Dein erstes Forum » Tennessee third in rushing as a team.Brian Orak

RIO DE JANEIRO -- Evelyn Stevens has built the kind of resume in cycling that should make her one of the favorites to land on the podium in Sundays Olympic road race.She nearly didnt get the chance to compete at all.In perhaps the strongest sign of American might, the four women selected for the road race were not set until just before leaving for Rio -- and after several arbitration hearings sought by riders who believed they had earned the chance to race along Copacabana Beach.That was the first time I ever had that experience, said Stevens, who also competed at the London Olympics four years ago. I wouldnt call it a pleasant process to go through for anyone.Especially riders such as Carmen Small and Amber Neben who lost their cases.USA Cycling does not use Olympic trials for its team. It relies instead on a complex set of criteria giving riders the opportunity to earn automatic nomination through results on the world stage, such as reaching the podium at the world championships like Megan Guarnier did last fall.If that doesnt fill out the team, the decision goes to a committee that examines riders resumes against the selection criteria. And that opens the entire process to accusations of bias.The committee this year chose Stevens, Mara Abbott and Kristin Armstrong to ride along Guarnier, and all three are deserving. Stevens is the current hour record holder, Abbott is among the best climbers in the world and perfect for the hilly Rio course, and Armstrong is a two-time gold medalist in the time trial -- she must also ride in the road race to compete in that event.So where did the problem occur?Well, Small trumped both Stevens and Armstrong in the time trial at the national championships earlier this year. Neben has competed for years on the world stage and won several medals.It became such a conundrum that USA Cycling may implement trials for the 2020 Tokyo Games.You have to be careful because our No. 1 objective is to select the best team for a given Olympics, USA Cycling chief executive Derek Bouchard-Hall told The Associated Press. And trials isnt necessarily the way to do it because you introduce an element of luck. What if someone crashes? What if someone is sick? Its different in running where people dont get flat tires.You introduce an element of chance where you could not have your best athletes going.Bouchard-Hall believes one solution might be to combine the two selection systems. Riders could still earn an automatic spot through results over a period of time, and there could still be a role for the committee to select riders. But one spot would also go to the winner of trials.That is the system that is used to select the three-man BMX squad for the Olympics.The system we have opens you up to accusations of bias and unfairness and thats totally understandable, Bouchard-Hall said. Having lived that personally as an athlete, I understand that.There are other benefits of Olympic trials, such as broadcast and marketing opportunities, which would help with Bouchard-Halls goal of expanding cycling to a broader audience.In the meantime, the four riders lining up for Sundays road race form a formidable squad, with Guarnier one of the biggest favorites after her recent victory in the Giro Rosa.They will be challenged by a strong Dutch squad that includes reigning gold medalist Marianne Vos and Anna Van Der Breggen, British star Lizzie Armitstead and Polands Katarzyna Niewiadoma.They will be tackling a slightly shorter version of the mens course that caused all kinds of problems Saturday. Numerous riders lost chains or had other mechanical problems on the cobblestones, including Tour de France winner Chris Froome, who needed a bike change midway through.The race begins and ends in the shadows of Fort Copacabana along the beach.Its a hard circuit, like nothing Ive done before, said New Zealands Linda Villumsen, so its hard to know what sort of rider it will suit. Clearance LeBron James Shoes . Two pressure cooker bombs exploded near the finish line of the April 15 race in an area packed with fans cheering the passing runners. Three people were killed and more than 260 injured, including at least 16 who lost limbs. LeBron James Shoes Outlet . -- Bobby Ryan helped the U. https://www.cheapshoeslebronjames.com/ . Sgt. Eric ONeal says most of the arrests at Monday nights game were for public drunkenness, though one person was taken into custody on suspicion of trying to steal a seat from the stadium. LeBron James Shoes From China . -- The Bishops Gaiters are showing they belong among the countrys top varsity football teams. LeBron James Shoes Deals . As the crowd erupted, Davis knocked the ball off the glass and back into his hands. With 1:14 to go in overtime, Davis sixth block also became his 17th rebound. That, along with his 32 points -- which tied a career high -- proved too much for Denver to overcome, and the Pelicans held on for their third straight victory, 111-107 on Sunday night. NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee coach Mike Mularkey and his staff enjoyed a very rare start Monday to the work week with the Titans: The franchises first winning streak in more than two seasons.That made looking at mistakes from a 28-26 victory over winless Cleveland much easier coming off a second straight win, the Titans first back-to-back victories since the end of the 2013 season.Mularkey, however, made it clear the Titans (3-3) still have room to improve before earning a Victory Monday and a day off from meetings.The one thing you lose when you do that, you lose the ability to teach off that tape, Mularkey said. You dont have the time because youre already into the next opponent on Wednesday. It was important we came in here (Monday), and theres some things we definitely could have done better ... Again, weve got work to do.Still, the Titans took a moment to enjoy their first home win this season along with a winning streak after posting just three victories all of 2015.I feel great, defensive tackle Jurrell Casey said. Definitely could get used to this. Definitely everybody loves winning.With all that the Titans crossed off their to-do list beating the Browns, their next opponent offers the chance at ending another streak of futility and taking a step back to a winning record.The Indianapolis Colts (2-4) may be struggling after a 26-23 overtime loss at Houston, but they have beaten the Titans nine straight games and 14 of the last 15 in a very lopsided AFC South rivalry. Caseys lone win against Indianapolis came during his rookie season, 27-10 in Nashville on Oct. 27, 2011.He and the other Titans are definitely eager to try to end yet another skid.Moving forward to these next couple weeks, weve got two divisional opponents, Casey said. Were definitely looking to take this victory and run with it.Had the Colts held onto the lead, the Titans wouldve found theemselves tied for first in the AFC South with Houston.dddddddddddd Instead, the Titans must take care of their own divisional game with the Colts on Sunday and wait to see what Houston manages in Denver. The Titans wrap up their three-game home stand hosting Jacksonville (2-3) on Oct. 27 in a prime-time game.Really out of our control what else goes on around the league other than what we have to do on Sunday, Mularkey said.The Titans are doing some things very well. DeMarco Murray, despite being the focus of the Cleveland defense, ranks third in the NFL with 526 yards rushing. That has Tennessee third in rushing as a team.Brian Orakpo is third in the NFL with seven sacks, matching his total for all last season. The Titans have had six sacks in each of their past two games and now have 18 tied with Arizona for fourth in the NFL behind Denver (21), Buffalo (20) and Minnesota (19).One immediate result of winning at home is the Titans gave their fans a reason to stick around until the game ended after hearing opposing fans cheering loudly for Minnesota and Oakland in September. Casey credited fans with forcing two penalties by the Browns, the kind of vocal support Tennessee has lacked after winning only five games combined the past two seasons.You get a crowd behind you it changes the outlook of a game, Casey said. It makes you feel like youre playing a straight professional football game and not just out there playing around.Game notes Mularkey said NT Al Woods (calf) and CB Cody Riggs (hamstring) should play against the Colts. Woods missed the last two games and Riggs the past three.---Online:AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed: https://twitter.com/AP-NFL---Follow Teresa M. Walker at www.twitter.com/teresamwalker ' ' '