SAN ANTONIO -- The Portland Trail Blazers were clearly rattled by the San Antonio Spurs in the opener of the Western Conference semifinals, and they were almost snake bit before Game 2. A baby rattlesnake, estimated at about 3 to 4 feet, was discovered in the teams locker room at the AT&T Center about two hours before the game Thursday. It was found by reserve forward Thomas Robinson, who recoiled a few feet after seeing the snake when he moved a bag from his locker. "I didnt (see it)," Portland coach Terry Stotts said. "They said it was a young one." Young or not, guard Mo Williams tweeted that it was a scary experience. Rattlesnakes are a venomous species that can grow up to 8 feet and weigh more than 10 pounds. It takes its name from a "rattle" at the end of its tail that produces a rattling sound when shaken to warn predators of its presence. It is unknown if the rattlesnake found in the locker room made any noise, but Robinsons cries were enough to alert his teammates of its presence. "Well, its bizarre to have a venomous snake in your locker room," Stotts said. "I dont know if its ever happened before. That sounds like an ABA story." The Spurs have a history in the ABA and also with critters in the AT&T Center. The stadium hosts the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo each February and its grounds are used for livestock shows during the three-week event. Spurs guard Manu Ginobili also swatted down a bat that was flying above the court at the AT&T Center on Nov. 1, 2009. Ginobili had to have rabies shots after striking the bat with his bare hands. Fortunately for the Spurs, Ginobili wasnt needed to corral the snake. "I think some people here (captured it)," Stotts said, smiling. "They have them on hand at the AT&T Center. They have a specialist." It probably wasnt a good omen for Portland, which is seeking to even its series with San Antonio. "Or a good sign," Stotts said. "We survived." The Trail Blazers will gladly accept any good fortune after being walloped in their first second-round appearance in 14 years. San Antonio led by as many as 31 points and never trailed in rolling to a 116-92 victory on Tuesday. Tony Parker had 32 points and nine assists, as many as Portland had as a team, as the Trail Blazers never threatened the defending Western Conference champions. Stotts was asked if he thought someone from the Spurs had planted the snake to rattle his young charges. "Youre the investigative reporter, you figure it out," Stotts said, tongue in cheek. Stotts was then asked if he considered returning the favour and planting the snake in San Antonios locker room. "That thing, its like Fort Knox over there. You cant get in," he said. Well, the room with officials Joe Crawford, Bill Spooner, Derrick Stafford and Sean Wright is only about 50 feet away from the Blazers locker room. "And I cant comment on the officials," Stotts said, laughing. Air Jordan 19 For Sale . Sources tell TSN that union executives travelled to select CFL cities Monday to open dialogue with players and answer questions. After the tentative deal was reached Saturday night, several players posted messages of frustration and disappointment on social media - and that carried over into Sunday on both the web and the field. Cheap Jordan . Not because it was right, but because referees werent allowed to determine it was wrong. https://www.wholesalejordanshoeschina.com/.J. Barea during a three-game shooting slump that was getting him booed off his home court with regularity. Air Jordan Sale . Obasi chested the ball past one defender, prodded it past another and then rounded the keeper before scoring from a tight angle in the 16th minute. Seconds after the restart, Obasi set up Klaas Jan Huntelaar for the Dutchmans 11th goal from 13 games this season. Wholesale Air Jordan . Detroits powerful offence made that unnecessary. Scherzer allowed two hits and struck out seven, and the Tigers backed their star right-hander with three early homers in an 8-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday night.MONTREAL - Few expected either the University of Montreal Carabins or the Manitoba Bisons to make it to the Uteck Bowl.But those are the teams that will meet Saturday at the Carabins 5,100-seat CEPSUM stadium in the Canadian Interuniversity Sport football semifinal, with each coming off an emotional win over a top-ranked opponent. The Carabins knocked off the top-ranked Laval Rouge et Or 12-9 in overtime in the Quebec conference final last weekend while Manitoba upset the No. 4-ranked Calgary Dinos 27-15 to claim the Canada West title.Carabins (9-1), playing at home in what will likely be a sold-out stadium, will be the favourites, but the Bisons (6-4) already have two big post-season road wins under their belts. They rallied to beat the Saskatchewan Huskies 47-39 in the Canada West semifinals.I dont think it was a surprise, Manitoba coach Brian Dobie said Friday. It was the goal.We went into this season confident we could win Canada West. We knew there was a monster at the University of Calgary that we had to displace. That was part of our mission and we accomplished it.Montreal head coach Danny Maciocia, the former Edmonton Eskimos head coach/GM now in his fourth year with the Carabins, felt much the same. His team defeated Laval in the final game of the regular season at home, then beat the Rouge et Or again in Quebec City in the playoffs.There probably werent a lot of people who thought wed best them twice in a span of three weeks, said Maciocia. We werent shocked or surprised.We had a group that believes in one another. And they have a mental toughness they bring every day.The winner advances to the Vanier Cup game, which will be played next weekend Percival Molson Stadium in Montreal.Manitoba, the last Canada West team to win Vanier Cup in 2007, ended Calgarys six-year reign as conference champions. Montreal stopped two-time defending Vanier Cup champion Lavals run of conference titles at 11 and ended its 70-game home win streak.But while the Carabins have been knocking on the door to a conference title in recent years, the Bisons took many by surprise. They went 4-4 in the regular season and now hope to be a rare team that goes 4-0, all on the road, in the post-season.Most of all, we want to use the confidence we gained last week to our advantage, said Bisons quarterback Jordan Yantz. We proved last week what were capable of doing.But its not only confidence, its excitement.dddddddddddd The opportunity we have here in the Uteck Bowl is something not many people get. Its something well embrace.The Dinos had the better statistics against Manitoba, but the Bisons forced 10 turnovers, including six interceptions.Thats the number that stood out for Carabins quarterback Gabriel Cousineau.Obviously, were going to have to protect the ball, he said. We dont give up a lot of turnovers, but when you face a team thats this good, you have to protect the ball.A fumble with 1:20 left in regulation time nearly cost Montreal the game at Laval. The Rouge et Or tied it on a late field goal, but the Carabins dominated the extra time.We have to come down from our cloud, Cousineau said of the win. We were floating out there.We were really happy after our win but it was back to business Monday. We know the jobs not finished.The Bisons are proud of their road record. Dobie said western teams are more battle-hardened on the road because their trips are longer and tougher than in central Canada or the east.Playing in Montreal may be a special challenge, however.This is the first time Ive seen our guys wowed a bit, with a bit of the deer in the headlights coming into Montreal, he said. They say Wow, everythings in French.Almost none of our guys have been east before. Theyre almost all western kids. Montreal has an amazing reputation as a city.It will be up the coaches to prevent distractions, but Dobie said his players are an easy buy-in now.And if they beat the Carabins, the Bisons will stay in town for another week to play the Vanier Cup game.On the field, the Bisons are expected to bring a big, physical team with an offence led by running back Kienan LaFrance, who rushed for 155 yards against Calgary.The Carabins counter with a smothering defence highlighted by versatile linebacker Byron Archambault. They have a nice mix of running and passing on offence as well.The weather forecast Saturday is calling for a high of 2C. Theres a 67 per cent chance of rain with 24 kilometre-an-hour winds expected.I would love to embrace Manitoba as the underdog but Im not claiming it, said Dobie. Thats being dishonest and disrespectful to my own team.We went into the season with high expectations that if we worked hard, we felt we could accomplish some things. Just like Montreal, were in this to win it. ' ' '