11 August 2013 Ramón Guerrero, who is the mayor, pledged to financially support the newly released football team of third division called the hipocampos, which are 100% of Puerto Vallarta.

Nearly two hours late, there was the presentation of the third division team, the hipocampos, who are 100% from Puerto Vallarta. This squad will receive a partial subsidy from the municipal government, announced the mayor Ramon Guerrero.

In an event held this Sunday at the sports esplanade Agustín Flores Contreras, there was the timely assistance of one of the celebreties of the striped Chivas of Guadalajara, Ricardo the "snoopy" Perez, who was widely solicited for souvenir photographs and autograph signing.

In an interview, the mayor, said that this same day he would talk to the directive of the new local team that will play in the national football of third division, to get the necessary support.

He said that he is in talks with the owners of a bus tour to try to get some sponsorship, as far as transport is concerned.

During the interventions at the event on Sunday, there was a reading of snoopy's curriculum, of whom it was said that he is currently the manager and owner of a tour company, and it was mentioned that his step of wearing the jersey of the striped Chivas of Guadalajara turned out to be successful in national football.

This team of the hipocampos of Puerto Vallarta, which will play in the third division, will train during the week in the court of the delegation of Las Juntas, in two sessions, according to the information given to this medium by the manager of the physical preparation of this team.

The first session at 8 am and the second at 18 hours.

[readon1 url="http://www.noticiaspv.com/ayuntamiento-subsidiara-en-parte-hipocampos-de-puerto-vallarta-3era-division/"]Source: NOTICIASPV.COM Translated by Rene Tripp[/readon1]

With mistakes from the referee in a pair of goals from the celestial team, Cruz Azul ended a winless decade against Guadalajara in the Blue stadium, beating them 3-1 yesterday in the afternoon in the middle of a downpour, the second in a row in this building.

The Ecuadorian Joao Rojas was the main figure of the Machine, scoring at the minutes 36 and 82 and Jerónimo Amione, defined the game at 84', while the goalkeeper Jesus Corona saved sung actions on the final stretch. Rafael Márquez Lugo tied for Chivas in the 50'.

Thus the celestial team cut the streak dating back to the Opening Tournament of 2003, which consisted of eight draws and two defeats and three games without a win in this tournament, totaling seven points and advancing to the eighth place overall. Meanwhile, the red and whites stopped at four units in the twelfth.

In a Blue stadium with greater support for the red and white frame, the game started at a slow pace, with no clear dominance and as time progressed they began to register arrivals of danger in both frames.

First there was an escape from Carlos Fierro on the left, who shot to the near post, where the goalkeeper Jose de Jesus Corona interrupted next to the right post.

The celestials answered with two corner shots, where the central defender won the ball thanks to his height. At the first shot he was blocked on the line by Abraham Coronado and on the second shot the goalkeeper Luis Ernesto Michel kept the ball to pressure Argentine striker Hugo Mariano Pavone, who worked hard as a winger.

Fierro reignited the thousands of fans of Chivas who attended the Blue stadium, when he finished off with a volley after another center of Coronado, but the goalkeeper was attentive to prevent the entry at the minute 27.

In a pass where Alejandro Castro surprised the defense of Chivas, Christian Giménez escaped through the right and on the entrance to the area, the ball was passed to the Ecuadorian Joao Robin Rojas, who advancing half a meter sent the sphere to the net for 1-0, at the 36th minute, as the goalkeeper Luis Ernesto Michel had been left out of action with the pass of Chaco .

Now with the rain as a guest to the game, in the 40th minute, Marco Fabian let go of the draw by sending his header through the top, when he came through the center of the frame of Corona, after an accurate service of Coronado from the right.

Chivas started the second half with pressure from the start and this, together with the ground that was slippery by rain, let him have a chance to match the cards, when Jesus Sanchez won a ball and put the service to the area where the Colombian defender Luis Amaranto Perea slipped and touched the ball with his hand to cause a penalty.

Rafael Márquez Lugo ran through the middle on the minute 50, while Corona dived to his left for the 1-1, which gave strength to Guadalajara.

