Daily Archives: August 25, 2022

Bruce Mapp says his dreams of playing wide receiver in the NFL looked very promising leading up to his senior year of college.

The Philadelphia product started playing football when he was 11 with the Overbrook Monarchs, a youth team, and he later helped lead West Catholic to a state title his junior year of high school. Mapp earned a football scholarship to play at Coastal Carolina, and he was named first team All-Big South his junior year with the Chanticleers. He currently ranks fourth on the South Carolina schools list for career receiving yards (2,438).

But Mapp wasnt drafted in 2017 following his graduation, and after he explored several other avenues he attended his hometown Eagles 2017 Local Day workout and also tried to latch on with a Canadian Football League team Mapp decided in 2018 that a pro football career was not in the cards.

That was tough, says Mapp, 28. Its a game Id been playing since I was a kid, but I decided to give up those dreams. I was trying to figure out what was next in my life. I had a bachelors degree [and an MBA], but football was always the main priority.

Mapp didnt abandon football altogether. He briefly coached at West Catholic, his high school alma mater, and started playing flag football games around Philadelphia just for fun on Sundays and Wednesdays, and he was reunited with many of his high school teammates and opponents.

I got hooked, says Mapp.

When he moved to Dallas in December 2018, Mapp says that is when his flag football career really took off. While Mapp continued to play flag football recreationally in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, he was also getting started with his own food truck business called So Icy and which serves Philadelphia-style water ice, soft pretzels and yes, cheesesteaks.

Before long, however, Mapps football skills caught the attention of Team USA talent evaluators.

In April 2019, I was told, Youre on the radar for Team USA, says Mapp. Im like, What? Flag football has a national team?

He got an invite to Team USA in 2020, and his star has only continued to rise in the fast-growing sport which has mens and womens national teams that fall under the USA Football umbrella. This past July, Mapp and along with former Imhotep football player Aamir Brown helped Team USA beat Italy to win a gold medal at the World Games in Birmingham. Mapp says he hopes that the next medal he can chase will be of the Olympic variety.

It looks like (flag football) is set for 2028 (Olympics) in Los Angeles, especially after all the good feedback we just got from the World Games, says Mapp.

The International Olympic Committee ultimately holds the final decision on which sports can be included in the Summer Games, but the NFL has already partnered with the International Federation of American Football gridiron footballs international governing body and NFL executive and former Eagles player Troy Vincent recently told the Associated Press that the ultimate goal is for flag football to be part of future Olympic Games.

There are only five players on both offense and defense of a flag football game, and the sports field dimensions 30 yards wide by 70 yards long are smaller than those of tackle football fields. Mapp says that the changes mean players have to make some major adjustments on both sides of the ball.

Receivers have to run quicker routes and you have to be more creative in your routes, sometimes double or triple the moves because theres not a lot of space to operate, says Mapp. The quarterbacks are rushed every play, and with no blockers.

Mapp says defenders, however, have the roughest assignment, and can be humbled very quickly on any play.

Ask any former (gridiron) player who now plays flag football defense. It is harder to pull a flag off than it is to make an open-field tackle, says Mapp.

Mapps on-field highlights have landed him on ESPN and NFL.com video spots, but his food truck has also received some TV shout-outs. In July, CBS Mornings interviewed Mapp about his flag football career and his So Icy business.

Its doing well, Mapp says of his food truck. Theyve never really had water ice down here in Texas. No Ritas. When I moved here, my girlfriend said, We have snow cones. I was like, I dont know how Im going to do these hot summers in Dallas without water ice.

Im glad I got to bring a taste of Philly here and start the business.

Mapp, who is a father to nearly 2-year-old daughter Brooklynn, says he still gets a lot of love from his Philly roots family, former coaches, friends and players for both his new football path and his nascent entrepreneurial success.

I have a lot of people telling me, I didnt know flag football was this big! Now other players want to get into it after having seen me, says Mapp. I get a lot of good feedback.

