Mejia got his 13th save pitching the ninth, despite giv

ASPEN, Colo. - One of the best snowboarders in the world was too young to go to the Sochi Olympics a year ago. So teenager Chloe Kim watched the halfpipe competition in the comfort of her living room while eating popcorn with her family.She wouldnt have had it any other way.At 14 now, a year older and a year wiser, she realizes that kind of pressure and exposure may have been way too much for her to handle.Im glad I wasnt able to go, to be honest, said Kim, whos one of the favourites Saturday in the halfpipe final at the Winter X Games. I just dont think I was ready.But she will be by the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics in South Korea, the country where her parents are from. Shes actually ready to start dominating the scene now.In between geometry homework, of course, and teaching her 2-year-old parrot, Kiwi, how to talk (she proudly proclaims the bird can say, Whatcha doing, Step up and Tickle, tickle, tickle.).Kim in many ways is just your ordinary teenager. She receives a $100 allowance a month from her parents, which she blows on clothes, and gushes about her recent trip to a local chocolate factory and making homemade fudge. She also doesnt particularly care for writing essays for her ninth-grade English class at her school in Mammoth Lakes, California.Watch her drop into the halfpipe, though, and shes far from typical. Shes the snowboarder with the difficult tricks, huge air and a smoothness that reminds many of Kelly Clark, the most decorated female in X Games history.Kim grew up idolizing Clark, even standing in long lines just to get her autograph. Kim once rode up a chairlift with Clark and was so mesmerized, she didnt know what to say.All I could think was, Im going to get Kelly Clark powers now, Kim said, laughing.Clark, a three-time Olympic medallist , is set to hand the torch off to Kim. Not this year — she wants to defend her crown yet again — but down the road.Shes one of most talented athletes Ive seen in a long time, Clark said. Shes amazing now and she has tons of potential.In years to come, Ill be able to look at womens snowboarding and know that not only is it in good hands, but its in the hands of someone Im proud of.Thats a lot of pressure to live up to. Although, Kim insisted shes ready to take it on. Shes older now — she will turn 15 in April — and not that awe-struck 13-year-old of last year, the one who finished second in the halfpipe to become the youngest athlete to earn a medal at Winter X.Sure, there was a part of her that wanted to go to Russia had age limits not been in place. Not so much to compete, but to try out that mushy halfpipe that led to a less-than-stellar show in the mountains above Sochi.Just to kind of explore how bad a halfpipe could actually get, because I guess thats how bad it was, said Kim. But again, I was really glad I wasnt able to go.Her competitors felt the same way. Kaitlyn Farrington, who won Olympic gold in Russia, jokes with Kim that it was a good thing youre not old enough to go to the Olympics, because it gives some of us older ladies a chance.Shes just amazing, added the 25-year-old Farrington, who recently retired from snowboard competitions due to a degenerative spine condition. Kelly is still pushing the sport so much. But Chloe is going to continue to fight after Kelly. Its great to watch Chloe. Shes progressing so much.Kim even has some new tricks shes planning to unveil at Winter X. Any hints?Top secret, she said. You have to tune in to find out. But theyre pretty cool.As for Pyeongchang, shes already looking forward to it.The timing is perfect, since my parents are from Korea and Ill be 17, Kim said. Thats (an age) when youre full of energy.