Begrüßung » great for our team

MONTREAL -- Coach Tom Higgins calls working with general manager Jim Popp "a match made in heaven." And the pleasantries exchanged between the two men on a conference call on Tuesday made it hard to imagine they were rivals for the Montreal Alouettes head coaches job. That was settled when team owner Bob Wetenhall insisted that the jobs of coach and general manager be kept separate, and that Popp would have to stick to his GM duties. "This is the model that has made us successful," said Wetenhall. "This has given Jim the time and the freedom to go out and build our team, year after year, always with a few new players added. "To have a GM with the freedom and the time to do this is the model we really wanted to go back to." In the 59-year-old Higgins, the Alouettes hired a CFL veteran who spent seven years as a head coach in Edmonton and Calgary, winning a Grey Cup with the Eskimos in 2003. The Woodbridge, N.J., native spent the last six years as the leagues director of officiating. "Tom brings a winning record and a tremendous reputation as a stand-up, high class guy," said Wetenhall. Popp, the teams general manager since it returned to Montreal in 1996 who is considered among the CFLs best, had hoped to continue in both jobs after taking over from the fired Dan Hawkins, who had no previous CFL experience, only five games in to the 2013 campaign. When Higgins was confirmed in the job on Monday, it raised speculation that Popp may be on his way out. Wetenhall would not confirm Popps long-term status with the club, but made it clear he wanted his GM to stay. And Popp, whose name has been linked to NFL jobs in recent years, said hes wants to carry on. "Ive been with the Alouettes for 18 years -- I plan on being there, its my other home," said Popp. "Ive had six children that were all born in Montreal and I really have no interest in leaving. "Circumstances come up, but the organization knows how loyal I am. Im a company man and its a place I enjoy being. Theres a lot that gets thrown around out there, a lot of it thats not true. But Im very happy." That Popp joined in the conference call was a surprise. His name wasnt mentioned in the Higgins announcement. And it was unusual that the general manager was not involved in the decision to hire the head coach. Wetenhalls son Andrew, a team governor, said that as a candidate for the coaching job, Popp would have been in conflict of interest if he had a say in who the next coach would be. But Popp had provided the owners with a list of potential coaching candidates with an assessment of their abilities. "This is a case where two people can work together who didnt select one another," said Andrew Wetenhall. "We have the added benefit of two guys who know each other and have a heck of a lot of respect for each other." Higgins said he didnt feel awkward at all working with Popp. "I couldnt be happier," he said. "I think our personalities complement one another. "We both want the same thing. This is an opportunity for myself to get back on the field where I belong. This is not a challenge whatsoever." Higgins first job will be to hire an offensive co-ordinator and fill out the coaching staff, which he expects to complete within 10 days. The Alouettes had already signed defensive co-ordinator Noel Thorpe to a two-year contract extension on Dec. 4, with the added title of assistant head coach. They also confirmed that Andre Bolduc, a former CFL player and head coach at Sherbrooke University, was signed as a defensive assistant coach. Wetenhall said one of Higgins assets was his ability to work with young quarterbacks, which will be needed in Montreal this season. For the first time since 2000, they will not have Anthony Calvillo as the starter as the CFLs all-time passing leader has retired. Troy Smith, the 2006 Heisman Trophy winner, and youngster Tanner Marsh are expected to compete for the starting job, with Alex Brink also in the picture. Higgins said he has worked with gifted young pivots before in Henry Burris and Ricky Ray. He feels the Alouettes can improve on last years 8-10 season. "Ive always marvelled at the level of talent in Montreal," he said. "I hope to bring a level of consistency and discipline. "We are going to be competitive and entertaining. And when you start doing that and playing disciplined football, usually you win more than you lose." Jesse Hahn Jersey . -- D. J. Williams finally has his packing strategy down. Omar Infante Jersey . - The infectious smile was missing from Nam Nguyen last