MONTREAL -- Theyve composed chants just for Canadian tennis player Eugenie Bouchard, roared for her until they went hoarse, and toasted her wins by fudging their way through "O Canada." Meet the "Genie Army" -- a dozen boisterous Aussies who, despite boasting zero connection to Canada, have become Bouchards unofficial cheerleaders at the Australian Open. Members of the weeks-old squad have jumped, danced and serenaded their way into an unmistakable grandstand presence during the Montreal teens impressive run at the event, where she has earned a semifinal spot Thursday. The devotees, mostly men in their 20s, have also fashioned red-and-white T-shirts that spell out Bouchards name, flapped banners for her during matches, and lobbed plush animals -- each of them native to Australia -- to her on the court following each of her victories. Though they have had little face-to-face interaction with Bouchard, they have certainly commanded her attention in Melbourne. "The crowd here has been amazing, especially the Genie Army," Bouchard, 19, said Tuesday during an on-court interview after beating Ana Ivanovic. She then pointed up to her noisy, personal cheering section. "Ive had so much fun. Thank you guys." The inspiration behind a brigade dedicated to Bouchard came after a bunch of Australian buddies watched her upset Ivanovic last year at Wimbledon, said one of the Army members. In December, as the Australian Open approached, Jacob Wright said the crew decided to become her own booster club, so they started making shirts and penning Bouchard chants. The Genie Army was born. "Shes just a great tennis player," Wright, 20, told The Canadian Press in a Skype interview from Melbourne. "Obviously, shes a good-looking girl as well, and were young guys, but she is a really good tennis player. Its really, really good fun to watch." Their movement has had nothing to do with patriotism, either. When asked whether any of them had a connection to Canada, he replied: "None of us." Wright said they caught Bouchards attention during her first-round match, which was held on a more-intimate court that brings fans closer to the players. Six of them showed up for the event and were lucky enough to have their photos taken with Bouchard, get her autograph, and exchange a few words with their favourite player after the victory. The Genie Army nation was thrilled, Wright added, when Bouchard later told an interviewer she hoped they would show up for her next match. They havent missed one since -- and their ranks have doubled to about 12. Wright said it has been a bit of a give-and-take relationship, with Bouchard thanking her believers in interviews and by making gestures, such as posting a couple of photos of them on her Twitter feed. The connection likely hit its only bumpy patch on Tuesday when she was asked in a post-match interview about who she would like to date, if she could choose anyone in the world. An embarrassed Bouchard, who appeared to be taken off guard by the question, blurted out the name of Canadian pop star Justin Bieber. In TV footage, members of the Genie Army were shown waving off her choice. They remain committed, however, to backing Bouchard for the long haul, even if they initially didnt expect it to last. Wright admitted they never predicted Bouchard, the tournaments 30th seed, would advance to the semifinal, but theyve enjoyed the longer-than-expected ride. Bouchard, in fact, became the first Canadian to reach a Grand Slam semifinal in 30 years. "My voice doesnt usually sound like this, Im pretty husky from a week of just full-on yelling as loud as I can," said Wright, who was wearing a white T-shirt with a red Maple Leaf and a Bouchard autograph. "But yeah, weve just been yelling, chanting -- and overall the response from the crowds been really good." He said group members have also been surprised by the notoriety theyve amassed throughout the tournament, growing so big that they have been interviewed by media outlets and have frequently been asked to pose for photos with other fans. "Well be standing there for 20 minutes or something (after matches)," said Wright, whose group has an online presence on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, where .GenieArmy was trending after Tuesdays win. "Its getting really full of fun." But their primary mission has not changed since Day 1: support Bouchard. During her matches, the crew can be heard belting out custom chants from the bleachers, including a fight song usually reserved for when she first steps onto the hardcourt. "We are the Army, the Genie Army, and we are mental, and we are mad," a clapping Wright chanted as he began a demonstration of the mantra. The gang has even sung the Canadian national anthem, though Wright admits only a couple of them know the words. The first time they attempted "O Canada," he said they received some