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Flag football in the Olympics? Team USAs gold medal showing at the World Games had a Philly influence - The Philadelphia Inquirer

Qatar is hosting the World Cup this November, but its much larger neighbor would like to take on the only global sporting event of comparable size.

Saudi Arabia wants to host the Olympics, calling it the ultimate goal of its sports strategy.

The country has leaned into sports as part of its efforts to diversify its economy beyond oil, though some have charged that the efforts are an attempt to sportswash Saudi Arabias checkered human rights record.

Beijing spent a reported $8.8 billion on the 2022 Winter Olympics. Germany has also shown interest in hosting the Games.

Saudi Arabia has attracted attention as the backer of LIV Golf, which has lured golfers with paychecks often in excess of $100 million, but its sports and gaming portfolio has become quite extensive.

On Monday, Saudi Arabia became the first nation to approve Microsofts $68.7 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard. The PIF holds a $2.9 billion stake in Activision Blizzard.

The fund also holds massive stakes in video game giants Nintendo, Electronic Arts, and Take-Two Interactive.

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Saudi Arabia Wants To Host the Olympics - Front Office Sports

This is an excerpt from The Buzzer, which is CBC Sports' daily email newsletter.Stay up to speed on what's happening in sports by subscribing here.

The last time Canada appeared in an Olympic men's basketball event was in the year 2000. For perspective, the man who dragged Canada into the quarter-finals in Sydney, Steve Nash, was a 26-year-old point guard still five years away from winning his first of back-to-back NBA MVP awards. Today, he's a 48-year-old head coachfending off a coup attemptby Kevin Durant, who was 11 when the Sydney tournament tipped off.

The quickest and best way for the Canadian men's team to end its quarter-century absence from the Olympics in 2024 is via next summer's FIBA Basketball World Cup in Asia. The top two finishers from Canada's region, the Americas, get tickets to the Paris Olympics. One of those will almost certainly go to the United States, but the other is very much up for grabs. Argentina got it for last summer's Olympics in Tokyo despite having zero notable NBA players.

Canada has several of those on its current roster, including legit standouts in Jamal Murray, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, RJ Barrett, Dillon Brooks and Lu Dort all of whom have committed to the national team for this Olympic cycle. Andrew Wiggins has not, but there's hope that the key member of Golden State's 2022 championship team might hop on later. With a bunch of other solid NBA contributors on board Kelly Olynyk, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Dwight Powell and the Raptors' Khem Birch, to name some and former NBA coach of the year Nick Nurse at the helm, Canada's chances of getting to Paris look pretty good.

But first, there's some business to attend to. In order to reach the World Cup, Canada must successfully navigate the final round of Americas qualifying, which tips off Thursday and wraps up in late February (there's also a window of games in mid-November).

It's not a very difficult task. Seven of the 32 spots in the World Cup are earmarked for the Americas, and only 12 teams remain in the hunt for them. They're divided into two groups of six for this final round, where all Canada has to do is finish in the top three in its group or be the better of the two fourth-place teams. As the only team to go 6-0 in the previous round, Canada starts with a cushion over Argentina (5-1), Venezuela (5-1), the Dominican Republic (4-2), Panama (2-4) and the Bahamas (2-4). Canada played the Dominican and the Bahamas already, so it doesn't face them again. It will play the other three teams at home and away between now and February. It would be shocking if Canada doesn't finish in the top three in this group.

The Canadians open their final-round slate Thursday night vs. Argentina in Victoria, perhaps their toughest test. Tip-off time is 10:40 p.m. ET. Then they travel to Panama for their only other game in this window, on Monday at 8:10 p.m. ET.

