overed their heads with the ever-present green and yellow flags in an attempt to stay dry. Others wore ponchos and waved their flags and cele

RIO DE JANEIRO -- Alison and Bruno stood on the top step of the Olympic podium, holding back tears as the booming voices of the Carioca singing the Brazilian national anthem rose above the waves crashing against Copacabana beach.In front of our people. In the best spot for this sport, Bruno said after the reigning world champions beat Italy in straight sets in the beach volleyball gold medal match on Thursday night. This is a magical feeling.In a temporary stadium erected on the sports spiritual home, during a steady rain that only served to help the 6-foot-8 Alison jump even higher, the Brazilians rallied from deficits in both sets to beat Daniele Lupo and Paolo Nicolai 21-19, 21-17.The victory sparked a lively -- but somewhat drenched -- party one night after losses in the womens bronze- and gold-medal matches left the hosts with just two total medals at the Rio Games in a sport they love and were expected to dominate.Its like a dream realized. I cant believe it, said Alison, who lost in the gold medal match in London. Its amazing. I dont have the words.The Netherlands beat Russia earlier Thursday in a bronze-medal match that was subdued after two weeks of singing and samba dancing in the 12,000-seat venue. But when the time came for the main event, the stands filled and the anticipation built.Italy opened a 5-1 lead but the hosts came back to win the first set. In the second, Brazil trailed by three before scoring 11 of the next 15 points to take a 19-15 lead.Alison delivered his sixth block on the game-winner, knocking it off Lupo for what the referee ruled was a double-touch. The Italians questioned the call, but by the time the score hit the scoreboard the Brazilian athletes were already in the stands.We tried everything to win the game, Nicolai said. They were the best, for sure.Some fans covered their heads with the ever-present green and yellow flags in an attempt to stay dry. Others wore ponchos and waved their flags and celebrate each point scored by the locals.As he has throughout the tournament, Alison egged on the crowd, pointing to his ear to encourage fans to yell louder after the Brazilians rallied from the early deficit.The victory helped salvage what had been a bit of a disappointment for the Brazilian beach volleyball teams, who stepped onto their home sand with the top two womens seeds and two of the top four on the mens side.Pedro and Evandro failed to make it out of the round of 16, and the top-seeded womens teams collected only a silver medal.Even with Italys loss, it was cause for celebration in Europe.No European country had ever won a medal in womens beach volleyball -- or even reached the final four -- before Germany beat one Brazilian team in the semifinal and another in the championship to claim the gold.With the Dutch bronze and Italian silver on the mens side, the three medals were an Olympic high for the continent. Heading into the Rio Games, the sport had been dominated by Brazilians and Americans, who combined to win 20 of a possible 30 medals.I dont think we have to talk about it being the Brazilians and the Americans anymore, said Alexander Brouwer after he joined with Robert Meeuwsen to win 23-21, 22-20 and earn the Netherlands first beach medal.Of course, its where the sport was invented, he said. But if you talk about it now, we are on an even level. Adidas NMD R1 Japan Black . -- Aaron Murray threw for 408 yards and three touchdowns, ran for another score, and led No. Adidas NMD Mens Clearance . The judges scored it 48-47, 48-47, 49-46 for Jones (19-1). It was the champions closest call. Despite the loss, it was a remarkable show by the confident Swedish challenger, who had the best of the early rounds and then hung on in the fourth and fifth. http://www.cheapnmdonline.com/wholesale-adidas-nmd-r1-china.html .com) - The red-hot Los Angeles Kings will try to extend their winning streak to a season-high seven games when they visit the Edmonton Oilers for Sundays clash at Rexall Place. Best Fake NMD Human Race . Radwanska, making her debut in the Seoul tournament, hit eight aces in a match that lasted 1 hour, 4 minutes at Olympic Park tennis stadium. "It was definitely a very good match -- I was playing really good tennis," Radwanska said. Adidas NMD R1 Womens Raw Pink . 10 Texas Rangers jersey for one last time. Young formally announced his retirement Friday after returning to Rangers Ballpark, his baseball home for all but the last of his 13 major league seasons. CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. -- Tommy Bartlett, who coached the Florida mens basketball team for seven seasons, has died. He was 88.Tom Tallent, the manager at Chattanooga Funeral Home, confirmed Thursday that Bartlett died Wednesday at his Chattanooga home.Bartlett had a 95-85 record at Florida from 1966-73. He also coached Chattanooga from 1958-62 and was 56-38.Before coaching, Bartlett lettered at Tennessee from 1949-52. He also played tennis at Tennessee, where he won six Southeastern Conference individual titlees and led the Volunteers to an SEC team championship in 1951.ddddddddddddBartlett coached mens tennis at Tennessee from 1963-66. He later coached mens and womens tennis at Chattanooga. Bartlett led the Chattanooga women to three straight Division II national titles from 1983-85.He was inducted into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame in 1986.---Online: www.collegebasketball.ap.org ' ' '