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KRANJSKA GORA, Slovenia -- Benjamin Raich has reached a World Cup podium for the 91st -- and probably last -- time in his career at the same resort where he earned his first top-three finish 15 years ago. The 36-year-old Austrian, who is considering retirement after the season, came runner-up to Olympic champion Ted Ligety in a giant slalom on the Podkoren course on Saturday. As a 21-year-old, Raich finished third in a slalom here on Jan. 6, 1999. Raich was only 17th after the opening leg but posted the fastest time in a blistering second run to get his first World Cup podium since winning a super-G in Crans Montana Switzerland, in February 2012. Raich said he never lost faith in his skiing despite failing to reach a podium for the last two years. Even his persistent back problems getting worse in January didnt hit his confidence. "I knew I still have a fast turn but, if youre not in good health, you cant race that good," Raich said. "Ive always had back problems in my career. Three, four days, then it was gone. This year it was more than a month." The injury hampered his buildup to the Sochi Olympics, and finally forced him to skip the super-combined race in Sochi. It wasnt Raichs first mishap in the Olympic season. He needed weeks to recover following an accident while riding his off-road motorbike in early August. The 80-kilogram bike rolled over on steep terrain and landed on his right leg, but Raich escaped with a torn muscle in his thigh. "I had a really tough season," Raich said. "It was not easy, it was not fun. But after preparing for the Olympics, I had a really good feeling. I was in good health. And now I am back on the podium -- as I believed." Raich won the overall title in 2006 and finished runner-up five times, including in the 2008-09 season when Aksel Lund Svindal edged him by two points. Raich also won 11 medals at major championships, including two golds at the 2006 Turin Olympics. Not having to prove anything to anybody, Raich can compete without pressure -- just like in the early days of his career. "My first podium in Kranjska Gora, I felt very free," Raich said. "Afterward you have big goals and you know everyone wants to see you on the podium. So there was more pressure then but I handled that always very well." Austria mens head coach Mathias Berthold said he wasnt taken aback by Raichs podium finish. "I was only surprised by the way he did it, coming from 17th with a sensational second run," Berthold said. "Since his back problems are gone, he has progressed extremely well." Berthold said he will speak with Raich about next season -- but not before the current campaign is over. "We let the World Cup finals go by," Berthold said. "Its not good to discuss long-term plans while your focus should be on a race the next day." Raich has said before that he will take his decision regardless of the career plans of longterm girlfriend Marlies Schild. The 32-year-old slalom specialist won a record 35th slalom race in December, and she is also yet to decide whether shell remain on the World Cup. Norways Henrik Kristoffersen, who trailed the 17-year-older Raich in third for his first career GS podium, said Raich was his idol when following ski racing as a kid. "I think today Benni was the most impressive skier," Kristoffersen said. "I watched him when I grew up and I remember my dad (Lars Kristoffersen) telling me that Benni had the cleanest turn and he was the best in GS." Raich smiled when hearing Kristoffersens words. "Its nice to be on the podium next to him," Raich said. "Because he is the future and I am the past." Martin Prado Jersey .com) - The Boston Bruins announced Monday that the team has signed goaltender Niklas Svedberg to a one-year contract. JT Riddle Jersey . Certainly not Monday night. George Hill took care of the early work, scoring a season-high 26 points, and Paul George closed it out by scoring 11 of his 26 points during a decisive second-half stretch that finally allowed Indiana to pull away from Minnesota 98-84 for yet another win. http://www.marlinsteamproshop.com/Marlin...ids-Jersey/.com) - Guard Greivis Vasquez and forward Patrick Patterson, two key pieces to the Toronto Raptors run to an Atlantic Division title in 2013-14, were both given qualifying offers by the team on Saturday. Miami Marlins Jerseys . Granada goalkeeper Roberto Fernandez saved Morenos first two headers from corner kicks taken by Sergio Garcia, but the defender beat him on his third try after Garcia found Moreno unmarked at the near post in the 78th minute. Starlin Castro Jersey . Lawries batting helmet hit an umpire during his ninth-inning outburst in the Jays 4-3 loss to Tampa Bay on Tuesday. The 22-year-old threw his helmet to the ground and it bounced up and hit home plate umpire Bill Miller on the right hip after Lawrie was called out on strikes for the second out.NAPLES, Fla. -- Kirk Triplett jokes that fellow golfers say they think Bernhard Langer is human. "But I dont know," Triplett said. "I dont know." What