Given that the next two qualifying windows fall during the NBA season, Canada will want to bank a couple of wins and build some chemistry while some of its most talented players are available. Gilgeous-Alexander, who made his long-awaited national-team debut in the July window and averaged 28 points in two games, is expected to play. So are Alexander-Walker, Olynyk, Powell, Oshae Brissett and Cory Joseph. But Barrett, Dort, Brooks, Birch and Murray, who's still working back from an April 2021 knee injury that cost him all of last season, will not. Those five did, however, attend this week's training camp in Victoria. Learn more about the Canadian team's outlook for the upcoming qualifiers by readingthis storyand watchingthis video.

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Canada's men's basketball team is back on the road to the Olympics - CBC Sports

Caitlyn Jenner, previously known as Bruce Jenner, is popular for her Olympic success back in 1976. Jenner hit her personal bests in all the events on the first day of the decathlon despite being placed second. Apart from sports, the star was also attracted to TV and film and hopped into the same during the mid-1970s.

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Furthermore, Jenner also had a short-living car racer career. Besides this, her fight for the transgender community also adds up to the huge fan base she has created over time. In 2019, Caitlyn Jenner once opened up about her struggle after her Olympic triumph.

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During childhood, Jenner had a tough time realizing her situation and understanding her sexuality. She said that she would try her mothers clothes surreptitiously. Back in the day, it was more difficult for people to come up and accept a different gender than their congenital one.

Soon after the athletes Olympic glory in 1976, she felt trapped and extremely confused. Her mind was in chaos with several thoughts. In BBCs Dont Tell Me The Score podcast, Jenner explained the same a few years ago.

I remember getting up the next morning and walking to the bathroom without a stitch of clothes on, said the star water skier. The gold medal was sitting there on the table. I put it around my neck, looked in the mirror and asked myself Am I stuck with this person the rest of my life?

Nevertheless, Jenner proved her bold personality when she revealed her sexuality back in April 2015. Ever since then, the athlete never backed off despite facing several obstacles.Moreover, she also suffered from dyslexia and had low confidence in school. Sports was the only ray of hope in her life that pulled her out of the darkness.

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Jenner is also a former American basketball player. The athlete has shown her enthusiastic and strong self multiple times, both on and off the court.

When the interviewee wanted to know her biggest achievement, Jenners perfect reply inspired many.Caitlyn Jenner said, I would have to put my identity as higher. It was tougher to do. I trained 12 years for the Olympic Games. I trained 65 years to transition in 2015.

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Watch This Story: Caitlyn Jenner roasts daughter Kendalls partner Devin Booker after he blew it vs Luka Doncic: too bad the suns lost

Sports and sexuality have nothing do to with one another. Despite that, there are several issues people have to go through in the sports world. Notably, a similar discussion was on the highlights before the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Originally posted here:

Stuck With This Person Rest of My Life?: Caitlyn Jenner Made Heartbreaking Confession on Her Post-Olympics Identity Crisis Back in 2019 -...

OSCODA Musicians Jerry Schmidt, Teresa and Bobby Lamrock, Jim Miller and Annie Hopcroft will present a concert for the Benefit of Special Olympics Area 31, at the Oscoda Downtown Beach Park, on Thursday, Aug. 25, at 7 p.m.

The concert is the last in the Oscoda Rotary Clubs Summer Concert Series and any and all proceeds from the event go toward funding Special Olympics, according to organizers.

The groups repertoire includes Jerry Schmidt originals such as Black Levis and Out of Control from his Lets Take This Show on the Road album, as well as covers from Leonard Cohen, Fleetwood Mac, Queen, Bob Dylan, the Eagles, Credence Clearwater Revival, Beach Boys, the Tedeschi Trucks Band, Bob Seger, Dolly Parton, the Marshall Tucker Band, the Beatles, Pure Prairie League, the Bee Gees, Old Crow Medicine Show, Crosby Stills Nash & Young and more.

Husband and wife duo Bobby and Teresa Lamrock perform frequently in the Millington area as Tipsico Road. Bobby Lamrock was a member of the Wild Hair Band with Schmidt, which gained popularity at music festivals up and down Michigans coasts in the 2000s.

