OAKLAND, Calif. -- Manny Ramirez is a free agent again after he asked the Oakland Athletics to release him and the team granted his request on Friday. Ramirez signed a minor league deal with Oakland on Feb. 20 and hit .302 with 14 RBIs in 17 games with Triple-A Sacramento. He served a 50-game suspension for violating Major League Baseballs drug policy last year, but remained in the minors when the ban ended on his 40th birthday on May 30. "It looked like he was down there for a while and I think he wanted out," As manager Bob Melvin said. "He wanted an opportunity, if we werent going to do something, to go somewhere else. It is what it is. Certainly we wish him the best." The dreadlocked slugger was expected to make approximately $500,000 if he was added to Oaklands big league roster. "Manny believes he has demonstrated that he is ready to return to the major leagues," Ramirezs agents, Barry Praver and Scott Shapiro, said in a statement. "However, given that the Oakland Athletics could not give Manny any assurance that they plan to promote him in the immediate future he asked for his release. Manny thanks the As for providing him with this opportunity." Ramirez, who has 555 career homers and 1,831 RBIs, retired last season rather than serve a 100-game suspension for failing a second drug test. But Commissioner Bud Selig cut the suspension in half after Ramirez sat out the balance of the season. He served a 50-game suspension in 2009 while with the Los Angeles Dodgers organization, playing parts of three games in Albuquerque during his rehabilitation assignment. The 12-time All-Star went 1 for 17 (.059) in five games last season for Tampa Bay, which had signed him to a one-year deal worth $2.02 million. Nick Leddy Jersey . 22, 2012. The selection was made by a committee comprised of members of Football Reporters of Canada (FRC). Clark, a fifth-year arts student from Whalley, B.C., was honoured on offence following a personal-best performance in a wild 51-38 home win against Alberta, Saturday in Winnipeg. Brandon Saad Jersey . The defending Super Bowl champions reached the quarter pole of their follow-up season at a respectable 2-2 and just a game behind the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC East, but an eye on a daunting horizon does nothing if not create a sense of urgency. http://www.theblackhawk... . The CFL club announced Wednesday that Meyer will be offensive co-ordinator while retaining responsibility of coaching one of the leagues best front fives. [url=http://www.theblackhawksgear.com/Stan-Mikita-Jersey/]Stan Mikita Jersey . The Milwaukee Brewers had just gained a game, keeping their wild-card chances flickering. Marcum got his first win since returning from an elbow problem, and Ryan Braun hit his NL-leading 41st home run on Wednesday night for an 8-1 victory over the Cincinnati Reds that allowed the Brewers another day to dream. Chicago Blackhawks Jersey .S. Open semifinal more than an hour late Saturday, after heavy rain and a tornado warning.MONTREAL - Montreal judoka Sasha Mehmedovic earned a spot in the London Olympics with a silver medal in the mens under-66-kilogram class Saturday at the Pan-American judo championships. Mehmedovic reached the final with a win in a close match with Venezuelas Valderrama Ricardo before losing by yuko to Brazils Leandro Cunha in the final. "Its tough to come from behind against this type of athlete," Mehmedovic said of Cunha, ranked No. 6 in the world. "But overall, I was really happy with how things turned out. This was the last competition in the Olympic selection process, and I still needed to compile points to assure my qualification. I was pretty nervous this mornning, but in the end things went my way.dddddddddddd It was my day." Joliane Melancon of Blainville,Que., won bronze in the womens under-57 kg division. It was a bittersweet result for Melcancon, who needed gold to qualify for the Olympics. Melancon beat Mexicos Ana Leon in the bronze-medal bout after losing to Brazils Rafaela Silva in the semifinals. "It was a nice way to finish my day," Melancon said. "Im disappointed but at the same time, I have nothing to be ashamed of. I got better and better from one competition to the next. I have peace of mind, and am looking forward to getting back to work for the next run of Olympic qualifying." ' ' '