Hodgson hoping Hart can inspire

                                

    England manager Roy Hodgson on Tuesday underlined the importance of Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart to his team's plans as they prepare for Euro 2012.
    Hodgson, air jordan 10 chicago, whose side open their Group D campaign against France on June 11 in Donetsk, Ukraine, will head out to Krakow on Wednesday and stressed the importance of a strong goalkeeper to inspire confidence through the team.
    "His form for Manchester City has been superb,air jordan 10 chicago for sale," said Hodgson.
    "When he has played for England he has done very well and if we are to do well there is no doubt we will need Joe Hart in top form."
     England have a tradition of world-class goalkeepers stretching back to Gordon Banks and the likes of Peter Shilton and current England coach Ray Clemence - but more recent shot-stoppers have found it harder to impose themselves as a regular first choice.
     With Ben Foster having quit the England scene and Norwich international rookie John Ruddy ruled out through injury Hart is the clear first choice ahead of Robert Green of West Ham and Jack Butland, who has only lower league experience with Cheltenham to draw on.
     Hart, 25, can draw on the experience of his Premier League title success with City and Hodgson hopes he will prove a true bedrock for his side.
     "If you look at the top England teams of the past we have often had a goalkeeper that people have suggested is one of the best in Europe or,air jordan 10 chicago 2012, in the case of Gordon Banks, in the world," Hodgson said.

Spurs wins to take 2-0 NBA lead on Thunder

                                   

    Tony Parker scored 34 points and the San Antonio Spurs stretched their win streak to 20 games, defeating Oklahoma City 120-111 to seize command of their NBA playoff series.
    The Spurs took a 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven Western Conference final and moved halfway toward booking a place against the Eastern Conference winner, either the Miami Heat or Boston Celtics, air jordan 10 chicago, in next month's NBA Finals.
    Oklahoma City will host games three and four against the Spurs on Thursday and Saturday. In NBA history, teams that fall behind 2-0 in a best-of-seven series have recovered to advance less than six percent of the time.
    The Spurs, who last lost 48 days ago on April 11 at home to the Los Angeles Lakers, won their final 10 regular-season games and have won their first 10 playoff games.
   "It's a good run but we're only worried about getting these next two in a row," Spurs star Tim Duncan said. "That would be 22 wins. That would be great."
    San Antonio's streak has broken the NBA record for a combined win streak in playoff and regular-season games,air jordan 10 chicago for sale, beating the old combined mark of 19 wins in a row by the 2001 Lakers.
   French guard Parker hit 16 of 21 shots and contributed eight assists for the Spurs, who have lost only twice in their past 33 games.
   "Tony has been great all year," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "He was excellent. He played a fantastic game in a lot of ways."
   Argentine playmaker Manu Ginobili scored 20 points and Kawhi Leonard added 18 points and 10 rebounds for the Spurs,air jordan 10 chicago 2012, who also had 11 points and 12 rebounds from Duncan as they challenge for a fifth NBA crown in 14 seasons.

Miami Heat players suspended

   

   The NBA has slapped Miami forward Udonis Haslem with a one-game suspension and air jordan 10 chicago,center Dexter Pittman with a three-game ban over incidents in game five of their playoff series against Indiana.
   Haslem was suspended for striking Tyler Hansbrough in the head and shoulders during the Heat's 115-83 rout of the Pacers on Tuesday. The Heat lead the series 3-2.
   Reserve Pittman was suspended for an illegal elbow to the chin of Indiana guard Lance Stephenson in the final minutes of the game, air jordan 10 chicago for sale, said league executive vice president Stu Jackson.
   Both Haslem and Pittman had their flagrant fouls upgraded to a category two after a video review by the league's disciplinary officials following the game.
    Hansbrough was also given a flagrant foul but was not suspended.
   Haslem and Pittman will air jordan 10 chicago 2012,begin serving their suspensions on Thursday when the Pacers host the Heat in game six of their Eastern Conference semi-final series.