NASHVILLE -- Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne has been cleared by doctors to increase his physical activity, and now Nashville has to decide whats next for the two-time Vezina Trophy finalist. The Predators announced that Rinne had been cleared for the next step of his recovery after meeting with doctors earlier Monday. Coach Barry Trotz said a meeting was planned for later Monday to set a weekly plan for Rinne. "Our destination is to get Pekka back in the net at some point," Trotz said. "Whenever that happens, that happens. It feels a lot better than it was a month ago or six weeks ago." The goalie has been sidelined since arthroscopic surgery on his left hip Oct. 24 as a result of a bacterial infection. The infection developed in the same hip surgically repaired May 9 after last season. Rinne started practicing Feb. 19 and has worked a bit more each day. Rinne is 4-4-1 in the nine games he has played this season with a 2.31 goals-against average and a .917 save percentage. He practiced again Monday said he feels really optimistic. "The next step is playing games, and hopefully that is really soon here," Rinne said. The Predators, who return from the Olympic break hosting Tampa Bay on Thursday, could have Rinne play some games soon in Milwaukee with their American Hockey League affiliate. Nashville is four points out of the Western Conferences final playoff spot with 23 games remaining. General manager David Poile said last week the Predators best move at the trade deadline could be getting Rinne back on the ice. Shoes From China Wholesale .C. -- The RBC Cups semifinal participants were decided by a pair of overtime games. Trendy Wholesale Shoes . PETERSBURG, Fla. http://www.cheapshoes.us.org/."; Bach is in Rome for the European Olympic Committees general assembly and meetings with Pope Francis. He also visited with Italian Premier Enrico Letta. "The prime minister appeared to be interested in a bid from Italy for 24, because he has realized that the games can serve as a catalyst for development for a city and a country," Bach told The Associated Press on Saturday. Cheap Shoes Outlet Stores . Torres tells Spanish daily AS "in football you never know where you will be inside one month. Im going to work hard, thats all you can do with this last part of the season so important. Wholesale Shoes China Free Shipping . -- The Oakland Athletics and free agent right-hander Bartolo Colon have agreed to terms on a US$2 million, one-year contract, bolstering their depleted starting rotation. MIAMI -- Deron Williams got his first preseason action. LeBron James and Chris Bosh didnt need any more. Williams scored 11 points in 10 minutes, Alan Anderson scored 17 points, and the Brooklyn Nets finished the exhibition season with a 108-87 win over the Miami Heat on Friday night. The Nets went 5-2 in the preseason, the Heat 5-3. Paul Pierce scored 16 points and Jason Terry added 14 for the Nets, who made 11 of 16 tries from 3-point range in the first half and eventually led by as many as 31. Brooklyn played without Kevin Garnett (rest) and Andrei Kirilenko (back). Udonis Haslem went 8 for 9 from the field and scored 16 points for Miami, which got 12 from Mario Chalmers (on 6 for 7 shooting) and 12 from Ray Allen. Michael Beasley scored 11 for the Heat. Jamees and Bosh got the night off to rest.dddddddddddd The Heat will hoist the franchises third NBA championship banner on Tuesday night before opening the season at home against the Chicago Bulls. Brooklyn opens Wednesday at Cleveland. Other than Garnett, the Nets went with their anticipated opening-night lineup, and all eyes were on Williams -- who had been out for the entire preseason because of a right ankle problem. He looked good as new. Williams made three 3-pointers in a span of 67 seconds of the opening quarter, and he added a short jumper early in the second quarter before coming out of the game for good. The game was tied at 40 with about 6 minutes left in the half -- and over the next 17 minutes, the Nets went on a 49-18 run to pull away. ' ' '