Gästebuch » first three preseason games and has played 113 snaps,

In Norwalk, Connecticut, bleary-eyed Shi Jinglin walked out of the hotel elevator on a scorching July early afternoon, yawning, apparently still waking up from her power nap.Normally I will be asleep at this hour, she said. Napping has been part of my routine for years. I wouldnt be able to survive those twice-a-day, high-intensity trainings without it.Shi spoke to ESPN.com during a photo shoot for ESPN W as the Chinese Olympic swim team practiced for three weeks in southern Connecticut, and Chinas top female breaststroke swimmer wasnt shy about sharing her ambitions for Rio de Janeiro.I hope to make it to the (Olympic) podium, said the first-time Olympian from the eastern Chinese city of Changzhou. In Rio, Shi will compete in 100- and 200-meter individual events, as well as the womens 4x100-meter medley relay. Sunday will be the 100-meter backstroke.At last years World Swimming Championships in Kazan, Russia, Shi finished fifth in the 100-meter competition, but made headlines after winning a 200-meter bronze medal in a rare three-way tie with Spains Jessica Vall Montero and Denmarks Rikke Moller Pedersen. She was also a member of Chinas 4x100-meter womens medley relay team that won gold.To Shi, everything about the Olympics is so fresh and intriguing -- not only the razzle-dazzle at the worlds largest sporting event, but also the journey leading up to it. For Shi and her Chinese teammates, the routine remained unchanged despite training in Norwalk -- practice, eat, rest and repeat. She said he had little time to venture out and explore, not even reaching New York City, which is just one hours drive south.But this tranquil New England town provided a nice respite from the media spotlight at home and in Rio. It also helped the team adjust to the Olympic time zone, which is only an hour ahead of the Eastern Standard Time.I struggled, Shi said of overcoming the 13-hour time difference, her biggest challenge at the moment. I am slower than the rest of the team. They had fully adjusted to it, whereas I was only halfway through.My days and evenings are reversed, and my naps at noon and sleep at night are messed up.It feels as if my soul is wandering outside my body, she joked on her personal Weibo (a Twitter-like Chinese social media platform).She broke the metronome of her routine during an ESPN W photo shoot. I didnt bring any cosmetics with me, she jokingly pleaded with the photographer. Please dont show the pimples on my face or make me look too big.In the pool, however, Shi is all business. During the underwater filming, she followed the photographers instructions and glided tirelessly in every take. I just realized I look very serious, she joked after seeing the photos.Shi demonstrated that intense focus at Chinas swimming national championships last April, snatching the 100-meter gold while wearing a suit that was accidentally torn just before the competition.It had happened several times before during the practice, she said. I just did what I had to do.In Rios 100-meter breaststroke competition, 19-year-old Lithuanian and defending Olympic champion Ruta Meilutyte will be Shis biggest rival. Meilutyte, who won gold four years ago in London, holds a significant lead over Shi in personal record. Another challenger is American Lilly King, also 19, who became the third-fastest American female breaststroker in history during the recent U.S. Olympic trials.The womens 100-meter breaststroke preliminary heats start Sunday.Shi said her biggest focus, though, must be herself.My tactics and strategies are designed based on my own pace, She said. I have to avoid being forced into full speed at the beginning, as well as losing steam at the final sprint. Everything before a major event is to maintain your competitiveness. In Rio, well do whatever it takes to win. Cheap Air Jordan Free Shipping .com) - The red-hot Los Angeles Kings will try to extend their winning streak to a season-high seven games when they visit the Edmonton Oilers for Sundays clash at Rexall Place. Cheap Air Jordan Outlet Store .Y. -- Leading 3-0 with only 11:25 left, the Colorado Avalanche committed a seemingly meaningless penalty to give the New York Islanders a power play. http://www.airjordanoutletsale.com/ . Its the second straight game Bell has scored in extra time for Kelowna, which beat the Brandon Wheat Kings 6-5 on Friday, and he now has four game-winning goals on the season. Wholesale Jordans . Kozun faked to the forehand and beat Monsters starter, Calvin Pickard, pad side in the second round for the winner. Spencer Abbott also scored in the shootout for the Marlies (25-13-4). Jordans Shoes Online Wholesale . To the surprise of many, it isnt the Wolverines but their in-state rivals the Michigan State Spartans. EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. --?Tom Brady is scheduled to start at quarterback for the New England Patriots in Thursdays preseason finale against the New York Giants, according to ESPN and multiple media reports.A source confirmed to ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter that Brady, who will serve a four-game suspension to open the season, will start ahead of rookie?Jacoby Brissett during Thursdays game.Jimmy Garoppolo, who will start in Bradys absence during his suspension, is not expected to play barring an unexpected change, a source familiar with the teams plan told ESPN.It is not known how long the Patriots plan to play Brady before turning things over to Brissett. This will mark just the third time since 2004 that Brady will take snaps in a preseason finale, with the most recent time coming in 2011.Brady did play one snap in the 2014 preseason finale against the Giants, as he was summoned off the sideline to serve as the emergency holder on the field goal unit as a reminder that he always had to be prepared for that role in the event of an injury.Coach Bill Belichick hinted that Brady was going to play Thursday night, explaining the importance of Brady doing so to sports radio WEEI by saying, I think its obvious, playing in games is different from practicing.Your backup quarterback can play in preseason, and who knows when hes going to play again [after that]? But wheneever he does, its going to be very important.ddddddddddddWe know when Tom is going to play again [Oct. 9], and thats going to be important. I think these [regular-season] games, even though theyre not right on the doorstep, they are still an important part of his preparation and the teams preparation with him at quarterback. Thats why we do it.Garoppolo started the teams first three preseason games and has played 113 snaps, while Brissett has played solely in the second half and has gotten 77 snaps.Brady has only seen action in one preseason game this year -- last weeks 19-17 victory against Carolina during which he completed 3-of-9 attempts for 76 yards and 1 touchdown.The Patriots open the season Sept. 11 at the Arizona Cardinals, and Belichick has said the priority in training camp was having Garoppolo ready for that game. Risking injury in Thursdays preseason finale was also likely part of the consideration in him not being expected to play.During his suspension, which begins Sept. 3, Brady cannot attend or watch practice or appear at the teams facility for any reason. He also cant have contact with any team personnel or engage in any team-related activities for discussions with teammates, even if away from the Patriots facility. ' ' '