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NEW YORK -- Alex Rodriguez ended his extended and acrimonious fight with Major League Baseball on Friday, withdrawing a pair of lawsuits and accepting a season-long suspension that marks the longest penalty in the sports history related to performance-enhancing drugs. Cheap Detroit Lions Jerseys . Rodriguez, who has steadfastly denied using banned substances while with the New York Yankees, made the decision nearly four weeks after arbitrator Fredric Horowitz largely upheld the discipline issued last summer by baseball Commissioner Bud Selig. "I think its a good move for him," former Commissioner Fay Vincent said. "A-Rod had no chance legally, and the commissioner got his authority validated." Rodriguez was among 14 players suspended last summer following MLBs investigation of a Florida anti-aging clinic accused of distributing banned substances. Given the harshest punishment, A-Rod was the only player to contest his penalty. The Major League Baseball Players Association filed a grievance, arguing Rodriguezs 211-game ban was unwarranted or at the very least excessive. Rodriguez also sued MLB and Selig in October, accusing them of "vigilante justice" as part of a "witch hunt" against him. Horowitz presided over 12 days of hearings last fall highlighted by Rodriguezs decision not to testify. Horowitz concluded on Jan. 11 there was "clear and convincing evidence" Rodriguez used three banned substances over the course of three years -- human growth hormone, testosterone and Insulin-like growth factor 1. Horowitz also ruled A-Rod twice tried to obstruct baseballs investigation, but he nonetheless reduced the suspension to 162 games plus the 2014 post-season after weighing it against baseballs "just cause" standard. Rodriguez sued MLB and the union two days later in federal court in Manhattan, claiming the arbitration process was flawed. But the Supreme Court has established narrow grounds for overturning arbitrators decisions, and legal experts said Rodriguez had virtually no chance of succeeding in his attempt to have Horowitzs decision vacated. Without making any admissions, Rodriguezs lawyers filed notices of dismissal in both cases Friday. MLB issued a low-key statement calling the decision to end the litigation "prudent." "We believe that Mr. Rodriguezs actions show his desire to return the focus to the play of our great game on the field and to all of the positive attributes and actions of his fellow major league players," the sport said. "We share that desire." Rodriguez had angered many of his fellow players by suing his own union in an attempt to avoid a suspension. Withdrawing the lawsuits was perhaps the start of mending relationships with fellow players. "Alex Rodriguez has done the right thing by withdrawing his lawsuit," the union said in a statement. "His decision to move forward is in everyones best interest." Rodriguez in 2009 admitted he used banned substances from 2001-03 while with Texas, before baseball had penalties in place for PEDs. After MLBs investigation was sparked 13 months ago by a report in Miami New Times, Rodriguez repeatedly said he had not failed any drug test and claimed evidence provided to MLB by Anthony Bosch, founder of the Biogenesis of America clinic, was not trustworthy. When Horowitz issued his decision, the three-time AL MVP defiantly proclaimed, "No player should have to go through what I have been dealing with." He announced, "I am exhausting all options to ensure not only that I get justice, but that players contracts and rights are protected." But a few hours after the Arizona Diamondbacks became the first team this year to start spring training workouts, and with the Yankees a week from opening camp, Rodriguez folded quietly. He was in Miami on Friday and made no public remarks. "The statements that were issued say everything that needs to be said. We have no further comments on this matter," Joseph Tacopina, one of Rodriguezs nine attorneys, said in an email. Tacopina said Rodriguez no longer intended to report this month to the Yankees training camp in Tampa, Fla. Suspensions only cover regular-season games and the post-season, with exhibitions specifically exempted. Rodriguez will lose most of his $25 million salary -- Horowitz ruled he is entitled to 21-183rds, which comes to $2,868,852.46. The third baseman will be 39 when he is eligible to return in a year, and he has incentive to play during the final three seasons of his contract. The Yankees owe him $21 million in 2015 and $20 million in each of the final two seasons of the record $275 million, 10-year deal. But the 14-time All-Star has been hobbled by injuries in recent years and has not played a full season since 2007. The timing of Rodriguezs decision was set in motion by U.S. District Judge Edgardo Ramos, who on Jan. 30 told the players lawyers to respond by Friday to arguments from MLB and the union that the case should be dismissed. Rodriguez does have one lawsuit remaining. He sued Yankees physician Dr. Christopher Ahmad and New York-Presbyterian Hospital in New York State Supreme Court in October, claiming they mishandled his medical care during the 2012 AL playoffs. Rodriguez later was diagnosed with a hip injury that required surgery and did not return to the Yankees until Aug. 5 -- hours after his suspension was announced by Selig. Cheap Lions Jerseys . The Force had two men, including former Wallabies No. 8 Ben McCalman, in the sin-bin in the dying minutes of the match, but were able to resist a late Highlanders surge to post a four-try, bonus point win. Cheap Taylor