www.ditib-sindorf-forum.de » art," Farrell said. Blue Jays: Mark Buehr

LONDON -- While critical of Dennis Rodmans trips to North Korea, incoming NBA commissioner Adam Silver says the former all-star also helped raise awareness of leader Kim Jong Uns "repressive regime." Rodman took a group of retired NBA players to the pariah state this month to play a game as a gift for Kim, a move criticized by some members of the U.S. Congress, human rights groups and the NBA. Rodman, the highest-profile American to meet Kim, has stressed he is not a statesman and is only seeking to build cultural ties between Pyongyang and Washington through basketball. But the 52-year-old Rodman has been denounced for not trying to use his influence with Kim to secure the release of Kenneth Bae, an American missionary with health problems who is being held in North Korea on charges of "anti-state" crimes. Although Rodman has been accused of becoming a public relations tool for North Koreas government, Silver regards the publicity from the trips helping to shine a light on a country with a poor human rights record. "As negative as that trip was in so many ways it also brought attention to a critical issue in North Korea that ... most Americans hadnt focused on at all in terms of a repressive regime," Silver said on Thursday in London ahead of a game between the Brooklyn Nets and the Atlanta Hawks. At the start of the Jan. 8 game in Pyongyang, Rodman sang "Happy Birthday" to Kim, who was seated at the stadium, and bowed deeply as North Korean players clapped. Silver, who succeeds David Stern as commissioner on Feb. 1, said the NBA persuaded some former players not to participate in the game. "We did talk directly with certain other players who decided not to go," Silver said after appearing at a meeting organized by the Sport Industry Group. "In terms of any damage done to the NBA, we dont think there was any damage done to the NBA ... the fact basketball happens to be very popular in North Korea I dont think is a negative for our league. "And it just demonstrates that its not just basketball but all sports bring tremendous opportunities." And, with the Nets owned by Russian businessman Mikhail Prokhorov, the NBA is looking beyond the U.S. for more investment in franchises. Stern said there are discussions with investors from China, Latin America and the Middle East, in particular those in oil-rich United Arab Emirates whose "connection to the governing families is quite close." Efforts to grow the NBA beyond U.S. shores in Britain have been limited, despite Thursdays regular-season game at the O2 Arena being the fourth in four years at the venue. While acknowledging that "football is king" in England, the NBA feels that its efforts to intensify interest have not been matched by a commitment from the government and local groups to promote the game and build facilities. Silver described the club infrastructure as being "not on a par" with other basketball nations. "We would have thought there would have been more growth," Silver said. "For whatever reason basketball hasnt caught on here," he added. "And I think there has been an absence of leadership and we have to fill the vacuum." Having expected a strong basketball legacy from the 2012 London Olympics, the NBA was disappointed the chance was not grasped. "I would say lost opportunity rather than wasted opportunity -- every government has their priorities but given how popular a venue (basketball) was during the Olympics, it should have been the launching pad for additional things happening," Silver said. 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Off-Season Game Plan looks at what the Blue Jackets may do to build upon last seasons success to return to the playoffs again next year. Adam Eaton Jersey . -- Craig Anderson has quite a record against his former team, the Florida Panthers.BOSTON -- Marcus Stroman was so good against the Boston Red Sox last week that he went with the same plan Tuesday night. And the result was his second solid start in five days, leading the Toronto Blue Bays over the Red Sox 4-2. "To be honest, no, just execute pitches," he said when asked if he changed. "I didnt change my approach at all. I didnt feel like I needed to change. We attacked them exactly like we wanted to attack them and had success." Colby Rasmus hit a solo homer and Anthony Gose had a tiebreaking two-run double for the Blue Jays, who won for the ninth time in 11 games and improved to 9-3 against the Red Sox this season. "Hes on some kind of roll right now," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said of Stroman. "The kids good. He believes in himself. Hes got all the confidence in the world and hes got the stuff for it, too." Xander Bogaerts homered and Dustin Pedroia added an RBI double for Boston, which has dropped all five games in Fenway Park against Toronto. The Red Sox lost for the seventh time in eight games. "Obviously were not in the position that we want to be in," Pedroia said. "We havent played very well and our record shows that." Stroman (7-2) held Boston to one run and six hits in seven innings, striking out eight and walking two. He took a no-hitter into the seventh last Thursday before giving up Shane Victorinos leadoff single for his only hit allowed in seven innings. Casey Janssen got the final three outs for his 17th save despite giving up Bogaerts homer. Rubby De La Rosa (3-4) gave up three runs on nine hits in six innings. "I thought he gave us a solid effort," Boston manager John Farrell said. "We had probably three opportunities when we had multiple men on base and the timely hit was elusive." Goses two-out, two-run double snapped a 1-all tie and pushed the Blue Jays ahead in the fourth. Juan Francisco and Rasmus singled before advancing on Munenori Kawasakis saccrifice bunt.dddddddddddd. Rasmus homer into the centre field bleachers gave Toronto a 1-0 lead in the second, but Boston tied it on Pedroias RBI double. ON DECK Red Sox: Left-hander Jon Lester (10-7, 2.52 ERA) was scheduled to pitch Wednesday, but Farrell said after the game the club decided to go with right-hander Brandon Workman. Lesters name has been circulating in a number of trade rumours the past few days. "In light of all the uncertainty surrounding Jon Lester, its probably in everyones best interest that he does not make that start," Farrell said. Blue Jays: Mark Buehrle (10-7, 3.19 ERA) goes in the series finale on Wednesday, trying to snap his six-game losing streak since his last win on June 1. Hes 1-1 against the Red Sox this season, beating them in Fenway on May 22 when he went seven innings, allowing two runs. He gave up seven runs -- six earned -- in the loss at home on April 25. WORDS OF WISDOM Pitching coach Pete Walker visited Stroman before he faced David Ortiz with two runners on and two outs in the fifth. He got Ortiz to bounce to second. "He just said be careful," Stroman said. "Youve got to make your pitches. Luckily I made a good pitch on 2-0 and got him to roll over. That was a big point in the game." HELP FROM THE BOTTOM Gose drove in two runs from the nine-hole with the timely hit. "Thats the difference (from last year)," Gibbons said. "We couldnt get the run in with one out and he gets a hit there." TRAINERS ROOM Blue Jays: Infielder Brett Lawrie, on the disabled list since late June with a broken right index finger, began hitting off a tee late last week. On Monday, the team acquired Danny Valencia from Kansas City for a pair of players to give them depth at third while Lawrie works his way back. Gibbons said Valencia will face "a lot of lefties." Red Sox: First baseman Mike Napoli had what Farrell called a "down day" due to swelling on the ring fing