rominence.We were a relatively unknown program when we played Clemson, he said. They were ranked in the

RIO DE JANEIRO -- They wrapped the strongest of arms around him, pulling him in close for a group embrace. And Danell Leyva appreciated it, he did. But there was nothing his teammates could say, no hug hard enough, to allow him to absolve himself.Not at that moment, anyway. Not seconds after his hands slipped off the high bar on the Americans final routine of the team gymnastics finals Monday night, ensuring they would miss the podium in a second straight fifth-place Olympic finish. Japan ended up edging out Russia for the gold, and two-time defending Olympic champion China took bronze.This is a tough man, having returned to competition two months ago after having a sizable chunk bitten out of his calf when trying to break up a dog fight. He is a powerful man, excelling in a sport that few would argue is one of the most physically grueling in the world.And he is resilient, the all-around bronze medalist four years ago accepting his place as an alternate with grace and a positive attitude until two weeks before the Games, when he was placed on the U.S. team after a teammate was injured.But as Leyva crouched on the mat, his teammates urging him on, there was only disbelief, shock, obviously disappointment, he said. I didnt know what happened.What happened in the big picture was not all on Leyva. Rather, the U.S. men, as buoyant a group as their female counterparts are talented, came out on floor in their first rotation and succumbed to what they described as jitters.I really dont know what happened, honestly, it happened so quick, said Alex Naddour, the first performer who faltered on a front double and full combination, then fell on his full layout dismount. My legs felt a little bit tired, I guess, and so I rushed the twist and meant to do a full-out and did a full-in and kind of got lost.I tried my best ... and tried to land it, but it just kind of happens in this sport.As also happens in this sport, Mikulak followed and seemingly got sucked into the vortex of nerves, stepping out of bounds on his first two tumbling passes.I was a little jittery, a little cautious, he said. Sometimes you go out of bounds, sometimes you dont, thats just how it is.And just as he is, Mikulak never lost his voice, either figuratively or literally.I just started screaming and shouting at everyone at that point, he said. Thats how we train, as men. Believe in yourself. Go attack it. I think we started with too little belief.Indeed, the Americans picked it up from then on, with solid sets on pommel horse and rings, better still on vault and parallel bars, inching into sixth-place after the fourth rotation and into fifth-place after the fifth, within striking distance of the podium.Selling each routine upon completion with shouts of Lets go, accompanied by self-inflicted chest thumps, they set up a dramatic conclusion.And when Mikulak ripped off a 15.7 on high bar and Chris Brooks a 15.1, it?seemed only logical that Leyva, who qualified for the high bar finals along with parallel bars, would follow suit.Before the competition began, Brooks had given his teammates a pep talk.I told all of them before we started that I can look each and every one of them in the eyes and say I know we did everything we physically could to prepare for this moment, he said. So I just reminded them to trust themselves and be aggressive and if theres mistakes while youre being aggressive, thats just part of the sport, thats the nature of it. But if theres mistakes when youre being timid, thats when you can get a little frustrated with yourself.But we were aggressive in my opinion. We got the ball rolling about halfway through and tried to finish it out and had a mistake at the end but Leyva was being very aggressive. He was going for the bar, he was going for the connection and thats what I told him to do. Thats what we want from him.Leyvas stepfather, also his private coach, told him he tried to make the connection too early.My grip wasnt really on the bar and I really tried to hang on, I really did, but I just slipped off, Leyva said. I dont know how it happened, I cant tell you what I did.The fact that even if he had hit, the U.S. may still not have made it to the podium, did not cheer him up afterward.No, Im still going to feel like it was my fault, he said. I was the last routine and I should have hit no matter what.After getting up and completing his routine, Leyva walked over to his teammates and apologized.You cant say sorry, Brooks told him. Theres nothing to be sorry about.Leyva was being aggressive, Brooks said. He did exactly what we asked and the bar slipped out of his hands. It happens to everybody. Its gymnastics. Its extremely difficult. But Im proud of him to get up in that moment and finish the way he did.That the sport is fragile and fickle is nothing new to any of them, least of all Leyva, and it didnt help to be reminded.I wish I could use it as a consolation, but thats what makes the sport so intense, thats what makes it the hardest sport in the world, he said. Any small little thing can make a huge difference, you know.In the group hug, they said they loved each other.Its one thing if you go out and someone on the team didnt do this or that and then they make a mistake and mess up, Naddour