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By chance, Ronald "Popeye" Jones bumped into Joe Sakic in the weight room of the arena in Denver way back when. It shouldnt have been a big deal. After all, Jones Denver Nuggets and Sakics Colorado Avalanche shared the Pepsi Center. Jones, a 6-foot-8 power forward, had more than casual conversation in mind for their first meeting almost 13 years ago, though. He told Sakic, a two-time Stanley Cup winner, that he had two young boys who wanted to play hockey and no clue how to help them. "He looked at me all the way up and into my eyes," Jones said. "He saw how big I was. He said, Hes going to be huge. Make sure he knows how to skate." So Jones signed up his boys, including youngest, Seth, for skating lessons. Sakics small piece of advice turned around one boys direction. Now, its Seths turn to return the favour for an organization. The 18-year-old Jones has grown into one of the top prospects in hockey and is the consensus No. 1 pick in the NHL draft later this month. That pick belongs to the Avalanche — now led by Sakic, the teams former captain who was recently promoted to executive vice-president of hockey operations. "All the goals hes set as a hockey player," Popeye said, "hes been able to accomplish." Hows that for a proud pop? Popeye, Seths mother and other friends and relatives will attend the June 30 draft at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. Popeye worked last season as an assistant coach with the Brooklyn Nets and lives about 20 minutes from the draft site. Dad was a second-round pick, 41st overall. Seth could be the first black player ever taken No. 1 in the NHL draft. "Im trying to embrace it," Seth said. "Its going to be fun in New Jersey, for sure. I cant wait to share those experiences with my family." It may be a pretty big family reunion in Denver. Jones older brother, Justin, also played hockey and they all got along with Patrick Roys family as they grew up. The Roys and Joneses were close and spent time at each others houses, in fact. And it just so happens that Roy — a former goaltender who also won a Stanley Cup with the Avalanche — was just hired to coach Colorado after the rebuilding franchise missed the playoffs. "Jones is a heck of a player," Roy said. "No matter what the decision for our organization — are we going to keep first overall, are we going to move first overall, whatever were going to do, we know that the team that picks first, second or third are going to get three outstanding players." Jones, Nathan MacKinnon and Jonathan Drouin are expected to go 1-2-3 in the draft. The Florida Panthers hold the second draft pick and the Tampa Bay Lightning are No. 3. Based on talent and need, Jones shouldnt drop past the Avalanche. The 6-foot-4, 206-pound defenceman met with members of the Avalanche scouting team last month before moving on to the NHL draft combine in Toronto. He would become the first American picked No. 1 since Chicagos Patrick Kane in 2007 and seventh overall. In a sport where the majority percentage of players are white, its that slice of history he would make as the first black selected No. 1 — topping Evander Kane, picked fourth 2009 — that means so much to both of them. "I dont think about it too much," Seth said. "Hopefully, I can encourage young African-Americans to play hockey and try it when theyre at a young age. Its definitely a white-dominated sport. But there are a lot more that are starting to play." Kane, Pittsburghs Jarome Iginla, Philadelphias Wayne Simmonds and Washingtons Joel Ward are among the more prominent black players in the NHL. Ward was the victim of a series of racist tweets during last years playoffs after scoring the winning goal in Game 7 against Boston. During a preseason game last year, a fan threw a banana on the ice at Simmonds. Those are gloomy signs that, unlike the other big three sports, tolerance is a still a problem. "Theres never been one racial thing that happened to him," Popeye said. "I think his teammates always accepted him for Seth Jones the hockey player, the great teammate, the great team player. He never put himself above anybody. Theyve always accepted him for who he was and never looked at race." Theyve been awed looking at his career arc, though. He blossomed when he was still in elementary school and played in Pee Wee tournaments in Quebec City at 10 years old. The tournaments, however, were meant for kids 11 and 12. And he has won three gold medals in international play, including this year at the World Junior Ice Hockey championship. So, hes already seasoned, globally, as a competitor. Jones played two seasons in Toronto and was stopped in arenas each time he watched Seth play. "Theyd say, What are you doing in the hockey rink? Whats your kid doing out here playing hockey," Popeye said. "Why arent you at the gym playing basketball?" Jones, who averaged a modest 7.0 points over an 11-year career, realized early on that getting Seth to follow in his sneakers was a lost cause. Sure, little Seth tagged along with dad to the gym and theyd bond watching the NBA finals together. But those 1-on-1 father-son games in the driveway never caught steam and Seth did not play organized basketball growing up. He simply had no desire, because hockey was his passion. "That was all the motivation that I had," Seth said. With Popeye on the road, Seths mother, Amy, steered her son down the right path from home. "Mom taught me everything from how to be a young man, to a handshake, eye contact, all sorts of things," Seth said. "She just wanted me to be respectful." Seth spent more time with