WASHINGTON -- President-elect Donald Trump is adding former wrestling executive Linda McMahon to his Cabinet as leader of the Small Business Administration.McMahon and her husband, Vince, founded and built World Wrestling Entertainment Inc., now a publicly traded sports entertainment company. She stepped down as the companys chief executive in 2009 and earlier this year launched a joint venture, Womens Leadership LIVE, which promotes opportunities for women in business and public service.She also poured $100 million of her fortune into two unsuccessful bids for a U.S. Senate seat in Connecticut in 2010 and 2012 and has become an influential Republican donor -- including to the Trump campaign.Linda is going to be a phenomenal leader and champion for small businesses and unleash Americas entrepreneurial spirit all across the country, Trump said in a statement Wednesday.Trump said McMahon shares his vision of decreasing burdensome regulations that are hurting our middle-class workers and small businesses.As an entrepreneur myself, I have shared the experiences of our nations small business owners and will do my best to advocate on their behalf, McMahon, 68, said in a statement. My husband and I built our business from scratch, building it to a publicly traded global enterprise with more than 800 employees.The SBA, best known for the small business loans it makes and the disaster aid it provides to companies and entrepreneurs, is also tasked with monitoring government officials compliances with contract laws. Its budget is generally under $1 billion.McMahons two Democratic Senate opponents had kind words for their former foe.Sen. Richard Blumenthal called her a person of serious accomplishment and ability who can help small businesses as long as she is not hamstrung by the dangerous economic policies espoused by other Trump-nominated Cabinet officials. Meanwhile, Sen. Chris Murphy called McMahon a talented and experienced businessperson who helped shepherd WWE from an idea into a successful business.Of course, I know firsthand what a fierce fighter Linda McMahon is, and though we havent always seen eye to eye, I have confidence shell bring that fight to the SBA on behalf of Connecticut small businesses, he said.Some national small business advocates said they had little experience with McMahon but hoped she would understand the needs of small companies. Connecticut members of the National Federation of Independent Business had supported McMahon when she ran for Senate, NFIB spokesman Jack Mozloom said.Her views with small business aligned very well with our views. If that indicates what kind of SBA administrator shell be, thatll be good, Mozloom said.The Small Business Majority said it would have liked a nominee with more direct small business experience, but was optimistic McMahon would support companies and their owners.We hope that she recognizes the unique role that the SBA plays in providing much-needed capital and support to Americas small businesses and that she is prepared to play a strong role advocating for small business needs throughout the government, said John Arensmeyer, the groups CEO.The contract laws that the SBA monitors compliance with are aimed at ensuring small businesses get at least 23 percent of federal contracting money that is considered eligible for small businesses. The SBA also sponsors small business training and assistance at hundreds of centers across the country. And its Office of Advocacys responsibilities include challenging government regulations that pose a burden for small businesses.House Small Business Committee Chairman Steve Chabot, R-Ohio, called McMahon an excellent choice.I look forward to working with her and the new administration to roll back burdensome regulations and increase access to capital for Americas 28 million small businesses, he said.Trump wasnt McMahons top choice for president. She first backed New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie. But McMahon has known Trump for three decades, and contributed $5 million to Trumps family charity, almost all of it in 2007. He participated in WWE events, including a 2007 Battle of the Billionaires, during which he shaved Vince McMahons head.After Trump secured the Republican nomination, McMahon became one of his most generous benefactors. Fundraising records show she gave $6 million to an outside group that aired supportive commercials and attack ads against Democrat Hillary Clinton. She also gave more than $150,000 to the Trump campaign and his Republican Party partners at the end of September.McMahon told The Associated Press in September that she was confident Trump would be a good president and said the two were on good terms.Once youre his friend, he is loyal to the end, she said. Hes an incredibly loyal, loyal friend.--Haigh reported from Hartford, Connecticut. AP Business Writer Joyce Rosenberg in New York contributed to this report. Ken Dryden Jersey . - After leading the Saints to a fourth playoff appearance in five seasons, Drew Brees expressed confidence in the direction of his team and, perhaps more importantly, showed a willingness to listen to contract proposals if the team needs his help getting under the NFLs salary cap. Jonathan Drouin Jersey .Y. -- Marcell Dareus and the Buffalo Bills defence made life miserable for Super Bowl MVP Joe Flacco. http://www.canadiensauthority.com/authentic-dickie-moore-canadiens-jersey/ .com) - The Montreal Canadiens embark on their first road trip of the season as they head out west to battle the Calgary Flames on Wednesday night. Brandon Davidson Jersey . Just not the game. Kyle Palmieri scored two straight goals in the third period to rally the Anaheim Ducks past the Philadelphia Flyers 3-2 on Tuesday night. Andrew Shaw Jersey . The 17-year-old native of Marystown, N.L., pulled out of Skate Canada International last month in Saint John, N.B., with the same problem. RIO DE JANEIRO -- Geno Auriemma and Diana Taurasi shared a long, emotional embrace. Mission