successful return of Vernon Philander from injury, the

There are two very different kinds of shrugs that athletes can give when asked about how their season is unfolding. One is a shrug of frustration, a gesture that says theres no satisfying explanation for whats gone wrong.The other, though, is a happy shrug that says, Theres really no magic formula for why were playing very well. Were just executing.We all know the Los Angeles Sparks have had more than a few seasons of unpleasant shrugging, where they couldnt pinpoint exactly why a team that clearly had talent was inconsistent or sometimes even floundered.Now, though, any shrugs the Sparks might give are accompanied by smiles. They can detail all the reasons things have gone so well in whats been a 20-2 season thus far. But its ultimately more a mindset that has taken hold -- one that is not defined as much by the specific things the Sparks are doing well, but the general sense that they now expect them.As they close out the pre-Olympics part of the season this week -- with games Tuesday at Indiana (ESPN2, 8 p.m. ET) and at Washington on Friday -- the Sparks sound confident that theyll have a strong finish now and then be able to pick up where they left off when the season resumes in late August after a monthlong break for the Summer Games.I think that what separates us this year as opposed to other years, said Sparks guard Kristi Toliver, is that weve always had the talent, but I think everybodys been willing to sacrifice a little bit of themselves. When you do that, great things happen. And thats just been the case this season. We just have a really good team, and we know how to play the game.Yes, the Sparks on Sunday dealt with one of their rare disappointments this year when they fell 91-74 at Atlanta. Had Los Angeles won, a 21-1 mark would have been the best start for a WNBA season. Instead, the Sparks share that distinction with the now-defunct Houston Comets at 20-2.How upsetting was that loss? Guard Alana Beard said the Sparks really put no emphasis on the record. And that while it was tough to lose a game, Los Angeles wasnt overly concerned about it from a historical context.It was never a focus of ours, Beard said. The record means nothing if you dont have a championship at the end.Toliver echoed that, saying that the Dream seemed more motivated to prevent L.A. from getting the mark than the Sparks were motivated to set it. When it was over, though, Toliver did acknowledge feeling worse about it than she probably expected to.I think its unfortunate that we were not able to capitalize on such a special opportunity, Toliver said. But in the big picture, we have a lot of work to do, and we know we have to get better. If it takes that kind of sting to really make changes, then I think ultimately it will be worth it.Shes speaking sort of rhetorically, though. Because there really arent many big changes that need to be made for a team that remains the pacesetter for the WNBA. The Sparks are averaging 85.7 points, which is third-best in the league. And they are holding their opponents to 75.1 points, which is best in the WNBA.Forward Nneka Ogwumike is on the short list of league MVP candidates, averaging 19.5 points and 8.7 rebounds, while shooting a WNBA-best 71.4 percent from the field. Candace Parker is also having a very big season, averaging 16.4 points, 7.4 rebounds and 5.1 assists.Did not being chosen for the U.S. Olympic team give Ogwumike and Parker a little extra motivation this season? It almost certainly has, but that isnt a bad thing. Neither player is dwelling on it, but can use it as an understandable bit of fuel.Toliver is the Sparks third-leading scorer at 14.1, and shes shooting 45 percent from 3-point range. And in his second season in L.A., Brian Agler has a full buy-in from his team. Again, that has not always been the case with the Sparks and their coaches.But it is now, and the Spark have no intention of letting any of that slide.We have a mature team, and they understand what its going to take on both ends of the floor, Toliver said. I think Coach has done a really good job of preaching the little things to us. We attack each day with just wanting to get better. We dont take wins for granted; we know how hard it is to get them in this league. 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"This record is incredible," Bayern coach Pep Guardiola said. Hardus Viljoen, the bullish Highveld Lions fast-bowler who played one Test match for South Africa against England, has signed a Kolpak deal with Derbyshire for three-years.Viljoen is the third South African who has recently played international cricket to agree to an offer from England this season, following Stiaan van Zyls commitment to Sussex last month and Simon Harmers one-year deal for Essex. Viljoen can still play for the Lions but will not be able to represent South Africa for the duration of the deal.Expectations are that others could follow before the start of the English season.On the big stage, Viljoen is best known for taking the wicket of Alastair Cook with his first ball in Test cricket, in Johannesburg this January. The rest of the match did not bring any further success and Viljoen finished with 1 for 94 in a game that cost South Africa the series. He was not retained for the final fixture at Centurion and has not featured in any of the Test squads since.Although Viljoen appeared to have lost ground, he remained part of South Africas plans and travelled with the South African A side that played in Zimbabwe and Australia ahead of the current season.He is currently ranked top of the South African Cricketers Association MVP list, is second in the ongoing T20 cup, with 14 wickers at 14.00 and joint-second on the first-class bowlers charts with 22 wickets at 24.95. Viljoen also topped the first-class wicket-takers list last season, with 47 scalps at 23.02, which earned him his Test call up.This is not the first time Vijoen has considered furthering his career overseas. Last year, he was in discussions with New Zealands Central Stags, under the advice of Fanie dde Villiers, but committed to the Lions instead.ddddddddddddDuring his only Test, Viljoen said he thought he had made the right decision not to move. I dont want to have second best. You get brought up in your country to play for your country. I said I will give myself the right time and a fair time and a fair chance. It came quicker than I thought and I will never regret my decision to stay here.Despite such professionals of loyalty, Viljoens opportunities have been limited since then, especially following the successful return of Vernon Philander from injury, the continued consistency of Kyle Abbott and the rise of Kagiso Rabada and Dwaine Pretorius.Viljoen spent some part of the English county season playing for Kent and took 20 wickets in four matches and they made him a formal offer in September. At the time, no agreement was reached and Kent opted not to sign Viljoen when he sought a team a few months later.Instead, Derbyshire, winless in the second division of the Championship last season, will be looking at Viljoen to lead the attack as they attempt to rebuild under a new director of cricket, Kim Barnett, who was the prominent figure in their successful 1980s side.It was clear last summer that we lacked a consistent threat with the ball, and we feel Hardus fits that bill, Barnett said. Hes a strike bowler who can bowl over 90 miles an hour and has experience both internationally and here in England.A host of county batsmen drank their fill against Derbyshires attack last season. Viljoen may help to make life a little more challenging. ' ' '