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Tennessee general manager Ruston Webster thinks Mike Munchak helped the franchise that drafted him back in 1982 through a challenging time through three seasons as head coach. Unfortunately for Munchak, loyalty to the NFL team with which he spent 31 seasons just wasnt enough anymore. The Titans fired Munchak on Saturday after spending the past week talking about changes needed for a franchise that has not reached the playoffs since 2008 and last won a post-season game in January 2003. "In the end, we were not able to agree just on the future or the direction of the franchise, and I felt it was time to make a change," Webster said at a news conference. "We move ahead into the next phase of the Tennessee Titans and look for the next coach, and also looking for great things." Munchak became the seventh NFL coach fired. He said in a statement issued through the team that he had hoped this day would never come and that he couldnt express his sadness at leaving a franchise he had been with for more than 30 years. "My goal as head coach was to do things the right way with the right people, and I felt confident that the results would follow," Munchak said. "Sometimes rebuilding a team and its culture takes time, but I truly believe we were on the verge of great things. Unfortunately, my vision did not match that of the organization, so we will part ways." Webster now has to oversee this franchises first coaching search since February 2011 when Munchak was promoted and only the second since this franchise left Texas for Tennessee in 1997. Munchak flew to Texas on Friday morning to meet with team president and CEO Tommy Smith and Webster. They returned late in the afternoon. Smith said in a statement that those talks continued into Saturday before the decision to let Munchak go. "Ultimately, we decided it was best to move in different directions," Smith said. "As I told him, we appreciate his efforts as head coach and I think he helped us progress as a team." Munchak had a season left on his contract and was 22-26 overall. He had been with this franchise since 1982 when the then-Houston Oilers made him a first-round draft pick, and he joined the coaching staff as an assistant the year after he retired. The Titans made Munchak their 16th head coach when late owner Bud Adams promoted him after firing Jeff Fisher. But Munchaks first off-season was wiped out by the NFL lockout before his only winning season at 9-7. He went 6-10 after the second off-season was chewed up when Adams ordered his front office to chase Peyton Manning. Adams spent more than $100 million this past off-season to restock the Titans roster and made it clear he wanted a playoff berth. That spending spree landed 13 new free agents, along with seven draft picks making the roster. Smith, Adams son-in-law, was named president and CEO a week after Adams died in October. The Titans went 7-9 losing six games by one possession and also won six games decided by a possession. They also dropped eight of 10 games in one stretch, including five straight at home, with fans showing their displeasure by staying away by the thousands. That didnt change in the season finale with Smith watching even as the Titans beat Houston 16-10. Webster, who praised Munchaks professionalism, said the decision was shared by telephone Saturday. "He was a bridge between having a long tenured coach that had just left, and things had been done a certain way, and an older owner who in his tenure passed away," said Webster, promoted to general manager in January 2012. "I think weve been in a pretty major transition and he was part of that. Hes actually made the place better." Munchak had made it clear over the past couple of weeks that he thought having quarterback Jake Locker available for all 16 games likely would have been the difference in the two or three wins needed to earn this franchises first playoff berth since 2008. Webster wouldnt comment when asked if Munchak wanted an extension past 2014, and changes to the coaching staff likely was another issue. Defensive co-ordinator Jerry Gray and senior assistant coach for defence Gregg Williams both have expiring contracts, and special teams had problems on kick and punt returns until the team signed Leon Washington late. Munchak also promoted an old friend, Chet Parlavecchio, already on his staff as linebackers coach for 2013, and a young group featuring Zach Brown, Colin McCarthy and Akeem Ayers struggled most of the season. Asked if Munchak had been asked to fire six assistants as a condition to stay, Webster called that a "big number." Left guard Andy Levitre, who signed as a free agent in March to play for Munchak, wrote on Twitter: "Unfortunate to hear the news about Coach Munchak. Couldnt be more thankful 4 him giving me this opportunity in Nashville. Wish him the best." Зарегистрируйтесь, чтобы увидеть ссылку! . The agreement comes a little more than one week after the video game manufacturer agreed to a $40 million settlement in a similar but separate case, bringing the total payout planned for athletes to $60 million, said Steve Berman, an attorney for the plaintiffs, and the NCAA. Зарегистрируйтесь, чтобы увидеть ссылку! . The top-ranked Spaniard won his fourth Madrid Open on Sunday after Kei Nishikori was forced to withdraw with a hip injury when trailing 2-6, 6-4, 3-0 in the final. And Nadal, who is coming off to uncharacteristic quarterfinal losses on clay, said his mental strength is still lacking just two weeks ahead of the French Open. Зарегистрируйтесь, чтобы увидеть ссылку!. -- On any given day here at his companys Silicon Valley headquarters, Vivek Ranadive is ready to compete against any employee who wants to challenge him to any contest. Зарегистрируйтесь, чтобы увидеть ссылку! .7 million, one-year contract.The deal, announced Friday, includes a $50,000 performance bonus if the left-hander appears in 60 games. Зарегистрируйтесь, чтобы увидеть ссылку! . 