Gwen Jorgensen wins U.S." first triathlon gold

Meet two-time World Champion Triathlete, Gwen Jorgensen

Gold: Gwen Jorgensen, United States

Silver:Nicola Spirig, Switzerland

Bronze:Vicky Holland, Great Britain

Every day, triathleteGwen Jorgensen likes to write down three things she did well and three things she could improve upon concerning her chosen sport. On Saturday morning, the American swam well, biked well and ran well. And she also finished well, earning gold by crossing the finish line in1:56:16.

Get to know U.S. triathleteGwen Jorgensen

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The triathlon exemplifies the concept of an endurance race. It kicks off with a 1.5km swim (approximately .93 of a mile), followed by 40km of biking (approximately 24.8 miles), and ending with a 10km run (approximately 6.2 miles). Additionally, the transition periods factor into the overall race time. Athletes must train to mount their bikes and slip into their shoes as quickly and efficiently as possible.

The Rio Olympic course hasbeen described as highly technical, with an open water swim givingway to a windy, hilly road.

Almost immediately after the PA announced On your marks, the horn blared and 55 athletes dove into the ocean. The triathletes quickly split into two packs, though within minutes there was a clear succession starting with Spanish leader Carolina Routier. At the 11 minute mark, the United States Katie Zaferes was in second.

Routier, who made her Olympic debut in Rio, was the first to hit the beach in 19:01. Zaferes was right on her heels, landing at 19:03. The biggest margin in the swim leg was about two minutes; by the end of that portion, one triathlete had withdrawn.

The racers completed the transition onto the bikes just before the 20 minute mark. Within just a minute, South Africas Mari Rabie took the lead. But about a half hour into the competition, a number of triathletes remained neck-and-neck. Bermudas Flora Duffy was literally seconds ahead of her nearest competitors, while American favorites Gwen Jorgensen and Sarah True crept toward the front.

As the race approached the 40 minute mark, Jorgensen briefly took the lead. Switzerlands Nicola Spirig the London 2012 gold medalist then passed her, with Jorgensen steady in second. Despite the tough climbs and curvy roads, the athletes kept in a consistent formation.

At around the 47 minute mark and well into the bike leg, Sarah True crashed. Lying on the road, she rubbed a clearly injured leg. The American managed to get back on her bike for a short period, but had to stop again to address her pain. Eventually, she withdrew from the race.

True just missed out on a bronze medal at the London 2012 Olympics, finishing in fourth. Her placement was the highest for an American in either the mens or womens competitions at those Games.

Towards the hour mark, Spirig broke away from the pack and established a lead. Minutes later, Chiles Barbara Riveros Diaz took the lead, while Jorgensen slipped to fifth place. But the sixth lap saw Jorgensen advance to the front.

By the end of the bike leg, it looked as though any of 18 triathletes could earn a medal. Swedens Lisa Norden finished the portion first in 1:21:28, a second ahead of Duffy, the Netherlands Rachel Klamer and Riveros. Jorgensen, also just a second off of Norden, was in 12th place.

It didnt take long for Jorgensen to spearheadthe run. That segmentis her specialty; the American has the fastest run split in womens triathlon history.

An hour and a half into the race, Jorgensen was shoulder-to-shoulder with Spirig; they both completed the first lap in 1:30:02.

Spirig was just ahead of Jorgensen at the start of the second lap, and about 20 seconds ahead of British triathletes Vicky Holland and Non Stanford. The race continued with the two favorites literally inches from one another all the way through the 1:45 mark, at which point a brief, bizarre moment occured.

Spirig slowed down in attempt to force Jorgensen to exert more energy; Jorgensen reacted by slowing down and almost insisted Spirig stay in front. They both sped into the third lap at 1:47:50, with Jorgensen leading by less than a second.

Just before 1:51, Jorgensen blasted pastSpirig by a wide margin. Moments later, the two were separated by close to 10 seconds.