Decker Jersey . -- Wide receiver Sidney Rice should be fully recovered from a torn knee ligament by the time the Seattle Seahawks start defence of their Super Bowl title, general manager John Schneider said Wednesday. http://www.cheaplionsjerseyselite.com/?tag=cheap-b...ton-jer sey . The Brad Jacobs team from Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., advanced to Fridays championship game with a 10-6 win over Chinas Rui Liu in the semifinal.Calgary, AB - The Calgary Stampeders try to make it 11 straight wins against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers when the two clubs get together at McMahon Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Catch all the action on TSN1, TSN3, TSN4, and TSN5 as the first part of a doubleheader starting at 4pm et/1pm pt. With the West Division title already locked up, not to mention the best overall record for the 2014 regular season, the Stampeders perform in front of the hometown crowd for the last time before the playoffs. The squad has lost just two times in 16 opportunities, bowing to British Columbia and Montreal. Since the 31-15 setback versus the Alouettes, Calgary has rattled off four more victories, the latest of those being a 40-27 romp over Saskatchewan on Oct. 24. Trailing by 12 entering the fourth quarter last Friday night, the Stamps mounted a huge comeback bid in front of the hometown crowd and eventually grabbed the double-digit victory over the visiting Roughriders. Bo Levi Mitchell converted 21-of-31 passes for 231 yards and a TD, while backup signal caller Drew Tate scored on a one-yard run just before the half. With Jon Cornish out of action, Matt Walter took over and posted 69 yards and two TDs on 12 carries for the hosts. While the Calgary defense did surrender close to 400 yards, Jamar Wall came away with one of two interceptions for the Stamps, returning his 50 yards for a major in the final frame. While the Stamps have had an easy time of it this season, the same cannot be said for the Blue Bombers who have won only six of their 17 contests as they enter this, their season finale. The last two months have been particularly brutal for Winnipeg, the one team in the West Division that will be sitting at home after this weekends contest. The squad has dropped eight straight decisions since taking down Montreal in late August, the most recent defeat coming against British Columbia last Saturday, 28-23. Winnipeg actually held a small lead at intermission and was ahead 17-13 heading into the fourth quarter, but the defense then allowed 15 points to the visitors, en route to the five-point loss. Quarterback Drew Willy completed 13 of his 25 pass attempts for 221 yards and a score, but not only was he picked off two times, he also suffered an unsightly 10 sacks. In addition to Willy being taken down so many times behind the line of scrimmage, the Bombers also lost significant field position (104 yards) due to seven penalties. Granted, the teams list of mistakes was not as extensive as BC which committed 22 infrractions for a loss of 155 yards, but they were still enough to keep the hosts off balance. Cheap Tony Hills Jersey . . Running back Paris Cotton carried the ball 16 times for 131 yards and a score for Winnipeg as well. The back has scored a total of three touchdowns in the last two games, and is now the go-to ball carrier after the program released Nic Grigsby (744 yards, eight TDs in 14 games for the Bombers) per the backs request just weeks ago. While Cotton is the main focus coming out of the backfield for Winnipeg, it will be Willy who handles that passing responsibilities this time around, barring some unforeseen issue. Taking the majority of the snaps for the Bombers in 2014, Willy has thrown for 3,747 yards and 16 TDs, but he has also been picked off 14 times, although four INTs in the season opener against Toronto dug him a considerable hole from which he has been trying to dig his way out of ever since. Willy may be second in the league in passing yards, but clearly the more dominant passer in this matchup is again Mitchell who has the best efficiency rating of any regular starter in the league at 97.2, thanks to his 20 TDs and only eight INTs. As a unit, Calgary is tops in the league in scoring (29.1 ppg), with a good portion of that number stemming from a league-high 24 rushing touchdowns, thanks in part to Jon Cornish who leads the CFL with 977 yards and five TDs on the ground thus far, even though he has missed significant time due to injury. Working right into the hands of Calgary will be a Winnipeg defense which at this stage is the weakest in the league, allowing 27.5 ppg. In terms of the all-time series between the squads, one that takes into account only regular-season meetings dating back to 1945, Calgary is ahead by a count of 103-89 following a 33-23 victory in Winnipeg just a few weeks ago. During that Week 17 matchup, Calgary dropped 15 points in the first quarter and led 16-6 at the break, and from then on the teams played even. The Stamps had Cornish running on all cylinders that game as he posted 160 yards and a score on 21 carries, while Mitchell converted 18-of-28 passes for another 258 yards and two touchdowns, offsetting his two interceptions. The Bombers utilized two quarterbacks in that contest, Brian Brohm and Robert Marve, the former leaving early due to a thumb injury. The pair combined to connect on 19-of-33 throws for 258 yards, but failed to put the ball in the end zone. Instead, it was Cotton who did the honors (twice) as he ran for 108 yards on 14 attempts. 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