tournament the following year, adding to the trophy it had won for the first time in 1979. The Paraguayans made it to this years final by holding on to that same two-goal advantage against C

In the summer of 1996, Shaquille ONeal left the Magic to sign a $120 million Lakers contract, and bought a house in the opulent hills overlooking Beverly Hills. A few months later he and his uncle Mike hopped in the car for a drive across L.A., to Watts.Its about an hour drive, but feels so far from the winding tree-lined hills of Mulholland Drive.Shaq had thoughtfully chosen a community center there to reprise his role as Shaq-a-Claus. He told uncle Mike it was his favorite day of the year, and it was full of taking holiday orders from delighted kids. One by one, they eagerly revealed their wishes: a bicycle, the top-selling Mario video game, a Tickle Me Elmo, the new Cabbage Patch dolls which were selling out as soon as they hit the shelves.He said yes to them all and promised Shaq-a-Claus would deliver the gifts two days before Christmas. Mission accomplished. Except ... as he turned to go, Shaq noticed one little boy who hadnt come forward.Concerned that his large stature had frightened the child, Shaq bent down on one knee, placed his massive hand on his tiny shoulder and asked, What do you want, little man?I dont think you can help me, he answered softly.I bet I can, Shaq persisted. You know, Im pretty good friends with Santa.What I really want, said the boy, is for it to snow. He was quiet for a moment before explaining that he shared his Christmas wish with his mother. She sighed, hugged him close to her, and then told him, Im sorry, baby. It doesnt snow in Los Angeles, and were stuck here.As Shaq and his uncle drove back toward the manicured lawns and the palm trees in his exclusive neighborhood, ONeal was mostly silent. In fact, he didnt say anything until they turned into his driveway and he blurted out suddenly, They ski in California, right? Shaq-a-Claus had an idea.Eventually, Dec. 23 arrived at last. Precisely on schedule, Shaq-a-Claus arrived with great fanfare at the Watts Community Center. He was accompanied by a convoy of vehicles packed with bicycles, video games, Cabbage Patch dolls and plenty of Tickle Me Elmos.But there was a different kind of convoy that preceded Shaq and his sacks of toys.An hour earlier, three oversized dump trucks rumbled down Central Avenue toward the community center. Each was filled to the brim with snow -- beautiful, white (all right, artificial), California snow, trucked to Watts from Bear Mountain in the San Bernardino National Forest. Shaq picked up the bill for the unusual shipment and instructed the workers to dump the snow into the Community Center parking lot.By the time he arrived, the kids were gleefully making snow forts and snow angels.The little boy who had been on ONeals mind was waiting with a smile and a snowball at the ready. He aimed for ONeals head, and missed.And then it was on, the most incredible, wonderful, spectacular (and only) snowball fight in Watts history, with a future Hall of Fame big man, dressed in a T-shirt and shorts and a Santa hat that was several sizes too small.Indians Jerseys China . Vaives lawyer Trevor Whiffen claims the former 50-goal man wasnt provided with a copy of the claim beforehand and that he would not have agreed to the allegations made against the NHL had he been asked to review its contents. Jordan Luplow Indians Jersey . And follow TSN.ca right through Deadline Day for all the updates. From Pierre LeBrun While Anaheim GM Bob Murray said earlier this season he was not going to trade Jonas Hiller despite the fact hes an unrestricted free agent on July 1, some sources have told TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun that Murray might be willing to move another goalie. https://www.cheapindiansonline.com/2628u-roberto-alomar-jersey-indians.html . One game after a miserable showing in Oklahoma City, Gay tied a career high with 41 points and the Sacramento Kings cruised to a 114-97 victory at the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday night. Kenny Lofton Jersey .Y. -- Injured Buffalo Sabres forward Marcus Foligno did not practice with the team Monday and head coach Ron Rolston said its unlikely hell play in Wednesdays season opener in Detroit. Buddy Bell Indians Jersey . The third-ranked Ivanovic, who won the event in 2008 and 10, served five aces and broke Wickmayer, also a former winner in 2009, five times. "The result looked easier than it really was," Ivanovic said.SAO PAULO, Brazil -- Ronaldinho will need to produce a performance in keeping with his vintage best if his Atletico Mineiro team is to overturn a first-leg deficit and win the Copa Libertadores on Wednesday. The former two-time world player of the year has to help the Brazilian club -- seeking its first international title-- erase the 2-0 deficit established by Olimpia in Paraguay last week. "We still believe," Ronaldinho wrote on Twitter. "Its not over yet. We have one game to go and we will give our blood to win this title. We believe in the strength of this group and in the strength of the fans." The Copa Libertadores is one of the few titles Ronaldinho hasnt won in his career. After a decade in Europe with Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona and Milan, he returned to Brazilian glamor club Flamengo in 2011 before an abrupt departure to Atletico Mineiro last year. "This title means more than anything else for us," the 33-year-old Ronaldinho said. His move to the Belo Horizonte club quickly vaulted it to being a top contender in Brazil and Latin America, and his teammates are hoping the former Brazil star will lead them to the coveted title on Wednesday. "The team improved significantly after Ronaldinho arrived and we all have a lot of trust in him in a decisive moment like this," striker Jo said. Forward Diego Tardelli added: "We know he is the star of our team and everybody respects him a lot for that." It was a difficult first-leg loss for Ronaldinho and Atletico, with Olimpias second goal coming on a free kick in the final play of the match. Ronaldinho was far from his best, being ineffective through most of the game and being replaced in the second half. But there is reason for the Brazilian club to remain optimistic despite the loss. Atletico Mineiro was in the same situation in the semifinals after losing 2-0 to Newells Old Boys in the first leg in Argentina. Ronaldinho wwas great in the return game at home, though, and Atletico Mineiro won the match by the same score and eventually came out on top in a shootout, with goalkeeper Victor making a save in the last penalty.dddddddddddd Victor also saved an injury-time penalty against Tijuana of Mexico in the quarterfinals. Olimpia has already relinquished a two-goal first leg lead in the final of the Copa Libertadores. It happened in 1989, when it fell to Atletico Nacional of Colombia on penalties, marking the last time such advantage was lost. Olimpia won the tournament the following year, adding to the trophy it had won for the first time in 1979. The Paraguayans made it to this years final by holding on to that same two-goal advantage against Colombias Santa Fe. It won 2-0 at home and advanced despite a 1-0 loss in the away leg. Olimpia is hoping to repeat the success of the last time it played a final against a Brazilian club, in 2002. It lost 1-0 to Sao Caetano in the first leg at home but won the return in Brazil 2-1 and clinched the title on penalties. This is the ninth straight year that at least one Brazilian team has made the final. Brazilian clubs have won the past three titles: Corinthians last year, Santos in 2011 and Internacional in 2010. The newly renovated Mineirao Stadium, which holds about 60,000 fans, is expected to be packed in Wednesdays match. Atletico wanted to play the final at its Independencia Stadium, where it hasnt lost in nearly 40 matches, but the South American football federation (CONMEBOL) deemed the venue too small for the final of the continental tournament. It holds just over 20,000 fans. Atletico Mineiro is traditionally one of the power clubs in Brazil but has not had a lot of success internationally. It won the CONMEBOL Cup in 1992 and 1997. IFor Wednesdays match, coach Alexi Stival "Cuca" will have the return of young Brazil striker Bernard, who was suspended for the first leg. 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