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REGINA -- Theyre the overwhelming favourite as Grey Cup hosts and are carrying the weight of an entire provinces expectations. But the presssure is off the Saskatchewan Roughriders, according to head coach Corey Chamblin. He says getting to Sundays CFL championship was the real challenge. "The biggest pressure for our team was making sure no one else sat in our locker-room," Chamblin said Wednesday at the annual Grey Cup coaches news conference. "Its about working all off-season, all year to protect your house and that was the biggest thing and the biggest pressure we had. "Were in it now and as I tell the guys, if were good enough to be in it were good enough to win it. Its time for it to be decided now on the football field, not in the media, not with trash talking." Riders general manager Brendan Taman made it clear early this off-season he was serious about fielding a Grey Cup contender with Regina hosting the big game. He acquired receiver Geroy Simon from the B.C. Lions before adding defensive linemen Ricky Foley and John Chick and defensive back Dwight Anderson in free agency. Not only are Simon, Foley, Chick and Anderson all CFL veterans but each has a Grey Cup ring, Chick earning his with the Riders in 07 before heading to the NFL. However, adding experienced performers to an already solid core only served to jack up expectations in football-mad Saskatchewan, especially after both B.C. and Toronto had captured Grey Cup titles as the host city the past two years. The Roughriders, who will face the Hamilton Tiger-Cats at Moasic Stadium on Sunday, lived up to that billing, winning its first five regular-season games and eight-of-nine before suffering three straight losses. After rebounding with three consecutive victories, the Riders were relegated second in the West Division behind Calgary after dropping a 29-25 decision to the Stampeders on Oct. 26. Saskatchewan (11-7) lost its final two-regular season games before beating B.C. 29-25 in the West semifinal, then emphatically dispatching Calgary 35-13 at McMahon Stadium in last weekends division final. "The thing about pressure is how you deal with it," Chamblin said. "By having some of the veterans we added and just having the core of our football team, we took that pressure and applied it to ourselves. "Were extreme competitors in our room and we use all the outside pressure to help make sure were where we want to be." To claim Saskatchewans fourth Grey Cup title, Chamblin will have to beat someone who was instrumental in leading the franchise to two championships. Hamilton coach Kent Austin guided the Riders to the 89 crown as the clubs starting quarterback, then in 07 as its head coach. The Riders clearly havent forgotten -- a large banner of Austin hangs outside of Mosaic Stadium and a parking lot still bears his name. "I actually come in the other way," Chamblin said when asked about seeing Austins banner every day he comes to work. "Theres great history here in Saskatchewan and Kents been part of that and the one thing I never want to do is remove those ancient landmarks. "Thats part of the foundation . . . so for me to see that is an honour and I try to build on all the things those guys did in the past." Austin will forever be associated with Saskatchewans Grey Cup success, but he has also jilted the teams loyal fans. In 94 while mired in a contract impasse with the club, Austin demanded to be traded and was to B.C., helping the Lions win the Grey Cup. In 07 after leading the Riders to their CFL title, he abruptly left Regina to become the offensive co-ordinator at Ole Miss, his alma mater. In 2012, he was mentioned as a head-coaching candidate with both the Riders and Ticats but opted to remain at Cornell before ultimately returning to the CFL a year later with Hamilton, again drawing the ire of some Saskatchewan football fans. But Austin said he will forever cherish his memories of playing and coaching in Regina. "Im very honoured to be recognized," he said. "This organization has meant a lot to me and my family and were proud to have had a history here both with the team and the community. "Its hard to get here and every one of the Grey Cups are special but that being said, its best to face Saskatchewan. If I was going to play a team, it would be Saskatchewan. If were not going to win it, which we hope very much that we do, it will be good to see Saskatchewan in there." Austin led Hamilton to a 10-8 record and second in the East Division in his first season as the clubs vice-president