and has a titanium rod in his surgically repaired right leg.SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Landon Ferraro scored and added two assists as the Grand Rapids Griffins downed the Syracuse Crunch 6-4 on Sunday in Game 2 of t

CHICAGO -- Jimmy Butler wore a big smile on his face throughout most of Friday.The two-time All-Star beamed as future Hall of Famer Dwyane Wade held his introductory news conference with the Chicago Bulls earlier in the day and made it abundantly clear that he was joining Butlers team. A few hours later, Butler would get a big ovation as the first player introduced for U.S. mens basketball team in its 80-45 rout over Venezuela. The fact that the 26-year-old shot only 2-for-8 from the field and scored only four points wasnt a big deal in the grand scheme. The fact that Butler, who was the 30th pick in the 2011 draft, was playing on the Olympic team in his adopted hometown and will soon go to Rio to represent his country, is still almost too good to be true for the Bulls star.Growing up I never thought that I would get drafted in the NBA, Butler said. Be a starter for the Bulls. Let alone represent my country with some of the best players in the world. It means the world to me and I want to win. I dont want to say that I was a part of the USA team. I want to say that I was a part of the USA team and we won gold.Several times during his teams brief stay in his hometown of Chicago, U.S. mens basketball head coach Mike Krzyzewski has been open about the fact that he didnt realize Butler had become this good of a player. Krzyzewski said he hadnt seen Butler actually play live in several years, but once he did recently he saw the development in his game that has made him such an integral part of what the Bulls do in the future and Team USA does in the short term.Obviously hes one of the best players in the NBA, Krzyzewski said. But hes easy to play with and hes extremely versatile. I had not seen him in person for a long time so Im amazed at how much athletic ability and versatility [he has]. He can guard 1-5 and thats a huge plus for our team.U.S. mens basketball assistant Jim Boeheim had a more colorful take as to how Butler has ascended to so high in the basketball world.Hes a great testament to the bulls--- the NBA has, Boeheim told ESPN.com. [In that] you got to be good right away, or a freshman in college. He wasnt even good when we played him until his senior year I think. And hes gotten better and better every year which is what guys do. And if you get a chance -- you get him or Draymond Green, they become the best players in the game. Give them a chance. Theres other guys like that that never get a chance. He just keeps getting better, he brings so much energy to the court, hes so physical, he can go get the ball. ... Jimmys been great, hes great, I just appreciate -- I remember playing against him and seeing him develop in college. And then to see his development now, its a great story.Butlers unlikely path to the NBA has been well-documented and its what has helped draw some of his U.S. teammates even closer to him as they push closer to the Rio Games.Im a huge fan of Jimmys, U.S. point guard Kyrie Irving said. Watching what he did for Chicago, really putting the team on his back, really propelled him into being a great NBA player now. And the story behind him, too, I mean you have no choice but to respect it. So what hes come from, what hes endured, his adversity and hes just an even better person so I just enjoy being around him.Team USA stalwart Carmelo Anthony echoed those sentiments. Butler has built a name brand for himself in Chicago as one of the best two-way players in the league, but now he has to be a defensive force off the bench for a stacked American group that is intent on defending its basketball crown.Im not surprised, Anthony said of Butlers development. He works hard, man. Jimmys a workaholic. Hes in the gym all the time. Hes working; working on his game, working on his body. Hes getting the reps in the game, now hes one of the premier guys on the Chicago Bulls, a go-to guy on that team. With his confidence and his work ethic its going to continue to grow.Butler is admittedly still trying to grow into his role as the leader of the Bulls, but on the U.S. mens basketball team hes just another guy trying to fit into a group overflowing with basketball riches. Its another chapter in what is one of the most interesting basketball stories ever known.I just want to win, Butler said. In a Chicago Bulls uniform, in a USA uniform, thats what Ive always been about. All the individual stuff never really mattered. This is like home for me now, Im glad that I got to play here for USA in front of my hometown crowd. Theyve embraced since day one, I hope they continue to do so. I want to win with the Bulls and I want to win with USA and bring a championship with the Bulls and a gold medal here.Authentic Shoes For Cheap . Ancelotti says Ronaldo has recovered from a hamstring injury but "but he doesnt feel comfortable yet so we wont risk him." Madrid is third in the Spanish league, six points behind leader Barcelona, going into Saturdays game against Valladolid. Shoes From China Wholesale . Laudrup revealed Thursday he was notified of his dismissal in "the briefest of letters which gave no reasons why such hasty and final action was deemed necessary. http://www.cheapshoes.us.org/ .J. -- Marty Brodeur beat the Pittsburgh Penguins yet again. Cheap Shoes Online Free Delivery .C. -- Al Jefferson joked that he feels he can score from anywhere on the court. Cheap Shoes Outlet Stores . -- Tony Stewart is 20 pounds lighter and has a titanium rod in his surgically repaired right leg.SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Landon Ferraro scored and added two assists as the Grand Rapids Griffins downed the Syracuse Crunch 6-4 on Sunday in Game 2 of the Calder Cup final. The Griffins now lead the American Hockey Leagues championship series 2-0. Game 3 is in Grand Rapids, Mich., on Wednesday. Francis Pare and Tomas Jurco had power-play goals for the Griffins, the minor-league affiliate of the Detroit Red Wings. Tristonn Grant, Tomas Tatar and Jan Mursak rounded out the offence for Grand Rapids, while Petr Mrazek made 30 saves for the win.dddddddddddd Andrej Sustr, Richard Panik, J.T. Brown and Brett Connolly replied for Syracuse, the farm team of the Tampa Bay Lightning. Cedrick Desjardins stopped 23 shots for the Crush. The Griffins were 2 for 5 on the power play, while Syracuse went 2 for 8 with the extra man. ' ' '