___Follow Pat Graham on Twitter: http://twitter.com/pgraham34 Cheap Blue Jays Jerseys . Its other five picks were all six foot or better, with three at 6-1 or above. Third-round pick Brett Lernout stands six foot four and weighs 206 pounds. Wholesale Blue Jays Jerseys .com) - The Minnesota Twins made it official on Wednesday, announcing the signing of outfielder Torii Hunter to a one-year contract. https://www.cheapbluejays.com/ . The Italian football federation announced the appointment, three days after new president Carlo Tavecchio was elected. Tavecchio and Conte spoke on the phone early Thursday. Custom Toronto Blue Jays Jerseys . -- Once again, Carlos Santana was a huge hit in Kansas City. Toronto Blue Jays Store . The Calgary Stampeders announced both moves on Wednesday. Parker played 17 regular season games with the Stampeders in 2013, setting career-highs in catches (21) and yards (217).SEATTLE -- Bartolo Colon watched the line drive fall into the outfield grass and applauded. It was all Colon could do after his attempt to toss the first perfect game in New York Mets history was thwarted. Colon came within seven outs of a perfect game on Wednesday afternoon, before giving up a two-out single to Robinson Cano in the seventh inning of the Mets 3-2 win over the Mariners. Colon left a 2-2 fastball elevated on the outer half of the plate and Cano served the pitch into left field, dropping it well in front of Eric Young Jr. "Youre a little disappointed when they get a hit, but thats what theyre trying to do," Colon said through an interpreter. "Theyre trying to get a hit and break up the no-hitter." New York manager Terry Collins went one step further than disappointment. He was certain if Colon was able to get Cano to finish off the seventh he would have completed the perfect game. Collins was the Mets manager when Johan Santana ended New Yorks franchise drought without a no-hitter in 2012. "No doubt. There is no doubt in my mind that if he got by Cano he ramps it up. You see it a lot," Collins said. "But you know, great game by him." A no-hitter is one of the few things missing from Colons resume. He has a Cy Young. Hes won a World Series title. Hes made a career comeback after injuries left him out of baseball in 2010. At age 41, Colon is pitching well enough that hes regularly being talked about as trade fodder for teams needing a starter with the non-waiver trade deadline rapidly approaching. "I dont know anything about that," Colon said. "Those are decisions for the upper management and you cant control that stuff." Colon retired the first 20 batters he faced before Canos single. Colon then had to hold on as Seattle rallied in the eighth and came within inches of tying the game on Brad Millers RBI double that hit off the top of the wall. Colon (9-8) improved to 13-1 all-time at Safeco Field, including his dominance of the Mariners when he was pitching for the Angels. Seattle had no answers for the rotunnd right-hander, who gave up two runs and three hits in 7 1-3 innings.dddddddddddd "He was a Cy Young class guy," Cano said. "He knows how to pitch. Back in the day when the guy threw hard, everything was middle of the plate, fastball. Now you see a different guy that moves the ball, both sides, and a pretty good change up." Colon threw a one-hitter for the Angels against the Yankees in 2000 and was cruising until the seventh. He got the first two outs of the seventh, but Canos single ended the bid for perfection. Cano was hitting .400 against Colon entering the game. Corey Hart led off the eighth walking on a 3-2 pitch, just the fourth three-ball count Colon reached. After a fly out, Dustin Ackley singled to right, bringing the tying run to the plate. Miller nearly tied it with one swing, doubling off the top of the wall in right-centre, missing a home run by only a couple of feet. Colon was replaced by Jeurys Familia and Willie Bloomquists infield groundout scored another, but Endy Chavez struck out to end the threat. Jenrry Mejia got his 13th save pitching the ninth, despite giving up a pair of singles. "(Colon) was awesome today. Great command of his fastball. We didnt use his off-speed that much," Mets catcher Anthony Recker said. "... It made my job really easy." Daniel Murphy had an RBI double in the first and David Wright had an RBI single in the seventh. New York also had a score in the fifth when Ruben Tejada was hit in the helmet with a 94 mph fastball from Seattle starter Taijuan Walker. Tejada instantly crumpled to the ground before walking off the field on his own power. Tejada passed all initial testing and was expected to fly with the team to Milwaukee. "It scared me," Tejada said. NOTES: The Mets have 38 one-hitters in franchise history. ... Colons only loss at Safeco field came in 2001 during the Mariners 116-win season. ... Seattle LHP James Paxton (back) is expected to throw one more rehab start this weekend in the minors before possibly rejoining the club. ' ' '