as a monk, and only then, with the lead already at 130 and Younis already past 200, did he dare launch Moeen Ali over the rope. It was his first scori

Snowboarders now have a new way to click with their ski friends.The typical riders hassle of bending down -- or sitting down in the snow -- to buckle boots into the bindings while skiers in their group wait could be a thing of the past.A new technology that enables the boot to snap onto the board similar to a ski binding has the potential to inject fresh life into a sport that has been dealing with slowing growth for the last decade or so.After more than four years of research and more than a decade of trying to find the answer to a question that has long perplexed snowboarders and manufacturers alike, Burton Snowboards is releasing its new Step-On binding -- touting it as a time-saver that wont negatively impact performance. The binding goes on sale next fall and will run between $250 and $400.We asked the question, `What if? said Chris Cunningham, Burtons vice president of product. What if I could save 30 seconds per run?Multiplied by the 10 to 15 runs an average rider logs on any given day, a 30-second difference could mean an extra trip down the mountain per day. Over years, that number could add up into the hundreds. Meanwhile, the binding means less delay, less getting hands wet while fiddling with straps and buckles, less time the skiers in the group have to wait around for their snowboard buddies to prepare their equipment after they get off the lift.Every time my dad goes to strap in at the top of the mountain, he lets out a huge `Aaarrrrrrrgghhh, when hes got to bend over to strap in, said Danny Davis, the two-time Winter X Games champion who rides on a Burton board. Making snowboarding something thats easier to get into, thats a good thing.An improvement in ski technology, combined with unpredictable weather, the Great Recession and increased pricing for lift tickets, helped play into flat numbers for snowboarding over the past decade-plus. SnowSports Industries America reports microscopic growth (from 7.57 million to 7.602 million) in the number of snowboard participants between 2011-12 and last winter.Among Burtons attempts to bring more people to the sport was the invention of the Riglet -- a reel-like device that makes it easier for parents to tow young kids around on the snowboard.The industry has been experimenting with step-in bindings for more than a decade, but the first mass attempt to bring them to market petered out because the performance of the boots was considered subpar.In this latest attempt, 3D printing technology made it possible for developers at Burton to crank out and refine hundreds of prototypes in a very short time. The project began in a secret, walled-off room on the Burton campus where people walked by and said, `Whats up with that wall? Cunningham said.Within months, they were testing prototypes. In four years, they came up with something thats ready for the market.Kimmy Fasani, a professional rider for Burton, said the boot and binding gave her the same level of confidence she had with her old set-up.I think sitting down (to get into the bindings) has always been kind of a nuisance for snowboarders, Fasani said. Theres an efficiency there. Now, if you have friends who are skiers, youre not going to be the guy whos slowing the crowd down. Air Max 95 Schweiz Schuhe .com) - The Montreal Canadiens embark on their first road trip of the season as they head out west to battle the Calgary Flames on Wednesday night. Air Max 95 Schweiz Sale .Y. -- The Buffalo Sabres have recalled forward Kevin Porter and defenceman Chad Ruhwedel from the minors as part of a five-player roster shuffle made by the NHLs worst team. http://www.airmax95online.ch/ . Brandon Morrow allowed five runs on six hits over three innings. He struck out two, walked one and hit a batter. Edwin Encarnacion had a two-out, bases loaded two-RBI double in the third inning. Air Max Schweiz Outlet . Ibaka equaled a career high with 20 rebounds, adding four blocked shots and 15 points as the Thunder smothered the Milwaukee Bucks offence in a 92-79 victory Saturday night. Air Max 95 Günstig . -- If Henry Burris has his way, he will be the starting quarterback to lead the Hamilton Tiger-Cats back to the Grey Cup next year. Pakistan had a chance to lose today. It would have meant they not only lost the Test, and the series, but also their latest chance to go to No.1 in the world. It would have been a slap in the face to everything they have achieved, and to their hero, Younis Khan.When Sarfraz Ahmed fell, squandering another good start by nicking off for 44, Pakistan were only 69 runs ahead. Their lead was still short of the 103-run lead they had at Edgbaston, and that wasnt enough. Now the Pakistan tail was coming in - and the best of them, Yasir Shah, had already done good work as a nightwatchman the day before. So it was left to the chaff. In the crucial last innings at Lords, 9, 10 and 11 had made one run between