NEWS » o pass people again, couldnt see where I

RIO DE JANEIRO -- Mention to a badminton superfan the widespread American view that the sport is mostly a backyard lark and watch the steam come out of their ears.They find it inconceivable that anyone, even Americans steeped in football and basketball, could mistake badminton for anything other than a complex, endlessly fascinating symphony of power, agility and speed.With apologies to the purists: Most Americans cant see past their leisurely, backyard BBQ encounters with the game.It wasnt always that way.Badminton once enthralled many in the United States. Its athletes graced the cover of Sports Illustrated, staged badminton on ice escapades and won world championships.That was half a century ago. They now struggle to make it out of the first rounds of the Olympics, and to win fans enamored with swimming and track superstars.The problem, as it is for many Olympic sports that are sensations internationally but less popular in the United States, is money.When a U.S. athlete faces a player from a traditional badminton power, theyre not just facing the individual, theyre facing an entire system -- all of its financial backing, training facilities, coaching and scouting infrastructure.For the U.S., we are all still self-funded. Were individuals. Were not a team, said Iris Wang, a 21-year-old U.S. Olympian from California, after a recent practice session in Rio.Wang pointed toward some South Koreans practicing nearby.They fly together; they train together. We all train separately. They have the resources to bring in a masseuse, physical therapy, said Wang, who took three years off from UCLA to focus on badminton and who will return soon for her sophomore year. I heard China sometimes brings chefs to tournaments, and were just struggling to make it through.Until the mid-20th century, Americans often dominated badminton, and the sport enjoyed widespread popularity.Dave Freeman, the Pasadena Flash, a neurosurgeon considered by some to be badmintons greatest player, was the only American man to reach world No. 1 and won the equivalent of the world championship in 1949.FBI agent Joe Alston boosted the sport when he appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated in 1955 after winning his second U.S. Open singles title.Badminton comedy shows toured America in the `40s and `50s, and people lined up for badminton on ice reviews.Gradually, however, football, baseball and basketball began to rob attention from badminton.Those who now embrace the game in the United States often do so because their parents are fans or because they have relatives or friends whove shown them how seriously badminton is taken in parts of Asia and Europe.A return to its 20th century heyday will be difficult.In Asia, the big powers often subsidize their badminton programs. Prospects are scouted young, brought into well-run training programs and nurtured. They dont, for the most part, have to worry about money.U.S. players, by contrast, must often hustle to pay for a court to practice on, a coach to instruct them, equipment, sparring partners, air fare and tournament entry fees. Without resources they struggle to win, which means sponsors are reluctant to help.Wang has a sponsorship with a Taiwan-based tech company but also gets help from her parents. She played hard in Rio, but ran into Li Xuerui, the defending Olympic champion from China, and lost 2-0.Wang said making badminton an NCAA sport could help increase its popularity and encourage more high school students to play. Otherwise, many potentially good players will go to other sports.Wang smiles when asked how she discovered badminton.A backyard birthday party for my sisters friend, she said. I thought, `Oh my gosh, thats so cool. I was really intrigued by it, and I was really bad at it.---Follow Foster Klug at www.twitter.com/apklug . His work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/foster-klugHarry Carson Giants Jersey . Their experience showed Tuesday as the No. 10 Badgers blunted a Saint Louis surge to win 63-57 and advance to face West Virginia in Wednesdays finals of the Cancun Challenge. Michael Strahan Womens Jersey . The phone hearing is scheduled for 4:30pm et/1:30pm pt. Winchester, who was not penalized for the hit, appeared to make contact with Kellys head early in the first period of Thursdays game in Boston. http://www.giantsrookiestore.com/Giants-Lawrence-Taylor-Jersey/ .J. -- Marty Brodeur beat the Pittsburgh Penguins yet again. Harry Carson Youth Jersey . Catch all the action on TSN2 at 11pm et/8pm pt. The nine-time Big 12 champion Jayhawks are positioning themselves for another title, as they have run out to a flawless 6-0 mark in conference play thus far. Eli Manning Youth Jersey .C. Lions has come to an end. Banks told TSN on Jan 2 that he had no interest in playing out the option year of his contract with the Lions in 2014, and he again made that clear in a conversation with Lions GM Wally Buono last week.Max Verstappen has defended Red Bulls decision to pit for intermediates during the Brazilian Grand Prix, a call which cost him a shot at a win but prompted his sensational fightback to third.Verstappen stole the plaudits with a stunning drive through the field in Brazil, which came after fantastic overtakes on Kimi Raikkonen and Nico Rosberg earlier in the race. The teenager had been between the Mercedes drivers but had to pit late in the race to reverse Red Bulls decision to put him on intermediate tyres as rain intensified.Though he thinks second position was safe he is unsure if he would have caught and passed eventual race winner Lewis Hamilton.When asked if he felt that call cost him the win, Verstappen replied: Win maybe not, but second was definitely possible. I think we were in quite a safe position in second but sometimes you have to gamble a little bit -- were trying to win the race -- that is what we tried today. We got some great overtakes so I am very happy, of course.Emerging from his final stop in 16th, Verstappen then scythed through the field with remarkable pace, overtaking Daniel Ricciardo, Daniil Kvyat, Esteban Ocon, Felipe Nasr, Nico Hulkenberg, Sebastian Vettel, Carlos Sainz and Sergio Perez in a charge back to third.Explaining his whole raace, Verstappen said: In the first [overtake] one I was trying some different lines.dddddddddddd I found a good one and I knew that if Kimi [Raikkonen] was not going to take that line, had a good chance of overtaking. That worked out, he couldnt work out what was happening in front of him. I pulled out of all the spray and passed him.From there on I was a bit relieved because they were a bit slower behind me so I could follow the guys in front. But then of course with the red flags and stuff at the end, twice actually... The second one I didnt really understand... It was similar to before.When we restarted again, the track was worse than before, I had good pace and a good fight with Nico in Turn 3, tried to follow Lewis [Hamilton] a bit and had a massive moment, lucky to not crash the car.I got call to box, we did a pitstop, the first lap was pretty good and then it started to rain harder than before and last sector was undriveable on inters. We had to pit again and I was 15th, 16th, started to pass people again, couldnt see where I was on the straight,o pass people again, couldnt see where I