a $12 million, two-year deal to avoid free agency. T

South Africa is set to get a T20 Premier League of its own after the board was presented with a proposal for an eight-team tournament, which will run separately to other domestic cricket in the country. If approved, the competition will begin in the 2017-18 season and will take place in November-December, with a final pencilled in for December 16, a public holiday in South Africa.Should the new tournament become a reality, it would drastically alter South Africas twenty-over landscape, which is languishing behind other countries. While the IPL, BBL, CPL, BPL, PSL and NatWest T20 Blast continue to attract big names, South Africas Ram Slam competition has struggled to do the same. The weak Rand and the scheduling - which often coincides with international cricket, including fixtures played by South Africa - are to blame.CSA intended to fix the second of those this season, when, in February, they moved a Test against Sri Lanka to ensure South African internationals could be available for the Ram Slam. But, when the domestic fixtures were announced in June it emerged that several players will be unavailable for that tournament because they will be playing Test cricket in Australia, meaning the 2016-17 Ram Slam will not be too dissimilar to its predecessors.There will be at least one big name, with Kevin Pietersen signing for Dolphins for the second season in succession. South Africas domestic twenty-over tournaments have had a small selection of players of Pietersens profile involved, mostly from the Caribbean. In previous seasons, Chris Gayle played for Dolphins, Kieron Pollard for Cobras, Sohail Tanvir for Lions, Andre Russell for Knights, and Darren Sammy for Titans, but the domestic transformation targets and the small number of franchise teams make it difficult to attract more big names.For that reason, there has been talk of an expansion into eight franchises, which CSA is mulling across all formats, but it is likely to be implemented in this new T20 event first. Details regarding the funding of the competition are yet to be revealed. Cheap Bills Jerseys . Rob Manfred, baseballs chief operating officer, testified last week during the grievance filed by the players union to overturn Rodriguezs 211-game suspension. A person familiar with the hearing, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The Associated Press on Saturday that Manfred testified the sport wasnt concerned whether Bosch distributed performance-enhancing drugs to minors because MLBs interest was his relationship with players under investigation. Wholesale Custom Bills Shirts . After taking two big hits this week -- losing at home and dropping back-to-back games for the first time all season -- Indiana struck back by playing its most complete game of the year. http://www.custombillsjersey.com/custom-ed-oliver-jersey-large-74a.html . Dukurs winning time was 1 minute, 45.76 seconds, a quarter-second better than Russias Alexander Tretiakov. Lativas Tomass Dukurs was third, 1.41 seconds off the pace. Jon Montgomery of Eckville, Alta. Ed Oliver Jersey Large . After Mondays hard-fought loss, the wait seemed longer than usual. Getting set to go their separate ways for a short Christmas break, the Raptors coach credited his team for their effort on a seemingly impossible three-game road trip, urging them to build on that success when they get back to work at the end of the week. Custom Bills T-shirts . General manager Jarmo Kekalainen told Aaron Portzline of The Columbus Dispatch on Friday that he wants to see Gaboriks contributions go beyond the scoresheet before considering a long-term deal for the soon-to-be unrestricted free agent. SAN DIEGO -- The Chargers are still in San Diego, at least for this season.Beyond that is anyones guess as the team opens training camp in preparation for what could be the most pivotal season in its history.After getting rebuffed by fellow NFL owners on moving to an industrial suburb of Los Angeles along with the Rams, chairman Dean Spanos committed to San Diego at least for 2016. Spanos is trying to get voters to approve a new downtown stadium and convention center annex not far from Petco Park, home to baseballs Padres.I was always pretty skeptical about moving, just because Ive been here for so long, said star tight end Antonio Gates, who signed a two-year contract extension to assure hell retire as a Charger. The fans have been phenomenal over the 13 years Ive been here. Its one of those things where, to me, this is home. This is where the Chargers belong. I understand the business side of it. I understand that decisions had to be made. But Im a Charger. Im a San Diego Charger.Last season was bruising on the field, where the Chargers went 4-12, and off it, where ownership waged a scorched-earth battle with City Hall as it tried to leave.The dramas far from over, though.The Chargers have placed a citizens initiative on the Nov. 8 ballot seeking to raise the hotel tax to heavily subsidize a downtown convadium to replace aging Qualcomm Stadium in Mission Valley. Polls show the Chargers are way behind in convincing the voters, not to mention the powerful tourism industry that doesnt like the Chargers plans for a non-contiguous expansion of the waterfront convention center. If things dont work out in San Diego, the Chargers have the right to join the Rams, who won the race to L.A., in a stadium in Inglewood set to open in 2019.Here are some things to look for as the Chargers open training camp on July 30:BOSA: Ohio State star defensive end Joey Bosa, the third overall pick in the draft, skipped mandatory minicamp in June in a contract dispute and its unclear how long he might sit out. One of his agents, Tom Condon, famously told the Chargers before the 2004 draft not to take Eli Manning. They did anyway, and then swapped him for Philip Rivers. Condon also had high-profile spats with the Chargers in the past involving clients LaDainian Tomlinson and Drew Brees. When he sshows up, Bosa will add some punch to a defense that came on during the second half of last season.ddddddddddddWOE LINE: The Chargers have to improve on the offensive line. Too many injuries and too much subpar play did then in last year, whether it was trying to open holes for rookie Melvin Gordon or protecting Rivers. The Chargers upgraded at center by signing free agent center Matt Slauson, and signed right tackle Joe Barksdale to a long-term deal. Whether its conditioning or technique, the Chargers need to figure out why so many of their linemen get hurt.MELVIN GORDON: The running back anticipates being close to 100 percent by the start of camp after having microfracture surgery on his left knee in January. His rookie season was nothing short of miserable, as he failed to score a touchdown or manage a 100-yard game before injuring his knee late in the season. He also fumbled six times, losing four, and was benched twice. The Chargers drafted his college teammate, fullback Derek Watt, the younger brother of Texans star defensive end J.J. Watt.AGELESS GATES: The 36-year-old signed a $12 million, two-year deal to avoid free agency. The 2016 season will be Gates 14th with the Chargers. He signed as a rookie free agent in 2003 after starring in basketball at Kent State. Gates was suspended for the first four games of 2015 after testing positive for a banned substance. Upon returning, he had 56 catches for 630 yards and five touchdowns. Gates is the franchise leader with 844 catches, 10,644 yards receiving and 104 touchdown catches. Rivers and Gates have connected for 77 touchdown passes, making them the most prolific quarterback-tight end combo in league history.OTHER GUYS: Two other draft picks expected to help right away are inside linebacker Joshua Perry from Ohio State and sure-handed tight end Hunter Henry from Arkansas. General manager Tom Telesco had a decent haul in free agency, adding defensive tackle Brandon Mebane, free safety Dwight Lowery, cornerback Casey Hayward and wide receiver Travis Benjamin.---Follow Bernie Wilson on Twitter at http://twitter.com/berniewilson---Online: http://pro32.ap.org/poll and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '