Clan-Members » Snedeker said. Its funny, you get a round like today

ATLANTA -- In his first extended interview since committing to sign with the Atlanta Hawks, Dwight Howard described joining his hometown team as a new beginning after his final days with the Houston Rockets admittedly left him with a chip on my shoulder.Speaking to ESPNs SportsCenter on Tuesday moments after officially inking his three-year, $70.5 million deal with the Hawks, Howard said the faith Atlanta has shown in him has restored his belief that Im still the player who was selected to eight All-Star Games ?and won three successive NBA Defensive Player of the Year Awards.Grant Hill was a big part of the process, Howard said of the Hawks minority owner and former fellow Orlando Magic star in an interview that first aired Tuesday night.For somebody like [Hill] to believe in me, [Hawks general manager] Wes Wilcox and Bud [Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer] -- for all of these guys to have that belief in me just gave me more confidence.After the season, I was a little bit down for a couple days, Howard admitted. He says the Hawks interest when free agency began July 1 helped him start feeling really good about myself again.Howards third and final season as a Rocket ended with a five-game exit at the hands of the?Golden State Warriors?in the first round of the playoffs amid?considerable focus on what has been widely described as a rocky coexistence with Houstons star guard, James Harden.Regarding his relationship with Harden, Howard said: Well, I just think that we both wanted to win, and we didnt ever have an opportunity to do it like we needed to together. But I wish him nothing but the best. I hope that he continues to play at a very high level. You will never hear me say anything bad about James Harden, because I know what it feels like, for one. And two: I want nothing but success for him. We may have didnt work in Houston, but I just hope that he succeeds. I can just say that with an honest heart: I just want to see him succeed.Howards departure in free agency came as little surprise, given that his offensive role with the Rockets steadily diminished as the season wore on, despite the fact Houston elected to keep Howard at the February trade deadline after initially shopping him. The Rockets then hired Mike DAntoni -- under whom Howard never clicked when both were with the Los Angeles Lakers -- as their new coach in June.?I thought it started out really good, and it just didnt end the way we all wanted to in Houston, Howard told SportsCenter of his Rockets tenure. But for me, that situation is over with. I learned a lot from being there, and it just really built a lot of character. I really had to endure a lot of things, a lot of heartaches, a lot of things that were being said about me publicly that I knew [werent] true. But I really had to learn how to endure those things, and it really just made me stronger.Howard was asked what troubled him most.The one thing that just really I hate to hear with a passion is that Im a cancer in the locker room and Im a guy that wants to separate and divide a team, he responded. Ive never been that way my whole life. Ive always been somebody who wants to bring people together, whether thats my teammates or thats the community, families, whatever it may be. Just to hear that word -- cancer -- it pisses me off, to be honest with you, because thats not who I am.Ive never been somebody who didnt care about my teammates, and Ive never been that way. And to hear cancer, to hear diva, things like that, thats not me.Howard, who declined his $23.2 million player option with Houston for next season to instead enter free agency, said he understands that only success with the Hawks will enable him to hush such talk after falling short of championship contention in his stints with the Rockets and Lakers.People are always going to talk, Howard said. I think the biggest thing that I have to do is not allow it to get into my heart.Theres always going to be negative things being said about us as basketball players, he added, but [I have to] just not allow it to consume me. I think for the longest [time], I allowed negativity to consume who I was, and I stopped being who I was. I stopped being this happy person, this person that loved to enjoy the game of basketball, have a passion for it. So just not allowing those negative things to hit my ears.?Howard acknowledged that playing in the city where he grew up in might have been more challenging earlier in his career, but he insists he can handle the pressures that go with a high-profile homecoming as a 12-year veteran who turns 31 in December.?Young, Howard said with a laugh when asked how he feels. Thirty is the new 20. Thats how I see it. My body feels great, and Im really looking forward to having a dominant season this year. New mentality, new attitude.I thought when I was younger, it would have been very difficult to play at home for myself, he added. But I think Im in a different stage in my life and my career to where none of that stuff matters. My focus is on one thing, and thats to contend for a title. ?Howard also was asked about the high bar that comes with succeeding longtime Hawks frontcourt mainstay Al Horford.I dont have any problems with whatever anybody said about me replacing Al, he said. I think Al did great for nine years here, and this is, I think, a new era. This is a new beginning for everybody. They have a new organization, new management, theyre taking steps to take this team to a different level, and they put a lot of trust and belief in me to help bring this team a championship.Budenholzer said the Hawks know Howard isnt a Horford clone and that they dont need him to be.Hes more of a traditional center, Budenholzer said Wednesday at Howards introductory news conference. Its been clear hes been one of the top defenders in our league for a long time. Offensively, hes somebody whos a presence inside, whos putting pressure on the rim whether it be in pick-and-rolls or post-ups. It will probably be something more like what San Antonio had for the majority of time I was there as an assistant coach.Howard, who has worn No. 12 for his entire pro career, unveiled a new No. 8 on Wednesday. Howard said the number featured biblical inspiration, as the No. 8 is seen as a symbol of new beginnings.One of the things biblically is the purging of the heart, and throughout the years there are things that have happened behind closed doors that it really hardened my heart towards different situations, Howard said Wednesday. I really have to purge my