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  March 19, 2018 8:20 PM PDT

  Though the hunters of England are truly now the hunted, manager Claudio Ranieri has stuck to his pragmatic ways as champions Leicester City begin defence of their title Saturday at KC Stadium against Hull City Tigers to kick off the 2016-17 Premier League season. Ronnie Stanley Jersey .And that means the first benchmark Ranieri has set for the Foxes is again 40 points despite their incredibly amplified profile following their unlikely title run and upcoming European adventures in their first Champions League appearance.Forty points, forty points, Ranieri responded when asked about the teams goals following Leicester Citys 2-1 loss to FA Cup winners Manchester United in the Community Shield match at Wembley Stadium last Sunday, using his fingers to make the 4 and the 0 for added emphasis as reporters chuckled.Dont laugh. Im starting with the same philosophy and the same humility … what we achieved, it was fantastic. But now, forty points. Forty points is the target, and then we will see how many months less to the end of the season.Leicester City were the story of European football last season, bucking 5,000-to-1 odds to win their first Premier League title in franchise history. The Foxes finished 10 points clear of runners-up Arsenal and became just the sixth team to lift the trophy in the Premier League era, and the first outsiders since Blackburn Rovers in 1995.With the title came the spoils, including their first taste of high-calibre international play during the summer. Leicester City participated in the International Champions Cup and won one of their three matches -- beating Celtic in a penalty shootout before defeats to European powers Paris-St. Germain and Barcelona by a combined 8-2 scoreline.But success always comes with a price. In addition to re-working Jamie Vardys contract for the second time in less than a year, Leicester City continue to sweat out transfer rumours regarding 2016 PFA Player of the Year Riyad Mahrez and lost midfield engine NGolo Kante, the apple of Antonio Contes eye as the new Chelsea manager reshapes the 2015 champions.The good news, though, is Kante is so far the only noticeable departure from this championship-winning side. And the Foxes went about their summer transfer business similar to seasons past -- hoping shrewd under-the-radar moves will reap dividends similar to how Vardy, Mahrez and Kante became the fulcrum of this unlikely champion squad.Nampalys Mendy was brought in from French side Nice with the hope he can provide some of the box-to-box coverage Mahrez did, and Rainieri -- who signed a new four-year contract Wednesday -- is quite familiar with the 24-year-old, having coached him during a brief spell at Monaco.Leicester also added Nigeria international Ahmed Musa, who scored 15 goals in all competitions for CSKA Moscow last season and showed plenty of pace in his appearance off the bench in Sundays 2-1 loss to FA Cup winners Manchester United at Wembley Stadium and scored twice in the loss to Barcelona. Still, Musa likely will start the season behind Shinji Okazaki on the striker depth chart but will have a chance to make his mark as the Foxes juggle domestic and continental commitments.Vardy scored Leicesters goal at Wembley, showing no signs of resting on the laurels of his 24-goal season in 2015-16 and being one of the few bright spots in Englands disastrous European Championship campaign this summer. While disappointed with the loss to United, newcomer Luis Hernandez thinks the team can use the defeat as incentive to start the season with three points.I think it is important that we have the hurt in the next game Saturday, said Hernandez, who came over on a free transfer from Spains Sporting de Gijon, to LCFC TV. I think it is important to start the season well after last season. I hope we can play well and get the win.I thought the team played a good game and we showed that again this season we can compete with the Premier Leagues big clubs.No one, though, will confuse the Hull City Tigers with one of those big clubs, and they will be hard-pressed to become the first team in the Premier League era to open the season with a victory over the reigning champions and end a 23-match winless squad among those sides (0-4-19). Hull City are back in the top flight after fighting their way to promotion via playoff following their fourth-place finish in the Championship.But there is plenty of drama surrounding the Tigers. Steve Bruce -- the most successful manager in the clubs history -- shockingly resigned last month after the team failed to help itself in the summer transfer window as his relationship with vice-chairman Ehab Allam deteriorated beyond saving.Mohamed Diame, who scored the goal that secured Hulls promotion, opted to leave for Championship side Newcastle United in belief the Magpies will win promotion while the Tigers get relegated for the second time in three seasons. That sentiment has been echoed by oddsmakers, who have made Hull the most likely candidate to finish in the bottom three.The Allam family, who have few supporters among the fan base, is reportedly in negotiations to sell the team, but has yet to finalise any deal with a potential buyer. Caretaker manager Mike Phelan is trying to limit the distractions, but even he doesnt have a deal beyond Saturdays match against the reigning champs.Weve done some homework on Leicester but they are what they are -- theyre the Champions of the Premier League, Phelan told the teams official website after Hull wrapped up their preseason with a 2-1 loss to Italian side Torino in Austria. But were going into this having earned the right to be in the Premier League and we shouldnt forget the work that was put in last season to get there.Both teams came through their respective preseason schedules unscathed with respect to injuries and should field their