The road to Worlds has officially begun, following Saturdays group draw at the League Championship Series Studios in Los Angeles.Legends of the game, including Chen MiSTakE Hui Chung of Taiwan, Gao WeiXiao Xuecheng of China, Kang Cpt Jack Hyung-woo of South Korea and William scarra Li of North America, drew the pingpong balls to see where each team would end up in one of the four opening-round groups. Key matchups in the first round include NAs champion Team SoloMid going up against Chinas runner-up Royal Never Give Up in Group D and a clash of champions in Group A between ROX Tigers of South Korea versus Europes G2 Esports.So, with the groups in place and three weeks before the opening festivities begin in San Francisco, lets take our first early-but-not-too-early looks at the four groups of Worlds. Well list all four teams in each group, as well as the pool and region they came from, and then our impressions of who did and didnt get lucky in the draw.Group AROX Tigers (Pool 1, Korea) G2 Esports (Pool 2, Europe) Counter Logic Gaming (Pool 2, North America) Albus Nox Luna (Pool 3, CIS)Who won: G2 EsportsWhen G2 took a nice two-week quasi-break in Shanghai in May, it appeared as though it would come back to bite them later on in the year. G2 Esports fell face-first out of the group stages at the Mid-Season Invitational and lost Europes Pool 1 seed going into the group draw. This could have spelled doom for G2, as it picked up another title in Europes LCS this summer in an array of different group possibilities, but it didnt happen. Not only did G2 upgrade its bottom lane during its vacation, with Origens star bottom lane pairing of Jesper Zven Svenningsen and Alfonso Mithy Aguirre Rodriguez, but the team also was able to make changes it might not have been able to if the same starting five had gotten a top result at MSI.Looking at the group, G2 should be heavy favorites to get off of the ground in the second-place position behind the ROX Tigers. Luna is an interesting team out of the CIS, and CLG is always better when counted out; however, in terms of a draw, G2 couldnt ask for much better.Group BFlash Wolves (Pool 1, Taiwan) SK Telecom T1 (Pool 2, Korea) I May (Pool 2, China) Cloud9 (Pool 3, North America)Who somewhat won: Flash Wolves, SKT T1, Cloud9Although many observers?are already pegging this group as smooth sailing for SK Telecom T1, I havent forgotten how well the Flash Wolves handled T1 in the MSI group stages. As weird as it sounds, the Flash Wolves simply play better when forced to play a high-level Korean team like the Tigers or T1; the Taiwanese summer champions swept the Worlds runners-up Tigers in last years Worlds group stage, and it was the only team to have a winning record against SKT at this years MSI. Flash Wolves might be the only team in the competition that plays better against top Korean teams than ones from North America.SKT T1 will feel comfortable in this group -- and with good reason -- but the lack of a stable jungler could hurt it in the fast-paced opening rounds if neither Kang Blank Sun-gu or Bae bengi Seong-woong are up to the task. While on paper a slam dunk for SKT T1, this could turn out to be a much more competitive group than expected.For C9, as a Pool 3 seed, this is one of the best groups it could have been drawn into. I think the currently in-form C9 matches up well with the Wolves, and a single win versus SKT T1 in the group stages could be enough to get C9 through if it plays up to the level its been showing in the North American Regionals. Its Jung Impact Eon-yeongs job to show Lee Duke Ho-seong how a world champion SKT T1 top laner truly plays.Who lost: I MayThis is not a good group for I May to be dropped into, with Shek AmazingJ Wai Ho needing to find success against the likes of Duke and Impact. I wouldnt write IM completely off after seeing its miracle run to the World Championships, but like last years Cinderella -- which was, coincidentally enough, C9 -- the pristine carriage always turns into a pumpkin sooner rather than later.Group CEDward Gaming (Pool 1, China) AHQ Esports Club (Pool 2, Taiwan) H2k Gaming (Pool 2, Europe) INTZ E-Sports (Pool 3, Brazil)Who won: EDward Gaming and a lucky +1This group is tailor-made for EDG to get out in first place with at most one loss to its name going into the quarterfinals. The team is in great shape coming out of a nearly flawless summer split, and it shouldnt feel too much pressure from any of the three teams below it. No Korean teams, a weakened AHQ that EDG historically dominates and a wild-card region club -- all in all, this was the best draw EDG could have asked for. The only setback is if it the Chinese champ becomes too complacent from a triumphant opening round and ripe for another first round bracket upset, like the past two years.As for who comes in second, H2k is the team I have penciled in advancing with EDG, but every team in the group behind EDG should feel like it has a shot of making it out if the next three weeks of training go well. INTZ will look to be the first wild-card team to ever make the top eight, and AHQ wants to make it back to the top eight for a second straight season with the same starting five as 2015.Group DTeam SoloMid (Pool 1, North America) Royal Never Give Up (Pool 2, China) Samsung Galaxy (Pool 2, Korea) Splyce (Pool 3, Europe)Who lost: EveryoneNo team is going to be too thrilled to see its opponents in Group D. All