squads in Rio will feature players lured from sports such as b

SAN ANTONIO -- Saying he fears for the countrys future, San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich made his frustrations and anger over Donald Trumps election known Friday night.He is in charge of our country, Popovich said. Thats disgusting.Popovich spoke before his team played Detroit after initially suggesting he needed more time to put his thoughts together. He then vented without being asked another question for the next several minutes, even telling a reporter who tried to interrupt at one point that he wasnt done talking.With that, he followed NBA coaches such as Golden States Steve Kerr and Detroits Stan Van Gundy in lashing out at Trumps election.Im a rich white guy and Im sick to my stomach thinking about it, said Popovich, a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy and the next coach of the U.S. Olympic mens basketball team. I cant imagine being a Muslim right now or a woman or an African-American, Hispanic, a handicapped person. How disenfranchised they might feel. For anyone in those groups that voted for him, its just beyond my comprehension how they ignore all that.Trump lauded the Spurs during a campaign stop last month, but Popovich was upset with Trumps rhetoric throughout his campaign, and that disdain has not yet subsided.Not basically because the Republicans won or anything, but the disgusting tenure and tone and all the comments that have been xenophobic, homophobic, racist, misogynistic, Popovich said. I live in that country where half the people ignored all that to elect someone. Thats the scariest part of the whole thing to me.Trump said early in his campaign that he would build a wall to keep illegal immigrants out of America because when Mexico sends its people they are sending rapists, bringing crime and bringing drugs. Trump also once proposed a ban on any Muslims entering the country.Since his election Tuesday night, Trump seemed to strike a more conciliatory tone during his acceptance speech and following his meeting with President Barack Obama. He even suggested in an interview with The Wall Street Journal that he was considering keeping some elements of the Affordable Care Act -- after vowing repeatedly throughout his campaign to repeal Obamacare immediately.Hes already backing off on immigration, on Obamacare and other things, Popovich said. So, was it a big fake? ... What gets lost in the process are African-Americans and Hispanics and women and the gay population -- not to mention the eighth-grade developmental stage exhibited by him when he made fun of the handicap person. I mean, come on. Thats what a seventh-grade, eighth-grade bully does, and he was elected president of the United States.Popovich, who is of Serbian descent, said kids would be punished for the words and behavior Trump exhibited.We would have scolded our kids, Popovich said. We would have had discussions and talked until we were blue in the face trying to get them to understand these things and he is in charge of our country? Thats disgusting.Everybody wants him to be successful. Its our country, we dont want it to go down the drain, Popovich said. Any reasonable person would come to that conclusion, but it does not take away the fact that he used that fearmongering and all the comments from day one.As his remarks ended, Popovich said he was concerned that the U.S. is on the same path as the Roman Empire.My final conclusion is, my big fear is, we are Rome, Popovich said. Louis Williams Jersey . Denis Coderre, the former federal MP who was elected mayor on Nov. 3, has drawn the ire of some Montreal Canadiens. During last nights game he tweeted: "Hello? Can we get a one-way ticket to (minor-league) Hamilton for David Desharnais please. Amir Coffey Jersey . Mickelson barely made the cut but had the best round of the day with nine birdies and an eagle coupled with two bogeys to sit two shots behind leader Craig Lee of Scotland. Lee shot a 69 for a 12-under 204 total. "I just love the fact I am in contention and have an opportunity in my first tournament of the year here in Abu Dhabi," Mickelson said. https://www.clipperslockerroom.com/Rodney-Mcgruder-City-Edition-Jersey/ . - After leading the Saints to a fourth playoff appearance in five seasons, Drew Brees expressed confidence in the direction of his team and, perhaps more importantly, showed a willingness to listen to contract proposals if the team needs his help getting under the NFLs salary cap. Mfiondu Kabengele Clippers Jersey . On Tuesday, Ottawa placed forward Cory Conacher and defenceman Joe Corvo on waivers as trade rumours swirl around the Senators. Montrezl Harrell Clippers Jersey . Schenn scored the game-winning goal and added two assists to lead the Philadelphia Flyers to a 4-1 win over the Calgary Flames at the Scotiabank Saddledome on Tuesday. Rugby is returning to the Olympics for the first time in 92 years, bringing the ruck, the maul and the hooker back into the lexicon of the Summer Games.The format has changed, considerably, since the United States won the last rugby union Olympic gold medal in 1924, with the abbreviated seven-player version favored for Rio over the traditional 15-a-side game, and Fiji favored for a breakthrough triumph. The aim remains the same: score more tries -- grounding the ball in the opponents in-goal area -- and youre a good chance of winning.Its fast and physical, with more emphasis on speed and passing the ball (always backward) than heavy contact, and it is typically played in two seven-minute halves.Heres some things to watch in Rio, where the womens tournament runs Aug. 6-8 and the mens from Aug. 9-11 at the Deodoro Stadium:---FLYING FIJIANSFiji has never won an Olympic medal, but it has never had a chance to play its national sport at the Summer Games. The world series champions are favorites in the mens competition, and expectations are high in the Pacific.Englishman Ben Ryan took a squad containing an abundance of players with size, speed and natural flair for rugby sevens, and added extra discipline to every facet of the preparation from diet to drills. The result is a still entertaining, but more consistent Fiji team.Its the national sport, so our best athletes play rugby, Ryan says. We have been successful at it and thats also created this aura around the team, the way we play, totally different to every other side in the world. Its a risky, entertaining, exciting, slightly laid back -- sometimes -- way of playing the game. And we are doing it to a very high level.---GO BROSonny Bill Williams is a high-profile game hopper likely to feature for New Zealand in Rio, another notch in a career that has involved switching back and forth from rugby league to rugby union to win some of the biggest prizes in those sports. Already a World Cup winner with the famous All Blacks, Williams wants to add Olympic gold. He probably wont have to look far for family support, with his sister Niall figuring in selection calculations for the title-chasing New Zealaand womens team.dddddddddddd---POINT PROVEDThe sevens format has surged in popularity since its inclusion on the Olympic program, and the rewards are being spread more widely than ever. Countries such as Kenya and the United States have won titles on the world series circuit, and are ranked 6th and 7th behind southern hemisphere powers Fiji, South Africa, New Zealand, Australia and Argentina. American Madison Hughes led the world series with 331 points in the 2015-16 season. American speedster Perry Baker was second behind South Africas Seabelo Senatla for most tries scored and most line breaks.---WOMENS DRAWAustralia won the womens world series, reaching the final in four of the five tournaments to outpoint second place New Zealand, the dominant team in 2014-15. Canada and England were equal on points in third place.The womens squads in Rio will feature players lured from sports such as basketball, volleyball and track and field. As it catches on, therell be more professionals, and increased competition.New Zealand had been the benchmark ... ever since I had started playing rugby. Everything we trained for and played for can subconsciously be aimed around beating them, Australias Alicia Quirk said. But this series turned out to be the most competitive season yet -- the gap between teams has definitely closed.---SPANISH ACQUISITIONSpain was the last of 12 teams to qualify in each of the mens and womens tournaments. The Spanish men had a stunning upset win over world series regulars Samoa in the last-ditch repechage, a victory which playmaker Patricia Garcia said inspired her womens team to its victory over Russia in Dublin the following week.--USEFUL TERMSRuck, maul, scrum -- all physical contests for the ball. Hooker, prop, wing -- all playing positions.--FORMATEach competition will feature 12 teams divided into three pools, with the top eight advancing to the quarterfinals. U.S. teams got tough draws: the men were grouped with Fiji, Argentina and Brazil, and the women were grouped with Australia, Fiji and Colombia. ' ' '