cond quarter. The Saints increased their lead late in the se

UMass guard Derrick Gordon hopes his decision to become the first openly gay player in Division I mens basketball will inspire others. "There are a lot of kids out there in my situation, probably far worse situations," he said in a phone interview with The Associated Press. "Maybe I can give a lot of kids that confidence that they need to get over that hump." Earlier Wednesday, Gordon made the announcement in interviews with ESPN and Outsports. He said he gained confidence by seeing an NBA team sign Jason Collins, who became the leagues first openly gay player when he joined the Brooklyn Nets this season. "Right now Im happy. Im free just to live my life," Gordon told the AP. The sophomore was the Minutemens fourth-leading scorer with 9.4 points per game last season. UMass reached the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1998 and lost in its first game to Tennessee. He sat out the previous season after transferring from Western Kentucky to be closer to his family in New Jersey, where he played at high school powerhouse St. Patrick. Gordon said he told his parents he was gay March 30, informed UMass coach Derek Kellogg the next day and told his teammates two days later, which was last Wednesday. He said some of them probably have known since last summer. "They could sense it because I kind of separated myself from the team," Gordon said. "I didnt really hang out with them as far as going to parties and stuff. I really kind of kept to myself, kept quiet. We went on road trips -- Id sit by myself and they were always wondering why. I did it because I didnt want to put myself in a situation where maybe something happens and they end up finding out. Then what? Im not going to know how to handle the situation." He said he appreciated the support hes received from his teammates since making his announcement. "Theyre ready to get back in the gym just as much as I am," Gordon said. "I cant wait to get back with them and get ready for this upcoming season." In the Outsports interview, Gordon said he considered quitting basketball last fall and isolated himself from teammates because of teasing. Over the summer, he had "liked" a photo on Instagram of him and his then-boyfriend in front of a gay bar. Gordon said Wednesday that he had talked several times with Collins, who made a trailblazing announcement last April when he came out in an interview with Sports Illustrated. In February, he became the first openly gay male athlete in the four major North American pro sports leagues. Collins tweeted that he was "so proud" of Gordon: "Another brave young man who is going to make it easier for so many others to live an authentic life." Michael Sam, an All-American defensive end at Missouri, came out in interviews with ESPN, The New York Times and Outsports in February after his college career ended. He is projected as a middle-round prospect in next months NFL draft. Sam tweeted congratulations to Gordon after the announcement: "You have so many in your corner and were all proud and rooting for you." Kellogg and UMass director of athletics John McCutcheon offered their support in statements from the school. The coach said that "I have the most profound respect for Derrick and the decision he has made to come out publicly." He called Gordon "a model student, a terrific competitor, but most importantly, he is a wonderful human being." Fake Nike Baseball Jerseys China . -- Caris LeVert had 14 points and a career-high 11 rebounds for his first career double-double, and No. Cheap Baseball Jerseys China . -- Desperate to stop Tom Bradys latest comeback bid, the Miami Dolphins sought help from a reserve safety making his NFL debut after being signed Tuesday off the San Francisco 49ers practice squad. https://www.fakebaseballjerseys.com/ . In a pregame tribute commemorating his final contest at Coors Field on Wednesday night, Helton caught the ceremonial first pitch from his daughter with his wife, younger daughter and good friend Peyton Manning watching from the field. Custom Baseball Jerseys .com) - Ames, IA (SportsNetwork. Cheap Nike Baseball Jerseys .com) - Eric Fehrs goal 42 seconds into overtime lifted the Washington Capitals to a 5-4 come-from-behind victory over Columbus, halting the Blue Jackets seven-game win streak.Chicago, IL (SportsNetwork.com) - Drew Brees threw three touchdown passes in his 200th career game and the New Orleans Saints vaulted into first place in the NFC South with a 31-15 victory over the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Monday. The Saints (6-8) climbed a half-game over the Carolina Panthers for the top