DORAL, Fla. cheap nfl jerseys china . -- Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods already have been linked twice this year. There was that practice round together in Abu Dhabi, and being in the same group for the opening two rounds. Then, they shared the stage at PGA National, where McIlroy played the lead role at the Honda Classic by answering a late charge from Woods to win the tournament and go to No. 1 in the world. Look back to the summer of 2010, when McIlroy said he would "love to face" Woods in the Ryder Cup. That comment was made as Woods was at the low point in his game, and the 22-year-old from Northern Ireland did add, "Unless his game improves." Is it too early for a rivalry? Hunter Mahan believes it is, only because he thinks Woods biggest rival is retired. "His rival is Jack Nicklaus," Mahan said. "Its hard to put anyone up there right now with him. I understand his last few years havent been his best and everything thats going on, but that guy, hes had numbers that no one has even thought about reaching." Theres some truth to that. McIlroy reached No. 1 in the world after 115 tournaments that count toward the ranking. Woods played 21 tournaments before he first reached the top of the world ranking. What they have in common is raw talent, the ability to control the golf ball like few others, a passion to compete and winning majors in record fashion at an early age. Woods was 21 when he set the Masters record at 270 and won by 12 shots. McIlroy had just turned 22 when he shot a 268 -- breaking the U.S. Open record by four shots -- to win at Congressional. Woods is 36, although rivalries never have been about age. Nicklaus was 10 years younger than Arnold Palmer, and 10 years older than Tom Watson. Sometimes it can be about going head-to-head -- Greg Norman and Nick Faldo come to mind -- though mostly its about taking turns winning tournaments, and winning majors. McIlroy still has a ways to go. Besides, hes not interested in rivalries at the moment. "Im going to let other people make the comparisons," McIlroy said. "Im not going to try and compare myself to anyone else. Ive never said that I want to be the next anyone. I just want to be the first Rory McIlroy, however good that turns out to be. Then, Ill try my best to win tournaments and to win majors and to be the best player in the world. "Theres still a long road ahead, and I feel like I can accomplish a lot more." McIlroy makes his debut as the 16th player to be No. 1 in the world on Thursday, when he tees off in the Cadillac Championship at Doral with the two players who were No. 1 before him -- Luke Donald and Lee Westwood. Woods will be on the opposite side of the course, playing with defending champion Nick Watney and Sergio Garcia. Nicklaus and Woods shared a conversation years ago about rivalries, and Woods has never forgotten what Nicklaus said to him that day in South Africa at the 2003 Presidents Cup: Just make sure youre part of the conversation. The rivalries with Woods over the years, real or imagined, start with Phil Mickelson and include Ernie Els, Vijay Singh and David Duval. And what does he make of McIlroy, whom Woods described as a "fantastic talent?" "Well, hes got to continue to get better, because everyone else is," Woods said. "Everyone else is out here working hard to become a better golfer, and more consistent player. And he didnt get here by not practicing. So continue to do what hes doing and Im sure hes done a lot of different things. Hes working on his game. Hes working on his fitness." Lost in this discussion is Mickelson, who returns from a two-week break after playing as well as anyone. Mickelson shot 64 in the final round to win at Pebble Beach (with Woods at his side shooting a 75), then lost in a playoff at Riviera. Mickelson has never been No. 1, and he has no problems with McIlroy at the top. Still, he looks at a broader picture of Donald and Westwood, former PGA champion Martin Kaymer, and even himself as players capable of taking over. "We have not had somebody play to the level of Tiger, and so we have four, five, six guys that are battling for the No. 1 spot, it seems, monthly," Mickelson said. "I dont know where it will all settle, but certainly hes a worthy No. 1." Meanwhile, Woods and McIlroy are trying to build momentum coming off vastly different achievements. Woods posted his lowest score ever in the final round, a 62 at PGA National that made him the clubhouse leader. It was the strongest sign yet, especially considering the tough, windy conditions, that he was close to regaining form. McIlroy was one shot ahead when Woods finished. Moments later, he made a birdie putt, saved par on three of the next four holes and went on to a two-shot win in the Honda Classic to earn the No. 1 ranking. Doral is his last tournament before the Masters. Even so, both are ready to move on and take this World Golf Championship on its own merits, as a big tournament to win. "Doesnt count," Woods said Wednesday before going out for a practice round on the TPC Blue Monster at Doral. "That tournament is over with, whether you missed the cut or won the tournament. Its over. Now were on to a new week, a new golf course, and have to learn it and be ready by Thursday." C... Montreal Canadiens Jerseys . 