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VANCOUVER - Roberto Luongo says if things had played out differently at last seasons Heritage Classic he might still be a member of the Vancouver Canucks.Former head coach John Tortorella started backup Eddie Lack over the veteran goaltender in the Canucks outdoor showcase game at B.C. Place Stadium against the Ottawa Senators on March 2, a game that Vancouver subsequently lost 4-2.Luongo was traded to the Florida Panthers two days later in a move that was widely speculated to have been precipitated by the snub, and the 35-year-old all but confirmed that to be the case on Tuesday at Rogers Arena ahead of Thursdays homecoming against the Canucks.Theres no hiding it. I did want to play that game, Luongo told reporters. I mean that goes without saying, and if I would have played I probably would maybe still be here. Who knows?Chants of Loo rang out around B.C. Place back in March to protest the decision to start Lack, but Luongo said he didnt feel disrespected by the organization or Tortorella — who was fired following one disastrous season that saw Vancouver miss the playoffs for the first time in six years.I feel like whatever the hand youre dealt you have to deal with it the best that you can, said Luongo. Maybe earlier in my career I would have used those terms, but I dont think its appropriate.I dont think Im owed anything.Thursdays game will be Luongos first in Vancouver since the trade and he touched on a number of memorable moments at his press conference, including winning gold for Canada at the 2010 Olympics and the run to Game 7 of the 2011 Stanley Cup.I enjoyed my time here. It was great, said Luongo. Im just disappointed I wasnt able to bring a Cup here. I think this market wants one more than anything, and if anything thats the main thing that Im disappointed about.He later added: The positives definitely outweigh the few negative things that happened.Most of those negatives occurred after the Cup final and included a goalie circus with Cory Schneider, demanding a trade, stating that his US$64-million, 12-year contract sucks and seeing Schneider dealt away. Then there was his perhaps ill-advised and short-lived captaincy that lasted from 2008 until 2010.Luongo went 19-16-6 with a 2.38 goals-against average and .917 save percentage in his final season with Vancouver and won at least 30 games in six of his eight campaigns here, including two of more than 40 wins. Although he came across as aloof in the media and fans often criticized his play on the ice and demeanour off it, teammates loved his passion and drive.I think he was maybe misunderstood a little bit for a lot of people. He just wanted to win, said Canucks forward Alexandre Burrows. Thats the most important thing. For him to prepare and wanting to win, sometimes he might have done things that media didnt like or fans didnt like.But at the end of the day he wanted to be a real pro and win every game that he played. As a teammate he was great.Luongo — who doesnt blame former Canucks president and general manager Mike Gillis for how things unfolded — said he could have dealt with the spotlight better early in his Vancouver tenure after he was originally acquired from Florida back in 2006.I think sometimes you have to go through some adversity to realize and understand and do the right things, he said. Just my whole perspective on a lot of stuff has changed over the last couple of years, the way I handle things. (I) just try and have as much fun as I can out there realizing that Im 35 now.I just want to have fun playing the game and play hard and do the best I can.For all the heat directed his way, Luongo left Vancouver as a popular player in the city and the feeling is that sentiment remains.Theres a few things, the way I handled certain situations, that I wasnt happy with, said Luongo. Im happy that people were able to see who I really am and the way I am away from the cameras and around the guys and all that kind of stuff. It did feel good for people to see what kind of person I am.He added that there was a period before last seasons stunning trade that brought forward Shawn Matthias and minor-league goalie Jacob Markstrom to Vancouver where he was resigned to the fact that he wouldnt be moved because of his contract.I was just trying to focus on playing here and see what came up as far as teams and trades, said Luongo. At the end of the day everything happens for a reason and I guess thats just the way it had to work out.Luongo has the young Panthers in a hunt for the playoffs in the Eastern Conference and sports a 15-7-7 record to go along with a .924 save percentage, a 