spot in the woeful division and control their own destiny with two games remaining against division foes Atlanta and Tampa Bay. You want to be playing for a lot at the end of the season and we are right now, Brees said. No bigger game than the one coming up. Brees completed 29-of-36 passes for 375 yards and set an NFL record with his ninth straight season with at least 4,000 yards passing. Josh Hill caught two scores, Marques Colston finished with five catches for 65 yards and a touchdown and Mark Ingram ran in a late score. We were pretty balanced and able to make some plays in the passing game, said Brees. It was a great team effort. The defense really stepped up and played great. Jay Cutler turned in a sub-par performance as he threw for just 194 yards on 17-of-31 passing with two touchdown passes and three interceptions for the Bears (5-9), who have dropped their last three games. Alshon Jeffrey and Marquess Wilson each hauled in a touchdown pass in the loss. New Orleans had the ball to start the second half and embarked on a 12-play, 80-yard scoring march. Graham made a 29-yard catch to move the Saints into their opponents territory, Kenny Stills came up with a 13-yard grab on third down and Hill found the end zone again from seven yards out for a 21-0 lead. The teams traded punts and the Bears started at their own 20. Cutler dropped off a pass to Martellus Bennett, who took it 12 yards for a first down. Three plays later, Cutlers deep pass intended for Alshon Jeffery was intercepted by Pierre Warren, who took it back 21 yards to the Saints 44. On the ensuing drive, Brees eluded a diving defender, rolled out to his left and delivered a 17-yard strike to Nick Toon down to Chicagos 4 on third down. The Saints settled for Shayne Grahams 25-yard field goal for a 24-0 lead with 16 seconds remaining in the third. Chicago avoided a shutout as Wilson scored on a slant from a yard out just over two minutes into the fourth quarter. Cutler connected with Bennett on the 2-point conversion attempt. Following a Saints punt, Cutler scrambled 20 yards on third down for a fresh set of downs, but he was sacked on the next two plays to make it 3rd-and-21. Cutler connected with Bennnett on an 8-yard pass, but after a false start, the Bears punted the ball away with just 5:26 remaining.dddddddddddd After the Bears turned the ball over on downs at their own 23, Ingram followed two straight 4-yard rushes with a 15-yard scamper into the end zone with 1:47 to play. Down by 23 points, Chicago put together one of its more efficient drives of the night with under two minutes to play. Jeffery took a short pass 35 yards, KaDeem Carey made 18-yard catch and Jeffery ended the 4-play, 71-yard drive with a TD catch from seven yards out. Both teams turned the ball over on their opening possession. On the third play of the game, Bennett couldnt haul in Cutlers pass over the middle and Patrick Robinson intercepted the ball at the Bears 24. Two plays later, Toon made an 11-yard grab, but fumbled the ball at the 3-yard line and Jared Allen recovered it for Chicago. After the Bears punted the ball away, the Saints drive stalled and Graham came on for a 51-yard field goal attempt. The New Orleans kicker originally slipped and never got a kick off, but offsetting penalties gave him a second chance. Graham pulled his second try wide right with 8:26 to play in the first quarter. Pierre Thomas took a screen pass 31 yards into Bears territory. Brees capped the 7-play, 85-yard drive by dumping off an 8-yard pass off to Hill, who dove into the end zone for a 7-0 lead eight seconds into the second quarter. The Saints increased their lead late in the second after going 95 yards in 10 plays on a drive that featured three catches from Colston. Brees hit Colston for a 13-yard pickup, Stills hauled in a 16-yard strike and Colston moved the Saints to the Bears 9 with a 13-yard catch before scoring on the very next play for a 14-0 game with 32 seconds to play in the first half. The first half closed similar to how it opened as Cutlers bomb down the left side was intercepted by Warren. Game Notes Brees has thrown at least 30 touchdowns passes in seven straight seasons ... The Bears are now 5-of-5 on two-point conversions this season ... Brees and Colston tied Peyton Manning and Reggie Wayne for the fifth best scoring duo in NFL history with 67 scores ... Saints linebacker David Hawthorne finished with three sacks to lead his defenses seven-sack effort ... New Orleans owns a 14-13 edge in the all-time regular-season series ... Ingram ran for 59 yards on 17 carries, while Graham made five grabs for 87 yards ... The Saints outgained the Bears, 443-278. ' ' '