welcome help from Canadian fans in the crowd. "We started it off, but then we had a lot of Canadians around us, so they sort of finished it off for us," Wright said. "It wasnt a very good rendition." Fred Warner Super Bowl Jersey .Y. -- First, Patrick Kane gave his family and friends something to cheer about by scoring a highlight-reel goal in a rare trip home to Buffalo on Sunday night. Deion Sanders Super Bowl Jersey . - Skiing far more aggressively than in her season debut a day earlier, Lindsey Vonn was in provisional 10th place after the first 45 skiers in a World Cup downhill on Saturday. https://www.49ersrookiestore.com/49ers-Jalen-Hurd-Jersey/ . Raonic, the mens No. 8 seed from Thornhill, Ont., needed more than three hours to overcome Frenchman Gilles Simon 4-6, 6-3, 2-6, 6-2, 7-5 and become the first Canadian man into the fourth round at Roland Garros. Raheem Mostert Super Bowl Jersey . -- With the Memphis Grizzlies struggling to find their offensive rhythm, O. Tarvarius Moore Super Bowl Jersey . -- The Los Angeles Angels have agreed to a minor league contract with reliever Brandon Lyon that includes an invitation to their big league camp for spring training.Tis the season to watch bowl games. So if anyone is dubbing the Panthers-Falcons matchup for the NFC South title the Garbage Bowl, well, let them — while also remembering the winner will make the playoffs.And host a wild-card round game.Yes, this years NFC South might be the worst division in league history, which will mean nothing to Carolina (6-8-1) or Atlanta (6-9), whichever advances.We never lost sight of the goal, said linebacker Thomas Davis, whose Panthers have won three in a row. And here we are in the last game of the season with a chance to do that. Throw out the record. Throw out what has happened this season. We have a chance to do something special, something that hasnt been done.The other two showdowns for division titles Sunday have a lot more cachet: the Lions and Packers at Lambeau Field for the NFC North, then the Bengals at Pittsburgh for the AFC North in the prime-time game to finish off the schedule.Carolina at AtlantaGiven that they already own a draw (against Cincinnati), the Panthers wouldnt mind another one; it will also give them the division. Only one team in a non-strike season has made the playoffs with a losing mark, Seattle in 2010.Carolina is trying to become the first repeat NFC South champion and under coach Ron Rivera, it has gone 14-3 in December games since 2011. Only New England (15-2) has a better record.Falcons receiver Julio Jones has 100 receptions, tops in the NFC, and also leads the conference with 1,535 yards receiving.We are treating it as a playoff game and thats what weve been doing these last couple of weeks, said Jones fellow wideout in Atlanta, Roddy White. We are treating every game with the utmost importance.Detroit (11-4) at Green Bay (11-4)Not only does a division crown come to the winner here, but a first-round playoff bye, perhaps even top seed in the NFC, depending on what Seattle and Arizona do.For Detroit to go into Lambeau Field and march off with a victory would be something different. The Lions have lost 23 straight in Wisconsin to the Packers, including a 1994 wild-card game. Detroit last beat Green Bay on the road on Dec. 15, 1991.The Packers are 7-0 in Green Bay, joining Denver and New England as the only unbeatens at home. Fast starts make all the difference: Green Bay is outscoring opponents 86-7 in the first quarter of the past six home games.Cincinnati (10-4-1) at Pittsburgh (10-5)Like the Lions and Packers, both of these teams are in.Pittsburgh might have an edge after scoring 25 fourth-quarter points at Cincinnati to win their first meeting. The Steelers have won three in a row.This could be a shootout considering how potent Pittsburghs offence has been behind Ben Roethlisberger, LeVeon Bell and Antonio Brown. Plus, the Bengals have unveiled a dynamic running game with rookie Jeremy Hill and Gio Bernard, and if A.J. Greens right arm is OK, he can be a game-buster. Green caught 11 passes for a career-high 224 yards in the first game against Pittsburgh.San Diego (9-6) at Kansas City (8-7)This is simple. And complex. Depends on who wins.If the Chargers do, they get the final AFC wild card. If Kansas City prevails, the Chiefs then need Baltimore and Houston to lose.San Diego is trying to replicate its strong finish of 2013, when it grabbed that wild-card slot by beating the Chiefs in the season finale.St. Louis (6-9) at Seattle (11-4)The Seahawks are looking every bit like defending Super Bowl champions, with a defence that is impenetrable and lots of big plays on offence by Russell Wilson and Marshawn Lynch.A victory earns Seattle home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs — and woe to the rest of the conference. But a loss could sink the Seahawks