MANKATO, Minn. -- In mere months, Alex Boone has established himself as the alpha male of Minnesotas offensive line.Heavily tattooed and 6-foot-8 and 310 pounds with the boisterous personality to match, Boone is already the standout in a group that has collectively struggled in recent seasons. The edge he brings to playing left guard is part of why the Vikings gave him a four-year contract this spring worth as much as $26.8 million.Humility has helped spur his development, too. Being bypassed in the 2009 NFL draft after alcohol-fueled off-the-field trouble led to a sobering up. Then there was Sept. 23, 2012, when Boone and the San Francisco 49ers came to the Metrodome to take on the Vikings hed one day be playing for.Boones opponent in that game was Kevin Williams, who recently retired after 13 seasons and five All-Pro selections. Nearly four years later, the memory of being dominated that afternoon by a defensive tackle seven years older than him is still beneficially vivid.I thought, `Hes just old. He aint got it anymore. Hes not going to do anything, Boone said, and he just beat me all up and down the field. He made me a better player, and it really opened my eyes to the league.The lesson about overconfidence came in his first season as a starter on a team that advanced to the Super Bowl.I told him during the game, too, that hes probably the most respected person in this game because of what he did to me, Boone recalled upon reporting to training camp last week.Boone received a roaring ovation that day from the autograph-seeking fans as the players filed into their residence hall at Minnesota State University, a sign of the angst that has surrounded the front five in Minnesota in recent years. Boones presence will loom large for quarterback Teddy Bridgewater and the Vikings.Hes brought an attitude, lots more character to the room, right guard Brandon Fusco said.Tony Sparano was hired as the new offensive line coach, too, another critical injection of tenacity. Left tackle Matt Kalil, his hands full in practice with defensive end Everson Griffen, has pleased the staff in camp so far with his performance. Center John Sullivan has returned from two back surgeries that erased his 2015 season to compete with Joe Berger for the starting job. Newcomer Andre Smith is on track to be the right tackle next to Fusco, who has shifted to his original spot.If everybody believes in the same thing and buys into the same thing that were going to be the toughest, the meanest, the nastiest group, its not going to take very long for everybody to get on the same page, Boone said. I think its crucial that everybody does buy into that.Coach Mike Zimmer said hes already noticed the attitude effect on the locker room. A conversation with linebacker Chad Greenway confirmed this.He said, `Hes great. People respect him, Zimmer said. He has kind of changed the mentality of the offensive line room, him and coach Sparano, and thats a good thing.---Online:AP NFL website: http://www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL coverage on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Mousa Dembele Jersey .com) - The women will also have a new champion at the Australian Open. Thomas Meunier Jersey . "Thank you for the warm welcome," Beckham said on an 80-degree February morning. In this case, it was soccer weather. The sport moved a step closer to returning to South Florida on Wednesday, when Beckham confirmed he has exercised his option to purchase a Major League Soccer expansion franchise in Miami. http://www.belgiumsoccerpro.com/Dedryck-Boyata-Belgium-Jersey/ . -- Whether Jeremy Hill deserves a prominent role in LSUs offence this early in the season is a matter for debate. Jan Vertonghen Belgium Jersey . Louis Blues absence from top spot in the TSN. Yannick Carrasco Belgium Jersey . - Chris Tierney snapped a tie with a power-play goal late in the third period as the London Knights rallied from a 3-0 deficit to beat the Erie Otters 5-3 in Ontario Hockey League action on Wednesday. VINTON, La. -- Gunnevera put some Kentucky Derby points in his pocket Saturday when he unleashed an explosive bid on the final turn of the Grade 3, $1 million Delta Downs Jackpot and went on to a 5-3/4-length win over Hot Sean. It was another four lengths back to Dangerfield in third.Gunnevera earned 10 eligibility points for the Kentucky Derby with his Jackpot win, which was the richest race on a program of eight stakes at Delta Downs. The card included the Grade 3, $400,000 Delta Downs Princess in which Shanes Girlfriend ($8.80) romped by 13.25 lengths.Gunnevera ($7.80) had one horse beat on the final turn of the Jackpot, a 1-1/16-mile race run over a six furlong track at Delta Downs. He responded like a shot when asked, and circled his rival into the stretch before running down clear leader Hot Sean. Gunnevera covered the distance on a track rated fast in 1:45.15.I really liked the way he did it today, very professional, winning rider Javier Castellano said.Gunnevera let the speed go in the Jackpot, as Hot Sean and Our Stormin Norman took the field through fractions of 23.18 seconds for the opening quarter, 47.05 for the half-mile, and 1:12.52 for six furlongs, pushed along by Balandeen.He started running at the end, Castellano said of Gunnevera. It was very impressive the way he finished.Gunnevera won the Grade 2 Saratoga Special over 6-1/2 furlongs this summer at Saratoga, closing from well back. His trainer, Antonio Sano, said before the race Saturday hee felt the horse, who had made one prior start at two turns, a fifth in the Grade 1 Breeders Futurity won by Classic Empire, would handle the distance demands.dddddddddddd Castellano credited the horses success to the efforts of Sano.Antonio Sano took a lot of patience [with this horse] and it paid off, he said. The connections get all the credit.Gunnevera, who was the favorite in the Jackpot, is owned by Peacock Racing Stables. He earned $600,000 for his win in the Jackpot, improving his career earnings to $771,000. Gunnevera has now won three of six starts, starting with a maiden special weight at 5-1/2 furlongs at Gulfstream Park in July.Gunnevera is a son of Dialed In and was bred in Kentucky by Brandywine Farm and Stephen Upchurch. Sano sent him to Delta Downs a week out from the race, after putting in his final works at Gulfstream Park West.Gunnevera is the second straight Saratoga Special winner to take the Jackpot, behind Exaggerator in 2015. Exaggerator went on to run second in the Kentucky Derby and to win the Preakness.Other horses in the Jackpot earning Kentucky Derby eligibility points Saturday were Hot Sean (4), Dangerfield (2), and fourth-place finisher J Boys Echo (1). The remaining order of finish was Balandeen in fifth, followed by Pat On the Back, Thirstforlife, Tip Tap Tapizar, Line Judge and Our Stormin Norman. ' ' '