them.Right there, that is when it could have happened. The quick collapse, the shoddy bowling, the end of all hope. Younis Khan, walking off at the close of the day with nothing to show for it. Instead, Pakistan stood beside him.It was Wahab Riaz first - a man who can hit, and is not bereft of batting, but never a sure thing. At Old Trafford he was their second top-scorer with 39. Today he barely had to face a ball. The man at the other end did the work; all Wahab had to do was a face a couple of balls at a time and avoid doing anything stupid. For 11 overs he did his job as well as he could. Wahab made four runs, but the partnership was 37, and it took the lead beyond 100, beyond Edgbaston.Mohammad Amir can bat. He almost stole an ODI against New Zealand once. And although he has spent five years out of the game, it is fair to say he hasnt spent the time getting throwdowns and working on his game. He hasnt ever seen a ball he doesnt want to slash through point. For 23 balls though, he was a monk, and only then, with the lead already at 130 and Younis already past 200, did he dare launch Moeen Ali over the rope. It was his first scoring shot, and Englands collective shoulders slumped at that moment.The tail that is a punchline has been standing up all series. Yasirs innings at Lords gave Pakistan enough runs; 8, 9 and 10 outscored the top three in the second innings at Old Trafford, and Sohail Khan and Rahat Ali put together the second-biggest partnership on the last day at Edgbaston. Here Yasir batted for 17.3 overs, Wahab 11.3 and Amir 24.2 - a combined total of 43.2 overs. The main difference here was they didnt stand alone, they stood with a great of the game. Letting him down would be like letting down your father, your President, your King Khan. If Younis Khan tells you to block out a few overs and play smart cricket, tackle a bear family, or walk through a field of razor wire for 73 miles, you do it.Someone on commentary said this was the kind of innings in which you dont remember a shot. If you cant remember this innings, there is something wrong with your cricket emotions. Unless what he meant was that you didnt have to remember it, you simply enjoyed it by osmosis, so all the shots - the cut off Finn, the quicksilver hands that swept Moeen, the sixes, all of them, of authoritarian glory and the sweet drives - were now just part of you having been in their presence.ddddddddddddhe six to bring up Youniss 200 will be the shot that gets replayed for years to come. But it was the ball before that was Younis at his best. He should be in a commentary box, misremembering old cricket stories and mispronouncing current players names. But instead he keeps going into battle for his nation. Even when earlier in the series the game looked beyond him, he didnt walk away, he stood and fought.So here was this old man, with all the fielders back, hitting the ball at the exact right angle, with the exact right weight, and then scampering through for two runs like a teenager trying to prove something. He has nothing left to prove, and he still keeps proving it. It was smart, it was skilful, it showed desperation, it had courage, and it was a testament to his fitness. The six, well that was just muscle memory, a spinner is bowling, he was nearing a landmark, why not hit this guy into row F, seat 27.At the press conference Younis dedicated this innings to Hanif Mohammad, a man of greatness like him. He didnt have to dedicate it with his words; he had spent two days honouring Hanif with his bat. It was, in length, in importance, in style, in every single way, Younis Khan in Excelsis. This man who has played his games in empty stadia, outside his home, with people watching on illegal streams, was suddenly getting 25,000 opposition fans to stand up and celebrate him.The man who captained the World T20 triumph, the man who made a triple century the last time he was allowed to play at home, the man who has witnessed his team-mates being thrown in jail and his opposition being shot at by terrorists, the man who dragged Pakistan cricket up from its darkest times, and the man who just bats and bats for his country. That man deserves to go out knowing that his team did everything they could to fight for the No. 1 spot. That the thing he spent his whole life mastering, finally paid off.They all want to be the first Pakistani team to be the official World No.1. But they want to do it for Younis as well.By the time Pakistans bowlers had destroyed Englands top order, West Indies had already collapsed against India so their latest chance of going top had been delayed. But this time it wasnt due to a Pakistan mistake. They were glorious, from first ball to last, they were as good as they could be. Pakistan had a chance to lose today; they have a chance to win tomorrow.Pakistan didnt perform another come from in front defeat. They didnt give up their chance of being No.1. Today they werent carried by Younis; they were as good as him. They stood with Younis. They were Younis. ' ' '