Bar » Wilhoite and Eric Reid before finding Graham for an

TURIN, Italy -- New Juventus coach Massimo Allegri says he was both surprised and honoured when the Italian champions approached him to take the job on Wednesday, just a day after Antonio Conte made his sudden departure. The 46-year-old Allegri was fired by Milan in January after 3 1/2 seasons with the squad, having led the Rossoneri to the Serie A title in his first year in charge in 2010-11. He also previously coached Grosseto, Sassuolo and Cagliari. "It was like a lightning bolt in a clear sky when I was called yesterday," Allegri said after signing a two-year deal. "Its an honour and I realize how important it is to coach Juventus. Im here to help this squad continue to win." Conte led Juventus to the past three Serie A titles but left by mutual consent Tuesday. "Were closing one winning cycle and opening another," Juventus chief executive Giuseppe Marotta said. "We had to react quickly and the choice of Allegri was made to continue winning." Conte hinted that his departure was due to differences with club officials over the transfer market. He reportedly wanted to sign highly priced players like Chiles Alexis Sanchez, who instead left Barcelona for Arsenal, and Colombias Juan Cuadrado, who is still entertaining offers to leave Fiorentina, but the club didnt agree. Instead, Juventus has gone after Manchester United left back Patrice Evra, Real Madrid forward Alvaro Morata and Hellas Verona striker Juan Manuel Iturbe. "Winning is difficult. It comes with a lot of effort, especially in a club like Juventus where there is the obligation of victory," Conte said Tuesday. Allegri had been mentioned as a possible replacement for Cesare Prandelli as coach of Italys national team but now Conte and Roberto Mancini are the top candidates for that job. Allegri might have to make peace with Juventus midfield maestro Andrea Pirlo, who was let go by Milan in 2011 -- apparently because Allegri wanted a more physical presence in front of the defence. Pirlo became one of the architects of Juves title runs the past three seasons and at 35 remains a key playmaker. "Unfortunately that year Andrea had a series of injuries and had trouble coming back," Allegri said. "There were never any problems with Andrea and I never questioned Andreas qualities, otherwise I would be considered crazy. Im happy to have him again after three years." Many Juventus fans were critical of the hiring of Allegri. "I understand the fans skepticism, because in the space of a single day their coach was changed," Allegri said. "I hope to win them over with hard work, respect and professionalism. Martin Brodeur Jersey .com) - The Boston Bruins announced Monday that the team has signed goaltender Niklas Svedberg to a one-year contract. Custom New Jersey Devils Jerseys . But last years runner-up Jarkko Nieminen crashed out despite winning the first set against Denis Istomin. Istomin fired 10 aces and won 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-2 to even his career record against Nieminen at 3-3. http://www.devilssale.com/authentic-kyle-palmieri-devils-jersey/ . Louis Cardinals pitcher Jaime Garcia will have surgery on his left shoulder this week and is expected to miss the rest of the season. Miles Wood Devils Jersey . Hoffman, the former star closer, will evaluate and help co-ordinate all pitchers at Double-A, Triple-A and the big league team. Byrnes says Hoffman "will be a key part of finishing the development of our younger pitchers. Miles Wood Jersey ." One game is checked off, 15 remain and the next one to get crossed out could come Tuesday night when the defending champion Heat host the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 2 of their Eastern Conference playoff series.NEW ORLEANS - A reprieve for mercurial quarterback Colin Kaepernick. Redemption for indomitable linebacker Ahmad Brooks.Kaepernick completed a 51-yard pass on fourth down to sustain a tying drive in the final minutes of regulation, Brooks sacked and stripped Drew Brees in overtime, and Phil Dawson kicked a 35-yard field goal to cap San Franciscos stirring 27-24 victory over New Orleans on Sunday.The victory snapped a two-game skid for the Niners (5-4) and marked the first home loss for the Saints (4-5) in more than a season.It was paramount for us to come out with a win, San Francisco left tackle Joe Staley said. You dont like to say must-win, but it was a must-win game. We looked at that game as a playoff game, and we had that mindset coming in.New Orleans had won 11 straight in the Superdome — 20 straight at home in games coached by Sean Payton, who was suspended in 2012. It looked like that streak would continue after New Orleans erased an 11-point halftime deficit and took a lead on Brees 2-yard scoring pass to Jimmy Graham with 1:52 left.Even after the Niners tied it on Dawsons 45-yard field goal with 44 seconds left, the Saints nearly won on the final play of regulation. Brees heaved a long toss that Graham, who played college basketball, leaped up and caught in the end zone — but the star tight end was called for pass interference after appearing to shove defensive back Perrish Cox to the turf.Definitely not a push off. Im running down the field and Im telling myself not to push off. Whatever you do, dont push off. Just go up and get it, Graham said. Its interesting, you know, how guys grab me everywhere on the field and I put literally two fingers on somebody and you make that kind of call. Thats why I switched. Thats why I left basketball, so I could stop being penalized for hitting people.Brooks decisive blow on his sack of Brees had to feel like poetic justice to the Niners defensive stalwart. His unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on a vicious sack and strip in the Superdome a year ago allowed the Saints to pull out a late comeback victory.This time, Brooks play set up Dawsons winning kick with 5:14 remaining in overtime.God smiled down on me today, Brooks said. I was rushing and turning the corner thinking, Dang, is he going to throw the ball yet? But he didnt, and I was able to make the play.Brees wanted to throw ovver the middle to Travaris Cadet, but the running back had tripped, so Brees waited and re-cocked his arm as Cadet got up.ddddddddddddIts a game of inches and split seconds, and they got it out just before my arm was coming forward, Brees said.New Orleans defence, which sacked Kaepernick four times, dominated nearly the entire second half, allowing the Saints to come back. All New Orleans needed was a stop on fourth-and-10 to close the deal.Kaepernick rolled right to buy time, spotted Michael Crabtree deep down field and unloaded his game-saving pass to the Saints 27.Crabtree was about the third or fourth guy I looked at when I was scrambling, Kaepernick said. I wasnt expecting it, but Im happy it happened that way.Brees was intercepted twice, the second time by Chris Culliver late in the first half on a pass intended for Graham, who was at the Niners goal line but had three defenders around him. The squandered scoring chance drew boos.I cant turn the ball over at the rate that Im turning it over and I certainly cant turn it over in the situations that Im turning it over, said Brees, whos thrown 10 interceptions. I would have booed myself on that one.Brees also passed for three scores, and began the Saints second-half comeback spectacularly, spinning away from blitzers Michael Wilhoite and Eric Reid before finding Graham for an 11-yard TD. Brees later marched New Orleans 80 yards in 12 plays, hitting Marques Colston for a fourth-down conversion before punishing a Niners blitz with a quick 2-yard TD pass to Graham.Kaepernick finished 14 of 32 for 210 yards. Anquan Boldin had six catches for 95 yards, including a touchdown. Frank Gore scored on a 4-yard run set up by Antoine Betheas interception.Brees finished 28 of 47 for 292 yards, including 10 connections with Graham for 76 yards and a 31-yard TD to rookie Brandin Cooks.NOTES: San Francisco nose tackle Ian Williams left the game with an injured leg and receiver Bruce Ellington left with an ankle injury. ... Saints cornerback Keenan Lewis was carted off in the first half, then returned in the third quarter, after the Saints had said he would not return. ... Saints safety Vinnie Sunseri left with an arm injury and running back Edwin Baker left with a concussion that occurred on a special teams play.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL ' ' '