Support » late and is headed back to the bullpen.

RIO DE JANEIRO -- Maggie Steffens and the U.S. womens water polo team stood on the top step of the podium and belted out the national anthem through a mixture of smiles and tears.Italy and Russia stood on each side of the Americans, and they might as well have been miles away.The dominant U.S. womens teams in gymnastics, basketball and swimming have some company. The womens water polo team, hailing almost exclusively from California, beat Italy 12-5 on Friday for its second straight gold medal, and there are signs it could replicate the sustained success of some of Americas most famous Olympic juggernauts.We could, goaltender Ashleigh Johnson said. But some of our girls arent coming back, and they already know that. It wont be the same team. This team will never be the same team again.The U.S. closed its schedule with 22 straight wins, rolling through its six games in Rio by a combined score of 73-32. It currently holds each of the major crowns in womens water polo, adding a second Olympic gold to its world championship, World Cup and World League Super Final titles.The ease with which it dispatched with the eight-team field in Rio -- the Americans held the lead after 23 of their 24 quarters and trailed for a total of 44 seconds -- made a case for this team being the best ever assembled in the sport.I think you could make a strong argument, coach Adam Krikorian said. That 2012 team in the last games I love to death, they were a gritty, hard-nosed, tough crew, but this team has done some special things.Said Italy coach Fabio Conti: USA is, in this moment, a team of another universe.While the 2012 gold medalists were a veteran crew, the U.S. had nine newcomers this year, including teenagers Maddie Musselman and sisters Makenzie and Aria Fischer. Musselman scored 12 goals and made the all-tournament team, and Makenzie Fischer scored seven times.Johnson, the first black woman to play water polo for the United States in the Olympics, turns 22 next month. Steffens, the MVP of the last two games, is just 23 and sounded ready to sign up for Tokyo right away.I dont know whats going to happen in the next four years, Steffens said, but this is too incredible, incredible of an opportunity to call yourself an Olympian with a team, a real team, not just people that are thrown together, but a team that has grown together, to pass up again. So I for sure would love to be back in this situation in four years.The big question is the status of Krikorian, who said he wasnt sure if he would continue with the national team. Krikorians brother, Blake, died right before the start of the Olympics, starting an emotional time for the former UCLA coach, culminating with the victory in the final.Krikorian is beloved by his players, who rallied to his side when he returned to Rio after going home to spend time with his family, and his departure could alter the trajectory of the program.I love coaching. I love this team, Krikorian said. I love having an impact on young people. I love leading. That doesnt mean that this is what Im going to do the rest of my life. I think I need to figure that out. I think its always good to keep your options open and see what else is out there.---Jay Cohen can be reached at http://www.twitter.com/jcohenap Josh Oliver Womens Jersey . LOUIS -- The New Orleans Saints looked like a team playing out the string. Leonard Fournette Womens Jersey . Anthony Calvillo, through 20 CFL seasons, was frequently invincible and largely stoic in the heat of competition. But underneath the professional exterior he was, and is, compellingly human. http://www.officialjacksonvillejaguarspro.com/ . Burris threw two TD passes, including a key 15-yard fourth-quarter strike to Bakari Grant that effectively countered a Toronto comeback bid and led Hamilton to a 33-19 victory. Telvin Smith Jersey . The mixed zone is not a place to make friends. Josh Oliver Jaguars Jersey . -- There were so many positives from the Orlando Magics first victory of the season that it was hard for coach Jacque Vaughn to stop praising his players.TORONTO - The Blue Jays lost 5-1 to American League West-leading Oakland and dropped three of four to the Athletics. Below are some news items following Mondays game. HAPPS PITCH COUNT J.A. Happ was brilliant on Monday afternoon, working seven innings and throwing 116 pitches in the process. Happ has a tendency to work a high pitch count relatively early in games. He can be up near 90 or 100 by the fifth or sixth innings. "He gets a lot of foul balls," said manager John Gibbons. "Hes not a control-type guy. Ideally youd wish hed throw more strikes but to this point thats not who he is but he does get a lot of foul balls and that tends to run the count up pretty good." Happs 116 pitches on Monday was a season high for the left-hander, who will depart the ballclub for a few days to attend his grandfathers funeral. "I definitely had a heavy heart," said Happ, who became emotional. "I tried to use it. I probably had a little bit of a different attitude, a different outlook, given the last few days. But … I felt good and will be glad to get with family this week." Happ has been placed on the bereavement list, which leaves him a window of between three and seven days to be away from the ballclub. The move allows the Blue Jays to recall right-hander Todd Redmond from Triple-A Buffalo in time to make the TTuesday night start against the Red Sox.dddddddddddd ROGERS OKAY WITH MOVE BACK TO BULLPEN Esmil Rogers has struggled of late and is headed back to the bullpen. As for 2014, hell pitch where the Blue Jays put him. "Any opportunity they give it to me Im going to take it," said Rogers. "It doesnt matter if its in the bullpen. it doesnt matter if its nowhere. I just want to be in here. Thats where I want to be. It doesnt matter if its going to be like a funny thing, like an umpire, I want to be in the big leagues. I want to be here to help the team win." Rogers made 13 starts for the Blue Jays and initially was effective. Hes struggled of late, however, allowing 20 earned runs in his last three outings (12 1/3 innings.) As a starter, Rogers has a 5.48 ERA and a WHIP of 1.565. In those 13 games opponents hit .307 against Rogers and had an OPS of .863. RASMUS HURT Colby Rasmus wasnt in the Blue Jays starting lineup on Monday. "We talked (on Sunday) about giving him a day off," said manager John Gibbons. "He tweaked his ab a little bit too. Hopefully its not a big deal. Well know a little bit more (Tuesday.") Rasmus, who turned 27 on Monday, has a good chance to eclipse his single-season career high in home runs (23 – 2010 with St. Louis and 2012 with Toronto.) He has 18 so far this year. ' ' '