TORONTO -- Phil Kessel, who was left off the Team USA roster for the World Cup of Hockey, on Wednesday said his tweet after the Americans were eliminated was not directed at the teams players.Of course it wasnt directed at the players, Kessel said in a text to ESPN. I know how tough it is to play the game. It wasnt directed at anyone.Kessel, who won a Stanley Cup with the Pittsburgh Penguins?in June, took to Twitter following Team USAs 4-2 loss to Team Canada on Tuesday night.Team USA players David Backes, Derek Stepan and Zach Parise addressed Kessels comment on Wednesday and said they hoped it wasnt directed at the players.I understand theres hard feelings if you werent picked for the team or whatever, but the comments are, I think -- as a team guy and as a guy that stands by my teammates, win lose or draw -- its a little distasteful and aggravating, Backes said.Its disappointing. Those comments dont get lost in the fray, and those comments are there and have been read and I think will be remembered when whatever happens going forward happens going forward.Backes signed with Boston?as a free agent this summer, and the Bruins will face the Penguins on Dec. 14 at Pittsburgh.Willie McGinest Jersey . Louis Blues teammates who would also be participating in the Olympics, Alex Pietrangelo felt right at home, no different in some ways to the travel experience of any old road trip – save for the length of the journey, that is. Leon Gray Jersey . It was just business as usual for the Thunder at home. Durant scored 32 points and the Thunder beat the Bulls 107-95 on Thursday night for their eighth straight win. https://www.patriotsjerseysale.com/1921p-marcus-cannon-jersey-patriots.html . Nigeria beat surprise package Ethiopia 2-0 in the second leg of their playoff for a comfortable 4-1 aggregate victory. Victor Moses converted a 20th-minute penalty after an Ethiopian handball, and Victor Obinna made certain of Nigerias place in Brazil with his powerful free kick in the 82nd at UJ Esuene Stadium. Mike Nugent Jersey . Terms of the deal were not immediately available. The 26-year-old finished last season with Clevelands Triple-A affiliate in Columbus after signing with the Indians in August. Brandon Bolden Jersey . Once again Jordan Cieciwa (@FitCityJordan) and I (@LynchOnSports) go head to head in our picks. Last weekend at UFC Fight Night 32 my #TeamLynch got the best of #TeamJC by a score of 9-6. Let us know which side youre on for UFC 167 use the hashtag #TeamLynch or #TeamJC on Twitter.GRAMBLING, La. -- Xairius Larry scored 23 points and Grambling defeated Selma University 103-53 on Friday night.Larry hit all five of his 3-pointers and was 7 of 8 from the field. Remond Brown and Nigel Ribeiro added 16 points each with Ribeiro collecting six assists. Ervin Mitchell added 10 points with the Tigers shooting 57.1 percent and making 25 of 36 free throws. The Tigers made 13 steals, scored 27 points off 24 Selma turnovers, and outscored the Bulldogs 50-20 in the paint.The Tigers (5-6) reached tthe 100-point mark for the fourth time this season and are unbeaten in five home games.ddddddddddddhe Bulldogs, from the National Christian College Athletic Association, were led by 17 points and nine rebounds by Xzavier Thompson with DeVante Brown adding 12 points and Noah Patterson 10.The Tigers reached a double-figure lead at 15:38 of the first half and led 53-22 at halftime. ' ' '