Speaking for the first time since being found guilty of ball-tampering on Tuesday evening, South Africas stand-in captain Faf du Plessis used the first half of his pre-match press conference to continue to claim innocence. Du Plessis began with an explanation of what he considered the difference between altering the condition of the ball and merely looking after it, and that he firmly believed he was only doing the latter.Yesterday was the hearing and the verdict was that I was guilty. I completely disagree with that. I felt like I have done nothing wrong, du Plessis said. Theres two ways of looking at it, either ball-shining or ball-tampering. For me, if you talk about ball-tampering, that is something thats wrong. Its picking the ball, scratching the ball.Shining is something that all cricketers would say is not in that same space. It is something all cricketers do and I think there will be a lot of emphasis after this incident on where the game is going, what the ICC is going to do about it. I dont believe shining is wrong. Its not like I was trying to cheat or anything. I was shining a ball and I see no problem with that.Du Plessis admitted he had a massive mint in his mouth and was not trying to be insidious about what he was doing in using saliva that had mixed with the sweet to shine the ball, but he questioned why he would have escaped charge had his actions not been seen by television cameras. I wasnt trying to actually hide it, he said. I put a massive mint in my mouth and my mouth was that wide open. Whether you shine the ball with a sweet in your mouth or whether you dont see the sweet, and the sweet is still there, its exactly the same thing.And according to du Plessis, he has received enough support from both current and former players, including Australian captain Steven Smith, who in his own press conference said his team along with every other, shine the ball the same way, to know that it is commonplace in the game.The ex-players have spoken about it. Its part of our game. Its been an unwritten rule, du Plessis said. Some people use sunblock to shine the ball. I know of people who carry lip-ice in their pocket and shine the cricket ball or gum. So many things. Its just so difficult to say what is right and what is wrong. To say that when you have a sweet in your mouth, its wrong but when you have a sweet in your mouth and the camera doesnt pick up on it, its okay. Its just a really massive grey area.The everybody-does-it defense made headlines in the lead-up to du Plessis hearing, when footage emerged of Virat Kohli shining a ball when he appeared to have gum in his mouth, and David Warner shining a ball after applying lip-balm to his mouth. Neither Kohli nor Warner were charged - the visuals of their actions emerged after the ICCs five-day window for reporting incidents - and although du Plessis would not be drawn on whether they should have been, he asked for consistent application of the rules. I just ask that everyone gets treated the same way, he said. The ICC has taken a stance against me to use me as a scapegoat. All you can ask for is that everyone gets treated the same.He also, along with Cricket South Africa CEO Haroon Lorgat, who was present at the press conference, hoped there would be clarity on what constitutes an artificial substance, and believes his case could lead to thorough research into whether sugar can make the ball swing.Ninety percent of the time, cricketers have got sugary saliva, du Plessis said. Whether we are drinking Powerade, Coke, Gatorade, eating sweets, sucking on jellies, our mouths are always full of sugar. Its such a grey area in the laws of cricket and its something that will be looked at. Us as cricketers, we think that it makes a difference but we are not scientists. We are not sure if it makes a difference. Its opened up a can of worms, whats going to happen now, going forward with the game. Something like this needed to happen to create a little bit more awareness on it.Lorgat confirmed that CSA will engage the ICC on the matter at the next cricket committee meeting but until then, du Plessis has asked not be branded underhanded and for the practice to be considered acceptable. Its never nice to be in a position like this because with ball tampering, its a really negative connotation that gets put to it and the term cheat has been thrown around and thats something I do not take lightly, he said.Its something I dont want to be associated with in any space and as I said, I felt I did nothing wrong. I was shining the cricket ball. Ive been doing that for my whole career and every single team I have played in does exactly the same thing and its not something thats frowned upon my anyone, not even the umpires. So to make such a big thing, I just think it was a little bit blown out of proportion by everyone.He has also thanked his team-mates for their united showing of support when