Teresa Lamrock, known for her powerful vocals, got her start in the church choir, and gives a haunting rendition of Dolly Partons song Jolene.

Jim Miller is a sought-after, Alcona-based drummer who plays throughout northern Michigan with jazz and rockabilly ensembles.

Ukelele bass is the instrument Annie Hopcroft brings to the band for the first time this year.

Dont be misled by the size, that U-bass contributes a big, round sound to the mix, she offers. Until 2019, Hopcroft served as the Area Director for Special Olympics and chaired its collaboration with Rotary to bring this yearly benefit concert to the Oscoda Beach Park stage.

The Rotary-sponsored concert will be free and open to the public, its last for the season. Attendees should bring beach chairs, and jackets, just in case. The Rotary and Interact Club sell popcorn, water and soft drinks, and collect donations for Special Olympics.

Well have a sign-up and information table, says Special Olympics Coach David Maiale, for anyone who wants to get involved with the program. And, of course, we will welcome all donations.

Special Olympics is open to all persons over the age of 8 with intellectual disabilities. Area 31 covers Iosco County and surrounding communities.

Read more here:

Jerry Schmidt, Tipsico Road and Friends to play for Special Olympics benefit concert Thursday - Iosco County News Herald

Los Angeles Angels (52-72, fourth in the AL West) vs. Tampa Bay Rays (68-55, second in the AL East)

St. Petersburg, Florida; Thursday, 1:10 p.m. EDT

PITCHING PROBABLES: Angels: Patrick Sandoval (4-8, 3.14 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 115 strikeouts); Rays: Drew Rasmussen (8-4, 2.82 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 90 strikeouts)

FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK LINE: Rays -184, Angels +155; over/under is 6 1/2 runs

BOTTOM LINE: The Tampa Bay Rays will try to keep a five-game home win streak alive when they face the Los Angeles Angels.

Tampa Bay is 68-55 overall and 41-23 in home games. The Rays have a 42-7 record in games when they scored at least five runs.

Los Angeles has a 26-36 record on the road and a 52-72 record overall. The Angels have gone 18-52 in games when they have allowed a home run.

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Thursday's game is the seventh time these teams meet this season. The Rays hold a 4-2 advantage in the season series.

TOP PERFORMERS: Yandy Diaz has 27 doubles, seven home runs and 46 RBI for the Rays. Christian Bethancourt is 5-for-14 with three home runs and five RBI over the last 10 games.

Shohei Ohtani leads the Angels with 50 extra base hits (18 doubles, five triples and 27 home runs). Luis Rengifo is 10-for-41 with three doubles, two home runs and seven RBI over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Rays: 8-2, .248 batting average, 1.55 ERA, outscored opponents by 26 runs

Angels: 2-8, .210 batting average, 4.24 ERA, outscored by 28 runs

INJURIES: Rays: Roman Quinn: 10-Day IL (knee), Matt Wisler: 15-Day IL (neck), Shane Baz: 60-Day IL (elbow), Kevin Kiermaier: 60-Day IL (hip), Mike Zunino: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Josh Fleming: 15-Day IL (oblique), Wander Franco: 10-Day IL (wrist), J.P. Feyereisen: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Andrew Kittredge: 60-Day IL (elbow), Tyler Glasnow: 60-Day IL (elbow), Yonny Chirinos: 60-Day IL (elbow)

Angels: Mickey Moniak: 10-Day IL (finger), Michael Lorenzen: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Matt Duffy: 60-Day IL (back), Archie Bradley: 60-Day IL (elbow), Anthony Rendon: 60-Day IL (wrist), Chris Rodriguez: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Griffin Canning: 60-Day IL (back)

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Data Skrive. All rights reserved.

We're delivering updates and highlights on the Summer Olympics daily to your inbox, including What to Watch, live coverage, schedules and medal counts.