Triplett does know is that he matched the defending ACE Group Classic champion for the lead at 10-under 134 after the second round Saturday. Triplett shot a 5-under 67 in windy conditions on TwinEagles Talon Course. Langer, also the 2011 winner and 2012 runner-up, followed his opening 64 with a 70. He won the season-opening event in Hawaii last month for his 19th Champions Tour title. "Hes the ultimate of our Champions Tour sport, right?" Triplett asked. "Hes out there, hes preparing, hes working, hes playing the same way that he played, hes treating this tournament playing like it was the Masters, right and not all guys do that. "A lot of guys do, but not everybody can pull themselves into that mindset week after week." This week, its Tripletts shot. Hes on an impressive streak, going 64 holes without a bogey. "Ive hit some nice shots, Ive hit some poor shots and gotten away with them, so thats going to put you usually pretty close," Triplett said. When Langer was told about Tripletts streak, he said, "Good for him. Triplett has two Champions Tour victories after winning three times on the PGA Tour. "Hes a very good ball-striker and great putter," Langer said. "I was paired with him at Pebble Beach when he won I think last year, so hes certainly a very good player and seasoned competitor.dddddddddddd" Langer birdied No. 17, then hit a 4-iron 200 yards from Bermuda rough over water to 12 feet to save par on 18. Last year, Langer built up a big lead after two rounds, then held off a couple of charges to win. This time, he looks as if hes in for a much tougher challenge. Duffy Waldorf and Olin Browne were 9 under. Waldorf, coming off a playoff loss to Michael Allen last week in Boca Raton in the Allianz Championship, shot 68. Browne had a 71. "A lot of times on the Champions Tour its like this, the scores can be bunched up," Langer said. "Its difficult to separate yourself in two rounds or three rounds and most tournaments are won by one shot or maybe two. "Every shot counts at the end of the week." Colin Montgomerie, KRANJSKA GORA, Slovenia -- Benjamin Raich has reached a World Cup podium for the 91st -- and probably last -- time in his career at the same resort where he earned his first top-three finish 15 years ago. The 36-year-old Austrian, who is considering retirement after the season, came runner-up to Olympic champion Ted Ligety in a giant slalom on the Podkoren course on Saturday. As a 21-year-old, Raich finished third in a slalom here on Jan. 6, 1999. Raich was only 17th after the opening leg but posted the fastest time in a blistering second run to get his first World Cup podium since winning a super-G in Crans Montana Switzerland, in February 2012. Raich said he never lost faith in his skiing despite failing to reach a podium for the last two years. Even his persistent back problems getting worse in January didnt hit his confidence. "I knew I still have a fast turn but, if youre not in good health, you cant race that good," Raich said. "Ive always had back problems in my career. Three, four days, then it was gone. This year it was more than a month." The injury hampered his buildup to the Sochi Olympics, and finally forced him to skip the super-combined race in Sochi. It wasnt Raichs first mishap in the Olympic season. He needed weeks to recover following an accident while riding his off-road motorbike in early August. The 80-kilogram bike rolled over on steep terrain and landed on his right leg, but Raich escaped with a torn muscle in his thigh. "I had a really tough season," Raich said. "It was not easy, it was not fun. But after preparing for the Olympics, I had a really good feeling. I was in good health. And now I am back on the podium -- as I believed." Raich won the overall title in 2006 and finished runner-up five times, including in the 2008-09 season when Aksel Lund Svindal edged him by two points. Raich also won 11 medals at major championships, including two golds at the 2006 Turin Olympics. Not having to prove anything to anybody, Raich can compete without pressure -- just like in the early days of his career. "My first podium in Kranjska Gora, I felt very free," Raich said. "Afterward you have big goals and you know everyone wants to see you on the podium. So there was more pressure then but I handled that always very well." Austria mens head coach Mathias Berthold said he wasnt taken aback by Raichs podium finish. "I was only surprised by the way he did it, coming from 17th with a sensational second run," Berthold said. "Since his back problems are gone, he has progressed extremely well." Berthold said he will speak with Raich about next season -- but not before the current campaign is over. "We let the World Cup finals go by," Berthold said. "Its not good to discuss long-term plans while your focus should be on a race the next day." Raich has said before that he will take his decision regardless of the career plans of longterm girlfriend Marlies Schild. The 32-year-old slalom specialist won a record 35th slalom race in December, and she is also yet to decide