heart and come at basketball in a different manner. I was very upset with how things turned out and what people were saying. I hardened my heart towards everybody.?On Tuesday, Howard told ESPN that the Hawks offer a new beginning for me.I want to change from where I was at in my career and try to make the latter part of my career greater than the first part, he said. ??Im just happy. I really just want to leave all that stuff behind me, and I know people want to talk about it and why this and why that, but everybodys had a past. Everybody has had skeletons in their closet, and I have done my best to try and clean out my closet, so now I can start [anew].Start fresh and be the Dwight I have longed to be my whole life.Saad Yousuf of ESPN Radio in Dallas (103.3 FM) contributed to this report. Paul Arriola USA Jersey . Spiller left Week 3s 27-20 loss to the New York Jets with a thigh injury, but fully practiced with the team all week and expects to be ready to go on Sunday. Sacha Kljestan Jersey . Neymar curled home a free kick from just outside the area to put the 2014 World Cup host ahead in the 44th minute. Three minutes after the break, a simple through pass from Paulinho freed Oscar and the Chelsea star rounded goalkeeper Jung Sung-ryong to extend Brazils lead. http://www.soccerusateamonline.com/Darlington-Nagbe-Copa-America-Jersey/ . -- The Portland Timbers and Real Salt Lake played to a 0-0 tie Saturday night that left the top of the Western Conference standings unchanged. David Bingham Jersey . - Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco is not a fan of his teams use of the wildcat formation, saying "it makes you look like a high school offence. Nick Rimando USA Jersey . Fellow centre Pavel Datsyuk remains out because of a concussion. Zetterberg has 11 goals and 19 assists for a team-high 30 points, and Datsyuk has a team-high 12 goals and 11 assists. OAKVILLE, Ontario -- Jared du Toit was in position to become the first Canadian to win the Canadian Open in 62 years -- and the first amateur to break through on the PGA Tour in 25 seasons.Brandt Snedeker was in a little better position. U.S. Open champion Dustin Johnson was right there, too.I think Im going to be the most-hated man in Canada tomorrow, but its going to be a lot of fun trying to figure it out, said Snedeker, the 2013 winner at Glen Abbey who eagled the par-5 18th on Saturday for a 6-under 66 and a one-stroke lead over du Toit and Johnson.Du Toit matched Snedeker with an eagle on 18, holing a 40-footer for a 70. On Friday, du Toit rebounded from a triple bogey and bogey with three straight birdies.Ive never kind of been in this kind of pressure, this atmosphere before, said du Toit, an Arizona State senior from Kimberley, British Columbia. Im here having fun and trying to go and play golf. It hasnt set in so far, but loving every minute of it.Pat Fletcher, born in England, was the last Canadian winner in 1954 at Point Grey in Vancouver, British Columbia. Carl Keffer is the only Canadian-born champion, winning in 1909 and 1914. Albert Murray, a Canadian also born in England, won in 1908 and 1913. Doug Sanders was the last amateur to win the event in 1956, and Phil Mickelson was the last amateur winner on the tour in the 1991 Northern Telecom Open.Im honestly just out here to have some fun and enjoy the atmosphere, du Toit said. Obviously, I want to play well tomorrow, but its kind of my first go at it. Win or lose, Im happy with the way this weeks gone.He has Snedekers attention.Hes great, Snedeker said. For a 21-year-old kid, to be playing golf here is awesome, let alone to do it in your national open. I mean, I cant imagine the nerves this kid has to be playing as great of golf as he has. Im looking forward to meeting him. Im looking forward to playing with him, and Im going to do everything I can to help him have a great day tomorrow.Snedeker overpowered the 18th, hitting a 378-yard drive and 121-yard approach to set up the 6-footer.Now I know what it feels like to be Dustin Johnson, Snedeker said about his drive on 18. Just had downwind, greens and fairways are so firm, if you get it. Unfortunately, them being firm, you have about 2 yards to get the ball in the fairway. I hit it right on my line, one of the best swings Ive made all day. Hit hard and took off. Had a lob wedge into 18, perfect lob wedge, able to hit a good one and rip it in there about 6 feet and make a putt.ddddddddddddJohnson, tied for the lead with Luke List after each of the first two days, birdied 18 for a 71.I had a rough day on the greens, Johnson said. It didnt feel like I was hitting bad putts. I dont know, ball was not going in the hole. Hit a lot of good shots out there that didnt end up very good. I still feel like Im playing well, driving it really well and thats the big key for me. Tomorrow, hopefully, get some putts to roll in.Snedeker had five straight birdies on Nos. 2-6, bogeyed 11 and 15 and birdied the par-5 16th. The 35-year-old American won in February at Torrey Pines for his eighth PGA Tour title.I felt comfortable on the greens all week and was hitting my line today, Snedeker said. Its funny, you get a round like today, I had a bunch of putts that were really easy to read. They were edge putts I could be firm with and aggressive with and I was able to take advantage of them.Steve Wheatcroft and Alex Cejka were 7 under. Wheatcroft had a 64, and Cejka shot 69.Im excited. I know Ive been playing really well, Wheatcroft said. My swing has really been clicking the last few weeks. Ive had a miserable year. I just havent been able to put anything together. I made some swing changes about a month ago or two weeks ago in Alabama, so I know its coming.Jon Rahm, du Toits former Arizona State teammate, was in the group at 6 under in his fourth start since turning professional. The Spaniard eagled 16 and birdied 18 in a 72.Matt Kuchar also was 6 under after a 70.I was hoping for a big round today, but kind of stalled out just a little bit, Kuchar said. Course is tough. I didnt drive it quite as well as I had first two days, and its so crucial, driving it well.Top-ranked defending champion Jason Day was tied for 28th at 2 under after a 69. He shot a 76 on Friday after opening with a 69.Definitely kept the ball out in front of me today, Day said. It was easier obviously today teeing off early. Greens were a lot more receptive. The fairways were a lot more receptive, as well, so they werent bouncing into the rough or they werent bouncing into the rough over the greens.List also was 2 under after a 77. He had a triple bogey and two double bogeys on the back nine. ' ' '