Faced with a flood in the Blue stadium, both frames tried in the first place to not make mistakes and then to take advantage of the field conditions based on speed, but none took advantage of their options, while most of the fans remained in their places.

The shock was defined in the final stretch. Jerónimo Amione had seconds after entering the field when he put the service for the Ecuadorian Joao Rojas, who closed the clamp for 2-1, in the minute 82.

The third score of the Machine arrived a couple of minutes later, in a play where the linesman Juan Carlos Salinas raised his flag and Guadalajara stood there, the ball fell to Rojas, who now returned the ball so that Jerónimo Amione on the target area, only had to send it the visitor's goal, despite claims of the red an whites.

Guadalajara closed strong trying to offset the score, and there were three dangerous actions, but goalkeeper Corona blocked them. First a ball that Jair Pereira combed trying to reject and was close to own goal, but the keeper of the Tri kept away. Then a shot from Marquez Lugo went to the bottom, but the referee marked a foul on Corona, while it swerved to the right with a header from Miguel Sabah.

Roberto García Orozco, referee of the match and his assistants Marvin Torrentera and Juan Carlos Salinas, had an erratic afternoon, as their failures were reflected on the scoreboard.

In the celestial team the players that were booked were Gerardo Torrado (38) and the Argentinian Hugo Mariano Pavone (72), and in the red and white frame, Jesus Sanchez (82) and Kristian Alvarez (91).

Atlas ties with Pachuca

The Atlas foxes were about to lose at home to Pachuca, which scored through Fernando Cavanaghi at minute 61; by miracle, the red and black were saved with a goal from Matias Vuoso in the final stretch in the 93rd minute.

[readon1 url="http://www.lajornadajalisco.com.mx/2013/08/11/con-3-goles-y-una-ducha-la-maquina-se-sacude-una-decada-de-derrotas-ante-chivas/"]Source: La Jornada Jalisco Translated by Rene Tripp[/readon1]

In a match- boiled in the second half and no improvement in soccer style, Chivas got their first win in the tournament

In a match- boiled in the second half and no improvement in soccer style, Chivas got their first win in the tournament scoring 1-0 against an Atlante that is sinkingThe only score that attendees could see in the Omnilife stadium was the work of Rafael Marquez Lugo, at the minute 59, bringing the tapatío team to three units, while the Atlante was left with a point.
Undoubtedly what is most important are the good results and this is the only thing salvageable for Jalisco, which managed to score three, but lacking an essential improvement in their actions against an opponent that is not a paradigm, to the extent that after this defeat the Atlante became the worst team of all the competition.
Looking to change their actions, the Chivas coach, Benjamin Galindo, decided to make four surprising changes to their lineup, mainly those of Marco Fabian de la Mora and Miguel Sabah, who have meant a lot to the team, but are very logical changes none the less given the poor level shown.
Such modifications, however, didn't have a positive effect for at least 45 minutes, in which Guadalajara could not even take control of the match, much less generate danger ahead.
Atlante, true to what it showed in the first four rounds, ie a team with few changes at the front and which had as a main objective to keep the zero on the board.
Galindo realized he needed something more in their offense and decided to give another chance to Marco Fabian, who entered the field to complement, in which the Potros de Hierro lived at the beginning their best moments, but it was the home team which put a number in the board.
At the minute 53, the Atlante could go up on the scoreboard with an arrival on the right of Angel Sepulveda, who with a bad angle shot the ball that passed just near the far post. Moments later, Ezequiel Miralles, bounced the ball from his head to brake the crossbar of the goalkeeper of Guadalajara.
Chivas's response came at the minute 59, before the first drops of rain showers that fell, on the long pass to Rafael Marquez who won the back of the defense, to define with a shot to the left post and put the score 1-0.
With the damage done, the blue and scarlet's forgot their pettiness, Graniolatti ordered some moves and went forward in search of a tie, throwing back the Chivas that decided to take care of their advantage, wager that in the end turned out in a triumph.
The arbitration was conducted by Marco Antonio Rodriguez, who made a good job. He only warned Nestor Vidrio (74') of the home team.

