convinced in the value of the work we have done and that the federation is going down the right road and that can help the Italy colors fly high. We achieved an objectiv

TORONTO -- The disdain Zdeno Chara receives from hockey fans is completely unwarranted.The?Boston Bruins?defenseman is one of the most disliked players in the NHL, and he doesnt deserve to be. In fact, fans should appreciate the impact Chara has made both on and off the ice. And even though Charas playing career is nearing its end, you can bet that the 39-year-old will stay involved in the game and make it better.Hes one of the main reasons Team Europe even exists in the World Cup of Hockey. Chara, a native of Slovakia who speaks eight languages, was a key part of the group that constructed the teams roster, which includes players from eight countries. And now this group of underdogs, which was considered a gimmick by many before the World Cup began, is playing in the finals of this best-on-best tournament. Team Canada won the first game 3-1 to take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three final, which continues with Game 2 on Thursday night at the Air Canada Centre.Chara was booed during pregame player introductions before Game 1 on Tuesday. Every time he touched the puck during the game he was booed. Hes been booed in every arena around the NHL.Quite honestly, I dont know why they do it, Chara said with a smile on Wednesday. If its because of Boston, we do have a few other guys from Boston [playing in this tournament]. But I have no idea. Im trying to focus on the game, trying to do what I can do and do my best. Obviously I cant control the fans, but sometimes I just dont understand. I feel like they just boo because they feel like maybe they need to boo someone, but I honestly dont care. It doesnt bother me.Still, theres a sense among his teammates that the fans dont fully appreciate Charas contributions.He must be doing something right if theyre reacting when he touches the puck, said Team Europe defenseman and former Bruins teammate Dennis Seidenberg. If he was somebody who didnt do anything, people wouldnt recognize him or wouldnt boo him, so hes doing something right.Its been pretty loud everywhere weve been on this trip so far -- Toronto, Montreal, everywhere we were.Perhaps this anti-Chara angst was born from his hit on Montreals?Max Pacioretty?back in March 2011. Or when the Bruins defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs in historic fashion during the first round of the 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs. Either way, Chara deserves a better appreciation from the fans, even those in Boston.Hes not the player he once was and he knows it. Plays he could make with ease only a few seasons ago now have become head-scratchers. His work ethic hasnt changed; if anything, Chara is working harder now than he has in the past in an attempt to counteract the decline in his play.Im proud of where Im at, Chara said. It doesnt matter what age you are -- you have to appreciate the game. If youre not going to appreciate the game, the games not going to appreciate you. You have to take it with a great appreciation and be humble. Everybody, no matter who you ask, is happy to be playing at this level.Chara is guarded in his comment but remains a quiet ambassador for his sport. He cares about the game and is a historian of hockey. He has two years remaining on his contract with the Bruins before the next step in his career begins.You have an individual who is an extraordinary player, who happens to be an extraordinary individual who radiates confidence, who radiates success, who radiates class, and hes the kind of individual who is held in high esteem by management people, by the coaches and certainly by the players, and of course, by the fans, NHLPA executive director Donald Fehr told ESPN last season. There arent a whole lot of these people about whom you can say that.Team Europe coach Ralph Krueger has worked closely with Chara over the past 13 months on the concept of this team, and the veteran coach has nothing but great things to say about the veteran blueliner.Hes been absolutely fabulous to work with as a human being, Krueger said. I feel a friendship almost more than coach-player relationship after one year of working with Zdeno Chara, and I look forward to helping him whenever he decides to move into another role in life.I know hes got a couple of good years of player in him still, but hes definitely been a tower in more ways than his physical presence. Its the man inside of that tower whos really quite amazing to work with. Its been such a pleasure, and I wish him a victory today as much as all the other players, of course -- but for him especially this would be a wonderful day to move on.During the World Cup, Chara has been more insightful than he ever has been during his career in Boston. This is a big moment in his career, and he appreciates the opportunity to play on the international stage.Its been great. To be honest, it really exceeded my expectations, as far as how it has all played out. Im really enjoying myself, Chara said. I have a great passion for this game. I love hockey. I love competing. I love playing against the best. This tournament has been the most competitive tournament of all time. The whole experience has been overwhelming.Team Europe is one loss away from possibly never existing again. It proved on Tuesday that it can at least keep the game close. For the Europeans to pull off an upset in Game 2, Chara