SuraClan » . Numbers Game looks into the Canadiens securing the services

WASHINGTON -- Ted Leonsis doesnt believe hes getting it done, at least not where it counts the most. The NHL and NBA owner graded himself Tuesday in an interview with reporters and editors from The Associated Press, and the marks reflect the mixed results and shifting expectations regarding both franchises since he took over the Capitals in 1999 and the Wizards in 2010. A "failing grade" for the Washington Capitals, but thats grading on the curve. An incomplete for the Washington Wizards, but its time to take a step forward. A "strong B" for the business side of both teams, even though both teams are still in the red. "When I bought the teams, I said it was a left-brain, right-brain experience," Leonsis said. "Left-brain being about the emotion and the competitiveness and the higher calling of bringing a community closer together by winning a championship and finding some kind of immortality for the fan base and the players." By contrast, the right brain is the nuts-and-bolts: ticket sales, merchandise, ratings, building the "brand." Thats where Leonsis is a natural, bringing marketing expertise honed while he was an executive at AOL. The Capitals are no longer a D.C. afterthought -- they sell out every game and have made the playoffs sixth straight years with three-time NHL MVP Alex Ovechkin. Leonsis said the Capitals have about 15,000 season ticket holders, a long way from the fewer than 3,000 when he bought the team, a statistic that by itself makes a case for the "strong B." But he also notes that a team that has one of the leagues best records in recent years should have success defined whether its won a championship; the Capitals havent even made it past the second round of the playoffs under his tenure. "I have to give us a failing grade, which is rating harshly. ... But were past now saying making the playoffs makes for a successful season, and we want to win a Stanley Cup and we havent done that," Leonsis said. "So I have to say Im failing because thats my and our ultimate goal." Leonsis inherited a mess with the Wizards, and hes embarked on a rebuilding process similar to the one that brought the Capitals out of the doldrums. But the Wizards were a combined 86 games under .500 over the last three NBA seasons, and eventually the longsuffering fans need to get their payoff. Its worth noting that both team president Ernie Grunfeld and coach Randy Wittman are in the final year of their contracts. "I believe that were good enough and now mature enough -- John Wall is our most tenured player, and hes still on his rookie contract -- but its the fourth year of the rebuild," he said. "And were spending right to the (salary) cap and frankly more, since we amnestied Andrey Blatche. ... Now I believe its time for the Wizards to take that next step." Even so, Leonsis isnt a fan of the "playoffs or bust" mantra. "Playoffs or bust, what does that mean?" Leonsis said. "Shut the team down if we dont make the playoffs for the Wizards? We would certainly, if we dont make the playoffs, for both teams we would do our due diligence in a more hypersensitive manner, right? Because we didnt meet our expectations. But the teams not going bust. The fan base isnt going bust. It would just heighten the scrutiny that we have to do." Terry Sawchuk Jersey . The 23-year-old Neustaedter will move at the end of the season when his contract with Moenchengladbach expires. He signed a four-year deal with Schalke. Thomas Vanek Jersey . Felton was in court as the Manhattan district attorneys office outlined the agreement, which would resolve a gun case that arose amid the breakup of his marriage. Hes expected to admit June 30 to at least one charge, attempted criminal possession of a weapon -- he wont have to come to court to do so -- and get a $5,000 fine and 500 hours of community service. http://www.hockeyredwings.info/authentic-frans-nielsen-red-wings-jersey/ . Paul, MN (SportsNetwork. Ted Lindsay Jersey . Numbers Game looks into the Canadiens securing the services of Thomas Vanek in a trade with the New York Islanders. The Canadiens Get: LW Thomas Vanek and a conditional fifth-round pick. Alex Delvecchio Jersey .Y. - Islanders forward Anders Lee has been fined $2,286 by the NHL for elbowing St.LOS ANGELES, Calif. - Normally, the San Antonio Spurs like to move the ball around and get everyone touches. On this night they needed a go-to scorer, so coach Gregg Popovich started calling plays for Kawhi