Gästebuch » blockades, more inconvenient things, Paes

RIO DE JANEIRO -- The head of the Rio de Janeiro Olympics says the worlds top four male golfers have withdrawn from the games because there is no money to be won -- not because of the Zika virus.They tried to blame Zika, but the media have shown that they are not coming because theres no prize money, Rio organizing committee President Carlos Nuzman said Saturday, speaking with the games set to open in just under three weeks.Jordan Spieth withdrew this week from the Olympics, citing Zika. He joined Jason Day, Dustin Johnson, and Rory McIlroy in also saying Zika was the main reason for skipping the first Olympic golf tournament in 112 years.Their absence could be a setback for golfs future in the Olympics. IOC President Thomas Bach has said that golfs future may rest on its ability to get top players to show up.Golf is guaranteed a spot in the Tokyo Olympics in four years, but could be vulnerable after that.Zika is much worse in Florida than in Brazil, and golfers are playing in Florida, Nuzman said.Male golfers have also cited security worries, and some have complained that Olympic golf has been wedged into an already crowded tour schedule.Rio has myriad Olympic problems: Zika, security concerns, severe water pollution and sluggish ticket sales.Rio Mayor Eduardo Paes warned in the wake of the attack Thursday in Nice, France, that fans in Rio could face more checks, more roadblocks and more delays.Probably the security forces are going to demand more blockades, more inconvenient things, Paes said.Nuzman, speaking at a debate sponsored by a local magazine, seemed to be bracing for small crowds at some Olympic venues. Organizers says about 70 percent of tickets have been sold.I dont think we need too much public, he said, adding that smaller venues could save money.Television does an extraordinary job, with cameras everywhere, he added. Nobody can walk a step without a camera filming it.Nuzman also said he expected Rios suspended drug-testing lab to be ready when the games open Aug. 5. He expected the World Anti-Doping Agency to give its approval in a few days.The suspension has been an embarrassment for local organizers and a headache for the International Olympic Committee, which could be forced to send blood and urine samples abroad for testing if the lab remains closed.---SNTV producer Filipe de Almeida contributed to this report.---Stephen Wade on Twitter: http://twitter.com/StephenWadeAP .His work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/stephen-wade New Balance Italia Negozi . Speaking to the Chicago Tribune at baseballs Winter Meetings in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, Boras called the former home of the Expos a "tremendous environment" for baseball. New Balance Saldi Online .J. -- Marty Brodeur beat the Pittsburgh Penguins yet again. http://www.newbalanceoutlet.it/ . In the response filed Wednesday to the complaint by 30-year-old Alexander Bradley, attorneys say the former University of Florida player is invoking his Fifth Amendment right that protects people from incriminating themselves. New Balance In Offerta . The Browns coaching search remains incomplete. New Balance Outlet Scontate . This should be celebrated because it will not always be this way. With the amount of money given to players by their clubs these days, it is a wonder that so many of those teams allow the sport to continue to take away many of their assets so they can play for a different team in the middle of their season. BOSTON -- Mookie Betts will have to wait until Thursday to find out if he will be crowned Most Valuable Player in the American League. But the Boston Red Sox right fielder couldnt put off knee surgery any longer.Betts hoped his balky right knee would heal with rest. When his symptoms persisted, he elected arthroscopic surgery, Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski told ESPN on Friday.The procedure, which involves the removal of a loose body from Betts knee, was performed Thursday at Massachusetts General Hospital by team orthopedist Dr. Peter Asnis. Betts is expected to be ready for spring training and possibly even the World Baseball Classic if he chooses to participate, the team said.Red Sox manager John Farrell said Betts dropped by Fenway Park on Friday and was moving around well. Farrell labeled the surgery very minor.Betts had played through soreness in his knee since July. The injury did not force the 24-year-old to miss much time, and it did not iimpact his performance.dddddddddddd He batted .318 with 31 home runs, 113 RBIs and 26 stolen bases in 158 games.Dombrowski said Betts didnt experience new or changing symptoms, just a continuance of what he dealt with after the All-Star break. Asked why Betts didnt act as proactively as second baseman Dustin Pedroia, who had knee surgery within a few days of the Red Sox getting swept out of the Division Series by the Cleveland Indians, Dombrowski said Betts and the team thought the injury might respond to rest.Wanted to see how he felt, Dombrowski. It continued to bother him a little, so, he decided to have it.Betts is among the most dynamic players in the league. He won Gold Glove and Silver Slugger awards this week and is one of three MVP finalists, joining Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout and Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve. ' ' '