Two Canadian snowboarders who were critical of Shaun Whites decision to pull out of the Olympic slopestyle competition were among eight riders who qualified Thursday for the events final. Max Parrot posted the days best score, a 97.50 in his second run. Sebastien Toutant also made it through to Saturdays final as the Sochi Olympics opened with one of the new events debuting at the games. White, the American star known for his daring halfpipe tricks, withdrew from the event on Wednesday, saying he wanted to concentrate on winning his third straight gold medal in the halfpipe. He hurt his wrist during a training run on Tuesday but initially indicated he would not miss the event. His decision to withdraw was mocked by Parrot and Toutant on social media. In a since-deleted tweet, Parrot said he thought White was "scared" to compete and "knows he wont be able to win the slopes." "I just think me and Seb said something all the other riders would have loved to tell, but maybe are scared to tell," Parrot told TSN on Thursday. "He choked a couple contests this year with not really good reasons. With him here he has the potential to be...Why choke on it for nothing?" Toutant tweeted, "Its easy to find excuses to pull out of a contest when you think you cant win." Toutant also deleted his message, but clarified his stance after his runs on Thursday. "I think its sad for all Americans who trained hard for that spot," he added. "Cant replace him - pretty sad. If you think its too dangerous, go do something else." The slopestyle course drew criticism as being potentially dangerous and was modified after Norways Torstein Horgmo broke his collarbone on Monday. The event, making its Olympic debut, features riders doing tricks over rails and jumps, like skateboarders in a city park only down a snow-covered trail. Parrots first run was smooth, but for a dragged hand at the end of one of his jumps, and drew a score of 91.75. The reigning Winter X Games gold medalist was better on his second run, which had few obvious flaws. Toutant scored a 74.25 on his first run and qualified through his second with a score of 87.25. Canadian Mark McMorris, a two-time X Games gold medalist, fell on his first run and will have to qualify through the semifinals. McMorris, who suffered a broken rib at the X Games last month, pulled off a triple-cork on his second run but earned an 89.25, not among the four best riders in his heat. Americans Sage Kotsenburg, Ryan Stassel and Charles Guldemond will also have to try to qualify through the semifinals, which are Saturday. Moving directly to the final with Parrot and Toutant were Norways Staale Sandbech and Gjermund Braaten, Finlands Peetu Piiroinen and Roope Tonteri, Great Britains Jamie Nicholls and Swedens Sven Thorgren. Jason Varitek Red Sox Jersey . But qualifying for her first Scotties Tournament of Hearts after years of falling short in tough Manitoba provincial championships is as good as consolation prizes get for the 29-year-old from Winnipegs Fort Rouge Curling Club. Denyi Reyes Red Sox Jersey . The Toronto Argonauts signed the veteran linebacker to a three-year deal Tuesday, hours after the start of CFL free agency. https://www.cheapredsox.com/. Patrice Bergeron and Daniel Paille scored 20 seconds apart a few minutes after Stamkos was taken off the ice on a stretcher with a broken right leg, and the Bruins beat the Lightning 3-0 on Monday afternoon. Mitch Moreland Red Sox Jersey . Masahiro Tanaka has touched down in the United States and the courting of the Rakuten Golden Eagles stud pitcher has begun in earnest by a bevy of MLB teams interested in the Japanese ace. Juan Centeno Red Sox Jersey . Alfredo Simon lowered his ERA to 0.86, and the Reds beat the Chicago Cubs 4-1 Friday for their 16th win in their last 17 games at the Friendly Confines.What with shockwaves, death threats and sessions with the Shrink hitting the headlines, World Cup fever has certainly elevated itself these past few days. The shockwave of all shockwaves was delivered yesterday afternoon from the tranquil surrounding of Stamford University when Landon Donovan, a player with over 150 international caps and three previous World Cup Finals to his name, was left off the 23-man US squad. No word on hearing the news if Donovan trashed his room as Paul Gascoigne did on learning he had not made the final cut for France 1998, but his exclusion has led to the opinion makers and insiders of US soccer trash Klinsmanns decision. Dumbfounded likely best describes the mood of the nation right now. This for a player who sent the US into delirium when he scored the very late winner against Algeria in the final group game at South Africa 2010, as