NEW YORK -- A flock of newcomers quickly swoops into Yankee Stadium and suddenly a team that wobbled all season turns into a playoff contender.So exactly whos gotten the New York Yankees flying so high? A rookie slugger, a fresh set of pitchers?Sure, theyve helped. But maybe its something more.Pigeon power , outfielder Aaron Judge said. Theyre fueling us.OK, go ahead and laugh. Then look at the Yankees record lately -- against the Blue Jays and Orioles, no less -- ever since dozens and dozens of pigeons began descending for picnics at the park.Besides, if the Royals can have a Rally Mantis, the Angels a Rally Monkey and the Cardinals a Rally Squirrel, why not a good-luck flock of pigeons?Sometimes, these birds arrive early, searching for new seeds that keep the grass so green and fresh. More than 85 of them recently roamed the yard before batting practice.Often, they stick around for the game, hardly ruffled by the balls that go whizzing past them.In the sixth inning last weekend against Tampa Bay, six gray pigeons lounged in medium left-center field, a half-dozen hung out in shallow center and seven others strolled in right-center. No surprise, moments later the Yankees hit back-to-back home runs to break open a scoreless game.Theyre fearless, longtime head groundskeeper Dan Cunningham said.Speedy, too.I dont worry about them too much because theyre pretty fast, star center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury said. They can take care of themselves.No birds have been hit yet. Certainly nothing like that spring training episode many years ago when a fastball by Randy Johnson struck a dove in mid-flight. And they arent pesky, like the seagulls that hover around AT&T Park late during San Francisco Giants games.Scorned and shooed away all around town, these pigeons relax at The House That Ruth Built. Oh, and they seem to prefer day games.When line drives get too close, they simply flap away and settle somewhere else, perhaps on the warning track in deep center or near the foul lines. Or they take off toward the scoreboard and stay there for a while, with a birds-eye view.Weve been watching them fly overhead, more and more of them, reliever Tommy Layne said. You just hope they dont unload on you.Cunningham said the birds come for the seeds that maintain the combination blue and rye grass. The stadium hosts the Yankees and the New York City FC team in Major League Soccer, making for a lot of reseeding late this summer.Plus, players who spit sunflower seeds provide tasty snacks.Overall, thats brought more and more feathered fans in the last month. Not that Cunningham minds.Im not a pigeon hater, he said. Its New York, theyre part of the scene here.A month ago, Judge homered in his first major league at-bat. He fits into the Yankees wave of the future, along with Gary Sanchez, Tyler Austin and the fittingly named Greg Bird.Judge has grown accustomed to sharing his surroundings with the other birds in right field.Actually started noticing them maybe about a week ago. Kind of started showing up in little bunches, he said. Started out with five or 10, now its 20, 30, 40. Just a big bunch of them out there now.I go for a ball in the gap, they start flying everywhere. Could cause a little bit of havoc, he said.Then again, pigeons have always had a place in this city.I dont mind them, Judge said. A little company in the outfield. Nike Free Shoes Uk .com) - The Montreal Canadiens will try to halt their longest losing streak of the season when they host the struggling New York Islanders in tonights clash at the Bell Centre. 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CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Avery Bradley said his goal coming into the season was to expand his game.So far, so good.Bradley had 31 points on a career-high eight 3-pointers and grabbed 11 rebounds, and the Boston Celtics defeated the Charlotte Hornets 104-98 Saturday night.Bradley was 8 of 11 from beyond the arc as the Celtics shot 75 percent from the field in the fourth quarter to pull away.Bradley is averaging 21.3 points and nearly nine rebounds through three games this season.Thats my mindset this year -- Im trying to rebound, pass the ball and make plays for others, Bradley said. I work on my game every single summer and know Im trying to put it in the game.Isaiah Thomas had 24 points and seven assists and Al Horford added 14 points for the Celtics, who trailed by one entering the fourth quarter.Boston finished 15 of 31 from 3-point range, while the Hornets were just 9 of 32.Coach Brad Stevens left Bradley in the game with the second team to start the fourth quarter and the strategy paid off. Bradley was 5 of 7 from the field in the final 12 minutes and made all three 3-point attempts.Weve been starting or playing early in those quarters -- the second or fourth -- either Isaiah or Avery to try to keep one of our guards in with the second unit, Stevens said. I did think he was gassed at about the seven-minute mark. Thats why we took him back out for a couple of minutes.Hornets coach Steve Cliffford said Bradley was terrific.Especially in the stretch where they got a little bit of cushion (in the fourth quarter) which ended up being the difference in the game, Clifford said. Theyre a good team and they played well. You can see why people are saying theyll be top two or three in the East.Walker led the Hornets in their home opener with 29 points, while Frank Kaminsky had 11 points and four rebounds in his first regular season action.The Hornets spent most of the game trying to claw even with the Celtics after falling behind early. Theey finally took the lead on a 7-foot jumper by Nicolas Batum on the final possession of the third quarter.dddddddddddd But the lead was short-lived as Bradley started to heat up in the fourth quarter and the Celtics built a 93-79 lead.TIP-INS:Celtics: G Marcus Smart is making progress from his left ankle sprain, but Stevens said hes not sure if Smart will play Wednesday vs. Chicago. I anticipate that hell at least go through some of Mondays practice, but I dont know if hell be live, Stevens said. ... Amir Johnson received a flagrant 1 foul when he elbowed Cody Zeller in the head on a post-up move.Hornets: Owner Michael Jordan took in the teams home opener from the end of the bench. ... C Roy Hibbert, who has had a strong start to the season, missed the game with soreness in his right knee. ... G Jeremy Lamb left the game in the second quarter with a strained left hamstring and did not return. ... The Hornets took 22 free throws in the first half; Boston just two.TOO MANY TURNOVERS:Stevens wasnt real happy with his teams 13 turnovers that led to 13 points for the Hornets.Theyre one of the best teams in the NBA at packing the paint, Stevens said. We tried to thread the needle a little bit too much.POOR DEFENSE:Clifford didnt like his teams effort on defense, particularly in the second half where they allowed 60 points.When you play defense, theres a way you do it. You have the right stance, you have the right talk, you have the right organization, Clifford said. That gives you a chance. When guys start making their own stuff up, youve got no shot against a good team. And thats what happened tonight.UP NEXT:Celtics: Host Chicago on Wednesday before heading on the road to face LeBron James and Cavaliers on Thursday.Hornets: Host Philadelphia on Wednesday, part of five home games during a six-game stretch. ' ' '
