Dein erstes Forum » three-year, $16 million deal with Golden State.

CHICAGO -- Players chanted "MVP! MVP!" as they doused Andrew McCutchen in the visitors clubhouse, two decades of futility finally washed away. The last time the Pirates made the playoffs, Barry Bonds was in the middle of the order. The average price of gas was $1.13 a gallon. Yes, it had been that long. The Pirates are going to the playoffs for the first time in 21 years, clinching at least a National League wild card Monday night when they beat the Chicago Cubs 2-1 and the Washington Nationals lost to St. Louis. And they hope thats just the start, not the end. "Were definitely not done," McCutchen said. "Weve got some games left. We still could move farther." Now, they can turn their attention toward bigger goals, the kind that seemed like nothing more than a pipe dream through all those losing seasons. It will be Pittsburghs first trip to the post-season since Bonds, Jim Leyland and Co. won three straight NL East titles from 1990-92. Bonds then left for San Francisco as a free agent, and the small-budget Pirates piled up 20 consecutive losing records -- the longest streak in the four major professional sports. "For me, its not about the last 21 years," Russell Martin said. "For me, it was just about this year, and what we could do this year. They had a good season last year, lost some steam late in September, but I knew that if youre having a good season all the way into September, you know you have a good club." Starling Marte hit a tiebreaking homer in the ninth inning at Wrigley Field, and the Pirates threw out a runner at the plate for the final out. The Pirates sprayed each other with bubbly and beer and sparkling cider in the visitors clubhouse once St. Louis 4-3 win over the Nationals became final. The Cincinnati Reds also clinched at least a wild-card berth, when they beat the New York Mets 3-2 in 10 innings. The Pirates and Reds, both 90-67, trail St. Louis by two games in the NL Central with five to go. Pittsburgh players sang Journeys "Dont Stop Believing." They took pictures and manager Clint Hurdle had them gather for a group photo in the middle of the cramped visitors clubhouse. "The people of Pittsburgh have been waiting a long time," said Neil Walker, who homered. The Pirates snapped a 1-all tie when Marte sent a drive off Kevin Gregg (2-6) with two outs in the ninth into the left field bleachers. In a fitting coincidence, they then preserved the victory on the final out in a play at the plate. McCutchen, the centre fielder, picked up Ryan Sweeneys bloop single after right fielder Marlon Byrd failed in trying to scoop up the ball and threw to first baseman Justin Morneau, positioned just in front of the pitchers mound. Morneau caught the throw on one hop and made the relay to catcher Russell Martin, who applied the tag on Nate Schierholtz trying to score from first base. Still on his knees, Martin held the ball over his head in jubilation. Then, he heaved the ball toward deep left field as the Pirates celebrated near the mound, and Jason Grilli grabbed him, having escaped with his 32nd save in 34 chances. "Twenty-one years since we popped champagne in a Pirates clubhouse -- and were acting like its been a long time," Hurdle said. "The hard work, the fun. Im just proud of each and every man in here, the fans they represent, ownership, general manager, president ... the scouts, players. This has been a group effort for a long time." The Pirates last trip to the playoffs ended with Atlantas Sid Bream sliding home with the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning of Game 7 of the 1992 NL championship series. The Cubs tied it in the eighth off Mark Melancon (3-2). Martes 12th homer set off loud boos for Gregg (2-6), who was almost released last week after going on a rant to reporters when he thought he had lost the closers job to Pedro Strop. Walker homered against Jeff Samardzija in the first to give the Pirates a 1-0 lead, and Charlie Morton pitched three-hit ball over seven scoreless innings before the Cubs tied it against Melancon. Brian Bogusevic led off the eighth with a single, his second hit, and moved up on a groundout by Darwin Barney. Then, after a wild pitch, he scored the tying run on a single by pinch-hitter Donnie Murphy. That spoiled a terrific start for Morton, who struck out five and walked one. Samardzija was almost as good, allowing one run and five hits over six innings. He struck out seven and walked four after going 