2.28 goals-against average and two shutouts so far this season.Im just trying to be in the moment. Were doing pretty well as a team, said Luongo, who dropped a 4-3 shootout decision to Vancouver in Sunrise, Fla., a few weeks after the trade. It was a little bit unknown with all the new faces coming into the season. We had a lot of young guys, new coach.Were really close to being a really good team. Thats what my focus is on.Luongo said he isnt sure what kind of reception to expect from fans on Thursday night in his old stomping grounds, but joked that both will be familiar.Loos and boos, they all sound the same so I wont be able to tell the difference, he said with a smile. Hopefully a good (reaction) but thats not up to me. Either way I just want to enjoy the game.___Follow @JClipperton_CP on Twitter Robert Horry Jersey .com) - The Chicago White Sox have officially announced that the club has agreed to terms with utilityman Emilio Bonifacio on a one-year, $4 million contract that includes a team option for the 2016 season. Vlade Divac Jersey . He made that dream a reality Wednesday night. Olt, who grew up in Branford, Connecticut, attended UConn and made a nearly 2 1-2 hour trek to Boston a handful of times to watch the Red Sox, belted a two-run homer, one of four hit by Cubs in a 16-9 rout that completed a three-game interleague series sweep. http://www.lakersbasketballshop.com/Jor ... -Jersey/.3 seconds remaining, and No. 7 North Carolina held off a resilient No. 25 Virginia team, 54-51, on Saturday. John Henson contributed a double-double with 15 points to go with 11 rebounds for the Tar Heels (25-4, 12-2 ACC), who have won five straight and 10 of 11. Julius Randle Jersey . 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He also beat an Australian opponent for the first time at a Grand Slam after losing to Carsten Ball at the 2010 U.S. Open and Lleyton Hewitt at the 2012 Australian Open. He won on his third match point, sealing victory with a 27th ace. Raonic, who came to Roland Garros from a Rome semifinal last weekend, finished with 50 winners and 30 unforced errors, breaking on four of ten chances. "I felt very good, I was able to do the things I wanted to do," said Raonic, who next plays one of two Czechs, Lukas Rosol of Jiri Vesely. "In the first round you go in not knowing exactly how things are going to play out. When it mattered, I was able to put forward the right attitude and the right level of tennis. Im happy with that." Raonic has a career record of 32-23 on clay courts, compared to 100-42 on hard surfaces that dont deaden his powerful serve. But Raonic had two quarter-final appearances as well as the Rome semifinal in four clay-court tournaments leading up to the French Open. Hes trying to go beyond the third round at Roland Garros for the first time in his career. Later Sunday, sixth seed Tomas Berdych beat Canadian qualifier Peter Polansky of Thornhill 6-3, 6-4, 6-4. Polansky, ranked 137th and playing in only his sixth career singles main draw at a major, last played a Grand Slam at the 2010 US Open. He was successful on only one of six break points while committing 21 unforced errors with 15 winners.dddddddddddd "Its good to be back in the main draw of a slam," said Polansky. "I played well and enjoyed it. I was hoping to get a better draw, there are a lot of guys I could have beaten today. "I played well, I just came up a it short. But I take a lot of positives out of the last few weeks. Maybe I have more belief in my game now that Im older." Raonic said that despite heavy conditions in wet Paris, the courts held up well compared to Rome. "Theyre quite similar, though here they can change a little bit more due to the cloud coverage and not really that much sun the last few days," he said. "The ball wasnt bouncing as much as it had actually the last days on the outside courts. The 23-year-old Raonic used his experience against the young Australian, reducing Kyrgios to racket-hurling frustration after breaking immediately after losing serve in the second set. Raonic began the third set with a break for 2-0, lost it, but again gained the lead 4-2 on his way to victory. Raonic said that he was having trouble at times on serve, but managed to fight through the problem. "I was getting it together when it mattered, and thats all I can really ask," he said. "There was some moments where I was losing a little bit of concentration on my level, and I was able to put it together when I was in the important moments." After answering on-court questions in French, Raonic then said he would tweet a message in the language later. 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