SUN CITY, South Africa -- The first time he met Nelson Mandela, Gary Player got on his knees and kissed the former political prisoners feet. Nike Air Force 1 low France . Remembering his "very tearful" first encounter with Mandela, the nine-time major winner paused Friday to compose himself and hold back more tears. Mandela, the beloved former South African president and Nobel laureate, died Thursday at 95. Renowned as a fierce competitor on the golf course, Player was invited to meet Mandela at his office in Johannesburg after the anti-apartheid leaders release after 27 years in prison. But he didnt expect to do what he did, Player said. "I knelt down and I kissed his feet and I said, I have never kissed anybodys feet in my life, and I said, I have so much admiration for you. I said to him, It is remarkable, how can you not have revenge?" Mandelas reply, according to Player, was: "You have got to start a new life and forgive and go ahead." Player, speaking at the Nedbank Golf Challenge at Sun City, said Mandelas ability to inspire with compassion left him amazed then -- and still does. "It was very tearful for me, because when you think of a man that has gone to jail for all those years for doing the right thing, not the wrong thing, it is hard to comprehend that a man can come out and be like that," Player said. "He was an exceptional man." From that first meeting, Player and Mandela would cross paths regularly as the golfer, one of South Africas greatest sportsmen, worked with the president on charity projects. Once, Player remembered with a big smile, Mandela landed at a charity tournament in a helicopter to lend support. "I had to meet him when the helicopter arrived and open the door. Now I had been around him all these years raising money for young black children and I opened the door, and he says Good morning Gary, do you remember me?" Player recalled, imitating Mandelas unique rasping voice. "Just wonderful." Although Player wasnt sure if he ever saw Mandela swing a golf club, he knew that the anti-apartheid leader "realized the value of sport" and even followed Players career overseas while he was imprisoned by South Africas former racist regime. "He said to me, When I was in jail, I used to watch you playing. He was very complimentary," Player said. Air Force 1 Shell Pas Cher . Which is to say, the top of this years draft class is not as dynamic or exciting as the 2013 class of Nate MacKinnon, Sasha Barkov, Jonathan Drouin and Seth Jones and its not as strikingly promising as the highly-anticipated 2015 slate of Connor McDavid, Jack Eichel and Noah Hanifin. Nike Air Force 1 07 Soldes . - The Carolina Panthers believe Steve Smith lost "top-end" speed, a big reason the franchise parted ways with its all-time leading receiver. http://www.siteairforce1pascher.fr/air-force-1-high-soldes.html . Petersburg of the KHL. Belov was a free agent last summer when he signed a one-year contract with the Oilers. In 57 games this season he had one goal and six assists with 34 penalty minutes in Edmonton.BUFFALO, N.Y. - The Buffalo Sabres have recalled defenceman Ramus Ristolainen and forward Johan Larsson from the minors to address an injury-depleted roster. The moves were made Thursday before a game at Nashville that night, when the league-worst Sabres (20-44-8) close a five-game road trip. Defenceman Tyler Myers was hurt in a 2-0 loss at Montreal on Tuesday, in his first ggame after missing five with an elbow injury. Air Force 1 Low Noir. . Forward Torrey Mitchell was also hurt at Montreal. Ristolainen returns for a third stint in Buffalo this season. The rookie first-round draft pick has a goal in 24 games with the Sabres. Larsson has also split time this season between Buffalo and AHL Rochester. He has an assist in 21 games with the Sabres. ' ' '