said. Its a whole other thing when you know everyones been sacrificing, working on their diet, training day in and day out. It doesnt feel as badly.They will move on to all-around finals with Mikulak and Brooks, and to apparatus finals with all five participating in at least one event.I still think were on the road to success, said Jake Dalton. Today, yeah, it wasnt our best day but we showed we were second best in the world in prelims. I know we can contend for the podium but we just didnt have our best day today.For Leyva, who patiently answered every question about the slip, regrouping is his only option.I left it out there, he said, pointing to the arena floor. Thats it. Theres nothing I can do about that routine anymore, you know. The only thing I can do is the routine I have.The only thing I can say is I tried grabbing the bar and it slipped off. Nike Shoes Australia Sale . -- The goal posts lying flat on the field, Arizonas fans lingered on the field, congregating around the locker room entrance nearly 30 minutes after rushing out of the stands. Nike Shoes Australia Cheap . -- Teemu Selanne scored the first goal of his 22nd NHL season, and the Anaheim Ducks extended the best start in franchise history with their fifth straight victory, 3-2 over the Calgary Flames on Wednesday night. http://www.nikeshoesaustraliacheap.com/ . -- Running backs Darren McFadden and Rashad Jennings were back at practice for the Oakland Raiders on Wednesday despite being hampered by hamstring injuries. Cheap Nike Shoes Wholesale Free Shipping . Jeff Green scored 13 points and Kris Humphries 12 for the Celtics, who nearly blew an 18-point, second-half lead. Sullingers 20-20 was the first by a Celtics player since Kevin Garnetts first game in Boston in 2007. Garnett was dealt -- along with Paul Pierce -- to Brooklyn during the off-season. Wholesale Nike Shoes Australia . The All-Pro lineman got the leg bent under him while trying to make a tackle during the first half of a 22-20 overtime loss at Miami on Thursday night. The medical staff initially thought hed torn the ligament, and the test a day later in Cincinnati confirmed it. TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Alabama is in familiar territory and not just because of a quick return trip to Atlanta.For the third time in six seasons the top-ranked Crimson Tide head into the playoffs -- or previously into the BCS national championship game -- with a coordinator preparing to leave for a head coaching job. This time, offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin is leaving to take over at Florida Atlantic after `Bamas season ends.Alabama (13-0) faces No. 4 Washington (12-1) in a semifinal game on Dec. 31 at the Georgia Dome.It wasnt an issue before: Jim McElwain left after the 2011 season to take over at Colorado State. Alabama beat LSU 21-0 in the title game.Kirby Smarts imminent departure for Georgia didnt impede a championship run last season.Now, its Kiffins turn to pull double duty and prepare for at least one more game while starting to work on recruiting and assembling a staff at Florida Atlantic.Hes done a great job here molding our offensive players to what they can do to have the best chance to be successful, and I think thats always something that is very telling about the quality of a coach, Tide coach Nick Saban said Monday.Saban said FAU has selected someone thats going to do a great job for them but he declined to take questions about Kiffins hiring, which hadnt been formally announced by Florida Atlantic. He spoke at a news conference Monday with Peach Bowl officials.Alabama starts practice on Friday before returning to Atlanta, where they beat Florida 54-16 in the Southeastern Conference championship game on Dec. 3. The Tide is well acquainted with the Georgia Dome.The Crimson Tide has won seven strraight games at the Georgia Dome and eight of nine overall under Saban.dddddddddddd That includes a 4-0 record in Kickoff Classics and 4-1 in SEC title games.It also was the site of Sabans first really big win at `Bama. The Tide upset No. 9 Clemson 34-10 to start the 2008 season en route to a surprising 12-0 regular season.Saban still feels that win was a launching pad in helping restore the program to national prominence.We were a relatively unknown program when we played Clemson, he said. They were ranked in the Top 10 if I recall correctly, and we had a pretty dominant performance in that game. And I actually think that game probably did as much to launch this program forward as any game or anything that we ever did. We took a little bit of a risk in playing a game like that against a very, very good team and a good program that was highly ranked.We were happy to have the opportunity to do it.Game notes Cornerback Marlon Humphrey has been doing rehab on a right leg injury that sidelined him from the SEC championship game. Saban is hoping Humphrey will be able to fully participate in practice. With the type of injury he has, Im not sure well know for sure what his status will be until we start practicing again, Saban said. But were hopeful that this is the type of injury that just rest will be very beneficial to him and that he will be able to participate fully when we get back to practice.---More AP college football: http://collegefootball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25 . ' ' '