UNITED NATIONS -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is calling for an Olympic truce and urging all warring parties to lay down their weapons and put aside difference during the upcoming summer games in Rio de Janeiro.The U.N. chief said in a video posted on Twitter Tuesday that the International Olympic Committee and the United Nations work closely together for global harmony and peace.I congratulate all the athletes and all the supporters and fans who will be filling the sporting arenas of Rio in the weeks ahead, Ban said. The Olympics and Paralympics celebrate the best of humanity.The 193-member U.N. General Assembly has passed resolutions since 1993 calling for an Olympic truce, but countries continue fighting wars whether the Olympics are on or not.Darren Woodson Jersey .com) - The Pittsburgh Penguins placed forward James Neal on injured reserve Tuesday. Tony Romo Youth Jersey . According to a report from the Vancouver Province, the Lions are expected to replace former DC Rich Stubler with defensive backs coach Mark Washington. http://www.shoptheofficialcowboys.com/Elite-Connor-Mcgovern-Cowboys-Jersey/ . Rob Manfred, baseballs chief operating officer, testified last week during the grievance filed by the players union to overturn Rodriguezs 211-game suspension. A person familiar with the hearing, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The Associated Press on Saturday that Manfred testified the sport wasnt concerned whether Bosch distributed performance-enhancing drugs to minors because MLBs interest was his relationship with players under investigation. Randall Cobb Youth Jersey . Toronto has dropped games to Indiana and Miami since a five-game winning streak and closed out a three-game road trip at 1-2. Chuck Howley Youth Jersey . Pedro scored from a pass by Lionel Messi in the 33rd minute and added two more goals in the 47th and 72nd after Valdes saved his second penalty in four days following his stop in Wednesdays 4-0 over Ajax in the Champions League.CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- The Illinois team that takes the court in early November will look a lot different than the one that limped to a 15-19 record last season.Illini fans accustomed to no real point guard and few options at center will see a change at both positions, thanks in part to the return of sixth-year guard Tracy Abrams and center Mike Thorne Jr.In fact, assuming nothing changes by the Nov. 11 opener against Southeast Missouri, Illinois will have every player on its roster healthy for the first time in two years.None is more welcome than Abrams.The 6-2 point guard from Chicago turned 24 in February, is closing in on his third degree and believes he can be both the leader his team needs and a contributor at a position where last season Illinois sometimes lacked even one legitimate option.Abrams says now he never doubted he would make it back, and does not want to talk about what happened last season, including the arrests of teammates Leron Black, Jaylon Tate and Kendrick Nunn. Charges against Tate were dropped while Black pleaded guilty to misdemeanor aggravated assault and Nunn to misdemeanor domestic battery. Nunn was kicked off the team while Black and Tate are back.Thats important because we cant go back into time and try to change those things, he said. Its a different team. Its a different year.Beyond what Abrams can do at point guard, Illini coach John Groce sees him as a steadying presence.Where hes come from ... hes like having an old man out there, Groce said.Some of the key things to look for as Illinois starts its season:AT THE POINTIn his junior season, Abrams started all 35 games and scored 10.7 points a game and averaged 3.2 assists . Illinois will also have Tate, a senior who started 15 times last season but isnt a scorer, and freshman TeJon Lucas, who scored 20.5 points a game and averaged 7.dddddddddddd8 assists as a high school senior in Milwaukee.BIG MENThornes return from a knee injury that cost him most of last season gives Illinois two legitimate centers, along with improving senior Maverick Morgan . Groce is counting on both for a team that last season lived on outside shooting and was near the back of the Big Ten in rebounding. Illinois will also hope the 6-7, 220-pound Black can contribute here, too.We better see a difference rebounding, Groce said. We should be a little more potent inside scoring.HILLS FINALEHaving those big men will also let Malcolm Hill spend more time on the wing his senior season. The 6-6 Hill led Illinois last season with 18.1 points a game, but he played everything from point guard to post. Hill insists that wasnt a problem.I was doing a lot, but not too much for me to handle, he said.TOURNEY TALKWhile his players mostly stick to a dont look too far ahead line when asked about the possibility of a return to the NCAA Tournament after three straight seasons away, Groce isnt shy about calling a trip back a goal.We want it to be an expectation, that thats what we do every year, he said.BOTTOM LINEGroce may need his team to get back to the tournament.After last season, he found himself sitting at a news conference listening to his new boss, athletic director Josh Whitman, tell reporters that the coach would keep his job in spite of the series of arrests. But Whitman has made a lot of the slogan We will win since he took over at his alma mater in February, and Groce, in his fifth season, has just the one trip to the NCAA Tournament so far.---Follow David Mercer on Twitter: (at)davidmercerAP ' ' '