SOELDEN, Austria - If skiings opening weekend was any indication, the United States is in for quite an Olympic season. Ted Ligety, Mikaela Shiffrin, Bode Miller and Tim Jitloff underlined the squads enormous potential on the Rettenbach glacier in Austria. "Im really happy with how things are going," U.S. Alpine director Patrick Riml said. "The coaches and staff did an unbelievable job getting the athletes ready." And with Lindsey Vonn planning to return in a month from right knee surgery and Julia Mancuso always a threat on a big stage, the Americans could surpass their eight medals from the 2010 Vancouver Olympics at the Sochi Games, which run Feb. 7-23. "Everything is going on track," Riml said. "Im feeling confident with our whole setup." Ligety won the opening giant slalom for the third consecutive year. The 18-year-old Shiffrin matched her career-best World Cup result in the discipline with a sixth-place finish. Miller marked his return from 20 months off by placing 19th after starting outside the top 30. Jitloff was 20th with one big error that probably cost him about 10 positions. Perhaps the only negative note was Mancuso finishing 27th. But Mancuso always seems to save her best for major championships, as evidenced by her gold medal in giant slalom at the 2006 Turin Games and two silvers in Vancouver. "Julia is always showing she does well at the big events," former U.S. mens head coach Phil McNichol said. "Lindsey is Lindsey. Ted is coming off three (gold) medals at the world championships. Bodes back in the mix. Mikaela is going to be a force to be reckoned with. So its going to be a very interesting Olympic cycle." Ligety dominated giant slalom last season, winning six of eight races on the World Cup plus the world championship race in Schladming, Austria, where he was also a surprise winner in super-G and super-combined. "Last year we had an awesome prep here but this year was less so, so I wasnt 100 per cent confident of how I was skiing," Ligety said. "But then we had good training here in Soelden and the last couple of weeks I started to feel a little better. Its nice to have some confirmation." Ligety is enjoying having his childhood friend and former junior world downhill champion Adam Cole on the coaching staff this season. "We grew up together," Ligety said. "Hes also young and athletic so he can do dry-land with us and we can go play other sports and push each other." Shiffrin dominated in slalom last season with four wins plus the world title and now looks like a two-event threat with her giant slalom vastly improved. After the Olympics, Shiffrin could expand into the speed events. Shiffrin is also maturing off the hill. Her mother, who has accompanied her in Europe for the past two seasons, said this is probably the last season shell be there. "I may not have to stay here as she keeps getting more and more comfortable," Eileen Shiffrin said. Shiffrin has improved so much in GS that she was beating male teammates in training the past couple of weeks. Which guys was she beating? Thats still a secret. "Shiffrin was skiing unbelievably fast," mens head coach Sasha Rearick said. "Im not going to tell you." As for the 36-year-old Miller — yes, hes twice Shiffrins age — his new slimmer frame appears to be paying off. The two-time overall World Cup winner lost nearly 30 pounds during his season off to recover from left knee surgery. Miller skied to 13th place with the No. 32 bib in the opening run and was able to hang on in the second leg. "I wasnt tired at all," Miller said. "I think my fitness is higher now for a World Cup than its ever been. Im snappy and springy and I can go as long as the courses are. ... Theres obviously some lack of inertia, some weight, but I dont think thats going to be an issue." If Miller already has his form back in giant slalom, he could really excel in the speed events of downhill and super-G, where hes had nearly all of his wins in recent years. "GS was the one event where we hadnt been able to put the most volume in because it was causing some more knee irritation," Rearick said. "So if hes been able to do what hes done this week, its beyond my expectations." Millers fitness should also get a boost from the speed teams newly hired conditioning coach, Tony Beretzki, an Austrian who once worked with Hermann Maier and Stephan Eberharter and spent the last four years with the Spartak Moscow soccer team. With Miller out last season, downhillers Marco Sullivan, Steven Nyman and Travis Ganong each had solid starts, but their conditioning dropped off around January. "He has brought a great, great program and is doing an awesome job," Rearick said. The womens speed team, meanwhile, is coming off a record-breaking season that included podium finishes not just for Vonn and Mancuso, but also for Stacey Cook, Alice McKennis, Leanne Smith and Laurenne Ross. The bar of expectations has been raised for Cook & Co. this season. "You definitely want to back up those results," womens head coach Alex Hoedlmoser said. "You want to be contenders with all of those girls on a regular basis." The speed teams dont race until events in Lake Louise, Alberta, and Beaver Creek, Colo., on Thanksgiving weekend. Next up are slaloms in Levi, Finland, Nov. 16-17. ___ Follow Andrew Dampf at http://twitter.com/asdampf Jack Morris Jersey . The motion to expand the stadiums capacity passed through by a count of 39-3, with Toronto mayor Rob Ford being among those in opposition. Frank Viola Twins Jersey . This was one of them. Omar Infante homered and tied a career high with six RBIs to carry the Kansas City Royals over the Baltimore Orioles 9-3 on Sunday. https://www.cheaptwins.com/1772t-glen-perkins-jersey-twins.html . Vargas (8-3) allowed four singles and two walks while striking out five, allowing only two runners from a diluted Twins lineup to reach second base. Mike Moustakas and Jarrod Dyson hit RBI singles in the second inning against Kevin Correia (4-10), and that was all Vargas needed. Minnesota Twins Shirts .com) - On a night the Bulls played without Derrick Rose, it was time for Pau Gasol to take charge. Tom Kelly Jersey . They actually finished with a better record in ‘07 than they did in ‘06 but only marginally, going from 61 victories to 66.MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Mike Conley knew how important it was for the Memphis Grizzlies to start the second half aggressively against the depleted New York Knicks.After injury-ravaged New York stayed close in the first half, and even took a brief lead, the Grizzlies pulled away and handed the Knicks yet another loss.Conley scored 14 of his game-high 22 points in the third quarter, and the Grizzlies beat New York 105-83 on Monday night, sending the Knicks to their record-tying 12th straight defeat.It was very important we didnt come out and ease into the (third) quarter, Conley said. We really took it upon ourselves to come out and play team defence and play aggressive defence.Tony Allen forced four of his game-high seven steals in the quarter to pace the defence, which forced nine turnovers in the period.Tony got going with all those steals, and that always sparks us a little bit, Conley said. Guys were also making shots on the offensive end and we were getting layups.The Grizzlies led by 11 at the half and pulled away in the third quarter behind Courtney Lee and Conley.Lee scored all 11 of his points in the first seven minutes of the frame. Conley made both of his 3-pointers in the period, and the Grizzlies built a 22-point lead entering the fourth.The Knicks (5-32), who have the NBAs worst winning percentage, lost for the 22nd time in 23 games.Reserve forward Quincy Acy led the Knicks with 19 points, and Jose Calderon added 13.New York played without injured starters Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire. The Knicks were also missing J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert, who were sent to the Cleveland Cavaliers as part of a three-team trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder.Knicks coach Derek Fisher said the trade created a difficult pregame environment and even more challenges during the game.We had to make some adjustments in terms of things we could do offensively and defensively, Fisher said. You saw us play some zone, which we hadnt done before.In some spurts it was effective, but overall, the nine guys that went out there, I thought they were trying their best. Memphis was the better team.The Cavaliers sent reserves Lou Amundson and Alex Kirk and their 2019 second-round pick to the Knicks, who are desperate to clear salary-cap space.New York also received forward Lance Thomas from Oklahoma City.Fisher called it a strange pregame setting.I can honestly say Im not sure Ive ever experienced it as a player where youre right before tipoff and a teammate is not right there with you, he said.The deal forced gguard Tim Hardaway Jr.dddddddddddd to play small forward. He finished with 12 points on 4-of-14 shooting.Its tough, he said of the trade. But you still have to go out there and give it your all and compete.Allen and Marc Gasol added 14 points apiece for the Grizzlies, who rested their starters for most of the final period.Grizzlies coach Dave Joerger said he found out about the trade about 12 minutes before tipoff, and adjusted his lineup and the matchups accordingly.The Knicks fell behind by 12 in the first quarter, but recovered to take leads of 27-26 and 29-26 midway through the second after successive baskets by Calderon.Calderons 3-pointer gave the Knicks their first lead, and he followed with a 20-foot jumper on the next possession.The Grizzlies recovered in the final six minutes of the quarter. Vince Carter sparked a 21-7 run, starting with a 3-pointer to tie it 29-29. He closed the spurt with a 3-pointer to give the Grizzlies a 47-36 lead at halftime.Tayshaun Prince had eight points in between, including six straight before Carters finishing 3.New York shot 33 per cent in the first half, including 26 per cent in the opening quarter. The Knicks finished at 43 per cent.Memphis shot 45 per cent in the first half and 52 per cent for the game.TIP-INS:Knicks: New Yorks starting lineup consisted of Jason Smith, Cole Aldrich, Calderon, Shane Larkin and Hardaway Jr. ... Anthony (sore left knee) missed his third straight game. Stoudemire (knee soreness) sat out his fifth in a row. ... The losing streak is the Knicks longest since the 1984-85 season.Grizzlies: Rookie forward Jarnell Stokes made his first career start in place of injured Zach Randolph and scored three points. Randolph missed his eighth straight game due to a sore right knee. Jon Leuer had been starting in place of Randolph. ... Memphis is 19-1 when outshooting its opponent. ... The Grizzlies (25-9) are off to the best start in franchise history.PIVOTAL MOMENT:Allen forced a steal midway through the third quarter and drove the length of the court for an emphatic dunk. He was fouled and made the free throw to give the Grizzlies a 68-51 lead.STAR POWER:Conley scored 22 points on 9-of-12 shooting and had seven assists. He made six of seven shots in the third quarter, including both 3-point attempts.QUOTE OF THE NIGHT:I hated that. I was looking forward to that matchup honestly. Allen said about missing the opportunity to guard the traded Smith.UP NEXT:Knicks: Wednesday at Washington.Grizzlies: Wednesday at Atlanta. ' ' '