Offtopic/fun » Baylor-esque, but the Huskies can still beat two m

RIO DE JANEIRO -- Mariana Pajon of Colombia raised her BMX bike triumphantly in the air, another Olympic gold medal securely in hand.Minutes later, American rider Connor Fields fell to his knees after crossing the finish line first in the mens final.The United States isnt used to winning gold in this event, even if BMX traces its roots to Southern California.BMX racing at the Rio de Janeiro Games came to a close Friday with Pajon successfully defending her gold and the United States claiming its first Olympic title in the unpredictable action sport.There was kind of a point where I exited the last corner and realized I was winning, said a smiling Fields, his new medal draped around his neck. I was like, `Get to the line! Get to the line! I crossed that finish line and dropped to my knees. I couldnt believe it.American riders had already claimed a podium finish when Alise Post took silver behind Pajon. The United States had been shut out from the medal stand in 2012 in London.Stefany Hernandez of Venezuela won the bronze on Friday.Pajon had an impressive run in Rio, winning all three of her semifinal heats. She finished the nearly quarter-mile course filled with bumps and turns in 34.093 seconds, beating Post by .342 seconds.My first gold was huge. But two is amazing, said Pajon, struggling to find words after the race.A legion of vocal fans wearing Team Colombia shirts or waving Colombias yellow, blue and red flags filled in any blanks.Mariana! Mariana! cried out fans elbowing each other for Pajon autographs near the finish line.Shes a star in Colombia, so much so that a BMX track has been named in her honor. She won a world title on that course in May.Pajon will take home a bigger prize when she returns to Medellin.I felt like I was home. I felt like I was in Colombia, Pajon said.Fields was looking forward to returning to his mothers house in Las Vegas to make room in the garage for another prize. On the wall is a goal he wrote out as a teenager, written with a Sharpie.It reads: One day, Ill become an Olympic champion.If only my 14-year-old self could see this now, Fields recounted.Fields completed the course in 34.642 seconds, holding off Dutch rider Jelle van Gorkom by .674 seconds.It had been a trying few months for Fields, who broke a bone in his left hand in the spring. He only returned to the bike in June, and needed a special brace to compete in Rio.In the final, Fields said he got off to the best start of his career, going 1-2 with Long out of the important first turn before breaking ahead.I would be lying if I said there werent any dark times, Fields said about coming back from injury. They say adversity makes you stronger if you let it.There was a photo finish for third, with Carlos Ramirez Yepes of Colombia just edging out the United States Nic Long for the bronze. Officials went to a video replay to determine that medal.Still, it was a banner day for the United States.Connor is the first (American) gold medalist in BMX. And Im very, very proud, this is the top womens result, said Post, holding up her silver medal. I think we can only go forward from here and be proud of our team.BMX power Australia had a disappointing showing. Medal favorite Caroline Buchanan didnt make the final after slipping in the first turn of her third womens semifinal heat. Teammate Sam Willoughby, the 2012 silver medalist, finished sixth in the mens final.Willoughby and Post are engaged, with a wedding date set for April.My heart is with Sam ... But its BMX. Its one of those sports where anything can happen, Post said. I guess well go home and discuss it over dinner with the dog.---Online:AP Summer Games: http://summergames.ap.org/---Follow Genaro Armas at: https://twitter.com/GArmasAPWalt Tkaczuk Jersey . -- Charlie Graham stopped 67 shots as the Belleville Bulls edged the visiting Guelph Storm 6-5 on Saturday in Ontario Hockey League action. Joe Kocur Rangers Jersey .B. - Sebastien Auger made 44 saves as the Saint John Sea Dogs edged the visiting Acadie-Bathurst Titan 2-1 on Saturday in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action. http://www.rangershockeyonlineshop.com/phil-esposito-hockey-jersey/ . And follow TSN.ca right through Deadline Day for all the updates. From Pierre LeBrun While Anaheim GM Bob Murray said earlier this season he was not going to trade Jonas Hiller despite the fact hes an unrestricted free agent on July 1, some sources have told TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun that Murray might be willing to move another goalie. Adam Graves Rangers Jersey . - Connor McDavid scored 53 seconds into overtime as the Erie Otters came from behind to defeat the visiting Guelph Storm 4-3 on Saturday in Ontario Hockey League action. Adam Graves Jersey . - Blake Griffin had 30 points and 12 rebounds, J.Poof!There goes everything you thought you knew about the College Football Playoff