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Rays host the Angels on 5-game home win streak - Buffalo News

Colorado Rockies (54-71, fifth in the NL West) vs. New York Mets (79-46, first in the NL East)

New York; Thursday, 7:10 p.m. EDT

PITCHING PROBABLES: Rockies: Ryan Feltner (2-4, 5.88 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, 49 strikeouts); Mets: Jacob deGrom (2-1, 2.31 ERA, .51 WHIP, 37 strikeouts)

FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK LINE: Mets -417, Rockies +324; over/under is 7 runs

BOTTOM LINE: The New York Mets host the Colorado Rockies on Thursday to open a four-game series.

New York has gone 40-19 in home games and 79-46 overall. Mets hitters have a collective .408 slugging percentage to rank sixth in the NL.

Colorado has gone 18-39 in road games and 54-71 overall. Rockies hitters are batting a collective .263, the top team batting average in MLB play.

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Thursday's game is the fourth meeting between these teams this season.

TOP PERFORMERS: Pete Alonso leads the Mets with 53 extra base hits (23 doubles and 30 home runs). Mark Canha is 10-for-27 with five doubles, three home runs and eight RBI over the last 10 games.

C.J. Cron has 26 doubles, three triples, 24 home runs and 83 RBI for the Rockies. Elehuris Montero is 7-for-34 with a double, three home runs and seven RBI over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Mets: 4-6, .243 batting average, 5.14 ERA, outscored by 11 runs

Rockies: 3-7, .240 batting average, 6.90 ERA, outscored by 35 runs

INJURIES: Mets: Stephen Nogosek: 15-Day IL (oblique), Eduardo Escobar: 10-Day IL (oblique), Carlos Carrasco: 15-Day IL (side), Luis Guillorme: 10-Day IL (groin), Tommy Hunter: 15-Day IL (back), Drew Smith: 15-Day IL (back), Tylor Megill: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Sean Reid-Foley: 60-Day IL (elbow), John Curtiss: 60-Day IL (elbow), Joey Lucchesi: 60-Day IL (elbow)

Rockies: Antonio Senzatela: 15-Day IL (acl), Alex Colome: 15-Day IL (elbow), Yonathan Daza: 10-Day IL (shoulder), Chad Kuhl: 15-Day IL (hip), Kris Bryant: 10-Day IL (foot), Tyler Kinley: 60-Day IL (elbow), Helcris Olivarez: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Ryan Rolison: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Scott Oberg: 60-Day IL (arm)

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Data Skrive. All rights reserved.

We're delivering updates and highlights on the Summer Olympics daily to your inbox, including What to Watch, live coverage, schedules and medal counts.

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Mets host the Rockies in first of 4-game series - Buffalo News

Cincinnati Reds (48-74, fourth in the NL Central) vs. Philadelphia Phillies (69-55, third in the NL East)

Philadelphia; Thursday, 7:05 p.m. EDT

PITCHING PROBABLES: Reds: Justin Dunn (1-1, 6.08 ERA, 1.73 WHIP, 10 strikeouts); Phillies: Aaron Nola (8-10, 3.25 ERA, .96 WHIP, 174 strikeouts)

FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK LINE: Phillies -331, Reds +260; over/under is 8 1/2 runs

BOTTOM LINE: The Philadelphia Phillies will try to keep a three-game home win streak going when they take on the Cincinnati Reds.

Philadelphia has gone 36-29 at home and 69-55 overall. The Phillies are 51-11 in games when they have more hits than their opponents.

Cincinnati has gone 22-38 on the road and 48-74 overall. The Reds are 34-14 in games when they have more hits than their opponents.

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Thursday's game is the seventh time these teams meet this season. The Phillies hold a 5-1 advantage in the season series.

TOP PERFORMERS: J.T. Realmuto has 21 doubles, five triples and 14 home runs for the Phillies. Nicholas Castellanos is 16-for-44 with three doubles and two home runs over the last 10 games.

