Die Allianz T-D-P » Grant Leadbitter could also make th

WACO, Texas -- Former Baylor standout Isaiah Austin has been cleared to play basketball again, 2 1/2 years after he was diagnosed with Marfan syndrome during a physical before the NBA draft.Austin revealed on his Instagram account this week that his doctor has given him the go-ahead to again pursue his dream of playing professional basketball. The 7-foot-1 player said he has been getting constant checkups, including heart monitoring, since the diagnosis before the 2014 draft when he was a potential first-round draft pick.Marfan syndrome is a genetic disorder that affects the bodys connective tissue. It can affect many different parts of the body, including the aorta, the blood vessel that carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body.The 23-year-old Austin, who has relied on his strong Christian faith, said he is moving forward with pure joy to chase his dream and share his testimony.Austin had succeeded at Baylor in the Big 12 Conference with a prosthetic right eye only to find out days before the draft that he had the rare disorder that could affect his heart. NBA scouts had already been aware that he was blind in his right eye from a previous injury aggravated doing a dunk in middle school. Multiple operations couldnt fix the detached retina and save his vision.After his Marfan syndrome diagnosis, Austin still got to hear his name called at the NBA draft. He was made a ceremonial pick midway through the first round and presented an NBA cap by Commissioner Adam Silver.Since then, Austin has worked to raise awareness of Marfan syndrome through his foundation . He also wrote a memoir that was published last year, and is enrolled part-time at Baylor and on track to graduate next summer, depending on what happens with his basketball career.---More AP college basketball: www.collegebasketball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25.Dennis Smith Youth Jersey . -- Timbers coach Caleb Porter didnt stray from his business-like approach to the season even after Portland downed the two-time defending league champion Los Angeles Galaxy to gain crucial playoff position. Phillip Lindsay Womens Jersey . SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. http://www.thebroncosstoreonline.com/Youth-Von-Miller-Broncos-Jerseys/ . They were putting most of their energy into a record-setting offensive display. Phillip Lindsay Jersey . -- Sergey Tolchinksy scored his second goal of the game 3:56 into overtime as the Sault Ste. Courtland Sutton Youth Jersey . Instead of dwelling on the negative, Oates focused on what was good about the clubs recent play. It worked.Two Premier League titles aside, Manchester City finally showed once and for all they are ready to be counted among Europes elite clubs.Coming off what could be a franchise-altering victory over Barcelona, City now try to avoid the dreaded letdown Saturday when they host new boys Middlesbrough.Things looked bleak at the Etihad on Tuesday after the Citizens fell behind 1-0 on Lionel Messis goal in the 21st minute. Here were Manchester City (7-2-1), playing with their backup goalkeeper, their confidence still fragile with one win in their last seven matches and on the verge of seeing the Catalan giants -- the class of Europe -- put together another one of their masterpieces that would again expose the gulf in class between the sides.Instead, Pep Guardiolas charges dug in against his former side and weathered the onslaught. And a goal by Ilkay Gundogan on 39 minutes leveled the match and changed the fortunes of Manchester City, likely for the short term and possibly forever.The hallmarks of high pressing and fluid passing Guardiola instilled at Barcelona now became Citys, and they took advantage of a weakened Spanish spine minus Gerard Pique and Andres Iniesta to add second-half goals by Kevin De Bruyne and Gundogan again for a 3-1 victory that left them needing only three more points to secure passage back into the knockout round of the Champions League.If you talk about the first 30 minutes, we are not able to compare against the best teams, Guardiola said. This club was 25, 30 years out of Europe, while Barcelona, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich were playing every year.We need time. We are three or four months into playing a different way. We try and now we won against the best team. For the future generations they are going to realise: wow these guys are able to beat the best team.Gundogan has played every bit the part of the ￡20 million transfer fee City paid Borussia Dortmund over the summer of late with braces in back-to-back contests. The German international had scored just once in his first eight matches after missing most of summer training due to a dislocated kneecap.While Sergio Aguero did not score, Guardiola singled out his striker for a relentless effort in leading the high line of pressure that unnerved Barcas backline, noting that he played awesome.It was also the type of effort City supporters had been waiting for Raheem Sterling to give since his arrival from Liverpool priior to last season -- running into the ground and being smart with possession, evidenced by his pass to set up Gundogans first goal.dddddddddddd Yet for everything City did right, and there was plenty they did right, it could all go for naught without a victory to follow this weekend.The game against Middlesbrough will be another tough test, it will be completely different than against Barcelona, but in the end, we have to do the job and win the game, De Bruyne said.So into the cauldron of the Etihad enter Middlesbrough (2-4-4), still trying to find their bearings in the top flight and looking for any and every way to find points now that will help them in the relegation scrap they will likely endure come springtime.Boro snapped a six-match winless streak last Saturday with a 2-0 victory over Bournemouth as Gaston Ramirez and Stewart Downing scored on either side of halftime, and they recorded a second consecutive clean sheet after shipping nine goals the previous five matches.We defended as a team -- mistakes have cost us in the past, Downing told the teams official website. Everyone put a shift in but thats what you need, everyone on your mettle when youre going for points in the Premier League.Manager Aitor Karanka will have a few more options to choose from in his starting XI for this match as Marten de Roon and leading scorer Christian Stuani are expected to be available. Additionally, midfielder and talisman Grant Leadbitter could also make the squad after playing for Boros Under-23 team Monday.I said always how important he is for the team, Karanka said. Even when he was injured, he was traveling with the team, and you can feel his character on the pitch and in the changing room.Now with him training and playing it is a massive and important thing for us.Even with the reinforcements, expect Middlesbrough to be compact against Manchester City similar to how they held Arsenal to a 0-0 draw despite conceding 70 percent possession to the Gunners.The teams last met in the top flight in the 2008-09 season, when the home team held serve in both matches. Middlesbrough have had the better of the rivalry in the Premier League era with 11 wins in 20 matches (11-5-4), highlighted by an 8-1 thrashing on May 11, 2008, in which Downing had two goals and an assist. ' ' '