Lineups:
Guadalajara: Luis Michel, Abraham Coronado, Néstor Vidrio, Kristian Alvarez, Omar Esparza (Héctor Reynoso, 80′), Patricio Araujo, Antonio Gallardo, Giovani Casillas (Marco Fabián de la Mora, 46′), Jesús Sánchez, Rafael Márquez Lugo y Carlos Fierro (Giovani Hernández, 67′). Coach: Benjamín Galindo.

Atlante: Yosgart Gutiérrez, Sergio Pérez, Daniel Guerrero, Mauricio Romero, Carlos Calvo (Diego Jiménez, 80′), Luis Venegas, Martín Galmarini, Walter Ervitti (Paul Uscanga, 72′), Ezequiel Miralles, Alejandro Vela (Alberto García, 66′) y Angel Sepúlveda.
Coach: Wilson Graniolatti.
Agencies

[readon1 url="http://www.lajornadajalisco.com.mx/2013/08/04/apenas-pero-chivas-ya-gano-1-0-al-atlante/"]Source: La Jornada Jalisco Translated by Rene Tripp[/readon1]

The Victory Went to the

Hard Rock Hotel Vallarta Team

The event brought together international celebrities from the Sport of Kings and distinguished personalities from the artistic and social milieu of Mexico.

The Beach Polo Cup managed to gather important personalities from around the world at the Riviera Nayarit, who in the second edition of the event lived a spectacular final that excited the audience and ended the day with a flourish.

Benedetto inaugurated himself as scorer of the Xolos

In a debut night for the managers, the Xolos led the opening minutes, but Atlas retaliated to achieve a draw that tastes like defeat for the border team. 

Seven minutes were enough so that Jorge Almirón from the Xolos could score a goal in the Apertura 2013. Soccer returned to Tijuana and did so with a draw that in the end tasted like defeat.

On this night of debuts, the coach had visualized a good start and so it was for the newcomer Dario Benedetto, author of the goals of the Club Tijuana.

The return of Fernando Arce benefited the team as he attempted shots from outside the area. The fourth minute had just started when he sought to surprise the goalkeeper Alan Lopez, but the shot went above the goal.

The first minutes were of wide domain of Tijuana, which culminated at 7 ', when Benedetto took the ball from Facundo Erpen and upon the departure of the goalkeeper he scored the first one of the night

A goal that gave them confidence to keep attacking, however, Atlas attempted to pressure and at 13', with a free kick by Jahir Barraza arrived the first dangerous attack for the visitors, but his shot went over the goal of Adrian Zermeno.

Tijuana did not give up, at the 16', when Diego Olsina endured the ball, it went to Arce who shot from outside the area but the ball hit the crossbar.

Again, Benedetto dominated the night. At minute 18, he stole the ball, again outwitted Erpen and perfectly defined upon the bad exit of the keeper.

Atlas managed to close the gap on the scoreboard after a mistake by defender Xoloitzcuintle, who fouled in the area at 28' on Jahir Barraza and the referee signaled the maximum penalty. Vicente Matías regained at 30 by putting the match two to one.

With the score in its favor, Tijuana managed the game in the opening minutes of the second half, while Atlas wanted to take advantage of the errors that the Xolos might have, since the only arrivals were generated by Jahir Barraza.

A night that served so that Benedetto could consecrate himself to the team, when minute 64 came, he gave the third one of the night for Tijuana. The Argentinian received a through ball from Paul Arriola, he taunted the goalkeeper and scored his first "Hat-trick" in the First Division.

Given the downside, Atlas did not give up and Vuoso with a backward somersault scored the second for his team at 63'. The game seemed to be controlled by Tijuana, but at 83', Vuoso was able to outwit Gandolfi and pass it to Edson Rivera, who tied the game.

Draw that tastes like defeat for the Xolos, who will not play on the second against America, while the Atlas welcomes the Panzas Verdes from Leon.

✎

THE HIGHLIGHT:

Given the downside, Atlas did not give up and Vuoso with a backward somersault scored the second for his team at 63'. The game seemed to be controlled by Tijuana, but at 83', Vuoso was able to outwit Gandolfi and pass it to Edson Rivera, who tied the game.

