Jeremy T. Ringfield's Blog, page 414

Golf in the Olympics is starting to catch on. For Americans, the hard part is getting there

By DOUG FERGUSON, AP Golf Writer

One of the best indications that golf was starting to catch on as an Olympic sport came from a player who never even made it to the podium.

Rory McIlroy was part of a seven-man playoff for the bronze medal at the Tokyo Games, eliminated on the third of four extra holes. He said when it was over, “I never tried so hard to finish third.”

McIlroy was among those who skipped the Olympics when golf returned to the program in 2016 at Rio de Janeiro. He said then he wouldn’t be watching golf, only “the stuff that matters.” The next time around, he was all in.

And he’s not alone. Only two eligible players are sitting out the men’s competition when it begins Aug. 1 at Le Golf National outside Paris.

One is Bernd Wiesberger of Austria, who withdrew from the Tokyo Games right after he moved into position to make it. The other is Cristobal del Solar of Chile, who plays on the Korn Ferry Tour and doesn’t want to miss a week if it jeopardizes his chance to get a PGA Tour card.

In most cases, the competition was fierce just to get to the Paris Games.

“Qualifying was my first goal this year,” defending gold medalist Xander Schauffele said. “It’s a very hard team to qualify for on the U.S. side.”

The Americans have two players in the top 10 who won’t be going, including U.S. Open champion Bryson DeChambeau.

Of course, there are no excuses for skipping this year. Rio de Janeiro carried the threat of the Zika virus. The Tokyo Games were postponed one year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, meaning no spectators, no opportunity for athletes to attend other events and daily coronavirus testing.

Still to be determined is the value of gold, silver and bronze.

Given the endless golf schedule, the silver claret jug from the British Open will be awarded just 11 days before the pursuit of a gold medal.

“For track and field, gymnastics, winning a gold medal from when you were a kid was the top of the top,” said Schauffele, who won his first major this year at the PGA Championship. “People ask me now about a major and a gold medal. Growing up, it was about watching the majors. Maybe in 50 years it will be different.

“But there’s added emphasis on trying to win one,” he said of an Olympic gold. “It’s starting to pull some of its own weight. And I imagine it will be pulling more and more.”

The gold medalists from Rio de Janeiro (Justin Rose and Inbee Park) and Tokyo (Schauffele and Nelly Korda) all have major championship hardware at home.

FILE – Nelly Korda, of the United States, bites her gold medal of the women’s golf event at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 7, 2021, at the Kasumigaseki Country Club in Kawagoe, Japan. Korda will be a strong favorite to win another gold at the Paris Games. (AP Photo/Andy Wong, File)

Schauffele and Korda will be among the contenders to give golf back-to-back gold medalists, a difficult task in golf regardless of the brand of trophy.

Scottie Scheffler remains the clear favorite everywhere he goes, already a six-time winner against the best fields in golf, including the Masters and The Players Championship. The gap between Scheffler and the rest of golf in the world ranking is a size not seen since the peak years of Tiger Woods.

“Playing for your country is always extremely exciting. Especially I think it will be extra special doing it on the Olympic stage,” Scheffler said. “It’s also good bragging rights for people when they tell me golf’s not a sport. I can say it’s an Olympic sport.”

Korda is more of a mystery.

The American, who will be 26 when the women’s competition begins, was unbeatable in March and April as she tied an LPGA record with five consecutive victories, including her second major at the Chevron Championship.

But then she took a 10 on one hole in the U.S. Women’s Open and shot 80, missing the cut. She missed another cut in Michigan, and then shot 81 in the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and missed another cut in a major.

Typical of golf these days, there is a LIV Golf effect. Seven players from the Saudi-funded league will be in the Olympics. The list starts with Jon Rahm, the two-time major winner who defected to LIV at the end of last year. His world ranking was high enough that it didn’t affect his Olympic standing.

Related ArticlesOlympics | 2024 Olympics: What to know — and who to watch — during the wrestling competition in Paris Olympics | 2024 Olympics: What to know — and who to watch — during the weightlifting competition in Paris Olympics | 2024 Olympics: What to know — and who to watch — during the water polo competition in Paris Olympics | 2024 Olympics: What to know — and who to watch — during the volleyball competition in Paris Olympics | 2024 Olympics: What to know — and who to watch — during the triathlon competition in Paris The same can’t be said of DeChambeau, who this year tied for sixth in the Masters, was the runner-up to Schauffele at the PGA Championship and beat McIlroy at the U.S. Open. Because majors are the only events where he can accrue world ranking points, it left him out of the top four Americans who get to play.

The Olympic ranking is based on the world ranking, and countries get a maximum of four players provided they are among the top 15 in the world.

Joaquin Niemann of Chile and Abraham Ancer of Mexico were among those who played where they could — mainly the Asian Tour — to get whatever ranking points they could. Ancer narrowly made it back for his second Olympics.

The venue will be familiar to a handful of players and a television audience. Le Golf National has hosted the French Open 29 times — three past champions, including Tommy Fleetwood, will be in the Olympics — and more famously it hosted the Ryder Cup in 2018.

Five players from that Ryder Cup will be at the Olympics, all of them European, including Rahm and McIlroy.

They are playing for the flag, yes, but they are playing for themselves and a medal. In that respect, it’s just like any another tournament except it comes around only once every four years. That makes it special, whether a player has won a major or not.

“You’re playing for a medal, for bragging rights. It’s the rawest form of competition and it has an old-school feeling to it when you play the game because you love it,” Schauffele said.

Breakers weigh pressure and excitement as they make their Olympic debut at the Paris Games

By NOREEN NASIR, Associated Press

Logan Edra knows her journey to securing a spot as one of the breakers on the U.S. team heading to the Olympics took longer than some expected.

