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LOS ANGELES -- The developers seeking to build an NFL stadium in downtown Los Angeles were granted a City Council endorsement Tuesday that they had long stressed was necessary to prove to league officials that their plan has public support. nike Free Online Schweiz . Anschutz Entertainment Group president and chief executive Tim Leiweke said that the councils 12-0 vote in favour of a framework deal on the projects funding and timeline sends a strong message to the NFL that the city is behind the proposal for a 72,000-seat NFL stadium on the citys convention centre campus. "Today proved we have a vision (and) theyre behind it," he said. "We just got through the politics." The agreement anticipates the issuance of US$275 million in tax-exempt bonds for the relocation of a convention centre hall to accommodate the proposed $1.2 billion football venue known as Farmers Field. It would require AEG to extend a series of financial guarantees over the course of the project as a safeguard against shortfalls and other risks. The Los Angeles council members are set to take up the additional binding votes over the next nine months, with groundbreaking on the new venue possible as early as June. "This is not the beginning of the end but perhaps the end of the beginning," Councilman Eric Garcetti said before the vote was taken. Sports management mogul Casey Wasserman, an early collaborator with AEG on the stadium proposal, praised the councils decision in a statement. "This is a long process, but today marks a step forward in reaching our larger goal," he said. NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said in a statement after the vote that the league was aware of the council vote and would continue to monitor all stadium developments in the Los Angeles area. The firms stadium plan is one of two competing proposals to bring professional football back to Los Angeles some 16 years after the Rams and Raiders left the nations second-largest market. Warehouse magnate Ed Roskis Majestic Realty Co., which also has not yet secured a team, has permits in place to build a separate 75,000-seat stadium about 15 miles east of Los Angeles, in the city of Industry. John Semcken, a Majestic vice-president, said in a statement after the vote that its proposal would be a better choice for the NFL. "We are more active than ever and are currently working with the league, owners and teams to bring a franchise back to Los Angeles," he said. Leiweke dismissed Semckens remarks as "a statement of desperation." He said Semckens claim that the Industry project would generate more money and jobs was unfounded, but cited a Los Angeles city analysis of the downtown project that found that it would generate $410 million in city taxes over 30 years. He also said he expected to come to an agreement soon with state lawmakers that would grant his project protection from lawsuits over the environmental clearance process it must follow under California law. State lawmakers granted an exemption in 2009 that nullified a lawsuit over the environmental review of the Industry proposal. Leiweke said he was committed to completing the full process, but that he needed protection from what he characterized as frivolous legal challenges once it is complete. "Were going to need some protection from the crazies," he said. AEG officials plan to break ground on the stadium by June if they secure a team before then -- and if council members approve the projects financing, leasing arrangements, environmental clearance and other details. Leiweke said he was sympathetic to city officials wish to have the team use the Los Angeles Coliseum as its temporary home until the 2016 season, when Farmers Field would be complete. But he suggested that it may be too costly to turn the aged structure into an NFL quality venue and that the Pasadena Rose Bowl, which is undergoing a $152 million renovation, may be a more likely temporary home for the future Los Angeles team. "If theres a way to make it work at the Coliseum we will, but realistically it may be there are minimum standard issues at the Coliseum that we are unable to get past and certainly with the Rose Bowls renovation, that may be the more likely site," he said. Nike Free 3.0 V2 Laufschuhe Weiß Schwarz .S. President Barack Obama on Monday proclaimed the Connecticut Huskies as the best college basketball team in the land. Nike Free 5.0+ Laufschuhe Blau . Leafs Nation can set their dial to official Leafs radio broadcaster AM 1050 in the Greater Toronto Area or listen live worldwide at TSN1050.ca or on the TSN app for iPhone and iPad. TSN Radio 1050s live coverage of the Leafs First Round series kicks off on Wednesday, May 1 with Game 1: Toronto @ Boston at 7 p. NEW ORLEANS -- Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers are defying conventional wisdom, summoning the determination to play their best when their veteran legs should be turning to jelly. Bryant scored 33 points, and the Lakers won their fourth straight game and second in a row in overtime, 107-101 over the New Orleans Hornets on Wednesday night. "We