Jonathan India has 13 doubles, a triple, eight home runs and 27 RBI for the Reds. Jake Fraley is 9-for-33 with two doubles and four home runs over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Phillies: 6-4, .293 batting average, 4.25 ERA, outscored opponents by four runs

Reds: 4-6, .268 batting average, 5.02 ERA, outscored opponents by two runs

INJURIES: Phillies: Corey Knebel: 60-Day IL (lat), Seranthony Dominguez: 15-Day IL (tricep), Bryce Harper: 60-Day IL (thumb), Brandon Marsh: 10-Day IL (ankle), Hans Crouse: 60-Day IL (biceps), Zach Eflin: 60-Day IL (knee), James McArthur: 60-Day IL (elbow), Damon Jones: 60-Day IL (shoulder)

Reds: Mike Moustakas: day-to-day (calf), Graham Ashcraft: 15-Day IL (biceps), Matt Reynolds: 10-Day IL (hip), Albert Almora Jr.: 10-Day IL (shoulder), Joey Votto: 60-Day IL (rotator cuff), Aramis Garcia: 60-Day IL (finger), Robert Dugger: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Hunter Greene: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Tyler Stephenson: 60-Day IL (clavicle), Jeff Hoffman: 15-Day IL (forearm), Vladimir Gutierrez: 60-Day IL (forearm), Tony Santillan: 60-Day IL (back), Tejay Antone: 60-Day IL (elbow), Lucas Sims: 60-Day IL (back), Justin Wilson: 60-Day IL (elbow), Connor Overton: 60-Day IL (back), Daniel Duarte: 60-Day IL (elbow)

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Data Skrive. All rights reserved.

We're delivering updates and highlights on the Summer Olympics daily to your inbox, including What to Watch, live coverage, schedules and medal counts.

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Phillies host the Reds, aim to continue home win streak - Buffalo News

Cleveland Guardians (66-56, first in the AL Central) vs. Seattle Mariners (67-57, second in the AL West)

Seattle; Thursday, 4:10 p.m. EDT

PITCHING PROBABLES: Guardians: Triston McKenzie (9-9, 3.11 ERA, .96 WHIP, 138 strikeouts); Mariners: Marco Gonzales (8-12, 4.08 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, 75 strikeouts)

FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK LINE: Guardians -120, Mariners +101; over/under is 7 1/2 runs

BOTTOM LINE: The Cleveland Guardians will try to keep a three-game road win streak alive when they face the Seattle Mariners.

Seattle is 32-27 at home and 67-57 overall. The Mariners have a 47-6 record in games when they have more hits than their opponents.

Cleveland has a 66-56 record overall and a 34-31 record in road games. The Guardians have a 37-13 record in games when they did not give up a home run.

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The teams meet Thursday for the first time this season.

TOP PERFORMERS: Julio Rodriguez has 19 doubles, three triples and 20 home runs while hitting .271 for the Mariners. Eugenio Suarez is 8-for-30 with a double, a triple and five home runs over the past 10 games.

Jose Ramirez has 25 home runs, 48 walks and 103 RBI while hitting .285 for the Guardians. Oscar Gonzalez is 12-for-39 with five doubles, two home runs and four RBI over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Mariners: 5-5, .233 batting average, 3.62 ERA, outscored opponents by 14 runs

Guardians: 6-4, .254 batting average, 2.43 ERA, outscored opponents by 18 runs

INJURIES: Mariners: Ryan Borucki: 15-Day IL (forearm), Matthew Boyd: 60-Day IL (elbow), Tom Murphy: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Evan White: 60-Day IL (hernia), Casey Sadler: 60-Day IL (shoulder)

Guardians: Anthony Gose: 60-Day IL (tricep), Cody Morris: 60-Day IL (shoulder)

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Data Skrive. All rights reserved.

We're delivering updates and highlights on the Summer Olympics daily to your inbox, including What to Watch, live coverage, schedules and medal counts.

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Guardians bring road win streak into game against the Mariners - Buffalo News