Hard und Software » ams for Brazil from 1980-1996. He was drafted by th

ARLINGTON, Texas -- The ever-changing roster of the Texas Rangers figures to have a new look when the club begins a pivotal four-game series against Cleveland on Thursday at Globe Life Park.Texas, which is in first place in the American League West despite getting shutout four times this month, will try to add some pop to the offense as outfielder Carlos Gomez is expected to be added to the roster in time for the series opener.The former All-Star was released by Houston on Aug. 18 after a dismal start to the season. Texas signed Gomez two days later and sent him to Triple-A Round Rock, where he hit .308 in three games with a pair of extra-base hits and two RBI.Texas isnt expected Gomez to be a savior for an offense that has struggled this month despite adding Jonathan Lucroy and Carlos Beltran. Hes not guaranteed a starting spot in an outfield that has two fixtures in Nomar Mazara and Ian Desmond.But Gomez, who was an All-Star in 2013 and 2014, was worth the risk for Texas despite his .210 average in 85 games with Houston this year.Texas manager Jeff Banister is hoping getting dumped by American League West rival Houston serves as motivation for Gomez.For a player of his caliber, for a team to not want you, then not be claimed, has to be a wake-up call, a punch to the nose, if you will, Banister said. Hes still passionate for the game. Can still run, throw, hit for power. He has an opportunity to show the rest of the baseball world that hes still a relevant player, with a team that has a lot to play for.The first-place Indians have a lot to play for, too. The only team with a better record in the AL than the Indians is Texas. Cleveland comes into the series 5-5 in its last 10 games and losers of consecutive games in Oakland.While the Indians have a 5 1/2-game lead over Detroit in the AL Central, they know theyve got to get things going against a Texas team that is 39-20 at Globe Life Park and leads Seattle by 6 1/2 in the West.Like the Rangers, Cleveland is in an offensive downturn. The Indians scored three runs in their three games against Oakland.Hopefully we just had like three days of amnesia, Cleveland manager Terry Francona said. Those things happen. Its not fun when it does, but it happens. Fortunately we won one game 1-0, but we have to give them some (the Athletics) some credit. They did a number on us.While the Indians may not be hitting the ball well, the series in Texas will provide one Cleveland player with a chance to play where hes had a lot of success. Mike Napoli helped the Rangers to the World Series in 2011 and to the playoffs last year before signing with the Indians. This series will be the first for him in Texas since the postseason.Its a place that Ill always love, Napoli said. But Im going there to compete and try to help our team win in any way. Ive got a lot of friends on the other side, but when I step across the lines its time to compete and try to win. Balenciaga Outlet . -- The plastic that was taped across the lockers in Oaklands clubhouse came down and the champagne that was on ice went back into the cooler. Under Armour Outlet Clearance . Note: The Calgary Flames announced Tuesday that Sean Monahan would not be made available to Canadas World Junior team. http://www.outletsneakersclearance.com/fake-vans.html . In taking its goal tally to 99 in all competitions already this season, City delivered another demonstration of its lethal firepower at Etihad Stadium to set up a fourth-round match at home to another second-tier team -- Watford. Cheap Vapormax China .Y. -- Bills receiver Stevie Johnson has a bone to pick with the NFL schedule maker. Wholesale Vans For Sale . Didier Drogba gave away the penalty that put Senegal one goal away from a major upset, but the veteran striker will get another chance -- probably his last -- at the World Cup after Salomon Kalous injury-time strike sealed the Ivorians place in Brazil next year. RIO DE JANEIRO -- Thats him, the man who changed international basketball. Hes the one who single-handedly beat the United States on its own soil nearly 30 years ago, stoking the ambers that led to the Dream Team.The greatest scorer in the history of the game, by a bunch, hes perhaps the best player to never to slip on an NBA jersey.Except for his size, Oscar Schmidt could walk down a city street in the U.S. unnoticed.Not in Brazil.As Schmidt ambles through the corridors of Carioca Arena, his weakened knees preventing him from moving with the grace he once showed on the floor, his countrymen treat him with respect and reverence. Police officers ask if they can have their picture taken with him, young volunteers squeeze in close for selfies and everyone he encounters shows him love. They all want to touch the man dubbed Mao Santo in Portuguese, The Holy Hand.Schmidt accepts it all and happily obliges every request with a smile, and often with a hearty laugh.These Olympics are personal to the Brazilian basketball icon. These games are on his court.I have had a great life, he said before doing TV commentary for Brazils double-overtime loss to Argentina on Saturday.He was a mystery, something of an urban legend until 1987, when during an unforgettable game in Indiana, the heartland of American hoops, Schmidt scored 46 points in the final of the Pan American Games to stun the Americans. It ended a 34-game winning streak for the U.S., its first loss in international competition at home.Schmidt, a cocky shooters shooter with remarkable range and little interest in playing defense, scored 35 points in the second half as Brazil overcame a 14-point halftime deficit to stun the U.S. team, which included college stars David Robinson, Danny Manning and coached by Denny Crum.When the game ended, Schmidt stood under one basket and wept with joy as his teammates celebrated. They had done the unimaginable.That game was the best part of my life because we proved to the whole world that it was possible to beat them, the 58-year-old Schmidt said. And we were afraid to lose by 50.At that time, there had been discussion inside the U.S. basketball program about possibly using professionals in upcoming Olympics. And when the Americans were beaten by the Soviet Union the following year at the Seoul Games and finished with a bronze, the U.S. decided it was time to bring in the big boys.Four years later, Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Charles Barkley, Larry Bird and their All-Star tteammates pummeled the competition in Barcelona while inspiring the rest of the world to shoot higher.ddddddddddddSchmidt, who scored 24 against that squad, takes personal satisfaction for his role in basketballs global growth.Yeah, of course I do, he said, his voice rising with pride. When we beat them, everybody saw it and said, if they can win, we can win. So they put the Dream Team together.The Americans exacted revenge on Schmidt in Spain, pounding Brazil 127-83 and winning by an average of 43.8 points per game on their way to a gold medal.That was the best team Ive ever seen play, said Schmidt, one of the Olympic flag bearers in the opening ceremony. They were something. The only players I think could make that team are Kobe, Shaquille and LeBron.And maybe Schmidt, who rejected overtures by NBA teams to play in Europe and on five Olympic teams for Brazil from 1980-1996. He was drafted by the New Jersey Nets in 1984, but played in Italy, where he routinely scored 50 in a game.When he got into a zone, with his size at 6-8 and his mentality, once he got going, he was one of the toughest guys you would ever want to go up against, said former Australian Olympian Andrew Gaze, who relishes the chance to catch up with his good friend. I think if he came through in a later generation, he would have been very successful in the NBA. But back when he was at his best, there were very few international players. The NBA wasnt really considering international players the way they are now.Schmidt helped open the door for non-U.S. players, and there were 100 on NBA rosters to start last season. And the American stars can thank the Hall of Famer, too, for getting them inside the five Olympic rings.Unofficially credited with scoring over 49,000 career points -- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had 38,387 -- Schmidt is the Olympic leader with 1,093, nearly 800 more than Carmelo Anthony, who became Team USAs career leader during these games.Schmidt chuckled when reminded of the disparity before turning serious.But hes going to win three times gold medals. I would change everything, every point -- not that Pan American Games -- but the rest for a medal in the Olympics, said Schmidt, who finished fifth three times. We had two good chances, not to get a medal, but a chance to win the Olympics. We came very close, but life is like that. You cant have everything. ' ' '