ATLANTA -- Dwight Howard has played all of one game for the Atlanta Hawks.Hes already the center of attention.On opening night, Howard led his new teammates in a raucous display of bouncing and screaming during the pregame introductions. When it was over, with the Hawks victorious and their new center having provided a tantalizing glimpse of the skills that made him one of the NBAs most feared players, Howard worked the locker room from one end to the other, doling out good-natured ribbing to anyone who got within his imposing shadow.Superman has come home. Maybe hes found his swagger.I just tried to zone out and focus on the task at hand, Howard said at the end of the night, sitting at his locker surrounded by reporters and cameras and microphones. Ive been in a lot of opening nights and the worst thing you can do is lay an egg in the first game.Of course, its going to take more than one game to make up for what happened over the last several seasons.Still, Howards homecoming could wind up having a bigger impact on the league than some of those more touted moves this past summer.If all goes according to Atlantas plan, Howard will reclaim his place among the NBAs elite. Hell lead the league in rebounding, as he did through most of his glory years with the Orlando Magic, and give the Hawks the sort of imposing presence theyve been missing in the lane, someone who can alter shots and cover up his teammates mistakes and take some of the burden off teammates such as three-time All-Star Paul Millsap, who is still Atlantas best player.Thats the way it worked Thursday night in a 114-99 victory over the Washington Wizards. Howard grabbed 19 rebounds, more than anyone in an Atlanta uniform had all of last season, and continually sparked the transition game by with crisp passes to teammates fast-breaking in the opposite direction. Freed of carrying a big load on the glass, Millsap led the Hawks with 28 points.I didnt have to get down there and bang as much, Millsap said. When a guy like Dwights down there and securing the rebounds, hes taking a lot of the load off me. I think throughout the course of this season, Ill be a lot fresher, be able to do a little bit more on the offensive end.You might remember Howard as one of the leagues most dominant players, but its not something that comes immediately to mind. He got lost along the way, his once Hall of Fame-bound career sliding off the rails during a miserable one-year layover with Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers, followed by three forgettable seasons trying to coexist with James Harden on the Houston Rockets.Not only did Howards production suffer, but he went from one of the leagues most likable, endearing players to someone who came across as whiny and petulant, self-absorbed by his frequent trade demands and struggling to mesh with personalities as big as his own.When he became a free agent this past summer, Howard hardly had a pick of destinations or the leverage to name his price. He was certainly an intriguing piece in the offseason puzzle, but not as crucial to completing the picture as Kevin Durant landing with the Golden State Warriors, or Dwyane Wade taking off for the Chicago Bulls, or Derrick Rose being traded to the New York Knicks.Howard fell in with the next wave of shuffling, more along the lines of Pau Gasol heading to San Antonio or Andrew Bogut being dealt to Dallas to create cap space. In fact, there were plenty of people questioning whether the Hawks had done the right thing when they doled out a three-year, $70 million deal to Howard and allowed undersized but more versatile center Al Horford to bolt for the Boston Celtics.Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer was convinced that Howard, who has been in the league for 13 years but is still only 31, could be a franchise player once again.After the Hawks plummeted from 60 wins and the top seed in the East two seasons ago to a quick second-round exit from the playoffs this past spring, Budenholzer decided a dramatic overhaul was in order. Howard was eager to return to the city he grew up in and still calls home -- a striking change from his last foray into free agency, when he pretty much forwarded the Hawks calls straight to voicemail.This time around, he needed the Hawks as much as they needed him.For Howard, this is his best shot -- maybe his last shot -- at redemption and rejuvenation. Hes on a team where he can again be the loudest voice in the room, where he doesnt have to worry about Bryant putting him down or Harden demanding the spotlight.His work and his commitment to everything were doing, Im very, very pleased with it, Budenholzer said. I think hes looking forward to being a force.Maybe hell even be able to break out that cape again.---Paul Newberry is a sports columnist for The Associated Press. Write to him at pnewberry(at)ap.org or at www.twitter.com/pnewberry1963 . His work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/paul-newberry . Dexter Williams Youth Jersey . Duchene scored two goals and had an assist, helping the Colorado Avalanche beat the Carolina Hurricanes 4-2 on Friday night to match the best 10-game start in team history. Dave Robinson Packers Jersey . Walcott is available for Saturdays home match against Southampton as Arsenal looks to extend its two-point lead at the top of the Premier League. The Gunners are currently the second highest scorers in the league but Wenger insists Walcott will add something extra to his team. http://www.packersrookiestore.com/Packers-Bart-Starr-Jersey/ . In taking its goal tally to 99 in all competitions already this season, City delivered another demonstration of its lethal firepower at Etihad Stadium to set up a fourth-round match at home to another second-tier team -- Watford. Rashan Gary Womens Jersey . The International Olympic Committee released the official list of bid cities on Friday after the deadline for applications had passed. The candidates -- all previously announced in their own countries -- are: Almaty, Kazakhstan; Beijing; Krakow, Poland; Lviv, Ukraine; Oslo, Norway; and Stockholm. Ray Nitschke Youth Jersey . President of baseball operations Larry Beinfest was fired Friday after 12 years with the Marlins. The move came as the team neared the end of its third consecutive last-place season in the NL East. Day 2 of The International 2016s group stage saw expectations turned upside down. Though Group A generally matched Day 1s outcomes in its matches, Group B was a full of surprises and upsets. Almost every series was fascinating to watch, with underdogs toppling favorites and every team bringing its A-game to Group B.In Group A, Evil Geniuses maintained a top spot with two 2-0 victories over TNC and Escape Gaming. OG fell down to second due to Wings Gaming forcing an even series and rising up to third place. Though Wings had an uneven day one, its second day showing saw a 2-0 over Alliance, creating a solid buffer between itself and the teams below.Alliance and TNC stand tied for fourth at 5-5 overall, with Alliances 2-0 giving it the edge for winners bracket. TNCs 2-0 victory over LGD was one of the more significant upsets of the day, while LGD has plummeted to the bottom after losing all four games in the day. The Chinese squad joins NaVi in a tie for sixth, after NaVi swept LGD but fell 0-2 to Alliance in the El Clásico match-up. Escape brings up the rear, with only a single victoryy to its name after two days.dddddddddddd.EHOME continues its dominant streak in Group B with a 6-0 record for the day over three series, all but clinching a winners bracket berth. Digital Chaos comes in at second with strong showings over Secret and Newbee, sweeping both teams. Newbee stumbled against DC and EHOME, but a sweep of Fnatic helped the team keep a spot in the upper end of the group.Team Liquid also had difficulty in the early series, but bounced back with a 2-0 against Fnatic, leaving Liquid and Newbee tied at third. Despite a rough day one, Vici Gaming Reborn pulled off a surprising 2-0 over Team Liquid. MVP Phoenix stands tied with Vici Reborn at the five spot after a 2-4 record. Team Secret was the surprise of the day, losing all six games played against DC, Fnatic and EHOME, sending the European qualifier to a seventh place spot. At the bottom of the standings is Fnatic, who despite a 2-0 surprise over Secret still sits at an overall 2-8. ' ' '
