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LISBON, Portugal -- Cristiano Ronaldo sat out Portugals exhibition match against Greece on Saturday and his flair was sorely missed as the two World Cup-bound teams produced a tedious 0-0 draw. The muted game at the National Stadium in Lisbon did little to brighten the hopes of the two European teams ahead of the tournament in Brazil that begins June 12. The under-strength Portuguese lacked a spark that could have translated their sporadic forward moves into goals. As well as Real Madrid star Ronaldo, who is recuperating from a series of leg injuries and sore muscles, Portugal felt the absence of playmaker Joao Moutinho in midfield and Pepe in the central defence. Greece, though initially fielding its strongest team, looked ordinary and rarely got out of first gear. "One situation we have to be prepared for is not having our regular players available," Portugal coach Paulo Bento said. "We paid the price of our lack of effectiveness in attack." Portugal will start the World Cup in Group G with Germany, Ghana and the United States. Greece is in Group C with Colombia, Japan and Ivory Coast. With Nani busy on the right flank as the Manchester United player tried to make his mark after an injury-hit league season, Portugals best chances came in the first 10 minutes as Greek goalkeeper Orestis Karnezis tipped over a Bruno Alves header and dived low to his right to deny Ricardo Costa. A series of second-half substitutions sapped the games fluency. The Portuguese dominated possession but couldnt break down the solid Greek defence. Hugo Almeida found Nani unmarked on the right of the Greek penalty area in the 67th but the winger took too long to set up his shot. In the final minutes, Giorgos Karagounis slammed a close-range shot against goalkeeper Betos legs. Seattle Mariners Pro Shop . CEO Steve Koonin on Tuesday told the Hawks flagship radio station that he made the decision to discipline Ferry but allowed him to keep his job managing the team. He did not say what the punishment was, but noted that he relied on a law firms three-month investigation of Ferry and him describing Deng as someone who has a little African in him. Jake Fraley Mariners Jersey . Trailing by a goal after 20 minutes of play, Joe Pavelski responded with three goals and an assist as the Sharks snapped a two-game losing skid with a 5-2 victory over the struggling Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday. https://www.cheapmariners.com/2285k-mark...y-mariners.html. After rookie right-hander Alex Colome excelled in a 5-2 victory in the opener, the Rays fell to Chris Tillman and the Orioles 4-1 on Friday night. Lou Piniella Mariners Jersey .Former NBA forward Morris Peterson has been added to TSNs Toronto Raptors broadcast team. Alvin Davis Mariners Jersey . Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane wanted to stay in Chicago and the Blackhawks wanted to keep the high-scoring forwards in the only NHL uniform they have ever known.GLENDALE, Ariz. - The Pro Bowl is unlike any other All-Star game.The concept is the same, sure; the best players in the league showcasing their talents against each other.But the NFLs version of an All-Star game has a unique selection process for the teams, is held at a different part of the season and the site is usually the same, but not always.An explanation of the Pro Bowl, which will be played Sunday at University of Phoenix Stadium:___SELECTING PLAYERSPro Bowl players are voted in by fans, coaches and fellow players, much like All-Star games everywhere.The Pro Bowl differs in how the players are divvied up.With fans complaining about lackadaisical play in the Pro Bowl, the NFL changed the format before last years game in hopes of creating more excitement, allowing players to be selected regardless of conference.Once the players are voted into the Pro Bowl, they are then drafted by captains, regardless of conference, sort of like picking sides for a sandlot game. Former NFL players Cris Carter and Michael Irvin are the alumni captains this season — Jerry Rice and Deion Sanders were a year ago — and picked their teams during a made-for-TV draft on Wednesday.The coaches are different every season, with Baltimores John Harbaugh (Team Carter) and Dallas Jason Garrett (Team Irvin) getting a turn this year.The way the format is set up now, it creates a lot of competition, Houston Texans Pro Bowl defensive lineman J.J. Watts said. Youre in the waiting room waiting to get picked, then you get picked to a team, its like schoolyard ball. It adds an element of competition and intensity.___THE TIMINGUnlike the other major North American sports, the NFL plays its version of an all-star game at the end of the season instead of midseason as in baseball, basketball and hockey.Part of the reason is the physical nature of football. Players — and their coaches — dont want to risk injury with the season going on, so if the game was midseason, they might not try as hard or skip the game altogether.The game used to be played the week after the Super Bowl, but was moved up to the week before the Super Bowl in 2010 to garner more interest. Because of the timing, players from the Super Bowl teams — Seattle and New England this year — do not pllay in the Pro Bowl.dddddddddddd___THE SITESThe Pro Bowl is often linked to Honolulu because the game has been played there nearly every season since 1979.This year, the game will be played at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, site of the Super Bowl a week later. Its the second time in the past 40 years the Pro Bowl and Super Bowl will be played at the same site, with Miami in 2010.The Pro Bowl returns to Hawaii the next three seasons.___GAME QUIRKSThe NFL has, at times, tweaked the Pro Bowl to add excitement or to experiment with potential rule changes for regular-season games.Last year, the Pro Bowl did away with kickoffs, with teams starting at the 25-yard line to start each quarter and after scoring plays. It also added a 2-minute warning at the end of the first and third quarters — its normally only done just before halftime and the end of regulation.For this years game, the uprights for extra-point kicks after touchdowns will be narrowed 18.6 feet to 14 feet, and the kick will be moved back from the 2-yard line to the 15 to make it more difficult.Kickers have made more than 99 per cent of their point-after tries the past two seasons, so the NFL has looked into making changes.___FAN INTERESTDespite a consideration by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to scrap the game after a lackadaisical performance in 2012, the Pro Bowl remains the most popular All-Star game among North American sports.Last years Pro Bowl was watched by 11.7 million viewers despite being slated against the Grammys, which was more than many playoff games in the three other major sports.The tackling — and sometimes the effort — can be suspect in the Pro Bowl, but U.S. fans will watch just about anything NFL-related.Over the last three years, we were challenged, the players were challenged to make sure the Pro Bowl game was competitive, said Jay Vincent, a former player and the NFLs executive vice-president of football operations.Our All-Star game is very difficult to make competitive because the last thing players want to do is go into the off-season injured, but the men have stepped up to the challenge and made it an exciting game for the players and the fans.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP_NFL ' ' '