four teams could have gotten a much easier draw to make the quarterfinals, and at least one team that expected to go far in this tournament wont be advancing.TSM should still be favored as the top team to get out, but it wont be easy. RNG has a lot of weaknesses when it comes to map play, current form and team configuration, but when you have a star-studded lineup like Royal does, sometimes that doesnt matter. Its easy to say RNG will roll over -- and that might very well happen -- however, pound-for-pound, the two-time Worlds runner-up organization is the most talented team in this group. Given the way the format is set up for the first round, it only takes one splendid outplay by the likes of Jian Uzi Zi-Hao or Li xiaohu Yuan-Hao to get the snowball rolling.Samsung sits as possibly the most intriguing team in the group. It is a team that on paper lacks star power but more than makes up for it when it comes to team play and being able to capitalize on openings in the early game. It wouldnt be too surprising to see Samsung go 6-0 and clear the group with flying colors or go a disappointing 2-4 and bow out in lackluster fashion.In the depths of in Pool 3, Splyce looks up at the three giants above it and just shrugs. This is an organization that was playing in relegations last season in the European LCS. Its now at Worlds getting to play against an organization that has made the Summoners Cup Finals twice (Royal), an org that has won the Summoners Cup (Samsung) and an org that has been to every single Worlds (TSM). Sometimes, a team with nothing to lose versus three teams with higher aspirations is in the best predicament of all. Wholesale Nike NFL Jerseys For Sale . -- Running backs Darren McFadden and Rashad Jennings were back at practice for the Oakland Raiders on Wednesday despite being hampered by hamstring injuries. Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys Online . -- Canadian Andrew Wiggins got the ball on the wing, made a nifty spin move and then let go with a soft floater from about 10 feet that swished through the net in Allen Fieldhouse. http://www.salejerseysnfl.com/ ., for the next three years with the signings on Monday of Daryl Townsend and Michael Carter. Stitched NFL Jerseys . -- Charlie Graham stopped 67 shots as the Belleville Bulls edged the visiting Guelph Storm 6-5 on Saturday in Ontario Hockey League action. Cheap NFL Jerseys . "It doesnt get any better than that," Giambi said. "Im speechless." The Indians are roaring toward October. Giambi belted a two-run, pinch-hit homer with two outs in the ninth inning to give Cleveland a shocking 5-4 win over the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday night, keeping the Indians up with the lead pack in the AL wild-card race. Rugby lives rarely come longer or more varied than that of Tom Holley, who died in January aged 99.He was one of the unlucky generation which lost its best years to the Second World War. A product of the St Peters club, he had not long broken into the Cardiff XV as a back row when war broke out in 1939, and was over 30 by the time peace-time rugby resumed in September 1946.While he had the rare distinction of playing for Cardiff either side of the war, his first team career amounted to no more than 10 matches. There were, though, a further 62 for Cardiffs renowned second team, the Rags and victories, more than a decade apart, in the Cardiff and District Rugby Unions Mallett Cup.And he did play once for Wales -- or at least for a team of that name against England in a charity match played between servicemen stationed in Palestine in 1942. His dummy created the decisive score for Wales in a 5-3 victory.But he lives on vividly in Cardiffs annals as their trainer and masseur for decades after the war, also serving the national team. The award of an MBE for services to sport in 1985 -- matching the BEM won in 1943 by his father, also Tom, for heroism in the bombing of the Cardiff docks -- reflected that contribution to rugby, service as secretary of the International Baseball Board (governing body for the distinctive code played in Cardiff and Liverpool) and his cool, live-saving response to an on-field incident 40 years ago this week, on October 2 1976.He was on duty as usual at a Cardiff match, though it was hardly a routine contest. Argentina, visiting Wales for the first time, were the opposition at the National Stadium.The match was part of Cardiffs centenary season and came only a week after they had played, and beaten 24-13, an Overseas International XV featuring players from nine countries, the match decided by a 70 yard interception try from their captain, Gerald Davies.On the Wednesday in between they had lost to Waless other centenarians of that season, Aberavon. The Argentinians, meanwhile, had been warning anyone taking notice of their prowess, scoring four tries to one in beating a powerful East Wales team 25-22 at a rain-sodden Rodney Parade. They had dominated the scrums in spite of the presence of the legendary Pontypool front row among the opposition, hooker Bobby Windsor conceding: Lets face it, they took us to the cleaners.Prominent in that powerful scrum, packing down opposite the venerable but feared Charlie Faulkner, was Mario Carluccio, a product of the Deportiva Francesa club in Buenos Aires. True to Argentinian tradition, he could play either side of the scrum and on the Saturday switched across to face the scarcely