CANBERRA, Australia - Challenged before the Asian Cup to prove it can be more than a footnote in Australias crowded sporting calendar, the national capital Canberra has responded with good attendances and an impressive audition for more prominent roles in the future. Nike Air Vapormax Flyknit Skroutz .In the leafy streets of the capital, quiet in January with the politicians on holiday, Asian footballs biggest event has taken hold. It is a payoff for organizers who took a gamble by giving Canberra — a city of around 400,000 people — seven out of the 32 games, equal to Sydney and Melbourne, cities with populations ten times as large.The national capital has a Super rugby team in the ACT Brumbies, while the Canberra Raiders are a long-term fixture in the National Rugby League, but otherwise it has little presence when it comes to national and international sporting events.In the week before kick-off, Asian Cup CEO Michael Brown drew the ire of Canberra residents by telling the city to put up or shut up and that the only way to get more sporting events was to show up to the Asian Cup.I may have upset a few people but Canberra has been amazing, Brown told Associated Press. They have talked for years about having an A-League team or a Big Bash (Twenty20 cricket) team but the only way to do that is to turn up in big numbers for the events that do come.China versus North Korea last Sunday was a virtual sell-out and there is not expected to be a spare seat for Fridays quarterfinal between Iran and Iraq. Canberra has so far averaged over 10,000 for the six games it has hosted, without yet seeing the three biggest drawing teams of the tournament: Australia, Japan and Iran.Overall, the target of 500,000 tickets sold is almost certain to be met as with eight games to go, the figure is almost at the 400,000 mark. Australia has been amazing, added Brown. We sold out Japan and Jordan, and think we will have up to eight sell-outs across five cities. The best teams have reached the quarterfinals, and with a surprise or two such as China there as well, it is a promoters dream.Nicholas Amies, 22, is a volunteer at Canberra Stadium and has enjoyed the experience of being close to the best teams in Asia and sampling the atmosphere. Its been really good so far. Attendances have been better than expected. There have been a lot of neutrals attending games, the tickets are affordable which is good for families.Attendances at stadiums may have been helped by the difficulty accessing games on television, as the tournament is on a newly launched cable channel which most homes, and even many bars, do not have.Viewing figures on the channel have been mixed. While almost 400,000 watched Australia lose to South Korea, just 26,000 saw Uzbekistan defeat Saudi Arabia 3-1 in a vital Group B decider.The local media has given a reasonable amount of prominence to the Asian Cup, even as the tournament competes against the familiar mainstays of Australian sporting summers: cricket and the Australian Open tennis.When it comes to quality on the field, the fare has been fine rather than fabulous but quarterfinals such as Australia against China and Iraq versus Iran are sure to provide drama and excitement. And then it will be time to discuss the legacy.For Canberra, it is simple: a team of its own in the countrys professional competition, the A-League, to get behind and support.It already is a football city and thats why we have seven games, said Jeremy Lasek, the CEO of the National Australia Day Council as he watched Australia defeat Oman 4-0 in a Canberra bar. We love sport. 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Bryant had nine points and eight rebounds in his season debut, but Amir Johnson scored a career-high 32 points in the trade-depleted Toronto Raptors 106-94 victory over Los Angeles on Sunday night.SURREY, B.C. -- Travis Lulay always knew he would be back under centre for the B.C. Lions. He just didnt expect it to take this long. The veteran quarterback will start his first game of 2014 on Friday when the Lions visit the Ottawa Redblacks, almost a full year after injuring his throwing shoulder in a goal-line collision last September. It was hoped Lulay would be healthy in time for training camp after undergoing off-season surgery, but he instead takes charge nine games into a campaign that has seen the Lions wobble to 5-4 record in the CFLs ultra-competitive West Division. "Im excited. This is why you play the game -- to have an opportunity to play," Lulay said after Wednesdays practice. "I dont take a minute of it for granted. If I learned anything during (the last year), it was that I feel fortunate to be able to do what I do. I just love being out here with the guys." Lulay said going on the six-game injured list at the start of the regular season gave him a chance to refocus, and it was towards the end of that period when he finally started to feel like he was getting back to normal. "I knew it was a process ... I didnt know exactly when that process would come to an end," he said. "I do feel confident in my ability to play well. "There was so much unknown going into (training) camp, knowing there was a chance that I may be ready early (and) knowing there was a chance it might take a while into the season." Lulay has dressed the last three games as a backup -- seeing action late in the last two -- and with the team coming off a bye week, head coach Mike Benevides felt the time was right for the 30-year-old to take over from Kevin Glenn. "Hes as good as Ive seen him in a long, long time ... a long, long time," Benevides said of Lulay. "Hes not going to be as smooth as he wants to be a month from now, but he looks as good as Ive seen in a long time." Lulays return comes at a critical juncture for B.C., which has been consistently inconsistent so far in 2014. The Lions have road victories over the Calgary Stampeders (8-1) and Saskatchewan Roughriders (7-2), but are an uncharacteristic 2-3 at home. While travelling to the nations capital to take a 1-8 expansion team might seem like an easy game to get Lulay back in rhythm, the Lions know the Redblacks will be a stifff test, especially for B. nike vapormax skroutz. C.s offence. "We know weve got a battle in front of us," said Lulay. "I really believe Ottawas defence is a solid defence. Theyve been playing good football and keeping their team in games." After an upbeat week of practice, Benevides said having the teams No. 1 pivot back as the starter has energized the club as it looks towards the second half of the season. "Theres no doubt the guys feel good for Travis," said Benevides. "Travis is part of who they are and a lot of guys feel for him and expect a lot of out of him. Hes just a high-tempo guy, a charismatic-type leader and its nice to have him back." Lions running back Andrew Harris, who sits fourth in the CFL with 421 yards rushing on the season, said Lulay brings a different dynamic to the club. "Hes a playmaker and hes been our leader for a long time. Its just good to have him back. Hes comfortable and were ready to rock with him," said Harris. "Theres a certain confidence and a certain little aura that comes with Travis Lulay." Added linebacker Solomon Elimimian: "Hes a general. When he talks, everybody listens." While Glenn guided the Lions to a 5-4 record with an offence that ranks second in the CFL in total yards per game, he also had a league-high 11 interceptions, with many of those picks coming at key times. In Lulay, the Lions get their franchise player back for the second half of a season that will culminate with the Grey Cup game at B.C. Place Stadium in November. "I dont feel nervous. I have the confidence of guys around me," said Lulay. "This team knows me. This team knows how I play the game and how competitive I am and all those things. I know that Im going to get a great effort from those guys and I can feel their confidence even though Ive been out of the huddle for a little while." Notes: Lions kick returner Tim Brown was named the CFLs special teams player of the month for August. ... The Lions added two new players this week, offensive lineman Cory Brandon and long snapper Mike Benson. Brandon was just cut by the Seattle Seahawks last week and looks like a good bet to start at left tackle against Ottawa because of an injury to rookie Hunter Steward. Benson was added after regular long snapper Jordan Matechuk also went down. ' ' '