the US topped their group ahead of England. Jürgen Klinsmann described the decision as the most difficult he has had to make as a coach. The US head coach, who faced the media glare at a press conference earlier today, stated Donovan would be the first player he would recall if an injury rules out one of his strikers between now, and the deadline for naming squads June 2nd. However if any player suffers a serious injury, which is confirmed by FIFAs medical department, between then and their nations first group game they can be replaced. The US kick-off their campaign against Ghana June 16th. Donovan has told Klinsmann he is willing to remain on the standby list. Now back with his club, the player who more than anyone else has moved the soccer conscience of a Nation, is likely to feature in the Galaxys home date with the Philadelphia Union Sunday night. Just as Donovan was going through his paces in training on what turned out to be his penultimate day in camp Wednesday, Luis Suárez was in a Montevideo operating theatre following an MRI which had revealed meniscus damage to his left knee. Suárez had to withdraw from training earlier in the day after complaining of pain. In a statement released yesterday by the Uruguayan Football Association which announced the surgery was successful, it pinpointed an incident which occurred late on in Liverpools final game of the season. A reckless challenge from Newcastles Paul Dummett on the BPLs player of the year, which Dummett was red carded for and Suárez was left clutching his knee. In no time at all a connection with that incident led to Dummett receiving death threats on social media. Meanwhile Suárez was reassuring an anxious nation that he would be fit for the World Cup as he tweeted out his thanks for the outpouring of support he has received since the surgery. With no clear timeframe for recovery the Uruguayan FA are fully optimistic Suárez will bee fit to play in what would be his second World Cup Finals.dddddddddddd At South Africa 2010 Uruguay was the undoubted surprise team as they made it through to the semifinals before succumbing to Holland 3-2. Suárez though was suspended from that game after receiving a red card in the quarter-final against Ghana following an incident that undoubtedly goes down in World Cup infamy. A deliberate hand ball on the goal line by Suarez prevented a certain goal in the final minute. In doing so it denied Ghana an almost certain place in World Cup history as the first African nation to make it to the semi-finals. With the score deadlocked 1-1 after extra time, Uruguay prevailed on penalties. No one needs reminding of other disturbing incidents that have plagued and haunted Suárez since then. This season not only was he in the form of his career his behaviour has undergone a complete transition and improvement no one could have imagined. Suárez has credited this to the time he has spent this season with renowned Sports Psychologist Dr. Steve Peters and was seen as pivotal for the unprecedented success achieved by the Team GB cyclists at London 2012. Peters is now a significant part of the 70-strong staff of the England team that has conducted a mini camp in the Algarve, Portugal this week. Tuesday night after dinner he addressed the entire squad. When Roy Hodgson announced back in March, Peters would be part of the English set up, many ridiculed that decision. Following Tuesdays session Wayne Rooney was left suitably impressed, and so much so he intends to meet with Peters on a one to one basis. Rooney will be the first to admit that outside of his international tournament debut at EURO 2004 he has underperformed in all subsequent tournaments. The indelible image of Rooney at South Africa 2010 is not of a wonder goal. Its of a very agitated looking Rooney aiming a tirade of abuse at England fans into a pitch side camera due to the booing the players received at the final whistle following a pitiful performance against Algeria. The player Sven-Göran Eriksson once described as an English Pelé is fully aware this could be his last World Cup to leave a lasting legacy. Such is Rooneys desire to regain full physical fitness after suffering a groin injury that kept him out of Manchester Uniteds last 3 league matches of the season he arrived in the Algarve ahead of the main party accompanied not by his WAG but 2 private fitness instructors. Working on the mental preparation he believes will provide him with a crucial few extra percent. In doing so should provide Rooney with the added confidence to finally be that difference maker on a world stage. A stage which Landon Donovan should be, and Luis Suárez hopefully will be, a significant part of. ' ' '