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The leagues latest move was to counter Vilmas attempt to initiate discovery in his defamation lawsuit against Roger Goodell, which alleges the commissioner lacked sufficient evidence when he publicly prejudged the Saints linebacker as the ring-leader of New Orleans pay-for-injury bounty system.TORONTO – Cody Franson returned to North America from a lockout stint in Sweden armed with a new contract and mindset for his second season in Toronto. "Taking the positive approach to things and controlling what you can control is the productive way to do things," he said in conversation with TSN.ca on Saturday afternoon. "Focusing on the right things. Its gone well so far." While his first season as a Leaf was a frustrating calamity, gradually this winter the 25-year-old has carved out a productive role for himself under Randy Carlyle, leading all Toronto defenders with 12 assists and 13 points, good for fourth (tied) and fifth (tied) among all NHL blueliners this season. In February, Franson was up to 17-plus minutes nightly, totaling 10 points – all assists – in 15 games. "I was playing not to make a mistake last year," he said of the 2011-12 campaign, which saw him dress in just 57 games, a healthy scratch many nights, posting 21 points. "Im trying to be a little bit more aggressive and loose I guess you could say, just feeling the rhythm of the game and rolling with the punches a bit more rather than trying to worry about not making that mistake to get out of the lineup the next night. Thats changed the way Ive played the game a bit this year and I feel like Im playing better hockey because of it." Teamed with Mark Fraser for the past 17 games on whats become a reliable third pairing, Franson has also found a role on the Leafs primary power-play unit, manning the right point alongside Dion Phaneuf since early February. The B.C. native is perhaps best suited to playing alongside a defence-first partner like Fraser. An offensive-minded defender himself – with a first pass that rivals any on the team, noted in his 10 even-strength helpers – Franson spent last season teamed with the likes of Jake Gardiner and John-Michael Liles, similarly inclined defencemen with whom he was mostly indecisivee. wholesale nfl jerseys. With Fraser he can comfortably read and react to the offensive instincts of his game, becoming more assertive and impactful as a result. "The number one thing," said Carlyle of the 65", 200-plus pound Franson, "is hes been much more aggressive and involved in the games. If you look at his physical size, hes used that more to his advantage. And hes found a niche to play on the power-play. Those are all confidence boosters for any player to get ice-time. Youve got to find minutes for him and hes earned the minutes." A restricted free agent last summer, Franson came to terms with the Leafs – a one-year deal worth $1.2 million – in the hours after the lockout was finally solved, joining training camp shortly after it began. Like a year ago, he bounced in and out of the lineup again early, but remained true to his newfound approach of optimism, not stewing over decisions and external factors out of his control, a mindset which stemmed from a memorable summer conversation with his father. "He said You cant be so frustrated all the time," Franson recalled of the advice last month. "All it does is build up stress, you never relax, you never have fun if youre always thinking about whats not going your way. It made a lot of sense." On January 29 at First Niagara Center in Buffalo, Franson posted a goal and an assist in 13 minutes of ice. He has not come out of the lineup since. "Its an old cliché but what doesnt kill you makes you stronger," said Franson, set to become a restricted free agent again this summer, his value certainly on the rise. "And last year I was struggling. Its one of those things where you sit back and reflect on it once everything is done and you try to move forward and learn from your mistakes. "Im playing to stay in the lineup still ... Weve got lots of guys that are very capable of coming into the lineup and I know that. You cant take anything for granted." ' ' '