The 21-year-old Filipina American didn’t officially qualify for the Paris Games until last month. It was the last competition for her to earn an Olympic spot despite being of one of the world’s best breakers — more commonly referred to as breakdancers.

“As much as we have people around us that are encouraging or part of the hype, it’s still a lonely journey. No one really knows what you’re going through except for you,” said Edra, who is ranked No. 14 in the world and had a meteoric rise on the global breaking scene since 2018.

She was expected to defend her championship at the 2022 Red Bull BC One World Final in New York, but was beat out in the intense final round by India Dewi (b-girl India) from the Netherlands before dominating in the Olympic Qualifier Series in Budapest in June.

With all the anticipation around breaking officially debuting as an Olympic sport, Edra and her U.S. teammates are navigating the pressure that comes with performing a uniquely American artform while facing tough competition from what has now become a global phenomenon.

Nonetheless, Edra, known as b-girl Logistx, using the term for female breakers and the nickname her father gave her as a child, is focused on staying grounded and embracing the challenges as she prepares for the global stage.

“I value this goal,” she said, “but not because of what it comes with. More so because of how I’ve grown through it.”

FILE – United States’ Logistx battles Japan’s Riko for a third placing match of the Breaking B-Girls Finals for the 2024 Olympic Qualifier Series held in Shanghai, Sunday, May 19, 2024. Her hope as she heads to Paris is that she doesn’t lose her passion and purpose amid the pressures of performing on a global stage. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan, File)An American art up against tough global competition

The breakers from Team USA have the added responsibility of representing the country where breaking, and the broader culture of hip-hop, originated. Hip-hop was born in the Bronx in the 1970s and with it came the rise of breaking, one of the four foundational elements of the movement. The other elements are DJing, MCing or rapping and graffiti “writing.”

“I’m really excited to represent a whole country, but I’m more excited to represent my dance, my artform and I’m super excited to bring the hip-hop culture to the Olympics,” said Victor Montalvo, or b-boy Victor, one of the U.S. breakers. “We’re going to bring something new to the table. We’re going to bring a vibe, we’re going to bring that peace, love, unity and having fun.”

In the U.S., breaking is often considered to have “died out in the 80s,” Edra said. But globally, the culture is thriving.

Some of the world’s best breakers — and top Olympic contenders — are from countries around the world. The who’s who of the best hail from Canada (Philip Kim, or “b-boy Phil Wizard”) to Japan (Shigeyuki Nakarai, or “b-boy Shigekix”) to France (Danis Civil, or “b-boy Dany”) to China (Qingyi Liu, or “b-girl 671”) to Lithuania (Dominika Banevič, or “b-girl Nicka”), among others.

Edra and Montalvo, along with fellow U.S. breakers, Sunny Choi (b-girl Sunny) and Jeffrey Louis (b-boy Jeffro), are not just focused on nailing their moves, they’re serving as ambassadors of the birthplace of a culture and lifestyle now deemed an Olympic sport.

The Paris Games could be their only shot at an Olympic medal — breaking won’t be one of the sports at the Los Angeles Games in 2028.

Preserving the roots of the dance

Montalvo learned breaking from his father and uncle, twin brothers who were breaking pioneers in Mexico. Currently ranked No. 5 in the world, he cites their instruction as learning “from the roots, from the originals.”

“It’s fascinating and gratifying to see something we did for fun and now see it become an international sport,” said Douglas “Dancin’ Doug” Colón, a b-boy of the first generation of breakers from Harlem. He was 15 when he started breaking at parties in the recreation room of an apartment building in the Bronx.

“For us, it was a release, growing up as poor kids in New York City. We had a lot of fire in our energy, that’s why it was so raw,” he said.

Related ArticlesOlympics | 2024 Olympics: What to know — and who to watch — during the wrestling competition in Paris Olympics | 2024 Olympics: What to know — and who to watch — during the weightlifting competition in Paris Olympics | 2024 Olympics: What to know — and who to watch — during the water polo competition in Paris Olympics | 2024 Olympics: What to know — and who to watch — during the volleyball competition in Paris Olympics | 2024 Olympics: What to know — and who to watch — during the triathlon competition in Paris Hip-hop celebrated its 50th anniversary last summer. Since its founding, the culture has expanded to a multibillion dollar global industry. The expansion and growing popularity of the sport has led to skepticism of attempts to co-opt the culture and commercialize it while imposing a rigid competitive structure and moving further away from the spirit of breaking that has historically been rooted in local communities.

Before there were global competitions and large stages, there was only the cypher – a circle formed by breakers in which b-boys and b-girls enter, one after another, to dance and battle. Unlike organized sporting events, there are fewer rules and restrictions.

Colón isn’t worried about the changes.

“There are still cyphers. There will always be cyphers,” he said. “Everything evolves. Brothers will say: ‘we used to dance. They don’t dance anymore, they go straight to the breaking part.’ But that’s what it is now. They kept evolving and now it’s more acrobatic, more competitive. It’s like the difference between a Model T and a Lamborghini. It keeps evolving.”

A win for visibility

Judges at the Olympics will score breakers based on the Trivium judging system, which scores breakers on creativity, personality, technique, variety, performativity and musicality. The scores can fluctuate throughout the battle, based on how breakers respond to their opponents.

In all, 32 breakers – 16 women and 16 men – will compete over two days, August 9 and 10, at the iconic Place de la Concorde, a public square in Paris that is being transformed into an open-air stadium for the Olympics. The outdoor venue is meant to be a nod to the culture of street battles in breaking.

For Team USA, the hope is that the spotlight at the Paris Games brings more respect and resources to breaking back home.

“From us being in the Olympics, it’s going to grow,” said Montalvo. “There’s going to be a new generation of kids that are going to want to do it… and you just need a dance floor and your body and self expression.”

