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Flying high with the backing of Angry Birds, Finland received a wild card for the World Cup of Basketball on Saturday in a decision criticized for being more about business than basketball. Air Max 95 Ingrosso . Traditional contenders Brazil, Greece and Turkey drew the other three spots to complete the 24-team field for this summers tournament in Spain, basketball governing body FIBA announced Saturday at its meeting in Barcelona. The draw is Monday. Greece is ranked fifth in the world and the only team to beat the U.S. since Mike Krzyzewski became coach in 2005. Turkey is ranked seventh and was runner-up to the Americans in the 2010 world championship. Brazil, which will host the 2016 Olympics, is No. 10. Finland is only 39th, the only one of the 12 teams since 2006 to receive a wild card that wasnt in the top 24. But it had the support of Rovio, the Finnish company behind the popular Angry Birds games that had agreed to provide advertising if Finland was selected. "We are fully aware that despite our strong athletic results and fan support, we need to think creatively about how we can truly show our strength to FIBA and the basketball world," Antti Zitting, president of the Finnish Basketball Association said Thursday in a release announcing Rovios support. "As a small Northern country we cannot deliver the same type of TV audience as some other nations, but thanks to Angry Birds, we can offer an engagement platform that no other country can match." FIBA lists economic aspects among the criteria for wild cards, which became part of the organizations biggest tournament in 2006. Secretary general Patrick Baumann noted Finlands recent success on the court but also its potential off it in a statement about the decision, citing the Finns four victories over top-15 teams at the 2013 European championships and their strong fan support. "The Finns are enjoying massive support with their fans travelling in big numbers to their games," Baumann said. "The current growth of Finnish basketball is the result of a solid long-term strategy being executed by the Finnish Basketball Association and still has a lot of potential for development." Russia, the 2012 Olympic bronze medallist , China, Canada, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Germany, Israel, Italy, Nigeria, Poland, Qatar and Venezuela were the other countries that had applied for wild cards. Italy and Germany had previously withdrawn their bids and China, which was considered a leading candidate to get one because of its population and passion for basketball, did Saturday morning. FIBA also announced it had lifted a ban on Senegal and would allow it to be in the tournament. Scarpe Scontate Outlet . Mission accomplished. Now the Royals will take the field on Saturday with a World Series lead for the first time in team history when they play Game 4 of the Fall Classic against the Giants at AT&T Park. Air Max 95 Outlet Italia . - A retired Indiana school principal who was NASCAR star Jeff Gordons drivers education teacher was killed with his wife in a Tennessee crash while returning from watching Gordon race. SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- NaVorro Bowman tore the anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments in his left knee when he went down during Sundays NFC championship loss at Seattle, a person with direct knowledge of the injury said Monday. The person said that Bowman would have surgery for the ACL tear but that the MCL is likely to heal with rest and he is expected to be ready for the 2014 season. "Its not as bad as feared," the person said, speaking on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press because the team hadnt made an announcement regarding the results of tests on Bowmans knee. Coach Jim Harbaugh said after Sundays 23-17 season-ending loss to the Seahawks that Bowman was believed to have torn his ACL, and Harbaugh wasnt to address the media again until Tuesday. Kansas Citys Derrick Johnson was chosen Monday to replace Bowman in the Pro Bowl. 49ers linebackers coach Jim Leavitt remained optimistic earlier Monday that Bowman would be playing when the 49ers open new Levis Stadium next season. "Hes a warrior. Hes going to push forward, theres no question," Leavitt said. "Hes a special guy, tremendously talented, but hes got such a heart. Hes been so good with me its unbelievable. Hes great young man. Hell be fine. Were going into a new stadium and hell be ready to go when we start." In addition, left guard Mike Iupati broke his left ankle in the loss. He says he doesnt know whether he will need surgery, but is scheduled to be further evaluated Tuesday. "This is a bad-luck year," said Iupati, who missed four games with a left knee injury. "Ill probably be in a cast for a while. Ill be here rehabbing. Its day by day and wish for the best." As the 49ers braced for Bowmans lengthy recovery, they were still dealing with the sting of another season that ended just short of the goal. Safety Donte Whitner was irked at any Seattle fans involved with throwing popcorn and other debris on Bowman as he was carted off at CenturyLink Field. "Thats pure ignorance," said Whitner, who noted losing to the rival Seahawks "makes it a little worse cuz I wanted to send those fans home crying." And how about the postgame comments by cornerback Richard Sherman calling 49ers wideout Michael Crabtree "mediocre" and "sorry" following his game-saving defensive play in the end zone during the waning moments? "Pure ignorance, simple as that," Whitner said. Added tight end Vernon Davis: "He talks a lot. Sometimes you just need to shut your mouth. You got the win. Be humble, be gracious and just accept it. ... Maybe he could learn from other people around the league that know how to be a true gentleman that show good sportsmanship. Air Max 270 Prezzo Basso. " For Bowman, this is a terrible ending to a career season in which he emerged as a Defensive Player of the Year candidate. In December, Bowmans three sacks, two interceptions, one returned for a touchdown, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery were unmatched by any other player all season. The 25-year-old Bowman, drafted out of Penn State in 2010 and signed to a five-year contract extension worth $45.25 million in November 2012, had 145 tackles, five sacks, two interceptions and four forced fumbles this season. "He sacrificed his body for this team. Hes our leader and arguably the best player that we have," rookie safety Eric Reid said. "To see him go down, it hurts. Ill be praying for him and wishing him a speedy recovery. ... He was surprisingly optimistic (on the plane). He looked like he was doing OK." Harbaugh, Leavitt and the other coaches met with their players Monday morning, passing out paperwork on the off-season conditioning program before everybody packed their belongings and parted ways. For many, especially players on defence, having the season end seeing Bowman go down made it that much tougher. "I didnt talk to him, because theres nothing really that you can say to somebody that puts so much into it and they go out with an injury like that," Whitner said. "From playing up here and being on this high level to being dropped all the way to the bottom on an injury, it has to be devastating. So I dont really know what to say to him right now. Ill say something eventually." Pro Football Talk first reported details of Bowmans injury Monday. Bowman still planned to attend a meet and greet appearance Tuesday night at a mall in nearby Concord, according to publicist Theodore Palmer. Notes: LB Ahmad Brooks is scheduled to fly to Hawaii on Tuesday to join the NFC Pro Bowl team, though the 49ers didnt yet know whether other selections planned to attend or pull out of the game. ... C Jonathan Goodwin said he will listen to any offers this off-season but also might consider retirement. "Deep down I think Im still willing, but what creates uncertainty for me is being a 35-year-old free agent, which in this time of the NFL can be tough," Goodwin said. ... Whitner and WR Anquan Boldin also are uncertain they will be back with the 49ers. Whitner said he would like to stay and that Harbaugh and GM Trent Baalke expressed they would like him to return. "Hopefully we can get something done," Whitner said. "This is a business. Sometimes players dont fit into what you want to do salary-cap wise." ' ' '
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