Yesterday Counter-Strike: Global Offensive developer and publisher Valve sent out cease and desist letters to 23 CS:GO skin betting sites, signaling the beginning of the end for the controversial third-party activity in its current form. Though the validity of the cease and desist was first questioned, Valve has confirmed to multiple outlets it is legitimate; multiple sites hit by the letter have verified the validity as well.The letter stated that these websites were in violation of the Steam Subscriber Agreement(SSA) with its use of Steam accounts in commercial and unlicensed use. It further stated that if no changes were made after 10 days to cease use of Steam accounts, Valve would pursue all available solutions to terminate said accounts.These Counter-Strike websites mainly deal with the betting and trading of in-game skins. Some websites even deal in the actual business of bets and gambling with offers of odds and payouts for every official match. Valve began cracking down on Counter-Strike gambling websites after the controversies around Trevor Tmartn Martin and Tom Syndicate Cassel and their website CS:GO Lotto surfaced online.The issue at hand revolved around their use of false advertisement and endorsement, with the potential of insider trading, of CS:GO Lotto. Both Martin and Cassel were co-owners of the website and openly advertised its rewards without a clear disclosure of their involvement.After Valve announced it would be pursuing action against Counter-Strike skin betting websites, many companies announced that it would change operations and services. CSGO500, for example, stated Our main goal here at CSGO500 is to provide an enjoyable service for our users that is both legitimate and interactive. This will continue to be our goal, as we plan on adjusting to the upcoming limitations set by Valve. Charles Jones Jersey . The 20-year-old Pelicans big man glanced up and smiled widely at the well-wishers -- a fitting end to a day he wont soon forget. Davis responded to his selection earlier in the day as a Western Conference All-Star with 26 points and 10 rebounds, and the New Orleans Pelicans overcame a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit to defeat the Minnesota Timberwolves 98-91 on Friday night. Isaiah Thomas Jersey . Vettel, who has already clinched his fourth straight F1 title, enters the finale with a chance to equal Michael Schumachers 13 victories in a year and match the record of nine consecutive wins by Alberto Ascari in the 1952 and 1953 seasons. https://www.cheapwizardsonline.com/1449k-wes-unseld-jersey-wizards.html . A statement from the worlds top-ranked player says all checks "were satisfactory and showed positive evolution" regarding the injury, which contributed to his loss to Stanislas Wawrinka in the final in Melbourne. Gus Johnson Jersey .R. Smith realized how easily basketball can be taken from him, and he wasnt going to take his place in the NBA for granted anymore. Jeff Malone Jersey . -- Josh Sterk scored once and set up two more as the Oshawa Generals edged the visiting Belleville Bulls 3-2 on Friday in Ontario Hockey League action. MARSEILLE, France -- Like fellow underdog Iceland before it, Wales learned the hard lesson that a team needs more than just an abundance of guts and heart to succeed at the pointy end of a major tournament.An abundance of quality is needed, too. In the end, Wales simply didnt have enough of it against Portugal in the European Championship semifinal.Gareth Bale, Wales sole superstar and the worlds most expensive player, tried as hard as he could but lost his battle against his Real Madrid teammate, Cristiano Ronaldo.Here are 5 things to know about the semifinal that Portugal won 2-0 in Lyon:---TOUGH FINALPortugals road to the final has been anything but convincing. Wales is the first team it beat in regular time.Germany or France, depending on which of them wins their semifinal on Thursday, have far more quality than Wales. Having put itself two goals ahead, Portugal was able to control the second half against the Welsh. Wales manager Chris Coleman didnt have players coming off the bench who could make a difference.France and Germany do.Unless Ronaldo can do something special, Portugal could get found out in the final, just as Wales was in the semifinal.---RAMSEY MISSEDWales without midfielder Aaron Ramsey was like a car with a misfiring cylinder: It lacked oomph.Suspended from the semifinal for yellow cards in the previous rounds, the Arsenal midfielders absence deprived the Welsh of their most prolific passer and goal-creator at Euro 2016.And it showed.Without his attacking runs and slinky passes from midfield, Wales struggled to capitalize on the absence through injury of Portugals best defender, Real Madrids Pepe, or place any lasting pressure on his 34-year-old replacement at center back, Bruno Alves.Andy King, Ramseys replacement who plays for Premier League winners Leicester City, worked hard from box-to-box, taking turns with Liverpools Joe Allen to drop back deep but also haring forward when opportunities presented themselves.But they were too few and far between.---BALLON DORHad Bale carried Wales to its first ever major tournament final, having already won the Champions League again with Real Madrid this season, the 26-year-old could have become a real contender to break Lionel Messi and Ronaldos stranglehold on the world pllayer of the year award that they have hogged without interruption since Kaka won in 2007.ddddddddddddAs historic as getting Wales to the semifinal was, it surely wont be enough.Ronaldo could now have a lock on Ballon dOr voters should he carry Portugal to victory in the final on Sunday.----RONALDO DELIVERSCometh the hour, cometh the three-time world player of the year.From the outset, Ronaldo looked determined to make his mark against Wales. His last -- and only -- major final with Portugal ended badly, with him in tears after the team lost to Greece at Euro 2004.He clearly wants a second chance.For a player of his stature, Ronaldo has had surprisingly few standout matches at his seven major tournaments with Portugal, including at Euro 2016.In the 2004 semifinals, he scored the opening goal against the Netherlands. At Euro 2012, he scored both goals in a 2-1 win again against the Netherlands to put Portugal in the quarterfinals and then scored the only goal in a 1-0 win against the Czech Republic to put Portugal in the semifinals.At Euro 2016 before Wednesday, hed scored twice in a 3-3 group stage draw with Hungary.---BALE DOESNTBale was guilty of trying too hard against Portugal. But that was also out of necessity.In trying to carve out goal-scoring opportunities and make things happen for Wales, the forward dropped back too often into midfield and that blunted some of his cutting edge.Had Wales had more players of his quality, Bale could have spent more time up front, waiting for crosses and passes like Ronaldo did. Instead, Bale tried doing a lot of the work himself.A trick obviously practiced by Wales on the training ground almost paid off in the 18th minute, when instead of hoofing a corner into the box, the ball was passed for Bale to run onto. But his shot was wide.Bale also repeatedly used his speed to test Portugals defenses, notably outsprinting Ronaldo in the first half to fire a cross from the right wing that King failed to reach.---John Leicester is an international sports columnist for The Associated Press. Write to him at jleicester(at)ap.org or follow him at http://twitter.com/johnleicester ' ' '