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 EDT:- Even if only for two weeks, can Faster-Higher-Stronger overpower deadlier, scarier and bloodier? Can the Olympic Games offer the world momentary levity, distract from terror, shootings, poverty and other worries in globally grim times? And, if not, what use is the multibillion dollar celebration of youthful endeavor and mostly niche sports?- Gold, silver, bronze and Pikachu. The AP travels around the Olympic venues to see how many Pokemon are hiding as Pokemon Go is released in Latin America just in time for the Summer Games.- RIO DE JANEIRO -- The defending champions are ready for their international introduction. The U.S. mens basketball team holds its Olympic news conference, where it will try to explain to a worldwide media that still calls it the Dream Team that winning a third straight gold medal isnt a given. News conference starts 1:15 p.m.- The Oklahoma City Thunder have reached a new deal with All-Star guard Russell Westbrook. The two sides have agreed on a new three-year contract worth $85.7 million, the AP is told.- BALTIMORE -- Left-hander Wade Miley makes his debut with the Baltimore Orioles, who will seek to complete a three-game sweep of the Texas Rangers in a matchup of first-place teams at Camden Yards. Game starts 7:05 p.m.- DETROIT -- Jordan Zimmermann returns from the disabled list for the Tigers, who have won eight straight. Jose Quintana starts for Chicago. Game starts 1 p.m.- TAMPA, Fla. -- Nine games into his bid to transform the bumbling Tampa Bay Buccaneers into championship contenders, the normally unflappable Tony Dungy reached a boiling point. A 1-8 record was discouraging, but hardly the only disheartening aspect of yet another slow start for a perennial last-place franchise that suffered through 13 consecutive losing seasons before the young coachs arrival in 1996.- FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- Veteran pass rusher Dwight Freeney meets his new teammates and practices for the first time with the Atlanta Falcons. Coach Dan Quinn plans to bring Freeney along slowly over the next few days.- In the history of college football, only 44 schools have been able to make the claim Were No. 1 and have The Associated Press poll back up the boast. The AP has ranked the No. 1s by number of times holding the top spot.- TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Defending national champion Alabama opens preseason camp in search of a starting quarterback for the third straight year.- CROMWELL, Conn. -- Three-quarters of the U.S. mens Olympic golf team will be playing together in the first round of the Travelers Championship. Bubba Watson, Patrick Reed and Matt Kuchar are scheduled to go out as a trio on the newly renovated TPC River Highlands course. Custom Basketball Jerseys Outlet .com) - The Calgary Flames aim to bounce back from their first regulation home loss of the campaign on Friday night when they host a Detroit Red Wings club that they swept in three meetings a season ago. Custom Basketball Jerseys China . 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.basketballcustomjerseys.com/ . Shot outdoors against the stunning backdrop of Banff, Alta., the networks 30-minute original production airs tonight at 8pm et/5pm pt on TSN2. The four All-Star teams will play for $100,000 in prize money during TSNs annual skins game, airing live this weekend on TSN from The Fenlands Banff Recreation Centre. Wholesale Custom Basketball Jerseys Store . PETERSBURG, Fla. Cheap Custom T-shirts . "It doesnt get any better than that," Giambi said. "Im speechless." The Indians are roaring toward October. Giambi belted a two-run, pinch-hit homer with two outs in the ninth inning to give Cleveland a shocking 5-4 win over the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday night, keeping the Indians up with the lead pack in the AL wild-card race. EUGENE, Ore. --?Justin Gatlin?won the gold medal in the 100 meters at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. A dozen years later, at age 34, he is determined to win again.And his chances might have gotten better when two-time defending Olympic champion Usain Bolt?pulled out of the Jamaica national championships with a hamstring injury on Friday. Nonetheless, Gatlin said he still expects to have to beat Bolt next month at the Rio de Janeiro Games.Its an Olympic year, man, and crazy stuff always happens in an Olympic year, Gatlin said Saturday at the U.S. Olympic track and field trials. Thats just the mystery in the air of the Olympics. Its full of dreams, and sometimes dreams dont come true. I guess like anybody else, were going to have to see what will be determined for him. But cmon, hes Usain. Were going to see his face in Rio one way or another.If Bolt were competing for the United States, that would not be the case. An athlete must finish in the top three at the U.S. track and field trials to go on to the Olympics. Not so in Jamaica, where Bolt has been given a medical exemption, provided he can show his usual form later this month at a race in London.At the end of the day, when you command a certain power in track and field, you sometimes you have to exercise it. I think thats what hes doing, Gatlin ssaid.dddddddddddd Hes injured and he has a medical pass. Thats what his country does. Our country doesnt do that. Youve got to come to the line, come ready, and if youre not ready that day, youre not getting on the boat to get to the Olympics.Asked whether he hopes Bolt is at full strength in Rio, Gatlin replied: At this point, Im just worried about the semis and the finals here.Gatlin reached Sundays semis with a time of 10.03 in the qualifiers on Saturday, the days sixth best time. Trayvon Bromell had the best time at 9.94, followed by Christian Coleman at 9.96 and Tyson Gay?at 9.97.Right now, everyone has to focus on what they have to do to race at trials and make the team, Gatlin said.Bolt holds the world record in the 100 with a time of 9.58, while Gatlins best time is 9.74. Gatlin said Bolts injury wont change his approach to Rio.Being a veteran, you cant let that change you. If I was a rookie, I might have thought I hit the lottery, Gatlin said. But at end of the day, you have so any people empowered by having their Olympic dreams coming true, they will look at it like, This is my chance too. So Im looking at it like I might be blindsided by somebody who will step up. ' ' '