RIO DE JANEIRO --?Ashleigh Johnson and KK Clark joined a couple of Brazilian dancers for a samba lesson. Maggie Steffens grabbed an American flag for the party on the pool deck. One by one, the players draped their gold medals around the neck of grieving coach Adam Krikorian.The U.S. saved its best for last, and Italy never stood a chance. Johnson made nine saves, Kiley Neushul scored three goals on four shots and the United States routed Italy 12-5 on Friday for its second straight Olympic gold medal in womens water polo.To play as well as we did today in that moment and that atmosphere in a gold-medal game when youve been thinking about this for the last four years is just, its a dream come true, Krikorian said.Makenzie Fischer and Rachel Fattal each had two goals for the Americans, who stretched their win streak to 22 games with their sixth victory in Rio by a combined score of 73-32.I think we really did change the game, said Johnson, who was voted the top goaltender of the tournament.?We played completely different than the games ever been played before. Really fast, intelligent, its really fun to watch and its great to play.Russia took home the bronze, beating Hungary 19-18 on penalty shots. Its the first womens water polo medal for Russia since 2000.Neushul and Steffens each gave Krikorian a big hug as they left in the final minute, and Neushul patted him on the head. When the final seconds ticked off, Krikorian walked over to congratulate Italy coach Fabio Conti, and then he was tackled into the pool by a couple of his jubilant players.In another Olympics dominated by U.S. women, Steffens -- the MVP and probably the best player in the world -- and her teammates shined as brightly as any of them.The water polo tournament shifted to the Olympic Aquatics Stadium following the swimming competition, and the array of Pac-12 stars who dominate the U.S. roster picked up right where Katie Ledecky & Co. left off, wearing down their opponents with superior speed, athleticism and strength.The U.S. women were the overwhelming favorites all along -- and they played like it. The 12 goals and seven-goal margin were records for the Olympic final.USA is, in this moment, a team of another universe, Conti said. The Americans pounded Brazil 13-3 before outslugging Hungary 14-10 in the semifinals. They held the lead after 23 of their 24 quarters and trailed for a total of only 44 seconds -- in the first quarter against Hungary on Wednesday.Its one of the best teams Ive ever been a part of, and Ive been a part of some really amazing teams, Neushul said. The team is so versatile, so many different threats. We have speed. We have size. We have athleticism, and I think this team was one of the first teams to display all those different styles in one team.By the time Krikorian and the U.S. staff hit the pool for a celebratory swim, the Americans possessed each of the major crowns in womens water polo, adding a second Olympic gold to their world championship, World Cup and World League Super Final titles.The scene after the final was the top of an emotional roller coaster for Krikorian, who rushed home before the United States first game to be with his family after the sudden death of his brother Blake, a former water polo player at UCLA and beloved Silicon Valley entrepreneur. Before departing for California, Krikorian met with his players and urged them to make the most of their Olympic experience.He returned in time for an opening 11-4 victory over Spain, and then he nearly broke down in tears while talking about his brother after the win. Blakes 49th birthday would have been Thursday, and Krikorians wife, Anicia Mendez, surprised him in Rio to be there with him for the sad day and then the final.Its not about me and its about the team, and that has actually helped me and thats made it actually fairly easy, Krikorian said, and that doesnt take away from the love I have for my family or my brother. Its more of a sign of respect and love that I think we all have for each other.Krikorian brushed away any talk of winning it all for him and his family, insisting Blake himself would think it was a ludicrous notion, but his players pledged their support for their mourning coach. And they delivered with their play -- all the way to the gold medal.Thats what were about, Steffens said, is going out there, having fun and playing the best water polo we can. College Jerseys Outlet . He says so-called TRT is only one problem and he wants to go even further than the ban. "Its about time," St-Pierre told reporters at a promotional event in Montreal on Friday. "I think its a good thing. Cheap West