n Garnett.With the recent retirements of future Hall of Famers Kobe Bryant and Tim Duncan, questions about Garnetts future were reignited by comments made by Wolves owner Glen Taylor last week.I just asked him, Kevin, what are you going to do? His answer was, Id really like to play next year cuz Id li

GURNEE, Ill. -- Womens golf gets off to a running start this week on its return to the Olympics with the UL International Crown, a 32-player, eight-team event that could provide a preview to which nation rules the upcoming Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro.Spain won the inaugural title two years ago, but wont be back to defend its title when play begins Thursday at The Merit Club some 40 miles northwest of Chicago. Neither will 2014 runner-up Sweden, which also fell out of the top eight in the rankings, determined by their top four players individual world ranking.A quick glance at the week ahead:THE FAVORITESouth Korea claimed the top seed with all four of its players in the top 12. Sei Young Kim is the top-ranked player in the field at No. 5, joined by Amy Yang, In Gee Chun and So Yeon Ryu.The United States comes in at No. 2, with more LPGA Tour titles (36 to South Koreas 11) and three of its four players -- Lexi Thompson, Stacy Lewis and Cristie Kerr -- having played in the 2014 event. Gerina Piller, whos still seeking her first LPGA win despite 30 top 10-finishes, will be the only first-timer.No. 3 Japan has the second-youngest squad and No. 4 Australia the most LPGA titles with 43 -- all but two of them belonging to Karrie Webb. The rest of the seeds, in order, are Taiwan, Thailand, England and China.THE FORMATIts a mix of best-ball and singles matches that will look familiar to Ryder Cup and Solheim Cup fans. But instead of two teams going head-to-head, the International Crown begins with two pools.South Korea, Australia, Taiwan and China comprise Pool A. The United States, Japan, Thailand and England make up Pool B.All four team members play two best-ball matches against a different team in their pool the first three days. A win counts for two points; a halved match for one. The two countries atop each pool automatically advances. Third-place countries in each pool meet in a two-player, best-ball playoff immediately after Saturdays matches to advance as the fifth and final country to Sundays singles.Each country will play one singles match against every other country with the same point value in place. The team with the most points earned over four days is crowned the winner. In case of a tie, each team making the playoff picks one player for a hole-by-hole, sudden-death singles match.WHATS AT STAKE?A total of $1.6 million, distributed on a sliding scale. Each player on the first-place team receives $100,000; each player on the eighth-place team gets $30,000.AN OLYMPIC BOUNCE?Most people know golf was included in the Olympics as a team and individual competition in both the 1900 and 1904 games. But women played only in the 1900 event and only as individuals when the gold, silver and bronze medals were swept by U.S. golfers Margaret Abbott, Pauline Whittier and Daria Pratt, respectively.Womens golf has been hit with far fewer Olympic defections than the men so far, and as many as 16 of the 32 players in the International Crown likely will be at the Olympics. NBC and partner Golf Channel will be devoting significant air time to both the International Crown and the Womens British Open the following week as the network hopes to build momentum for the sport heading to Rio.SOUTH KOREA BOUNDThe LPGA Tour announced Wednesday that the 2018 event will be played at Jack Nicklaus Golf Club in Incheon, South Korea. The course was the site of the Presidents Cup last year.---TV TIMES (all times Eastern)Thursday-Friday: Noon-4 p.m., Golf ChannelSaturday: 3-7 p.m., Golf ChannelSunday: Noon-2 p.m. (NBC); 2-6 p.m., Golf ChannelKånken No. 2 Ryggsäck . Ryan Garbutt had a goal and two assists as Dallas snapped a six-game losing streak with a 5-2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday night. Fjällräven Mini Kånken . Any real chance at payback wont come until the playoff. Still, Pittsburgh knows its taut 3-2 win over the Bruins on Wednesday night is a pretty good place to start laying the groundwork. "They are a very good defensive team," Penguins forward Brandon Sutter said. http://www.fjallravenkankensverige.com/ . LOUIS -- Mike Smith is used to facing plenty of shots, so this was nothing new. Fjällräven Kånken Mini Sverige . 10 Texas Rangers jersey for one last time. Young formally announced his retirement Friday after returning to Rangers Ballpark, his baseball home for all but the last of his 13 major league seasons. Fjällräven Kånken Outlet . The native of Mont-Tremblant, Que., captured a World Cup downhill event Saturday, his second this year and fifth career victory on the circuit.LAS VEGAS -- As he watched his teams future compete for a summer league title, new Minnesota Timberwolves coach Tom Thibodeau was still waiting for an answer as to whether one of the last links to the franchises past will still be a part of the team next season.We just have to give him time, Thibodeau told ESPN Monday night when asked about the future of Wolves star Kevin Garnett.With the recent retirements of future Hall of Famers Kobe Bryant and Tim Duncan, questions about Garnetts future were reignited by comments made by Wolves owner Glen Taylor last week.I just asked him, Kevin, what are you going to do? His answer was, Id really like to play next year cuz Id like to go out knowing we got into the playoffs, Taylor told NBA.com, regarding a conversation he had with Garnett last month. Then he said, I dont know if I can.I asked him, What does that mean? And he said, I dont know.So I asked the question, but I didnt get an answer that helped me. Yes, theoretically, hed like to play. Buut he has some doubts of his knees holding up.dddddddddddd I believe he told me exactly the truth.Wolves second-year center?Karl-Anthony Towns?said hes stayed in touch with Garnett throughout the offseason and believes that he does want to continue playing but hasnt weighed everything out yet.I talk to him a lot, Towns told ESPN.com. I dont know [what hes going to do]. Hes earned that respect to choose whenever he chooses to place his shoes up. Hes like a brother to me. If he laces them up again, well be great. If he closes them up and doesnt wear them again, he deserves [to make that choice].Were all waiting anxiously. Only God and KG know what they want to do.Garnett, who turned 40 in May, is under contract for one more season, during which hes slated to earn $8 million. He started 38 games last season but averaged only 14.6 minutes and 3.2 points per game. ' ' '