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RIO DE JANEIRO -- Connor Fields saw this day coming. His 14-year-old self did, anyway. Thats when, seven years into a blossoming BMX racing career, he took a black Sharpie into his parents garage and predicted the future. I wrote, One day I will become an Olympic champion, on one of the walls, Fields recounted Friday afternoon, moments after becoming the first American to win Olympic gold in BMX racing. I cant wait to go home to my moms house and take a picture holding this medal up next to those words.When Fields, now 23, scribbled that promise, BMX racing was not yet an Olympic sport (it debuted in 2008). But he believed the day wasnt far off, and he knew he wanted to be a part of the team once it was. Of course, there were times when Fields forgot that brazen childhood prediction, when his 19-year-old self was too disappointed in his finish at the London Games to believe he still had gold buried inside or when, after injuring his wrist in May, his 23-year-old self doubted 2016 would be his year.I would be lying if I said there werent dark times or there wasnt doubt in my mind, Fields said. It was all a blessing in disguise. They say adversity makes you stronger if you let it. I think thats true.Four months ago, Fields had surgery to repair a break in his left wrist and missed the latter half of the season. He watched as Nic Long, who finished fourth in Rio, secured his spot on the U.S. team with a third-place finish at the world championships. Then Fields gritted his teeth as the remaining field of hopefuls duked it out at the U.S. trials. 2012 alternate Corben Sharrah won that race, but if he hadnt, USA BMX director Jamie Staff would have had a hard time making a case for using his coachs pick on Fields instead of Sharrah, who just missed making the final in Rio.Those were the hardest months, Fields said. Because it was out of my control.Since being named to the team, Fields has been focused and confident, saying his seventh-place finish in London taught him the importance of gearing up for every race; no matter how well you ride in semis, a medal is not guaranteed and, above all, start strong.London taught me that the Olympic race comes down to two races, Fields said. Theres the race to get into the final. And then in the final, everything is wiped off the board. Once I was in the final, my mindset changed. I was going for first, second, third or broke. I was in a good mental place. As I was walking up to the start, my coach said, Remember how you felt in London? Remember how bad that sucked? Heres your chance. Go get it.Trailing eventual silver medalist Jelle van Gorkom of the Netherlands out of the gate, Fields said he saw daylight heading into the second turn before instincts hes honed over 16 years of racing took over. I found the hole and got in front, he said. When I exited the last corner, I realized I was winning, and 70 meters in front of me was an Olympic gold medal. I was like, Get to the line. Get to the line. Get to the line. Then I just dropped to my knees. I couldnt believe it.Fields win is an historic one for an American team that enters each Olympics with the great expectation that comes with representing the country that gave birth to the sport. But until Friday, the U.S. had yet to win an Olympic gold medal, and this same five-rider team failed to medal at all in London. Rio marks the USAs most successful showing yet. Returning Olympian Alise Post took silver, the best finish for an American woman at the Games, and Long and Brooke Crain finished fourth.We had great results as a team, Post said. This was 100 percent different than in London. We were all first-time Olympians the last time around. Were more experienced now and it showed. Im so proud of our team.When asked by a reporter if there were times this season when Fields believed this moment wouldnt be possible, that his hand would never heal in time, he said his hand wasnt healed. Its still broken, he said I knew if I crashed again, I could damage it permanently. But I had confidence in myself. If Im not going to bet on myself, who is?Fields grew up in Las Vegas. When he isnt training with the U.S. team in Chula Vista, California, he lives in Vegas in the house he bought shortly after the London Olympics and is a part-time student at UNLV. But listen to him talk, and its clear the city influenced more than his college selection:Once I got into the final, I smiled to myself and said, Here we go. I put all my cards on the table and had the best start of my life.They say adversity makes you stronger if you let it. I didnt even know Id be here until two months ago, I changed coaches four months ago. I was injured. But at the end of the day, you have to bet big to win big. I bet on myself today. When they said Olympic champion and my name, it was surreal. If only my 14-year-old self could see me now. Ecco Shoes Online Canada . Takahashi, who had a 10-point lead after the short program, received 268.31 points after the free skate to finish 15 points ahead of second-place Nobunari Oda. Ecco Shoes Online Outlet . -- Canadian Andrew Wiggins got the ball on the wing, made a nifty spin move and then let go with a soft floater from about 10 feet that swished through the net in Allen Fieldhouse. http://www.wholesaleeccocanada.com/ . -- Lou Brocks shoulder-to-shoulder collision with Bill Freehan during the 1968 World Series and Pete Roses bruising hit on Ray Fosse in the 1970 All-Star game could become relics of baseball history, like the dead-ball era. Ecco Shoes Clearance Sale .com) - Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray and Roger Federer were easy first-round winners Tuesday at the Australian Open. Wholesale Ecco Shoes . On Mar. 16, coming off a "fight of the year" performance at UFC 154 the previous November, St-Pierre faced Nick Diaz at UFC 158 in what would be his eighth defence of the welterweight title. Using his superior athleticism, St-Pierre cruised to a five round, unanimous decision victory setting up a much-anticipated title defence against number one contender Johny Hendricks. SAN FRANCISCO --?Andre Ethiers playoff experience won out over his limited availability this season, as the veteran was named to the Los Angeles Dodgers roster for the National League Division Series against the Washington Nationals.Ethier played in just 15 games and had 23 at-bats heading into the final day of the regular season after suffering a leg fracture on a foul ball during spring training. He was not in the starting lineup for Sundays finale at San Francisco.Dave Roberts may be in his first year as Dodgers manager, but he knows enough about Ethier to consider him valuable to the club at the most important time of the year.I told him from the very beginning that I dont care how many hits he gets, I just want him to have the at-bat quality that I have seen over the course of his 10-year major league career, Roberts said. And Ive seen it. The leg feels good, and the value he can give us off the bench late in a game against a quality relief pitcher, I like it.Roberts has yet to name his NLDS roster, but a number of names have started to trickle in. In addition to saying Ethier will be in Washington, D.C., this week, Roberts also confirmed that Josh Reddick would be on the playoff roster.That gives the Dodgers six outfielders. Roberts already said Andrew Toles would make it. They join?Howie Kendrick, Joc Pederson and Yasiel Puig, who was named to the playoff roster by Roberts earlier thiis week.ddddddddddddOther areas of the playoff roster still need to be decided. Utility players such as?Charlie Culberson and Enrique Hernandez remain under consideration. Roberts even suggested that he is not sure how many pitchers he will have available to face the Nationals in a series that starts Friday on the East Coast. But the bulk of the roster sounds set.We have a good idea of who will be on the roster, Roberts said. We have an idea where they are at, and I think it is just internal discussions.The Dodgers are carrying a full load of 40 players under expanded September rosters, meaning 15 players will get notice that they will not be playing in the NLDS. Some of those players could remain with the club, while others might go to Arizona to stay sharp in case they are needed for the National League Championship Series.Roberts said the team is scheduled to work out Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium, fly to Washington on Wednesday morning and work out at Nationals Park on Wednesday night, in addition to Thursdays regularly scheduled workout day.The bigger challenge is to keep the hitters sharp, Roberts said. Over the course of three, four, five, let alone six days, the hitter has a little bit of a tougher challenge because of the timing aspect of live pitching. ' ' '