VAL GARDENA, Italy -- Canadas Jan Hudec captured his first World Cup medal in nearly two years, winning silver in the mens World

VAL GARDENA, Italy -- Canadas Jan Hudec captured his first World Cup medal in nearly two years, winning silver in the mens World Cup super-G Friday. Andrew Whitworth Youth Jersey . Norways Aksel Lund Svindal increased his overall World Cup, while many contenders, including Manuel Osborne-Paradis of North Vancouver, B.C., skied off course or crashed in difficult conditions. Svindal had a time of one minute 35.82 seconds in a flawless run on the Saslong course to match his wins here in 2009 and last year. It was the Norwegians 24th career win and his third this season, having also won back-to-back speed races in Beaver Creek, Colorado, this month. Norway and Canada train together and share course reports during races in an arrangement that helps the teams compete with powerhouses like Austria, Switzerland and the United States. The skiers have labeled their two-nation team "Can-Norge," using the Norwegian name for Norway. "Its almost like we have a single team in two nations," Hudec said. "We totally have to feed off each others momentum and energy, and it seems to be working." Hudec, from Calgary, finished 0.58 seconds behind for his fifth career World Cup podium appearance and first since February of 2012. Adrian Theaux of France was third, 0.91 back. Erik Guay of Mont Tremblant, Que., was sixth. Hudec, 32, claimed his fifth career World Cup medal and Canadas first this season. "This is just huge," said Hudec. "Its confirmation that Ive been doing the right things and just going with it and being patient. "I knew my time in the sport wasnt up and I wouldnt have carried on skiing if I didnt believe I could do this. I feel pretty blessed that I got to be the first guy on the podium this year but its just a matter of time before Erik and Manny are there, too. We have a great history here and theres no reason we cant do something special in the downhill (Saturday)." With wins worth 100 points each, Svindal moved 125 points ahead of Austrian rival Marcel Hirscher, who does not usually race super-G, in the overall standings. American Ted Ligety remained third, 191 points back, after skiing off course on the top section. Ligety went wide and attempted to make the next gate but then pulled up when he realized it was too risky. Hudec, who opened an optometry store in Calgary this summer, said his result was proof he had been able to manage the challenging task of balancing training and launching his own business. "A lot of people were kind of unsure if I was going to be able to do the business and skiing," he said. "It was a huge pressure for me, making sure everybody on the ski side was happy but also running a business properly. "It forced me to focus 100 per cent on those two things. Today is confirmation that I was able to do a good job at both." Hudecs second-place finish marked the first podium with the mens team for head coach Martin Rufener, who joined Alpine Canada in the summer. "It shows us that we are there," Rufener said. "We needed that to confirm we are on the right track. Its great to see." Osborne-Paradis, who was also fast in the downhill training runs, went out at a time when fog seemed to blanket the top part of the course. "For Erik its great to be sixth," Rufener said. "Manny went out but hes ready for (Saturdays) downhill. Those three guys are right there knocking on the door." Hudec, Guay and Osborne-Paradis had all pre-qualified for nomination to Canadas team for the 2014 Sochi Olympic Winter Games prior to Fridays race. Marie-Michele Gagnon, of Lac-Etchemin, Que., has also pre-qualified on the womens side. Jeffrey Frisch, of Mont-Tremblant, Que., was 33rd, two spots ahead of Robbie Dixon, of Whistler, B.C. Ben Thomsen, of Invermere, B.C., finished 43rd while Conrad and Morgan Pridy of Whistler, B.C., were 45th and 47th, respectively. Svindal also moved atop the super-G standings, 91 points ahead of Patrick Kueng of Switzerland, who went off course midway down his run. Svindal was careful in areas where other racers lost control. "With all the terrain you have to very precise," he said. "You cant really (put) pressure in a lot of places. You have to (absorb) the terrain. I had a good plan and was able to execute it well." Svindal also benefited from hearing Hudecs course report before he started -- and Hudec said he had no reservations about helping the man who then beat him. "Not at all," Hudec said. "He doesnt hold back when he gives course reports and it has to be the same way for us. "I mean theres no way the Austrians would be giving course reports to the Swiss," Hudec added. "But the Norwegians and the Canadians are such like-minded mentalities that we get along well together." American Bode Miller finished eighth for his best speed result of the season, despite trouble landing the final jump, which forced Miller to collide with the last gate, catching his pole and losing precious time. With fog on the top and flat light the rest of the way down, seven of the top 30 starters did not finish and two others were disqualified for missing the final gate -- Peter Fill of Italy and Hannes Reichelt of Austria. Fill had a podium run going until he hit the last gate. Matteo Marsaglia, an Italian who finished second last year, had an ugly fall midway down after failing to land a jump and went barrelling through a gate head first then got twisted around as he slid down the mountain. But he got up and appeared to avoid serious injury. A downhill is scheduled for Saturday then the circuit moves over the Gardena pass into Alta Badia for a giant slalom on Sunday, with Ligety the overwhelming favourite after his emphatic win there last year. Los Angeles Rams Jerseys .C. -- LeBron James called comments on an audio recording of a man identified as Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling "appalling" and said hes not sure if he would suit up for the remainder of the NBA playoffs if he played for the Clippers. Cory Littleton Rams Jersey . The whole deflation of New England Patriots footballs is like a murder mystery without the violence or significance. On one side, this is a ridiculous