BARCELONA, Spain -- Barcelona will sign France defender Samuel Umtiti to a five-year contract after securing his transfer from Lyon.The Spanish champions said Tuesday that the transfer cost 25 million euros ($27.7 million).In his debut for the national team, the 22-year-old Umtiti helped France reach the final of the European Championship, which it lost to Portugal on Sunday.Umtiti played 170 matches for Lyon, scoring five goals in five seasons.Able to play as a central defender or at left back, he will help strengthen a backline that saw Dani Alves and Marc Bartra leave since the end of last season.Umtiti will undergo a routine medical exam before signing his contract on Friday.He is Barcelonas second reinforcement after it bought back attacking midfielder Denis Suarez from Villarreal. Authentic Chicago Blackhawks Hoodies . Barcelonas entertaining victory ensured the defending Spanish champions retained their share of the league lead with Atletico Madrid two rounds ahead of their meeting in the capital. Real Madrid needed a late goal by substitute Jese Rodriguez to earn a 3-2 victory at Valencia to stay in third place and three points behind its title rivals. Cody Franson Gear .Y. -- The Buffalo Sabres have recalled forward Kevin Porter and defenceman Chad Ruhwedel from the minors as part of a five-player roster shuffle made by the NHLs worst team. http://www.chicagoblackhawksgear.com/brandon-saad-gear/ . The defence is doing its part, too. Drew Brees threw a pair of touchdown passes in the first half and the guys on the other side made sure that was enough, sending the Saints to a 17-13 victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday night. Glenn Hall Gear . Artturi Lehkonen, Joni Nikko and Ville Leskinen had the other goals for Finland (1-0) while Juuse Saros stopped 28 shots. Tim Robin Johnsgard had the lone goal for Norway (0-2). Denis Savard Gear . 8 Kansas to a 64-63 win over Texas Tech on Tuesday night. The freshman from Vaughan, Ont. TROON, Scotland -- For a little over an hour on Tuesday afternoon here at Royal Troon, the player interview room became a repository for cautiously dancing around an issue and for stomping all over it. For tiptoeing through eggshells and for spitting straight fire. For remaining wholly image-conscious and lapsing into I-dont-give-a-you-know-what mode.With the 145th Open Championship set to begin in less than 48 hours, two of the games biggest stars sat down in front of the assembled media and were largely grilled not about the games oldest major championship, but about the upcoming Olympics -- an event neither will be playing.First up was Jordan Spieth, whod just withdrawn his name from Olympics consideration one day earlier. He answered an initial softball about returning to The Open, then punctuated his response by knowingly adding with a coy smile: I can already see, by far, thats going to be the easiest question I receive.It was. He was immediately asked about the burden of his decision, the pressure hed received to compete and why he came to that conclusion. Spieth explained that health concerns and other risk factors of playing in Rio de Janeiro ultimately led to his withdrawal.He then offered comments that would bring a proud tear to the eye of any PR flak.This was probably the hardest decision Ive ever had to make in my life. ... Im very passionate and very much a supporter of the Olympics and Olympic golf. ... I certainly hope they vote to keep it, because I believe it can be very beneficial for the game and I would love to be a part of benefiting the game with it.At one point, Spieth was even self-aware enough to acknowledge his hand movements, saying hed better sit still or theyd be misconstrued in photographs.It was clear that he understood this was an unpopular decision but fully intended to emerge from it with his public image still intact. He might have declined an invitation to the wedding, but he still wanted to send a nice present with the RSVP.If there was a controversial comment during the proceedings, even that was masked by Spieths insistence that this was a personal choice.Im making the decision of what I think is best for me, he said. I dont feel like I have to carry the torch -- see what I did there? -- for the sport or anyone else. This is bigger than that for me personally.Not long after Spieth finished, Rory McIlroy sat down in tthe same chair and offered a contradictory approach to answering similar questions.ddddddddddddIt was three weeks ago when McIlroy made his decision to eschew the Olympics, citing fears over the Zika virus. Up to that point, hed been in favor of golfs inclusion; after his announcement, he softened on the idea, though still contested that more top players would be competing if the tournament was being held elsewhere.On Tuesday, he didnt pull any punches.I dont feel like Ive let the game down at all, he said of his decision. I didnt get into golf to try and grow the game. I got into golf to win championships and win major championships. All of a sudden, you get to this point and there is a responsibility on you to grow the game and I get that. But at the same time, thats not the reason that I got into golf. I got into golf to win. I didnt get into golf to get other people into the game.This was a stark departure from just a few months earlier, when McIlroy specifically said of his Olympics inclusion, I feel like I have a responsibility to grow the game.Not only did he shift gears this time, he clearly wasnt worried about the public reaction.He continued: Ill probably watch the Olympics, but Im not sure golf will be one of the events I watch. ... [Ill] probably [watch] the events like track and field, swimming, diving -- the stuff that matters.The stuff that matters.Unlike Spieths delicate attempt to convey golfs relevance in the Olympics without his participation, McIlroy stuck a knife in the back of the event and twisted it. Hard.The ensuing public outrage and social media uproar over McIlroys comments in comparison to the general malaise surrounding those of Spieth are less because of what he said than how he said it. If Spieth launched a high fade that landed like a butterfly with sore feet. Then, McIlroy opted for a penetrating stinger that bounded relentlessly into the gallery.Theres no right or wrong answer here. Theres no specific blueprint for these players to speak their minds about the Olympics or any other issue.From tiptoeing through eggshells to spitting fire, two of the games biggest stars took two severely different approaches toward voicing their feelings. On this afternoon, the dichotomy between them was shocking. Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys cheap jerseys Cheap Jersyes Cheap Basketball Jerseys Cheap NHL Jerseys cheap jerseys Cheap Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Cheap Jerseys From China Cheap NFL Jerseys ' ' '