Hashim Amla addressed the media at the MCG last Friday, with the entire squad alongside him. If you know the character of someone like Hashim Amla, you will understand that for him to go out and stand in front of the press and say the things that he said, he will feel very strongly about it. He is just the most honest guy on the planet so for him to say that means a lot, du Plessis said. Its speaks a lot about our culture and how we dont let any outside noise creep into our space.The noise may not have got in, but du Plessis has been warned to expect a hostile reception at the Adelaide Oval, perhaps from the opposition but definitely from the crowd. While he does not think Smith and co will have anything because he believes they do the same thing.I think the Aussies wont talk about it at all because they know thats part of their team as well. Its not been driven by the cricketers. You dont expect to go out there against Australia and walk out with a clap and welcome to the crease. Its part of playing against Australia, you expect that and thats something I have grown used to, he said, but challenged fans to understand his perspective. Im hoping that cricketing sense will be prevail. Its obviously something that if you are a cricketer and you understand cricket that this is not actually that big of a deal.With the ball in the spotlight, du Plessis tactics on shining the pink ball will come into focus but he has indicated it may not need as much work. The timing is perfect that its the pink ball. Apparently it swings more. It will be interesting to see how to shine the ball. I will probably just touch my finger like that and get a little bit of spit on it, he joked.And will he still use mints as the sugary substance of choice? Possibly just for bad breath now, not for shining the ball. I still the feel exactly the same way. Whether I was guilty or not, whether the sentence was different or not, I still feel exactly the same way. Maybe that needs to change now but possibly for this one game, I just maybe need to stay away from the mints. Air Max 270 Chine . It says Pocklingtons lawyer filed the appeal Friday in a California court. CTV Edmonton also says Pocklington gave a $100,000 cash deposit as part of the conditions of his bail, and that he will be out on bail until his appeal is heard. Air Max 270 En Solde . After slipping from the summit during the week, the Gunners overcame struggling Crystal Palace 2-0 on Sunday thanks to Alex Oxlade-Chamberlains second-half brace. http://www.pascherairmax270.fr/ .Y. -- Buffalo Bills coach Doug Marrone has drawn on his Syracuse connections once again by hiring Rob Moore to take over as receivers coach. Air Max 270 Promo . During the athletes parade, the 23-strong Ukrainian team was represented by a lone flagbearer in an apparent protest at the presence of Russian troops in Ukraines Crimean peninsula. Basket Air Max 270 Pas Cher . Booth picked up 65 caps after making her national team debut in 2002 at the age of 17. She most recently played for Sky Blue FC of the National Womens Soccer League. "It just felt like it was my time to move on," she said in a phone interview from her hometown of Burlington, Ont. COLLEGE ATHLETICSKNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee is paying $2.48 million to settle a lawsuit filed by eight unidentified women who said the school had violated Title IX regulations and created a hostile sexual environment through a policy of indifference toward assaults by athletes.Lawyers for the school and the plaintiffs issued a joint press release announcing the settlement. The payment will be split equally between Tennessees athletic department and the schools central administration. Lawyers representing the school said no taxpayer dollars, student fees or donor funds would be used to fund the settlement.Six women filed the suit in federal court in Nashville on Feb. 9. Two more plaintiffs added their names to an amended complaint two weeks later.Title IX is a federal statute that bans discrimination at schools that receive federal funding.OLYMPICSEUGENE, Ore. -- The leader of USA Track and Field says his visits to Brazil have made clear that logistics will be a problem for the more than 120 Americans who will compete at Olympic Stadium in Rio next month.At a news conference, USATF CEO Max Siegel called moving athletes across town from their living quarters and training centers to the stadium one of the federations biggest concerns and something it doesnt have full control over.He said USATF is coordinating with the U.S. Olympic Committee to come up with contingencies for bad traffic and other transport issues.Aretha Thurmond, a four-time Olympian who now serves as director of international teams for USATF, said staff will be in place by late July to start making test trips across the city. The Olympic track meet starts Aug. 12.WASHINGTON -- Researchers will study some