a. Abercrombie also got aboard with a single and theen

SURREY, B.C. -- Khalif Mitchell didnt leave a lot of friends behind when the B.C. Lions traded him to the Toronto Argonauts prior to last season. The controversial defensive lineman had been a dominant force in helping the Lions to a 2011 Grey Cup victory, but the following campaign was marked by a number of troubling incidents on and off the field that resulted in both fines and suspensions. "Good riddance!!!!" tweeted running back Andrew Harris following the April 2013 deal with the Argonauts was announced. But after Mitchell was released this past off-season by Toronto to pursue NFL opportunities that never materialized, the Lions jumped at the chance to bring the hulking 29-year-old with a unique skill set back into the fold by signing him to a contract on Tuesday. Despite the baggage Mitchell left behind in Vancouver, Lions general manager Wally Buono said players, coaches and management agreed he deserved another shot with the club. "Once we got into it, everybody felt it was the right thing to do," said Buono, whose team will host the Grey Cup. "When you look at trying to improve this football club, Khalif is an outstanding football player and from our point of view we wanted to move forward and we wanted to build a championship team for 2014. "If I felt I had to convince (players and coaches) then I wouldnt move forward. This was not a matter of me imposing what I wanted. This was an opportunity." The six-foot-six, 315-pound Mitchell, who met the media at the Lions suburban practice facility on Tuesday, said he grew up a lot during his time in Toronto and understands why some of his former teammates felt the way they did when he left B.C. "I dont believe that anybodys words were going to be kind when I left," he said. "I didnt leave on kind terms." An all-star in both 2011 and 2013, Mitchell has 86 tackles and 13 sacks in four CFL seasons. What those numbers dont show is how much he influences the game from the interior of the defensive line, often occupying two and three blockers to free up teammates. "Weve done five camps in the United States looking for another Khalif Mitchell and theyre not out there," said Buono, adding that Mitchell has matured a lot in the last year. "For us, when hes here in our backyard, when hes willing to make a commitment to come play for the B.C. Lions ... to me, I thought that was something worthwhile." For his part, the eccentric Mitchell downplayed any hard feelings that might linger from his first stint with the Lions. "This is a place that was my house. (If) youve got trash in your house, you just take it out. Its not something as complicated as the media might make it seem," he said. "Its very simple. Its trash. You take it out." The Virginia Beach, Va., native had 33 tackles and six sacks with the Lions in 2011, and had another outstanding campaign with the Argonauts in 2013, registering 32 tackles and five sacks. "Its exciting to be back. Its a place I call home. Its a place that I have a lot of fond memories of," said Mitchell. "When I look around I see a lot of Grey Cup pictures and stuff ... all of a sudden I get a lot of memories and a lot of butterflies." Despite those warm feelings, its that 2012 season that often comes to mind when Mitchells name is mentioned. He was suspended for two games by the CFL for violently hyper-extending the arm of an opponent that July before being fined an unspecified amount by the league for making multiple throat-slashing gestures in another game. Mitchell was then fined and suspended again for violating the CFLs social media policy after using a racial slur on Twitter. "Theres a risk with everybody you sign, whether its a player, a coach, a staff member," said Buono. "Theres always risks and thats part of what makes this job and life exciting. "We all grow with our experiences. Ive had experiences that I regret ... Ive gotten better for it." The move to sign Mitchell would appear to immediately improve a Lions defensive line that surrendered the second fewest rushing yards per game (94.4) in 2013, but allowed the second most rushing touchdowns (17) and recorded the third fewest sacks (45). "Im not sure that when Khalif is on his game theres too many people (as dominant)," said Buono. "A man of his size, with his athleticism and his power, they dont come around every day. In 2011, why did we win a Grey Cup? A lot of it had to do with the guys up front. "I believe today that Khalif Mitchell is a better football player than he was in 2011." With the Grey Cup set to be played at B.C. Place Stadium in November, the Lions were relatively quiet this off-season, losing a number of veterans through trade, free agency and retirement. They got a big one back on Tuesday and he seems eager to make an impact. "I was looking for a team to go ahead and win a championship with," said Mitchell. "Wally Buono went to go look for players to help put together a team to win a championship with. "We met somewhere along the path and thats how were here today." Note: The Lions made another move Tuesday, releasing defensive back Lin-J Shell. Wholesale Adidas Nmd Black .com) - The Pittsburgh Penguins will try to complete a sweep of the Washington Capitals when the clubs cap a quick home-and-home series Tuesday night in the Steel City. Yeezy Boost 350 Deals . Poti played in 824 regular NHL games with four teams in his career; the Edmonton Oilers, New York Rangers, New York Islanders and the Washington Capitals. http://www.nmdsneakerssale.com/nmd-shoes-r1-deals.html . - A week after a late-game debacle on defence, the Pittsburgh Steelers showed they can finish. Authentic Adidas Nmd . Alina Fodorova of Ukraine took third place. Broersen based her gold-medal performance on great high jumping, and finished with 4,830 points, while Theisen-Eaton, from Humboldt, Sask., set a national record of 4,768. Yeezy Boost 350 Cheap Authentic . Felix Pie had an RBI double earlier in the inning, as Baltimore rallied for three runs to overcome a 3-2 deficit. J.J. Hardy had two hits and Matt Wieters chipped in with an RBI double for the Orioles, who pushed their winning streak to three games.The Winnipeg Goldeyes had a bounce back game on Tuesday night against the Laredo Lemurs. After dropping their Monday evening series opener, the Goldeyes were able to get their bats going early in the Tuesday night matchup to even the series at one game apiece. The Goldeyes (4-2) beat the Lemurs (3-3) by six, winning 7-1 in front of 3,919 fans at Uni-Trade Stadium in Laredo, Texas. For the fifth time in six games the Fish opened the scoring. After Jake Blackwood got on base in the top of the first, Ray Sadler hit a two run jack to bring them both home. Reggie Abercrombie then stepped to the batters box and followed up Sadler with a home run of his own. The Goldeyes led 3-0 early. "Its always nice when you can jump up on the board quickly," Goldeyes Pitching Coach Jamie Vermilyea said on the Jewel 101 Post-Game Show, "it takes the pressure off your starter, and lets him just go out there and throw strikes." Winnipeg extended their lead in the third inning after having been retired in order in the second. Blackwood got on base and eventually came home on a single by Josh Mazzola. Abercrombie also got aboard with a single and theen was brought home on a sac fly from Donnie Webb.dddddddddddd After giving the Lemurs their lone run in the bottom of the fifth, the Goldeyes collected one more run in each of the seventh and eighth innings to reestablish and extend their lead. The offensive leader for the Fish was once again Sadler. He got two hits on five at-bats, and recorded three RBI, including his first inning home run. Kyle Anderson, who had his first start for the Goldeyes, recorded the win. He pitched five and a third innings, only giving up one run on seven hits. "He kept his pitch count down," said Vermilyea of Anderson. "That was big, it meant he was able to get to the sixth inning for us." In relief for the Goldeyes, Taylor Sewitt, Chris Kissock and Brendan Lafferty collectively didnt give up a run, and only allowed four hits between the three of them. The Goldeyes defence was also productive recording three double plays and no errors. "Its nice to be able to forget about what happened yesterday, and just come out strong," said Vermilyea. "This gives us a chance tomorrow to take two out of three games." ' ' '