Dein erstes Forum » home run to Corey Dickerson on his first pitch.

RIO DE JANEIRO -- Thats him, the man who changed international basketball. Hes the one who single-handedly beat the United States on its own soil nearly 30 years ago, stoking the ambers that led to the Dream Team.The greatest scorer in the history of the game, by a bunch, hes perhaps the best player to never to slip on an NBA jersey.Except for his size, Oscar Schmidt could walk down a city street in the U.S. unnoticed.Not in Brazil.As Schmidt ambles through the corridors of Carioca Arena, his weakened knees preventing him from moving with the grace he once showed on the floor, his countrymen treat him with respect and reverence. Police officers ask if they can have their picture taken with him, young volunteers squeeze in close for selfies and everyone he encounters shows him love. They all want to touch the man dubbed Mao Santo in Portuguese, The Holy Hand.Schmidt accepts it all and happily obliges every request with a smile, and often with a hearty laugh.These Olympics are personal to the Brazilian basketball icon. These games are on his court.I have had a great life, he said before doing TV commentary for Brazils double-overtime loss to Argentina on Saturday.He was a mystery, something of an urban legend until 1987, when during an unforgettable game in Indiana, the heartland of American hoops, Schmidt scored 46 points in the final of the Pan American Games to stun the Americans. It ended a 34-game winning streak for the U.S., its first loss in international competition at home.Schmidt, a cocky shooters shooter with remarkable range and little interest in playing defense, scored 35 points in the second half as Brazil overcame a 14-point halftime deficit to stun the U.S. team, which included college stars David Robinson, Danny Manning and coached by Denny Crum.When the game ended, Schmidt stood under one basket and wept with joy as his teammates celebrated. They had done the unimaginable.That game was the best part of my life because we proved to the whole world that it was possible to beat them, the 58-year-old Schmidt said. And we were afraid to lose by 50.At that time, there had been discussion inside the U.S. basketball program about possibly using professionals in upcoming Olympics. And when the Americans were beaten by the Soviet Union the following year at the Seoul Games and finished with a bronze, the U.S. decided it was time to bring in the big boys.Four years later, Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Charles Barkley, Larry Bird and their All-Star teammates pummeled the competition in Barcelona while inspiring the rest of the world to shoot higher.Schmidt, who scored 24 against that squad, takes personal satisfaction for his role in basketballs global growth.Yeah, of course I do, he said, his voice rising with pride. When we beat them, everybody saw it and said, if they can win, we can win. So they put the Dream Team together.The Americans exacted revenge on Schmidt in Spain, pounding Brazil 127-83 and winning by an average of 43.8 points per game on their way to a gold medal.That was the best team Ive ever seen play, said Schmidt, one of the Olympic flag bearers in the opening ceremony. They were something. The only players I think could make that team are Kobe, Shaquille and LeBron.And maybe Schmidt, who rejected overtures by NBA teams to play in Europe and on five Olympic teams for Brazil from 1980-1996. He was drafted by the New Jersey Nets in 1984, but played in Italy, where he routinely scored 50 in a game.When he got into a zone, with his size at 6-8 and his mentality, once he got going, he was one of the toughest guys you would ever want to go up against, said former Australian Olympian Andrew Gaze, who relishes the chance to catch up with his good friend. I think if he came through in a later generation, he would have been very successful in the NBA. But back when he was at his best, there were very few international players. The NBA wasnt really considering international players the way they are now.Schmidt helped open the door for non-U.S. players, and there were 100 on NBA rosters to start last season. And the American stars can thank the Hall of Famer, too, for getting them inside the five Olympic rings.Unofficially credited with scoring over 49,000 career points -- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had 38,387 -- Schmidt is the Olympic leader with 1,093, nearly 800 more than Carmelo Anthony, who became Team USAs career leader during these games.Schmidt chuckled when reminded of the disparity before turning serious.But hes going to win three times gold medals. I would change everything, every point -- not that Pan American Games -- but the rest for a