PARIS - Bordeaux coach Willy Sagnol has apologized for making disparaging comments about African players in football, although he still maintains they were misinterpreted against a backlash of widespread criticism. Vapormax Flyknit Falsas .Sagnol, capped 58 times by France and a member of the team which lost the 2006 World Cup final, gave a question and answer session Tuesday to readers of Sud Ouest regional newspaper when the subject of African players was raised.The advantage of what I would call the typical African player is that he isnt expensive when you sign him, (he is) a player who is ready for combat, but football isnt just about that, Sagnol said.Explaining himself, he continued: Football is also (about) technique, intelligence. You need a bit of everything. You need Nordics too, Nordics are good.Speaking Thursday at a pre-match news conference ahead of Saturdays game with Lens, Sagnol tried to explain his comments.If by my lack of clarity, or my imperfect semantics, I may have shocked, humiliated or hurt people then I am sorry, Sagnol said. The interpretation that these people may have made does not reflect my way of thinking in any way or my humanist convictions.However, he said the comments made sense in a sporting context.When I spoke about the African (player) who is cheaper and ready for combat, I simply meant to talk about the young African player arriving in Europe with all of his will to win and often to escape from a precarious situation, Sagnol continued as he read from pre-prepared notes. Then, since we were in a debate about football, the intelligence I spoke of was obviously related to tactical intelligence. The forming of young players in Africa, probably because of a lack of financial means, or (lack) of infrastructure, isnt always as complete as whats available in Europe.Sagnol distanced himself from accusations that his viewpoint was offensive.In no way did I mean to talk about an individuals intelligence in the proper sense of the term. Regarding certain accusations of racism, Im 37 (and) Ive spent 32 of them in a football dressing room. Ive never had a problem with anyone, the former Bayern Munich player said.But Lens coach Antoine Kombouare, who was born in New Caledonia, is among those who felt offended by Sagnol.Lets make things clear: this is not a case of him being clumsy. Hes really messed up, Kombouare said. What he said is serious. Its unacceptable. Explaining that an African player is cheaper ... I felt humiliated and hurt.The International League against Racism and Anti-Semitism (LICRA) strongly condemned Sagnol, as did former Marseille president Pape Diouf, who called for African players to boycott one round of French league games in protest.French Football Federation president Noel Le Graet, who formerly employed Sagnol as coach of Frances Under-21 side, defended him, while former teammate Lilian Thuram — an active anti-racism campaigner — was more measured.I played alongside Willy, hes somebody I respect. I know him very well, Thuram told Sud Ouest. I dont think you should put Willy Sagnol on trial, but you should put prejudice on trial. Each one of us harbours some prejudice, which is why people working in football, who have a certain exposure to the media, should be educated on this subject.Sagnols captain at Bordeaux is Senegal international Lamine Sane, who called Sagnols comments clumsy before defending him, as did club president Jean-Louis Triaud.He doesnt have any twisted ideas. He believes in all the black players in the team, Sane told French radio. We believe in him and we hope to go very far with him.Bordeaux forward Henri Saivet, who is black, told RMC radio that Sagnol apologized.We all now pertinently well that the coach is not a racist, Saivet said. Its true that, at first, we asked ourselves a few questions. But he explained how it happened. He apologized to the players. That was very important. Nike Air Vapormax Flyknit 2 Rebajas . -- Clayton Kershaw and Hyun-Jin Ryu will be the Dodgers starting pitchers in their two-game season-opening series in Australia against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Vapormax Off White Negras . This is an exercise I have undertaken a few times, starting in 2009, and hope that Ive refined my approach a little bit in that time to help paint a better picture. http://www.vapormaxbaratas.com/ . They never thought it would take some blood, too. Kevin Love grabbed his 4,000th career rebound as part of a 19-point, 13-board effort to lead the Timberwolves over the Utah Jazz 112-97 on Tuesday night. EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The Pittsburgh Steelers were tired of seeing that dreadful zero in the win column. Now, theyve got one victory. They think this could be only the beginning. Ben Roethlisberger threw a 55-yard touchdown pass to Emmanuel Sanders, Shaun Suisham kicked four field goals, and the Steelers won their first game by beating the New York Jets 19-6 on Sunday. "Were not going to quit," defensive end Brett Keisel said. "Obviously, it wasnt the start we wanted, but the men in this locker room believe theres a chance that something great could come out of this if we all work toward it." The Steelers (1-4) were off to their worst start since 1968, when they lost their first six games during a season in which they finished 2-11-1. "Oh, its big," Roethlisberger said. The victory was also the 600th in franchise history, including the post-season, as Pittsburgh became only the fourth team to reach the milestone and the first from the AFC. "Its tough because when you have that zero, your mind automatically goes to, Lets get this first win," safety Ryan Clark said. "Now, youre just trying to win each game and theres not as much pressure on each and every play." Pittsburgh was coming off a bye after last playing two weeks ago in London, a 34-27 loss to Minnesota at Wembley Stadium. The Steelers appeared quite a bit sharper than New York, which had a short week to prepare after a 30-28 win at Atlanta last Monday night. "I think getting away (helped), having a bye and everyone looking in the mirror, to see what you can do to help this team win," said Keisel, who left with a rib injury but doesnt expect to be sidelined. Geno Smith was intercepted twice by a Steelers defence that entered as the only team without a takeaway. The last came with the Jets (3-3) at the Steelers 12 with just over 3 minutes left when Smith was hit by Jarvis Jones as he threw. The wobbly pass was picked off by Lawrence Timmons -- sealing the win for Pittsburgh. "Im just frustrated to lose the game," Smith said. "I understand theres going to be growing pains and things to learn, but we dont go out there with that mindset." It could be a costly loss for the Jets. Running back Bilal Powell (sshoulder), wide receiver Clyde Gates (shoulder), cornerback Kyle Wilson (head) and running back Mike Goodson (knee) all left and didnt return. Vapormax Flyknit 3 Hombre. There was no immediate word on the severity of the injuries. "They outplayed us," Jets coach Rex Ryan said. "We have to play with more consistency, obviously. Were striving for consistency and were not quite there. "We have to get there in a hurry." Roethlisberger finished 23 of 30 for 264 yards. Antonio Brown had nine catches for 86 yards and also completed a 15-yard pass, and Heath Miller caught six passes for 84 yards. Smith, who was turnover-free at Atlanta while throwing for three touchdowns, was 19 of 34 for 201 yards. Sanders gave Pittsburgh a 16-6 lead just 2:30 into the second half with his 55-yard grab. On a third-and-1 play, he got in front of Antonio Cromartie -- who was questionable with a hyperextended knee -- and was wide open as Roethlisbergers throw arrived. Sanders sprinted the remaining 20 yards untouched before doing a leaping somersault into the end zone. "I looked up and saw Emmanuel running by himself and kind of had to hesitate for a second because I couldnt believe he was so wide open," Roethlisberger said. "The only thought in my head was, Dont overthrow him." Pittsburgh got its first takeaway of the season -- a span of 18-plus quarters -- on the Jets next possession when Clark picked off Smiths throw to Konrad Reuland into triple coverage in the red zone. The rookie later said he was trying to throw the ball away. "We have the mindset that we can climb out of this hole together," Keisel said. "This was a step in the right direction." NOTES: Steelers defensive co-ordinator Dick LeBeau improved to 16-2 in his career against rookie QBs. ... Since 2010, the Steelers are 14-1 when Roethlisbergers passer rating is above 100. It was 113.8 vs. the Jets. ... Steelers OT Levi Brown, acquired last week from Arizona, was a late scratch after injuring his right triceps during pregame warmups. TE David Johnson left early in the first quarter with an injured left wrist and didnt return. ... The Jets inducted DT Marty Lyons, who played for the team from 1979-89, into their Ring of Honor at halftime. ' ' '