of football operations, coach and GM. The Ticats are in the Grey Cup for the first time since 99, but Austin said thats more a testament to the clubs players and not its coach. "This is a team game and there a lot of people you need to do things at a very high level to win championships across the board," he said. "We (head coaches) are just a part of it, a small part of it. "Players win football gams, not coaches." The Riders might be playing on their home field but Chamblin is attempting to reduce distractions by putting players in hotels and imposing a nightly curfew. "When you look at the Grey Cup, its a championship game (involving) the two best teams in the league," he said. "The biggest thing is I want them to stay in the routine theyve been in, that they only think football. "I just dont want them to deviate from the norm of what theyve had." 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"If youre thinking hits, youre not paying attention to wins," Altuve said Sunday after leading the Houston Astros past the Texas Rangers 3-2.WASHINGTON - With his Wizards leading the Heat by 15 after two quarters, 37-year-old Paul Pierce implored his younger teammates to put the game away.Well, Paul had a joke at halftime, said point guard John Wall. He said: Let me get a rest. Lets get it to like 25, so I can take a break.Wizards coach Randy Wittman offered a simple message, too, asking his players to focus at one particular end of the court.I said, Its the first team that really comes in and turns the screws defensively, Wittman said.Both Pierce and Wittman got what they wanted. Wall ran the offence to perfection, scoring 18 points and 13 assists, Washington held Miami to 0 for 12 on 3-point tries in the second half, and the Wizards beat the Heat 107-86 on Wednesday night.Probably our best game, from start to finish, said Wittman, whose team improved to 11-5.Rasual Butler scored 23, and Marcin Gortat added 15 points and 10 rebounds for the Wizards, who never trailed and led by 21 in the first half and 25 in the second.Whether its the schemes, whether its 1-on-1, they picked us apart, said Chris Bosh, who led Miami with 21 points.Dwyane Wade had 20 in his second game back from an injured right hamstring. A night earlier, Wade returned after missing seven games and scored 27 points in a victory at New York.Wade offered a frank assessment of Miamis failure to slow down Washington.I dont think weve gotten to the defence weve wanted all year, Wade said. Were still fairly new; a lot of the guys are still confused at what were trying to do.They werent much better on offence in the second half, shooting 32.4 per cent on field-goal attempts, missing all 12 of their 3-point attempts.The Heat came into the game leading the NBA in 3-point shooting at 38.6 per cent, but they made only 9.dddddddddddd.1 per cent this time, 2 for 22. They opened the game 0 for 8 on 3s, until Bosh made one with about six minutes left in the first half.The only other successful 3-pointer for Miami was by Norris Cole with 10.9 seconds left in the first half.We did a good job of staying home and getting a hand in their face, Wittman said. They missed some, too. It wasnt all us. They had some pretty good looks they missed.The Wizards went 10 for 19 on 3-pointers, including 7 for 7 while taking a 64-49 lead at halftime. That marked a season-best for a first half by Washington.___TIP-INSHeat: Shabazz Napier finished 0 for 5 on 3-pointers, Mario Chalmers was 0 for 4, Luol Deng and Shawne Williams were both 0 for 2, Bosh and Cole were both 1 for 3, and three players missed one attempt each.Wizards: Washington improved to 7-2 at home. ... The Wizards previous high point total for a first half this season was 57 points against Detroit on Nov. 12. ... Nene sat out his fourth consecutive game with an injured right foot.BUTLERS BIG NIGHTButler began his career with the Heat after getting chosen in the second round of the 2002 NBA draft.They let him go, Gortat observed. What other motivation (do) you need?HEAT GRADEBosh was asked what grade hed give the Heat, who dropped to 9-8 in their first season since LeBron James departed for Cleveland.I dont know. Thats not my position. Im not a teacher. We deserve our record, Bosh said. Im never legitimately concerned until youre in a very compromising position. And were not in a compromising position right now. Were just working out the kinks.UP NEXTHeat: Host the Hawks on Wednesday.Wizards: Host the Lakers on Wednesday.___Follow Howard Fendrich on Twitter at http://twitter.com/HowardFendrich ' ' '