[readon1 url="http://vallartaopina.net/2013/07/20/atlas-saca-un-empate-de-oro"]Source: Vallarta Opina Translated by Rene Tripp[/readon1]

Under the instructions of the mayor of Puerto Vallarta Demetrio Ramon Guerrero Martinez, the director of the Municipal Sports Development Council and Youth Support (Comufodaj) Juan Rincon Flores, said that they are in the best disposition to support in whatever is needed by the Organizing Committee of the 22nd edition of the Pan American Junior Badminton Championships.

"So far, the only request we have received by the Committee, is to facilitate municipal auditorium facilities for the training of the 17 delegations attending this competition, and the corresponding writs with permissions are already issued to use the property from 7:00 am to 4:00 pm daily, except Sunday. "

The XXII Pan American Junior Badminton Championships will be held from July 21 to 28 having as headquarters the Hotel Canto del Sol facilities

To publicize the details of the Children and Youth Pan American Badminton, a press conference was held yesterday, in which the city of Puerto Vallarta was represented by Juan Rincon Flores and Miguel Angel Arreola Palacios, Director and Coordinator of the Leagues of Municipal Sport Councils, and there was also the presence of the President of the Mexican Federation of Badminton, Engineer Javier Orozco and Armando Cosilión Limón of the Organizing Committee.

The event involves 353 players from 17 different countries in the categories: Sub11, Sub13, Sub15, Sub17 and Sub19 and in the case of the latter category the event is a qualifier for the Youth Olympic Games to be held in China.

From July 21 to 23 there will be team-play, while from the 24 to the 28 the game will be of singles, for which the area of ​​hard surface tennis courts was adapted to position eight badminton courts.

The participating countries in this event are: Argentina, Barbados, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, United States, Guatemala, Jamaica, Mexico, Peru, Puerto Rico, Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela.

[readon1 url="http://notivallarta.com/2013/07/20/recibira-puerto-vallarta-el-panamericano-de-badminton/"]Source: NotiVallarta Translated by Rene Tripp[/readon1]

Important Polo World International Celebrities Visit Our Country

In this year 2013, for the first time in history, the athletes of Bahia de Banderas were at the National Children and Youth Olympiad on basketball, beach volleyball and archery teams.
The Mayor of Bahia de Banderas, Rafael Cervantes Padilla, and the President of the System for the Integral Development of the Family in Bahia de Banderas (DIF), Maria del Refugio Gomez de Cervantes, recognized athletes and coaches of the municipality who participated in the National Children and Youth Olympiad 2013.At a ceremony held in the Municipal Auditorium San José del Valle, the mayor greeted and recognized parents of children and young athletes of Bahia de Banderas who have excelled in a meritorious way outside the municipality and outside the state of Nayarit , and by his own experience as a practitioner of the sport of horsemanship, he recognized that it is not easy to reach national levels in any sport. In turn the Director of Education, Culture and Sports of Bahia de Banderas, Castillo Benito Lerma, welcomed athletes and parents.

A total of 42 medals, predominantly in Sail, and whose athletes of this discipline, such as Carlos Sainz, Juan Bosco Varela, and the twins Cristina and Andrea Ortiz Vivas are part of the national team that contends in international events.

The athletes of Bahia de Banderas who won medals in 2013 are: John Bosco Varela Barba, Carlos Sainz Meza, Cristina Ortiz Vivas, Manuel Dussault Gomez, Andrea Ortiz Vivas, Patzy Tello Esmeralda Zepeda, Maria Guadalupe Pena Meza, Romario Cardenas Ruiz, Julio Samir PerezEsparza, Ismael Alonso Hernández Patiño, Samuel Carrasco Álvarez, Coral Dueñas Rivera, Joe Emmanuel Salazar Bueno, and Sergio Alán Pérez Pinto.By the hands of the Mayor and the President of the DIF of Bahia de Banderas, all participants in the 2013 National Olympiad were recognized, athletes and coaches, an estimate of in between 60 and 70 recognitions.

