Kritik und Anregungen » two-weight world champion.But I dont dwell on

RIO DE JANEIRO -- Mouth agape, Matt Anderson yelled with every ounce of his being to celebrate big hit after pounding big hit. Erik Shoji chased down ball after ball, diving into the U.S. bench to keep one key point alive.When the mens volleyball team had no choice but to fight to remain in the tournament a little longer, the Americans delivered against the big beast that is Brazil -- a team playing on its home turf.After two forgettable preliminary matches and facing the real possibility of Olympic elimination, Anderson and the Americans stunned Brazil in four sets Thursday night to deny the previously unbeaten host nation a quarterfinal berth.Anderson led the charge for a roster packed with Olympic first-timers, but this inspired performance required every player and every play.We play our best volleyball when our backs are against the wall, U.S. captain David Lee said. We proved it again tonight. ... This was probably the hardest weve fought, I think our team has ever fought. Thats some of the best defense Ive ever seen.Anderson brought it with his jump serve, big hitting and reliable passing in a 25-20, 25-23, 20-25, 25-20 victory that left the raucous, flag-waving, pro-Brazil crowd at Maracanazinho arena in utter disbelief.When youre playing against an entire crowd thats against you, 95 percent of the crowds against you, if you can get them to be quiet, its a hell of a feeling, Anderson said.After being swept by Canada in the opener, the Americans held a players-only meeting, then other sessions with the coaches, even some individual sit-downs -- everybody determined to get it right before it was too late.Were like a family, so theres nothing that cant be said between each other. We hear the message, not the words, Anderson said. Its a huge lesson in knowing that we can come back, even against one of the best teams, if not the best team in this tournament.The U.S. snapped a four-match losing streak to Brazil in international competition. When Brazils kill attempt sailed long on match point, the Americans cheered their first victory at the Rio de Janeiro Games -- and one that will be remembered by a captivated U.S. crowd back home that weighed in on social media with shoutouts.Anderson, who already had scored 20 points early in the fourth set, set the tone from the opening serve of the late-night match beginning at nearly 11 p.m. local time.The 6-foot-8 outside hitter pumped his tattooed arms and yelled out, Yeah!Theres like this look that he gets and some of the celebrations, Shoji said. I cant really describe it, but you just know if you feed him the ball and he gets a kill, he starts rolling.Shoji saved two balls with lunging, one-handed digs to keep a point alive and put the Americans ahead 6-2 in the fourth -- the back-row specialist diving into the U.S. bench and over the end line during the sequence.During that back-and-forth first set, balls were coming across the net so hard that one kill slammed into Shojis chest and sent the U.S. libero to the floor.Brazil had dropped only two sets over its first two matches.Earlier Thursday, Argentina and Poland played the longest set so far in the Olympic tournament, with the Poles outlasting the Argentines 37-35 in a back-and-forth third set on the way to a sweep and quarterfinal berth.Italy, playing without injured captain Emanuele Birarelli because of a sprained right ankle, topped Mexico in straight sets, 25-17, 25-13, 25-17. Nike Air Max Sko Tilbud . After Gasquet beat fifth-seeded Ivan Dodig of Croatia 7-5, 6-3, Tsonga followed up with a 6-7 (3), 6-2, 6-2 win against sixth-seeded Edouard Roger-Vasselin in an all-French match. Air Max Salg Norge . The Australian is competing in his final season in Formula One and still looking for his first win this year. He will look to end Vettels run of six straight race wins on Sunday. Webber, who is fifth in the championship, earned his second pole from the past three races and 13th of his career. http://www.norgeairmax.com/ . Pettersen, winner of last years Evian Championships, had nine birdies and three bogeys, holding off a series of challengers led by Marion Ricordeau of France. The second-ranked Norwegian made her season debut after missing the LPGA Tours opening event last month in the Bahamas because of a shoulder injury. Nike Air Max Norge . Blackwood, 28, has played the last three seasons in the San Diego Padres system, including the past two summers with Class AA San Antonio of the Texas League. Billig Air Max Norge . -- Washington Redskins tight end Fred Davis was charged Thursday with driving while intoxicated, a day after he was suspended for an NFL substance-abuse policy violation. Approximately two weeks away from his rematch against Nate Diaz at UFC 202 on Aug. 20, Conor McGregor has offered one of his infamous predictions.During an international media call on Friday, McGregor (19-3) predicted he will knock out Diaz (19-10) inside the second round when they meet later this month at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.The Irish star is known for making pre-fight predictions, several of which hes made good on. He correctly predicted a first-round knockout against Jose Aldo at UFC 194 in December. In July 2015, UFC president Dana White said McGregor offered to bet $3 million he would knock out Chad Mendes in the second round at UFC 189 -- which he later did.Diaz put an end to that run in March, when he submitted McGregor via rear-naked choke in the second round of a welterweight fight at UFC 196 -- a fight he accepted on just 11 days notice. McGregor said he plans to turn the tables at UFC 202.I think I just got into saying Id stop the guy in the first round, said McGregor, who called first-round finish over Diaz in March. If I really look at it, he has a solid chin. Hes durable and very experienced. He has the size and the weight on me. I think that was the wrong thing, to go in expecting the first round.I did go out there to KO him in the first round. I marched forward, backed him up against the fence and teed off on his head. I did what I said I would do, but respect to him, he stuck it out. He weathered the storm. This time, Im still going to march forward and bust him up, theres just going to be much more in my tank. Im going to be a lot more prepared for a man who can stay in there with me.Even still, I struggle to give him past round three. If I was to make a prediction, which I will right now, I believe I will repay the favor and KO him inside the second round.The loss to Diaz was the first of McGregors UFC career. The 28-year-old won his first seven fights in the Octagon, including six via knockout.ddddddddddddAfter winning the featherweight championship late last year, McGregor was initially booked to a lightweight championship fight against then-champion Rafael dos Anjos at UFC 196. Dos Anjos was forced to pull out of the fight due to a foot injury, however, and was eventually replaced by Diaz. McGregor agreed to have the fight at 170 pounds, due to the late change.Rather than go back to his original division and defend the title, McGregor called for an immediate rematch with Diaz. A Dublin native, he has spent the last month in Las Vegas preparing for the fight.Realistically, I should be a two-weight UFC world champion, McGregor said. If I fought Rafael dos Anjos, if he didnt p---- out of that last one and showed up, the shots I cracked Nate with in the first eight minutes would have KOd Rafael dos Anjos stiff. Thats no question. I would be sitting here right now as a two-weight world champion.But I dont dwell on that. Im happy this happened, because it forced me to look at my preparation, look at the route I was going on. It forced me to reassess. Im happy this happened. Make no mistake, this one means a hell of a lot to me. This one means more than any amount of money or gold combined. I gave up a hell of a lot of money, gave up Hollywood opportunities, for this contest. I wanted to restrict the media. That should tell you how much this fight means to me. Ive been preparing accordingly.McGregor has already stated he would have interest in a trilogy fight against Diaz, should he even the series at 1-1. For his part, Diaz has said any fighter would want a rematch against someone who beat he or she lost to -- meaning, a McGregor win on Aug. 20 could set the stage for a potential trilogy fight. Oddsmakers currently have McGregor slightly favored to win. ' ' '