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She could keep her public remarks simple and bland. Lord knows enough athletes do that. Anyway, her bio is exemplary: She went to Duke on an academic scholarship and graduated in 2009 with a double major in international relations and African-American studies, and a minor in Arabic. She was also a three-time All-American in fencing. Shes a suburban Jersey kid by birth whose father is a retired narcotics detective, and her mother is a soon-to-be retired special ed teacher. And she shares their zeal for public service.Since committing full time to chase an Olympic berth in 2009, shes ridden the PATH train to nearby New York City to train on weekdays and to mentor the 200 or so kids who show up every Saturday morning at a fencing foundation run by six-time U.S. Olympian Peter Westbrook. When she speaks to those kids or to other groups, which is often, she frequently closes her talks by urging people to be proactive in their communities, and she encourages women and girls to overcome their timidity, dream big, think outside the box -- same as she once did.She has a poise thats striking, a smile thats hard to forget, and a tenderness that is palpable. She makes no claims to phony toughness, admitting, I struggled as a kid, with feeling different. She now runs her own clothing business, Louella, which is named after her grandmother, on top of everything else and counts herself as an eloquent example of the way sports can change someones life. Her mother, Denise, sometimes worries about her -- I dont want her to lose sight of having fun, she told ESPN in 2011. I tell her, You dont have to carry our entire community on your shoulders.A devout Muslim, Ibtihaj Muhammad says, I feel I can handle it. (Pronounced: Ib-tee-haj.)Yet none of that spared 30-year-old Muhammad from having a total stranger ask her if she was a terrorist who intended to blow something up as she walked through Times Square in mid-April, minding her own business. Muhammad photographed the man and posted his image on Twitter.?Nor was Muhammad spared from having an official in Austin at the South by Southwest conference in March from ordering her to remove her hijab -- the religious head covering that she wears -- before hed take her photo for her panelist credential. When Muhammad explained why she couldnt remove it, the man scoffed and said, Well, youre in Texas now.She says, At first I thought he was kidding.Muhammad, who will become the first American athlete to compete at the Olympics in a hijab at the Rio Olympics in August, is philosophical about such incidents as she calmly recounts them. Her gaze is direct. Her temperament even. Yes, she couldve chosen to deflect questions about her Muslim faith and being one of the few African-Americans in her sport. But its a fallacy to think that wouldve made her life any easier.So, as shes jokingly said, Im just your basic Hijabi Zorro.There will be other athletes in Rio who are better known than Muhammad, though she is a legitimate medal hopeful in the team and individual sabre events. But it is hard to think of anyone whose symbolism is more important. She has taken her messages of tolerance and what life as a Muslim-American woman is like everywhere she goes, be it The Ellen DeGeneres Show (where she did a hilarious fencing demonstration with DeGeneres sidekick Andy Zeron), to interviews she did after she was named to Time Magazines list of the 100 Most Influential People in the World for 2016. In February, she was invited to a private meeting that President Barack Obama held with other prominent Muslim-Americans before he gave a speech at the Islamic Society of Baltimore, his first visit in office to an American mosque.Wheres my Olympian? Stand up, Obama said before his talk, scanning the audience of hundreds that Muhammad was sitting among, wanting her to rise and hear the applause.Muhammad prefers to emphasize positive examples like that when describing what her path to the Olympics has become. But she does not shrink from asserting Muslims and minorities should enjoy the same rights and protections in America as anyone else because, I feel like I owe it to my community, I owe it to people who look like me and fight struggles every day, to hear something different. Its up to all us to combat these things. I have to speak up because I know there were people before me that did it.She constantly says, Im blessed to be in this position.And this: I wasnt going to allow other peoples misconceptions to change my journey.So, when reporters inquire about what kind of online harassment she receives on her Twitter or Instagram accounts, Muhammad smiles and says, Oh, sure, there are internet trolls everywhere. But thats what the delete button is for. And I use it. If asked for examples of prejudice shes experienced, she often diverts the discussion instead to the hundreds of positive messages that cancel them out, or how after taking up fencing for the first time as a 13-year-old girl, she felt wearing the masked headgear and full-length uniform that covered her body had much the same effect as wearing the hijab: She feels it liberates her.Something