ORLANDO, Fla. Fake Knicks Jerseys . - A study on Major League Soccers hiring practices shows a decline in overall gender diversity but says the league maintains high marks for racial and gender diversity inside its central office.The report released Tuesday by The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport gave MLS its second straight B+ grade for racial hiring practices. The leagues overall gender hiring grade was a C+, down from a B in 2013. MLS joins the NFL and Major League Baseball with overall gender grades below a B.Study author Richard Lapchick said this is a pivotal moment for MLS to further embrace diversity.It seems to be a breakthrough time for MLS in popularity with its teams, coming off the recent World Cup, Lapchick said. The league office has always had a strong posture on hiring practices. Particularly at this time when the public is paying more attention with whats going on with MLS, its an opportunity for them and their leadership to make sure their league and team offices look more like America.The most diversity in MLS continues to be inside the league office, where it received grades of A+ in racial hiring and an A- in gender hiring.A total of 48 of 123 league office employees (39 per cent) are racial minorities. Women account for 46 league office professional employee positions (37 per cent).The results at the team level are less favourable. Racial diversity among general managers received an F and among head coaches a C+.All general managers are white men. Chivas USA, which folded after the season, and FC Dallas were the only MLS franchises led by head coaches who are minorities.Gender hiring for team senior administration received an F as well, with women holding only 42 of the 215 positions (19.5 per cent).Lapchick praised the leadership efforts of MLS Commissioner Don Garber at the league office but called this years results at the team level alarming.It is the most distressing part of the report, Lapchick said. And it comes in a year when were finally discussing issues about women in sports. Its a good that the league office has a significant percentage of women of colour, but it needs to be extended to the team level and professional hiring practices there. New York Knicks Pro Shop . The 27-year-old forward has informed the Leafs that he will be unable to play in Monday nights home game against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Cheap Knicks Jerseys .That is precisely what they got Sunday.The Ravens trailed at halftime and never built a comfortable lead against lowly Jacksonville, yet did just enough to squeeze out a 20-12 win to stay in the thick of the AFC playoff race.ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Peyton Mannings mind is on New England, not his neck. When answering a question last week about whether he could still enjoy the playoffs given his previous post-season disappointments, Manning dropped in a phrase that "the light is at the end of the tunnel for me, no question." Meaning, that at age 37 he certainly has more games and seasons behind him than ahead. Following Denvers 24-17 win over San Diego on Sunday that sent the Broncos into the AFC championship, Manning was asked whether a medical exam on his surgically repaired neck following the season, which ESPN reported will determine whether he even plays in 2014, was weighing on his mind. "Its really not," Manning said. "Whats weighing on my mind is how soon I can get a Bud Light in my mouth. Thats priority one." Neither Manning nor the Broncos have any indication whatsoever that Manning wont pass his medical exam in March -- if anything were wrong, he wouldnt be playing right now. And Manning is coming off the best statistical season of his brilliant career, one in which he threw for a record 55 touchdowns and 5,447 yards. But hes not one who likes to look too far ahead anyway, just like he hates going down memory lane or talking about his health publicly. Now, Patriots pass-rushers Chandler Jones and Rob Ninkovich might be among his concerns this week. But he didnt even want to talk aboout the Patriots following Denvers win over the Chargers, much less about his upcoming medical exams or his football future. New York Knicks Shirts. "It was an intense game and up and down and a lot of emotions," Manning said. "Even the Patriots is (too far) ahead. And that question is way far ahead. I am not there. This team has been a one-week-at-a-time season. For all weve been through, losing our coach, losing different guys to injury, that approach has served us well and I think we need to keep that approach from here on out." Manning has always said that if doctors had told him after his spinal fusion surgeries two years ago that he shouldnt continue playing football, he would have walked away from the game without regret and that hed do the same if he receives such medical advice down the road. All parties expect him to receive the go-ahead to play next season when he has his medical exam in March, which is just like the one he had after last season. Manning was released by the Indianapolis Colts in March of 2012 after four neck operations that weakened his throwing arm. He signed with the Broncos and has gone 27-7 in Denver with 97 TD passes and 24 interceptions, counting playoffs. The Broncos (14-3) on Sunday host the Patriots (13-4), who havent played on the road in the AFC playoff bracket since losing to Manning and the Colts 38-34 in the AFC title game following the 2006 season. ' ' '