The Americanheld onto her pace and broke the finish line tapein1:56:16. She began to weep as she held the bannerover her head.

Spirig earned silver by with a 1:56:56 time. In a neck-and-neck for bronze, Holland bested her compatriot by seconds, completing the race in 1:57:01.

Source: http://www.nbcolympics.com/news/gwen-jorgensen-wins-us-first-triathlon-gold

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Men"s Volleyball: Italy Beats US in Semifinals

USA v Japan - FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Cup Japan 2015

The US men"s volleyball team lost its semifinal match to Italy in the fifth and deciding set on Friday.

U.S. still has a chance at bronze on Sunday at 8:30 a.m. ETagainst Russia, which lost to Brazil late Friday.

The U.S. was just three points away from advancing to the gold medal match when Italy rebounded.

The Americans had trouble receiving Ivan Zaytsev"s serves and just like that, Italy had rattled off six points in a row and clawed back for a victory in the fourth set.

In the fifth set, Italy continued to steamroll off the momentum Zaytsev had built, soaring to a 15-9 victory to move on to the gold medal match and deliver another heartbreak to USA volleyball.

Italy beat Olympic first-timer Iran in straight sets. The Italians beat the U.S. in four sets during pool play and the Americans haven"t lost since.

The fifth-ranked Americans topped second-ranked Poland on Wednesday, building momentum after dropping their initial two matches before stunning Brazil and finishing off France.

The American roster, led by veterans David Lee and Reid Priddy, features eight first-time Olympians. The young group has gelled together to go 4-0 since the slow start.

Published at 11:25 PM EDT on Aug 19, 2016

Copyright Associated Press

Source: http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/sports/Mens-Volleyball-US-Italy-Semifinal-Rio-Olympics-Day-14-390682321.html

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Julianne Hough And Nina Dobrev Flaunt Their Bare Bottoms In A Cheeky Instagram

Nina Dobrev Returning for Final Season of The Vampire Diaries?

Stefanie Keenan / AMA2015 / Getty Images

Julianne Hough and Nina Dobrev are taking their friendship to new levels. This weekduring a vacation in Idaho,the two besties decided to drop their bikini bottoms for a cuteInstagram post. There was no need for a long caption, so the Dancing With The Stars judgesimply wrote, Full moons! Dobrev reposted the picture and added to the cheeky description, Four full moons in Ida-hoe, hinting at the three exposed bottoms and the real moon in the sky. Division III actress Milissa Sears also joined the crewfor the pic.

From the Instagram shots, it looks like the ladies are having fun on their summer vacation. The stars posted several photos doingoutdoor activities, from poolside laughs to wakeboarding adventures. Celebrity hairstylist Nikki Lee and Riawna Capri were also on hand, but it wasnt just a girls trip. Houghs brother Derek Hough and her fianc Brooks Laich also joined the crew for the unforgettable getaway.

Scroll down to see the epic picture from the trip.

Related:I Posed n**e For The First Time, And It Was Pretty Empowering

Full moons!

A photo posted by Julianne Hough (@juleshough) on Aug 18, 2016 at 6:16pm PDT

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Source: http://www.self.com/trending/2016/08/julianne-hough-and-nina-dobrev-flaunt-their-bare-bottoms-in-a-nsfw-instagram/

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Bob Newhart Show Actor Jack Riley Dead at 80

NC - Jack Riley as Mr Fru-Fru.mpg
Actor Jack Riley, best known as Elliot Carlin in The Bob Newhart Show, has passed away at the age of 80, the Associated Press reports. The cause of death was complications from pneumonia. As the cantankerous and cynical Carlin, Riley played one of psychiatrist Bob Hartley"s (Bob Newhart) most frequent patients. In addition to appearing on The Bob Newhart Show, Riley also supplied the voice for Stu Pickles on the animated program Rugrats. Stars we"ve lost in 2016Riley"s other TV credits include Night Court, Diff"rent Strokes, Seinfeld and Friends. He also appeared in several Mel Brooks films, including Spaceballs! and History of the World: Part I. Other Links From TVGuide.com

