Allgemeines » Palmer wrote letters to every player who won o

RIO DE JANEIRO -- Leticia Romero isnt alone at the Rio Games, just close to it.The Florida State guard, who is playing for Spain is one of two current college players in the Olympics. The other is UConn guard Kia Nurse, who has been making headlines for Canada. Neither is a stranger to international competition, but this is the first time for both to be on the grand stage. They are flourishing.The college guards have already helped their countries advance to the quarterfinals and will square off Sunday when Spain faces Canada with second place in the group on the line.While youth has dominated at the pool and gymnastics, its rare to see on the basketball court. The U.S., which is trying for a sixth consecutive gold medal, hasnt had a college player on its roster since 1988 when Vicky Bullett and Bridgette Gordon helped the Americans win gold.For me its a dream coming true, Romero told The Associated Press after Spain clinched a spot in the quarterfinals. At 21 years old, I never thought Id be here in the Olympics. Im very lucky to be here to learn from this team. Its amazing how they play and practice every day, thats going to help me next season when I come back to Florida State again and for the future.The two will meet again on the court when Florida State hosts UConn on Nov. 14 to open up the college basketball season.Playing UConn for me is a great thing, said Romero, who is Spains fourth leading scorer despite playing just 13 minutes a game. Im looking forward to that too, but Im here right now and focused on the Olympics.Romero and Nurse said they dont really know each other off the court, but definitely have a healthy respect for one another. They will be in similar situations next year in college, taking on big leadership roles for their teams. They have been soaking in the ways that the veterans on their Olympic teams have been doing it.I try and learn everything I can from them, said Nurse, who is leading Canada with 11.8 points a game. Incredible leaders and teammates. You get to learn and see your weaknesses exposed all the time. Im an upperclassmen already, which is extremely odd to me. I have to step into a leadership role up there and try and take away from these guys how they do it.Romero said she is trying to watch teammate Laia Palau.Im amazed by how she manages everything, Romero said. How she organizes the team, does everything for the team, makes everyone close to each other. For me coming to Florida State, I want to be that kind of player that can bring everyone together and make everyone a better player.The pair have had a great time away from the court too. They both got to participate in the opening ceremonies, an experience neither will forget.It was crazy, Romero said. I cant even describe it. To be there, just something I always watched on TV and its a dream. I was telling (Florida State coach) Sue Semrau it was like a one-minute walk, that felt like 5 seconds. Watching the people the crowd, my teammates, everybody. All the teams it was overwhelming.Semrau flew down to Rio to watch her point guard play.She is playing with the level of confidence that I havent seen before, Semrau said in a text to the AP. Im excited to see her continue her growth at Florida State and beyond.Romero also got to fulfill another lifelong dream while waiting to enter the stadium, a photo with tennis great Rafael Nadal. This coming a few days after she got a chance to meet Felipe VI the King of Spain.Its a big deal both. But I would rather take a picture with Nadal, she said laughing. Hes one of my heroes, but the King of Spain is a big deal too.Yes, its good to be an Olympian.---Online:AP Summer Games website: http://summergames.ap.org/---Follow Doug on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/dougfeinberg Clyde Drexler Jersey . Ferrer, trying to win his fourth title on Mexican soil, will next play South Africas Kevin Anderson, who eliminated American Sam Querrey,7-6 (2), 6-4. Also Wednesday, Gilles Simon (6) of France beat Donald Young of the United States 6-4, 6-3, Ukraines Alexandr Dolgopolov downed Frenchman Jeremy Chardy 6-3, 6-4 and Croatias Ivo Karlovic defeated Dudi Sela of Israel 7-6 (4), 6-2. Clint Capela Rockets Jersey . After taking two big hits this week -- losing at home and dropping back-to-back games for the first time all season -- Indiana struck back by playing its most complete game of the year. https://www.rocketsrookiesshop.com/Danuel-House-City-Edition-Jersey/ . 