Gästebuch » asically the house was on fire and we had to figu

RIO DE JANEIRO -- Geno Auriemma and Diana Taurasi shared a long, emotional embrace. Mission accomplished.The dominant U.S. womens basketball team did what was expected, winning a sixth consecutive Olympic gold medal and doing it in impressive fashion. In yet another rout, the U.S. dismantled Spain 101-72 on Saturday.Taurasi and the Americans played nearly flawless basketball in Rio, and were never challenged. They have won 49 consecutive games in the Olympics with only one of those decided by single digits.Its amazing isnt it? I mean when you think, thats 20 years of 20 years, Auriemma said. You know the first one was 96 and here we are 2016. Its mindboggling when you think about it what this team has been able to accomplish, this program of the USA Basketball program. There is such a level of expectation, theres such a level of respect for the people at the very top.Were doing stuff that may never be done again.Even with that kind of sustained success by some very talented U.S. teams, this may be the best womens basketball squad ever assembled. The team won by nearly 40 points a game, but fell short of the record 102.4 points the 1996 team averaged.But if this isnt the best ever, its close.Taurasi puts the 2016 group at the top of the list.I mean Im not just saying talent-wise. Im not saying margin of victory. Im saying this is the most determined, unselfish team Ive ever been on -- hands down, the four-time gold medalist said.There never really was any doubt that the U.S. would win the gold in Rio. The only question was by how much.Still, closure to their journey Saturday had Auriemma and Taurasi both fighting back tears.I think it was a very emotional time. When youre around these players and youre around Sue (Bird)and Diana and Tamika (Catchings), and you know that this maybe their last and youre able to send them out, its like graduating seniors back home, Auriemma said. And at the same time, youve got three young players whove never been here before. They get to go home with their first gold medal ever.Theres just a lot of emotions running through our team and running through our locker room.Unlike their semifinal win over France when the Americans looked discombobulated for a half, the U.S. was more fluid offensively. It helped having Bird back in the lineup. The four-time gold medalist and team captain missed the semifinal game with a sprained right knee capsule. She wasnt 100 percent Saturday, but was good enough.The U.S., which beat Spain by 40 in a preliminary round game, got off to a slow start and only led 21-17 after the first quarter. The Americans were up 27-24 in the second quarter before getting going.Auriemma turned to something very familiar to him to spark the Americans.The UConn coach put his five former Huskie players on the court at the same time for the first time in the Olympics and that group started the 16-3 run that blew it open. Breanna Stewart got the spurt started with two free throws. Taurasi then hit consecutive 3-pointers -- her first points of the game -- as the Americans scored 10 straight.By the time Lindsay Whalens layup just beat the halftime buzzer, the U.S. led 49-32 and Spain had just two baskets in the final 6:55 of the half. Whalen finished the game with 17 points, tied for the team lead with Taurasi.Spain never threatened in the second half. Auriemma started the fourth quarter with Bird, Taurasi and Catchings on the court and the game in hand. The three four-time Olympians have had a tremendous impact on USA Basketball over the past 12 years. He took the trio out together for one final time with 5:44 left in the game.Auriemma had said from the start this group was on a mission that is now complete.Even with the loss, Spain earned its first Olympic medal in womens basketball. Serbia topped France for the Bronze. The Spaniards have been on the rise lately, also winning a silver medal at the 2014 world championship. They are hosting the 2018 worlds.Im glad that we could compete like the first quarter. We were close, but its a team like its a dream team, Silvia Dominguez said. The best team in the world, they showed that.They did, and the gold medal game was just like the rest of this tournament, all about the U.S.No American team has been deeper with Catchings as its 12th player. They trailed for just over 11 minutes in the entire Olympics and the biggest deficit was just four points -- 6-2 to France. They never were down after the first quarter and with the exception of the semifinal win over France all the games were pretty much after 20 minutes.Its been quite a run for this group, which features 12 players with a combined 29 Olympic gold medals -- the most ever for any team.This game marked the end of Catchings Olympic career. She is retiring at the end of the WNBA season. Taurasi and Bird have hinted that this will be their final Olympics although both could still return in four years in Tokyo. The trio joined Lisa Leslie and Teresa Edwards as the only Olympians to win four gold medals.Even if the three players dont wear the red, white and blue again, the future remains bright for the U.S. Elena Delle Donne, Brittney Griner and Stewart all won their first Olympic golds. Maya Moore, Tina Charles and Angel McCoughtry should be back in 2020 as well, providing a solid nucleus for USA Basketball to build on.