BOSTON -- Boston is apparently out of the running for the 2017 NBA All-Star game, which became available after the league decided to move the event out of Charlotte, North Carolina.A spokeswoman for the TD Garden told The Boston Globe (http://bit.ly/2agqYAL ) Friday that the arena where the Boston Celtics play would be unable to host the game next February because of a scheduling conflict.The newspaper reported that Disney on Ice is booked for that weekend.Democratic House Speaker Robert DeLeo sent a tweet Thursday urging the NBA to bring the game to Massachusetts, where lawmakers recently approved a transgender rights law.The league pulled the game out of Charlotte because of its objections to a North Carolina law that limits anti-discrimination protections for gay, lesbian and transgender people. Mike Person Super Bowl Jersey . The 15th-ranked Canadian men lost the opening two games of their European tour: 19-15 to No. 17 Georgia and 21-20 to No. Robbie Gould Super Bowl Jersey . The Vancouver coach and an announced sellout crowd of 18,910 watched in dismay as the Canucks lost 7-4 to the New York Islanders on Monday night by squandering a 3-0 lead in the third period. http://www.authenticsf49erspro.com/Deebo-samuel-49ers-jersey/ . Cote was eligible to become a free agent Feb. 15. Cote helped running back Jon Cornish run for a league-high 1,813 rushing yards en route to being named the leagues most outstanding player. Mike McGlinchey Super Bowl Jersey . -- Kyrie Irvings last-minute 3-pointer helped seal another victory for Cleveland -- and the Cavaliers longest winning streak since LeBron James left. Adrian Colbert Super Bowl Jersey .C. -- Calgarys Kevin Koe did it the hard way again. In a year that already has proved to be massive for the UFC, with one major card after another, UFC 205 on Nov. 12 at Madison Square Garden in New York looks to be the biggest and most important of them all. In honor of such a marquee event, ESPN.com is providing dedicated previews to all 13 bouts on the card, breaking down whats at stake and projecting who will win, along with quotes and statistics for each fighter.Womens bantamweights: Liz Carmouche (10-5) vs. Katlyn Chookagian (8-0)Odds as of Nov. 2: Carmouche +165; Chookagian -190Whats at stake?Carmouche ready to end unwanted layoffAfter her last fight in April 2015, Carmouche asked the UFC for a short break to get some personal affairs in order. The problem was, once she was ready to start up again, the promotion evidently wasnt on the same page.Feels like Ive been asking to fight for a full year now, Carmouche said. I honestly dont know what happened. I thought maybe Id made someone mad and got blacklisted. The only thing I can imagine is discussions for the purchase of the UFC put things on hold -- but if booking me to a huge card in New York was their way of saying, Sorry this took so long, Ill take it.Carmouche, 32, did participate in an Eddie Bravo Invitational grappling match in September, which was broadcast on UFC Fight Pass. Even with the time off, Carmouche wouldnt be far away from title contention if she were to get past the undefeated Chookagian.I believe I built momentum competing in jiu-jitsu, showcasing all the skill sets I have, Carmouche said. Winning this fight just progresses that momentum and gets me back in title contention.Chookagian: I think I represent the newer generationWhen UFC 205 was first announced, the 27-year-old Chookagian immediately pulled up the UFCs female roster and liked what she saw.The promotion is not flush with female talent based out of New York. Chookagian, a Philadelphia native who now fights out of New Jersey, figured she had a shot to make the card.Im pretty lucky to be on this card, considering this is only my second UFC fight, Chookagian said. But I also had a feeling Id be on the card. Im pretty much the only girl signed in either diviision who is from the East Coast, New York area.dddddddddddd I was holding on to that, thinking maybe it would get me on here.In addition to her locale, Chookagian is also one of the better prospects in female MMA. She started taekwondo when she was 4, and got into karate a few years later. By the time she was 15, she had already won an amateur Golden Gloves boxing tournament. She trains her striking under standup coach Mark Henry, who will be in the corners of Eddie Alvarez and Frankie Edgar on Nov. 12.Currently, I think the womens side of the sport is where the men were a few years ago, Chookagian said. I feel like most of the women are only dominant in one area of MMA. Thats why youve seen, in the bantamweight division, there has been a different champion every fight lately. A lot of that has to do with matchups.I think I represent the newer generation. I have equal experience in different areas of fighting.Statistical comparisonCarmouche: 10-5 record (2-3 in UFC); past three fights have gone to decision (1-2 record)Carmouche: 11 takedowns landed in past four fightsChookagian: 8-0 record (1-0 in UFC); five of eight wins by decisionChookagian: Defended three of four takedowns in UFC debut (UD3 over Lauren Murphy)BreakdownThis bout sets up as a potential passing of the torch for contender status within the division -- unless its just too early for Chookagian.Carmouche will battle a size disadvantage, which could make things especially difficult as grappling is her clearest path to victory. Chookagian is a mobile, high-paced striker with a jab that is pretty efficient at maintaining the distance she wants.What Carmouche lacks in size at this weight, she makes up for in strength. Chookagian also doesnt carry a lot of knockout power, which means theres a solid chance Carmouche will get a full 15 minutes to work her takedowns. If you look over Carmouches record, her toughest foes mostly have been bigger grapplers. Chookagian is definitely bigger, but her grappling is less proven.PREDICTION: Chookagian by decision. ' ' '
