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PHOENIX - New England Patriots offensive lineman Sebastian Vollmer spent a good portion of his hour-long media session answering questions in German.Vollmer grew up in Germany, so it makes sense, but it also exemplifies how much of an international event the Super Bowl has become.Quite a few of the 2,000 journalists jammed across the floor of the US Airways Center at Super Bowl Media Day on Tuesday were from foreign outlets, including some of the more outrageous ones who gave the event some international flavour.___GERMAN CONTINGENTThough Germany hasnt quite latched onto American football, theres still plenty of interest in the Super Bowl.More than 30 German journalists travelled to Arizona this week to cover the big game and to provide updates on Vollmer.Interest is getting more and more, said Marc Behrenbeck, a reporter for Sky Sport News in Munich. In Germany, football isnt that big, soccer is huge; football is very tiny compared to (soccer), but its getting more and more popular.Behrenbeck has covered the Super Bowl seven times and connected with fellow German reporters through the years, some of them from Germany, others who relocated to the U.S.The contingent of German reporters spent most of the day around Vollmer, jumping in with questions in German.Actually, its a tiny football family thats getting bigger every year, Behrenbeck said.___VOLLMERS SUPER ROUTEVollmer took an unconventional route to the Super Bowl.Born in Dusseldorf, he grew up swimming and playing basketball, and didnt start playing football until he was 14.After leading his prep school to a pair of national championships, Vollmer played in the Global Junior Championships in San Diego, where he secured a scholarship to the University of Houston.Despite knowing no English when he arrived, Vollmer adapted quickly and was drafted by the Patriots in the second round of the 2009 NFL draft.Now hes making his second Super Bowl appearance.I wouldnt say it (the journey) was bizarre, but it wasnt always easy, Vollmer said. But I wouldnt trade it for anything, either.___PUPPET SHOWInternational reporters tend to be some of the wackiest at Media Day, including a Mexican TV reporter who wore a wedding dress and asked Tom Brady to marry her in 2008.This year session didnt seem to have as many wild stunts, but there were some interesting moments involving the foreign press.One TV team from Azteca Deportes brought along a pair of bug-eyed, bucktoothed hand puppets that helped the reporter ask questions. Two men kneeled to the sides of the reporter and held the puppets up, shouting out apparently-irreverent questions — at least based on the laughter — in Spanish.The puppets did one interview with a German reporter who had fake scars on his face like a zombie and later cornered Seahawks centre Patrick Lewis.I dont know what theyre saying, Lewis said to the reporter after one of the puppets asked him a question.They want to know how big your girlfriend is, the reporter said.Big enough, the 6-foot-1, 311-pound Lewis said with a laugh.Gina Holguin, a model and reporter for a Mexican media company Televisa, danced with Seattles Richard Sherman at the end of his session.___CANADA STRONGCanada will have a pair of players to root for in the Super Bowl for the second straight season: Seahawks tight end Luke Willson and punter Jon Ryan.Willson, who grew up outside Windsor, Ontario, made his way to the NFL after playing at Rice University, where he learned a quick lesson in how big football is in the United States.It was pretty intense, especially coming from Canada, Willson said. It was a very, very different atmosphere. Football is almost like a religion down there, so it was kind of cool in that sense to have that many people care about the game of football.Ryan, of Regina, Saskatchewan, never got to experience football in America until he ended up in the NFL — with Green Bay in 2006 — by way of the CFL and the University of Regina.Growing up in Canada, I never thought Id have the opportunity to play in the NFL, said Ryan, who threw a touchdown pass on a trick play in Seattles comeback win over the Packers in the NFC Championship. Now to have been playing here for nine years, playing in my second Super Bowl is really a dream come true.The Seahawks have one other foreign-born player on its roster: Defensive lineman Jesse Williams, who was born in Brisbane, Australia. He spent the season on injured reserve after injuring his knee during fall camp.