U.S. President Barack Obama says that he expects Russia to welcome gay and lesbian athletes to the 2014 Sochi Olympics. Obama cancelled a planned September meeting in Moscow on Wednesday in a diplomatic rebuke over Russias harbouring of NSA leaker Edward Snowden, having also said in a television interview hours earlier that he had "no patience" with countries who discriminate against gay people. "I think (President Vladimir) Putin and Russia have a big stake in making sure the Olympics work," Obama said Tuesday night on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. "And I think they understand that for most of the countries that participate in the Olympics, we wouldnt tolerate gays and lesbians being treated differently. "And if Russia wants to uphold the Olympic spirit, then every judgment should be made on the track, or in the swimming pool, or on the balance beam, and peoples sexual orientation shouldnt have anything to do with it." There have been a few calls for a boycott of the Sochi Games, after a law signed by Putin last month banned the "propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations" and imposed fines for providing information about the gay community to minors or holding gay pride rallies. Foreign citizens arrested under the law can be jailed for 15 days and then deported. Going into next years games in Russia, theres also concern about a long-running problem of violence against gays, as well as a new law restricting adoptions of Russian children by people in countries allowing same-sex marriage. The IOC said it has received assurances "from the highest level of government in Russia that the legislation will not affect those attending or taking part in the Games." The sporting body also pledged to ensure there would be no discrimination against athletes, officials, spectators and the media in Sochi. However, the Human Rights Campaign, a leading U.S. gay-rights group, said the IOC should take a stronger stand. "They should be advocating for the safety of all LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) people in Russia, not simply those visiting for the Olympics," said HRC President Chad Griffin earlier this month. "Rescinding this heinous law must be our collective goal." Files from The Associated Press were used for this report. Sam Mills Youth Jersey . Numbers Game looks into the Canadiens securing the services of Thomas Vanek in a trade with the New York Islanders. The Canadiens Get: LW Thomas Vanek and a conditional fifth-round pick. Custom New Orleans Saints Jerseys .Y. - Jerome Samson scored once in regulation and again in the shootout as the St. http://www.saintsrookiestore.com/Saints-Michael-Thomas-Jersey/ . -- There were a lot of firsts for the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday night. Sam Mills Jersey . They had already blown a double-digit lead, fans were hitting the exits, and a long seven-game road trip waited at the end. Cameron Jordan Jersey . Darren Helm scored on Detroits sixth attempt in the shootout and then Jonas Gustavsson stopped Andrew Shaws shot, lifting the Detroit Red Wings to a 5-4 win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday night. HOUSTON -- The Texas Rangers got hits from seven of their nine starters on Friday night, to the delight of manager Ron Washington. "Thats when were at our best, when we get hits from everybody," Washington said. Leonys Martin hit a two-run double in a four-run eighth inning, and the Rangers used the balanced attack to rally and tie a season high with their fifth straight victory, 9-5 over the Houston Astros. Houston led by one entering the eighth before Adrian Beltre tied it with an RBI single off Josh Zeid (0-1). Wesley Wrights two-out, bases-loaded walk of Jurickson Profar put the Rangers on top. Martin then belted a line drive to right field to score two and make it 7-4. "Since were playing so aggressively, that lead that they had didnt mean a lot to us," Martin said. "I think were playing good baseball right now." The Rangers have rebounded from a stretch where they lost 12 of 15 games to win 10 of their last 11 and move into a tie with Oakland for first place in the AL West. Matt Garza (2-1) yielded seven hits and four runs with eight strikeouts in seven innings. "Great team win," Garza said. "I stayed long enough in there to let the boys come back and pick it up. Sometimes you give up four and you get a win." The Astros used five pitchers in the eighth inning alone, but it didnt help relieve their bullpen woes. Houstons relievers have given up the lead six times in the last 13 games and have blown six saves in that span. "I personally feel sorry for our starters, but they are not going to show it because they are good teammates," manager Bo Porter said. Jason Castro doubled and homered, and Brandon Barnes added a home run for the Astros, who lost for the seventh time in eight games. Houston loaded the bases in the eighth inning, but came away empty-handed when Neal Cotts struck out pinch-hitter Marc Krauss to end the inning. He earned his first save. Joey Butler had his first career hits on a pair of doubles for Texas in his first major league start. "Im real happy," Washington said in summing up the night. "The key is whats happening up and down the lineup. Tonight it was a big walk by Joey Butler, another big walk by Profar; it was a battle by Martin against a lefty to deliver." Butlers second double came with one ouut in the seventh inning.dddddddddddd Profars RBI single got Texas within 4-3 before Houston starter Erik Bedard ended his night by striking out Martin. Ian Kinsler walked to start the eighth and stole second base. The Rangers tied it at 4-all with Beltres RBI single to shallow centre field which chased Zeid. Josh Fields intentionally walked pinch-hitter David Murphy with two outs before walking Butler to load the bases and bring on Wright. Things looked good for the Astros early. Castros 445-foot homer to the second deck in right field to start the second put Houston up 1-0. Singles by Kinsler and A. J. Pierzynski sandwiched around a walk by Beltre loaded the bases in the fourth inning. A sacrifice fly by Jeff Baker tied it at 1 before a sacrifice bunt sent Beltre home to put Texas up 2-1. Garza had retired six in a row before L.J. Hoes doubled to start Houstons fourth. A double by Jose Altuve sent Hoes home to make it 2-all. Castros 31st double, which bounced off the wall in left-centre, scored Altuve to put Houston up 3-2. Barnes homered to start the fifth for a two-run lead. Bedard allowed seven hits and three runs in 6 2-3 innings and is winless since June 26. Houstons inexperience was painfully evident in the ninth inning, when Pierzynski bunted and rookie pitcher Jorge De Leon scooped up the ball and looked at Kinsler on third before throwing to first. As soon as De Leon looked away, Kinsler dashed home ahead of the throw to make it 8-4. Murphy had an RBI double later in the ninth. NOTES: The Rangers acquired OF Alex Rios from the Chicago White Sox on Friday. He will join the team on Saturday. ... Texas DH Lance Berkman, who has been on the DL since July 7 with left hip inflammation and also experienced pain in his surgically repaired right knee, will begin a rehabilitation assignment at Triple-A Round Rock on Saturday. ... Houston SS Jonathan Villar was out of the lineup for a second straight game with a sprained left thumb. Porter said he will not go on the DL, but he isnt sure when hell play. "Hes going to take batting practice and go through the whole routine and we will re-evaluate it after to see what degree of soreness if any and then move forward from there," Porter said. ... The series continues on Saturday when Texas left-hander Derek Holland opposes Brad Peacock. ' ' '