High jumper Mariyappan Thangavelu overcame long odds on his journey to the winners podium at the Rio Paralympics.Im just very happy, he told the Hindu after the event. I expected to win a medal. I just stayed calm and did my best, Thangavelu said.He was five years old when his right leg had to be amputated after being crushed by a bus. Thangavelu was on his way to school in a village in Tamil Nadus Salem district at the time.I was told the driver was inebriated, he told the Hindu before leaving for Rio. It doesnt matter. My right leg is now stunted - it is still a five-year-olds leg; it has never grown or healed.The family is still paying off the loan they took for his treatment after the accident. His mother is a vegetable seller.I spoke to my mother last night. She said I would definitely win the gold, he said. My first priority is to help her. I want to construct a house of our own,?Thangavelu told the Hindu.Thangavelu had finished second in his first competitive event soon after he entered his teens. Last year his coach, Satyanarayana, took him to Bangalore for training.Thangavelu had qualified for the Paralympics after attaining the A qualification mark at the IPC Grand Prix in Tunisia earlier this year. Kevin Durant Jersey . Reassurance came from Paul Tesori, his caddie and close friend whose newborn son is in intensive care in a Florida hospital. "Paul sent me a text this morning, just told me he loved me and wanted to go out and fight as hard as I would any other day," Simpson said Sunday after doing just that. Mitch Richmond Jersey . JOHNS, N. https://www.cheapwarriors.com/999o-tim-hardaway-jersey-warriors.html .35 million, one-year contract that avoided salary arbitration. Plouffe batted .254 with 14 home runs and 52 RBIs in 477 at-bats last season, his second as a regular in the lineup. Monta Ellis Jersey . First off, the fans ripped the Cubbies introduction of a fuzzy new kid-friendly mascot named "Clark". Sleepy Floyd Jersey . Woodson said during a radio interview Thursday that the Knicks Carmelo Anthony doesnt get the same calls as other superstars. Some of the sports stories The Associated Press is covering Thursday. A full Sports Digest will be sent by about 3 p.m. All times EST:- SEATTLE -- The Seattle Seahawks can wrap up their third NFC West title in the past four seasons with a win over the Los Angeles Rams. The Seahawks are the only unbeaten team in the NFL at home this season. Game starts 8:25 p.m.- The AP announces its college football coach of the year, with Penn States James Franklin, Colorados Mike MacIntyre and Alabamas Nick Saban in the running. Announcement at 12:30 p.m.- Eastern Washington receiver Cooper Kupp has been selected to the APs FCS All-America team for the fourth straight season, making the first team with fellow Walter Payton Award finalist Jeremiah Briscoe of Sam Houston State.- TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Its easy to appraise Jalen Hurts numbers: The yards, the touchdowns and most definitely the wins. Perhaps the most notable number is the age of No. 1 Alabamas freshman quarterback, whos only 18.- WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- Wake Forest returns to the practice field for the first time since the schools investigation concluded that a former assistant coach-turned-broadcaster peddled the Demon Deacons game plan to opponents for years.- EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- Adrian Peterson talks to the media after practicing for the first time in nearly three months. His Minnesota Vikings are hopeful that Peterson can return soon to heelp their playoff push.dddddddddddd FRISCO, Texas -- Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott has hit his first significant bump in the road, generating chatter about backup Tony Romo that the rookie insists is simply noise he ignores- MIAMI -- Former fifth-round picks, an undrafted rookie and a player who was out of the NFL for four years are among those bursting into the clear at running back, leaving defenses and fans wondering the same thing: Where did he come from?- ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Its all about the timing. And the athleticism, of course. Sundays Patriots-Broncos showdown again features Tom Brady, Von Miller and Aqib Talib. Theres a new wrinkle this year, though: two special teams studs in Justin Simmons and Shea McClellin, both of whom have leapt the long snapper to block kicks this season.- PHILADELPHIA -- Bernard Hopkins once promised his mother hed retire at 40. The ex-con, ex-middleweight champion is finally calling it a career at 51. His final fight is Saturday night.- After years of trying, the U.S and International Olympic Committees have agreed with NBC on a package that will offer year-round Olympic programming, focused on U.S. athletes. NBC will launch a new U.S. television network branded Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA in the second half of 2017. ' ' '