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CHASKA, Minn. -- William McGirt took his wife and infant son to Arnold Palmers office at Bay Hill, wanting nothing more than a photo.Palmer, as usual, gave him so much more.Any worries McGirt had about imposing on the King were put to rest as quickly as it took Palmer to reach over and take his son, Mac, out of his arms for the photo.We take the picture and I figure hell hand him back and wait for us to get out of his office, McGirt said Monday. No. We take the picture and he puts Mac on his desk and sits there playing with him. Mac knocked everything off his desk and he was like, `Its OK. He was having fun with him. He was the best at making you feel welcome. He made you feel like youve known him for 30 years.This was the very essence of Palmer, who died Sunday and left a gaping hole in the world of golf.This was the personal touch.Three months before his death, Palmer eased into the chair in his Pennsylvania office and started in on a lifes work that never seemed to end. On the desk next to him was a stack of photos, tournament flags and other memorabilia that fans from across the country had sent him, asking for an autograph.Some days he would sign for 10 minutes, other days an hour, depending on his energy level.But he signed.The walls outside his office are covered with personal letters from presidents dating to Dwight D. Eisenhower and other leaders. Palmer knew them all, and the letters showed how much they cherished their relationship with him.Palmer, however, treated the unknown fans with as much consideration.He made them feel important.Phil Mickelson learned that lesson over the years. The most important Palmer imparted: Never walk past anybody.He always made eye contact. He always acknowledged they were there, Mickelson said. We all try, but we never live up to his standard. He made the difficult look easy.His signature is among the most famous in sport. Everyone can read it, each letter just as legible as the A and the P. One year in his office at Bay Hill, Palmer reached for a black pen and a blank sheet of paper to show how he learned to write. He even remembered the name of his teacher in the first grade, Rita Taylor, and the Palmer Method of Writing that was scrawled on the blackboard.Thats how kids in the 1930s learned to write. The method wasnt named after Palmer. He just perfected it.Moving his large hand in a circular motion until there was a large, black dot on the paper, the King showed that it was about using the arm, not the wrist, as he moved down the line to write his name.dddddddddddd No telling how often that signature has been written. As Rocco Mediate said, Palmer autographs dont sell for much because there are probably 8 billion of them.And nothing is more personal than a letter.Gavin Hall, who plays for the Texas Longhorns, was 14 when a letter arrived in the mail from the Bay Hill Invitational in 2009. It was from Palmer, whom he had never met and never did. Hall had played in the prestigious Monroe Invitational in upstate New York that year. Palmers grandson, Sam Saunders, also was in the field. Maybe thats why he wrote.I was pleased to hear of your recent accomplishments on the golf course, the letter begins. It goes on to encourage Hall to stay devoted to the game without dismissing his education.Hall was in a minor state of shock.There was no way it was Arnold Palmer. How in the heck would he know what I did? Hall said Monday. It was amazing. To this day, its the best letter I ever received. Can you believe the amount of people he has reached? How many lives? I never met him, and he still wrote that.Hall, who qualified for the 2013 U.S. Open as an 18-year-old, was one of the younger recipients. But he wasnt alone.Each week, Palmer wrote letters to every player who won on tours large and small. Russell Knox was one of them. He won his first Web.com Tour event five years ago outside San Francisco, and a few weeks later received a letter from the King.I called my dad and said: `Youre not going to believe this. Arnold Palmer wrote me a letter, Knox said. He didnt believe me.Palmer kept a tight schedule three years ago. He took time for a visitor before two meetings and lunch with supermodel Kate Upton.He paused before signing a letter to David Frost, who had won on the Champions Tour, and said, Hes playing pretty good. The next letter was to Kevin Streelman, who had won at Innisbrook the week before. Palmer watched the back nine on television and liked what he saw.On the way out the door, an assistant told him that Japanese photographers wanted to take his picture. They were outside his door and when Palmer saw them, he rattled off his best Japanese greeting. His voice was animated. His smile put everyone at ease. The words probably didnt come out the right way. It didnt matter.They all laughed together and Palmer wrapped his arms around one of them and gave her a big hug.Just like they were old friends. ' ' '