By Gerald Imray AP Sports Writer RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Ashton Eaton retained his title as the best all-around athlete in the world by tying the decathlon Olympic record and, within minutes, had stepped back for track and field’s ultimate superstar to take center stage again. What more could the now two-time Olympic champion Eaton do Thursday night to get just a little sliver of the limelight that beams down so brightly on Usain Bolt? Not much. “I had the pleasure of being in the same era as Usain Bolt,” Eaton said. “I mean, the guy’s last name is Bolt, he’s the fastest man ever, you can’t write a story like that.” You can try. For his own tale, Eaton made it back-to-back Olympic and world
Sports
Sources: Alan Branch Informs Patriots Teammates He’s Been Suspended
FOXBORO, Mass. — New England Patriots defensive tackle Alan Branch notified teammates he’s been suspended, sources informed of the situation told NESN.com. The cause and length of the suspension are currently unknown. Branch played 16 games, starting 15, in 2015 with the Patriots. He recorded 35 tackles, one sack, three defended passes and two forced fumbles. Branch was acquired by the Patriots midway through the 2014 season. He played eight games in 2014, starting two. Branch, 31, was selected in the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals. He spent the 2011 and 2012 seasons with the Seattle Seahawks and 2013 with... NESN.com
Brazil police official: Lochte made up story about robbery
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — A Brazilian police official is telling The Associated Press that American swimmer Ryan Lochte fabricated a story about being robbed at gunpoint in Rio de Janeiro. The official, who has direct knowledge of the investigation, spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak about an ongoing probe. He said that around 6 a.m. on Sunday, Lochte, along with fellow swimmers Jack Conger, Gunnar Bentz and Jimmy Feigen, stopped at a gas station in Barra da Tijuca, a suburb of Rio where many Olympic venues are located. One of the swimmers tried to open the door of an outside bathroom. It was locked. A few of the swimmers then pushed on the door and
What might have been had the Olympics come to Chicago
Let’s give much-maligned Rio de Janeiro some credit. What took years for the late, great Mike Butler and his crew to perfect – the dying of the Chicago River green for St. Patrick’s Day – Rio accomplished in a few days with green swimming-pool water. OK, that’s too easy a shot. The Rio Games have been a struggle, from athletes complaining about accommodations to a massive aerial camera falling and injuring people in Olympic Park to two pools turning green, thanks to hydrogen peroxide accidentally dumped into the water. Any criticism from these parts might be the result of sore-loser-it is. The 2016 Olympics were supposed to be ours. But Chicago got ousted in the first round of International Olympic Committee voting
Algonquin’s Evan Jager wins silver in steeplechase
By Pat Graham AP Sports Writer RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Evan Jager knows steeplechase history about as well as anyone. Like, how difficult the Kenyans are to beat and how the Americans haven’t captured an Olympic medal since 1984. Hence, Jager’s raw emotion at the finish line when he updated that particular piece of history Wednesday. The 27-year-old from Algonquin, Illinois, ran a strong tactical race to earn a silver medal in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, finishing one second behind Kenyan winner Conseslus Kipruto’s Olympic record time of 8 minutes, 3.28 seconds. Two-time Olympic champion Ezekiel Kemboi finished third, but was later disqualified for stepping outside the track, giving the bronze to fourth-place finisher Mahiedine Mekhissi of France. “I think I had the perfect race today,”
US men beat Argentina 105-78 to head into semis
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — The Latest on the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro (all times local): 8:45 p.m. The U.S. men’s basketball team powered into the semifinals of the Olympics, beating Argentina 105-78 on Wednesday night. The Americans turned a slow start into an early ending with a 27-2 run in the first half.United States' DeMarcus Cousins (12) is pressured by Argentina's Luis Scola (4) during a men's quarterfinal round basketball game at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2016. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) They will meet Spain on Friday in a rematch of the last two gold-medal games. Spain beat France 92-67 earlier Wednesday. Kevin Durant scored 27 points for the Americans. Luis Scola scored 15 points
LeBron says he wishes he was with US team in Rio
LeBron James misses the Olympic stage. The Cleveland superstar, who decided to skip his fourth Olympics after leading the Cavaliers to an NBA title in June, said in an interview with ESPN’s Rachel Nichols that he’s keeping an eye on his teammates at the Rio Games. “Every time I watch ’em I wish I was out there,” James said in the interview, which will air Thursday. “I did not retire from Team USA. I just did not play this summer. So I still left the door open.” James joined USA Basketball for the 2004 games in Athens, where the Americans lost their opener to Puerto Rico, dropped two more games and settled for bronze. He returned on the 2008 Redeem Team and won