[readon1 url="http://www.prensaglobal.com/notas/50181.html"]Source: prensaglobal.com Translated by Rene Tripp[/readon1]

Governor reiterates support for sports

Aristóteles Sandoval asks youngsters to use social media responsibly

The Governor of the State of Jalisco, Jorge Aristóteles Sandoval Diaz, received the prize "Jalisco Champion" by the Federal Government, and the National Commission of Physical Culture and Sports (Conade) due to that Jalisco was crowned champion at the XVIII National Olympiad and X National Paralympics.

Sandoval Diaz said that he was proud of the achievements of the young athletes and thanked the support of both parents and coaches, that drove them to be-for the fourteenth time, the national champions. He added that this series of victories entailed a great responsibility, so they could not afford to lower the sports level that Jalisco has shown so far.

The governor reiterated the interest of his Government to continue with the promotion of physical culture and said that during his administration there will be a search to create more spaces of this kind in the whole state, so that no young person is left without access to sport.

Sandoval Diaz also took the opportunity to compel young people to make responsible use of social networks, because although they could be highly beneficial instruments to proyect and transmit positive leadership, they could also attract malicious people, inviting them to perform illegal activities. He also advised the youth to be in constant communication with their parents.

In the presidium were also the president of the Conade, Jesus Mena Campos, the director of the State Council for the Promotion of Sports and Youth Support (Code), Miranda Marx André Campos, the mayor of Guadalajara, Ramiro Hernandez Garcia, the mayor of Zapopan, Hector Robles Peiro, the deputy chairman of the Committee on Youth and Sports of the State of Jalisco, Miguel Hernandez Anaya, and high-performance athletes.

THE CLUE:

Counting both sports competitions Jalisco was crowned with a thousand 235 medals, 986 of the National Olympics and 249 from Paralympics.

[readon1 url="http://vallartaopina.net/2013/07/02/jalisco-campeon-por-decimocuarta-ocasion-de-la-olimpiada-nacional"]Source: Vallarta Opina Translated by Rene Tripp[/readon1]

CONFEDERATIONS CUP

The Red team was completely superior and whacked 10-0 the national team of Oceania, in the second day of the Group Phase of the Confederations

It was predictable and that's how it happened. Spain scandalously defeated Tahití 10-0, with an outstanding performance of Fernando Torres, who was able to score four goals, in shock celebrating in the Maracaná stadium.

The goal rosary also included a Hat-Trick from David Villa, side wing of David Silva, and a diana from Juan Mata.

With this result, the Red Fury, placed itself as the absolute leader of the B Group of the Confederations Cup, with six points, while the group from Oceania maintained itself in second place, without scoring.

The National Team from Spain played with a great amount of replacements, with the exception of the defense Sergio Ramos, who immediately showed why he was the favorite by scoring the first goal within the first five minutes, by means of Torres, who defined with his right leg in complicity with the Tahitian goal keeper Mikael Roche.

The second goal took a little longer to get there and it was David Silva who placed it in front of the goal at the 31st minute, two minutes later, the player nicknamed "Niño" scored another one, by taking advantage of a mistake from the nervous Roche, who gave many opportunities during the whole duel.

Besides Torres, who was not active in the first game against Uruguay, David Villa also took advantage of the weaknesses of the rival to score on various occasions; his first goal was made in the minute 39, after being assisted by Silva.

For the second part, the Spaniards didn't weaken and continued with the intention of scoring, this was shown at the minute 49, when Villa scored another point, with a good touch of his left foot.

Anxious to score, the Tahitians set forward their lines and left even more spaces, situation which Spain didn't hesitate to take advantage of and continued attacking.

Torres continued showing his hunger for goals and made his third one in the game on the 57th minute, after a good placement by Jesús Navas, who entered in the second part to unbalance the right wing.

In the minute 64, the “Guaje” Villa concreted his goal triplet, with a score that once more evidenced the nervousness and the precipitation of the Tahitian goal keeper, even though it clearly looked offside.

Another one who didn't want to end the encounter without scoring was the middle-fielder Juan Mata, who managed at the minute 66, to drill the rival with a precise shot from his left legg from the center of the area.

