One of the many messages received by Jenson Button came from Alain Prost. All the best my friend for the future, tweeted one champion to another. McLaren is a family.It was a brief but interesting comment in the light of Buttons intention to stand aside as a regular F1 driver. Prost took a sabbatical in 1992 and came back to win a fourth title the following year. The difference is that he left Ferrari, took a year off and joined Williams for 1993.The reference to the McLaren family is poignant, not only because Button is staying on board in an ambassadorial role but also because Prost, despite his sincere respect for the Williams management and mechanics, never truly felt at home with the team from Grove. His heart remained at Woking and there is no question that the same applies to Button.The irony here, of course, is that Jenson made his F1 debut with Williams in 2000. This was a major story for the British media back in the day. We had David Coulthard as de facto Number 2 to Mika Hakkinen at McLaren, while Johnny Herbert and Eddie Irvine were making dubious twilight of career moves to mismanaged Jaguar. The prospect of a bright-eyed 20-year-old Englishman joining a much-loved and respected British team had the so-called Fleet Street hacks playing puns with his catchy name long before the contract was signed at the eleventh hour. This was very good news.Nonetheless, a quick look at Buttons F3 record suggested circumspection might be in order. When I suggested the eulogies on Britains next World Champion (to quote a respected motor sport weekly) ought to be put on hold, my name went to the top of John Buttons wanted list as he, quite rightly, looked after the best interests of his son.I made only the briefest comment in The Observer report when Button crashed during qualifying for the first race in Australia. But John had plenty to say when Jenson qualified third at Spa and fifth at Suzuka. As we gathered round for a post-qualifying briefing in Belgium, I clearly remember Button Seniors gravelly voice booming in the background: Wheres that f***ing Irishman who says Jense aint gonna make it? Then a wheezy laugh and an arm around the shoulder, both of which were to become wonderfully familiar over the next decade.Jenson and I were to have a one-to-one interview at the end of the season, and subsequent chats during which he admitted that, perhaps, he could have benefitted from a bit more experience before being thrown in the deep end with a team not noted for its molly-coddling. Button may have finished 8th in the 2000 championship but those qualifying performances on two truly great driver circuits were evidence of a natural gift that did not receive its reward until much later.Confidence and maturity may have come through well-worked results with BAR-Honda but 2009 would be the outstanding season. Yes, the Brawn-Mercedes was the class of the field, but Button made the most of it early on. Which was just as well, because pressure began to take hold in the second half and required Jenson to maintain all of the poise and calm that has characterised his career.The chaotic and delirious post-race scenes in the cramped garage and paddock at Interlagos were as memorable as the season itself. One of my first jobs was to seek out the proud dad who, amid the tears, found time to cheerfully remind me of my prognostication nine years before.The following day, British newspaper reporters had an appointment with Jenson in the coffee bar of the Sheraton Hotel. When wed finished recalling the season and reflecting on his title, Button insisted on giving everyone a hug and personal thanks for a season spent together through good and very little bad.It was typical of Jensons genuine warmth; a humility he would carry with him to McLaren where the self-assurance of a former champions mantle would produce some exquisite fingertip performances. He would quickly become part of the family atmosphere so appreciated by Prost, a driver, appropriately enough, with similar gentle co-ordination in the car and similar grace when out of it. Deebo Samuel Jersey . "I was fortunate to play many years at this level with a great organization and unbelievable teammates," said Hejduk in a statement. Chris Doleman Jersey . Ibaka equaled a career high with 20 rebounds, adding four blocked shots and 15 points as the Thunder smothered the Milwaukee Bucks offence in a 92-79 victory Saturday night. http://www.custom49ersjersey.com/custom-jimmie-ward-jersey-large-2978d.html . -- Hunter Smith scored the winner with just 12 seconds remaining in the third period as the Oshawa Generals edged the host Sarnia Sting 5-4 on Friday in Ontario Hockey League action. Steve Spurrier Jersey .2 billion agreement with Rogers Communications for the leagues broadcast and multimedia rights. Frank Gore Jersey . "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. For all the talk about the NBA-laden squad Australia has sent to Rio, its the quality and not the quantity that will be tested by a star-powered France.The Boomers will run out a record five players currently on NBA rosters in their Olympic opener on Saturday, an astonishing figure considering the absence of recent first round NBA draft picks - Ben Simmons, Dante Exum and Thon Maker.France will have just four current NBA players in Saturdays match (0315 Sunday AEST) - but its a foursome to behold.The recently traded Andrew Bogut is the only Boomer considered a regular starter in the NBA, while France are led by six-time All-Star Tony Parker.Nicholas Batum has been a starter throughout his eight-year career, Utahs starting centre Rudy Gobert is considered one of the NBAs hottest young centres and 15-year veteran Boris Diaw has been a key cog off the bench in the San Antonio machine.When the scouting report comes across the table theres going to be a lot of names we recognise both playing in Europpe and the NBA,Boomers back-up guard Damian Martin said.dddddddddddd Of most intrigue is the one-on-one battle between Spurs teammates Parker and Mills - the master up against the apprentice.In their time together in San Antonio, Mills has gone from bit-part player to virtually the first person off the Spurs bench.Pattys the first to admit hes learned a lot from playing alongside Tony over the past five or six years at San Antonio, Martin said.Hes excited for the match-up, but he knows the games much bigger than one match-up.But from an outsiders point of view its going to be great viewing seeing.Australias womens team face an easier time of it on paper against hosts Brazil at 5:30pm on Saturday (0630 AEST Sunday).While the world No.2 Opals are favoured to top Group A, their games against Brazil and Turkey shape as the ideal warm-up for Tuesdays clash against France. 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