NEWS » ff. Many coaches wont throw rookies

While a labor dispute simmers at home, the U.S. womens national soccer team is set to travel across Brazil as the favorite to win its fourth straight Olympic gold medal.The Rio Games are happening as a U.S. federal agency looks at a wage discrimination complaint filed by a group of national team players who claim they make less money than their male counterparts. The teams union also is looking for a new contract with U.S. Soccer.Intrigue is nothing new for the top-ranked Americans.Unlike the mens tournament, which requires teams to field under-23 squads, womens Olympic soccer brings together the best players in the world.Seeking to clinch its fifth gold medal since womens soccer became an Olympic sport in 1996, the U.S. makes its debut against New Zealand on Aug. 3 -- two days before the opening ceremony in Rio. Thatll be followed by games against powerhouse France and Colombia in Group G.Second-ranked Germany, fifth-ranked Australia, sixth-ranked Sweden and host Brazil loom as potential quarterfinal opponents.The tournament will be played in seven venues across Brazil, including the jungle city of Manaus, in the Amazon rainforest, where the U.S. faces Colombia on Aug. 9.Last year, U.S. players led a protest against the artificial turf used in the World Cup in Canada before winning their third tittle in the tournament. Heading into the Olympics, the women have been vocal about gender equity in the sport as they seek a new collective bargaining agreement with U.S. Soccer.On the field one of the biggest issues for the Americans heading into the Olympics was the status of reigning FIFA Player of the Year Carli Lloyds right knee.Lloyd, who wowed fans with three goals in 16 minutes in the 5-2 win over Japan in Julys World Cup final, sprained her MCL in an April game with her club team, the Houston Dash. The team was cautious with her recovery, but it appears as if Lloyd is healthy and ready to play for her third gold medal.Lloyd also scored the deciding goals in the gold medal matches in both the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games.ANOTHER KEY INJURY: Megan Rapinoes status, at least for the start of the games, is far less certain. The winger tore her right ACL during a training session in Hawaii before a scheduled World Cup victory tour match last year (the match was ultimately canceled because of poor artificial turf conditions). The injury required her third ACL surgery.On her blog, the 30-year-old Rapinoe wrote on June 9: My Olympic dream is still alive! This blonde aint gone! And coach Jill Ellis named her to the 18-player squad for the Olympics, a good sign. But she may not play in the group stage.MARTAS MOMENT: Marta is one of the biggest stars in womens soccer. The 30-year old Brazilian striker was voted FIFA Player of the Year for five consecutive years from 2006 to 2010. Yet despite her success she is not a household name in her country, where the focus will be on Neymar and the mens squad to win Brazils first Olympic gold.Marta and the rest of the Brazil womens team will face less pressure to win their first gold than their male counterparts, and the squad should benefit from friendly home crowds.The woman that Pele himself dubbed Pele in skirt showed she is ready for Olympic duty, scoring both goals in a 2-0 victory over Canada in Toronto in June.Brazil faces China, South Africa and Sweden in Group E.SILVIAS FINAL BOW: One of the games most respected coaches will be stepping down following the Olympics. Silvia Neid has been head coach of the German senior team since 2005. During her tenure the Germans won a World Cup (2007), two UEFA womens championships (2009, 2013) and the Olympic bronze medal in Beijing. Also a decorated former player for Germany, Neid has twice been honored as the FIFA womens coach of the year.She will continue as scouting coach for the Germans, while current assistant Steffi Jones will take over as head coach.Germany leads Group F with Canada, Australia and Zimbabwe.CANADAS REVENGE?: While the London Games showed that Canada is a team on the rise under coach John Herdman, the bronze medalists thought they could have done better.The Canadians fell 4-3 in an overtime semifinal match to the eventual gold medal-winning U.S. team, a game that featured a non-call on what appeared to be a missed handball by an American player in front of the U.S. goal.We feel like we didnt lose. We feel like it was taken from us, said Canada captain Christine Sinclair, who was later suspended four games for her comments. Its a shame in a game like that, which is so important, that the ref decided the result before the game started.WALTZING