Pain and pleasure: BMX racers weigh the risks and rewards playing the Olympics’ most dangerous game

By DAVE SKRETTA, AP Sports Writer

Alise Willoughby remembers where she was when the phone rang. She had just returned home to Minnesota to take part in a charity event, and the best BMX racer of her generation was on her way to Target Field, where she was supposed to throw out the ceremonial first pitch before a Twins game.

Her husband, Sam, was supposed to be on the trip, too. But after missing out on a medal at the Rio Olympics three weeks earlier, he decided to stay in California, and begin working to rectify the situation at the Tokyo Games.

It was on a seemingly benign portion of the BMX track in Chula Vista, where the couple had trained for years, that the future they both imagined changed in a blink. Sam was warming up over the rhythm section, a mellow stretch of rolling humps, when the Australian fell backward out of a wheelie, landing on the top of his head. He lay there motionless as the father of a junior rider, who happened to be an EMT, rushed over and began giving him a head-to-toe examination.

The innocent crash had unimaginable repercussions. Paramedics canceled the inbound ambulance in favor of a helicopter, which whisked him to San Diego, where surgeons delivered the news: He had broken his back. He was paralyzed.

“It was such a fluke,” said Alise Willoughby, who eight years later is among the favorites to win gold at the Paris Olympics next month. “It was a little routine thing. Then he made a mistake on something he did every day for 10 years prior, you know? So it’s like, things sometimes just happen.”

They happen more in BMX racing than perhaps any other Olympic sport.

And it begs the question: Why do riders do it?

The answer seems to be different for everyone. Alise Willoughby is pushed by a burning desire to win Olympic gold, which she has missed out on in three straight Summer Games. Cameron Wood, who will be making his Olympic debut in Paris, is driven by the competition, to see where he stacks up.

They know the risks. They understand them. Everyone in the sport does.

But they also believe they are outweighed by the rewards.

“You can hate something and you can blame it, but at the same time, we obviously love what we do, and it’s our livelihood,” Alise Willoughby said. “Sam and I met through it. It’s given as much as it’s taken. So it’s just — it’s just people who love the sport.”

The beauty and the barbary

BMX racing is often described as NASCAR on two wheels, only stock car racing is probably safer. The discipline, which was added to the Olympic program in 2008 in Beijing, involves eight riders at a time flying out of a starting gate, elbow-to-elbow down a steep ramp, and into a course filled with sharp, banked corners, rhythmic bumps and high-speed straightaways.

Races take all of 40 seconds. Crashes happen. They are frequent, in fact, and injuries happen. Devastating ones.

They are expected, too. During the BMX competition three years ago at the Tokyo Games, five teams of medics surrounded the course at Ariake Urban Sports Park. Three ambulances waited nearby, ready to speed to the nearest hospital.

They were busy.

FILE – Medics prepare to carry Connor Fields, of the United States, away on a stretcher after he crashed in the men’s BMX Racing semifinals at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 30, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. His injuries were numerous: torn shoulder ligaments, a torn bicep, broken ribs, a collapsed lung. But most serious was what was diagnosed as a subarachnoid hemorrhage and subdural hematoma — essentially, bleeding on the brain. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis, File)

There were several crashes over the course of three days. But none as serious as the one involving Connor Fields, at the time the defending Olympic champion.

The American was racing into the first corner in a semifinal when he clashed wheels with a French rider, sending him down. Two more riders fell on him. Fields briefly tried to sit up, then lost consciousness, and would not wake again for three days.

“There’s no way to check this,” Fields said, “but I might be the only athlete to both win the Olympics and nearly die at one.”

His injuries were numerous: torn shoulder ligaments, a torn bicep, broken ribs, a collapsed lung. But most serious was what was diagnosed as a subarachnoid hemorrhage and subdural hematoma — essentially, bleeding on the brain.

Related ArticlesOlympics | 2024 Olympics: What to know — and who to watch — during the wrestling competition in Paris Olympics | 2024 Olympics: What to know — and who to watch — during the weightlifting competition in Paris Olympics | 2024 Olympics: What to know — and who to watch — during the water polo competition in Paris Olympics | 2024 Olympics: What to know — and who to watch — during the volleyball competition in Paris Olympics | 2024 Olympics: What to know — and who to watch — during the triathlon competition in Paris Fields spent a week in a Tokyo hospital where, during the height of the pandemic, nobody spoke English well enough to tell him what happened. He awoke to 500-plus text messages, from everyone he knew, all saying they were praying for him. His parents, who were unable to travel to Japan because of COVID-19 restrictions, were largely in the dark.

“There was a lot of misinformation floating around. And there wasn’t an update,” Field said. “I’m friends with Kurt Busch, the NASCAR driver, and he owns a plane. He offered to fly my parents over, and it went high up the chain. But the Japan government basically said, ‘Nope, you can’t come over.’ So my parents just had to wait.”

Team USA doctors eventually were admitted to the hospital and helped him understand what had happened. Fields finally was cleared to fly back to the U.S., where he spent another month in a rehabilitation facility in Utah.

Fields ultimately recovered from the injures and was cleared to ride again. But he decided the risk was no longer worth the reward, and he opted for retirement instead of pushing ahead toward the Paris Games.

“There’s inherent risks in pretty much every sport,” said Fields, who is busy now as a BMX ambassador, hosts a TV show back home in Nevada and delivers keynote addresses. “When I was cleared, there were no restrictions. I could go compete again. I had to sit on it and really think, ‘Am I willing to take the risk again?’ And you know, the answer this time was no.”

The drama of danger

BMX racing was added to the Olympic program in an effort to embrace more youth-driven sports, such as surfing, climbing and, in Paris, the debut of breakdancing. Many of them also have risks, though they hardly carry the same ramifications.

The closest comparisons could be at the Winter Games.

Serious injuries are frequent in Alpine skiing, where World Cup-level racers reach 70 mph (110 kph), along with ski jumping, snowboarding and speedskating. Sliding sports also carry inherent risk: During the 2010 Vancouver Games, luge athlete Nodar Kumaritashvili of Georgia was killed during a training crash.

