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RIO DE JANEIRO -- Hows this for last-minute notice?After Pele relinquished his starring role in the opening ceremony in slightly mysterious circumstances, marathon runner Vanderlei de Lima only had an hours notice that he would carry the flame to light the Olympic cauldron on Friday.The 46-year-old de Lima told the story to a group of Brazilian sports journalists who accidentally ran into him buying beer at a gas station after the show ended in Rio de Janeiro. He was still wearing his Rio 2016 outfit.I never thought that I could be that person to light the cauldron, he said.It came 12 years after his hopes of winning Olympic gold were ended by an Irish spectator wearing a kilt, knee-socks and a beret tackling him while leading the Athens marathon. Instead of gold, he fell back to take bronze.Long since retired from top-level running, De Lima wasnt destined to be the focal point of the first Olympics in his homeland.Brazil soccer great Pele was the preferred choice of organizers to light the cauldron but left them in the lurch.Pele, 75, said Wednesday he was already committed to working for an unnamed sponsor on the day of the opening ceremony. Several of his commercial backers -- sandwich chain Subway, watchmaker Hublot and credit card company Mastercard -- are rivals of official Olympic sponsors McDonalds, Omega and Visa.Still, Pele announced he would try to adjust his travel plans to make the Maracana Stadium ceremony.And yet by Friday, the three-time World Cup winner was citing illness as the reason to relinquish the lighting honor.We had, obviously as you do on these occasions, Plan A, B, C, D, E, Rio organizing committee spokesman Mario Andrada said Saturday. Pele, when we invited him, informed us that he was coming out of surgery and he needed medical approval to do that.We prepared special help for him if he needed it during the ceremony. We also decided to wait until the last moment to decide which the plan was, allowing him more time to improve his condition and to get medical authorization.But Andrada said doctors advised Pele against putting his body through the long ceremony.Pele did hold the Olympic flame two weeks ago when the torch relay traveled through Santos, the city in the outskirts of Sao Paulo where he started his football career. He never took part in the Olympics as a player. Air Max 97 Nintendo 64 For Sale . -- Matt Rupert scored once in regulation and again in the shootout as the London Knights extended their win streak to nine games by defeating the Owen Sound Attack 4-3 on Friday in Ontario Hockey League action. Air Max 97 Have a Nike Day . -- Peyton Manning will have all of his wide receivers available for the first time in a month when the Denver Broncos begin their playoff run Jan. http://www.outletairmax97.com/wholesale-air-max-97-undefeated.html . Jason Zucker and Matt Cooke also scored for Minnesota, which has won five of six. Kuemper made five saves in the first, nine in the second, and nine in the third. The rookies best save came with 2:17 left in the third period when he denied former Wild forward Matt Cullen from just outside of the crease on the right side. Air Max 97 Mens Clearance . 1, meaning problems for the doping controls at both major international sports events next year. The World Anti-Doping Agency provisionally suspended the Moscow Antidoping Center on Sunday, saying its operations must improve or a six-month ban on the facilitys accreditation will be imposed. Air Max 97 Ultra 17 Red . -- Arizona raced out to a big lead and did not back off, hitting the accelerator instead.After a career in England with Charlton and Leeds, Lloyd Sam has established himself as one of MLS most dangerous wingers. Sam made the move to the Red Bulls in 2012 after his contract at Elland Road was not renewed by then manager Neil Warnock.Since then the England-born Ghanaian international has gone on to win two MLS Supporters Shields in 2013 and 2015, and is now hoping to go one step beyond and win the elusive MLS Cup this season. Ahead of New York Red Bulls trip to face New England this Friday - live on Sky Sports - we asked Sam 10 MLS-related questions to find more out about his American adventure...Hows life in America?Ive been here a while now, for four years, and it pretty much feels like home. Ive always been around American influences and American people, it wasnt hard.My brother went to an American university, so I would always come over. It would often be a holiday destination for me, too.What is it like playing alongside two Englishmen in Bradley and Shaun Wright-Phillips? Sam enjoys playing alongside fellow Englishman Bradley Wright-Phillips When Bradley came over we came from a similar area of south London and it felt like I was even more at home so its good having those guys. I already knew him and Shaun. Theyre very good guys and its good to have them here.Whats New York like as a soccer city? Sam feels the introduction of NYCFC has helped develop an exciting football atmosphere in New York In New York, Id still stay football is not one of the primary sports with all the other big sports weve got such as basketball and American football. But America as a whole, the sport is getting bigger and its catching up with the rest of the world in that way.In New York, the excitement when the two teams play is one of the main things that is different since theyve come in. The stadiums are full and theres a lot of excitement in the air when we play.How would you assess the first month of the season? A classy brace from Felipe saw New York Red Bulls come from behind to win 4-3 against Houston Dynamos Its been tough. Its not the start that we wanted to have, but we won our last game so hopefully we can get our season underway now with a few more wins.Weve got a tough game again on Friday [against New England]. Every team is very personal with us this season, after last year we did really well.We could tell that this was going to be a harder season so weve just got to be turning up to every game and be ready for the battle.How did the move from Leeds to the Red Bulls happpen? Sam was released by Leeds at the end of the 2011/2012 season I was at Leeds but I had just gone on loan to Notts County and I had a pretty good loan.dddddddddddd I went there, had 10 games and scored five goals.I was expecting to come back to the Championship somewhere, Leeds or somewhere else, I was waiting around for the right offer but it didnt come. Then the New York offer came in, so while I was contemplating things in England, I thought let me see what that is like.They told us to come out and see the place, I saw it and felt right, the rest is history because they had a very good team at the time and Im still here after four years.I never wouldve thought I would be saying that when I first left but Ive got no regrets with my decision.What was it like playing with Thierry Henry? Sam played with Thierry Henry at the Red Bulls That was definitely an experience. He still hadnt lost much, maybe a little bit of speed but his brain may have even been quicker.Hes a very intense guy to be around but it was definitely a fun experience. He would always be around you, his passes, his eyes were everywhere! It was fun to play with him. He had high standards for himself and everyone else. When he was around he just had a presence that hed want you to be on the top of your game whatever you do. Do you ever get starstruck by any of the other players in the league? Kaka is Orlando Citys captain When you have Thierry Henry as a team-mate I dont think you can get starstruck. But there are big players, Kaka was one who I thought OK, this is a player I rate highly. Differences between MLS and the Championship? Sam feels MLS matches the Championship for physicality I wouldnt say there are huge differences. MLS is a very physical league, the Championship is very physical too. Theres a lot of talented players over here and its not that different when I think about it now. Its not that different from the Championship, theres lots of very difficult games and every game anyone can win. Any lesser-known players in MLS viewers on Sky should be looking out for? Lee Nguyen is one of New Englands most dangerous players, according to Sam Every team has got decent players you have to watch out for.Were playing Friday against New England and Ill name one of their players and thats Lee Nguyen, hes a very good player.Hes in the national team now but hes one to watch out for. Collectively theyve got a decent team and people will be surprised [of their quality] if they watch more games.Would you like to finish your career in MLS?Why not? You never know what can happen, but if Im fit why not? Also See: Ronaldinho set for MLS or China DC United sign Mancini 10 MLS questions for Agudelo Beckham group buy stadium land ' ' '