Krasnaya Polyana, Russia (SportsNetwork. Benson Mayowa Jersey .com) - Ted Ligety skidded out, sliding onto his left side. No, the American skier hadnt just blown another chance to take his rightful place as the Olympic giant slalom champion. He was celebrating. In clear conditions at the Rosa Khutor course, Ligety carved out a big lead with a masterful morning run Wednesday that all but guaranteed him the gold barring a big mistake in the afternoon. Teammate Bode Miller called it a "clutch performance." You might call it a moment eight years in the making. Ligety took a lead of .93 seconds into the second run, then held on to beat Frances Steve Missillier by .48 seconds for his second Olympic gold medal but first in the event hes dominated for years on the World Cup circuit. Ligety finished with a combined time of 2 minutes, 45.29 seconds, winning the first gold medal of the Sochi Olympics for the U.S. alpine skiing team. Alexis Pinturault earned the bronze behind his French teammate. Widely considered the best giant slalom skier of his generation, Ligety skied out of the race in 2006 and finished ninth in 2010. Until he filled the biggest hole in his resume on Wednesday, Ligetys greatest Olympic feat had been a surprising win in the mens combined as a 21-year-old in 2006. "Today was awesome. Theres not really any other way to put it," said Ligety. "This is something Ive been working for since I was a little kid. Being the favorite in alpine skiing is never easy, because its an event thats so far from being guaranteed and not an event thats super simple to win even if youre skiing the best in the world." Miller finished 2.53 seconds behind Ligety in 20th place in what could be the 36-year-olds final Olympic race. Miller became the oldest Olympic medalist in alpine skiing on Sunday when he tied for bronze in the Super-G for his sixth Olympic medal, including a silver in the giant slalom in 2002. "Its asking a bit much of my left knee still on those kinds of bumps. Right in the middle, theres a left-footed turn that just seems like crazy big bumps. I just look at it thinking maybe I could do it, but confidence-wise I dont feel comfortable dropping it in that way and its cost me both runs there. This is pretty aggressive stuff for the lower leg," noted Miller. Ligety is only the second American skier with two Olympic alpine gold medals after Andrea Mead Lawrence, who won both womens slalom events at the 1952 Oslo Games. He finished his first run in 1:21.08 and had the 14th-fastest time in his second run, 1:24.21 -- more than a second slower than Missillier but good enough. Ligety appeared relieved at the bottom of the hill, sliding into the snow and exhaling. Defending Olympic champion Carlo Janka of Switzerland finished in 13th place and Sochi downhill gold medalist Matthias Mayer of Austria ended sixth. Josh Bynes Jersey . Catch the action live on TSN2 at 7:30pm et/4:30pm pt. The Wild lead the Northwest Division and look to get back into the win column after having a season-high seven-game winning streak cut short with Tuesdays 2-1 loss at Winnipeg in the finale of a five-game road trip (4-1-0). Arizona Cardinals Jerseys . 11 Ana Ivanovic and American Sloane Stephens, and former world No. http://www.nflcardinalsrookiestore.com/Cardinals-Mason-Cole-Jersey/ . Louis Cardinals have agreed to a one-year contract.TAMPA, Fla. -- So much for the idea there is an unlikely quarterback controversy brewing in Washington. Backup Kirk Cousins didnt get a chance to add any fuel to the notion. And for that matter, neither did struggling starter Robert Griffin III Redskins coach Jay Gruden rested both quarterbacks in Thursday nights 24-10 preseason-ending victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. "Coach mentioned it to us that we werent playing. We fully go along with that decision," Griffin said after the game. "When it really counts, well be out there." Third-stringer Colt McCoy played the entire night for Washington (3-1), throwing for 321 yards, two touchdowns and a pair of end-zone interceptions that stopped promising drives. "He told me after the game, he threw one red-zone interception in his career. He had two today," Gruden said. "Other than that, I think he played very good, not only in the passing game, but in the running game," the coach added. "He got out of the pocket, made some plays, showed that he can run. Another great option for us at the position." Ryan Grant scored on a 2-yard reception for the Redskins, and Lache Seastrunk turned a short pass into an 80-yard TD that gave Washington a 17-3 lead in the third quarter. McCoy finished 22 of 29 and was sacked once. He hoped the performance enhanced his chances of making the team. "For me to get a whole game, I was loving it. ... Well just let it play out like were supposed to," McCoy said. "For me, I hope it works out because this is my fifth offence in five years, and it fits me the best of any offensive system Ive been in before. ... I like what we do. It fits my skill set, and I feel like I can help this team." Mike Kafka played most of the game for Tampa Bay, throwing for 86 yards and one TD -- a 25-yarder to Solomon Patton in the fourth quarter. He didnt throw any interceptions, but was sacked four times. The Bucs were outgained 443 yards to 157, leaving coach Lovie Smith at a loss for superlatives when he was asked if anyone made a good final impression heading into Saturdays cuts. "We didnt score a whole lot of points. We didnt really stop theem an awful lot," Smith said. Chase Edmonds Cardinals Jersey. "So, right off the top of my head, I cant think of anybody that flashed an awful lot." Griffin has laboured this preseason attempting transition into a more traditional pocket-passer under Gruden, who replaced Mike Shanahan after last season. Cousins has looked much more comfortable in Washingtons new system, raising questions about whether he might be a better fit for the starting role. Gruden briefly gave some consideration to playing Griffin for a series or two Thursday night to give his quarterback a chance to end the preseason on a positive note. Instead, he will have to wait until the teams Sept. 7 opener at Houston to move past the ugly numbers he posted last week in his final tuneup against Baltimore: 5 of 8 passing for 20 yards, no touchdowns, an interception, three sacks and a fumbled snap. Washingtons first-team offence did not score a TD in roughly four quarters of work this preseason. "I feel great," Griffin said, looking ahead to the start of the regular season. "At the end of this game, its Houston Week. Were all ready to go, were all pumped up. Everything we do now is geared toward Houston." Tampa Bay also rested starting quarterback Josh McCown, and his backup, second-year pro Mike Glennon, only played one series. In fact, the only regulars who played for either team were Tampa Bay guards Oniel Cousins and Patrick Omameh, one of whom undoubtedly will lose his starting spot with the arrival of six-time Pro Bowler Logan Mankins. Mankins was acquired from New England in a trade on Tuesday. He met his new coaches and teammates after arriving in town Thursday morning and will spend the next few days trying to get familiar with the play book. "Its going to be tough. We have a week before the first game, and Im going to take it in stride. Ive got all weekend to try and get down some of the mental part of it, and then all next week at practice," the 10th-year pro said. "Im sure the guys are going to help me as much as possible, and Im going to try my best to be up to speed with those guys. I dont know if it will happen, but Im shooting for it." 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