“The danger might be there a little more in our sport than in others, but it’s just that, you know, it’s competitive,” said Wood, one of the two men racing BMX for the U.S. in Paris. “The adrenaline that comes with it, the competitive nature as well. The head-to-head aspect of the sport. I think we all understand and have come to terms with the fact that there’s risk involved.

“But when the day comes up, you kind of just tap into this competitive mindset and you have to switch that off, because if you do have that and if you take the gate with that thought in your head, it’s probably not going to end up well.”

That is something the 22-year-old Wood has had to learn. He avoided serious crashes for the first three years of his career. Then came a World Cup race last June, when a heavy fall left him with a fractured shoulder.

Wood had surgery, only to hurt it again multiple times as he chased a spot on the Olympic team. It still causes him pain to this day, but Wood put off any more surgery until after the Paris Games.

The dream of a gold medal hanging around his neck was too important to him.

“My outlook changed dramatically, though,” he said. “I did feel for a long time, you know, taking these hard hits, I was a little bit invincible. Mine was kind of a nonchalant-looking crash. But it does open your eyes a little bit, right? You do realize how intricate the sport is. And you know, sometimes you’re not going to be able to get up and walk away to the next one.”

US women’s basketball team looks to continue Olympic dominance, seeking 8th straight gold in Paris

By DOUG FEINBERG, AP Basketball Writer

The U.S. women’s basketball team is on a historic run, winning seven straight Olympic gold medals. While no one has come close to ending that streak, the rest of the world is getting better.

The Americans, who haven’t lost an Olympic contest since 1992, won by an average of 16 points in the Tokyo Games. That was their smallest margin of victory since the streak started at the 1996 Atlanta Games.

The biggest challenge for the U.S. will once again be the limited prep time to practice as unit. The complete team will be together for the first time right before the Paris Games.

“The rest of the world is definitely improving,” six-time Olympic participant Diana Taurasi said. “It’s not as easy as it’s looked over the years.”

The 42-year-old Taurasi would know; she has been a part of the last five U.S. Olympic teams. She will be going for a record sixth gold medal in Paris.

The U.S. is trying to break a tie with the American men’s basketball team for most consecutive gold medals. The men won seven straight from 1936-68. The two basketball teams hold the longest streak for golds in a traditional team sport in Olympic history.

Related ArticlesOlympics | 2024 Olympics: What to know — and who to watch — during the wrestling competition in Paris Olympics | 2024 Olympics: What to know — and who to watch — during the weightlifting competition in Paris Olympics | 2024 Olympics: What to know — and who to watch — during the water polo competition in Paris Olympics | 2024 Olympics: What to know — and who to watch — during the volleyball competition in Paris Olympics | 2024 Olympics: What to know — and who to watch — during the triathlon competition in Paris The Americans understand what’s ahead and are focused on the present and not their past. The goal is just to win in Paris and not look at the bigger picture of continuing the dynasty.

“That can’t be your every day thought and then you lose sight of what it takes to get there,” U.S. coach Cheryl Reeve said. “That’s the biggest thing you have to block out. There’s a huge narrative we can’t escape with this being one of the greatest sports dynasties ever. It’s our first experience together with this group and this is our special journey, it’s about one gold medal.”

It’s definitely a special time for Brittney Griner, who is returning to the team for the Olympics. She missed the 2022 World Cup when she was wrongfully detained in Russia for 10 months. She has said that she’ll only play overseas with USA Basketball.

“We were all thinking of BG when she was away and we didn’t know if this moment would be possible,” Reeve said. “I’m thrilled for her personally and thrilled for our basketball team.”

The Americans are in a pool with Japan, Belgium and Germany. The Japanese team were silver medalists at the 2021 Tokyo Games. Group A features Serbia, Spain, China, and Puerto Rico. Group B is comprised of Canada, France, Australia and Nigeria.

Play begins on Sunday, July 28 and ends with the gold medal game on the final day of the Olympics.

Here are some other things to watch for:

Welcome back Lauren

Australia will receive a huge lift with the return of Lauren Jackson. The four-time WNBA MVP won three Olympic silver medals and one bronze with the Opals before retiring from playing in 2016 after knee injuries derailed her career. She returned for the 2022 World Cup in Australia and led the team to a bronze medal. Now the 43-year-old forward will be playing in her fifth Olympics.

FILE – China’s Gao Song, right, tries stop Australia’s Lauren Jackson during their women’s quarterfinal basketball game at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Aug. 7, 2012. Australia will receive a huge lift with the return of Lauren Jackson, who returned for the 2022 World Cup in Australia and led the team to a bronze medal.(AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis, File)

“What Lauren has done is simply amazing,” Australia coach Sandy Brondello said. “She has a great basketball IQ and certainly will help us.”

Newcomers

Germany is making its first Olympic appearance led by the Sabally sisters — Nyara and Satou (who plays with the Dallas Wings). The Germans will host the 2026 World Cup and hope to have a strong showing in Paris where they are in a tough pool with the U.S., Belgium and Japan.

“We’re just there to have fun,” Nyara Sabally said. “It’s basketball, you never know what’s going to happen. I’m really confident in our team and I think we have a really good team.

Looking for a win

African nations haven’t fared well at the Olympics, going 1-36 with Nigeria getting the lone victory in the 2004 Athens Games when they topped Korea in the 11th place contest. Nigeria will look to end that drought as the country plays in its third Olympics.

The U.S. men are favored for basketball gold at the Paris Games but many challengers await them

By TIM REYNOLDS AP Basketball Writer

There is one goal, and it’s always the same goal for USA Basketball. The only acceptable result from these Paris Olympics is another gold medal.

And the most recent gold was one of the toughest to get.