Virginia Mountaineers Jerseys China . Barcelonas entertaining victory ensured the defending Spanish champions retained their share of the league lead with Atletico Madrid two rounds ahead of their meeting in the capital. Real Madrid needed a late goal by substitute Jese Rodriguez to earn a 3-2 victory at Valencia to stay in third place and three points behind its title rivals. http://www.cheapcollegechina.com/cheap-wake-forest-demon-deacons-jerseys-china_138m.html . To the surprise of many, it isnt the Wolverines but their in-state rivals the Michigan State Spartans. Wholesale Football College Jerseys . Just as Montreal was settling into the first full working week of a new year, the Impact announced the appointment of their new head coach. Cheap NCAA Jerseys Online . 4 Villanova with a 96-68 drubbing on Monday. Wragge hit 9-of-14 from behind the arc, matching Kyle Korvers school record for 3-pointers in a game set in 2003, as Creighton (16-3, 6-1 Big East broke a conference record with 21 treys in the rout. ATLANTA -- With a new stadium nearing completion right across the street, R.A. Dickey chuckled at the idea of not being the Atlanta Braves oldest starting pitcher next season.A mere 42, Dickey will be ceding that honor to 43-year-old Bartolo Colon.I gave myself the nickname Little Ugly, Dickey quipped Friday after formally introduced by the Braves in an office tower overlooking SunTrust Park. Big Sexy and Little Ugly are going to be leading it on.All kidding aside the Braves insist their unorthodox moves show how serious they are about contending again for a postseason spot.The major hole in their massive rebuilding plan was the starting rotation. Thats where Colon and Dickey come in, giving the Braves two guys who can eat up innings, mentor the younger pitchers and not require the sort of long-term commitment that might block the path of several top prospects who are still a year or two away.Colon and Dickey both agreed to one-year contracts with a team option for 2018.These arent four- or five-year deals. These wont, theoretically, block any of our kids, said general manager John Coppolella. It will just give them a little more time. Guys that may have been force-fed up here now have a little more time to get their sea legs under them as they turn into really good big league pitchers.In a way, the signings of Dickey and Colon show that the Braves timetable for a return to postseason contention has been pushed up a bit, coinciding neatly with the move from Turner Field to a $622 million suburban stadium that anchors a massive complex of retail shops, restaurants, office space, residential areas and a hotel.It was impossible to miss the symbolism of introducing Dickey from an eighth-floor suite that provided an ideal view of SunTrust Park and the furious construction activity going on below.This is a franchise that has undergone a major overhhaul, on and off the field.ddddddddddddIts a real honor for me to be a part of a very storied franchise that looks like its on its way to becoming what it once was, Dickey said. Im happy to be a part of that growth and hoping that I can add to what they did at the end of the year.Despite another 90-plus-loss season and bringing up the rear in the NL East, Atlantas strong finish indicated that better times arent too far away. The trade for slugger Matt Kemp and the emergence of players such as Dansby Swanson, Ender Inciarte and Adonis Garcia helped the Braves win 50 of their last 97 games, including a 12-2 spurt to close out the year.Our starting eight is really good, manager Brian Snitker said. Everybody feels very confident in what weve got going on, and rightly so.The Braves are still in talks to add another pitcher, perhaps even a top-of-rotation starter such as Chris Sale of the Chicago White Sox.But, for now, Colon and Dickey provide an aging insurance policy.Colon is coming off an All-Star season with the New York Mets, going 15-8 with a 3.43 and memorably becoming the oldest player to hit his first career homer. Dickey is more of a gamble, slumping down the stretch and getting dropped from Torontos rotation, but he still had more wins (going 10-15 with a 4.46 ERA) than anyone on the Braves.We didnt give up any players. It didnt cost us a draft pick, Coppolella said. Weve been in trade talks for players -- pitcher and non-pitchers -- but the price of doing business is really expensive right now. So for us to be able to add somebody where its only money is really important.---Follow Paul Newberry on Twitter at www.twitter.com/pnewberry1963 . His work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/paul-newberry ' ' '