I definitely struggled with as a kid was traveling to different schools and different communities and hearing that I made people uncomfortable because of my skin color, because of my religion, she says. Being covered allows people to see me for my skills and my ideas.Muhammad knows history. She knows the regard that Muslims are experiencing now in America has had ugly precedents and parallels in our past. The Japanese kamikaze pilots of World War II were regarded with the same horror around the world that jihadist suicide bombers are now. Americas response then -- ripping Japanese-Americans out of their homes and throwing them into internment camps -- remains an ugly blot on our history. Similarly, African-Americans have spoken out about being punished for the crime of being black since the founding of this country.What America promises all of its people and what it delivers is often at odds with Dr. Martin Luther Kings famous wish that everyone be judged for the content of his or her character. Muhammad feels to be silent, especially at this point in American history, would be indefensible. After the 9/11 attacks on New Yorks World Trade Center happened 30 minutes away from her familys home in New Jersey, her mother said there was panic in their home that night. In the weeks to come, her five children were harassed and she was sometimes screamed at as she drove down the street wearing her hijab. Fifteen years later, it could still happen.Muhammad has traveled to 30 countries as part of her work and admits shes had to trim in even how late she goes out at night for dinner. She has feared being prevented from boarding flights on the way to her Olympic qualifying meets because of her hijab or fencing equipment she carries.Were living in a time where people feel comfortable spewing their hate and harassing the innocent on our streets. We need change, Muhammad tweeted after her incident with the heckler in Times Square.After Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump demanded that all Muslims be barred from entering the country in response to terror attacks in San Bernardino, California, and around the world, and suggested a national registry for Muslims, Muhammad spoke out forcefully again.Unfortunately, we have people who are in the presidential race who are providing a platform for hate speech and fearmongering, Muhammad told Londons Daily Mail, and theyre creating a space where its acceptable to speak out against immigrants, to speak out against Muslims and to really publicize this inherent racism that I feel a lot of people have. It creates a really scary environment, and I fear for the safety of minorities in our country. Its becoming more and more acceptable for people to voice their fascist beliefs and its upsetting.Im hopeful that things will change and soon, because I fear that history is repeating itself. The Civil Rights Movement wasnt that long ago. Segregation wasnt that long ago. Japanese internment wasnt that long ago. And when you think things like you want to ban Muslims from entering the country or you want to build a wall to separate the U.S. from Mexico [as Trump has also said], I think these are things that are reminiscent of really dark times within, not just our country, but worldwide.Sometimes fear and prejudice talk louder than fairness.When I hear people here say they want to throw all Muslims back to their country, Muhammad says, I think, Well, where am I going to go? Im American, you know? Ive never questioned myself as an American or my position here. This is my home. This is who I am. My family has always been here. Were American by birth. This is all that I know. I feel American to my bones.Muhammad happened to be standing in the middle of Times Square again as she said that. This time there wasnt a bigot taunting her. She was appearing in late April along with dozens of other American athletes at the U.S. Olympic Committees 100 Days from Rio event that was open to the public. She had just spent part of her morning teaching first lady Michelle Obama and 15 to 20 children a few tips about fencing, at times jousting with comically long foam swords that made them laugh.When asked a couple hours later how she was holding up after speaking to wave and after wave of visitors and reporters, Muhammad sighed and said, Oh, do I look tired?No, someone responded, you seem buoyant.Laughing now, she said, I try.Hydro Flask Norge . Ibaka equaled a career high with 20 rebounds, adding four blocked shots and 15 points as the Thunder smothered the Milwaukee Bucks offence in a 92-79 victory Saturday night. Hydro Flask Oslo . World champions Tatiana Volosozhar and Maxim Trankov of Russia won the gold medal with 237.71 points, Moore-Towers and Moscovitch followed at 208.45 and Ksenia Stolbova and Fedor Klimov of Russia were third at 187. http://www.norgehydroflask.com/norge-hydro-flask-barn.html . Perez, 35, posted a 1-2 record with a 3.69 earned-run average in 19 relief appearances last season. His season ended Aug. 9 due to a torn ligament in his left elbow. Perez joins infielder Andy LaRoche and catcher Mike Nickeas with minor-league agreements for 2014 that include