Mercedes have withdrawn their protest against Max Verstappen over his defending of second place versus Lewis Hamilton at the Japanese GP. The team had initially alleged the teenager drove erratically and in a dangerous manner on the penultimate lap when Hamilton sought to overtake the Red Bull.According to Mercedes, their protest was withdrawn in the interests of establishing a final official result once it became apparent that the hearing cannot be concluded today. But there was confusion from Hamilton, with the world champion originally posting on Twitter: There is no protest from either myself or Mercedes. One idiot said we have but its not true. Max drove well, end of. We move on.However, after apparently learning that the team had lodged an appeal, Hamilton then posted: Just heard the team had but I told them it is not what we do. We are champions, we move on. End of! The Formula 1 Gossip column All the latest speculation and rumour in the paddock The incident in question had occurred when Hamilton closed in on Verstappen during the final stages of Sundays race.After the Mercedes driver attempted an ambitious overtake on the run to the chicane, Hamilton was forced to pull out of the corner when Verstappen refused to yield.Hamilton takes blame for startThe FIA, the sports governing body, originally stated that a decision wouldnt be made until the US Grand Prix in two weeks with neither driver available to give or refute evidence, as Mercedes only issued their complaint over three hours after the chequered flag had fallen in Suzuka.A time penalty for Verstappen would have both sealed a belated one-two for Mercedes and closed Hamiltons gap to Nico Rosberg in the title race, which stands at 33 points with four races remaining after the Germans victory. Verstappen has drawn criticism from other drivers for his defensive driving throughout the campaign, clashing with Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen in particular, and stood his ground when questioned on the latest incident.Im not going to open the door and say here you go, the teenager told Sky F1. I saw him moving and as soon as I saw that I closed the door, and I think he was far enough that he could see I was going to do that.Red Bull boss Christian Horner added: I think it was firm but fair. Max was always going to go for the inside line. I think he committed just before the braking area. It was one move and decisive for the inside.Youre not there to wave the other car through.Mercedes confirmed in a statement that they had originally lodged a protest to the FIA under the following regulation: 27.5. At no time may a car be driven unnecessarily slowly, erratically or in a manner which could be deemed potentially dangerous to other drivers or any other person. Lewis Hamilton drops back to eighth after a poor start in the Japanese GP. This will apply whether any such car is being driven on the track, the pit entry or the pit lane.Despite stewards investigations in the past, Verstappen has never been penalised for dangerous driving in 2016 - though he was given an unofficial warning at the Italian GP.Hamilton, who cancelled his usual post-race press briefing in Japan, appeared to have calmed down in the press conference after his earlier protest that Verstappen had moved under-braking over team radio.It doesnt really matter now, he told reporters. Its done and we move forwards.Dont miss The F1 Reports review of the Japanese GP on Sky Sports F1 at 8.30pm on Wednesday evening. Also See: Hamilton takes blame for start Nico extends title lead The Formula 1 Gossip Column WATCH: Hamiltons horrid start Zach Ertz Jersey . -- Rodney Stuckey scored 15 of his 21 points in the second half, and the Detroit Pistons beat the New York Knicks for the first time in eight meetings, 92-86 on Tuesday night. Chuck Bednarik Jersey . LOUIS -- St. http://www.cheapeaglesjerseysauthentic.c...ny-curry-jersey. Vonn flew back to Vail, Colo., last week after hurting her surgically repaired right knee at a downhill race in France. "Her knee was swollen again after Val dIsere," U.S. womens head coach Alex Hoedlmoser told The Associated Press. Cameron Johnston Jersey . Josh Mazzola drove in five runs to lead the Goldeyes (20-12) past the Capitales 11-5 Friday night at Le Stade Municipal in Quebec City. Seth Joyner Jersey . The ninth-seeded Safarova doused Swede Johanna Larsson 6-2, 6-3 on the green clay at Family Circle Tennis Center. The Czech player was a finalist here two years ago and captured back-to-back doubles titles in 2012 and last year.DALLAS - Alex Chiasson needed a break, and he got one. The result was a game-winning, power-play goal. Chiasson snapped a third-period tie and lifted the Dallas Stars to a 3-2 victory on Monday night. Stars coach Lindy Ruff earned his 600th