needs to be better. Hell need to shut down Canadas top line of Brad Marchand, Sidney Crosby and Patrice Bergeron.Hes been playing really well since last December. He really embraces the game and played really well throughout the whole playoffs and deserved to win the Stanley Cup, Chara said of Crosby. Right now it seems like the two [linemates] he has, and I know them really well, they have great chemistry together. They seem to find each other really well and its working for them. Theyre pretty much carrying most of the offensive part of the whole team. Im sure for all three of them its been great to play together.This matchup is nothing new to either Crosby or Chara. Its been physical. Theyve chirped at each other. But theres also mutual respect.Everybody knows, either playing against him or playing with him, how good [Chara] is -- and obviously his size is a big part, Crosby said. Hes able to get his stick on a lot of pucks and use his body and hes strong to knock you off the puck. The biggest thing when youre playing against him is just be ready to compete.So, if the best player in the world wouldnt boo Chara, maybe fans should finally cut this guy some slack.Redskins Jerseys China Cheap .Y. -- Buffalo Bills coach Doug Marrone has drawn on his Syracuse connections once again by hiring Rob Moore to take over as receivers coach. Authentic Shaun Dion Hamilton Jersey . 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Redskins Jerseys Authentic China .S. hockey team after paying his dues as an NHL general manager for more than three decades and giving up a lot of his free time to help USA Hockey.BORDEAUX, France -- Sweat and tears is what Italy coach Antonio Conte demanded from his players, and sweat and tears is what he got during a two-year reign that ended in the quarterfinals of the European Championship.Conte, who is leaving the Azzurri to join Chelsea in the English Premier League, transmits passion and the desire to succeed to his players. And both those qualities were on show during Italys defeat on penalties to world champion Germany on Saturday.Captain Gianluigi Buffon was crying as he left the pitch, while another experienced player Andrea Barzagli also broke down while giving an interview.Its a huge disappointment, because we really gave everything, Barzagli sobbed. Unfortunately we lost and nothing will remain of everything good we have done because when you go out .... sorry .... only disappointment is left and thats it.And in a few years time no one will remember anything about this Italy side which gave everything.That depends very much on how Italy does under incoming coach Giampiero Ventura.The 68-year-old has won nothing, apart from a third division title during a 35-year managerial career. But he has earned plenty of plaudits for the work he did with Torino, where he forged a team which was worth more than the sum of its parts -- much like Conte did with Italy.And Ventura will have more to work with than Conte, who took over after the disappointment of the 2014 World Cup. The Azzurri were eliminated at the group stage in Brazil -- prompting the immediate resignation of coach Cesare Prandelli and the president of the Italian football federation.Lets remember from where we came from, current federation President Carlo Tavecchio said. We returned ... with a beaten team and no federation. Then we gave the national team to a leader, and now we will start again from this Italy side.There are good foundations. Its unthinkable the group could break up. We gave the job to Ventura, who has the same way of thinking.Conte has indeed laid good foundations, having molded Italy into the image of himself.dddddddddddd am proud of the legacy we are leaving, Conte said. We wanted to transmit to the fans our passion, enthusiasm and a love for this shirt and this team.The Azzurri may lack star quality, but they more than make up for in their strength as a group.So strong is their team spirit that defender Leonardo Bonucci said after the Germany defeat: Even though we have only been together about a month and a half, it feels like they have been my teammates for years and years in the dressing room.Italy arrived at Euro 2016 with an aging team that was much criticized by the media back home. But it advanced as the winner of Group E with a match to spare and beat two-time defending champion Spain 2-0 in the round of 16.We have to be intelligent in continuing on this path, Bonucci said. Well leave Ventura in peace to create his group, the one that was here at the European Championship and to take Italy forward, because we deserved this. We grew game after game and now we have to continue.Venturas work will start in earnest when the players meet up again for Italys first World Cup qualifier, against Israel on Sept. 5.Italy also faces Spain, Albania, Macedonia and Liechtenstein in Group G.The future looks bright for the Azzurri, who have grown in confidence. But if Italy does go backwards, Conte -- who is leaving mainly because he misses the day-to-day life of club management -- has hinted that he could return to the national side in the future.I hope that all goes well for the national team and Ventura, Conte said. I am convinced in the value of the work we have done and that the federation is going down the right road and that can help the Italy colors fly high. We achieved an objective at this European Championship where we were respected by all and we matched the world champions.I hope that this is not a goodbye, but an Arrivederci. ' ' '