MINNEAPOLIS -- Greg Stiemsma would have gladly returned to Boston, where he got his first true chance to play in the NBA. When Minnesota showed new interest in the 6-foot-11, 260-pound defensive specialist, well, he didnt exactly have to mull his decision over. "You didnt have to twist my arm or convince me too hard to come to this part of the country," Stiemsma said Thursday after signing a two-year contract with the Timberwolves to be their backup centre. Only the first season is guaranteed. "It feels good to be wanted," Stiemsma said. "It feels good to have all your hard work pay off." His hometown is Randolph, Wis., just a half-day-trip away and a bit north of Madison, where he played four seasons for the Badgers and currently lives and trains. Stiemsma was the only free agent who visited the Timberwolves this summer who was able to drive to Target Center. "It was nice, from a scheduling standpoint, that we didnt have to purchase an airline ticket," Timberwolves president of basketball operations and general manager David Kahn said, smiling. Stiemsma was in the background his entire career at Wisconsin, averaging a little more than 11 minutes per game even as a senior. He played in Turkey and South Korea the following season, then moved on to the NBA Developmental League. There, behind the guidance of a coaching staff that understood his game, he began to build confidence that he could indeed become an NBA player. He was named the 2010 NBADL Defensive Player of the Year after he averaged 9.1 points, 7.3 rebounds and a league-leading 3.7 blocks per game for the Sioux Falls Sky Force. Stiemsma actually signed with the Wolves that April and played on their summer league team but was waived before training camp in the fall. He returned to Turkey for the 2010-11 season and then finally stuck on an NBA roster, with the Celtics. Fighting plantar faciitis in his left foot and a bone bruise in his right foot, he appeared in 55 games, averaging 2.9 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.5 blocks and 13.9 minutes. His blocks-per-minute average was second in the league behind Serge Ibaka of the Oklahoma City Thunder. Playoff experience this past spring was invaluable, as was the time spent listening to and watching former Timberwolves great Kevin Garnett. "He was always willing to teach. Hes got such a high knowledge of the game," Stiemsma said. Stiemsma said his feet are feeling fine these days. Hes eager for his second full NBA season to see how much further he can take his game -- and help a playoff-calibre team try to get into the post-season for the first time in nine years. Finding his niche has certainly helped his confidence, which he said is at an all-time high. "Theres always those coaches whod be like, You dont do this well. You dont do this well," Stiemsma said. "Well, how about we forget about what I dont do well. How about we focus on what I do well?" The Wolves used the amnesty clause to waive Darko Milicic, creating the opening behind Nikola Pekovic. Stiemsmas past season with the Celtics was enough to catch Minnesotas attention again. "Because of his proximity to this market and the fact that we did have him for a summer ... we did kind of know who he was," Kahn said. "But I must confide that he really opened our eyes as well." wholesale jerseys . Toews skated up to Thornton with about 4 1/2 minutes left in the first period, jabbed him with his stick and then dropped his gloves. The star captains tangled up for a minute before Thornton dragged Toews to the ice and the referees skated in. cheap nfl jerseys . Kinsler, who had been out since May 18 with a ribcage injury, was activated from the disabled list after playing only two games for Double-A Frisco. He was 0 for 8 with a walk in the two games. http://www.cheapjerseyssafe.com/ . The Leafs will miss the postseason for the seventh consecutive season, officially eliminated from contention with their 10th consecutive loss on home ice, a 3-0 defeat by Cam Ward and the Carolina Hurricanes. wholesale nfl jerseys .B. -- Facing elimination, the Gatineau Olympiques knew they had to work hard Friday night. cheap jerseys . Kinsler, who had been out since May 18 with a ribcage injury, was activated from the disabled list after playing only two games for Double-A Frisco. He was 0 for 8 with a walk in the two games.MADRID, Spain -- Roger Federer will play for his third Madrid Open title in the final after cruising past Janko Tipsarevic 6-2, 6-3 on Saturday. The Swiss star advanced to meet Tomas Berdych, who edged Juan Martin del Potro 7-6 (5), 7-6 (6) in the other semifinal. "Its going to be a tough match," said Federer. "Berdych is playing well himself. Its quick conditions and he can be a big threat in the finals like that." On the womens side, Serena Williams will meet top-ranked Victoria Azarenka in the final after they dispensed with their rivals in straight sets. While both Rafael Nadal and top-ranked Novak Djokovic vowed to never again play on Madrids new blue-clay court after early exits, Federers more technical style has not been overly hampered by the surface many players have criticized as slippery. Federer, who won Madrid in 2006 and 2009, shook off the late afternoon gusting winds to hit 25 winners and eight aces en route to the easy victory. While dominating his service games, Federer moved Tipsarevic around the court with an expert mix of shots until he got a break to go ahead 3-1 when his low slice forced his opponent into netting. Federer broke again to claim the first set by drawing an error from Tipsarevic with a forehand that clipped the sideline. Tipsarevic, who had upset Djokovic on Friday, fell behind for good at 3-1 in the second set when he could barely graze Federers crosscourt return. Federer holds a 10-4 record against Berdych, but the Czech has won three of their last five meetings. "(Berdych) got me in big matches in my career in Wimbledon and at the Olympics. I got him back at the same places," Federer said. "Still I remember those losses vividly. I think that we match up pretty well against each other because of the shot-making." Sunday will be the 30-year-old Federers 104th final, where he will seek his 74th career title. Earlier, the sixth-seeded Berdych, who hadnt won a set in his last three matches he lost to Del Potro, used his big serve to score 15 aces and overcome the Argentines skilled baseline game. "It was really just about one or two points that decided for my side," said Berdych..dddddddddddd "It was really close. We fought for every point and I am really happy to have gone through." Williams beat Lucie Hradecka 7-6 (5), 6-0 and Azarenka ousted fourth-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska 6-2, 6-4. The ninth-seeded Williams will play for her second title of the season. Azarenka has won four tournaments so far. "Victoria has been so consistent in her game this year," said Williams. "She is so consistent, so amazing and so, just nearly perfect. I am going to the final with nothing to lose." Williams enjoys a 6-1 head-to-head record against Azarenka, whose only win came in 2009. This will be the first time they meet on clay. "Shes one of the best players in the world and one of the toughest opponents to play against so well see, but as I said its going to be a different story," Azarenka said. Williams held off the tenacious Hradeckas seven early aces in the first set that she won in a tiebreaker. She then broke the Czech three times in the second to cruise to her 12th consecutive win on clay this season. "She just did everything really well and I was able to come through in the tiebreaker," said Williams. "After that I was able to relax, to make less errors and make more shots and be more aware out there." The 105th-ranked Hradecka had upset defending champion Petra Kvitova and U.S. Open winner Sam Stosur to reach the semifinals. Azarenka was in good form and had little trouble beating Radwanska for the sixth straight time. She hit a deep return to set up a slam and break her Polish opponents first service game. She went on to hit 14 winners and held for love to wrap up the first set. The players traded a pair of breaks in the second set before Azarenka, the runner-up last year, won a decisive third break with a crosscourt return. "(Radwanska and I) keep meeting each other," said the Belarusian. "Im glad to win today. The score maybe wasnt so close, but it was a good match." In mens doubles, Canadas Daniel Nestor and partner Max Mirnyi of Belarus were knocked out of the semifinals by Polands Mariusz Fyrstenberg and Marcin Matkowski, 7-6 (3), 6-7 (6), 12-10. cheap jerseys wholesale jerseys ' ' '