issue. http://www.ramsrookiestore.com/Rams-Joe-Namath-Jersey/ .C. - Alberta prop Andrew Tiedemann will captain Canada against Uruguay on Friday, the opening day of competition at the IRB Americas Rugby Championship.It was a protest that began with one player sitting for the national anthem. It wasnt until the third game of pre-season that Colin Kaepernick was spotted, and the news story turned into a contentious political chip in the race for presidential election. The 49ers quarterback has been made the week six starter for San Franciscos game against the Buffalo Bills, and is backing himself to impress after restructuring his contract to remove an injury guarantee. But the six-year veteran, who helped the 49ers to the 2012 Super Bowl, has been in the spotlight all season after refusing to stand for the Star Spangled Banner, which plays ahead of every game.Despite being the back up so far this season, Kaepernick jerseys are the highest selling on the NFLs online site, and players - both team-mates and opposition - are growing in their support for his cause, which he announced after the 49ers pre-season game against the Green Bay Packers. I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of colour, Kaepernick said.To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder. Kaepernick has been kneeling since the pre-season, and will continue to do so as he starts his first game of 2016 Kaepernick, born to a white mother and African-American father, and adopted as a baby by a white family in Wisconsin, has polarised opinion with his decision to kneel during the national anthem. The 49ers organisation, while not supporting their player, have stated that it is Kaepernicks right to protest, and have donated $1m to improve collaboration between law enforcement and the communities of the Bay Area. However, this is a larger issue than one city or state. Residents in North Carolina rioted after Keith Lamont Scott was shot by police on Tuesday, September 20. Speaking in the midst of the trouble, Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton said he was in a lose-lose situation when talking about social justice as people were too quick to comment.Im in a position now where its like, if I say something, its going to be critiqued, said Newton. And if I dont say something, oh, you fake. Im a firm believer of justice. Im a firm believer of doing the right thing. And I cant repeat it enough; of just holding people accountable.Im an African-American. I am not happy with how justice has kind of been dealt with over the years - the state of oppression in our community. Kubiak to miss week six Denver Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak to miss game vs Chargers Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman also used his latest press conference to address the social issues surrounding Kaepernicks protest.The reason these guys are kneeling, the reason were locking arms is to bring people together to make people aware that this is not right. Its not right for people to get killed in the street.And so when a guy takes a knee, you can ignore it. You can say hes not being patriotic, hes not honouring the flag. Im doing none of those things. Im saying, straight up, this is wrong and we need to do something.Athletes making a statement is noot something new, or limited to the NFL. Tyler Higbee Jersey. At the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, Tommie Smith and John Carlos raised their fists in a black power salute, demonstrating against the treatment of black Americans. Tommie Smith and John Carlos raised their fists in a civil rights gesture at the 1968 Olympics In recent years, the St Louis Rams and LeBron James have actively protested social justice issues, but Kaepernicks continued stance has led players from all franchises supporting the quarterback.Greg Milam, US Correspondent for Sky News, believes that what started as one man making a stand for a cause has now become a vehicle for certainly raising, if not addressing the social issues in America today. There is no doubt that this is now a national talking point, especially since he took his protest into the first Monday Night Football game, he said. From a lone act in a pre-season game to now, the fact that other players have joined in, along with players in other sports, with audiences in the tens of millions, I think has taken this to another level.All of the increased attention, the debate and anger, also makes people wary - the issues around injustice faced by minority communities are extremely emotive and, as weve seen before, those tensions can boil over. The fact is that this is an uncomfortable issue for so many people, though, that is kind of the point Kaepernick is making. Basketball star LeBron James wore an I cant breathe t-shirt, displaying the last words of Eric Garner in 2014 Milam believes that a sporting protest was too big of a stage for American politics to ignore. With the country due to elect their new president in November, the issue has not escaped the politicians. President Barack Obama was quick to support Kaepernicks right to protest.In some ways, that has more to do with how American politics works today, jumping on a bandwagon, getting some airtime, but this years race has been divisive and there are a lot of angry people out there. An issue with sport, race, injustice and national pride is too big a target, said Milam.It also means that it is sometimes hard for the facts (that the players say they respect the military, for example) to be heard above the noise and outrage. The very fact that that the national anthem is played at regular sporting events in the US is evidence of just how seriously people take pride in America. Rams players Tavon Austin, Jared Cook and Chris Givens were criticised after they made this gesture in 2014 With Kaepernick starting his first game of 2016, the focus will be on the quarterback more than ever. The highly contentious nature of this debate will continue to divide fans, but it promises to keep the subject in the headlines, all the way until the presidential election on November 8. Also See: NFL week five highlights Neil Reynolds Pick Six WATCH: Sunday Blitz NFL week five round-up ' ' '