accomplished.The dominant U.S. womens basketball team did what was expected, winning a sixth consecutive Olympic gold medal and doing it in impressive fashion. In yet another rout, the U.S. dismantled Spain 101-72 on Saturday.Taurasi and the Americans played nearly flawless basketball in Rio, and were never challenged. They have won 49 consecutive games in the Olympics with only one of those decided by single digits.Its amazing isnt it? I mean when you think, thats 20 years of 20 years, Auriemma said. You know the first one was 96 and here we are 2016. Its mindboggling when you think about it what this team has been able to accomplish, this program of the USA Basketball program. There is such a level of expectation, theres such a level of respect for the people at the very top.Were doing stuff that may never be done again.Even with that kind of sustained success by some very talented U.S. teams, this may be the best womens basketball squad ever assembled. The team won by nearly 40 points a game, but fell short of the record 102.4 points the 1996 team averaged.But if this isnt the best ever, its close.Taurasi puts the 2016 group at the top of the list.I mean Im not just saying talent-wise. Im not saying margin of victory. Im saying this is the most determined, unselfish team Ive ever been on -- hands down, the four-time gold medalist said.There never really was any doubt that the U.S. would win the gold in Rio. The only question was by how much.Still, closure to their journey Saturday had Auriemma and Taurasi both fighting back tears.I think it was a very emotional time. When youre around these players and youre around Sue (Bird)and Diana and Tamika (Catchings), and you know that this maybe their last and youre able to send them out, its like graduating seniors back home, Auriemma said. And at the same time, youve got three young players whove never been here before. They get to go home with their first gold medal ever.Theres just a lot of emotions running through our team and running through our locker room.Unlike their semifinal win over France when the Americans looked discombobulated for a half, the U.S. was more fluid offensively. It helped having Bird back in the lineup. The four-time gold medalist and team captain missed the semifinal game with a sprained right knee capsule. She wasnt 100 percent Saturday, but was good enough.The U.S., which beat Spain by 40 in a preliminary round game, got off to a slow start and only led 21-17 after the first quarter. The Americans were up 27-24 in the second quarter before getting going.Auriemma turned to something very familiar to him to spark the Americans.The UConn coach put his five former Huskie players on the court at thhe same time for the first time in the Olympics and that group started the 16-3 run that blew it open.dddddddddddd Breanna Stewart got the spurt started with two free throws. Taurasi then hit consecutive 3-pointers -- her first points of the game -- as the Americans scored 10 straight.By the time Lindsay Whalens layup just beat the halftime buzzer, the U.S. led 49-32 and Spain had just two baskets in the final 6:55 of the half. Whalen finished the game with 17 points, tied for the team lead with Taurasi.Spain never threatened in the second half. Auriemma started the fourth quarter with Bird, Taurasi and Catchings on the court and the game in hand. The three four-time Olympians have had a tremendous impact on USA Basketball over the past 12 years. He took the trio out together for one final time with 5:44 left in the game.Auriemma had said from the start this group was on a mission that is now complete.Even with the loss, Spain earned its first Olympic medal in womens basketball. Serbia topped France for the Bronze. The Spaniards have been on the rise lately, also winning a silver medal at the 2014 world championship. They are hosting the 2018 worlds.Im glad that we could compete like the first quarter. We were close, but its a team like its a dream team, Silvia Dominguez said. The best team in the world, they showed that.They did, and the gold medal game was just like the rest of this tournament, all about the U.S.No American team has been deeper with Catchings as its 12th player. They trailed for just over 11 minutes in the entire Olympics and the biggest deficit was just four points -- 6-2 to France. They never were down after the first quarter and with the exception of the semifinal win over France all the games were pretty much after 20 minutes.Its been quite a run for this group, which features 12 players with a combined 29 Olympic gold medals -- the most ever for any team.This game marked the end of Catchings Olympic career. She is retiring at the end of the WNBA season. Taurasi and Bird have hinted that this will be their final Olympics although both could still return in four years in Tokyo. The trio joined Lisa Leslie and Teresa Edwards as the only Olympians to win four gold medals.Even if the three players dont wear the red, white and blue again, the future remains bright for the U.S. Elena Delle Donne, Brittney Griner and Stewart all won their first Olympic golds. Maya Moore, Tina Charles and Angel McCoughtry should be back in 2020 as well, providing a solid nucleus for USA Basketball to build on.---Online:AP Summer Games website: http://summergames.ap.org/---Follow Doug on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/dougfeinberg Cheap Soccer Jerseys Authentic Wholesale Hockey Jerseys Nike NFL Jerseys China Cheap Nike MLB Jerseys China Wholesale Baseball Jerseys China Wholesale College Jerseys Cheap Jerseys From China Wholesale Jerseys Near Me Cheap Jerseys Online Cheap NFL Jerseys Authentic Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys Authentic Cheap Soccer Jerseys China Cheap NCAA Jerseys Authentic Cheap Nike NBA Jerseys Cheap NHL Jerseys Authentic MLB Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys From China Cheap NFL Throwback Jerseys Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China ' ' '