to a wild card.The Rams beat the Seahawks in October with the help of a punt return touchdown and a fourth-down conversion via a fake punt. But they also are headed for a losing record for the eighth straight season.Oakland (3-12) at Denver (11-4)Hardly dominant like they were in 2013, the Broncos could use a feel-good finish to the season. They have won six straight in the series and Peyton Manning has won his past eight meetings with Oakland. But hes had some struggles recently.A Denver win gives it a bye in the wild-card round.Oakland has gotten all of its wins under interim coach Tony Sparano affter losing its first four under Dennis Allen.ddddddddddddArizona (11-4) at San Francisco (7-8)The end of Jim Harbaughs highly successful stint in San Francisco? Quite possibly.This is the first losing record for him after taking the 49ers to the NFC title game in all three previous seasons as coach. There was also the Super Bowl loss to the Ravens two seasons back.Arizona owns a playoff berth, wins the NFC West with a victory here and a loss by Seattle, but is starting rookie Logan Thomas at quarterback. Hes the fourth QB to start this year for the injury-ravaged Cardinals.Cleveland (7-8) at Baltimore (9-6)If San Diego loses and Baltimore wins, the Ravens make the post-season for the sixth time in John Harbaughs seven years as coach. But by blowing a lead to the Chargers on Nov. 30 in a one-point loss, the Ravens put themselves in this difficult spot.Cleveland concludes yet another non-playoff year with rookie Connor Shaw going at quarterback after injuries to Brian Hoyer and Johnny Manziel. The Browns bright outlook dimmed as they dropped their past four and five of six.Jacksonville (3-12) at Houston (8-7)The Texans are hanging in the AFC race, too, just one year after going 2-14. Doing so with an unstable QB situation and virtually no contributions from top overall draft pick Jadeveon Clowney pinpoints how important defensive end J.J. Watt has been in Houston.Houston must win and have Baltimore and San Diego lose to advance.Blake Bortles, the third overall pick in the draft, has thrown 17 picks, but he also has passed for 2,791 yards and needs 29 to pass Byron Leftwich for the franchise rookie record.Dallas (11-4) at Washington (4-11)The Cowboys probably are concentrating on playing next week, because they need a lot to happen to get a bye. Such as a victory and losses by Seattle and Arizona; a tie in Green Bay; or some other scenarios involving draws.Might be a good chance to get NFL rushing leader DeMarco Murray healed up from his hand injury.The Redskins actually beat Dallas earlier this year.Buffalo (8-7) at New England (12-3)Its not Bill Belichicks style to rest players even with nothing to gain. The AFC East champion Patriots own the conferences top spot and will have a first-round bye for the fifth consecutive year.The Bills can only imagine what one playoff berth, let alone a bye, feels like. They extended the leagues longest current post-season drought to 15 seasons, but have a shot at a winning record for the first time since 2004.Indianapolis (10-5) at Tennessee (2-13)Indy is locked in as the No. 4 seed in the AFC, but comes off a 42-7 whipping at the hands of Dallas and needs to show at least something in this one. The Colts have won six straight and 11 of 12 against the Titans. A loss Sunday would be very alarming considering Tennessee has dropped nine straight and is in the running for the top overall draft pick.New Orleans (6-9) at Tampa Bay (2-13)Tampa Bay is the other, uh, front-runner for selecting first in the draft and has lost five in a row.The Saints somehow flopped in their last five home games, so finishing off a distressing season on the road might be a good thing.Philadelphia (9-6) at New York Giants (6-9)After beating Dallas to take control of the NFC East on Thanksgiving Day, the Eagles lost three in a row to fall out of playoff contention. Meanwhile, the Giants have won their past three and the fervour for getting rid of Tom Coughlin as coach has pretty much subsided.Chicago (5-10) at Minnesota (6-9)The fervour for a new coach, GM and quarterback in Chicago has not died down. The Bears have not beaten a team with a winning record, and they go back to Jay Cutler at quarterback because Jimmy Clausen got concussed last week in his first start for them.Minnesota has showed progress, especially on defence, under first-year coach Mike Zimmer, although its also been a tumultuous season for the Vikings given the Adrian Peterson suspension.New York Jets (3-12) at Miami (8-7)Last season, these teams met in the finale and the Jets kept the Dolphins out of the playoffs while improving to .500. Now, it could be Rex Ryans final game as Jets coach.Miami coach Joe Philbin will be back; owner Stephen Ross said so last week.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL ' ' '