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.PORTLAND, Ore. - On a night that could have gone terribly wrong for the Trail Blazers, Damian Lillard made everything right in the end.Lillard scored 39 points and made the go-ahead basket with 36 seconds remaining as Portland rallied from a 10-point deficit in the second half to beat the Los Angeles Lakers 98-94 Monday night.In the first quarter, Blazers starting guard Wesley Matthews collapsed to the floor and grabbed his left knee while driving to the basket. Matthews was helped to the locker room, then returned to the bench and eventually the game during the second quarter.Matthews, averaging 16.9 points per game, said he had a hyperextended left knee but didnt think it was serious. He played 30 minutes and scored five points.I told him he scared me, because he did, Portland coach Terry Stotts said. I was shocked to see him come back. Im no doctor, but it didnt look good.Lillard hit four 3-pointers, and scored 16 points during the fourth quarter to lead the Blazers (27-8). He has scored at least 39 points in three of his past nine games.LaMarcus Aldridge added 21 points, and reserve centre Meyers Leonard had 12 points and 12 rebounds for Portland.The Lakers (11-24) were without Kobe Bryant, the teams leading scorer at 23.6 points per game. Bryant stayed home for a scheduled day of rest. It was the fourth game Bryant has skipped after sustaining two leg injuries the past two seasons.Jordan Hill led Los Angeles with 23 points and 14 rebounds. Five Lakers scored in double figures, including Jeremy Lin with 14 points.Lillard has had several big scoring performances of late, often with Portland trailing late in the game and the Blazers needing a boost. Such was the case Monday, with the Lakers leading for most of the second half, and 83-76 with 5:55 remaining.Lillard hit back-to-back 3s during a 12-2 run that gave the Blazers an 88-85 lead. During the final 36 seconds, he made the go-ahead basket and three free throws to help Portland secure the win.I dont live for it, but I would like us to play with the type of urgency we did for the last 8 minutes for the entire game. But when its needed, Im definitely not going to shy away from it, Lillard said.Lillard scored 24 points in the second half and several times hit tough, contested shots.He got hot, definitely, and we didnt do a good enough job of disrupting him. Ive got to do a better job of making his life more difficult, Lin said.The Lakers briefly took a 92-91 lead with 43 seconds remaaining on two free throws by Lin.dddddddddddd. But then Lillard immediately went to work, driving to the basket for the go-ahead layup 7 seconds later.Los Angeles took control early in the third quarter, running off 10 consecutive points to take a 61-54 lead. The Lakers led by as many as 10 before Lillard helped the Blazers cut the deficit to 73-70 heading into the fourth.Neither team was able to shake loose in the first half. The Blazers led by as many as seven, but the Lakers closed the second quarter on a 9-4 run to cut the halftime deficit to 47-45.The first-half highlight came when Nick Young chased down a ball in the backcourt, stepped over midcourt and hit a 40-foot 3-pointer to beat the 24-second shot clock.___TIP-INSLakers: Los Angeles forward Wesley Johnson, who injured his hip Sunday against Indiana, could be back as early as next week, coach Byron Scott said. ... Lakers forward Ryan Kelly, who had played just 46 minutes in the first 44 games, made his first start of the season. ... G Ronnie Price took an elbow to his nose during the third quarter and did not return. Scott said Price, who needed 11 stitches, could play Wednesday against the Los Angeles Clippers, but might have to wear a mask.Trail Blazers: Stotts was selected Western Conference coach of the month for December. Portland went 13-3 in December, tying a franchise record for wins in one month. ... C Chris Kaman made his first start of the season. Robin Lopez (broken right hand) and Joel Freeland (right shoulder) are out for an extended period.LEONARDS BIG NIGHTLeonard had his first double-double of the season. The most surprising element of his game came on the perimeter, where he went 3 of 4 from 3-point range. Leonard helped Portland get going in the fourth quarter with a four-point play when he was fouled while hitting a 3-pointer that cut the Lakers lead to 76-74.He played like we needed him to. He was making shots, shooting confident and grabbing rebounds. It was an all-around good performance, Matthews said.LILLARD LIKES LAKERSLillards 39 points was a career best for a home game, breaking his previous high of 38, also against the Lakers. It was the second-highest scoring performance by a Blazers player against Los Angeles; the record is 43 points by Clyde Drexler in 1989. In eight career games against the Lakers, Lillard is averaging 26.3 points.UP NEXTLakers: Wednesday at Los Angeles Clippers.Trail Blazers: Thursday at home against Orlando. ' ' '