At the Tokyo Games three years ago, the U.S. trailed Spain by 10 in the quarterfinals, trailed Australia by 15 in the semifinals and beat France by only five in the gold-medal game. It was yet another reminder that in the international game, winning isn’t automatic for the Americans anymore. And frankly, that’s a notion they’re tired of hearing about.

“I hear a lot of people saying everybody’s catching up to us too, so that keeps us hungry, that keeps us motivated,” U.S. guard Devin Booker said. “We have a lot of respect for those guys, but basketball still lies here.”

Call that the mission within the mission for the U.S. in Paris: Winning is the goal, but there’s also a clear sense that it’d be nice to remind the rest of the world that — while there are great players hailing from all over the planet — no nation can put together a roster like the one the Americans have for these games. A 12-man roster, all of them All-Stars before Kawhi Leonard’s withdrawal, led by veterans like three-time medalists LeBron James and Kevin Durant and an Olympic newcomer in Stephen Curry.

“It’s going to be historic for sure with this team, so I’m just happy to be a part of it, honestly,” said U.S. guard Anthony Edwards, one of the Olympic rookies on the roster. “I ain’t even thought about it too much. Just happy to be a part of it.”

There is history on the line: Durant could become the first men’s player with four Olympic basketball golds, James is seeking a fourth Olympic medal and the Americans are trying to win five Olympic titles in a row for the first time since winning the first seven competitions held from 1936 through 1968.

And the rest of the world is waiting.

Related ArticlesOlympics | 2024 Olympics: What to know — and who to watch — during the wrestling competition in Paris Olympics | 2024 Olympics: What to know — and who to watch — during the weightlifting competition in Paris Olympics | 2024 Olympics: What to know — and who to watch — during the water polo competition in Paris Olympics | 2024 Olympics: What to know — and who to watch — during the volleyball competition in Paris Olympics | 2024 Olympics: What to know — and who to watch — during the triathlon competition in Paris Germany is the reigning World Cup champion, winning gold last summer in Manila. Serbia – the first U.S. opponent in France — and Canada also won medals at the World Cup, Canada captured its bronze by beating the Americans. And then there’s France, the home team, a squad that lost the gold-medal game to the U.S. at the Tokyo Games 87-82 after beating the Americans earlier in that tournament and now has both home-soil advantage and Victor Wembanyama leading the way.

“I can’t wait to face them,” Wembanyama said of the Americans.

If that matchup happens, it’ll be in the elimination rounds. France is in Group B, along with Germany, Japan and Brazil. The Group A pairing is Australia, Greece, Canada and Spain — which, top to bottom, would seem to be the toughest. And in Group C, it’s the U.S., Serbia, Puerto Rico and Olympic newcomer South Sudan.

Teams play a round robin against the others in their group. Following those three games, the first- and second-place finishers from each group make the quarterfinals along with the two best third-place teams.

“It just gets you back to just enjoying the, I guess you could say the purity of the game and what it takes to put a 12-man roster together,” Curry said. “And if everybody brings that right energy then we’ll get the most out of this experience.”

Antetokounmpo, Group A

Spain is a perennial power and has a now six-time Olympian in Rudy Fernandez, the first men’s basketball player to qualify that many times. Greece has Giannis Antetokounmpo, Canada has Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jamal Murray, and Australia is still feeling some momentum from three summers ago at the Tokyo Games.

Australia’s 0-for-forever run of medals in major international tournaments finally ended in Tokyo with the bronze, and Patty Mills insists the team can go for more this summer.

“From an all-around talent standpoint, you look at our team and the majority of us are in the NBA … and we’ve got a lot of young guys with a lot of experience, which we haven’t ever really had had before,” Mills said.

France’s basketball player Victor Wembanyama, who plays for the NBA San Antonio Spurs, speaks during media day at the French National Institute of Sport and Physical Education, in Vincennes, outside Paris, Thursday, June 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)Wembanyama, Group B

Germany won the World Cup last summer and basically brings back much of that team, but will have to deal with France in group play. The winner of their game probably should win the group.

Brazil and Japan will likely need to spring one upset to be assured of getting out of group, or could rely on the third-place spots to advance behind the clear favorites in Group B.

“Last summer’s experience was super special,” Germany’s Franz Wagner said. “Only when we got done did we realize what we had done as a group, not just the accomplishment of winning gold but realizing the chemistry we had as a team.”

Jokic, Group C

Nikola Jokic didn’t even play for Serbia when his nation won silver at the World Cup last summer; adding him to the mix obviously makes that team look even tougher on paper. Puerto Rico won a qualifier earlier this month to get in led by Jose Alvarado, and South Sudan qualified based on its World Cup result a year ago.

The Serbia-U.S. game to open group play will set the tone.

“It will definitely be a spectacle,” Serbia’s Bogdan Bogdanovic said.

Serbia’s plan will be to use its years of familiarity with one another as the key to beating a team loaded with talent but one that practiced together for the first time earlier this month.

“We are aware that they will be a huge challenge and have a lot of continuity, a lot of players who have played together over the years,” U.S. coach Steve Kerr said. “And that’s one of the reasons they’ll be as good as they’ll be.”

Horoscopes July 21, 2024: Juno Temple, explore the possibilities

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Juno Temple, 35; Justin Bartha, 46; Josh Hartnett, 46; Jon Lovitz, 67.