invitations to attend spring training. Hydro Flaske .5 seconds to play in the game, Kevin Love never stopped believing that they would come out of there with a win. Hydro Flask Prisjakt . On Saturday night, the normally free throw-challenged centre did just that. Howard scored 18 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter, including 13 of 19 free throws in a 2 1/2-minute stretch, and the Houston Rockets beat the Denver Nuggets 122-111.CORVALLIS, Ore. -- Marcus McMaryion kept it simple and he wound up with five touchdowns.McMaryion threw for 265 yards and a career-high five scores on Saturday night when Oregon State snapped a five-game losing streak with a 42-17 victory over Arizona. It was the most touchdown passes for a Beaver since 2013.Guys were just making plays, bottom line, McMaryion said. The play calls were there, real simple. I was trying not to over-complex things, just stick to my reads and not think too much. It definitely played dividends.Ryan Nall ran for 124 yards and another score while Jordan Villamin caught six passes for 124 yards in just the second conference win for the Beavers (3-8, 2-6-Pac-12).It was the eighth straight loss for the Wildcats (2-9, 0-8), who have been overwhelmed by injuries this season. Anu Solomon made his first start at quarterback since the opener but was injured in the first quarter and replaced by Brandon Dawkins, who threw for 106 yards and a touchdown while running for 88 yards on 15 carries.I feel bad for our school. I feel bad for our fans. I feel bad for our program, Arizona coach Rich Rodriguez said. We shouldnt get to this point. I guarantee well get out of it. I dont want to say that were going to be better because of it, because its miserable.Oregon State took the early lead on McMaryions 53-yard pass to Villamin. The Beavers extended the lead with McMaryions 11-yard pass to Nall, who missed last weeks game against UCLA because of a lingering foot injury.Solomon, who missed six games with a knee injury earlier this season, was sacked for a 19-yard loss early in the second quarter and was later seen limping on the sideline. He emerged from the locker room in the second half wearing a boot on his left foot.After Dawkins hit Nate Phillips with a 10-yard touchdown pass for the Wildcats, Timmy Hernandez made a diving 27-yard touchdown catch in the end zone to put the Beavers up 21-7.Josh Pollack made a 22-yard field goal for Arizona before the break.McMaryion added a 35-yard scoring pass to Trevon Bradford and Nall ran three yards for another score in the third quarter.Samajie Grant ran 2 yards for an Arizona touchdown in the final quarter but McMaryion closed out the game for the Beavers with a 10-yard scoring pass to Artavis Pierce.Oregon State coach Gary Andersen was impressed by the latest performance for his sophomore quarterback, who was pressed into service when starter Darell Garretson and backup Conor Blount were injured earlier this season.ddddddddddddI thought he threw the ball accurately and the great thing is tonight guys caught the ball for him when presented with the opportunity, Andersen said. Thats big for us, because it hasnt gone that way a lot of times in certain scenarios. But I thought he was accurate and when he was accurate the ball got caught.THE TAKEAWAYArizona: Arizona went into the game ranked at the bottom of the Pac-12 for scoring offense with an average of 22.4 points per game. ... Rodriguez said afterward that Solomon injured his toe.Oregon State: With two wins in the Pac-12, the Beavers pull even with the rival Oregon Ducks, who won their second league game earlier in the day in a 30-28 upset of No. 11 Utah. The Civil War game next week will determine the last-place finisher in the Pac-12 North division.ONE MORE CHANCE: The Wildcats get one more shot at a conference win next weekend in the rivalry game against Arizona State.I feel like crap. Lost another game. Thank God we have our rival. Its at home. Its our seniors, who have had a good career up until this year, Rodriguez said. Gosh, if we cant put all our energy into putting our best foot forward for that one, then Id be extremely disappointed.PLAYING FOR SETH: The Beavers were without receiver Seth Collins, one of the most dynamic players on the team, who was hospitalized this past week with an undisclosed illness. Andersen couldnt discuss any specifics because of privacy rules. Collins, who is most likely done for the season, had 36 catches for 418 yards this season.Linebacker Manase Hungalu said afterward: That was our motivation. This whole team is built around family. One family member goes down, we gotta fight for him. That was our whole motivation for this game and it will continue until he gets better.UP NEXTArizona: The Wildcats wrap up a disappointing season at home on Friday with the Duel in the Desert rivalry game against Arizona State. The Sun Devils fell to No. 7 Washington 44-18 earlier on Saturday night.Oregon State: The Beavers close out the season at home next Saturday with the annual Civil War rivalry game against Oregon.---More AP college football at www.collegefootball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25 ' ' '