~~**GÄSTEBEREICH**~~ » the balance of power has changed in the NBA.

ZURICH - Three second-tier World Cup sponsors opting not to renew for the 2018 tournament in Russia was normal in sports business, FIFA insisted on Friday.Castrol, Continental and Johnson & Johnson all let their World Cup commercial deals expire in December amid widespread allegations of corruption implicating FIFA executive committee members.The companies were among eight second-tier FIFA partners who collectively paid $524 million to be associated with the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, which earned more than $4 billion for the governing body.The 2018 tournament is expected to earn at least $5 billion with improved broadcasting deals, and a new FIFA marketing strategy to include more sponsors.Though sponsors have been urged to speak out against claims of corruption and FIFAs unwillingness to reform, none of the three departing backers voiced public criticism.In a statement on Friday, FIFA marketing director Thierry Weil said their leaving was normal.Rotations at the end of a sponsorship cycle are commonplace in the sports industry, Weil said. It is natural that as brands strategies evolve they reassess their sponsorship properties.Five of FIFAs top 14 commercial partners have left in the past six months. Top-tier sponsors Sony and Emirates declined to renew for a two-tournament deal also covering the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.It is widely expected that Samsung and Qatar Airways will step in as replacements. Russian energy company Gazprom has also signed a top-tier deal.Weil cites advanced negotiations with potential partners for the 2018 World Cup, where FIFA intends having more sponsors than in 2014.FIFA plans for 20 third-tier sponsors on regional deals worldwide instead of eight national sponsors in the host country.Of the eight second-tier sponsors, Budweiser and McDonalds already renewed for 2018.Sponsor deals cover a four-year cycle of tournaments, and would typically include the Womens World Cup kicking off in June in Canada.Still, FIFA has not committed to a timetable to confirm new contracts.We expect interest to grow even more as the Confederations Cup 2017 and 2018 World Cup draw closer, Weil said. Wholesale Panthers Jerseys . 22 because of a bruised foot and have added forward Sean Collins to the roster on emergency recall from Springfield of the AHL. Cheap Adidas NHL Jerseys . "This isnt really the week you want to lose Chris Greaves," fellow lineman Glenn January said Wednesday after practice. Greaves is expected to miss several weeks after suffering a knee injury in last weeks 36-28 win over the Ottawa Redblacks. http://www.cheapfloridapanthersjerseys.c...h-yandle-jersey. The above paragraph could be rewritten, verbatim, with Marcus Stromans name in place of Romeros. After both men had disastrous outings in Tuesdays 18-4 mauling at the hands of the Tigers, its clear that neither is the best option to begin the season in Toronto. Jonathan Huberdeau Jersey . The native of Mont-Tremblant, Que., captured a World Cup downhill event Saturday, his second this year and fifth career victory on the circuit. MacKenzie Weegar Jersey . Louis Blues are reportedly taking restricted free agent forward Vladimir Sobotka to arbitration.In a stunning turn of events, the best basketball player on the planet has changed teams through free agency. Numbers Game breaks down the biggest move of the NBA summer, one of the most remarkable free agent moves in NBA history. The Cavaliers Get: SF LeBron James. James, 29, has been the best player in basketball over the past decade. In 11 NBA seasons, hes averaging 27.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, 6.9 assists and 1.7 steals per game. In the history of the NBA, there are three other players that have averaged at least 25 points, five rebounds and five assists per game and the list is spectacular: Michael Jordan, Jerry West and Oscar Robertson. If LeBron is not at the peak of his powers, hes awfully close. Hes shot 56.6% from the field over the past two seasons and last seasons True Shooting Percentage (combining twos, threes and free throws) of 64.9% was the best of his career. As James has improved his jump shot, hes become ever more dangerous offensively because, in the open floor, hes still a finisher without peer, moving a 6-foot-8, 260-pound frame with unmatched athleticism and control. Part of the reason that James has been the best in the league is that he has a toolbox that others cant compete with. No one else that size can move like LeBron. Thats not to diminish his game, because its more than merely bulling his way to the basket. Hes as unselfish with the ball as any NBA superstar, can play effectively anywhere on the floor when needed and has expanded his offensive repertoire, adding more post-ups in recent years. Undoubtedly, LeBron is great. An all-timer. But there have been signs of age catching up to him, if ever-so-slightly. Hes been extremely durable throughout his career, never missing more than seven games in a season, but his back acted up at times last season and thats worth keeping an eye on, lest we be fooled into believing that hes superhuman. Returning to Cleveland, James is going to invigorate a franchise that has been a rudderless mess since he left in 2010. As the roster is currently constructed, PG Kyrie Irving, SG Dion Waiters, PF Tristan Thompson and C Anderson Varejao could easily surround James in the starting lineup. But, the Cavs may try to move Waiters, hoping to keep first overall pick Andrew Wiggins, in an attempt to land PF Kevin Love from the Minnesota Timberwolves. Even if Wiggins has to be moved to get that deal done, the Cavs would have an excellent starting five. One of the facets that James brings to a team is that he makes any team instantly desirable as a destination. Players that want to win recognize the opportunity to do that with LeBron, who won two titles and lost two NBA Finals in four seasons wwith the Miami Heat.dddddddddddd Adding someone like Love to a team that has James and an up-and-coming point guard like Irving is enough to be the team to beat in the Eastern Conference. For a team that won 33 games last season, its a dramatic upturn in their fortunes. But, worry about Love when Love joins the Cavs. James arrival makes the Cavaliers a playoff team and they have the young assets, gained through top draft picks, to either surround James with a capable supporting cast or to move some of those pieces in order to accelerate the plans. Its a difficult weight to bear, as the player deemed to be the best on the planet. LeBron enjoyed his time and success in Miami, but there may have been something pushing him in that direction, away from Cleveland in the first place, to chase championship rings because, like every other challenger to the throne, he sees Michael Jordans six championship rings and knows thats the benchmark in the modern era. Maybe LeBron will get to six championship rings someday. Depending on how the Cavaliers roster shakes out, its certainly feasible that they will be contenders every year that James is there. But, when it comes to an enduring legacy, maybe it means more to an Akron, Ohio kid to win one for Cleveland, where there hasnt been a championship in forever (the Browns last won the NFL title in 1964) and maybe LeBron, having been there and done that, feels like he can lead a Cleveland team to a title. Whatever the reason, and LeBron was much more eloquent and self-aware in expressing this decision, the balance of power has changed in the NBA. For the first time since 2009-2010, the Cavs will be good again and, depending on who joins LeBron, they could be great, just like that. Conversely, the Miami Heat are going to be starting over. With LeBron leaving, Chris Bosh is reportedly on his way to Houston, leaving a 32-year-old Dwyane Wade to pick up the pieces. Wade opted out of his contract, too, so he could always move on, but the opportunity to get paid is going to rest with the Heat, who currently have two players under contract for next season. Lots of work to do and it wont be easy. South Beach might be a great lure, but pulling together a roster, virtually from scratch, will be a challenge. When the best player in the sport willingly makes a move to another team, it can send shockwaves through the sports world. This one will have ripple effects, to be felt throughout the summer, as the new NBA landscape is dictated by LeBrons decision to go home. Scott Cullen can be reached at Scott.Cullen@bellmedia.ca and followed on Twitter at http://twitter.com/tsnscottcullen. For more, check out TSN Fantasy on Facebook. ' ' '