week. https://www.cheaproyals.com/1237a-dan-qu...sey-royals.html. Jannero Pargo scored 14 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter to help the Charlotte Bobcats erase a 21-point deficit and rally for an 83-76 preseason victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday night. Kevin Seitzer Jersey .Heres Ralph the Dog with the crew here at TSN jumping into the James Duthie TradeCentre selfie: Happy to drop by! RT @TSN_Sports: @tsnjamesduthie: Take this Ellen. Al Hrabosky Jersey . Ashton scored a hat trick -- giving him 13 goals in 16 AHL games this season -- to power the Toronto Marlies to a 5-2 victory over the visiting Lake Erie Monsters in AHL action on Sunday.CHICAGO - Chicago Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau has insisted that Derrick Rose would eventually return to playing the way he was before knee injuries wrecked his previous two seasons.On Friday, Rose looked like he is going to prove his coach right.Rose scored a season-high 31 points, and the Bulls overcame big nights from Portlands two All-Stars to beat the Trail Blazers 115-106.Rose went past his previous high of 24 points and scored over 30 for the first time since March 12, 2012. He was 14 of 24 from the floor for the Bulls, who have won three of four and improved to 4-5 at the United Center.For Rose, it was his second consecutive encouraging performance after scoring 23 during Chicagos win over Brooklyn on Wednesday. And like that game, Roses aggression level resembled where it was before his injuries.Every game Im getting more and more comfortable with it, Rose said.LaMarcus Aldridge scored 21 of his 35 points in the first quarter, his 10 field goals in the period matching a Trail Blazers record set by Darius Miles in 2005. But he was held to two points in the final quarter.Damian Lillard also had a season-high 35, making seven 3-pointers and scoring 18 in the fourth. That gave Portland two teammates with at least 35 for the first time since 1988, but not a victory.The bottom line is we didnt play well enough to win the game, Lillard said.Portland had won seven straight before losing 90-82 in Minnesota. The Blazers were held to their fewest points of the season and had their worst shooting night (.388) in that one, but went 43 of 88 from the field in Chicago.It is disappointing to waste a good shooting night like this, Portland coach Terry Stotts said.Chicago broke a seven-game skid against Portland.The Bulls were without centre Joakim Noah and forward Doug McDermott. Noah sat his second straight game with a sprained right ankle, and McDermott was absent for the fifth consecutive time due tto a right knee problem that will require arthroscopic surgery Saturday.ddddddddddddPau Gasol had 13 points and 10 rebounds for his eighth straight double-double and 14th of the season. Rookie Nikola Mirotic had 15 points and nine rebounds, and Aaron Brooks scored 17 points for the Bulls, who only committed seven turnovers, outrebounded the Blazers 47-37 and had a 40-15 advantage in bench points.Overall I was very pleased, Thibodeau said.Rose may have been, but his bigger concern was continuing his progress.The next time we play it could be something different, Rose said, so this performance is already behind me.TIP-INSTrail Blazers: Portland recorded 20 assists, running its streak of at least 20 to 23 games to start the season. ... Portland couldnt improve to 11-0 against the Eastern Conference, failing to tie a team record set last season for most consecutive wins against the East to start a season.Bulls: Swingman Mike Dunleavy was inadvertently elbowed in the nose by Nicolas Batum in the first quarter but returned soon after. ... The Bulls ran their streak of 100 or more points to eight games, their longest since an eight-game span from March 26-April 11, 2009.THANKS, PRESIDENT OBAMADuring a Friday interview on ESPN Radio, President Barack Obama said he likes Thibodeau and that the Bulls could beat the Cleveland Cavaliers if Rose plays at an All-Star level. Thibodeau somewhat brushed off the comment about Cleveland but said we have a lot of respect for all (Obamas) done and we certainly appreciate his support. Its great for our team.NOTHING FREELillard credited Chicago for being a more aggressive team, as the Bulls scored 14 more points on 17 more free throw attempts. I think teams are being more assertive than us, Lillard said. The whistle kind of goes in favour of that and it wasnt on our side.UP NEXTTrail Blazers: Visit Indiana on Saturday.Bulls: Visit Miami on Sunday. ' ' '