LINCOLN, Neb. -- Jordan Burroughs used his gold-medal moment at the 2012 Olympics in London to emerge as one of wrestlings biggest stars.A year later, the worlds oldest sport turned to Burroughs to help save its future.They needed someone who was consistent, who was marketable, who was eloquent enough in their speech and articulate enough to engage with the media, and who was interested in engaging with the fans via social media, Burroughs said. It was amazing timing for me.Burroughs charismatic personality, electric wrestling style and savvy use of social media has made him the face of the sport and one of the biggest stars the U.S. will send to next months Rio Games.In fact, hes become the rare wrestler to transcend a sport that in the past often closed itself off to outsiders.Burroughs has even garnered media attention and endorsements typically reserved for gymnasts, swimmers and track stars -- just three years after wrestling briefly was booted from future Olympic games by the IOC in part because it was seen as unappealing to modern viewers.Burroughs is indeed a whiz online, with over 230,000 followers on Instagram, 170,000 on Facebook and over 140,000 on Twitter attracted in part to his family-friendly persona. The fact that Burroughs always seems to be smiling in a sport where intimidating stares are ubiquitous has only added to his appeal.Hes especially popular in wrestling-mad Iran, which sent him a traditional Persian blanket after the recent birth of his second child -- even though Iranian Hassan Yazdani is one of Burroughs biggest rivals.Its a gift that Burroughs keeps on the mantle of his fireplace in his home in Lincoln, Nebraska.We respect his personality, and thats just as important as his athletic skills, United World Wrestling president Nenad Lalovic said. He became a superstar. Hes a great fighter, and he deserves all the plaudits that he gets.While Burroughs persona made him a hit outside of wrestling, those within the sport have long been drawn to his perseverance and grit.Burroughs was a classic underdog, a scrawny high schooler from New Jersey who signed with Nebraska after being overlooked by bigger-name programs.It took a few years for Burroughs to grow into his body and refine a style highlighted by his double-leg takedown, akin to a sack in football.As a junior, Burroughs hit his stride and cruised to his first NCAA title. He returned two years later, following a serious knee injury, as the best wrestler in the country, going 36-0 while earning universal respect from a wrestling community with a soft spot for kids who emerge from less traditional powers.Burroughs earned the worlds respect just six months later by winning a world championship in his first try.In 2012, the Olympic spotlight allowed Burroughs personality to emerge.He adopted the Twitter handle (at)alliseeisgold, a cocky moniker more suited for a boxer. But Burroughs backed it up, later joking that hed double-leg the Queen after winning gold in London.Burroughs budding popularity proved crucial during the sports biggest crisis.Burroughs learned that the IOC had dropped wrestling from the Olympic program starting in 2020 while in an airport in Germany. He took to Facebook that day to share his thoughts in a post that soon helped crystallize the hastily-assembled Save Olympic Wrestling movement.If wrestling is axed, it will be tough to look kids in the eye for the rest of my life and tell them that they cant follow their dreams anymore, theyre no longer Olympic hopefuls. Theyve lost to an opponent that theyve never had a shot against, Burroughs wrote.The movement brought the international wrestling community together like never before. It worked: The IOC reinstated wrestling seven months later.Still, the near-Olympic death sentence forced the sport to confront some problems that werent easy to solve, chief among them a lack of marketable athletes.Burroughs, whos as popular on Instagram in Tehran and Moscow as he is in New York City, was clearly the guy who could change all that.But the newly-married star knew he had to keep winning, even though having two kids between London and Rio forced him to cut down his travel schedule and re-work his training routines.Burroughs only got better. He won world championships in 2013 and 2015 and earned his spot on the U.S. team with a brilliant two-match performance at the Olympic Team Trials in April.Whenever you do something special with a burden on your shoulders, theres never an excuse again, Burroughs said.For both Burroughs and his sport, losing doesnt seem like much of an acceptable excuse in Rio.Anything short of a gold medal would be a disappointment for a sport looking to expand its reach. For Burroughs, another gold would define his legacy as not only the most popular wrestler in U.S. history, but one of its best.The pressure doesnt seem to faze Burroughs. He plans to bring his gold from London to Rio so he can wear both to his news conference after the Olympic tournament.These people are watching. They want to see something incredible. How do you want to be remembered? Burroughs said.Fake Shoes China . -- Claudio Bieler hadnt scored since early September, and not from the run of play since mid-July. Wholesale Fake Vapormax . "Thank you for the warm welcome," Beckham said on an 80-degree February morning. In this case, it was soccer weather. The sport moved a step closer to returning to South Florida on Wednesday, when Beckham confirmed he has exercised his option to purchase a Major League Soccer expansion franchise in Miami. http://www.fakevapormax.com/ .com) - Manchester City midfielder David Silva is expected to miss the next four weeks because of a calf problem. Fake Vapormax 2019 . The Hall of Fame defenceman told Landsberg that he believes fighting still has a place in todays game, but thinks staged fighting needs be outlawed. Fake Vapormax Online . The Swede became the first golfer to win the PGA Tours FedEx Cup and European Tours Race to Dubai in the same season. "It is still taking a little time to sink in what Ive achieved this week as was the case when I won the FedEx Cup but then it just kept getting better and better as the days went on and I am sure this will be the same," he said.The Oakland Raiders and cornerback David Amerson have reached an agreement on a four-year extension worth a maximum value of $38 million, sources told ESPN.The deal includes $17.5 million guaranteed, sources said.Amerson was claimed off waivers from the Washington Redskins early in the 2015 season. A second-round pick in 2013, he played extensively as a rookie with the Redskins, but his playing time had deccreased.ddddddddddddThat, though, changed with the Raiders.He played in 14 games since being claimed, totaling 58 tackles and intercepting four passes. He was named Pro Football Focus most improved player for 2015.The deal was first reported by NFL Network and confirmed by ESPN. ' ' '