SAN DIEGO -- Tony Gwynns sweet swing was matched only by his incandescent smile. The Hall of Famer was saluted at Petco Park on Thursday night in a ceremony that would have made "Mr. Padre" light up. Though, that wasnt something Gwynn had trouble doing. "It was so engaging," former teammate Steve Garvey said of Gwynns grin. "There are a few guys in sports that have it. You always think of Magic (Johnson), and Tony was baseballs Magic as far as that smile was concerned." Gwynn, a Hall of Famer who spent his entire 20-year career with the Padres, died on June 16 from oral cancer, a disease he attributed to years of chewing tobacco. He was 54. The 15-time All Star averaged .338 over a career in which he had 3,141 hits and won eight NL batting titles. A two-sport star at San Diego State before getting selected by the Padres in the third round of the 1981 draft, he was beloved for his achievements on the field and his humility on and off it. Gwynn never hid his affection for San Diego, embracing his "Mr. Padre" nickname and declining to leave San Diego as a free agent on numerous occasions. After retiring from the Padres following the 2001 season, Gwynn became SDSUs baseball coach. Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson and ex-Padre Trevor Hoffman were among the speakers who addressed the crowd of about 20,000 from a stage erected in right field, just in front of the No. 19 carved into the outfield grass. A podium was placed between three No. 19 Gwynn jerseys, two from the Padres World Series appearances in 1984 and 1998 and one from San Diego State. The left-field scoreboard showed a collage of pictures that ranged from Gwynn tipping his hat to the crowd and to him clutching his Hall of Fame plaque. And, of course, one displaying that warm smile. "We all know Tony was a great player, a great Hall of Famer," Jackson said. "That is known when he got 97 per cent of the vote -- that puts him in the top four or five. ... "He was a genuine man, a quality man, a 100 per cent family man. A great son, a great husband, a great father, a great friend and a great teammate. He was an example of what we all want to live and emulate as a person." Thursdays tribute, which started when 19 white doves were released, was open to the public following the private service Gwynns family held Saturday at SDSU. Gwynns fans, many wearing his brown-and-yellow No. 19 jersey, were given a chance to pay their respects to someone they felt they knew. He was an anchor of not only the Padres two World Series teams, but in the community as well. After leaving the Padres, he coached at SDSU, was a member of the Padres broadcasting team and remained active in various charities. A stream of people walked past Gwynns statue in the adjacent Park at the Park, with a line snaking past memorabilia of his storied career. Gwynn, whose No. 19 is retired by the Padres, batted at least .300 in 19 straight seasons. In 1994, he was hitting .394 in August when the season ended prematurely because of the baseball strike; in 1995, he struck out only 15 times in 577 plate appearances. But it was the way Gwynn carried himself that endeared him to countless fans. And not just those in San Diego. Gwynn has been honoured around baseball since his death. Tony Gwynn Jr., his son, was given a standing ovation Tuesday in Philadelphia in his first at-bat with the Phillies since taking a leave following his fathers death. "Even though he was on the other team you still had to admire the way he went about his business," said Joe Torre, an executive vice-president for Major League Baseball and former Yankees manager. "Unfortunately we dont have many, maybe any -- maybe Derek Jeter -- that conduct themselves in a similar fashion. "Honestly, what you saw is what you got: he was a good hitter and never tried to show anybody up." Gwynn became and stayed a star in San Diego. He never thought it would shine brighter elsewhere. "Im a Padre, a San Diego Padre," Gwynn once said. "And Im proud of it." Near the end of the tribute Hoffman, in a halting voice, talked straight to Gwynn, his former Padres teammate. "Thank you for representing San Diego," Hoffman said, "with such class." Cesar Cedeno Jersey .com) - Hassan Whiteside scored 20 points with nine rebounds in the Miami Heats 83-75 win over the Boston Celtics on Sunday. Nolan Ryan Jersey . He still wanted out. "It just seemed like the direction they were going didnt fit what I thought my career was going to be," Kesler said. "At the end of the day I want to win a championship and I want to win it now, and four years is a little too long for me. http://www.customastrosjersey.com/custom-j-r-richard-jersey-large-356y.html . -- Once again, Carlos Santana was a huge hit in Kansas City. 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It hasnt quite happened like that.Smith has 31 interceptions and six lost fumbles in his two seasons, but Mornhinweg has seen quarterbacks develop at different rates and some need as many as four years to really fulfil their potential.There is no question, Mornhinweg said, that Geno can be a fine quarterback in this league.Smith was benched for three games in favour of Michael Vick, but coach Rex Ryan announced Wednesday that Smith would start against the Miami Dolphins on Monday night at MetLife Stadium.The move surprised some players, who thought Vick might start the rest of the season as the Jets (2-9) play out their final five games.I think this is a pretty good time to get a young quarterback restarted, Mornhinweg said. We had him take a step back and look at the big picture and continue his development.Ryan has called the move a Jet decision, and he wasnt swayed by general manager John Idzik — or anyone else — to turn back to Smith. Mornhinweg also denied a published report that he preferred to continue to start Vick.Got to roll with him, linebacker Calvin Pace said of Smith. I dont make that call. I believe in him. So well see on Monday. Whoever the guy is, thats who weve got to go with.It wasnt exactly a ringing endorsement, but why does Pace believe in Smith?One, I really dont have a choice, he said. Two, hes got the tools. Hes just got to believe in himself and go out there and execute and do what Marty tells him to do, and just make some plays.Smith was benched last month in a 43-23 loss to Buffalo, and Vick started the next three games and turned the ball over just once, against the Bills last Monday night. He also helped the Jets end an eight-game skid with a win over the Pittsburgh Steelers three weeks ago.Really, it has little to do with Mikes play, Mornhinweg said. Mike has played pretty well, you know inn the Pittsburgh game.dddddddddddd He has done some very, very good things for us. We have talked about this before, I think I mentioned it once or twice, when Geno gets his next opportunity, I was trying to hint that we would be in this situation at some point, even back then, that we would expect him to play at a high level.Before the benching, Smith had started every game in his NFL career after Mark Sanchez went down with a season-ending shoulder injury last preseason. He had an up-and-down rookie year, finishing with a solid final month that had the organization optimistic that their second-round draft pick could be the guy for years to come.The Jets signed Vick in the off-season, mostly as insurance, and gave Smith every opportunity to take the next step in his progression and prove himself to be a franchise quarterback. After mistakes and turnovers sent him to the sideline, Smith didnt sulk, but instead used the time to get even more comfortable with things.Ive always felt like thats been something thats been growing, just an overall understanding of the game, our offence, just everything in general, Smith said. My complete control of the offence is something thats continually growing and Ive got to continue to work at it. I feel a lot more comfortable now than I was maybe a few weeks before. But, obviously, youve got to go out there and prove it on the field.To many, though, the book on Smith is closed with the Jets — no matter how he finishes. Sure, there are flashes of playmaking and potential, but fans have already taken to sports talk radio and social media to debate whether the best move in the off-season will be to sign a free agent quarterback or draft Marcus Mariota or Jameis Winston.So, when Smith steps on the field Monday night, he needs to prove himself all over again. And, he could get the final five games to do it.I would anticipate that, and hope thats the case, Ryan said of sticking with Smith for the final month. But well see.Smith, meanwhile, insists hes not worried about any of that.I cant be focused on whatll happen here down the line because thatll sidetrack me from whats really important, he said, which is going out there and playing the game.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL ' ' '