Happy Birthday: Let your creative side flourish, and you’ll discover a path that brings you joy. Follow your heart and initiate the changes that resonate with you emotionally. The people you meet through the endeavors you choose to pursue will broaden your horizons and give you a new lease on life. Explore the possibilities, and take the path that leads to a fuller life filled with peace of mind. Your numbers are 4, 12, 20, 26, 31, 39, 42.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Set your sights on your goal and follow through. Be resourceful, call on people with something to contribute and broaden your perspective regarding possibilities. Self-improvement will lead to additional confidence, exciting friendships and romance. 4 stars

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Rely on your instincts to get you through your day. Be patient with people who don’t share your opinions. An attitude change may be necessary if you’re forced to deal with authority figures. Listen carefully, get your facts straight and let common sense prevail. 5 stars

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Look, see and follow through. Engage in events that lead to physical fitness, love or travel. New surroundings will give you a different perspective regarding your lifestyle and lower stress. Learn to channel your energy wisely and incorporate balance into your everyday routine. Romance is favored. 3 stars

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Embrace what life offers. Participate, make a difference and engage in something that will help you live a richer, fuller life. Don’t miss out on something because you are too lazy to venture out to see what’s available. It’s time to push yourself outside your comfort zone. 3 stars

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Juggle your schedule to ensure you get to pursue happiness. The opportunity to learn, enhance your skills or discover a unique pastime will enrich your life. Setting a budget will help you avoid overspending. When in doubt, take a pass. 3 stars

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Simplify your life. Too much of anything will cost you more than you want to pay financially, emotionally or physically. Think and plan before you begin, and the result will be a positive change that points you in a lucrative direction. 3 stars

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Time spent at home or with family or friends will help you realize what’s important to you. Adjust your schedule to ensure you start taking responsibility for your happiness. Mental and physical improvements will increase your awareness. 5 stars

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Observation is your ticket to avoiding emotional manipulation and interference. Take a ride down memory lane and discover someone or something you may have overlooked. Head in a creative direction, and use your skills to acquire your desired aspirations. Explore what’s available to you and embrace change. 2 stars

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): You’ll gain momentum if you free yourself of unfinished business. Once the coast is clear, your sense of what’s right and best for you will take over and encourage you to push for and take what you want. Personal gain, love and opportunity will lead to new beginnings. 4 stars

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Address sensitive issues, and clear your head of anything standing between you and your heart’s desire. Be honest with yourself, and implement changes that will encourage you to take better care of yourself. Focus on your needs. 3 stars

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Stop procrastinating and start doing. Don’t be a follower. Make today about you, fulfilling your needs and doing what brings you joy. Surround yourself with supportive people, and plan to have some fun. Romance is on the rise. 3 stars

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Keep your plans simple and within budget. A social or creative plan will encourage you to make a positive lifestyle change that will ease stress and motivate you to distance yourself from incurring debt. Take better care of your health and finances. 3 stars

Birthday Baby: You are passionate, indecisive and flexible. You are unique and inspirational.

1 star: Avoid conflicts; work behind the scenes. 2 stars: You can accomplish, but don’t rely on others. 3 stars: Focus and you’ll reach your goals. 4 stars: Aim high; start new projects. 5 stars: Nothing can stop you; go for gold.

Visit Eugenialast.com, or join Eugenia on Twitter/Facebook/LinkedIn.

Want a link to your daily horoscope delivered directly to your inbox each weekday morning? Sign up for our free Coffee Break newsletter at mercurynews.com/newsletters or eastbaytimes.com/newsletters. 

Logan Webb not himself as SF Giants drop second in a row to Rockies

DENVER — The Giants tied the score Saturday evening and sent their ace back to the mound for his fifth inning of work.

Three batters later, the Rockies regained a lead they would not again relinquish while sending the Giants to their second straight defeat to begin the second half, 4-3.

Battling his command and the effect of the mile-high altitude on his arsenal, Webb surrendered all four Rockies runs while issuing a season-high four walks and allowing eight hits, the penultimate of which left Ezequiel Tovar’s bat in the bottom of the fifth and didn’t land until it had found the concourse in left field, 455 feet away.

The Colorado shortstop jumped on a first-pitch sweeper that Webb left over the heart of the plate and launched a two-run home run — his third in as many games — that negated the RBI double from Tyler Fitzgerald that tied the score in the top half of the inning.

“It’s one pitch, really, to Tovar,” Melvin said of difference in the game. “When you’re not doing much offensively, sometimes that’s all it takes.”

With a runner on first, Melvin said he called for Webb to slide step in order to mitigate a potential stolen base, but instead it resulted in a meatball slider.

“No matter what (I’ve) got to make a better pitch,” Webb said. “Looking back on it, probably shouldn’t have thrown a slide-step slider. If you ask most pitchers, it’s probably their least favorite pitch to throw when slide-stepping. Especially a guy like that who’s hot, it just kind of had to be perfect and it wasn’t. He just hit it hard and hit it far. That’s kind of how things are going right now.”

Dropping their first series out of the break to the National League West’s last-place team, the Giants fell five games below .500 and four games back of playoff position, behind six other teams. Asked if it felt like a missed opportunity, Melvin said, “Yeah, but look, we’re going to have to win more games. We have to come out tomorrow with the mindset that we win tomorrow’s game and move on to the next series and do better.”

“I think everyone would say it’s pretty disappointing,” Webb added. “It’s not how you want to start. We’ve just got to keep going, put our heads down and keep trying. There’s nothing else really to do other than that.”

Batting out of the nine hole, Fitzgerald provided the Giants their first two runs, slugging a 420-foot solo home run to center field in his first at-bat and doubling home Mike Yastrzemski in the fifth. Yastrzemski started the inning by tripling into the right field corner.

The Giants pulled within one run in the sixth, courtesy of Wilmer Flores’ RBI double after Matt Chapman reached on a two-out error, but that was as close as they would get.

After being tagged for seven runs in his final start before the All-Star break, Webb has now allowed 11 runs in 11 innings over his past two starts, raising his ERA to 3.59, a half-point higher than the mark he took into his outing last Wednesday against the Blue Jays (3.09).

Formulating his post-break pitching plans, Melvin asked Webb if he’d like some extra rest and the workhorse said he wanted the ball as soon as possible. But from the get-go Saturday evening, it was apparent the 27-year-old right-hander didn’t have his usual stuff.

