ORLANDO, Fla. - When Magic star Dwight Howard signed a contract extension in 2007, he joked that he and Mickey Mouse would be in Orlando forever. Now Howard wants out, putting one of the NBAs most dominant big men on the block at the start of training camp. Howard acknowledged for the first time Saturday that he has formally requested a trade. It came a day after the team granted New Jersey, Dallas and the Los Angeles Lakers permission to talk to Howards agent, Dan Fegan, about possible deals. The all-star centre is eligible to opt out of his current contract in July 2012. Wearing a retro Magic hat, Howard spent a stoic half-hour explaining his reasoning and expressed empathy for a fan base that had to watch Shaquille ONeal depart for the Lakers in 1996. Howard likened his trade request to a divorce that only one party wants. "Ive done everything for this city. I dont think people understand the magnitude of love I have just for this city," he said. "Its beyond basketball. I think people, anybody should understand that. For me this has just not been a city I enjoy playing basketball in. I love everybody here, thats why its been so tough." He said the decision went deeper than what happened on the court, but also said recent playoff disappointments played a role. He alluded to the hurt he felt as he watched the Lakers celebrate their 2009 NBA championship on the Magics home floor. "Ive been back and forth," he said. "Mainly because the people here really care for the city. Nobodys going to understand that. And if you hate me because of a jersey, then you never really loved me. Thats how I feel." Magic general manager Otis Smith said he would still like to see Howard eventually decide to stay in Orlando, but in the meantime they would explore options that were in the best interests of the Magic. "When you invest seven years in a player and thats what he decides, then you have to deal with that from that angle. But its not the end of the world," Smith said. "Like I said before, the Orlando Magic franchise is what its about. We like to make this into an individual game, but the fact of the matter is its a team sport. And well continue to move forward." Smith said there is no timetable or deadline for a trade. Likewise, he said he hasnt allowed himself to get caught up on how the team might adjust if Howard does depart. "Any time you lose the best player on your team you have to adjust to that," Smith said. Talk of Howards possible departure from Orlando exploded Friday after the centre denied an ESPN report that he met with Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov and general manager Billy King on Thursday in Miami without the Magics permission. It followed reports that Howard planned to request a trade to the Nets. Fegan said in a statement that any claims of tampering are false. Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said the team is going about business as usual, despite the circus-like atmosphere that has surrounded the franchise over the past two days. Van Gundy said Howards approach and demeanour in practice were the same on Saturday. "I think again, its not an easy situation," Van Gundy said. "But just like Im doing Id like our other players to do -- stay out of it. My issue is to go out and coach the guys that are here every day, which includes Dwight. And their issue is to come out and focus and play basketball every day." Howard said he thought about the situation all summer and spoke to Magic CEO Alex Martins again on Saturday about it. He declined to go into specifics on those discussions or what he said when he originally conveyed the news to Smith. "The last couple of weeks before training camp were very tough," Howard said. "Just stressed out about it. Got sick, couldnt sleep. It was a very stressful time. After I said what I said to Otis, got it out -- I started feeling better." Howard maintains his decision was multifaceted and came down to feeling he didnt have an ideal situation to pursue an NBA title. Specifically, Howard said overall he didnt feel satisfied with the talent around him and he would like to be in the kind of personnel input he said Dallas star Dirk Nowitzki enjoys. "If Dirk told (Dallas owner) Mark (Cuban) Hey, I think this is the direction our team is going, this is what we need in the locker-room and these are the kind of players we need, I think Mark would listen," Howard said. "That doesnt mean Mark has to say, OK, well make a rash decision. But I think he would listen and really found out what the player needs around him in order to win." Smith said the teams free agency approach also hasnt changed since Howards request. He said the team is close to working out a deal to retain shooting guard Jason Richardson, who is eligible for free agency. "Actually Jason and I are close to terms, with Dan (Fegan) we are close to terms," he said. "Hes expected in camp if not tomorrow, then Monday." The Magic are waiting on final paperwork before finalizing a trade that will send Brandon Bass to Boston in exchange for Glen Davis. They also are working on a separate deal to acquire guard Von Wafer, who spent time playing in Europe this summer. Once that paperwork is complete, they too will begin practicing with the Magic. According to Davis Twitter account, he is already in Florida. Along with the recent developments with Howard, Smith also had what he called a tough meeting with former Magic guard Gilbert Arenas on Friday. The Magic decided to use the new amnesty provision in the recently ratified labour agreement that allows teams a one-time option to waive a players remaining contract from the salary cap and luxury tax. After coming over from the Washington Wizards in a trade for Rashard Lewis last season, the 29-year-old Arenas struggled to make an impact in Orlando. He had about US$62 million remaining on the final three years of his six-year, $111 million deal. "It was rough, it was rough," said Smith, who has been close to Arenas for years. "It was rough to come out of my mouth and it was rough for him to receive it." But the biggest story for the Magic continues to be Howard. "Ive been here since I was 18," Howard said. "All I know is Orlando. All I know is this city. When I got down here it was the biggest place in the world to me. ... Thats why its tough. Very tough." 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Thats what Saskatchewan Roughriders running back Kory Sheets said about Jon Cornish, according to Riders radio voice Rod Petersen of 620 CKRM. But a look at the numbers tells a different story. In 13 games this season, Sheets has run for 1,408 yards and 11 touchdowns – an average of 5.6 yards per carry – while adding 33 catches for 259 yards through the air. Cornish on the other hand, leads the league in rushing 1,545 yards and 11 scores in 14 games with the Calgary Stampeders this season. Hes already broken his own single-season rushing record for a non-import and has an additional 320 yards and two touchdowns through the air this year. While its true Sheets would almost certainly have more rushing yards than Cornish had injury not robbed him of nearly three games this year, he still has mmore rushing attempts – 251 compared to 215 – than the New Westminster, BC native.dddddddddddd The stat that really sticks out is Cornishs yards per carry average, 1.6 yards more than Sheets at 7.2 Sheets is the more used back perhaps, but the better back? With three games left on the schedule, Cornish appears a lock as the leagues Most Outstanding Player. But if we remember back to the first half of the season - when the Riders were still undefeated - all the talk was about Sheets for the award. Had he not been injured would the conversation be changed? The CFL loves record-breakers and Cornish is just that for the second year in a row. But Sheets too was on pace to break a record, the all-time single season rushing title, before injury struck. The Rouge asks: Who is the better running back, Kory Sheets or Jon Cornish? 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