whether shell remain on the World Cup. Norways Henrik Kristoffersen, who trailed the 17-year-older Raich in third for his first career GS podium, said Raich was his idol when following ski racing as a kid. "I think today Benni was the most impressive skier," Kristoffersen said. "I watched him when I grew up and I remember my dad (Lars Kristoffersen) telling me that Benni had the cleanest turn and he was the best in GS." Raich smiled when hearing Kristoffersens words. "Its nice to be on the podium next to him," Raich said. "Because he is the future and I am the past." Martin Prado Jersey .com) - The Boston Bruins announced Monday that the team has signed goaltender Niklas Svedberg to a one-year contract. JT Riddle Jersey . Certainly not Monday night. George Hill took care of the early work, scoring a season-high 26 points, and Paul George closed it out by scoring 11 of his 26 points during a decisive second-half stretch that finally allowed Indiana to pull away from Minnesota 98-84 for yet another win. http://www.marlinsteamproshop.com/Marlin...ids-Jersey/.com) - Guard Greivis Vasquez and forward Patrick Patterson, two key pieces to the Toronto Raptors run to an Atlantic Division title in 2013-14, were both given qualifying offers by the team on Saturday. Miami Marlins Jerseys . Granada goalkeeper Roberto Fernandez saved Morenos first two headers from corner kicks taken by Sergio Garcia, but the defender beat him on his third try after Garcia found Moreno unmarked at the near post in the 78th minute. Starlin Castro Jersey . Lawries batting helmet hit an umpire during his ninth-inning outburst in the Jays 4-3 loss to Tampa Bay on Tuesday. The 22-year-old threw his helmet to the ground and it bounced up and hit home plate umpire Bill Miller on the right hip after Lawrie was called out on strikes for the second out.NAPLES, Fla. -- Kirk Triplett jokes that fellow golfers say they think Bernhard Langer is human. "But I dont know," Triplett said. "I dont know." What Triplett does know is that he matched the defending ACE Group Classic champion for the lead at 10-under 134 after the second round Saturday. Triplett shot a 5-under 67 in windy conditions on TwinEagles Talon Course. Langer, also the 2011 winner and 2012 runner-up, followed his opening 64 with a 70. He won the season-opening event in Hawaii last month for his 19th Champions Tour title. "Hes the ultimate of our Champions Tour sport, right?" Triplett asked. "Hes out there, hes preparing, hes working, hes playing the same way that he played, hes treating this tournament playing like it was the Masters, right and not all guys do that. "A lot of guys do, but not everybody can pull themselves into that mindset week after week." This week, its Tripletts shot. Hes on an impressive streak, going 64 holes without a bogey. "Ive hit some nice shots, Ive hit some poor shots and gotten away with them, so thats going to put you usually pretty close," Triplett said. When Langer was told about Tripletts streak, he said, "Good for him. Triplett has two Champions Tour victories after winning three times on the PGA Tour. "Hes a very good ball-striker and great putter," Langer said. "I was paired with him at Pebble Beach when he won I think last year, so hes certainly a very good player and seasoned competitor.dddddddddddd" Langer birdied No. 17, then hit a 4-iron 200 yards from Bermuda rough over water to 12 feet to save par on 18. Last year, Langer built up a big lead after two rounds, then held off a couple of charges to win. This time, he looks as if hes in for a much tougher challenge. Duffy Waldorf and Olin Browne were 9 under. Waldorf, coming off a playoff loss to Michael Allen last week in Boca Raton in the Allianz Championship, shot 68. Browne had a 71. "A lot of times on the Champions Tour its like this, the scores can be bunched up," Langer said. "Its difficult to separate yourself in two rounds or three rounds and most tournaments are won by one shot or maybe two. "Every shot counts at the end of the week." Colin Montgomerie, playing in his 12th Champions Tour event, was 7 under along with Bob Tway. Montgomerie had a 67, and Tway shot 72. Montgomerie hasnt won an official PGA Tour-sanctioned event on American soil. "I won the World Match Play in Arizona," he said in mock protest. "They paid me a million dollars for winning, I suppose. I got a trophy. I beat Ernie Els in the semifinal, Davis Love in the final. "So I have won. Not a regular PGA Tour event, hows that, so Ill give you that. But Ive been bloody close on a number of occasions." ' ' ' Tour event, was 7 under along with Bob Tway. Montgomerie had a 67, and Tway shot 72. Montgomerie hasnt won an official PGA Tour-sanctioned event on American soil. "I won the World Match Play in Arizona," he said in mock protest. "They paid me a million dollars for winning, I suppose. I got a trophy. I beat Ernie Els in the semifinal, Davis Love in the final. "So I have won. Not a regular PGA Tour event, hows that, so Ill give you that. But Ive been bloody close on a number of occasions." ' ' '