ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates -- The German Grand Prix is expected to be dropped from the Formula One calendar for financial reasons.The decision to drop the race still needs to be officially confirmed when the World Motor Sport Council meets next Wednesday.Hockenheim is one of three provisional races on next years 21-race calendar along with Canada and Brazil. The official calendar will be approved at the same meeting.But according to reports in the German media, teams have already been made aware of the decision so that it does not affect their travel plans. The race is penciled in for July 30.Its unfortunate but not surprising, especially as the date was only conditional, Hockenheimring chief Georg Seiler was quoted as saying by German news agency dpa. There was also no offer excluding all financial risks, which was always our condition as a possible venue.The implications would potentially see the Hungarian GP moved by one week to take Germanys slot as the final race before the traditional summer break.The German GP was left off the 2015 calendar, also because of dwindling attendances and costs.Germanys struggles to host the race contrasts with the flourishing success of the Mercedes team and its German driver Nico Rosberg.Mercedes has clinched the constructors title for the past three years, and Rosberg is in a strong position to win his first F1 title on Sunday.He leads teammate Lewis Hamilton.The other German drivers in F1 are four-time champion Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari), Nico Hulkenberg (Force India), and Pascal Wehrlein (Manor). Air Max 97 Mens Nz . Peter Holland and Brad Staubitz were sent to Toronto on Saturday as the Maple Leafs traded defenceman Jesse Blacker and draft picks to the Anaheim Ducks. Nike Off White Air Max Nz .B. -- The Baie-Comeau Drakkar took over sole possession of first place atop the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League on Thursday with their sixth straight win. http://www.airmaxnzwholeale.com/cheap-air-max-270-nz/max-270-mens.html .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. Air Max 97 Plus Nz . The 29-year-old Baines has established himself as one of the top attacking full backs in the country and was the subject of two bids from United during the last off-season. Everton manager Roberto Martinez says that keeping Baines at the club is a "massive boost and exciting for the future" because he brings "maturity and football knowledge in a very specialized position on the pitch" and an "infectious and positive influence to the rest of the squad. Cheap Nike Air Max NZ .Y. -- The Buffalo Sabres have placed centre Cody Hodgson on injured reserve and recalled two players from their AHL affiliate in Rochester. DETROIT -- Darius Slay smiled, ear to ear, and his eyes lit up while he sat on the stool in front of his stall.Detroits standout cornerback cant wait to play on Thanksgiving with a lot at stake for a change.The Lions will have a featured game on the holiday as usual, continuing a tradition that dates to 1934, but it will be very significant to them in the standings unlike many matchups over the past two-plus decades.Detroit (6-4) hosts the Minnesota Vikings (6-4) in a matchup of first-place teams in the NFC North. It will be the first time the Lions are in first place on the holiday since 1993, which is also the most recent year the franchise won a division title.I love it, Slay said. We know the risks, and the stakes.If the Lions beat Minnesota for the second time this month and sweep the season series, they would win the head-to-head tiebreaker if both teams are tied at the end of the regular season.You cant help but think about that, said Detroit receiver Golden Tate, who flipped into the end zone for a game-winning touchdown in overtime at Minnesota in Week 9.The winner of the game will definitely have an advantage in the division and will be in the drivers seat down the stretch.If the Vikings win, they will move into first place with a favorable schedule that includes only one team that currently has a winning record.I dont necessarily think this is necessarily for the division championship, Minnesota coach Mike Zimmer said. Its not like its the last game of the season.Here are some things to watch when Detroit and Minnesota kick off the NFLs holiday tripleheader:DIGGING IT: The Lions limited receiver Stefon Diggs to a season-low 6.15 yards per catch in the previous meeting, but he set a career high with 13 receptions.You let him catch too many and at some point in time hes going to burn you because hes explosive, Lions coach Jim Caldwell said.Thats an area where weve just got to continue to get better. Theres not a point in time where you say, `Hey, well let that guy catch as many balls as hed like.ROLLING ROBERTS: When the Lions signed Andre Roberts in June, a month after Washington cut him, they were hoping he would compete to be their returner and possibly provide depth at receiver.Roberts has surpassed expectations, becoming the first Detroit player to return two punts for a touchdown in a season since 2005. He has also made some clutch catches, incluuding a 27-yard reception that set up Matt Praters game-tying kick as time expired at Minnesota.ddddddddddddBERGER THE BULWARK: One bright spot on Minnesotas depleted offensive line has been veteran center Joe Berger, who will make his 36th straight start.The native of Newaygo, Michigan, played at NCAA Division II Michigan Tech and went undrafted before stints with the Miami Dolphins and Dallas Cowboys.Hes a really smart guy, quarterback Sam Bradford said. Hes really helped me with protections. I think thats one of the first things when you learn a new offense as a quarterback. You want to know, `How am I being protected? What are the calls? And hes been awesome.MAKING HISTORY: Detroit, which has trailed in the fourth quarter of every game, is the first NFL team to have the first 10 games decided by seven points or fewer.SPECIAL SPECIALISTS: Detroits Sam Martin and Minnesotas Jeff Locke are two of the top punters in the NFL. Martin leads the league with a net average of 45.8 yards. Locke ranks second in the NFL with 25 punts pinned inside the 20.Last week when Minnesota was clinging to a six-point lead over Arizona late in the fourth quarter, Locke had a 72-yard punt with a friendly roll to push the Cardinals deep into their territory.What Locke has learned to do, perhaps unlike former Minnesota kicker Blair Walsh and some of his struggling peers, is forget about mistakes.In the past, I mightve been sitting on a bad punt and letting it affect the next punts, he said. But now Ive learned especially this year just to clear it.Soon after Walsh missed an extra point and had a field goal blocked in the loss to Detroit, the Vikings released the former All-Pro kicker and signed Kai Forbath to replace him.Forbath and Prater both had an extra point blocked last week. They contributed to the total of 12 extra points missed , the most in one week since the NFL merger in 1970.Prater has been an asset for the Lions. He made a season-long, 58-yard field goal at Minnesota before the Lions won 22-16. He has also made three game-winning field goals this season with 1:29, 1:28 and 4 seconds remaining in games.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL---Follow Larry Lage on Twitter at www.twitter.com/larrylage ' ' '