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GLASGOW -- The Loch Ness Monster, tartan-clad bagpipers and giant pieces of shortbread took the place of footballers on the Celtic Park pitch as the Commonwealth Games began with a celebration of Scottish mythology and exports on Wednesday. Scotland is hosting the 20th edition of the games for former British colonies as its own future as part of Britain could be coming to an end. With an independence referendum coming on Sept. 18, the issue of Scotlands national identity is in sharp focus, and organizers made light of perceptions of the country with a self-deprecating start to the games opened by Queen Elizabeth II. There was singing on whiskey barrels, the giant rubber Loch Ness Monster and a giant haggis on the pitch during the rapid, often chaotic "Kingdom of the Scots" opening sequence. After rock star Rod Stewart performed at the home of his beloved football club, Scottish champion Celtic, there was a rendition of "Mull of Kintyre" from Susan Boyle, the church volunteer whose soaring voice turned her into an overnight reality TV star. But after the athletes from the 71 Commonwealth countries and territories completed their parade onto the pitch, the ceremony took on a sombre tone as the stadium fell silent to mark the Malaysian Airlines crash. Around a third of the 298 victims were from the Commonwealth. Malaysian athletes also donned black armbands to remember their 44 compatriots who died when the jet was shot down over Ukraine. The games was officially opened by the Queen after cycling great Chris Hoy, Britains most decorated Olympian, handed over the baton which has travelled throughout the Commonwealth since starting a relay at Buckingham Palace last year. The 88-year-old monarch showed her lighter side when Hoy and Prince Tunku Imran, president of the Commonwealth Games Federation, struggled to retrieve the message from the baton she left in it. When the note was finally recovered, the queen flashed a smile and held her arms out aloft before revealing its contents. The Queen, who is facing the breakup of Britain if Scots vote in favour of independence, reminded the Commonwealth of "our shared ideals and ambitions as a diverse, resourceful and cohesive family." "Together, you all play a part in strengthening our friendships in this modern and vibrant association of nations," she added. The ceremony used the power of the Commonwealth to appeal to the philanthropy of its members by promoting UNICEF inside the stadium and on the global TV feed. The childrens charity raised more than $4 million in donations through text messages within an hour from U.K. text messages alone. Canadas flag bearer Susan Nattrass, a seven-time world champion in trap shooting, waved the Maple Leaf as she marched, clad in a kilt, ahead of her teammates. The Canadians, wearing red and white jackets over red plaid pants, entered Celtic Park to Arcade Fires "Rebellion (Lies)" and a loud roar from the fans. Canada is fielding a team of 265 athletes -- its largest team for a non-home Commonwealth Games -- and it hopes to climb back onto the overall podium after finishing fourth at the Games four years ago in New Delhi, India. Chantal Petitclerc, former Paralympic star and Canadas chef de mission at the Games, was one of six athletes who carried in the Commonwealth Games flag. The others were Kenyan runner Kip Keino, Jamaican sprinter Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Scottish judoka Graeme Randall, Australian swimmer Ian Thorpe and Malaysian squash player Nicol David. 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Will Clark Jersey .Tatjana Haenni, FIFAs head of womens competitions, told a FIFA Live Your Goals Tour news conference Friday that the artificial turf is being tested to make sure it meets standards. SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Syracuse was teetering on the brink, trailing nemesis Pittsburgh by a point with less than two minutes to play and the home crowd doing its best to rattle the Panthers. Amid all that late-game drama on Saturday stood Orange freshman point guard Tyler Ennis, an island of serenity inside the raucous Carrier Dome, and he simply did what he does best -- he took control. Ennis, from Brampton, Ont., converted two layups -- one with each hand through the middle of the Pitt defence -- and swished two free throws to complete a 16-point afternoon for the No. 2 Orange, who won 59-54 and improved to 18-0 and 5-0 atop the Atlantic Coast Conference. "He made some of the best plays that Ive seen in a long time," Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim said, comparing Ennis with Carmelo Anthony and Gerry McNamara, who as freshmen led the Orange to the 2003 national championship. "You dont get to the basket against Pittsburgh." Ennis shrugged, happy that his team had won again. "Its really just the perfect situation," said Ennis, another of those rising stars from Canada. "I have a lot of teammates who have a lot of confidence and can make plays, and they make me look really good." The low-key Ennis hasnt attracted the attention usually associated with such a key player -- heck, he doesnt even have a tattoo -- but hes easily one of the best freshmen in the country. Entering this week, his assist-to-turnover ratio of 4.13 (99 assists with 24 turnovers) ranked fourth nationally, and only two other freshmen were in the top 50. Virginias London Perrantes was 33rd at 2.77 (61 assists, 22 turnovers), while UCLAs Bryce Alford was 48th at 2.57 (54 assists, 21 turnovers). "Ive used the word comical a lot this year. His assist-to-turnover ratio is almost comical," said McNamara, who coaches the Orange guards. "His feel is as good as Ive ever watched. I said that about Michael (Carter-Williams) last year. Tylers in that same realm. Its difficult to speed him up. He plays at the pace that he wants to play at." Even Enniss dad, Tony McIntyre, cant explain his sons emotional maturity. ";He has always been that way.ddddddddddddHe doesnt show much emotion," said McIntyre, co-founder of the AAU basketball program CIA Bounce in the Toronto suburb of Brampton, Ontario. "Early on, I had to ask him, Do you even like basketball? It seems like youre bored. He said, I get excited when my players do well. "Hes just a smart kid. He thinks like a coach. If hes panicky, everybody else will panic. A point guard is supposed to be out there to make the four guys with him the best. Guys play harder with a guy they know theyll get the ball from, and hes never not won." Despite the departure of last seasons backcourt -- Brandon Triche graduated after four years and Carter-Williams was an NBA lottery pick after his stellar sophomore season -- the Orange are riding high with the 6-foot-2 Ennis running the offence. He also ranks third on the team in scoring (11.9), second in minutes (33.6), and tops in steals (48), a threat to eclipse the school record of 111 set last season by Carter-Williams. "Hes making everybody else score," said Orange guard Trevor Cooney, whos rediscovered his shooting touch with Ennis at his side, averaging nearly 14 points. "Hes always going to make the right play, and that makes us so much better." His dad said it all started 19 years ago. "Within four days after he was born, we brought the stroller into the gym with him in it," McIntyre said. "From that day, he never spent a day without basketball. He didnt have a choice." However, he played lacrosse and spent time on Canadas national game as a youngster. That helped hone Enniss basketball skills because he learned the nuances of the screen and roll. "He really excelled at it," McIntyre said. "At that time, he was way better in lacrosse." Not anymore. "We knew he was going to be great. We knew the potential and the maturity on the floor," said Mark Taylor, Enniss high school coach at St. Benedicts Prep in New Jersey. "He never gets out of control and hes the same off the court. Thats a rare thing -- to have a player that calm and humble." ' ' '