WITH THE MATILDAS: No other Australian senior national team -- male or female -- had won an elimination game in a World Cup until the Matildas last summer; they knocked off Brazil in the round of 16. While they were defeated by Japan, it was considered a big move toward future success.Australia went on to earn a spot in the Olympics, its first since 2004, in the Asian qualification tournament. As a result, its international ranking jumped four spots to No. 5.Australia has never advanced past the quarterfinals in two Olympic appearances. Air Max 90 For Sale Cheap . -- Running backs Darren McFadden and Rashad Jennings were back at practice for the Oakland Raiders on Wednesday despite being hampered by hamstring injuries. Cheap Air Max 90 Wholesale . It was just business as usual for the Thunder at home. Durant scored 32 points and the Thunder beat the Bulls 107-95 on Thursday night for their eighth straight win. http://www.discountairmax90.com/ . Barcelonas entertaining victory ensured the defending Spanish champions retained their share of the league lead with Atletico Madrid two rounds ahead of their meeting in the capital. Real Madrid needed a late goal by substitute Jese Rodriguez to earn a 3-2 victory at Valencia to stay in third place and three points behind its title rivals. Wholesale Air Max 90 . Klitschkos management company says the bout will be the Ukrainian fighters 25th world championship fight. The 1.83-meter (6-foot) Leapai defeated the previously unbeaten Denis Boytsov in November to become the WBOs mandatory challenger. Air Max 90 Sale Cheap . - Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco is not a fan of his teams use of the wildcat formation, saying "it makes you look like a high school offence.With continuing action in the second round of the NBA Playoff, here are my five quick thoughts from the NBA. 1. ROY HIBBERT (Pacers): Really like the strategy of the Pacers on Saturday night. Pound New York inside and make them pay dearly for their lack of interior defense, particularly when Tyson Chandler is out of the lineup. Hibbert got deep position and made them pay with his good footwork and skill level in the post. Hes an improving guy with a developing comfort level. It takes "big guy" time and patience from everyone around them to hit their stride. Hes not there yet but I loved what I saw from him. 2. TAYSHAUN PRINCE (Grizzlies): He really fits. Guards, moves without the ball, makes timely plays and is very efficient. So nice having a veteran player who has played in a ton of big games from his time in Detroit. Hes a calm influence on their team. He doesnt need the ball a lot and when he has it, he knows what to do with it. New lease on life for him after being mired in a rebuilding situation in Detroit. Good pickup. 3. IMAN SHUMPERT (Knicks): Not able to practice Monday for New York due to sore knee. Hopefully hell be ready to go Tuesday night. Love how hes bounced back from injury/surgery. Ma, does he guard! He has exceptional quickness and strength and is a load to deal with in terms of trying to feel comfortable offensively against him. His offensive game is getting more fluid and hes got major league explosivenesss in his game.ddddddddddddI look at him and Im really fascinated with his potential. This could be a huge off-season for him for his improvement and all of this post-season experience will make him that much better and a more aware player. 4. HARRISON BARNES (Warriors): His team really needed him on Sunday and he delivered. Yes, it took a whole lot of shots for him to do it yet the fact that hes in a winning environment and being force fed the minutes and being asked to produce in tight spots propels his growth as a player in rapid fashion. He really looks like he belongs out there. I give coach Mark Jackson a ton of credit for staying with him and believing in him. His faith is paying off. Many coaches wont throw rookies to the wolves - theyve thrown him here in a winning environment and look at the results. Good vision. 5. LIONEL HOLLINS (Grizzlies): Cant believe this guy is still coaching without a contract for next season. You dont see it affecting his players one bit. They have deep respect for him and he makes no issue of his status and they just go out and play their game. He has really matured from when he started as a head coach in his previous stint in Vancouver. The man has paid his dues in the league as a player, assistant coach and now head coach. Nothing fazes him. He teaches/coaches a hard-nosed and defensive/power oriented style and it works for him. Two more wins versus OKC and Id be shocked if he doesnt get his extension. He deserves it. ' ' '