The City of Winnipeg has a stomach flu going around and I caught it. Al Horford Jersey . That made training a little difficult.  I lost a lot of ground but gained a new understanding of just what it means when athletes get the flu, even a week before a big game or fight. I have been useless. Cardio was cut in half and I instantly dripped sweat. My technical skills hitting the heavy bag had no rhythm, and looked horrible. Im not looking to get into an MMA match, and I cant imagine what it must be like to go into one with a flu, having been part of the last one or two weeks of a fight camp. Its an official excuse in my books. However, training must go on, also, work and all things media related. This is the beauty of my career.  Like most up and coming MMA fighters, I have a full time job to fit training around. I also do a lot of media work to promote my One Fit City movement. There are no days off trying to get the Nation of Canada healthier, One Fit City at a time. Fighters have to train, work, and promote themselves. There is no one who will make them stars; they need to do it themselves. It all takes time and energy.  This week, after returning to something that resembled training Thursday, the plan is going to involve a lot of plyometrics and heavy lifts.  This is where you, the fan at home can try adding to your workout. There is a lot of disconnect with fighters, fans, and strength coaches. Most fighters have media at their workouts for the last 10 days. Thats when the conditioning and power circuits are in place. Strength coaches usually are not well spoken or very interesting people so they dont get to come on and explain the science or the building of a program. So fans think fighters do nothing but circuits. Early on, if an athlete needs to tune up their power, we use big power movements. Elite Performance is one of those gyms where you can drop weights, Olympic lift, and bend bars with weights. In fact, Jeff Fisher demands it. So for me, old, frail, retired, radio show, blogging, me, its going to be rough getting back to this next week for real. If you are a fan looking to try some of this stuff, you may want to consider one of two things. First, invest and go see and use a gym that trains pro athletes. Across the Nation there are some amazing gyms that have popped up. You can get the assistance from a professional strength coach and train in a facility that has real pro athletes getting better. Second, visit the local University. Same concept as a private facility, less cost, but there are usually a lot less options for when you can train. So this week, add into your training regime two days, preferably Monday and Thursday, that have big strength and plyo lifts. Im going to be doing something like this - 3 Warm up front squats x 8-10 - 5 sets of back squat x 6 super set with 4 max medicine ball jumps - 5 sets of dead lift x 6 super set with 6 single leg skate jumps Then I have a super-secret set of plyos and various balance/isolating leg exercises.  They are just exercises I pick that day based on how Im feeling and whats needing more work, lateral jumping or vertical. Have fun, add some heavy strength creating work to your plan. Make some changes that you will notice in your lifting. Then, think about trying some conditioning classes. Give kickboxing a try. Hal Greer Jersey . The star receiver certainly isnt celebrating it with the Texans mired in a franchise-record 13-game skid. Kyle OQuinn Jersey . Tortorella told The Vancouver Province hell be cheering for Team Sweden to win gold when they take on the defending Olympic champions on Sunday morning. "I hope Sweden wins, cause I dont think Hammer (Dan Hamhuis) is going to play, judging by whats happened.NEWARK, N.J. -- Once Martin Brodeur and the New Jersey Devils got to the shootout against the New York Islanders they were doomed. That is the way this season has gone, and it didnt matter that Brodeur was looking for a win in what might have been his final start after 20 seasons with the Devils. New Jersey just cant win in shootouts. The Devils lost their 13th this season and extended their NHL record for shootout ineptitude to 17 straight over the past two seasons, dropping a 3-2 decision to the Islanders on Friday night. "Almost comical," Devils goal scorer Ryan Carter said of the shootout woes. The Islanders were impressive in the shootout with Frans Nielsen, Josh Bailey and Ryan Strome scoring. Bailey and Strome had highlight goals, doing it with 360 spin-a-rama moves. Devils coach Pete DeBoer said after the game that he wants to play the soon-to-be 42 year-old Brodeur in the season finale against Boston at home on Sunday, but he will talk with the goalie before making a final decision. Brodeur was matter-of-fact about playing. "Every time I play could be my last game," Brodeur said. "Thats the way I kind of approach it. I wasnt sure I was going to play today, either. I was able to play and felt pretty good." Brodeur, the NHL career leader in wins (687) and shutouts (124), is in the last season of his contract. He won three Stanley Cup titles with the Devils. Cory Schneider is in line to be the Devils No. 1 goalie of the future. "It doesnt matter," Brodeur said. "The last game is the last game. Im going to reflect on having an unbelievable career in New Jersey regardless if I decide to stay . or I decide to go do something else. "For me, its not about my last performance. Its about what I accomplished in the whole." Carter and Patrik Elias scored for the Devils. Anders Lee and Strome had regulation goals for the Islanders in a matchup of teams that failed to make the playoffs this season. The Islanders put on a show in the shootout against Brodeur, who made 28 saves through overtime. Nielsen snapped a shot past Brodeur on New Yorks first try, and Damien Brunner tied it 1-1 with a shot high into the net against Anders&nbbsp;Nilsson, who had 25 saves. Charles Barkley Jersey. "I was kind of guessing (Brodeur) was guessing a little bit," Nielsen said. ") just shot it quick." Bailey and Strome then dazzled the crowd, skating in on Brodeur, doing full turns in front of him and beating him with backhand shots. Jaromir Jagr lost the puck on the Devils second attempt, giving New York the win. The Islanders had tied it 2-2 with a power-play goal by Strome 19 seconds into the third period. Nielsen found Strome coming down the right side for a shot into the top corner that gave him his seventh goal of the season. The rest of the period belonged to the goalies. Brodeur stopped Casey Cizikas on a breakaway, and the four-time Vezina Trophy winner made a snapping glove save on Colin McDonald. Nilsson stopped a breakaway by Jagr, a rebound attempt by Dainius Zubrus, and a late chance on a wrist shot by Jagr. The opening minutes of overtime were just as exciting with Nilsson withstanding four Devils whacking at a loose puck in the crease. When the Islanders eventually cleared it, Brock Nelson got a breakaway, only to be stopped by Brodeur. New York had all four shots in the extra five minutes, thanks in part to a power play. Limited to a shot in the opening 10 minutes of the game, the Islanders grabbed the lead on their second shot. Nielsen poked the puck off the stick of Jagr, and Lee got the puck at centre ice. The rookie skated into the Devils zone and beat Brodeur to the corner at 10:04. New Jersey needed less than a minute to tie it with a goal from the fourth line. Stephen Gionta sent the puck behind the Islanders net. Steve Bernier threw a pass out front, and Carter got inside defenceman Kevin Czuczman for a slam dunk on Nilsson. Elias put New Jersey ahead 2-1 with 9 seconds left in the first period, taking a pass from Travis Zajac and beating Nilsson with a snap shot from between the circles. NOTES: Television analyst Glenn "Chico" Resch announced he is retiring from the Devils broadcast booth after 18 years. The 65-year-old Resch, an original Devils goalie, revealed his decision during the first intermission. ... The Islanders will finish the season at Buffalo on Sunday. ' ' '