Leonard.Last seasons NBA Finals MVP tied his career high with 26 points despite playing with only one good eye, and the Spurs closed with a rush to beat the Los Angeles Clippers 89-85 Monday.Leonard had been away from his teammates for a three-week stretch because of conjunctivitis, a highly contagious infection that has affected his right eye. Still, he pulled down 10 rebounds and gave the defending champions their first lead with 1:44 left.Its just that my vision isnt 100 per cent yet, Leonard said. But Im just playing games trying to get used to it, and hopefully it will just blow past.Tim Duncan added 18 points and 11 rebounds, and Tony Parker scored nine of his 13 in the fourth quarter for the Spurs, who snapped a two-game skid while earning their first road win.It was a grind, Duncan said. Tony didnt play well. I didnt play well. Kawhi really carried us for a while there, made some great plays on defence.San Antonio finished the game on a 14-3 run, giving Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Parker their 500th career victory together. They are second among trios in NBA history to Larry Bird, Kevin McHale and Robert Parish, who won 540 games with the Boston Celtics.The Spurs future, though, belongs to Leonard.Weve got to start giving him the ball, Popovich said. I dont think Tim and Manu are going to play any more than six or seven more years, so somebody else, do something.Blake Griffin led the Clippers with 23 points and 10 rebounds, but committed two consecutive turnovers that led to the Spurs taking their first lead. J.J. Redick added 13 points, and Chris Paul had 12 points and 10 rebounds while just missing his second triple-double of the season with nine assists.They basically gave us a clinic down the stretch of how to close out a game, Paul said.The Clippers led by seven with just under 6 minutes to play before their shooting went cold and Griffins miscues proved costly. They were 4 of 14 in the fourth.Griffin lost the ball, and Leonards fast-break layup gave San Antonio its first lead at 83-82. Boris Diaw then stole the ball from Griffin. Parker missed, but the ball caromed out to the Spurs annd Diaw hit a floater.dddddddddddd Ginobili scored to make it 87-82.We definitely let that win slip away, Griffin said. I had two bad turnovers at a critical time. With all that, we still had a chance to tie it up and force overtime. Its a lesson; weve got to keep fighting.Jamal Crawford got fouled on a 3-pointer and made all three, drawing the Clippers within two.Ginobili missed two free throws with 10 seconds to go and the Clippers called a timeout. New owner Steve Ballmer clenched his fists and bellowed, Lets go! as fans rose to their feet.Paul missed on a driving layup that bounced off the rim and Griffin landed on the floor grabbing the rebound. He called a timeout they didnt have.Youre sitting on the ground with the ball. Youve got to think of something, Clippers coach Doc Rivers said.After a review, the clock was set at 1.4 seconds. Parker missed the technical foul shot, but the Spurs retained possession. Leonard got fouled in the final seconds and made both.I cant imagine when he can really see again, Rivers said. He willed that for them.San Antonio twice got within two in the fourth, both times on free throws by Parker. He made a pair after Paul got called for a foul, although it appeared Parker pushed him down with his hand as the two got tangled on a drive to the basket.This team has been together through battles, so we know the game is not over yet, Leonard said.The Clippers ran off five straight points to increase their lead to 82-75.Both teams went 2 minutes without scoring before Duncan rattled off six straight points as part of the 14-3 run.___TIP INSSpurs: F Tiago Splitter (right calf tightness), G Marco Belinelli (mild groin strain) and G Patty Mills (right shoulder surgery) sat out. Popovich said Splitter is likely to be out another week or two.Clippers: Spencer Hawes has a sprained left foot and played restricted minutes for the third straight game. Hes wearing a walking boot when he isnt on the court and wont practice this week. Hawes has four days to rest before the Clippers next game.SMOOCH CITYThe arena kiss cam landed on Griffins parents, who smilingly obliged from the seats several rows up from the court. Ill have to catch it on YouTube, Griffin said.UP NEXTSpurs: Visit Golden State on Tuesday in their second back-to-back.Clippers: Host Phoenix on Saturday. 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