Unsere Regeln! » s guard Kristi Toliver, who perhaps this year wil

RIO DE JANEIRO -- Angelina Nadai Lohalith did not qualify for the medal round in the womens 1,500-meter run Saturday night. She did not come anywhere close. She not only finished last in her heat, she ran a time that was 31 seconds slower that the next slowest runner and 47 seconds slower than the winner.But she was not devastated. She was proud. As well Lohalith should be because she is an inspiration on and off the track. Lohalith, you see, is one of the 10 athletes competing with the Refugee Olympic Team, and just being able to run in these Games is an amazing advance in her life. And perhaps it can similarly be a little advance for her fellow refugees.Even though I came in last, Im happy, Lohalith said. I was able to compete and able to finish off the race. Next time, I believe that I will be in front of them rather than be at the end. Im representing refugees from all over the world. Im becoming their ambassador now, and that made me happy.James Nyang Chiengjiek likewise finished last in his 400-meter heat, six seconds behind the next runner ahead of him. He also is an athlete from South Sudan on the refugee team. And he, too, was very proud to be running here.I think its a very important moment for all the refuges. Not me alone, Chiengjiek said. We are not getting the medals we hoped to get, but this is for spreading peace. I thank the IOC for giving us this chance. It is very important we are here today. Also, we have met and gotten to know so many people. I hope when we go back, we will have that experience, and it will help us in the future.While many people sympathize with refugees and the agonies they endure, some take negative views. They argue that allowing refugees into your country will take jobs from citizens. That they may be terrorists. That they are beneath the rest of us. Lohalith and Chiengjiek hope the performances of the refugees here will help end such views.When some people hear refugees, they do not see them as they are, Lohalith said. They do not see them as human beings. They see them as refugees, something negative. But we can do something better in our life. Like in sport. Refugees can do something for their lives. Wherever they are, they can do something positive.Lohalith escaped the war in South Sudan to the Kakuma refugee camp back in 2002 while Chiengjiek left just before that to avoid being made into a child soldier. The two each began running while in school, little dreaming that they would one day be running on another continent in the Olympics.Fortunately, the IOC voted to allow a team of refugees to compete in the Rio Olympics, picking a total of 10. Five (all runners) are from South Sudan, two from Syria, two from the Democratic Republic of Congo and one from Ethiopia. When the refugee team marched in during the opening ceremonies, they received perhaps the most enthusiastic ovation of any team other than host Brazil.I think it has been an amazing experience for them because it is something they have never dreamed about happening, said Luiz Fernando Godinho with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. They are very conscious of the role they are playing here at these Games. They know they are not here to win medals, that they are here to support the refugee case.We always look at the athletes to be looking for some personal achievement, and they truly are not looking for that. They know their limitations but they know they are here for a cause. They are leaders of tomorrow.Both Lohalith and Chiengjiek are staying in the athletes village and being treated just like all the other Olympians, which is what refugees hope for in their lives. They are people like you or me, Godinho said. If they have the chance they can achieve important things. They are normal people. The only thing they need is a chance to prove themselves and achieve important things.Lohalith and Chiengjiek are proving themselves and achieving something important. And they hope their performances here will inspire other refugees that they, too, can do what seems impossible. After all, Lopez Lomong was a South Sudanese refugee who wound up running the 1,500 in the 2008 Olympics and also carrying the flag of the United States after becoming an American citizen.Start making your mind to think positive, Lohalith said. And every time you go out, think positively that you will be able to tackle all the challenges that come in your life. Brian Anderson Jersey . Brett Kulak and Jackson Houck of the Vancouver Giants were each charged with assault causing bodily harm on Aug. 18, according to the B.C. court services. Miguel Rojas Jersey .ca! Hi Kerry, Its another day and here we are looking at another dubious hit to the head. In this case Blue Jackets forward Brandon Dubinsky elbowed Saku Koivu in the head about a second after he dished off the puck to a teammate, knocking him unconscious. http://www.marlinsteamproshop.com/Marlins-Wei-Yin-Chen-Kids-Jersey/ . The Browns coaching search remains incomplete. Bryan Holaday Jersey .Y. -- Vancouver Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongo had little trouble picking up his first shutout of the season against a Buffalo Sabres team thats having trouble scoring goals. Nick Wittgren Jersey . Pettersen, winner of last years Evian Championships, had nine birdies and three bogeys, holding off a series of challengers led by Marion Ricordeau of France. The second-ranked Norwegian made her season debut after missing the LPGA Tours opening event last month in the Bahamas because of a shoulder injury. As the focus in womens basketball is about to shift to the Rio Olympics, lets list 10 quick observations about this WNBA season thus far:1. Los Angeles appears on a mission. 2. But so does Minnesota. And maybe New York, too? 3. Seattle rookie Breanna Stewart is doing super-Stewie stuff as a pro, too. 4. Its going to be a heck of an MVP race, right to the finish. 5. Indianas Tamika Catchings will retire without looking like its time for her to retire. 6. Seattles Sue Bird gives the best jersey-retirement party speeches. 7. Diana and the Refs: A Love Story is a movie that will never be made ... unless its a satire. 8. Nobody is that sure which team among those in the East is the second-best behind New York. Or third-best, or fourth-best, or fifth-best, or ... you get the picture. Right now, though, standings-wise its Atlanta. 9. Unless something unexpected happens, San Antonio will have the worst record in 2016. 