U.S. athletes for Zika during the summer Olympics and Paralympics in Brazil, to better understand how the virus infects.The National Institutes of Health announced the study amid concern among athletes over the mosquito-borne virus, which can cause severe birth defects.International health officials have said pregnant women should skip the games, but the virus also sometimes spreads through sex and may persist in semen longer than blood. Some athletes from several countries have dropped out, citing Zika worries.NIH-funded researchers aim to enroll at least 1,000 athletes, coaches and staff. Participants will provide samples of bodily fluids for routine testing to determine to help determine risk factors for infection, and where and how long the virus persists in the body.MOSCOW -- Russia has named 68 athletes it wants to send to the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro if its global ban from track and field is lifted.The list of athletes approved by the suspended All-Russia Athletic Federation appears to contradict an earlier promise not to send any athletes who have previously been banned for doping offenses.Former world indoor champion triple jumper Yekaterina Koneva makes the list even though she served a ban from 2007-09.ARAF promised in May not to select former dopers as it tried to persuade the IAAF to lift its suspension.The federation says all 68 have met Olympic qualifying standards and are plaintiffs in a suit at the Court of Arbiitration for Sport aiming to lift the ban on the Russia team.dddddddddddd.BASEBALLNEW YORK -- The Chicago Cubs became the first team since the 1976 Cincinnati Reds Big Red Machine to have five players voted as All-Star Game starters when their entire infield earned the honor along with center fielder Dexter Fowler.First baseman Anthony Rizzo, second baseman Ben Zobrist, shortstop Addison Russell and third baseman Kris Bryant also were elected. The only other team to start four infielders was the 1963 St. Louis Cardinals.The July 12 game at San Diegos Petco Park will feature 11 first-time starters, the most since 2005. In a sign of the sports generational change, 12 of the 17 elected starters are 26 or younger.Boston has three-first time starters and four overall. Designated hitter David Ortiz, who is retiring at the end of the season, became a 10-time All-Star and is joined by shortstop Xander Bogaerts and outfielders Jackie Bradley Jr. and Mookie Betts.CHICAGO -- Chicago police said that they are investigating an allegation of sexual assault against Pittsburgh Pirates infielder Jung Ho Kang.In a statement, police said a 23-year-old female reported being assaulted by Kang inside a hotel. Police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said the Chicago woman met Kang through a dating app. Kang invited the woman to his hotel room on June 17, after the Pirates played the Cubs.The woman said she blacked out, then drifted in and out of consciousness as he sexually assaulted her. The womans name has not been released.The 29-year-old Kang has not been charged. He was not in the lineup Tuesday night against the St. Louis CardinalsPirates team president Frank Coonelly said in a statement the team was taking the allegation extremely seriously and was cooperating with Major League Baseball. Coonelly declined further comment.Kang, who is from South Korea, was batting .250 with 11 homers and 28 RBI is in the second year of a four-year, $11 million contract. He was third in NL rookie of the year balloting last year.SOCCERMOSCOW -- World Cup ticket prices have broken the $1,000 barrier for the first time.FIFA said the top price for the 2018 final in Moscow will be $1,100, up from $990 for the 2014 final in Rio de Janeiro. Other tickets for the final will cost $710 and $455, with additional category 4 tickets -- which are sold exclusively to Russian residents -- costing 7,040 rubles (currently $110).For international fans, tickets for first-round games range from $105-210, except for the opener, which costs from $220-$550. The first-round range for the 2014 tournament was $90-$175, meaning the cost of the least expensive seat has risen 16 percent.Prices are $115-$245 for the round of 16, $175-$365 for the quarterfinals and the third-place match and $285-$750 for the semifinals.Russian residents get sharply discounted rates, with their cheapest first-round tickets selling for 1,280 rubles ($20), an increase on equivalent prices for 2014 but roughly in line with prices for South African fans in 2010. China NFL Jerseys Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys NFL Jerseys Cheap Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap Basketball Jerseys Online Stitched Hockey Jerseys Wholesale Baseball Jerseys Football Jerseys Outlet College Jerseys For Sale Cheap MLB Jerseys Wholesale Soccer Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys For Sale Wholesale NFL Jerseys ' ' '