---Online:AP Summer Games website: http://summergames.ap.org/---Follow Doug on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/dougfeinberg NFL Jerseys Discount . DAmigo scored twice in regulation and added the shootout winner as the Toronto Marlies edged the San Antonio Rampage 5-4 in American Hockey League action. Cheap Jerseys USA . Numbers Game examines the deal that sees Michael Del Zotto and Kevin Klein switch places. The Predators Get: D Michael Del Zotto. http://www.cheapwholesalejerseyschina.com/ . Numbers Game examines the deal that sees Michael Del Zotto and Kevin Klein switch places. The Predators Get: D Michael Del Zotto. Cheap NFL Jerseys China . Here are his mid-season NBA awards. MVP: (KEVIN DURANT-Thunder) - Has been sensational this season and more importantly, the most consistent player in the league. Considering that his team has been without star guard Russell Westbrook and with the free agent departure of sharpshooter Kevin Martin, hes had to carry the majority of the load to not only keep his team afloat but more importantly, at an elite level. Jerseys NFL Wholesale . He was followed closely by David Clarkson, donning red, seconds later. Clarksons actions one night earlier, leaping off the bench in defence of Kessel during a pre-season game against the Buffalo Sabres, will cost him the first 10 games of the regular season. TORONTO -- There are no denials of interest, but Toronto FC continues to stay mum on the topic of Uruguayan World Cup star Diego Forlan. "We dont really have a lot to say about it," Toronto president Kevin Payne said Thursday, citing Forlan being under contract to Brazils Internacional. Pressed further, Payne acknowledged his MLS club could make an offer for a player under contract. He just didnt want to talk about such. "Look I dont think its a good policy to talk about deals that are in progress," he told reporters after practice. "It cant do anything to help the deal. And it also can make you look pretty dumb if the deal doesnt happen. "We dont talk about offers weve made and we definitely dont talk publicly about players who are under contract to another team. To me, its a form of tampering. And even though its done frequently in the rest of the world, I dont think its appropriate." In the past, Payne has talked about signing players who are "appreciating assets," referring to young talent on the rise. Forlan is 34. And while still vibrant, his future seems limited. But Payne says the TFC roster needs seasoned veterans. "Its pretty clear from watching this group, weve got a lot of good young talent on our team. But we need some players whove been through some wars, players whove won things, and players who understand what it takes to win, to lead those young players." Signing a world star would seem to fit in with the approach of Tim Leiweke, the new CEO and president of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment which owns the MLS team. The Los Angeles Galaxy snagged David Beckham on his watch. On Wednesday, manager Ryan Nelsen suggested that the foundation of the team needed to be sorted before it would make sense bringing in such a marquee name. Payne agreed. But he said the team has the beginnings of "a very good foundation." And he suggested that there are times when you just have to take the bull by the horns. "Sometimes opportunities come along, you cant always time everything exactly the way youd like," he said. "So there are times when certain situations arise that you have to try to take advantage of. And it may not fit perfectly into your timetable." Toronto is looking to add attacking quality in the current transfer window. "Wed like to add an established player and a young player," said Payne. "Probably in the goal-scoring positions. But we also will be looking to add at least one additional midfielder, probably a wide player who can assist us in the attack not necessarily be relied on for goals but more a guy that can create goals.dddddddddddd" The team is also looking at a "younger, wide defender." Paynes bid to turn the team around has not been helped by inheriting a salary cap scenario that he termed "disastrous." He says he took over a team with 16 or 17 guaranteed contracts. "It was in a really, really tough state," he added. "Some of the moves that weve made over time, under ordinary circumstances they might not have been the moves we would have made. But to some extent we were forced into doing certain things to give ourselves a chance to acquire flexibility. Because we didnt have any. "We were significantly over the (US$2.95 million) cap and significantly under the number of players on our roster when I got here," he said. "Basically the house was on fire and we had to figure out some ways to try to put the fire out, at least short-term." The team is still struggling with some big salaries. Veteran defender Danny Califf, currently back home with his family, has a salary listed at $165,000. Backup goalie Stefan Frei makes $200,000. Add in fullbacks Darren ODea ($456,250) and Richard Eckersley ($310,000) and TFC has used up more than a third of its salary cap. Those salaries could be even higher if Toronto has used allocation money to pay down the amount to the listed wages. Depending on what it does in the summer transfer window, the team could go into next year season with just four or five guaranteed contracts. That would then allow the front office to sign its own preferred core of players, shedding the rest. Payne, meanwhile, says the playoffs are a longshot but still possible this season. Toronto has yet to experience the post-season, missing out the last six seasons. And with a record of 2-8-7, the struggling club is currently 13 points out of the fifth and last playoff spot in the East. Payne says the team has dug itself a deep hole but can pick up points with a good winning streak, especially against Eastern Conference opposition. "We get to play a lot of six-point games," he said. "Were confident that if we can get the right pieces on the field that we can still make a run at the playoffs, we want to be in the conversation in the fall." Toronto plays at Sporting Kansas City on Saturday and Chivas USA next Wednesday before returning home to host the New York Bulls on July 20. ' ' '