导出博客文章RIO DE JANEIRO -- Howard Shu was just 10 when he lost a match in his first
badminton tournament to the top junior in his class.Shus mother was wowed by the
talent on the other side of the net and asked the winners mother if her son
would like to compete with Howard in doubles.The mother was blunt:Your son
sucks.Shu laughed as he recalled the story that would serve as motivation for
him to become more a serious badminton player. He returned to the same
tournament the next year and beat the kid who was too good to team with Shu.Shus
been winning matches around the world for most of the last 15 years.The
top-ranked American singles player has his biggest match yet when he opens play
Friday in a sport known more as a lazy backyard summer game than a serious sport
in the Summer Games.China won gold in all five badminton events in 2012, and
many top Chinese will again be contenders when play opens Wednesday.Shu would
love to leave with a medal to go with another passport stamp. Shus Instagram
page looks like something straight out of Wheres Waldo. Theres Shu chilling in a
pool after the Olympic trials in Tahiti. Or hes snapping a selfie from Table
Mountain in South Africa.He even posted a short clip of the time he pulled on a
wetsuit and went swimming with the sharks in Cape Town, South Africa after he
won a major international tournament. Sometimes, hes just kicking up his Jordans
and relaxing.Shus thirst for adventure and his world-class skills have made him
the natural spokesman for an American team hopeful of bringing home the countrys
first medal in the sport. Badminton is on the short list of sports the U.S. has
failed to even medal in, joining handball, rhythmic gymnastics, table tennis and
trampoline.The 25-year-old Shu, who graduated from UCLA, isnt a strong medal
favorite. But he has the type of charisma that could help Americans take notice
of badminton for at least a few days should he advance deep into the
tournament.Badminton is stuck in the same Rio de Janeiro complex as other minor
sports that include weightlifting and table tennis. At the Olympic level,
badminton smashes reach over 200 mph and boast long rallies that could rival the
most thrilling in tennis. The shuttle whizzes across the net like a darting
mosquito and only the best make sure the shuttlecock -- made of 16 goose
feathers stuck to a leather-covered round cork, that weighs only about 5 grams
-- never hits the floor.Every player has a different style. When I go on the
court, its really like art, Shu said.Shus parents are both from Taiwan and his
father played badminton. Shu started playing at 8, running around like a little
brat when he tagged along with his dad. Shu played soccer and baseball, even
basketball, which forged what he called an addiction to sneakers.Yes, the Shu
certainly fits when it comes to calling him a Jordan aficionado.The sneaker
junkie has more than 100 pairs of sneaks and multiples of his favorites (one to
rock, one to stock) with a fondness for the Air Jordan 11s.Hes put some serious
miles on his size-10 soles. The 6-foot-1 Shu has dominated badminton around the
world, especially last year when he hit 30 countries in 12 tournaments,
including one six-week stretch where he played on six continents.And one serious
plunge with great white sharks .I was on such a high from a winning a
tournament, I just said, `Im doing it, he said.Back on dry land, Shu posed for a
photo with Kevin Durant at the opening ceremony parade and later watched the
U.S. squad romp over Venezuela with friends and family from home.Hes part of a
seven-member delegation thats a longshot to medal -- but hopeful to open
American eyes to an underappreciated sport.I just want to go out there and show
people what the sport can be, Shu said.---AP Summer Games website:
http://summergames.ap.org
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.ca. Hey Kerry, big fan of yours, just finished reading your book. I think that
we all saw the Canucks/Flames line brawl just after puck drop. It was obvious
that something was about to happen, even to the referees because the fourth
lines were on to start.
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. Pert has formerly spent time as an assistant coach with Cardiff City, Coventry
City, and Bahrain mens national team. "Martyn is a highly-respected coach with
experience at the top levels in England," said Whitecaps FC head coach Carl
Robinson.
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. -- Aldon Smith believes he is on the path to being sober for good.
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. - Levi Browns tenure at left tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers is over before
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. Jay Feely kicked a 41-yard field goal in overtime, and the Cardinals edged the
Tennessee Titans 37-34 in overtime after blowing a 17-point lead late in the
fourth quarter. Patience doesnt always prevail in the NFL. We see it each year
as the coaching and general manager carousels spin -- a tenure of five years in
either capacity is considered long these days.Every season?could be considered?a
prove-it year in this league. That, of course, extends to players.Lets take a
look at seven players facing make-or-break seasons in 2016, and why this year is
such a critical juncture of their?careers.Eddie Lacy, RB, Green Bay PackersWeve
seen two different Lacys in his first three seasons in the league. Is the real
Lacy the one who ran through, over annd around defenders during his first two
seasons, or the?one who stumbled through the 2015 season in underwhelming
fashion?At his best, Lacy is the centerpiece of an offense.dddddddddddd He has a
unique blend of size, power, nimble feet and soft hands to catch the football.
Last season, Lacys physique played a part in his performance, but he worked hard
this offseason to get his weight down (in the range?of 15 to 18 pounds, a source
told ESPN).
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