Source: http://www.oriongazette.com/entertainment/20160820/bob-newhart-show-actor-jack-riley-dead-at-80

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Eatman: Even When Zeke Returns, Cowboys Must Find Role For Morris

Cowboys vs. Rams | Post Game Highlights | NFL

ARLINGTON, Texas Missing an entire training camp with an injury is tough enough to come back from. Having to do that, plus beat out a veteran just for the backup spot seems like a daunting task.

But after two preseason games, thats exactly what Darren McFadden and Lance Dunbar are both facing. Because one thing is rather clear:

Alfred Morris is on this football team. And better yet, he needs a significant role, too.

Yeah, I know were all waiting to see what Ezekiel Elliott will do, and next weeks matchup with the Seahawks will provide a great test. And no, Im not suggesting Morris should be the starter for this year.

But he should be the starter for next weeks game. Morris has done everything that has been asked of him and more. To me, hes starting next week for a series or so, and then Elliott comes in for a half.

Thats just how I would do it. Id make the rookie come in and take the job away from someone who has clearly grabbed the position by the horns.

Again, Elliott doesnt need to worry. Hes the No. 4 overall pick and hes going to play, and play a lot, when hes fully healthy.

But for those who wondered just what kind of role Morris would have (And note, Im taking a break from this column to raise both hands because I wasnt sure at all that Morris would fit in), hes proving us all wrong.

In Friday nights 41-14 win over the Dolphins, Morris put up some impressive numbers in one half, rushing for 85 yards on 13 attempts (6.5 average). His longest run was just 20 yards, although he had another 20-yard touchdown run called back because of a procedure penalty.

On both runs to the end zone, Morris juked, cut, alluded, bounced and plunged just about everything to get into the end zone without any of it looking rather pretty. Then again, who needs a pretty running back? Jason Garretts definition of dirty yards is exactly what Morris all about.

Whats so great about Morris is that nothing is great. Hes just good at a lot of things. Hes a good inside runner, but not with a ton of power. Hes got quick feet, but obviously not great speed. Hes not a pass-catcher and hes not a great blocker.

But hes just good. And sometimes good is great, especially for what will eventually be a backup role.

To me, from what Ive noticed about Morris in the few months hes been with the Cowboys, is how different he is from other players. And by different, its certainly refreshing. His perspective is unlike other players.

A sixth-round pick of the Redskins in 2012 out of Florida Atlantic, Morris went to Washington just hoping he could make the Redskins practice squad. He started in Week 1. Once he won the job, Morris admitted he was just trying to keep the position and was so afraid someone might take it. Instead, he rushed for over 1,600 yards and made the Pro Bowl. And then made it again.

That feeling of never taking things for granted is probably the reason he still drives the only car hes ever owned a 1991 Mazda 626. Thats right, five years into the NFL and hes still driving a car 25 years old, just two years younger than him.

Once in training camp, a reporter asked him about taking advantage of McFadden and Dunbar, and then Elliott, all being out with injury. Instead of acknowledging the extra reps, Morris corrected the reporter.

No, I want them to come back, soon. When they come back, itll be better competition. And competition makes us better.

And if youre thinking thats just lip service, with this guy it isnt. Morris is one of those happy-go-lucky players who doesnt seem worried about too many things he cant control. Lets not mistake that for someone who isnt serious about his craft, though.

I remember back in the summer he told me that hes not a complete running back yet. He said he needs to get better as a receiver and blocker. But, he added that he signed with Dallas to get the opportunity to do just that.

Now, even Morris couldnt have known three tailbacks would be out for most of camp and hed be left, along with rookie Darius Jackson, to get nearly every rep. He has caught the ball a little better, although he had a drop on the first offensive series.

h**l probably never develop into a great pass-catcher and dont look for him to blow anyone up like a fullback. But at this point in his career, Morris has shown thats he pretty good when he runs the football.