10. WNBA players definitely keep up with current events.The league is celebrating its 20th season and has been a showcase in particular for the Sparks, who are 21-3. But the defending champion Lynx are right behind at 21-4. Those two are the front-runners for getting the top two seeds in the new playoff format, in which the best eight teams by record make the postseason, regardless of conference.The 18-8 Liberty are the only other team now that would seem to have a realistic chance of taking one of those two top spots -- which means automatic advancement to the league semifinals.New York star Tina Charles is the leagues top scorer (21.4 PPG), followed by last years MVP Elena Delle Donne of Chicago (21.2), Los Angeless Nneka Ogwumike (19.6) and Minnesotas Maya Moore (19.4). Not coincidentally, those four are in the hunt for the MVP as well, as is Ogwumikes teammate Candace Parker.Now, lets take a little more in-depth look at five of the things that have stood out about what weve seen to this point in the WNBA.Whats not hot in Phoenix?The Mercury are two games below .500 and will have to battle for a playoff spot. Uh ... what? Seriously? Yep, believe it or not, that really is where Phoenix is at the break.Admittedly, not everyone agreed with the leagues general managers about picking Phoenix as the preseason favorite. But most people did expect the team would be contending near the top of the WNBAs combined standings. Instead, the 10-14 Mercury have been the leagues biggest surprise ... but not in a good way.With Diana Taurasi (the aforementioned ref antagonist) and Penny Taylor back, this was supposed to be something like the 2014 Mercury all over again, or at least a reasonable facsimile thereof. But its been a team that too often has not been able to summon a sense of competitive urgency.Phoenix is tied for second with Minnesota in scoring average at 85.8 PPG, just behind Los Angeles 85.9. The key problem, though, is the Mercurys defense. Theyre allowing an average of 86.1 points per game, which is second-worst in the league behind Dallas (88.1). That is the highest-scoring average that Phoenix has allowed since the 2012 season in which the Mercury went 7-27 and were accused by some league followers of tanking in hopes of landing the No. 1 pick for Brittney Griner in the 2013 draft (they got her).Contrast this with the Mercurys 2014 championship season, when they allowed foes just 74.1 points per game.Six Mercury players will be competing in the upcoming Olympics: Taurasi and Griner (United States), Taylor (Australia), Marta Xargay (Spain), Sonja Petrovic (Serbia) and Lindsey Harding (Belarus).Then, it will be back to WNBA work, trying to make a playoff run. Phoenix unquestionably is talented, and it worries other teams that the Mercury could flip the switch and really be dangerous. But so far, their talent has not added up to a winning season.Dont put us in rocking chairs just yetCatchings and New Yorks Swin Cash will retire when thiis season ends.dddddddddddd But theyre going to be running across the finish line.Catchings is the Fevers leading scorer (13.7 PPG) and second-leading rebounder (4.5 RPG). The Fever are 12-12 and trying to make the playoffs for the 12th consecutive year.What would have been an emotional farewell season any way for Catchings has been even more so with the death of her beloved college coach, Tennessees Pat Summitt. Yet Catchings doesnt look like a player riding slowly off into the sunset. She will exit the WNBA still as a key impact player, leaving totally on her terms.As for Cash, her stats are not what they were in her peak years, but that isnt how to measure her. This is: Shes still a WNBA starter and one of the true emotional leaders for the Liberty, a franchise that is still attempting to win its first title.And after their playing careers are over, look for Catching and Cash to still make an impact in the sport.Speaking of still going strong ...Bird is not retiring this year, thank goodness. Although as she reminded everyone at Lauren Jacksons Storm jersey retirement ceremony earlier this month, her exit likely is not all that distant in the future. But while Bird, Catchings and Cash are all still in the WNBA together, please take time to appreciate these three. Theyve all been such a big part of womens basketball history.Bird, who turns 36 in October, is the wily veteran on a Seattle team with young stars like Stewart and Jewell Loyd. Yet ol No. 10 is still showing these whippersnappers a thing or two. In fact, Bird statistically is having a season thats just about as good as any in her storied career. Shes started every game for the 9-15 Storm, averaging 32.2 minutes.Her scoring averages of 12.5 points and a league-best 6.0 assists are highlights, as is her 44.1 percent shooting from 3-point range. Birds best percentage for a season from behind the arc is 45.9 in 2012, which puts this year in further perspective. And in August, she, Catchings and Taurasi will play in their fourth Olympics.A true shooter keeps shootingNo player embodies that slogan more than Los Angeles guard Kristi Toliver, who perhaps this year will add a WNBA championship to the NCAA title she won with Maryland a decade ago.Tolivers famous game-tying 3-pointer in the 2006 national championship game is one of womens basketballs most unforgettable shots. Shes taken countless treys since then. But the ones shes hitting this season could end up making a big difference in whether the Sparks get back to the WNBA Finals for the first time since they lost to Detroit back in 2003.Toliver is second in the WNBA in both 3-pointers made this season (63 of 139) and in percentage from behind the arc (45.3). Sparks coach Brian Agler also points out that Toliver has elevated her game on the defensive end, and he doesnt hand out defensive praise lightly.Ogwumike and Parker are the top two stars for the Sparks, of course. But Toliver, who leads the team in minutes played (32.5 per game) and is the third-leading scorer (14.0 PPG), is having a terrific season, too.But could it ultimately end up a rerun of 2015?Yes, it could: The Lynx are just as big a threat to win it all as they were a year ago. They will be the most represented WNBA squad on the U.S. Olympic team, with Moore, Seimone Augustus, Lindsay Whalen and Sylvia Fowles playing, and Cheryl Reeve coaching as an assistant to Geno Auriemma.The Lynx felt a bit slighted by the leagues GMs, who picked Phoenix to win. And now Minnesota might feel a lot of the attention in the WNBA thus far has gone to the Sparks.But with Moore once again cranking out another fantastic season and Minnesotas core group remaining so cohesive and effective, seeing the WNBA Finals in Minneapolis again would be no surprise at all. ' ' '