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GREENBURGH, N.Y. -- When the New York Knicks decided they wanted to build a more competitive team, Joakim Noah couldnt wait to sign on.He remembers watching plenty of games at Madison Square Garden and knows better than most what it means to have winning basketball in the city where he was born.So he committed quickly when he became a free agent, and signed his contract Friday as the centerpiece of what the Knicks hope can be a contender.This means everything to me, and Im going to do everything to make this special, Noah said.The Knicks also signed veteran guards Brandon Jennings and Courtney Lee, along with rookie big men Marshall Plumlee and Guillermo Willy Hernangomez, and re-signed forward Lance Thomas. Add in Derrick Rose, Noahs former Chicago teammate who was acquired via trade last month, and the Knicks believe they can turn a 50-loss team into a playoff one.We like this team, Knicks President Phil Jackson said.The Knicks missed the postseason during Jacksons first two full seasons in charge, but have been busy this summer in hopes of a turnaround. Jeff Hornacek was hired as coach, and a number of what Jackson called forceful players were brought in after a postseason conversation with All-Star Carmelo Anthony, who was eager to speed up the process after sitting out the playoffs for the first three times in his career.We decided to activate ourselves a little bit quicker, Jackson said.The Knicks made a number of moves last summer, but after a decent start tumbled to a 32-50 finish. General manager Steve Mills said the team felt it needed more starting-caliber NBA players to surround Anthony and Kristaps Porzingis, who was runner-up for Rookie of the Year.They started with Noah, the former Defensive Player of the Year whose leadership skills Jackson has long admired. The versatile center got a four-year contract, as did Lee, the shooting guard who helped Charlotte win 48 games last season and said he had other teams interested.I just felt like the team was moving in the right direction because you already have Melo and you already have KP here, so thats a strong core group right there, and I just felt joining this team would only increase my chances of competing in the Eastern Conference and trying to win a ring, Lee said.Jennings got a one-year deal and is the only one of the three veterans introduced Friday who isnt expected to start.When I talked to Phil, he said he expected me to be Sixth Man of the Year, Jennings said. So Im definitely going to embrace that role. I dont see why I cant be in that conversation.Jackson acknowledged the risks in relying on players who have battled injuries. Roses knee troubles have been well-documented, and Noah made it through just 29 games last season because of a left shoulder injury. Jennings said hes 100 percent now after returning in the middle of last season from an Achilles tendon injury that cost him a season.Its a risk-reward situation. Were aware of this, Jackson said. We think the reward is going to be great.So does Noah, who was born in New York and attended high school there. His mother, former Miss Sweden Cecilia Rodhe, still lives in Brooklyn after her divorce from French tennis star Yannick Noah. His sister lives in the city, too, so this feels like a homecoming in some ways.He said it was hard to leave after nine years in Chicago, where Bulls chairman Jerry Reinsdorf said his impact cant be measured.He is loved by all in our organization and he will always be a Bull, Reinsdorf said.Now hes a Knick.Sometimes its just time to move on, Noah said. When this situation opened up, I knew right away that this was where I wanted to be.---Follow Brian Mahoney on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/BriancmahoneyCheap Titans Jerseys China . -- There were so many positives from the Orlando Magics first victory of the season that it was hard for coach Jacque Vaughn to stop praising his players. Cheap Titans Jerseys Authentic . Its the second straight game Bell has scored in extra time for Kelowna, which beat the Brandon Wheat Kings 6-5 on Friday, and he now has four game-winning goals on the season. http://www.cheaptitansjerseyselite.com/ . The defence is doing its part, too. Drew Brees threw a pair of touchdown passes in the first half and the guys on the other side made sure that was enough, sending the Saints to a 17-13 victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday night. Cheap Titans Jerseys . White came in fourth place in the event. He was the two-time defending gold medallist. The gold medal went to Swiss snowboarder Iouri Podladtchikov. Cheap Tennessee Titans Jerseys . McPhee said that Ovechkins father Mikhail is in stable condition after having the surgery this week and is no longer in intensive care. "Weve told him to stay as long as necessary with your dad," he said. Ovechkin and his Russian national team were eliminated from the mens hockey tournament in Sochi on Wednesday with a 3-1 quarter-final loss to Finland.Cristiano Ronaldo will decide on the day whether he fit enough to play in Real Madrids Champions League semi-final second leg against Manchester City, says Guillem Balague.After a 0-0 draw at the Etihad on Tuesday, which Ronaldo missed with a thigh injury, the forward is in a race against time to be fit for Wednesday nights crucial return leg at the Bernabeu.Ronaldo - who will sit out Saturdays league game against Real Sociedad - would be a huge miss for Real having scored 16 goals in 10 Champions League games this season, and Balague says the fact the 31-year-old has chosen to take treatment away from the club is indicative of the medical crisis at Real. Ronaldo felt the pain towards the end of the last training session before the first leg at the Etihad Spanish football expert Balague told Sky Sports: The latest is that he has been treated by physios and doctors away from Real Madrid, which confirms the medical crisis at the club.Ronaldo felt he was OK in the last training session in Manchester before the semi-final draw with City on Tuesday. He sprinted, ran, did everything as usual that you do for the training session, but 10 minutes before the end he felt a sharp pain again.Some are saying there is no tear, others say there is. I believe there is a tear, and he wants to treat it with stem cell treatment, which could speed the healing process. The 31-yeear-old has scored 16 goals in 10 Champions League games this season It would still be tender, so its a risk for certain, but the stem cell treatment could help him recover.dddddddddddd He will decide on the day, and Zidane will follow whatever Cristiano decides.Ronaldos contract at Real Madrid runs out in the summer of 2018, but speculation over his future at the Bernabeu is still rife.Balague says his future does not depend on Reals domestic and Champions League success this season, and that if figures cannot be met with other clubs, the next logical step is to negotiate a new contract with the La Liga side. Ronaldos decision will be final decision, says Balague His future does not depend on Reals success this season. Real and Cristiano have been looking at avenues to part company, but Real have not found a buyer with the money that they want, and Ronaldo hasnt found anyone with the money required for him to leave Real Madrid.Unless a big offer comes in, the next step will be for Real and Cristiano to agree a new contract. Zidane wants him to stay.There have been conversations for clubs for sure, but Manchester United have not shown enough interest to get him, and PSG have calculated that they dont have the money required. But we have to see what happens in the next few weeks.Also See:Benzema doubt for City clashCitys post-CL recordDraw is great for Man CityMan City: Cheerful or fearful? ' ' '