picture after No. 2 Clemson, No. 3 Michigan and No. 4 Washington all fell in Week 11 to join the one-loss club.Heres the crazy part: All three of them still control their own destiny in their conference races and will win their respective leagues if they win out. So, in spite of all of that chaos, its quite possible theres not a lot of movement in the selection committees top six this week.Its time to press the reset button.Heres a fresh look at the playoff picture in each Power 5 conference:ACCClemson: The Tigers will still clinch the Atlantic Division with a win at Wake Forest next week but cant afford another loss and have to beat rival South Carolina in the regular-season finale. If the committee is consistent with its reasoning from last week, the Tigers shouldnt drop below Louisville this week because of their head-to-head win over the Cardinals. Last week, Texas A&M didnt drop below Auburn specifically because of the Aggies head-to-head win.Louisville: The Cardinals were arguably the team that was helped the most, because at the very least, they will now be compared to more one-loss teams instead of undefeated teams. But Louisville still needs help. It cant win its conference championship unless Clemson loses to Wake Forest since the Cardinals were beaten head-to-head by Clemson. Plus, the Cardinals were trailing the Buckeyes in each of the committees first two rankings. With some more chaos, though, Louisville can still cling to the hope of having two ACC teams in the top four.BIG 12Oklahoma: The No. 11 Sooners are still undefeated in conference play but have been weighed down by nonconference losses to Ohio State and Houston. A bigger problem is the gap between them and No. 7 Wisconsin, which is currently the committees highest-ranked two-loss team.West Virginia: Dont count out a one-loss Big 12 champ, but the Mountaineers have a strength-of-schedule problem. When asked about WVU last week, selection committee chair Kirby Hocutt said, At this point in the season, theyve only played one game against a ranked College Football Playoff opponent, and that was to Oklahoma State, whos ranked No. 13 in this weeks rankings, and West Virginia lost that game. West Virginia just needs to continue to win and build their résumé in the eyes of the committee.BIG TENMichigan: If Michigan wins out, it will win the Big Ten East because the Wolverines own the head-to-head tiebreaker over Penn State. Michigan plays Indiana at home before the much-anticipated Nov. 26 gamme at Ohio State.ddddddddddddPenn State: Penn State has to win out and have Michigan lose again. If Penn State wins out, Ohio State cannot win the East division. If Penn State wins the division, the Big Ten is guaranteed to have a two-loss conference champion, as Wisconsin is the leader in the West, and its possible the league champ could be left out of the playoff entirely.Ohio State: The Buckeyes need Penn State to lose again, an unlikely scenario considering the Nittany Lions final two opponents are Michigan State and Rutgers. There is the possibility, though, that with more chaos, Ohio State sneaks into the top four without playing in the conference championship game as long as it wins out (which would include a victory over Michigan).Wisconsin: The Badgers have made the case as the nations best two-loss team with a chance at the playoff because they are currently ranked ahead of Oklahoma and will have another shot at a ranked opponent in the Big Ten title game, assuming they win the West.PAC-12Washington: If the Huskies win out, they will win the North and play in the Pac-12 championship game with a chance to keep their playoff hopes alive, but this is where their strength of schedule could be a serious dagger. Washingtons nonconference schedule ranks No. 128 according to ESPNs Football Power Index, with wins against Rutgers, Idaho and Portland State. Thats Baylor-esque, but the Huskies can still beat two more ranked opponents if they top Washington State in the Apple Cup, and then the South winner (probably Colorado or Utah) in the conference championship game.Colorado: Dont discount a two-loss Colorado if it beats three straight ranked opponents and wins the Pac-12 title, considering its two losses have been to ranked opponents Michigan and USC. The Buffs finish the season against ranked teams Washington State and Utah, and could upend a top-10 Washington team in the Pac-12 championship game. Utah could still win the Pac-12 South, but it has yet to beat a ranked opponent, and the trip to Colorado is the only opportunity remaining in the regular season against a ranked team.SECAlabama: The Tide clinched the SEC West and are now the only undefeated Power 5 team remaining. Even with a loss to Auburn in the Iron Bowl, Alabama will still play in the SEC championship game and is the leagues lone legitimate contender. Auburn was eliminated from the SEC race and the playoff conversation with its loss to Georgia. ' ' '