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CHICAGO -- Jimmy Butler finally has what he has always craved.A force on both ends of the floor, Butler has turned himself into one of the best two-way players in the NBA through hard work and determination. Hell be looking for his third straight All-Star appearance later this season and is hellbent on trying to prove that he can lead the Chicago Bulls back to the playoffs after a disappointing 2015-16 season.But as the Bulls head into week two of training camp for the new season, Butler has found something he has been searching for the past several years. Not only does he have the complete respect of his team, he has confidence in knowing that for the first time since he has been in the league, he is viewed as being the face of the franchise.The long shadows of Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah are gone, both having moved on to the Knicks, and Butler is left to stand on his own in front of the bright lights, with nothing encumbering his view of the future.Butler is the man for the Bulls and he is embracing all that comes with that mantle.To understand why this means so much to the 27-year-old, you have to know from where he has come in his basketball life. The 30th pick of the 2011 NBA draft, Butler wasnt expected to be much more than a defensive stopper coming out of Marquette. When he came to the Bulls, teammates and coaches loved his work ethic, but he couldnt find minutes in Tom Thibodeaus rotation because of an inconsistent jumper and a roster filled with solid veteran players. But as Bulls personnel recall, even as a young player trying to find his way in the league, Butler was always a leader in self-confidence.In recent years, Butler has been open about the fact that he often used to tell Thibodeau he should be playing more. Ultimately, Butler got his chance and developed into a player around whom the Bulls could build. But as Butler grew into both his body and his game -- earning the NBAs Most Improved Player Award after the 2014-15 season -- he could never shake the perception from some of his older teammates that he was still the fun-loving kid from Tomball, Texas.While they appreciated what he accomplished, some veteran teammates wanted Butler to take a backseat within the framework of the locker room. While the relationship between Butler and former MVP Rose always drew the most attention, multiple league sources have indicated over time that it was, in fact, the relationship between Butler and former All-Star Noah that deteriorated the most.Butler came into the 2015-16 season wanting to take a more vocal approach. This was underscored when he ripped new head coach Fred Hoiberg after a loss to the New York Knicks last December, saying the easy-going coach, who had come from Iowa State, had players who needed to be coached a lot harder.The problem for Butler was that while his play had given him more of a platform to speak, he still hadnt earned that right in the minds of some of his teammates. Privately, many front-office members shared the same view. As much as they respected and appreciated the work Butler put in to raise his game to another level, they wished he would have kept more of the humble approach he had when he arrived in the league.The Bulls knew that part of the growth any player takes from role player to star involves a jolt to the ego, but Butler developed a reputation throughout the organization as a talented player with an outsized ego. Butlers mindset had changed, a notion he openly discussed after the season as he grew into stardom.Butler was still viewed in some corners as the little brother who was constantly in the shadow of some of his older siblings. Thats a large reason why he looked so content and wore a quick smile on his face during last Mondays media day.Does it make me feel more comfortable? Butler said, when asked if he was in a better place now because with so many new teammates, they only know him as an All-Star, not as a reserve trying to find minutes. I mean, to an extent, yeah, because then you can never say how you may think that Ive changed.I think everybody thats on this roster now just knows how hard that Ive worked to get to this spot that Im at. Theyve seen it. Theyve witnessed it. All theyve been around for me is this point of my career. I dont know if it sounds bad, but I think that all these guys look at, If Jimmy work like that and if I work like that, Ill be in the same position that hes in. Ill be more than happy to let you have that position because I think hard work can get you anywhere that you want to get to.Bulls GM Gar Forman has been hesitant to say the Bulls are building around Butler as the face of the franchise, but after deciding not to move him at last seasons trade deadline and again before this past summers draft, Forman made moves that strengthened Butlers standing within the organization. Veterans Dwyane Wade and Rajon Rondo were brought in to support Butler and make sure the Bulls didnt have to go through the type of 20-win, full-scale rebuild that the organization despises.More important in the short term, both Wade and Rondo went out of their way early on to make it clear to the media that this was: Jimmys team.I think hes going to be comfortable in every role, Wade said. I dont see that being a problem with Jimmy at all. I think its my job to help him in ways that I see he can be better ... And I think me and Rondo coming in and saying that early is just giving him the confidence that he didnt have to worry about taking a step back or anything. Shaq did the same thing for me when he came to Miami. Just the mental approach to the game from him saying them words to me, allowing me to go out and just play my game. Thats all we want him to do, play his game.As much as Butler tried to downplay it last season, those close to him knew how much his standing among some of his teammates bothered him. Butler had put in so much work and dedicated so much of himself to his career that it bothered him when he didnt see the same type of commitment from some of his teammates. Bulls small forward Doug McDermott, a frequent training partner of Butlers in the offseason, says he believes his friend has learned from the good and bad things in last seasons locker room.I really do, McDermott said. I really do. I feel it. I feel it with these guys. I think its good having a guy like Wade sitting in there sitting right across from him who has accomplished a lot in the league and been a champion along with Rondo and guys that are older than him and I think thats going to go a long way.The Bulls are banking on Wade and Rondo to serve as mentors to some of their younger players, but one of the pairs main jobs is going to be keeping Butlers ego in check throughout the season. Whether it was choreographed public-relations spin or not, the Bulls front office knows that Wades and Rondos words can go a long