic supporters. Sterks seven-year contract was approved by the Board of Curators earlier this evening. He will be paid a base and guaranteed salary of $700,000 and will officially start on or before Sept.dddddddddddd 1.Mizzou athletics-and all of Mizzou Nation-will benefit from having someone of Jims caliber on board, Foley said. He has a superb winning record, is committed to the importance of diversity and inclusion efforts and will help restore pride and confidence in an athletics program that is working to overcome a challenging year.Jim elevated SDSU to a respectable level both athletically and academically, said Marshall Faulk, a member of the Pro-Football Hall of Fame and former St. Louis Ram and SDSU Aztec. His leadership was instrumental in the rise of SDSU success. How we cared for our student-athletes was his No. 1 concern. While Im sad to see him go, I am equally happy for Jim and his family, and I told him he is going to love the people of Missouri. Mizzou, you hired a man with impeccable integrity.Before joining SDSU, Sterk was Athletic Director at Washington State University, where in his last three years, 13 Cougar teams competed in NCAA postseason tournaments, including back-to-back trips by the mens basketball team, while womens rowing earned five NCAA championship bids. Sterk began his AD career at Portland State University and also has held positions at North Carolina, Maine, Seattle Pacific and Tulane.Simply put, Jim Sterk is a highly seasoned leader who has taken both of his previous institutions into rarefied air, said Dr. Kevin White, Director of Athletics at Duke University. Those storied programs enjoyed unmatched success under Jims uniquely gifted and talented mentoring. He will bring inordinate passion for the entire athletics enterprise, which will unequivocally reinforce the distinct mission and commitment to excellence that defines the University of Missouri.Sterk graduated from Western Washington University in 1980 where he earned four letters in football and one in basketball. He set a school record with 164 tackles during the 1977 season and was inducted into the schools Hall of Fame for his football success. He received his masters degree in sports administration from Ohio University. Sterk and his wife Debi have three grown daughters, Ashley, Amy and Abby. ' ' '