e wanted to be at the start of the season, but the most difficult part remains, which is to confirm our performances

The family of Bill McCartney says the former Colorado football coaching great was recently diagnosed with late-onset dementia and Alzheimers.Family members said in a statement that McCartney is still the same Coach Mac -- biking, golfing, supporting the Buffs and being an active member of his church.Therefore, the statement continued, We are making this public to ask for your understanding and patience as we know he frequently runs into fans, friends and former players. This is a frustrating and confusing disease, and if he appears disconnected or unknowing, please dont take it personally.McCartney, who turns 76 later this month, led the Buffaloes to their only national championship in 1990. Hes the winningest coach in Colorado history at 93-55-5 and he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2013.Another member of that exclusive club is former Colorado star defender Alfred Williams, who played on that national championship team and later won two Super Bowl rings with the Denver Broncos.Now a radio broadcaster, Williams said that McCartneys illness was no secret to the Colorado football family, which has known about the situation for a couple of years. He said McCartney has told him of his short-term memory troubles in the past.But when it was reported today, it was also reported that it was getting worse. And I think that is a surprise to all of us because Mac has always been the strongest and most fit man that weve known, Williams said.Following his retirement from coaching, McCartney went to work full-time for Promise Keepers, a Christian organization he helped to create in 1990, to help enrich mens lives. He remains active in its mission today.McCartneys outspoken beliefs about religion and on social issues made him a lightning rod for critics during his coaching career in Boulder.Coach Mac is a unique character in American history because I dont believe that youre going to find anybody that knows him that will agree with everything that he says. Yet, youll still have respect for him, Williams said.Williams said the only drill McCartney ran himself at CU was punt return because he felt it was so important.So, every day hed walk out with a yardstick and he would just stand there during the punt team practice and he would just say, `Stop! Everybody had to stop at once and then would just lay down the stick. If you were off by an inch, an inch and a-half, or a quarter-inch, hed reset you. It was just great, Williams said.And everybody knew he was serious about football. But he was more serious about his family and how the players were treated. He was a champion for every athlete at the University of Colorado.I just love the man, Williams added. I dont feel sorry for him, and I dont think that he would want that. If you talk to him, hed just tell you that this is just the next fight. This is the next game. This is the next opportunity to pull through. Custom Jacques Plante Jersey .C. -- Charlotte Bobcats coach Steve Clifford said after all of these years in the NBA hes still amazed at some of the things LeBron James does. Custom Canadiens Jersey China . -- Patrick Reed got an early start in golf. http://www.customcanadiensjersey.com/ . LOUIS -- Mike Smith is used to facing plenty of shots, so this was nothing new. Cheap Canadiens Jerseys .C. at the helm of the top team in the Eastern Conference. His tenure as the GM in Vancouver was all too brief. Though he led the Canucks to what was then a franchise record-shattering campaign in just his second season, Nonis was gone and replaced one year later. Jacques Plante Jersey Large . Its the second straight game Bell has scored in extra time for Kelowna, which beat the Brandon Wheat Kings 6-5 on Friday, and he now has four game-winning goals on the season.Javier Mascherano will miss Barcelonas La Liga home game against Getafe on Saturday after picking up his fifth booking of the season against Eibar. The Argentina internationals absence is unlikely to deter the hosts though, with Thomas Vermaelen more than able to deputise at the Nou Camp.Getafe will probably be concentrating all their efforts on halting Neymar, who is set to return from suspension, Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez. Neymar returns from suspension for the clash with Getafe Since the turn of the year, the trio have racked up an eye-watering total of 30 La Liga goals in just 12 games, while Barcelona are unbeaten in 36 matches.However, Barca boss Luis Enrique has warned against complacency as his side prepare to take on struggling Getafe.Barca sit eight points clear of Atletico Madrid at the top of the table and are aiming for a 12th straight win in the league and a 37th consecutive match unbeaten in all competitions.Enrique said at his pre-match press conference: We are in the final stretch of the season against opponents who need points. Barcelona are unbeaten in 36 consecutive matches At the moment, we are only thinking about three points against Getafe, which will leave us closer to our objective of winning the league.We know that we are where we wanted to be at the start of the season, but the most difficult part remains, which is to confirm our performances with titles.We have a clear advantage but we cannot afford to slip up because losing two matches could see us punished.ddddddddddddMeanwhile, the visitors are plummeting down the table with seven defeats in their last eight games - leaving them with a flimsy one-point buffer over the relegation zone. Barcelona defeated Eibar 4-0 in their last La Liga outing, on a weekend when Gary Nevilles Valencia lost to Atletico Madrid There is bad blood between the two clubs following the return fixture when Barca players coated the away dressing room with red paint on Halloween night.Getafe president Angel Torres stated: No one from Barcelona called me to apologise for what happened.I will always defend my club and I will not allow anyone to walk all over us - however big Barcelona think they are.Torres will hope that Barca do not trample his team on the pitch on Saturday. Watch highlights of Barcelona v Getafe on Saturday at 5.15pm on Sky Sports 3 HD. ' ' '