When Eric Murray and Hamish Bond jump into their boat in Rio, people wont be asking whether theyre going to win, but by how much.The New Zealand pair hasnt lost a race since 2007, so anything but a third consecutive Olympic gold medal would be a major upset.Some of their closest competitors have switched events to avoid having to compete against the blond Kiwis, something that has only strengthened their grip on the mens pair.Here are some of the other things to watch for in the rowing competition.NO SPLASHINGWater quality is a serious concern in the Rodrigo de Freitas lake, where an Associated Press investigation last year found high levels of viruses.Though the international rowing federation called the water quality very acceptable at last years Junior World Championships, its medical commission recommends rowers to avoid inadvertent immersion, including splashing.Taking no chances, the U.S. team will be training in special suits with anti-microbial features. Katelin Snyder, who coxes the U.S. womens eight, said shed gladly skip the tradition of throwing the coxswain in the water, saying winning would be enough of a celebration.THE FANTASTIC EIGHTThe U.S. womens eight is one of most successful teams in international sports, having won every World Championship and Olympic gold medal since 2006.The dynasty has endured even though the crews have changed. Only two rowers, Meghan Musnicki and Eleanor Logan, remain from the eight that won gold in the London Olympics.The biggest menace to the U.S. winning streak is likely to come from New Zealand or Great Britain, which nearly caught up with the Americans in a World Cup race in May in Switzerland.CATCHING CRABSWhen rowers talk about catching a crab theyre not thinking about trapping crustaceans from the boat.The expression is used to describe what happens when the oar blade gets caught in the water at the wrong moment. This causes the oar to flip, which slows down the boat and sometimes it can knock the rower into the water.Its rare among top-level rowers but it happens. Australias mens four caught a crab just ahead of the finish line in a World Cup event in May, which allowed Britain to surge past them and win.RULE BRITTANIA?Britain topped the medal table for rowing in London 2012 with four gold, two silver and three bronze medals. It was Britains biggest medal haul ever in the sport.Thats going to be tough to match for Team GB in Rio. Helen Glover and Heather Stanning will be hard to beat in the womens pair but 40-year-old Katherine Grainger, competing in her fifth Olympics, may find it tough to defend her gold in the womens double sculls. This time Grainger is partnering with Vicky Thornley.Britain has won 63 Olympic medals in rowing, second only to the United States.CROATIAN BROTHERSMartin and Valent Sinkovic are two-time world champions in the mens double sculls and big favorites to win Croatias first Olympic gold in rowing.They used to race in the quadruple sculls and won the silver medal in that event in London four years ago. After teaming up in the doubles in 2014 they havent lost a single race.Valent, 27, is a year older that Martin. Both say they were introduced to rowing by a third brother, Matija Sinkovic. Cheap Adidas Coyotes Jerseys . Rob Manfred, baseballs chief operating officer, testified last week during the grievance filed by the players union to overturn Rodriguezs 211-game suspension. 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Open champion Justin Rose birdied the first hole with a blind shot he hit to a foot of the pin, and he stayed in front Tuesday until he completed a 4-under 67 for a two-shot lead over Jason Dufner in PGA Grand Slam of Golf. LINCOLN, Neb. -- Nebraska overpowered Fresno State in the second half and won its opener in the easy fashion that was expected.The lasting memory of Saturday nights 43-10 win will be how everyone inside Memorial Stadium came together to remember the Cornhuskers fallen punter, Sam Foltz, who died in a July car crash.The Huskers draped Foltzs No. 27 jersey at the end of their bench, and after they went three-and-out on their first possession, they lined up with 10 players and no punter.The crowd stood and responded with loud cheers and applause as the play clock wound down, with Fresno States players joining them in the salute. When Nebraska was flagged for delay of game after the play clock expired, Fresno State declined the penalty.It was an incredible feeling, knowing how much he meant to the team and the community and all the fans out there, quarterback Tommy Armstrong said. It touched my heart a bit, just looking out there.Fresno State coach Tim DeRuyter was told beforehand that the Huskers would line up without a punter, and he said there was no question that the penalty would be declined.If we cant teach our guys something classy like that, whats college for? he said.Armstrong Jr. ran for two touchdowns and threw a perfect deep ball to Alonzo Moore for another as Nebraska took control of the game and gave Mike Riley his 100th win as a college coach.The Huskers pounded away at the Bulldogs with runs on 51 of their 64 plays, and Devine Ozigbo ran for a career-high 103 yards and two touchdowns. The biggest of Armstrongs few passes came two plays after Kieron Williams first career interception, when Moore beat his man to catch in stride a 57-yard TD early in the fourth quarter.When we run it that well, we open up a lot for the receivers, Armstrong said. When we get a chance to throw it, we have to complete them.Fresno States Chason Virgil, who missed the last nine games in 2015 with a broken clavicle, completed his first five passes and 11 of his first 14. The Bulldogs got a scare when he banged up his left shoulder late in the first half after being driven out of bounds by linebacker Luke Gifford, who was ejected for targeting.Virgil returned to starrt the third quarter but didnt get much done the rest of the night against a Nebraska defense that got better as the game went on.ddddddddddddI thought our guys went toe-to-toe with them for a pretty good bit, and then they broke our will in the fourth quarter, DeRuyter said.THE TAKEAWAYFresno State: The Bulldogs, coming off a 3-9 season, hung with Nebraska for a half and should be improved if they can keep Virgil healthy for new offensive coordinator Eric Kiesau. They capitalized on Robert Stanleys blocked punt and a couple Nebraska penalties, and that allowed them to keep it close until the third quarter. First-year defensive coordinator Lorenzo Ward can take consolation in that its unlikely his unit will go against another opponent that runs the ball as well as Nebraska.Nebraska: The game plan was perfect against an opponent that ranked 117th against the run last year, and once Armstrong and the Huskers got going in the second half, they were nearly unstoppable. Nebraska, which finished with 292 yards on the ground, ran on 20 of its first 21 plays, and Riley made good on his plan to get Armstrong more carries.Ozigbo and Terrell Newby formed a strong 1-2 combination, and freshman Tre Bryant showed up well when he got his chances late in the game. All that was pleasing to Riley. What upset him were three unsportsmanlike conduct penalties in addition to an ejection for targeting for a third straight game.There was some good football, when you rush for that many yards, but I have mixed emotions about this game, Riley said. Lots of things have to change.UP NEXT:Fresno State: The Bulldogs go from playing in one of the cathedrals of college football to hosting Sacramento State. DeRuyters Fresno teams have beaten Football Championship Subdivision opponents by an average of 26 points.Nebraska: The Huskers host Wyoming, coached by former Nebraska assistant Craig Bohl. This is no gimme. The last time the teams met, in 2013 in Lincoln, the Cowboys scored a couple late touchdowns and put a scare into the Huskers before losing 37-34. ' ' '