way toward having a happier and more unified locker room this season.For those guys to say its his team, sure, I think that huge for Jimmy to hear those types of things, Hoiberg said. And again, you see little things that Jimmys doing this year, to take pride in that role, and hes done a tremendous job to this point.Having won a championship in the league and being viewed as a locker room headache at times, Rondo has experienced the highs and lows of the leagues litmus test for leadership. He wants to make sure Butler understands that his actions are going to speak much louder than his words.Not doing it with my mouth and doing it with my actions, Rondo said, while discussing what he can do to help Butler in his new role. And being consistent. I told Jimmy a leader cant pick and choose when he wants to lead. You have to come out here every day, every practice. Were having two-a-days, if youre down, if you need something to get your head right you have to bring it every day. Every day.Hard work has never been something Butler has shied from. After helping Team USA win a gold medal at the Rio Olympics, Butler said his biggest takeaway from the experience was seeing the way some of the games elite approached their responsibilities each day.I was in the gym working, but I would also see the way [Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Carmelo Anthony, Klay Thompson] all of those guys, they be working hard as hell, Butler said. So its like if the best players in the world can work like that, everybody can work like that. So you see guys in here, afterwards theyll be back before practice, after practice, working. Thats how its supposed to be.One of the biggest questions the Bulls are facing is whether Butler can maintain the lessons he has learned over the last year and continue making his relationship with Hoiberg better. For his part, Hoiberg has repeatedly given Butler exemplary marks for his leadership and for leading by example.Butler has returned the favor by calling himself out publicly as the standard by which the rest of his teammates should be judged.I told Fred, As much as you can, use me as an example. I want you to really get on my tail about every little thing, Butler said. Because if Doug [McDermott] or Tony [Snell] or whoever it may be is watching coach talk to me like that, its going to be like, If he can talk to Jimmy like that, I know hes going to come at me a certain way. Thats what I try to remind him every day. I think hes ready for that. Im a player. Im coachable like everybody else. I want that. I need that.Butler already got what he needed most coming into the season. After five seasons of being seen in a complementary role, he comes into his sixth professional year as the unquestioned star of the show. The Bulls are hoping that shift in the balance of power within their locker room will give Butler the peace of mind to become a better player and leader than he has been before. Those closest to him can already see the difference.I think so far just his attitude, McDermott said, when asked what the biggest difference is between Butler now and a year ago. Right now, his mindset is really getting in on us young guys, but in a different way. Last year I would say he held back a little, and this year hes been great with the coaches, with us players, and obviously his game is only getting better. Cheap Air Max 720 Canada . Dukurs winning time was 1 minute, 45.76 seconds, a quarter-second better than Russias Alexander Tretiakov. Lativas Tomass Dukurs was third, 1.41 seconds off the pace. Jon Montgomery of Eckville, Alta. Air Max 720 Discount . The move comes after the Canadiens were approached by the Buffalo Sabres for permission to speak to Dudley - a former Sabres player and head coach. 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COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State opened camp Sunday with immense pressure on some inexperienced players.The departure of 16 starters -- including nine juniors who bolted early for the NFL -- has left fifth-year coach Urban Meyer with the least experienced team hes had during his time in Columbus -- and one of the least experienced in the country.Look at the numbers: 46 of Ohio States 85 scholarship players are redshirt freshmen or true freshmen who have never played for the Buckeyes. Meyer and his staff have work to do and questions to answer.A redshirt freshman likely will replace NFL draft first-rounder Ezekiel Elliott at tailback, and the only receivers with some game experience are returning from injuries. There are starting spots just about everywhere else up for grabs.Im counting on about practice 12 (being) that line of demarcation where Ill tell you what kind of team well have, Meyer said. If we see some guys step up like we did in 14 and last year, then we have a chance to be special, because athleticism is not an issue. Chemistry, toughness, those kinds of things, I just dont know yet.Lucky for Meyer, one of his returning starters is quarterback J.T. Barrett, who has attained legend status at Ohio State even though hes only a junior. He came on in the wake of Braxton Millers injury in 2014 to lead the Buckeyes to an 11-1 record before breaking his ankle in the Michigan game and giving way to Cardale Jones, who led the team to a national championship. Last year he took over for Jones as the starter in the eighth game and led the Buckeyes to a 12-1 finish and No. 4 national rankking.dddddddddddd.Barrett said that despite the unsettled depth chart and many new faces, the first day of camp on a sunny, steamy afternoon felt familiar.I dont think it feels crazy different, he said. Even with the guys we had last year, it wasnt like the approach was any different. We still had the same type of install with our basic plays, making sure we get really good at those plays, so thats the same thing we did here. With the experience we had last year, it wasnt like there was a different approach. And we still have the same feel. Everybody came out there juiced up and ready to go. Theres just different numbers, different faces.Center Pat Elflein and right guard Billy Price return as starters on the offensive line, with Jamarco Jones already penciled in at left tackle. Raekwon McMillan is set at middle linebacker, and the same with Gareon Conley at one of the cornerback spots. Redshirt freshman Mike Weber, a four-star recruit from Detroit, is expected to start at tailback replacing Elliott, who was one of the greatest Buckeyes running backs of all time. Starting jobs just about everywhere else will have to be earned in the next few weeks.Ohio State began drills with freshmen and other newcomers on Sunday morning, and with veteran players battling through a workout in the afternoon heat. They will practice 28 more times before the opening game Sept. 3 against Bowling Green at Ohio Stadium.---Follow Mitch Stacy at http://www.twitter.com/mitchstacy ' ' '