So good that the Cowboys must find a role for him, regardless of what the rest of the running back depth chart looks like.

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Source: http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/2016/08/19/eatman-even-when-zeke-returns-cowboys-must-find-role-morris

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Elizabeth Smart on Her Captivity: "p*********y Made My Living h**l Worse"

Elizabeth Smart: Days consisted of rape

The man who held Elizabeth Smart captive when she was a teenager regularly looked at p*********y, which "just led to him raping me more," the now 28-year-old woman says in a new video.

"He would just sit and look at it and stare at it, and he would just talk about these women, and then when he was done, he would turn and look at me, and he would be like, "Now we"re going to do this,"" Smart said of her convicted abductor, Brian David Mitchell.

The video, posted to YouTube on Friday, was produced by Fight the New Drug, an anti-p**n non-profit group.

Mitchell kidnapped Smart, clad in her pajamas, from her Salt Lake City bed in 2002, when she was 14. He chained her to a makeshift campsite in the mountains only miles from her home, where his wife, Wanda Eileen Barzee, was waiting for them. Mitchell raped Smart over and over again for the next nine months while her family frantically searched for her. She was recognized and rescued on a Sandy, Utah, street in March 2003.

Smart has become an outspoken child safety activist since her ordeal and has publicly talked about it extensively. But Friday was the first time she delved into the role p*********y played in what she called "the longest nine months of my life."

From the Archives: "I Was Broken Beyond Repair," Smart Tells NBC News

"Looking at p*********y wasn"t enough for him. Having s*x with his wife after looking at p*********y wasn"t enough for him," she said, simply referring to Mitchell as her "captor" during the 5-minute, 15 -second video, and never mentioning him by name. "He just always wanted more."

She said every time she thought she had "hit rock bottom, my captor would find something new to make it worse."

Elizabeth Smart speaks about p*********y"s role In her abduction. Fight the New Drug

One time, she said, Mitchell forced her to drink so much alcohol, she passed out. She woke up face-down on the ground, vomit crusted in her hair.

"And I remember waking up that moment and thinking, how can it get any lower than this?"

A few days later, it did.

"My captor was really excited and really kind of amped up about something, and he said, "Oh, you know, I have something and I"m going to show it to you, and you have to look at it,"" Smart said.

Mitchell then pulled out a "magazine full of hard-core p*********y," she said.

"It just led to him raping me more, more than he already did which was a lot," she said.

"I can"t say that he would not have gone out and kidnapped me had he not looked at p*********y. All I know is that p*********y made my living h**l worse."

Smart was rescued in March of 2003. She has said her strong Mormon faith, plus returning to the activities that brought her joy before her kidnapping, such as playing the harp, have helped her process her trauma.

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/elizabeth-smart-her-captivity-p*********y-made-my-living-h**l-worse-n635066

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Can USA men"s volleyball keep rolling into gold medal match?

USA v Italy - FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Cup Japan 2015

U.S. takes on Italy in the semifinals Friday at Noon ET

Team USA got out to a rough start in the Rio Olympics, but they now sit just one win away from the gold medal match.

Packed with a roster of young players (eight first-time Olympians), the U.S. men lost each of their first two matches to open preliminary play in Rio.

They"ve since won four in a row, including a quarterfinals sweep of Poland Wednesday.

Click to head for the volleyball News Feed where you"ll find every story and video the moment they land on NBCOlympics.com

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One of those early losses came against Italy, the team USA will go up against Friday afternoon.

A victory in the semifinalswill pitthe U.S. against the winner of Brazil and Russia in the gold medal match Sunday afternoon.

The losers of each of Friday"s semifinals will play in the bronze medal game Sunday morning.

Source: http://www.nbcolympics.com/news/can-usa-mens-volleyball-keep-rolling-gold-medal-match

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