CLEVELAND -- This is why Ben Zobrist came home. And this is why?Chicago Cubs?manager Joe Maddon wanted him so badly.The Cubs needed a veteran in the clubhouse to teach their seemingly endless supply of budding stars, someone whod been there. Whod done that. Who cared little about curses or droughts. Who knew what Maddon wanted and how to translate it.Zobrist, fresh off a World Series title with the Kansas City Royals, was searching for a place to spend the final years of his consistently fine career. He grew up in central Illinois, just two hours away from Wrigley Field, so playing for the Cubs seemed like a viable option.And there he was, early Thursday morning, standing in the batters box in the top of the 10th inning in Game 7 of the World Series and facing a two-strike count with the potential go-ahead run on second base. Then the 35-year-old switch-hitter did something that might have encapsulated everything Maddon loves about him.Zobrist shortened his swing. He fouled off one pitch to stay alive. His next swing provided the final blow in Chicagos seasonlong bout with the weight of history: He hit a double inside third base that scored pinch runner Albert Almora Jr.?with the decisive run in an 8-7 victory that gave the Cubs their first World Series championship since 1908.Zobrist ended up winning the World Series MVP award.Cleveland reliever Bryan Shaw intentionally walked Chicago slugger Anthony Rizzo to face Zobrist, who entered the game hitting .391 in the Series but had gone hitless in his past four at-bats. Shaw quickly got ahead 1-2, before Zobrist poked a foul ball down the third-base line past a diving Jose Ramirez. The next pitch was more of the same. In a situation where some of his teammates would have swung for the outer reaches of Progressive Field, Zobrist settled for making contact.The normally understated Zobrist pointed toward the sky after his 10th and final hit of the Series. In response, the blue-clad Cubs fans in attendance roared once more.I know he threw a pretty hard cutter, Zobrist said of Shaw. I just barely hung in there, and fortunately, he put one just close enough to the plate where I could slap it down the line.When Zobrist returned to the dugout to fetch his glove and run back out to his spot in left field, the Cubs lead was two runs. Barely 10 minutes later, Zobrist sprinted to join the dogpile in the infield, after Kris Bryant threw to Rizzo at first for the final out.Last fall, Zobrist helped the Royals beat the New York Mets in five World Series games. When he went looking for a job, there was really only one place to go: Chicago.When Zobrist signed a four-year, $56 million deal in December, Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein said, Ben is a winning baseball player. His offense, his defense, his baserunning -- hes been one of the more valuable players in the game for a long time.Zobrist came to Wrigley Field without an ego. He played primarily at second base but also spent time in left field and right field. Always without complaint. Always with the greater goal in mind.A goal that was realized after Clevelands Rajai Davis tied the score with a stunning, two-run homer off Chicago closer Aroldis Chapman in the eighth inning. After the ninth inning ended, there was a 17-minute rain delay. And then the Indians dared Zobrist to be the difference.He came through once more. Cheap Nike Dunk Shoes . Houston won 3-0 to advance to face New York in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Last in the game, Di Vaio and Romero got into a shoving match with several Houston players. Romero appeared to elbow and kick Houston defender Kofi Sarkodie. Nike Dunk Low China . Olli Jokinen, Mark Scheifele, and Bryan Little each had a goal and an assist as Winnipeg won 5-2, handing Calgary its record-setting seventh consecutive loss on home ice. http://www.nikedunkscheap.com/nike-dunk-mid-shoes.html . He says so-called TRT is only one problem and he wants to go even further than the ban. "Its about time," St-Pierre told reporters at a promotional event in Montreal on Friday. "I think its a good thing. Nike Sb Dunk Low Cheap . -- Matt Rupert scored once in regulation and again in the shootout as the London Knights extended their win streak to nine games by defeating the Owen Sound Attack 4-3 on Friday in Ontario Hockey League action. Nike Dunk Sb Cheap . Wilson hit Schenn from behind during Tuesday nights game in Philadelphia, earning a five-minute major for charging and a game misconduct. He has a phone hearing with the department of player safety, which limits any potential suspension to five or fewer games. Olympic hurdler and Oregon wide receiver Devon Allen says he will forgo his remaining eligibility with the Ducks and pursue a professional track career.Allen, a two-time NCAA champion in the 110-meter hurdles who placed fifth in the event at the Rio Olympics this summer, said Wednesday he does not yet have an agent. He is recovering from surgery to repair a torn ACL in his left knee.Allen said his aim is to win the gold medal in the 2020 Games, and then perhaps return to playing football professionally. He feels that turning pro and training full time gives him the best chance to medal.My ideal scenario is to run track for the next couple of years, and then in the 2020 Olympics win the gold medal, have the world record, he said. And then I can put that aside and try to play football. So I think thats the ideal scenario.Allen appeared in the Ducks first three games this season before injuring his left knee and being ruled out for the rest of the season. Allen tore his anterior cruciate ligament during the fourth quarter of Oregons 35-32 loss at Nebraska on Sept. 17.The 21-year-old, who said he will remain in Eugene, Oregon, to train, has two years of eligibility left in track at Oregon, and one year left for football.He hopes to complete his degree in business administration in the spring.I think overall I had a great career and I feel like I had an awesome experience here, too, he said during the announcement in Eugene. My No. 1 goal was to get my degree so Ill finish that in the spring, which is first and foremost. But playing two sports in college is tough. I can definitely vouch for that, and trying to balance those two as well with school and the social life and, unfortunattely the injuries, is tough.ddddddddddddAfter competing in Rio, Allen was a late arrival for the Ducks fall camp but jumped right back into action. He appeared in the opener against UC Davis and started Week 2 against Virginia, catching a 77-yard touchdown pass.Allen first made a splash as a redshirt freshman, finishing as the teams third-best receiver with 41 catches for 684 yards and seven touchdowns -- including an 80-yard TD against Washington State.But his season ended when he injured his knee on the opening kickoff of Oregons Rose Bowl victory that year over Florida State. He required surgery and missed that seasons national championship game against Ohio State.He spent much of last season trying to return to form on the football field and the track -- while eyeing the ultimate prize of an Olympic bid. He appeared in 12 games, but caught just nine passes for 94 yards.Allen earned a spot on the Olympic team for Rio by winning the 110-meter hurdles in the Olympic Trials last July at Oregons Hayward Field. He also won the NCAA title in the event.It was his second NCAA title -- he won the championship as a freshman in 2014. He also won that years U.S. national championships in the 110-meter hurdles.Allen said he was disappointed with his fifth-place finish in Rio.After the Olympics, I wasnt frustrated, but I was a little unhappy with the way I finished, he said. And I just felt confident that if I spend full time focusing on track, like a lot of the other guys do, I think it would give me a better opportunity to perform well on that kind of stage. ' ' '