NHL win, and he got it against his former team. Ruffs first 571 wins came with Buffalo. "It means Im on my way to 700, hopefully," Ruff said. "It means that Ive had a lot of good players and good teams. Those wins belong to those players." Chiassons goal was his first in 13 games, and he wasnt the only player who broke a scoring drought. Alex Goligoski put Dallas ahead briefly 2-1 with his third goal this season after 48 games without one. "He has looked refreshed and energized," Ruff said of Chiasson. "He needed one to go in." Jordie Benn hadnt scored until he tied the game 1-1 in the second period with his first goal in 12 games. He knew what a victory would mean for Ruff. "Obviously, its huge to get that win for him," he said. "Hes a very decorated guy, a great guy and a great coach." The Stars opened a two-point lead over their closest pursuers for eighth place in the Western Conference. Dallas (29-22-10) has 68 points. Winnipeg and Vancouver both have 66. Tyler Ennis scored twice for Buffalo, with Matt Moulson assisting on both goals. The second got the Sabres even at 3:23 of the third. Ray Whitney had two assists for the Stars after moving during the game on to a line with Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin, Dallas two leading scorers. Chiasson, a rookie forward, was frustrated because Sabres goalie Jhonas Enroth stopped six of his team-high seven shots on goal. Then, at 10:25 of the third period, Chiasson skated in front of Enroth and deflected Jamie Benns slap shot from the blue line into the net for the winning goal. What Chiasson couldnt do with his stick, he accomplished with his leg. "Sometimes youre going to need help from other people, but we need Jamie," he said. "Look at the first goal, Jamie was right there (screening Enroth). And then on the last one, his shot hit me in the shin guard." Enroth complained, but the goal stood. "Something happened there you couldnt really see on the replay," the goalie said, "but the ref told me it was (teammate Mike) Weber that kind of got his stick in my glove or whatever happened there." Chiasson said that the Stars 19-day Olympics break helped him. "I went through a phase where I couldnt see the light out of the tunnel," he said. "It seems like the break came at the right time..ddddddddddddI put some weight back on, and I felt rested." Enroth made 36 saves, and Dallas Kari Lehtonen had 21. "The first couple periods, I didnt think we were in the game at all. If it wasnt for Jhonas, I dont think that the score would have been as close as it was," Sabres coach Ted Nolan said. "I thought in the third period we played a bit better. We took a bad penalty, again. They capitalized, and that was the difference." Dallas dominated the first period everywhere but on the scoreboard as the Sabres took a 1-0 lead. The Stars recorded 14 of the first 17 shots, but failed to score on three power plays despite putting seven shots on goal. Dallas nearly gave up a short-handed goal on the third advantage, but Matt DAgostinis shot hit the crossbar. The Sabres scored on their next shot. Drew Stafford skated in on the left side, and when Dallas Trevor Daley slid on the ice to try to block a shot, Stafford passed the puck across to Ennis, who scored at 17:17. Dallas outshot the Sabres 16-5 in the period, which ended with Enroth stopping Chiassons close-range backhand. Chiasson put a team-high four shots on goal in the first, including some of the Stars best chances. Enroth had stopped Chiassons slap shot on Dallas first power play, as well as two slap shots by Cody Eakin. The Stars tied it 1:30 into the second period when Jordie Benn sent a slap shot from the left point past his brother Jamies screen, and past Enroth. Six seconds before the period ended, Gologoski scored. Ryan Garbutt deflected Trevor Daleys slap shot off the post. Shawn Horcoff gathered in the rebound and sent a backhanded pass across the goalmouth to Goligoski, who scored into the left side of the net. The Stars had a 12-9 advantage in shots, for a two-period total of 28-14. Buffalo tied it when Moulsons shot went over the net but bounced back off the glass to Ennis, who tucked the puck into the lower right corner. The loss ended a season-best three-game winning streak for Buffalo (18-35-8). NOTES: The Stars were 1 for 26 on power plays in their previous seven games. ... Eakin left the game with 3 minutes remaining, but Ruff said there was no serious injury. ... Jamie Benn has six goals, nine assists in his last 11 games. ... Enroth has stopped 101 of 110 shots in his last three games. ... In his last four games against Dallas, Moulson has six goals, two assists. ... Buffalo was penalized six times; the Stars only once. "I just think it was typical last-place calls to a playoff-team calls, and thats just the