medal in the Olympics, said Schmidt, who finished fifth three times. We had two good chances, not to get a medal, but a chance to win the Olympics. We came very close, but life is like that. You cant have everything. Air Max 270 Womens Canada . -- Hunter Smith scored the winner with just 12 seconds remaining in the third period as the Oshawa Generals edged the host Sarnia Sting 5-4 on Friday in Ontario Hockey League action. Air Max 90 Canada Sale . Dallas hasnt ruled out the star quarterback for Sunday nights game against Philadelphia, but all signs point to Romos back injury pushing Kyle Orton into the starting role after two years of limited play as the backup. Surely Ortons name isnt the first that comes to mind for fans wanting a change after years of damaging interceptions, fumbles or, most infamously, the field goal flub when Romo dropped the snap on a kick that could have won his first playoff game in 2006. http://www.clearanceairmaxcanada.com/air-max-360-canada-sale.html .C. -- Todd Fiddler scored a hat trick, including the overtime goal, as the Prince George Cougars survived an 8-7 win against the Kamloops Blazers in Western Hockey League play Sunday. Air Max 720 Canada . Argentina winger Ezequiel Lavezzi and France midfielder Blaise Matuidi scored, with star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic setting up both despite having a poor game by his high standards. Forward Eduardo gave Ajaccio the lead in the sixth minute after being set up by right winger Benjamin Andre, and the Corsican side looked comfortable in the first half, with the lively Johan Cavalli causing problems with his probing runs from midfield. Air Max2 Light Canada . LOUIS -- Rookie Tavon Austin has missed another day of practice, lessening the odds hell be ready for the St. The Boston Red Sox and Baltimore Orioles begin a critical four-game series Monday at Camden Yards that will help decide the American League East crown.Boston comes off its first sweep of the rival New York Yankees in a series of four or more games in 26 years since June 4-7, 1990. The Red Sox now lead the division by three games and can further distance themselves from the Orioles, who split a four-game with the last-place Tampa Bay Rays over the weekend.I know our guys are going to be ready and I know Boston is going to be ready, Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. Theyre in a good spot. We knew coming out of spring training after watching all the things they did in the offseason they were going to be one of the favorites going in.With a young group of players in place like Mookie Betts, Xander Bogaerts and Jackie Bradley Jr., the Red Sox have appeared re-energized in the second half of the season. Boston has managed several come-from-behind victories over the past month and that has only boosted its confidence.Its really fun to be a part of, Boston reliever Matt Barnes. This is a team that weve gone through struggles, not too many, but we know the capability of this team. This team never gives up. You kind of know from start to finish it never stops.The Orioles will try to set the tone for the series with Dylan Bundy (9-5, 3.88 ERA) in the opener. Bundy has been one of the anchors of the rotation since being named a starter earlier in the season. In his last outing, Bundy picked up the win against the Red Sox when he allowed three runs on six hits over 51/3 innings.ddddddddddddBaltimore might have caught a break with the return of Darren ODay, who was reinstated Sunday from 15-day disabled list after recovering from a right shoulder rotator cuff strain. ODay, the Orioles setup man, pitched for the first time since Aug. 11 against the Rays and allowed a home run to Corey Dickerson on his first pitch.It was awesome to be back, ODay said. Be able to help the guys out Theyve been having a heavy workload down there. So to take one inning its helpful. Obviously the day was made even better by the win at the end there. It was a good day.Boston will counter with Rick Porcello (20-4, 3.12 ERA), who leads the American League in wins. Porcello lost his last outing against Baltimore 1-0 when he allowed a homer to Mark Trumbo in the second inning. That allowed the Orioles to take the key three-game series.While Boston sits atop the division, manager John Farrell expects his team to be in a fight to the final day of the season, especially with the amount of talent in the division. The Toronto Blue Jays are also within striking distance of the division lead.We dont anticipate anything different from here all the way out, Farrell said. This is going to be a hard-fought division right to the final game of the season. We fully embrace it. We fully expect it and were looking forward to the challenges ahead. ' ' '