It looked like the “Niño” would increase further his goal share when a penalty was marked in favor of the Spaniards, which Torres took care of redeeming, whose shot bounced to the striker without being able to finalize, however, the same player from Chelsea was able to compensate immediately at minute 78 scoring his fourth goal of the day.

When the encounter was ending, David Silva made 10-0, after a strike from the left, from the center of the area, after the assistance of Torres.

The arbitration was in the hands of the Argelian Djamel Haimoudi, who only penalized the Spanish midfielder Santiago Cazorla.

[readon1 url="http://www.nnc.mx/deportes/1371781951.php"]Source:NNC - Translated By Rene Tripp[/readon1]

Willing to provide a means of healthy development for her children, a household mother took advantage of the aperture of the Soccer Field 7, but she went further, up to the Municipal Little League of Soccer.

Los rivales, a child soccer team, that now takes part in the municipal little league of soccer of Bahía de Banderas, was born out of the worries of a household mother for the integral development of her children, two boys and a girl, that by their own initiative and by other neighboring children from Jardines del Sol formed a team to be able to participate and use for the first time, on last February 8th, the Soccer Field 7, which the Municipal President, Rafael Cervantes Padilla, inaugurated in the afternoon of that same day.

It is about Adriana Elizabeth Estrada Bolaños, who through the petition of the children, she became their manager so that they could register in the inaugural tournament of Soccer Field 7 of Jardines del Sol.

This is how she became involved in soccer, through the interest of being able to see her offspring develop in an integral way by the practice of sports.

Adriana Estrada Bolaños commented in the interview, that due to the necessity of seeing her children practice soccer, to keep them away from the temptation of using drugs, "so that the children occupy their energy in something positive", she expressed.

She seeked for support and she found it, in the Municipal Little League of Bahía de Banderas, which is under the management of the Administration of Education Culture and Sport.

At only four months and days from the chance formation of the soccer team Los Rivales, with the motive of the inauguration of Soccer Field 7 of Jardines del Sol, Adriana Elizabeth Estrada Bolaños, now represents 25 children, which occupy their vitality in playing and developing themselves holistically through the discipline and responsibility of being part of a formal league tournament.

To household mothers and fathers, who are interested in registering their soccer teams in the Municipal Soccer League, in its different categories, can go to the offices of Education Culture and Sport, in San José del Valle, or directly with the Soccer coordinator, César Flores, who can be reached at his cell phone 322 118 41 38.

[readon1 url="http://www.prensaglobal.com/notas/47668.html"]Source:Prensaglobal.com Translated by Rene Tripp[/readon1]

MIAMI – Not one, not two… A little more than three years ago, LeBron James stood on that stage here, the smoke swirling about him, and made one of the most audacious declarations the NBA had ever heard.

He had just joined with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh to form the most star-powered triumvirate in the league, and now he was promising the Miami Heat fistfuls of titles.
Not one, not two, not three, not four, not five, not six, not seven…

James crowed, and he was mocked fast and hard for the boast, for the spectacle of a welcome party the Heat had thrown for him, for his narcissistic "I'm-taking-my-talents-to-South-Beach" cable TV special. He hadn't won anything yet, of course.

He just acted like he had, arriving here full of pompousness and entitlement, well on his way to becoming one of the sporting world's great villains.

Somewhere in all that braggadocio, James' point was clear. He hadn't left his home state of Ohio to come to Miami to win a championship. He was here to build a dynasty, to construct his own legacy as one of the greatest to ever play.

There's no doubting his championship mettle now. Not after Thursday night. Not after an epic NBA Finals Game 7 performance that included 37 points, 12 rebounds, five 3-pointers and the decisive jump shot that finally helped finish off a 95-88 victory, that finally finished off the San Antonio Spurs. James has his second championship and Finals MVP trophy in as many years, and he won this ring in one of the tensest Finals ever.

Shane Battier made six 3-pointers, the most ever in a Finals Game 7, and Wade scored 23 points, but this victory – this championship – was won on James' dominance.

"The vision I had when I came here is all coming true," James said early Friday morning.

James had been swept by this same trio of Spurs' stars – Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili – during his first trip to the Finals in 2007.