first-choice starting XIs.The teams last met in the Premier League during the 2014-15 season, when Leicester City took four of a possible six points. Mahrez accounted for the match-winner in a 1-0 victory at KC Stadium before the teams played to a scoreless draw in the return encounter. Kamalei Correa Jersey . The Hall of Fame defenceman told Landsberg that he believes fighting still has a place in todays game, but thinks staged fighting needs be outlawed. Albert McClellan Jersey . -- Adam Snyder returned to the San Francisco 49ers this season because the offensive lineman thought it was his best opportunity to win a championship. http://www.cheapravensjerseyselite.com/?tag=cheap-jeremy-maclin-jersey. -- Tony Stewart is 20 pounds lighter and has a titanium rod in his surgically repaired right leg. LAS VEGAS/NEW YORK -- I had to go to both. Conor McGregor left me no choice.Im not a violent guy. I cant remember the last real fight I was in and hope to keep it that way. But theres nothing I enjoy more than watching fights, real or scripted, in the UFC and WWE. I guess its kind of like how I love playing violent video games like Grand Theft Auto and yet I disapprove of robbery and reckless driving in real life. I think I can enjoy one without indulging in the other.Despite my love for both and the similarities I might attempt to enumerate between the UFC and WWE to friends who like one but not the other, theres no thread that ties the live experiences together for me. Theyre completely different -- ?and equally mesmerizing -- for different reasons.The beauty of the UFC is that its reality television playing out inside the confines of a caged Octagon. You know the stakes that are in play for both fighters when they square off, and no one in the building knows whats going to happen. It could all be over in 25 seconds or 25 minutes, and both could inspire an ecstatic reaction from the crowd. In fact, the shorter match with the more thrilling finish will always elicit the loudest reaction from the crowd.WWE, on the other hand, is live theater played out against the same backdrop of 15,000 screaming fans in an arena, but the stakes, of course, arent the same. If Brock Lesnar loses a match, Im not wondering about his career being over; Im wondering what the WWE writers have in store for his character next. If a match ends in 25 seconds, Im not excited about the dramatic ending; Im apathetic to the uninspired booking of a match that was an afterthought.There are moments when the lines between the UFC and WWE blur. There was no better example than last week, when McGregor successfully hijacked much of the mainstream promotional tour WWE had scheduled for its superstars leading up to SummerSlam while he was promoting UFC 202. McGregor took shots at WWE and its wrestlers like he was ready to switch professions.If you didnt know any better, youd think McGregor was planning on hopping on a flight to New York after his much-anticipated rematch with Nate Diaz at UFC 202 to be at SummerSlam.He wasnt. I might have been the only one crazy enough to do that.When I was a child and did something that warranted a reward, my mother would take me to Toys R Us and tell me I could pick out a toy in the store as a gift. It was a kind gesture, but ultimately a thankless task for a wide-eyed kid. I would do countless laps around the aisles, hopelessly trying to whittle 100 choices down to one.The closest I come to recreating that feeling now is when I walk into the Las Vegas Fight Shop -- basically a toy store for fans of the UFC and WWE nestled inside the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood. Theres a cardboard cutout of McGregor and Ronda Rousey on one side of the door, and John Cena and Sasha Banks on the other. Inside, there are replica belts, toys, shirts and posters from both the UFC and WWE.Walk around the store long enough, and it becomes clear that the similarity in the merchandise offered by both companies to a growingly blended fan base isnt an accident. The reason the WWE plays up Lesnars UFC career and wants him wrestling in his MMA gear is the same reason the UFC gave the former WWE champion a title fight after just two fights and a 1-1 record in the UFC. Its also why CM Punk (Phil Brooks), who has never been in an MMA fight, is one of the headliners of next months UFC 203?and will fight under his pro wrestling name.While both companies are star-driven, the UFC is a top-heavy promotion that makes its money off big names and big main events. Thats why the crowd outside of T-Mobile Arena before the start of the preliminary matches for UFC 202 was non-existent: No one was rushing from the casinos or pools to see Marvin Vettori face Alberto Uda or Artem Lobov face Chris Avila. Many of the 15,539 fans didnt make it to their seats until it was time for McGregor to face Diaz.Meanwhile, a WWE pay-per-view is like a movie in which fans feel the need to consume every minute from start to finish. Thats why, three hours before the start of SummerSlam, there were already lines of fans getting into the Barclay Center in Brooklyn, New York. By the time the pyro went off to to start the show, most of the 15,974 fans were already in their seats. WWE also does a better job of pushing its products through its stars and getting fans to pay for things that would make no sense to anyone who hasnt watched The New Day, WWEs tag-team champions. WWEs fans are so loyal that grown men will buy and wear $15 unicorn headbands and a $35 cereal box of Booty Os with no actual cereal inside -- just a shirt. The craziest UFC item sold in Las Vegas was a plush doll of a screaming Conor McGregor -- exactly what you want your baby cuddling with during nap time.Theres nothing quite like a McGregor fight in Las Vegas, because theres nothing quite like McGregor fans. They turn UFC fight crowds into European soccer matches, with constant jumping, singing and chanting. It was