Webb allowed the Rockies to load the bases in the first inning, walking two of the first three batters he faced, and immediately put the Giants in a 2-0 hole. He navigated traffic on the base paths in two of his next three innings before the Rockies’ No. 9 hitter, Sam Hilliard, singled to start the bottom of the fifth, setting up Tovar’s decisive homer.

With less movement than usual across his arsenal, Webb threw his rarely used four-seam fastball more often than his signature changeup. His 16 four-seamers were his most in one start since early 2021, and his 14 changeups were tied for his fewest since his start here in September 2022.

The unusual pitch mix was partly an effect of the thin air — which often causes pitches to move differently than at sea-level — and a Rockies lineup that is especially susceptible to fastballs up in the zone, assistant pitching coach J.P. Martinez said.

“I don’t think (the altitude) necessarily affected the pitches,” Webb said. “Just big misses and not getting ahead of many guys. You don’t do that, you’re probably not going to do well in this place. My changeup was just pretty bad today, to be honest.”

The unfriendly conditions continued a trend for Webb away from Oracle Park.

The Giants fell to 3-9 behind Webb in 12 road starts, and he owns a 4.09 road ERA, more than a point higher than his 3.00 mark in nine starts in San Francisco.

Webb has also continually put the Giants behind early with his struggles in the first inning. The two runs he surrendered Saturday raised his ERA in the first inning to 5.57 — 13 earned runs in 21 starts — trailing only his ERA in the fifth inning, which Tovar’s two-run blast increased to 6.00.

Related ArticlesSan Francisco Giants | Bob Melvin: ‘Good chance’ Robbie Ray makes SF Giants debut vs. Dodgers San Francisco Giants | Bob Melvin downplays concerns about SF Giants’ bullpen workload San Francisco Giants | Jordan Hicks’ time in SF Giants’ rotation is coming to an end — for now San Francisco Giants | Bullpen blows Kyle Harrison’s scoreless effort as SF Giants drop second-half opener to Rockies San Francisco Giants | SF Giants’ Logan Webb, Heliot Ramos reflect on their All-Star experiences

“I thought I threw good pitches in the first inning,” Webb said. “Charlie (Blackmon) had a great at-bat to start the game. Obviously gave up a base hit and then a noncompetitive at-bat to Ryan (McMahon) and then kind of just some weird stuff happened. It’s part of it. I felt good the whole game, and after that, it was really just the one pitch.”

Notable

Yastrzemski’s triple was his sixth of the season, already a career-high and now tied for third-most in the majors.

Up next

RHP Hayden Birdsong (1-0, 3.72) will make the fifth start of his major-league career against RHP Ryan Feltner (1-9, 5.36) in the series finale. First pitch is scheduled for 12:10 p.m. PT. Melvin mistakenly said Jordan Hicks was their probable starter, but he was set to take the ball in the first game of their series against the Dodgers all along.

2024 Olympics: What to know — and who to watch — during the field hockey competition in Paris

A roadmap to follow for the field hockey competition during the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris.

Athletes to watch

Yibbi Jansen, Netherlands: With three-time gold medal-winning Lidewij Welten gone, the favored Dutch are relying on the next generation of talent for their pursuit of back-to-back Olympic titles. Jansen leads that group, having already scored 60 goals for the national team at age 24.

Related ArticlesOlympics | 2024 Olympics: What to know — and who to watch — during the archery competition in Paris Olympics | ‘Simone Biles Rising’ review: An elite gymnast untangles the twisties Olympics | Olympics | TV Tinsel: NBC set for Olympic coverage, including dash of Snoop Dogg Olympics | Inside the design of intricate, crystal-patterned U.S. Olympic gymnastics team leotards

Harmanpreet Singh, India: The 28-year-old captain of the world’s sixth-ranked team is tasked with helping his country medal in field hockey again after taking home bronze in Tokyo.

Amanda Golini, United States: A key performer on an American team that lacks Olympic experience, the 29-year-old midfielder from Randolph, New Jersey, has played internationally at other competitions, and she should be one of the leaders as a co-captain.

Florent van Aubel, Belgium: The 32-year-old forward was the leading scorer for Belgium in Olympic qualifying. He is expected to be a crucial part of the offensive attack for the defending champions.

Storylines to follow

Ranked No. 1 in the world on either side, the Netherlands is looking to become the first country to sweep the men’s and women’s competitions since 1980, when women’s field hockey entered the Olympics. Nearby Belgium presents the biggest threat on the men’s side after winning gold at the pandemic-delayed 2021 Tokyo Games in a penalty shootout against Australia. Traditionally strong Argentina and Germany are two of the top contenders for the women’s tournament.

The U.S. women — back after missing Tokyo, while the men did not qualify — are aiming for a long-shot bid at the country’s third Olympic medal and first since bronze in 1984.

Field hockey will take place at Stade Yves-du-Manoir in Colombes on the outskirts of the city, the only 2024 venue that was used when Paris hosted the Games in 1924.

Key dates

Group play begins July 27, including the U.S. women playing the first of their five Pool B games against Argentina. The quarterfinals are Aug. 4 for the men and Aug. 5 for the women, followed by the men’s semifinals on Aug. 6 and the women on Aug. 7. The men’s medal matches are Aug. 8, and the women close out their tourney on Aug. 9.

Reigning championsWomen: NetherlandsMen: Belgium

2024 Olympics: What to know — and who to watch — during the fencing competition in Paris

A roadmap to follow for the fencing competition during the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris.

Athletes to watch

Olga Kharlan, Ukraine: One of Ukraine’s best hopes for Olympic success against the backdrop of war, Kharlan had a unique route to the Paris Games. Kharlan was drawn against Russian fencer Anna Smirnova at last year’s world championships. Smirnova protested after Kharlan refused to shake her hand, and the Ukrainian was disqualified. The International Olympic Committee awarded Kharlan a spot in Paris anyway.

