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RIO DE JANEIRO -- When Beijing gold medalist Phil Dalhausser teamed up with Nick Lucena less than a year ago for a long-shot run at the Olympics, it was more out of friendship -- and a lack of alternatives -- than anything else.Dalhausser was coming off two straight seasons with injuries. Lucena had never been to the Olympics, struggling to find a partnership that worked.We were playing with the houses money, Dalhausser said Monday after losing in three sets to Brazilian world champions Alison and Bruno in the quarterfinals on Copacabana Beach.Its been a lot of fun, Dalhausser added. I couldnt have done it without him. I wouldnt have wanted to do it with anyone else.At 6-foot-9 and already an Olympic champion, Dalhausser is one of the most feared players in the sport. He won his gold medal with Todd Rogers in 2008, and the pair returned to the London Games, finishing ninth.But last August, already a year into the two-year qualification cycle, his partnership with two-time Olympian Sean Rosenthal had stalled -- in part because of Dalhaussers abdominal and calf injuries. So he went back to Lucena, his partner for a couple dozen events when they were first starting out.Im pretty fortunate to play with him, Lucena said after the 21-14, 12-21, 15-9 loss to Brazil left them in fifth place. Hes one of the best players in the world. I wanted to win this for him.Lucena and Dalhausser first teamed up in 2003, a time when they were traveling all night to play in domestic tournaments and sleeping on the beach outside the gates to save money. After they split in 2005, Lucena played with four different partners that year; Dalhausser went on to become a world and Olympic champion.But Dalhaussers injuries left him with little chance of making it back to the Olympics -- or so he thought.Nobody gave us a chance to qualify, he has repeated often.I gave us a chance, Lucena interrupted playfully, just hours after their Olympic elimination. I dont know what hes talking about.The two played their way to No. 3 in the international standings and a spot on Copacabana Beach with a whirlwind of 13 tournaments in 12 months -- just one event more than the minimum. They cruised through Olympic pool play with a 3-0 record.And that was the problem.When Alison and Bruno lost in the preliminary round, they wound up second in their group. The blind draw lined them up with the Americans in the quarterfinals in a match that could have easily been the final.In the second quarterfinal match, the Dutch team of Alexander Brouwer and Robert Meeuwsen advanced with a 25-23, 21-17 victory over countrymen Reinder Nummerdor and Christiaan Varenhorst.Fans waving Brazilian flags had to struggle to hold onto them in a stiff breeze that began just as play started Monday. The Brazil and Olympic flags on the poles ringing the top of the stadium came partially loose and fluttered wildly while the poles shook in the wind.Trash swirled around the arena.The Brazilians dominated the first set against the United States and then -- just as decisively -- struggled in the second. The Americans fell behind 12-6 in the third, and then the 6-foot-8 Alison and the crowd took over.With a block to force match point and then a spike off Dalhausser for the winner, the man known as the Mammoth moved within one win of a second straight Olympic medal.Brazil will play the Netherlands in one semifinal match, and Russia will play Italy in the other. The fifth-place finish for the Americans, combined with the 19th-place finish by Jake Gibb and Casey Patterson, ties with Athens for the worst finish by the U.S. men in an Olympics.I have learned so much from the Americans. They are good friends outside of the court, Alison said. Theres respect for them, and they must be celebrated. Miami Marlins Shirts .5 seconds to play in the game, Kevin Love never stopped believing that they would come out of there with a win. Miami Marlins Pro Shop . P.A. Parenteau scored early in the third period to help the Avs edge Toronto 2-1 on Tuesday night. Cory Sarich also scored for Colorado (3-0-0), which is off to its best ever start. https://www.cheapmarlinsjerseys.us/ . After the whistle, Thornton skated the length of the ice, pulled Orpik to the ice from behind and punched him in the face several times. Wholesale Marlins Jerseys . -- Josh Sterk scored once and set up two more as the Oshawa Generals edged the visiting Belleville Bulls 3-2 on Friday in Ontario Hockey League action. Marlins Jerseys 2020 .Y. -- The Buffalo Sabres have recalled forward Kevin Porter and defenceman Chad Ruhwedel from the minors as part of a five-player roster shuffle made by the NHLs worst team. Six weeks before the college football season kicks off, Alabama?is the consensus favorite to win the national championship. But the Crimson Tide are not the most popular bet in Las Vegas.More bets have been placed on the Michigan Wolverines to win the national title than any other team at multiple Las Vegas sportsbooks. The Wolverines championship odds have moved from 15-1 to 7-1, making them the second favorites behind Alabama at the Westgate SuperBook.More money has been bet on Michigan to win the championship than on any other team at the SuperBook, and Jim Harbaughs squad has attracted 10 percent of all the national title bets at William Hills Nevada book. The Wolverines also have attracted the most bets to win the title at the MGM and Westgate sportsbooks.The Wolverines return a bevy of experience from last seasons 10-3 team?but are still looking for a starting quarterback. Juniors Wilton Speight and John OKorn, a transfer from Houston, are the leading candidates.Michigan is a 41-point homee favorite in its opener against Hawaii?on Sept.dddddddddddd 3. Colorado?is the only team from a Power 5 conference on the Wolverines nonconference schedule. But Michigan will face?Michigan State, Iowa?and Ohio State?on the road in Big Ten play.Theres plenty of support in Las Vegas for the Buckeyes, too. Ohio State has attracted the most money to win the national title at the sportsbook at the South Point casino, but its close.[Ohio State] has about $20 more than Michigan, said Chris Andrews, sportsbook director at the South Point casino.Ohio State will host Michigan on Nov. 26. The Buckeyes opened as 6.5-point favorites against the Wolverines at the South Point. The line has been bet down to Ohio State -5, and Andrews says 88 percent of the money wagered on the Big Game at this point is on Michigan.Ohio State is 8-1 to win the national championship at the SuperBook. ' ' '