ALLEN PARK, Mich. - Detroit Lions centre Dominic Raiola apologized Tuesday for "unacceptable" remarks he made to the University of Wisconsin band over the weekend as his team moved swiftly to defuse an off-the-field distraction. "My interaction with the Wisconsin Marching Band was inappropriate," Raiola said in a statement released by the Lions. "I apologize to those I offended along with all of the members of Wisconsins Marching Band. I also apologize to the Lions organization and my teammates. I understand the standards to which we should conduct ourselves, and my actions Sunday fell dramatically short of those standards." Raiola was not available for interviews in the Lions locker room when it was open for the media on Tuesday. The Lions said Raiola called band director Michael Leckrone to apologize for his actions and to say he was going to make a "significant donation" to support the band. A message was left on Tuesday for Leckrone. Band members said Raiola verbally abused them at Lambeau Field, where they were performing before and after Sundays Lions-Packers game. "After investigating the matter and discussing Sundays events with Dominic, we are pleased that he has taken ownership of his actions and admitted those actions were wrong and unacceptable," Lions president Tom Lewand said in a statement. "As we said (Monday), his actions were not reflective of the standard of behaviour that we expect from any player or any member of our organization. We are also pleased that he is supporting his apology with a significant donation." "Due to Dominics sincere and appropriate response, there will be no additional disciplinary action by the team," Lewand said. The NFL, though, may decide to fine Raiola. Detroit drafted Raiola in the second round in 2001 and the 13-year veteran is the longest-tenured member on the team. He has started 177 games and played in 193 over his career. Raiola has previously acknowledged being fined three times by the Lions. He was fined $15,000 in 2010 for his actions after beating the Miami Dolphins. He was filmed responding to a fan in Miami with obscene words and a hand gesture as he walked off the field following a victory. In 2008, he was docked $7,500 for inappropriate conduct directed toward fans during a loss at home to Minnesota. Raiola also said he was also fined for "doing stuff with the crowd" by former coach Steve Mariucci. Lori Berquam, Wisconsins dean of students, and Leckrone heard from Lewand on Monday, a day after the Packers beat Detroit 22-9. "Special opportunities such as playing before a Packers game are highlights for our band members: something they look forward to, and that we hope they will remember with pride," the school officials said. "We are proud of the way members of the UW Band have brought this matter to our attention." Cheap New Jersey Devils Jerseys .Y. - Sven Andrighetto scored once and set up two more as the Hamilton Bulldogs hung on to defeat the host Adirondack Flames 5-3 on Tuesday in American Hockey League action. Cheap Devils Jerseys China .Y. -- Florida Panthers captain Ed Jovanovski finally has something to show for all the pain he went through in overcoming a string of injuries that kept him sidelined for much of the past two years. http://www.cheapdevilsjerseys.com/ . But last years runner-up Jarkko Nieminen crashed out despite winning the first set against Denis Istomin. Istomin fired 10 aces and won 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-2 to even his career record against Nieminen at 3-3. Cheap Adidas NHL Jerseys . Serves hit by her surgically repaired shoulder often missed the mark, resulting in 12 double-faults. Wholesale Devils Jerseys .ca presents its latest weekly power rankings for the 2013-14 Barclays Premier League season.NEW YORK -- Hockey rarely gets much attention in Norway, a skiing-obsessed nation that turns to soccer when the snow melts. Mats Zuccarello is changing that. Zuccarello is only the seventh player from Norway to make it to the NHL, and hes the first to make it to the Stanley Cup finals. Now, "Zucca" has Norwegians staying up late to watch New York Rangers games and checking the stats to see if he scored. "A lot of Norwegians have fallen in love with Zuccarello," says Roy Kvatningen, sports editor for Norwegian online paper Nettavisen. "First and foremost because hes successful at what he does. He won the scoring title in Norway, he won the scoring title in Sweden, and now hes playing on the biggest stage in the world. "Hes also got a cool name and a good personality: confident, but down to earth." Former teammates of Zuccarello and his mother are being interviewed by Norwegian media. Downhill skier Kjetil Jansrud and players on the national soccer team have sent him congratulatory messages. In his fourth NHL season, all with the Rangers, Zuccarello notched 19 goals and 40 assists in 77 games. He added four goals and seven assists in 20 post-season games to help New York get to the finals for the first time in 20 years. "Some people, like my close family and friends that have been following me since I was young, are really excited," he said. "I told everyone its a huge opportunity for me to play, but at the same time nothing is won yet." The affable 26-year-old winger hopes his success will build up hockey at home, but he knows it will take a lot more than that. "I would love to be a role model for younger players back home and create some more buzz around hockey," he said. "Hopefully this can help. If I was Norwegian or not, I would be equally happy to play in the Stanley Cup finals." Norway finished last in the Sochi Olympic hockey tournament. Zuccarello believes a greater commitment is needed within the country before success outside of it can be reached. "We have 25 rinks. There is no ice in the rinks during the whole summer," he said. "... How are you supposedd to be a good hockey player when you go four months with no ice?" Zuccarello says Norway hasnt made a commitment to hockey since Oslo hosted the 1952 Olympics.dddddddddddd "Nothing," he said in a frustrated tone. "We have one new rink in Norway that is not from 52. They have renewed it a little bit, but our main rink in Oslo was built in 52, and thats not good enough. Its got to start from the top. Its going to cost money, but the government has money. Youve got to use it to get new rinks, get people excited to go to a hockey game with new seats. Norway is considered the "little brother" in hockey circles to Sweden and Finland. Sweden has 10 times as many rinks than Norway, Kvatningen said. Zuccarello was fortunate to attend a hockey-centric high school and then played three seasons in Norways elite league. From there he went to Modo in Swedens premier league before signing a free agent deal with the Rangers in 2010. He watched the Stanley Cup finals as a youngster in the early morning hours. The first one he recalls was the Colorado Avalanches victory over Florida in 1996 when he was 8. The Avalanche, with Swedish star Peter Forsberg, was Zuccarellos favourite team. They won that series in a four-game sweep -- ending it with Uwe Krupps goal in triple overtime. "I remember waking up. I was going to school, I turned on the TV and Uwe Krupp scored the overtime winner," Zuccarello said. "I didnt think it was live. I thought it was taped." He might be about to create a lot of sleepless nights for grown-ups and kids alike back home once this series against the Los Angeles Kings begins Wednesday. Family members and friends are planning to make the trip to New York to see him play live in Games 3 and 4. They will have to make room for other Norwegian tourists who are looking to make the trek, too. "I know already that more Norwegians have been travelling to New York to catch a game at Madison Square Garden," Kvatningen said. "Even if theyre not hockey fans, its a great experience for Norwegians to go over there and see a small Norwegian guy getting celebrated." ' ' '