Strategiebereich » player. Ive been like that my whole life, Mud

RIO DE JANEIRO -- As an assistant coach for Britains womens field hockey team, Craig Parnham always admired the United States.Now the head coach of the American womens squad, he recalled why in the moments after a 6-1 rout over Japan at the Olympics last week.USA have always had a huge heart, great spirit, great passion, great drive -- they never give in, Parnham said. When I was working with other teams, we would always see those as big threats of the USA, and when you see it firsthand, you see it for what it is.Just four years ago, those intangible qualities were about all the Americans had going for themselves when they faced elite programs. Parnhams job when the United States hired him in 2013 was to improve the teams skill and fitness and turn the Americans into contenders for major titles. The players bought into his approach, and now the 43-year-old British coach has guided a squad that finished last at the 2012 London Games to a 4-1 record in pool play four years later.The Americans are in a position to make a run at their first medal since earning bronze in 1984. They play Germany in the quarterfinals on Monday.We just are meshing, U.S. striker Katie Bam said. Its just our time.The players met shortly after Parnham became coach, and he left them to decide their goals. Once he learned they wanted to rank among the best teams in the world, he put them in position to make that vision realistic.Hes opened our communication lines, U.S. defender Lauren Crandall said. Hes really allowed us to drive our program. Hes given us the power. Hes told us, figure out your goals, figure out your vision and drive this bus forward.Because the players have the power, they correct themselves.He creates a culture where the team are accountable, USA field hockey executive director Simon Hoskins said. I think that really works with todays modern athlete. To me, he really is the epitome of the modern elite coach.There were plenty of losses along the way. But then, the United States won the Pan American Games in 2015 and finished third in the Champions Trophy event in June. Their No. 5 world ranking is their highest ever.The United States opened the Olympics with 2-1 victories over No. 2 Argentina and No. 3 Australia, then set a U.S. womens Olympic record with six goals against No. 10 Japan. The Americans beat India, then faltered late to drop their final pool play match to Britain. The United States finished second in the pool and already has set a program high for wins at an Olympics.Its been 3+ years of hard work, Parnham said. We got together and established a program we thought was going to be useful. Weve been working on all aspects of our game -- physical, mental, technical, tactical. Im pleased for the team, Im pleased for U.S. hockey. Things are moving along nicely.---Follow Cliff Brunt on Twitter (at)CliffBruntAP Adidas NMD ασπρα . There are some early surprises in the race for the Hart Trophy, but two of the contenders are the leagues biggest stars over the past decade. There are many more players in contention for the awards than just the three that Ive named, and a good or bad week can easily alter the landscape, but through the first 20 or so games of the NHL season, this is how the awards races look to me. Adidas Superstar γυναικεια μαυρα .S. hockey team after paying his dues as an NHL general manager for more than three decades and giving up a lot of his free time to help USA Hockey. http://www.nmdgreece.com/adidas-nmd-r1-greece.html . - Connor McDavid scored 53 seconds into overtime as the Erie Otters came from behind to defeat the visiting Guelph Storm 4-3 on Saturday in Ontario Hockey League action. Adidas Superstar γυναικεια φθηνα .com) - The Chicago Blackhawks aim for their third three-game winning streak of the season when they host the struggling Edmonton Oilers in Sundays battle at the United Center. Adidas NMD R2 ανδρικα .875,000, avoiding arbitration. Clippards deal Monday means all eight Nationals players who filed for arbitration wound up settling before a hearing. DENVER -- On the roster, 36-year-old Mike Miller is listed as a shooting guard/small forward. His most essential position is mentor.Its an assignment Miller takes seriously on a young squad still learning how to consistently win.The Denver Nuggets boast a rookie sharpshooter (Jamal Murray), an array of up-and-comers (Emmanuel Mudiay, Nikola Jokic and Jusuf Nurkic) and a few veteran leaders hoping to blend it all together.Being a dinosaur in this league, and seeing everything that I have, Ive been a part of really talented teams that have won 23 games. Ive been a part of talented teams that have won championships, said Miller, who agreed to a two-year deal in July. Whats the difference? To me, its the culture and having that understanding in the locker room where you can hold guys accountable. Those are things you have to start developing.These days, the Nuggets are all about development. That begins with Mudiay, a 20-year-old point guard who steadily improved during the second half of last season. Theres also Jokic, a versatile big man who is loaded with confidence after a summer in which he helped Serbia to a silver medal at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics. And its hard to overlook Nurkic, a bruising 7-footer who pairs nicely in the middle with Jokic.The reason so many of our young players grew last year is we allowed them to play through mistakes. It wasnt a situation where a guy made a mistake and looked over at the bench and was like, `Am I coming out? said coach Michael Malone, whose team finished 33-49 in his first season in Denver. Guys had the confidence to play through their mistakes.That approach certainly will apply to Murray, the seventh overall pick during the June draft. No doubt, Murray can shoot. No doubt, the Kentucky product will at times play like a rookie.All part of the process, Malone said.For a change, the Nuggets actually head into a season healthy. Wilson Chandler is back from a hip injury that sidelined him all last season and Danilo Gallinaaris ankle -- the one that forced an early end to his season -- is healed.ddddddddddddIm well rested and ready to go, Gallinari said Monday.This city has grown on Gallinari, so much so that the Italian forward has a house in Denver. This roster has grown on him, too. So much so that hes voiced his desire to remain with the squad whenever trade rumors seem to surface.I think were close and getting closer, Gallinari said.Still, the Nuggets are a team without an alpha player -- a LeBron James or Steph Curry type that can take over in big moments.The way general manager Tim Connelly sees it, maybe that top-notch player is already on the roster, and just needs some time to mature. Possibly even Mudiay, the seventh overall pick in 2015.Im an alpha player. Ive been like that my whole life, Mudiay said. I dont plan to change that.Nor do the Nuggets want him to. Millers task is to help Mudiay & Co. elevate their games -- and think big.Our expectations and our goals have got to be playoffs, Miller said. I wouldnt say that if I didnt think it was realistic, because nothing good comes out of making unrealistic goals, especially for a young team.Keep winning and the fans should return, too. At times last season, the Pepsi Center looked half-empty.President Josh Kroenke understands. The Nuggets have to earn back respect after missing the postseason for a third straight year. This offseason, Kroenke made a big push to bring in Dwyane Wade, before Wade signed with Chicago.Fans are going to see a direction with a young roster that has a chance to be pretty good, Kroenke said.Game notes The Nuggets will retire Dikembe Mutombos No. 55 jersey in a ceremony on Oct. 29, even wearing the Rainbow Skyline throwback jerseys for the occasion. Mutombo was drafted fourth overall by Denver in 1991 and played for the Nuggets before leaving after the 1995-96 season. ' ' '