like Christmas in August when McGregor walked toward the ring at T-Mobile Arena to face Diaz in a rematch of UFC 196, which Diaz won, with McGregors fans altering the words of Winter Wonderland to suit their champion.Theeeeres only onnneeee Conor McGregor! Only one Conor McGregor! Were walking along! Singing his song! Living in a Conor wonderland!After McGregor entered the Octaagon to Biggies Notorious B. Bronson Kaufusi Jersey. I.G. and Diaz entered to Tupacs Ambitionz Az A Ridah (yes, they were rivals right down to their entrance music), both fighters gave fans what will likely go down as the fight of the year and one of the best main events in UFC history.It was a five-round war that took everything out of McGregor, who knocked Diaz down twice early, and Diaz, who stormed back and nearly finished McGregor off twice late. The fight exceeded the hype -- a rarity in any sport -- and set up what will be one of the most anticipated trilogy fights ever.Celebrities ranging from Kanye West and chef Gordon Ramsay to Mike Tyson and Dwight Howard sat near the Octagon for the fight, while Dwayne The Rock Johnson, Aaron Rodgers, Lil Wayne and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. chimed in during and after the fight on social media. It was one of those transcendent fights that captivated casual fans and will likely make the third fight, whenever that happens, the largest pay-per-view draw in the companys history.McGregor won a majority decision, but the rivals had no problem putting their differences aside after the fight. Diaz helped McGregor up after the final bell, and the two embraced in the middle of the Octagon -- no doubt knowing the payday they had just earned themselves down the line with a third fight.Surprise, surprise, m-----f-----s, McGregor said after his win. The king is back.During the post-fight news conference, McGregor, dressed in a three-piece suit, reflected on the massive stakes in this fight and what a loss would have done to his career.This was a hell of an important fight for me, McGregor said. Everyone, from the media to the fighters, wrote me off in this one. They tried to say if I lost this one Im done. It was a hell of a fight. I feel I have more skills, but he is one tough mother f---er. ... We got it done tonight. It was not easy. It was a war. Im happy it went that way. I got to show my heart in there. I took it to him and got the win.McGregors win didnt come without a cost. He arrived at the news conference on crutches before heading to the hospital to get his shin evaluated. He was fine, but his trip to be evaluated gave Diaz one last opening for one last shot before the two meet again down the line.Hes going to the hospital, Diaz said. Im going to the after-party.My after-party involved a red-eye flight to New York to watch SummerSlam, headlined by Lesnar facing Randy Orton -- a match announced the week of UFC 200, which was headlined by Lesnar.SummerSlam has become WWEs biggest event after WrestleMania, and it came to symbolize my last day of fun before school started when I was a child. It was also usually the culmination of a months-long feud that would finally come to a head in the main event. That wasnt really the case this year with Lesnar being a part-time player and Orton coming back from injury last month. Any fight with Lesnar, however, whether in the UFC or WWE, is must-see TV.As a former NCAA heavyweight champion and UFC heavyweight champion, Lesnar adds a level of credibility and believability to a company that long ago stopped grasping for either. Youre never quite sure what youre going to get with Lesnar, but chances are you wont have to suspend reality to believe the end result.The problem with Lesnars match at SummerSlam was that it seemed too real.After an exciting back-and-forth match with Orton in which Lesnar give Orton an F5 and Orton give Lesnar an RKO on the announcers table, Lesnar busted Ortons head wide open and blood poured onto the mat. WWE is a more family-friendly product these days and has cut all bleeding from its shows, at least for the most part, so there was an air of realism when the referee hovered over what seemed like an unconscious and bleeding Orton.The match was stopped less than 12 minutes after it started, with Lesnar winning by TKO, a result commonplace in the UFC but basically unheard of in WWE. The crowd, already upset that the previous match between Roman Reigns and Rusev was called off before it began, was in disbelief that the show would end with such an odd result.As the lights came on at the Barclays Center, the crowd booed before being told to leave by arena security. It was an odd ending that left fans wondering what they had just seen and yearning for an explanation they would never get.While WWE is getting more mainstream media coverage these days, theres no post-fight news conferences during which WWE CEO Vince McMahon explains what happened in the main event before the wrestlers answer questions from reporters. Media members are ticket-holders, just like the fans, and once the show is over, we walk out with the unicorn-wearing guy holding an empty cereal box of Booty Os.So did Lesnar cross the line in beating Orton? Was Orton supposed to be lying in a pool of his own blood? Was the main event really supposed to be over that quickly? When did a TKO become an appropriate ending to a pro wrestling match?There were so many questions, and no one around to answer them as disgruntled fans spilled onto the streets of Brooklyn. It was an ending that would have been celebrated in the UFC but left WWE fans wondering what they had just seen.In other words, it was just the latest example of the blurring of the lines between the UFC and WWE -- and a reminder that sometimes reality is better than fiction. Wholesale JerseysDiscount NFL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys China Jerseys Wholesale Cheap Jerseys Online Jerseys Wholesale ' ' '