Vorstellung » Susanna Salmijarvi for the world title on Saturday.I was

MONTREAL -- The Canadian Soccer Association is working to overturn a ban on turbans in Quebec and says provincial representatives there had no right to impose such a rule. The organization has waded more forcefully into the controversy over the Quebec Soccer Federations decision to restrict turban-wearing children from the pitch. The Ottawa-based association said Friday it is discussing the matter with the provincial body, that it considers the issue a top priority, and that it expects a change in position. The CSA reports directly to the FIFA world body and is responsible for granting or revoking the membership of provincial federations. Its bylaws stipulate that it sets the rules in this country and has the power to suspend, or expel, a provincial association. The association will not discuss whether it has arrived at the threat-issuing stage. However, it confirms it has reopened discussions with Quebec in the hope of forcing it to drop a position that has generated attention from international media. "(This) is the governing body for the sport in the country," said a Canadian association official, requesting anonymity. "The Quebec Soccer Federation falls under our supervision. So they would apply the regulations the way we mandate them to." The Canadian association has instructed all provincial bodies to allow players with turbans. Quebecs is the only to have refused. Quebecs federation explained this week it was concerned about safety and pointed out that the rules of the world governing body, FIFA, dont specifically allow turbans. Critics of the Quebec decision point out that FIFAs rules dont ban them, either. A spokesman for the provincial organization said Friday there would be no comment and added that nobody in the administration was available to discuss the matter. The voice mail of director-general Brigitte Frot, who made controversial comments earlier this week, said she was outside the office and would return Monday. Frot was asked during a teleconference what she would tell a five-year-old boy in a turban who showed up to register to play soccer with his friends. She replied: "They can play in their backyard." The Quebec decision applies to between 100 and 200 people, according to estimates from the local Sikh community. The move has drawn coverage from some major foreign media, including the BBC, and earned condemnation from many federal politicians, especially within the Conservative government and the Opposition Liberals. But within Quebec, aside from the occasional critical newspaper column, there has been little sign of a public backlash. The Quebec soccer bodys sponsors, for instance, have resisted pressure to get involved. The Saputo cheese company and the Couche-Tard chain, which owns Macs convenience stores across Canada, have refused to offer any opinion on the matter. The Canadian soccer official said the national agency took up the issue again with provincial officials after the ban was announced following a board vote last weekend. "Thats the discussion were having with them... Were working on it." The president of the Canadian Soccer Association, Victor Montagliani, said in a statement Thursday that a clear majority of members agreed with allowing turbans and wanted Quebec to reverse course. He said the association wants to make soccer accessible to the largest number of Canadians and hopes to resolve the issue quickly. One longtime soccer coach and FIFA player agent said it would be a shame if Quebec discouraged a future star from taking up soccer. Dino Anastopulos, who has coached star players in B.C., said hes never seen a turban-related injury in 25 years of coaching. Some of his former players include Portuguese national team goalie Daniel Fernandes and Gianluca Zavarise, a Canadian national with Toronto FC. "I find it completely unacceptable that they can tell children that they cant take part in such a beautiful game," said Anastopulos, technical director of the Marpole Soccer Club in B.C. "What are we saying to this child -- that hes not fully Canadian?" He said the game should actually be a way for children from vastly different backgrounds to meet and get to know each other. "When they play, and interact, they can see theyre not that different from each other.... A good person is a good person," he said. "We can use the power of the sport as an educator, to break down these walls." Vince Carter Jersey . PETERSBURG, Fla. 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ESTERO, Fla. -- Baylor was unquestionably the elite club in the eight-team Gulf Coast Showcase.And no, that symmetry wasnt lost on Lady Bears coach Kim Mulkey.Each of the last three seasons has ended the same way for Baylor -- with a loss in the regional championship round in the NCAA Tournament, one game shy of getting back to the Final Four. So Mulkey went and made the schedule for this team as brutal as possible, with the hope that whatever lessons get learned now pay off at tourney time.Early returns are promising. The fifth-ranked Bears (7-1) topped No. 8 Ohio State 85-68 on Sunday to win the Gulf Coast title, capping a very difficult November slate for Mulkeys club. Baylor has already played four ranked opponents, three of them No. 9 or higher.Its what we need for late in the season, the playoffs in our Big 12 Conference, to be able to get past that Elite Eight, Mulkey said. Were tired of finishing in an Elite Eight. We present a schedule to them that makes them have to come from behind, makes them have to work for everything -- even if you get beat, theres so much to learn from that.And even with three big wins in southwest Florida this weekend, Mulkey and the Lady Bears think they learned plenty.Baylors three wins this weekend came by 42 over Kent State, 32 over No. 18 DePaul and 17 points on Sunday, and the reason why the margin over the Buckeyes was that close was the Lady Bears were 19 for 32 from the foul line. The Bears trailed for exactly 6 minutes, 16 seconds in the three matchups, and outrebounded their opponents 156-76 -- more than a 2-to-1 edge on the glass.Were good. We know were good. But how good are we? Mulkey said. The only way you can gauge that is go play other teams across the country that people think are good.ddddddddddddThe only loss so far was at UConn, a game where the Huskies revealed yet another national championship banner and played before a packed house. Baylor didnt succumb that night until the final minutes.Theres only one team this year thats going to go to Storrs when they drop a banner, and that was us, Mulkey said. We knew that going in and we need that. We need that environment, we need that type of setting.This weekend inside a minor-league hockey arena wasnt about environment or setting. The building held only a couple hundred fans or so for each game, and the chill from the ice below could be felt coming through the court.It was about the grind of playing three good teams in less than 72 hours, and Baylor came through with flying colors.Were looking to get that competition now so we can be ready at the end and embrace the moment, Lady Bears standout Kalani Brown said.Theres another big test coming next weekend when Baylor goes to Tennessee in the Big 12/SEC Challenge. Then before long, conference play will begin.Looking forward to it, said Lady Bears guard Kristy Wallace, the MVP of the Gulf Coast tournament. Its going to be a challenge. Itll be exciting.Last season, Baylor didnt face its third top-10 team until March 7. With this schedule, theres going to be no way Mulkey wonders if her team was properly battle-tested when this seasons NCAA Tournament rolls around.I know why we did it, Mulkey said. Were trying to get past the Elite Eight. ' ' '