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL Corbin Martin Jersey . According to the Globe and Mail, a decision between the NHL and the Players Association should come within the six months. "I can tell you, (a decision) shouldnt take all that long," NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly told the Globe and Mail. Arizona Diamondbacks Pro Shop . According to Dave Stubbs of The Montreal Gazette, preliminary talks have begun between Markov - an unrestricted free agent this summer - and general manager Marc Bergevin. https://www.cheapdiamondbacksjerseys.us/...amondbacks.html. -- Navy football player Will McKamey, who has been hospitalized since collapsing at practice three days ago, has died while in a coma. Albie Lopez Jersey . Brad Malone had the other goal for the Monsters (1-1-0), while Elliott chipped in an assist for a three-point night and the games first star. Bryan Lerg also had two assists. Corban Knight and Max Reinhart scored for the Heat (1-1-0), who opened their season Friday with a 5-2 win over the Monsters in Cleveland. Roberto Alomar Jersey . First, the Red Wings scored the tying goal after officials missed the puck hitting the protective netting, then the Kings wound up losing in a shootout. That could affect playoff positioning in the Eastern and Western Conferences, and thats a concern for everyone.SAN FRANCISCO -- Yusmeiro Petit had all of an hour to prepare for his spot start, and he hadnt thrown off a mound for seven days while only playing catch. There was no time to study San Diegos hitters, either. Petit dazzled in place of injured ace Matt Cain, pitching six innings to lead the San Francisco Giants past the Padres 6-0 Tuesday night. "Thats my job," said Petit, who was one out from a perfect game last September against Arizona shortly after joining the rotation. "Im prepared for it any time for that, one moment before the game telling me youre going to start the game. Ive done it before. Its normal for me." Angel Pagan led off the first inning with a homer and Buster Posey connected two batters later to give Petit an early boost. Cain was scratched after cutting the tip of his right index finger. Cain was in the clubhouse kitchen making a sandwich and had a knife in his hand when the utensil dropped. Cain tried to catch it and cut his finger about a half-inch at the tip. He took batting practice, but then tried to throw and kept opening the cut. He expects to make his next start, Monday at Pittsburgh. "Its obviously really, really bad timing," Cain said. "Petit did an unbelievable job today. He picked it up and the guys scored a bunch of runs. Hopefully this isnt a big deal ... and it should be fine in a couple days." Petit (2-1) didnt allow a hit until Everth Cabreras leadoff single in the fourth. Hector Sanchez, starting at catcher with Posey at first base, hit a two-run single and a sacrifice fly. Petit allowed three hits with four strikeouts and no walks. It was his first start not allowing a run since he tossed a one-hitter last Sept. 6 at home against Arizona. He lowered his ERA from 3.68 to 2.61. Jean Machi pitched two innings and Santiago Casilla finished the 2-hour, 28-minute, three-hitter, San Franciscos second shutout this season. The Padres were blanked for the fourth time. The Giants said Cain wouldnt require stitches. "What a great effort," mannager Bruce Bochy said of Petit.dddddddddddd "Any time you lose your starter and the swing guy goes in there and gives you six innings like that, thats such a big lift for the club." Cain, who pitched a perfect game two years ago at AT&T Park, will finish winless in April. He is 0-3 with a 4.35 ERA in five starts. Pagan sent a 1-1 pitch from Eric Stults (1-3) just inside the left-field foul pole for his second homer, then Posey hit his sixth one out later. It was Pagans seventh career leadoff homer and first since May 1, 2013, at Arizona. The Giants hit two homers in the first inning at AT&T Park for the first time since Fred Lewis and Bengie Molina did so on July 22, 2008, against Washington. "Tonight I didnt execute many pitches. I was down in the zone the first time I played them," Stults said. "I knew they were probably going to be aggressive. They usually come out swinging early." Stults was done after 2 2-3 innings, allowing five runs and seven hits. San Diegos Yasmani Grandal made his first career start at first base as manager Bud Black gave struggling Yonder Alonso a break. San Diego will try to win Wednesdays rubber game for their first road series victory this year and snap a nine-series winless streak at AT&T Park dating to a three-game series here from Oct. 1-3, 2010, one that sealed the Giants division title on the way to the citys first World Series championship. NOTES: Padres reliever Donn Roach doubled in the sixth for his first major league hit. ... Home run king Barry Bonds made an appearance at the ballpark. ... Padres OF Seth Smith was available off the bench but missed his fourth straight start as he nurses a strained groin sustained Thursday night against the Nationals. Black said it was "a very good chance" he could start Wednesday. ... Giants RHP Tim Hudson tries for his fourth victory, facing LHP Robbie Erlin (1-3). ... The Giants improved to 11-1 when scoring first. ... It was an usually warm 76 degrees at first pitch. ' ' '