dont get down whenever we trail by 14, 15, whatever points. We dont get discouraged," Bryant said. "Weve been through it before. Weve been down big in Game 7 of an NBA finals, so this is really nothing to us to maintain our composure." For the second night in a row, the Lakers climbed out of a double-digit hole in the second half to force an extra period. On Tuesday night, they came back from 17 down to win at Memphis in double-overtime. They also trailed New Orleans by as many as 17 late in the second quarter and 15 in the second half. The Lakers needed only one extra session in New Orleans, taking the lead on Derek Fishers jumper in the final minute and going ahead 102-99 on Metta World Peaces steal and fast-break layup. "Having those old guys that are battle-tested and have been through it before is great," Fisher said, referring in part to World Peaces clutch overtime steal and score. "Those are the type of plays that I mean -- plays where guys are willing to step into the moment and make a play and not be fearful or afraid of the consequences. We have a team full of guys that have been through that." Andrew Bynum added 25 points and 18 rebounds for Los Angeles, while Pau Gasol had 18 points and 10 rebounds. Jarrett Jack scored 30 points, while Chris Kaman had 21 points and 12 rebounds for New Orleans, which has dropped six of seven games. Bryant scored seven of his points in overtime, starting with a fast-break dunk as he was fouled by Marco Belinelli, whose desperate jersey grab was unable to slow the Lakers star down. The basket marked Los Angeles first lead since 17-16 in the first quarter. "We foul Kobe on a fast break and give him a dunk as opposed to wrapping him up. ... From my standpoint, guys do that when theyve never been in that position before. They dont understand a hard foul," Hornets coach Monty Williams said. "Thats something we can learn from and grow from. But at the same time, when you lose, youre like, Gosh, I wish we could have that one back." Bryant later added a difficult driving floater as he drifted across the lane to put the Lakers ahead 98-95. The Hornets briefly came back to regain a 99-98 lead on Trevor Arizas jumper with 1:21 left before Los Angeles went back in front for good. Fisher finished with 11 points and Matt Barnes 10 for the Lakers, who outrebounded New Orleans 44-34. Greivis&nbbsp;Vasquez added 15 points and Belinelli 10 for New Orleans, which lost despite outshooting Los Angeles 51. Nike Free 3.0 V3. 8 per cent (44 of 85) to 45.1 per cent (37 of 82). "Thats a team that won championships," Vasquez said of the Lakers. "They have been in that situation many times and they know how to act: Be calm, be relaxed and they executed. That really hurt us." The Lakers comeback began with World Peaces first basket of the game early in the third quarter. Bryant added six points on what became a 14-4 run capped by Gasols jam. Kamans jumper pushed New Orleans lead back to 64-57, but Fishers free throws and Bynums alley-oop dunk of Bryants lob ignited an 11-4 Lakers spurt, which concluded with Barnes 3 that tied it at 68 in the final minute of the period. "Our guys came out at halftime and were determined to play the right way by getting stops," said Lakers coach Mike Brown, whose team outscored New Orleans 30-16 in the third quarter. "That helped us gain confidence." The Hornets werent ready to fold just yet, though. Vasquezs free throws and transition 3 began a 7-0 spurt early in the fourth quarter, and the Hornets clung to the lead until Gustavo Ayon fouled Bryant behind the 3-point line with 19.3 seconds left. Officials ruled Bryant was in a shooting motion, giving him three free throws, all of which he made to tie it at 93. Neither team could score again in regulation, with Bryants attempted game-winner from the corner rimming out as time expired. The Hornets shot nearly 61.5 per cent in the first half (24 of 39) -- the highest percentage allowed by the Lakers in a half all season -- and held a double-digit lead through most of second quarter. Jack hit his first eight shots and had 17 points before halftime. Bryant had 14 points in the first half, including a soaring double-pump jam as he was fouled. But Bryant missed seven of his first 11 shots and also had a swished 3-pointer at the end of the first quarter disallowed because his up-fake delayed his release until after horn. Consecutive baskets by Jack put New Orleans up 54-37 late in the second period. That only set the stage for the Lakers to show the same resilience they had a night earlier. Notes: This marked the first meeting of the teams this season. They meet again March 31 in Los Angeles and April 9 in New Orleans. ... Several celebrities who are filming in New Orleans showed up to see the visit by Hollywoods longtime favourite team. Actor Don Johnson sat along the sideline next to New Orleans celebrity chef John Besh. Samuel Jackson sat along the baseline near the Lakers bench. ... Announced attendance was 17,272, the second-largest home crowd of the season. ... Jacks scoring total marked the first time a Hornets player has scored 30 in a game this season. ' ' '