less formidable Mike Knill.Cardiff were unchanged from the previous Saturday, while Argentina fielded 12 of the team which had triumphed at Newport, the only changes coming in the front row and because of injury to tour captain Arturo Rodriguez Jurado. And on a bright sunny day, the tourists showed themselves equally equipped for those conditions.Former Wales full-back Vivian Jenkins quipped in his match report that some Cardiff forwards played as though they, rather than their club, were 100 years old. Gareth Edwards made one of his few recorded errors, throwing out a wild pass which led to an Argentinian try.Again the Pumas scored four tries, but where three at Newport came from forwards, all of these were touched down by outside backs. Wing Jorge Gauweloose crossed twice, with the others coming from full-back Martin Sansot and wing Daniel Becca Varela, as the tourists ran up a 29-6 lead.Cardiffs response came from their pack. The Welsh Brewers Rugby Annual for Wales reported that props Nelmes and Knill burrowed low under their opponents and destroyed their scrum drive, and Cardiff became tigers in attack. The Pumas did not know which way to turn as the pressure built on their overstretched defence. No.8 Bob Dudley-Jones, also a Glamorgan county cricketer, crossed twice with lock Peter Rawlins claiming a third try as Cardiff fought back to 29-25.Fifteen minutes from time a scrum collapsed, leaving Carluccio motionless..dddddddddddd It was, it is worth remembering, only a few months since Wales captain Mervyn Davies had come close to dying during a match on the ground next door.Summoned from the sidelines, Holley gave the Argentinian the kiss-of-life, reporting later that Marios tongue had relaxed about two inches or more down the back of his throat. He was conscious, but was getting hardly any air.Mervyn Davies would never play again, but Carluccios mishap had a happier ending. Taken to hospital, he later appeared at the after-match dinner suffering only from a bruised jaw. He was well enough to play 10 days later against West Wales at Stradey Park, and against the All Blacks back in Argentina a month later.His international career ended in July 1977 with Argentinas historic 18-18 draw against the touring French. Chosen for the South American championship tournament in October 1977, he was one of a group of players who withdrew when the Argentinian Rugby Union vetoed the choice of Rodriguez Jurado as captain and were suspended as a punishment. His subsequent contribution to the game has included spells of coaching with the Deportiva Francesa club and at the rugby outpost of San Martin de los Andes.Tom Holleys finest hour was also arguably the moment at which British rugby became fully aware of Argentinian rugbys potential. The South Africans had known about them since the 1960s but Britain, in spite of historic links, was slower to catch on. The Pumas 1973 tour to Ireland and Scotland was more remembered for their propensity for dangerous tackling than holding a full-strength Scottish team to 12-11.Victories over powerful Welsh teams -- the Pumas hung on to their 29-25 lead, with Gerald Davies conceding that To an extent they beat themselves -- were harder to dismiss. And any doubts were ended two weeks later back at the National Stadium.Wales were reigning Grand Slam champions, and would not lose to any European opponent other than France between 1975 and 1979. The All Blacks would be the only team to beat them at Cardiff between 1968 and 1982. Nobody came closer to truncating that home run than the Pumas. Facing a full-strength Wales XV, with only Mervyn Davies, lock Allan Martin and centre Steve Fenwick missing from the Grand Slam team, they fought back from a 17-6 deficit to lead 19-17 five minutes into injury time.As Wales pressed desperately, JPR Williams broke in midfield and was confronted by 6ft 4in centre Adolfo Travaglini, described in the Welsh Brewers as a granite-like defender who stretched enormous arms to engulf any who tried to pass him.Travaglini tackled hard and high, JPR went down and Scottish referee Norman Sansom blew for the 40-yard penalty which Waless new captain Phil Bennett landed unerringly to salvage a 20-19 victory.Not many observers, though, could disagree with the view of Pumas manager Carlos Contepomi -- a year later to become the father of famed twin sons -- when he said that: The way we came back in the second half, I thought that we deserved to win.The 1976 tour inaugurated a period in which every year brought a breakthrough for the Pumas. They returned home from Wales to entertain the All Blacks for the first time. The draw with France followed in 1977, then a 13-13 draw with an almost-full-strength England XV at Twickenham in 1978 and a 24-13 defeat of Australia in 1979.The Welsh Brewers had no doubts: The Pumas are no longer an emerging rugby power -- they have ARRIVED.Yet Wales did not award caps for the match, even though its own team and the opposition were of unquestionable international quality. One might also think that such impressive tourists would earn an early return invitation, but not so. The Falklands/Malvinas War of 1982 did not help, but that the Pumas were not invited back to play Wales for a further 22 years -- their World Cup clash of 1991 came from the tournament draw, not a WRU invitation -- shows that there is nothing new in short-sightedness towards the games developing nations. ' ' '