warum » -- that its impossible for everyone to match up their sound bits.

LAKE LOUISE, Alberta -- Slovenias Ilka Stuhec won the season-opening downhill at Lake Louise on Friday for her first World Cup victory.Its the first one, but I definitely hope its not the last one, Stuhec said.The 26-year-old Stuhec finished in 1 minute, 45.48 seconds.Italys Sofia Goggia was second, and Swedens Kajsa Kling finished third.A second downhill is scheduled Saturday, followed by a super-G on Sunday.American star Lindsey Vonn, the winner of seven of the previous eight downhills at Lake Louise, is sidelined after breaking an arm in training last month. Air Max 97 China Wholesale . "I dont know that were close," said general manager Alex Anthopoulos. "I just think, right now, the acquisition cost just doesnt work for us right now. I dont know if I can quantify how far off or things like that that they might be but I would say we continue to have dialogue. Air Max 97 Undefeated China . Pert has formerly spent time as an assistant coach with Cardiff City, Coventry City, and Bahrain mens national team. "Martyn is a highly-respected coach with experience at the top levels in England," said Whitecaps FC head coach Carl Robinson. http://www.outletairmax97.com/sw-air-max-97.html . Ashley Youngs cross was inadvertently headed by Chester into his own net in the 66th minute, allowing United to claim a third straight league win. "We had to dig deep with our fighting spirit and weve done that," United striker Wayne Rooney said. Air Max 97 Factory Outlet .com) - The red-hot Los Angeles Kings will try to extend their winning streak to a season-high seven games when they visit the Edmonton Oilers for Sundays clash at Rexall Place. Air Max 97 Mens Clearance . The Oilers come in having lost five in a row (0-4-1) and 16 of their last 20 games, dropping a 2-1 decision to the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday. CHASKA, Minn. -- Phil Mickelson has been giving the Ryder Cup a lot of thought lately.Probably way too much thought, though thats nothing new. Tough not to overthink things when youre always the smartest guy on the first tee.In Ryder Cups past, that might have signaled trouble for a U.S. team that has often lost because it struggles to find a mental edge. In the latest version that begins this week in Minnesota, it may not matter simply because theres such a talent gap between the two teams.The only real problem for Mickelson could be that hell be sharing the blame if the U.S. somehow kicks yet another one away at Hazeltine National Golf Club.Lefty finds himself in a dual role as both the elder statesman and a senior adviser to a U.S. team that has been on the losing side way too often recently in its matches with Europe. Its a position he seems to covet, and one that he arguably deserves after making 11 Ryder Cup teams in a row.Win, and it takes some of the sting out of what has been a less-than-stellar Ryder Cup career for Mickelson.Lose, and maybe its time to own up to the fact that trying to manufacture camaraderie among Americas golfing elite just doesnt work against a European team that always seems to find it on its own.I think its a great opportunity for us to do something special, Mickelson said Sunday. We have been given, the first time in 20 years that Ive been involved in the Ryder Cup, actual input, actual say, kind of ownership, if you will, of the Ryder Cup. And all the players feel like theyre involved and listened to. All the vice captains have great input.The question remains how that input will help players make putts. But Mickelson likes things better with the players somewhat in control.Mickelson and Tiger Woods were among 11 players, captains and PGA of America officials who were appointed to a Ryder Cup Task Force after the U.S. was thrashed by Europe two years ago in Scotland. In a desperate attempt to right the ship, they were charged with revamping anything and everything about how the U.S. prepares for the cup.The fact there was even a task force to begin with wasnt just because the U.S. team lost for the eighth time in the last 10 Cups. It was because Mickelson had enough of the high-handed way Tom Watson went about captaining the team in the lopsided win by the Europeans.ddddddddddddnfortunately, we have strayed from a winning formula in 2008 for the last three Ryder Cups, and we need to consider maybe getting back to that formula that helped us play our best, Mickelson said in a tense team press conference after the loss.That led to Mickelson having a big hand in bringing back Davis Love III as captain, despite the fact the U.S. collapsed in singles play to lose under his guidance four years ago in Chicago. It also led to a bizarre selection process -- mocked by the Europeans -- that culminated in the final pick being announced Sunday night on the eve of the weeks play.Indeed, this team seems to be as much Mickelsons as it is Loves. Hes been prominent in talking about how it was put together, even contradicting Love earlier this month about team plans.Mickelson and Love could be excused for not appearing to be on the same page. There are so many cooks on the American team -- including an assistant captain by the name of Tiger Woods, part of a sizeable team of five assistants -- that its impossible for everyone to match up their sound bits.Thats especially true after Love on Friday upped the pressure by declaring his squad the best golf team maybe ever assembled.That may or may not be true. The U.S. squad is supremely talented, and the Europeans have six players who have never been in a Ryder Cup before.But for the U.S. to win, Mickelson will have to do more than just help put pairings together. And he has a checkered past in the Ryder Cup, where he famously lost twice in pairing with Woods and is 16-19-6 overall.Hes been on 10 teams, and on the losing side on eight of them. For all his flag waving and ping pong playing in the team room, he hasnt come up big on the course, where it matters most.Mickelson has a chance to make up for that in a big way beginning Friday at Hazeltine. The U.S. desperately needs a win, and Mickelson almost as desperately needs one for his own validation.Its time for Mickelson to stop thinking, and begin playing.----Tim Dahlberg is a national sports columnist for The Associated Press. Write to him at tdahlberg(at)ap.org or http://twitter.com/timdahlberg ' ' '