0-1 with a 7.11 ERA in his previous four starts. Samardzijas only blemish in this one came when Walker drove a 1-1 pitch out to left-centre with one out in the first. With the long ball, Walker matched a career high of 14 set last season. He has four homers in the past five games. Samardzija settled down after that but got little support as the Cubs lost for the 10th time in 13 games. It was also the second straight day an opponent celebrated at Wrigley Field. Atlanta clinched the NL East on Sunday, and this time, it was the Pirates turn to party. "Thats what we need to do," Samardzija said. "I think were getting there, but we need to get some things ironed out." Air Max 1 Sale Australia . The question all fans want to know heading into this light heavyweight affair is will Rua display his true potential. Working with UFC welterweight fighter Demian Maias team in Sao Paulo Brazil and having training partners such as fellow UFC stand outs Fabio Maldonado and Daniel Sarafian, the 32-year old feels very well prepared for Friday nights encounter. Nike Air Max 1 Australia . -- A year ago, Flavia Pennetta was close to retiring from tennis. http://www.wholesaleairmax1australia.com/ .com) - Devan Dubnyk stopped all 30 shots fired his way and made several big saves down the stretch for his third shutout of the season as the Minnesota Wild beat the Calgary Flames 1-0 on Tuesday. Air Max 1 Cheap Australia . Not because it was right, but because referees werent allowed to determine it was wrong. Wholesale Air Max 1 Australia . Catch all the action on TSN starting at 10:30pm et/7:30pm pt. Toronto won at Denver and Utah, but lost in Portland and Sacramento. The Kings loss was the most recent game for the Raptors.The Sacramento Kings got some much-needed depth at point guard and a possible backup plan if they lose starter Isaiah Thomas in free agency. The Kings and Darren Collison agreed to a three-year contract worth about $16 million Thursday, a person familiar with the deal said. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because teams cant officially sign free agents until the NBAs moratorium on moves is lifted July 10. The Los Angeles Times first reported the agreement. Collison opted out of the final year of his contract with the Clippers that would have paid him $1.9 million next season. He averaged 11.4 points and 3.7 assists in 25.9 minutes last season, primarily as Chris Pauls backup. Collison has been a starter at times throughout his career since New Orleans drafted him 21st overall in 2009 out of UCLA, including 35 games last season while Paul was injured. He also played two seasons with Indiana and one in Dallas before helping the Clippers reach the second round of the playoffs. Clippers coach and president of basketball operations Doc Rivers had called Collison the teams No. 1 priority in free agency. Instead, Collison left for a big pay raise in Californias capital city and possibly even a chance to start. With so much money already committed to DeMarcus Cousins and Rudy Gay next season, the Kings chances of keeping Thomas already were going to be tough thhis summer.dddddddddddd Thomas, the last pick of the 2011 draft who has become a fan favourite in Sacramento, has worked his way into being a full-time starter who averaged 20.3 points and 6.3 assists last season. The market for ball-handling guards also has been a booming one this summer. Shaun Livingston left the Brooklyn Nets for a three-year, $16 million deal with Golden State. Kyle Lowry has a contract in place to return to Toronto reportedly worth $48 million over four years, and Kyrie Irving agreed to a five-year, $90 million contract extension with Cleveland. Because Thomas is a restricted free agent, the Kings can match any offer he receives. Whether they will -- or can afford to do so -- remains unclear. The Kings also are counting on some of their young guards to blossom. Last years second-round pick, point guard Ray McCallum, showed signs of improving when he played bigger minutes in the final weeks of the season. And Sacramento has drafted a shooting guard with its last two first-round picks, Ben McLemore (seventh overall) out of Kansas last year and Michigans Nik Stauskas (eighth overall) this June. Owner Vivek Ranadive, general manager Pete DAlessandro and coach Michael Malone have made as many moves as any team in the league since taking over the Kings last year, so its also possible Sacramento could shuffle its roster with more trades again this summer. ' ' '