oews is suffering from a back injury that isnt

LOS ANGELES -- Derrick Rose is at a crossroads in his basketball career and one of the biggest moments in what could be a make-or-break year for the former NBA MVP didnt happen on the court.It happened in a court.Rose was vindicated Wednesday in a $21.5 million lawsuit that accused him and two friends of raping an ex-girlfriend when she was incapacitated from drugs or alcohol.The reticent Rose, who remained stoic most of the trial including during his testimony about intimate sex acts, smiled outside court, thanked jurors and put his arm around some who posed for photos with the hoops star.I am thankful that the jury understood and agreed with me, Rose said in a statement. I am ready to put this behind me and focus on my family and career.Jurors in Los Angeles federal court had sat through graphic testimony with somber expressions, but it took them less than four hours to conclude there was a lack of evidence to support the womans claims and dismiss her account as unbelievable.It felt like she was playing us, said Jared, 25, one of several jurors who spoke to reporters outside the courthouse, none of whom gave full names. The second her lawyer started questioning her, she would start crying. ... That could be realistic, but I feel lm pretty good at reading people, and I felt as if it was false.The case included X-rated testimony from the men about poolside group sex at a mansion Rose rented in Beverly Hills in the summer of 2013 and multiple sexual encounters throughout an August night and into the next morning.The woman, who had previously dated Rose for less than two years, denied having sex at his place, saying she had a few tequila shots and felt drugged before going home. Her lawyer said the defense fabricated the story to make it look like she had willingly had sex with all three men.Her testimony was impaired by a blackout that erased most memories of the night except for flashes that included the three having sex with her at her apartment as she slipped in and out of consciousness.The woman pieced together events of the night by reviewing text messages to Rose, but the defense used those to say she was lucid and sober and had been angling for sex throughout the day and had invited him over.The issue for the jury was whether she consented to sex or was too intoxicated to do so. The men all said she was alert and willing when she stopped the three outside her bedroom door and said, One at a time.The tense two-week civil trial sidelined Rose during several preseason games with the Knicks as he attempts to prove himself with the new team and rebound from major knee injuries that hurt his career with the Bulls in his native Chicago.Rose, 28, is in the final year of a five-year deal that will pay him $21.3 million and the case threatened more than his bank account and reputation. Defense lawyer Mark Baute told jurors a lot was riding on their decision.Any finding he had sexually assaulted the woman could have violated a morals clause in his player contract and a lucrative deal with Adidas and jeopardized his career and the future of family and friends who rely on him for financial support, Baute said.Defense lawyers tarred the woman as a gold-digging liar who tried to sway jurors through emotions. They claimed she was angry he had dumped her, so she set him up and brought the lawsuit in hopes of a big payoff.They portrayed Rose and his childhood pals, Ryan Allen and Randall Hampton, who both work for him, as victims in the case.All three men were innocent from Day 1, Baute said.The womans lawyer called the men sexual deviants who conspired to gang rape her after she was drunk and incapable of consenting to sex. Attorney Waukeen McCoy said the case wasnt about money, but about holding the men accountable for moral and legal wrongdoing.Los Angeles police have an open investigation into the womans claims.The Associated Press does not generally name people who say they are victims of sex crimes.The accuser, who had become emotional and trembled at times while testifying, buried her head in her hands as the verdict was read. She left the courthouse without comment.Her attorney said she was devastated and he was considering appeal options.Its a shame for women, for this country, that a celebrity can come into court and slut-shame a woman like my client, attorney Waukeen McCoy said.After dismissing the jury, Judge Michael W. Fitzgerald offered his best wishes to the woman with her studies and to Rose in his career except when the Knicks play the Lakers. Ray Allen Bucks Jersey .Y. - Detroit goaltender Jonas Gustavsson has earned NHL first star of the week honours after winning in his first three appearances of the season. George Hill Bucks Jersey . The catch: It needs a lot of money, and it needs it fast. http://www.nbabucksproshop.com/Authentic-Vin-Baker-Bucks-Jersey/ . -- Derrick Rose shook off poor shooting early to hit clutch shots late and Carlos Boozer had 20 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Chicago Bulls to a 104-95 preseason victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night. Donte DiVincenzo Jersey . LOUIS -- Roman Polak was celebrating even before Alexander Steen scored the winning goal in Saturdays 4-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Jersey .Y. -- Paul Byron and Matt Stajan scored as the Calgary Flames started a five-game road trip with a 2-1 overtime win over the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday afternoon. CHICAGO -- The Chicago Blackhawks are once again starting to re-establish their footing within the cozy home confines of the United Center. The New Jersey Devils, on the other hand, are struggling to establish theirs on the road.The Devils have dropped five straight games away from home after Tuesday nights 3-2 loss to the Jets in Winnipeg. Its a streak they hope to snap on Thursday night when they face the Blackhawks in Chicagos second straight home game following two weeks on the road.New Jersey (10-7-5) couldnt bounce back from a two-goal deficit against the Jets, which added to the Devils traveling woes. Despite Miles Wood scoring his first NHL goal and fellow rookie Nick Lappin adding another, New Jersey came up short and dropped to 3-7-3 on the road this season.Despite again coming up empty, coach John Hynes didnt question his teams effort.I think it shows a resilient group, Hynes told reporters after the loss. The thing is, you dont want to be down in games, chasing games, but I think the belief in how we play and that we can come back is important. That is also a part of the game where you have to have some belief, and we have that, but wed like to put ourselves in situations where we have a lead more often than not.Like the Devils, the Blackhawks will be coming off a razor-thin result after they slipped past the Florida Panthers 2-1 in a shootout on Tuesday night. Richard Panik netted a goal in regulation and another in the shootout for Chicago, which also received 38 saves from Corey Crawford in regulation and overtime before he stopped both Florida shots in the shootout.ddddddddddddThe victory, which was clinched by Artemi Panarins shootout goal, was Chicagos sixth this season past regulation and came in the Blackhawks first game at home since Nov. 13.The win came after the Blackhawks finished their seven-game road swing with a 1-1-1 mark in the final three contests.It also marked the third straight game the Blackhawks played without captain Jonathan Toews, who remains sidelined with an upper body injury. The Chicago Tribune reported Toews is suffering from a back injury that isnt serious, but will keep Toews off the ice likely until Saturday when the Blackhawks face the Flyers in Philadelphia.Its tough to say without him being on the ice when hell be playing, Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville told reporters Tuesday night. Well play it day by day. Jonny wants to be out there in the worst way so well do everything we can to get him back.In the meantime, the Blackhawks (15-6-3) will look to continue playing well at home, where they are 9-1-2 this season. Even without Toews, Chicago continues to rely on strong play in net from Crawford and hopes the momentum of Tuesday nights victory -- coupled with New Jerseys recent road struggles -- will add up to another strong showing now that the Blackhawks are back home in familiar surroundings.It was a long trip and at the end we played pretty good, Panik told reporters Tuesday night. Now were back home and we won so its a good feeling. ' ' '