from Dallas to Austin -- some 340 miles roundtrip -- ev

FARGO, N.D. -- Five-time defending national champion North Dakota State has been tabbed as the favorite to win this years Missouri Valley Football Conference title.The Bison earned 37 of a possible 39 first-place votes in the preseason poll conducted among the leagues coaches, sports information directors and select media representatives.Northern Iowa received the other two first-place votes to finish second in the poll, followed by South Dakota State, Illinois State and Youngstown State.Rounding out the top 10 are Western Illinois, South Dakota, Southern Illinois, Indiana State and Missouri State.NDSU captured its fifth consecutive Football Championship Subdivision crown in January with a 37-10 win over Jacksonville State.This is the fifth straight season that the Bison have topped the conference preseason poll. Wholesale Hawks Jerseys . "I dont know that were close," said general manager Alex Anthopoulos. "I just think, right now, the acquisition cost just doesnt work for us right now. I dont know if I can quantify how far off or things like that that they might be but I would say we continue to have dialogue. Cheap Alex Len Jersey . Numbers Game looks into the Canadiens securing the services of Thomas Vanek in a trade with the New York Islanders. The Canadiens Get: LW Thomas Vanek and a conditional fifth-round pick. http://www.cheaphawksjerseys.com/ . -- Tony Stewart is 20 pounds lighter and has a titanium rod in his surgically repaired right leg. Cheap Taurean Prince Jersey . Two pressure cooker bombs exploded near the finish line of the April 15 race in an area packed with fans cheering the passing runners. Three people were killed and more than 260 injured, including at least 16 who lost limbs. Cheap Omari Spellman Jersey . -- On the field, it was business as usual for Jameis Winston and No. RIO DE JANEIRO -- Michelle Carter loves to let the tension build.At the Olympics, she took it to extremes.The American shot putter waited until her last throw Friday night to knock off arguably the best woman to ever compete in the event -- two-time defending champion Valerie Adams of New Zealand.Now, Carter has a gold medal, the first by an American woman in the event and just the second medal all-time. She joins an exclusive club that, until Friday, included only Earlene Brown, who won bronze at the 1960 Games.She also joins her father, longtime NFL defensive lineman Michael Carter, as an Olympic medalist. Michael Carter won silver in the shot put at the 1984 Los Angeles Games.Its not over til its over, said Michelle Carter, who has a fashion line called Shot Diva. I knew it was a good throw, but I didnt know how far it could be.Carters throw went 20.63 meters (67 feet, 8 inches) to overtake Adams and break her own American record. Adams had the final attempt of the evening but couldnt come close to equaling the mark. Anita Marton of Hungary was third.That was a big throw, said Adams, who was going for an unprecedented third straight Olympic title in the event. You can never underestimate anybody, especially Michelle. Shes one of these people that can pop out anything, especially in the last round.You have to expect the unexpected.This shouldnt have been unexpected. Carter won the title at world indoors in March on her last throw. She also won at U.S. trials a month ago on her last throw.Just something they practice, her father said.She has more, too, Michael Carter boasted. I said, If you do what I ask you to, you can throw far. How far is up to you.Im numb right now.Michael Carter was a defensive lineman for the?San Francisco 49ers?on three Super Bowl-wiinning teams.dddddddddddd He said this doesnt compare with all those rings or even his own Olympic medal; its way better.Growing up, Michelle Carter didnt know her dad threw the shot, only that he played football.In seventh grade, Carter expressed a desire to try the shot put. At first, her dad was a little hesitant, thinking she was only trying to follow in his footsteps.She wasnt.He worked with her through a record-breaking high school career and thought his coaching days were done once she went to the University of Texas. But he was asked to help out, so he drove from Dallas to Austin -- some 340 miles roundtrip -- every two weeks to offer some guidance.Carter has blossomed into one of the worlds top throwers. She set the American outdoor record of 20.24 meters (66 feet, 5 inches) in 2013 and broke the nations indoor mark with a throw of 20.21 (66-3) to capture her world title in March.When healthy, Adams has been almost unbeatable in the event. Shes a star in New Zealand, though she might be only the second-best known of her 17 brothers and sisters outside of her country. Her youngest brother,?Steven Adams, is a center for the?Oklahoma City Thunder.It has been a tough road lately for Valerie Adams, who has had five surgeries over the past three seasons, including knee surgery this time a year ago that had her wondering whether she would be ready for the Olympics.She was but couldnt bring home a third straight Olympic title.Its a very hard thing to do and come away with, she said. I want New Zealand to know I threw my heart out there.I gave it my best shot. This is the best I came up with today. Its a little bit disappointing. ' ' '