his dad when the latter was an assistant coach for a few seasons in Dallas. Seth broadened his worth ethic by watching how tirelessly players like Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Kidd and Jason Terry prepared for every practice and game all season. "You can tell anyone how to be a pro," Popeye said. "But until they see it with their own eyes, its put a whole new light about what it really takes." Lesson learned. Now its Seths turn to take all hes learned and show a team like Colorado hes ready to make an impact next season. "Its a special category to be put in. Colorado would be special," Seth said, "but at the end of the day, my goal is play in the NHL." That goal is about to be met.Emmitt Smith Jersey . Having already announced that the race will start May 9 with three stages in Northern Ireland and Ireland and finish in Trieste on June 1, the rest of the route was unveiled Monday. Roger Staubach Cowboys Jersey . Louis Blues absence from top spot in the TSN. http://www.cowboysfootballgearshop.com/darren-woodson-jersey/ .05 million next season unless Graham and the Saints subsequently agree on a long-term deal. The designation was released Monday after the deadline passed for NFL teams to use franchise or transition tags on players becoming free agents. Custom Dallas Cowboys Jerseys .C. at the helm of the top team in the Eastern Conference. His tenure as the GM in Vancouver was all too brief. Though he led the Canucks to what was then a franchise record-shattering campaign in just his second season, Nonis was gone and replaced one year later. Robert Newhouse Cowboys Jersey . LOUIS -- Mike Smith is used to facing plenty of shots, so this was nothing new.MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. -- DeMarco Murray found room on the flanks and then shimmed for extra yards. Marcus Mariota kept scrambling up the middle past the first-down marker before sliding to safety.Smashmouth, Titans style.There was muscle involved, but also lots of finesse as Tennessee rushed for 235 yards Sunday to grind up the Miami Dolphins, 30-17.The offensive approach was the sort coach Mike Mularkey envisioned when the Titans signed Murray last spring.It kind of gives you an example of what were capable of, Mularkey said. We just need to do it like that consistently.The Titans (2-3) clawed back into the conversation in the AFC South, while the Dolphins (1-4) appear destined for an eighth consecutive year out of the playoffs. Here are some things to know about both teams:GROUND GAME: Murray ran for 121 yards, Mariota dashed for 60 and Derrick Henry added 54 to give the Titans their most productive rushing performance since 2009. They averaged 5.7 yards per attempt.The guys up front did a great job, Mariota said. They controlled the line of scrimmage and really allowed us to do what we want. If we can run the football the way we did today, it will really open up some things in the passing game.Thats what happened against Miami. Mariota was an efficient 20 for 29 for 163 yards, with no turnovers, no sacks and three scores.He completed passes to eight receivers. The touchdowns covered 5 yards to Andre Johnson, 20 yards to Delanie Walker and 4 yards to former Dolphin Rishard Matthews.In addition, Mariota repeatedly hurt the Dolphins with his legs, including a 5-yard keeper for his first rushing touchdown of the year.TANNEHILLS TRIALS: Miami quarterback Ryan Tannehill was sacked six times , but hes not getting sacked by his coach.The Dolphins totaled just eight first downs, and disgruntled fans chanted for Tannehills backup, Matt Moore. First-year Miami coach Adam Gase is staying with the fifth-year starter, however.Hes not coming out, Gase said. You can ask me 100 times. Hes going to be in there the rest of the season.ddddddddddddThe Dolphins were without both starters on the left side of the offensive line. Rookie guard Laremy Tunsil hurt an ankle during the pregame, and tackle Branden Albert was too weak to play after battling a virus and losing 12 pounds.I felt we had plenty of guys to fill the roles we need to fill, Gase said. We just have to do a better job.GOOD HALF: The Titans started fast, for them, and finished the first half strong.Mariotas scored the games first points with 23 seconds left in the first quarter. It was Tennessees first TD in the opening period all year.He directed a 75-yard touchdown drive in the final two minutes of the half, completing all five of his passes in the series to put the Titans ahead 21-14.The former Oregon star is accustomed to playing hurry-up.Ive just operated in that kind of realm for a long time, so Im really comfortable in it, Mariota said.SUDDEN STRIKES: Miami would have been shut out if not for three big plays. Rookie Jakeem Grant scored on a 74-yard punt return , Damien Williams had a 58-yard catch-and-run to set up a touchdown, and DeVante Parker made a 50-yard reception that led to a field goal.Those hurt us and kept them really in the game, Mularkey said.UP NEXT: The Titans play Cleveland next Sunday in the first of three consecutive home games.Cant look too far in the future, Mariota said. Its nice that well be home for a few weeks now. Hopefully this will build into some momentum.The Dolphins, already three games behind New England in the AFC East, continue a four-game homestand when they play Pittsburgh.You better play this thing out, Gase said. You never know what is going to happen.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL---Follow Steven Wine on Twitter: http://twitter.com/Steve-Wine. His work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/steven-wine ' ' '