He was with the Cleveland Cavaliers then, and on the eve of these Finals, he said there was no comparison to the present. He proclaimed himself a much better player than he was in '07 – or even '11 when his passive performance in the Finals allowed the Dallas Mavericks to beat the Heat.

He's set out to prove himself ever since, and he's right: He is a much improved player, more immune to the pressure of the moment. Among the other areas in which James is better: He can shoot.
The Spurs dared James to shoot over them for the duration of the series, crowding the lane with another defender when he tried to drive, backing off him when he was isolated.

By the second quarter of Game 7, he'd never looked more sure. The Spurs kept backing off, and he kept firing, making five 3-pointers and that critical jumper in the closing seconds.

"LeBron was unbelievable," Duncan said. "He stepped up in this last game and he made enough shots to make us change our defense over and over again. We just couldn't find a way to stop him."

James didn't win this title alone. Wade has played understudy to James for much of this season, and he did again in Game 7. Still, after limping out of Game 6 after injuring his left knee, he returned Thursday with more life – and lift – in his legs. His 14 first-half points helped buy James some time to find his own shot.

"He just helped us win," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "That was the bottom line."
After six games, the Spurs and Heat had played themselves to exhaustion. Miami's thrilling overtime victory in Game 6 had drained both teams, and the enormity of Game 7 seemed to leave everyone's nerves in a jumble.

The play was ragged, and neither team could find much rhythm until Battier made three 3-pointers in a short stretch bridging the first two quarters.

Battier entered the game stuck in a colossal slump, having made less than 25 percent of his shots in the playoffs. When it mattered most, he found his stroke.

"I believe in basketball gods," Battier said. "I felt that they owed me big time."
The Spurs, as they have for so many of these past 16 years, continued to hang around, hang around, hang around. There had been little separation between the teams from game to game, and when Game 7 arrived, there was little distance between them from minute to minute. When Mario Chalmers banked in a pull-up 30-foot 3-pointer at the third-quarter buzzer, it gave Miami a 72-71 advantage.

The Heat would eventually push their lead to six, but the Spurs didn't crumble. After Battier made his sixth 3-pointer to send the home crowd into a roar, Duncan quickly quieted the arena by answering with a three-point play. Kawhi Leonard's 3-pointer brought the Spurs within two, and they had two opportunities to tie, the last coming when Duncan curled into the lane and tossed up his signature jump hook with less than a minute left.

The ball caromed off the rim, and Duncan followed the rebound, tipping it back toward the basket. That, too, bounced off.

As the Heat called timeout with 39 seconds left, Duncan leaned over and slapped the court in frustration.

"Probably for me," Duncan said, "Game 7 is always going to haunt me."
The Spurs won't sleep easy, if at all. At 37 years old, Duncan was playing for his fifth – and perhaps final – title.

It seemed well within his grasp when the Spurs took a five-point lead into the final 30 seconds of Game 6. In the end, they will remember this series for missed opportunities: missed free throws, missed rebounds and, as Duncan said, his own missed shots at the end of Game 7.

"There's such a fine line," Ginobili said. "Such a fine line between celebrating and having a great summer [and] now feeling like crap and just so disappointed."

The difference in these Finals came down to James, who wouldn't let this championship slip from his grasp.

Clinging to a two-point lead, season on the brink, the Heat walked out of that timeout and gave the ball to James.

He dribbled right, stopped, gathered himself and raised up for one of the biggest shots of his career. The arc of the shot's flight was pure, and as the ball settled into the net with 27.9 seconds left, the Heat had everything they needed for their second straight title and the franchise's third overall.

Not one, not two, not three, not four, not five, not six, not seven…
Yes, eight titles is a stretch. James might not even stick around Miami beyond next season. He can opt out of his contract a year from now, and the Cavaliers, among others, figure to call. But who knows? At 28 years old, here in Miami or elsewhere, LeBron James still has so much within his enormous reach.

[readon1 url="http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nba--lebron-james-leads-heat-to-second-straight-nba-championship-with-game-7-victory-over-spurs-035708103.html"]Source:sports.yahoo.com[/readon1]