Lee Kiefer and Gerek Meinhardt, United States: Kiefer is the reigning women’s foil gold medalist, Meinhardt is a two-time bronze medalist in men’s team foil, and together they are fencing’s power couple. Married since 2019, Kiefer and Meinhardt both put medical school at the University of Kentucky on hold to train for the Olympics but will go back next year.

Aron Szilagyi, Hungary: On one of the greatest runs in Olympic history, Szilagyi is aiming for a record fourth title in men’s saber after winning the gold medal at the London, Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo Olympics. Szilagyi hasn’t lost an individual bout at the Olympics since Beijing 2008.

Storylines to follow

Russian fencers won three gold medals in Tokyo but didn’t qualify any athletes for Paris. That could shake up the medal table. Top Russian fencers, including saber gold medalist Sofia Pozdniakova, were blocked from qualifying events under International Olympic Committee rules because they serve in the Russian military. Other Russians competed in some qualifiers but weren’t successful.

Related ArticlesOlympics | 2024 Olympics: What to know — and who to watch — during the archery competition in Paris Olympics | ‘Simone Biles Rising’ review: An elite gymnast untangles the twisties Olympics | Olympics | TV Tinsel: NBC set for Olympic coverage, including dash of Snoop Dogg Olympics | Inside the design of intricate, crystal-patterned U.S. Olympic gymnastics team leotards

Fencing is never far away from controversy, especially in fast-moving saber fights, where points can be won in a fraction of a second and much is left up to a referee’s judgement. USA Fencing opened an investigation in March into “potential bout manipulation” in saber fights after complaints that allegedly biased refereeing could have affected qualification for the Olympics. It said in April that two referees were suspended, but there was “no evidence that individual U.S. fencers were actively involved in manipulating their own bouts as athletes.”

Key dates

Fencing runs from July 27 through Aug. 4 with at least one final every day.

Reigning championsMen’s foil: Cheung Ka Long, Hong KongMen’s team foil: FranceMen’s epee: Romain Cannone, FranceMen’s team epee: JapanMen’s saber: Aron Szilagyi, HungaryMen’s team saber: South KoreaWomen’s foil: Lee Kiefer, United StatesWomen’s team foil: ROCWomen’s epee: Sun Yiwen, ChinaWomen’s team epee: EstoniaWomen’s saber: Sofia Pozdniakova, ROCWomen’s team saber: ROC

2024 Olympics: What to know — and who to watch — during the equestrian competitions in Paris

A roadmap to follow for the equestrian competitions of dressage, eventing and jumping during the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris.

Athletes to watch

Laura Collett, Britain: Collett almost died in a fall while competing in 2013. She was resuscitated five times and suffered a fractured shoulder, two broken ribs, a punctured lung, a lacerated liver, and kidney damage. Eight years after being placed in an induced coma, Collett rode to glory as an Olympic champion in team eventing.

Kent Farrington, United States: The Chicago native is a former world No. 1 in jumping and looks to clinch his first Olympic gold medal after winning silver in team jumping at the Rio Games in 2016.

Amre Hamcho, Syria: Hamcho is the second Syrian to compete in an Olympics jumping competition, joining his brother. Twelve years after watching Ahmad at the London Games, Amre proudly flies the Syrian flag as he rides Vagabon Des Forets.

Ben Maher, Britain: Maher is looking to defend his gold medal in individual jumping and secure a third Olympic title overall, having won gold in team jumping in London. Maher is currently second in the jumping rankings behind Sweden’s Henrik von Eckermann.

Jessica von Bredow-Werndl, Germany: The defending champion and top-ranked competitor in individual dressage. A double Olympic champion at the Tokyo Games, the 38-year-old Von Bredow-Werndl hopes to repeat that feat with another gold in team dressage, likely once again riding with seven-time Olympic gold medalist Isabell Werth.

Storylines to follow

Who can challenge the dominance of Germany and Britain after they won a combined nine medals, including five golds, in Tokyo? Can Australia, Sweden or the United States step up after combining for six medals but only one gold? Boyd Martin is ranked third in eventing and could prove crucial to American hopes for gold.

Related ArticlesOlympics | 2024 Olympics: What to know — and who to watch — during the archery competition in Paris Olympics | ‘Simone Biles Rising’ review: An elite gymnast untangles the twisties Olympics | Olympics | TV Tinsel: NBC set for Olympic coverage, including dash of Snoop Dogg Olympics | Inside the design of intricate, crystal-patterned U.S. Olympic gymnastics team leotards

Equestrian is unique in that it’s a mixed sport where men and women compete against each other. Julia Krajewski beat two men in Tokyo to win the individual eventing. Also, the average age is higher than other competitive sports. Werth is turning 55 but is still going strong after winning her first Olympic gold in 1992. So keep an eye on the older competitors and compare them with the younger riders.

Boots, helmet and a bright orange G-string? Equestrian riders are usually impeccably dressed. So the 51-year-old Shane Rose raised eyebrows when he wore what’s known as a “mankini” for a fancy dress competition this year. He ended up apologizing. Now Rose is focused on a fourth Olympic medal.

Key dates

Equestrian is an 11-day event featuring three disciplines and six events, with medals given in individual and team categories. Action begins on July 27 in the resplendent gardens of Château de Versailles, the royal palace where Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette once held lavish banquets.

The first medals are decided July 29 in team and individual eventing. The team jumping final is Aug. 2, and the next two days decide medals in team and individual dressage. The individual jumping final concludes competition on Aug. 6.

Reigning championsDressage Individual: Jessica von Bredow-Werndl, GermanyDressage Team: GermanyEventing Individual: Julia Krajewski, GermanyEventing Team: BritainJumping Individual: Ben Maher, BritainJumping Team: Sweden