elp us to be better.ddddddddddddRussia is already looking to the 2020 Olympics and the next generation of its swimming dynasty. Careers in the sport tend to be short, with the exception of the vetera

Softball player Monica Abbotts 70-mph pitches have always turned heads -- and shut down opponents. After setting NCAA records for career wins, shutouts and strikeouts while playing for the University of Tennessee, Abbott pitched a perfect game for Team USA at the 2008 Olympics. Then earlier this year, she made headlines again when she signed a six-year, $1 million contract with the Houston-area Scrap Yard Dawgs, National Pro Fastpitchs newest expansion team.During the NPF offseason, Abbott plays in Japan, and this past weekend she led her team, the Toyota Red Terriers, to the Japan Womens Softball League championship. Not surprisingly, she was also named tournament MVP.But what gets her pumped up for a game is not what youd expect. In fact, the No. 1 mainstay on her playlist is more mellow than anything else. I always listen to Adele before a game. I love her voice. I feel her in my soul.Abbott shared her entire playlist with us: Get more athlete playlists. Kevin Mitchell Jersey . "I dont know that were close," said general manager Alex Anthopoulos. "I just think, right now, the acquisition cost just doesnt work for us right now. I dont know if I can quantify how far off or things like that that they might be but I would say we continue to have dialogue. Pat Darcy Jersey . - 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. https://www.cheapredsjerseys.us/1265s-rob-dibble-jersey-reds.html . -- Playing time has been limited for Maxim Tissot this season, so the Montreal Impact defender made the most of his first scoring opportunity on Saturday. Leo Cardenas Jersey . The defence is doing its part, too. Drew Brees threw a pair of touchdown passes in the first half and the guys on the other side made sure that was enough, sending the Saints to a 17-13 victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday night. Rawly Eastwick Jersey . But when it comes to determining if Raymond will find a place on the Leafs roster when training camp concludes in a week, well, that decision will ultimately fall to the head coach. RIO DE JANEIRO -- Russias dominance of synchronized swimming remains unchallenged after it captured the team gold Friday to preserve a 16-year winning streak.Russia has won every Olympic gold medal on offer in the sport since 2000 and Fridays victory was never in doubt. A near-perfect score in the free routine meant none of the other competitors could possibly match the Russians total, allowing them to begin the celebrations early.Russia performed its routine to dramatic string music, wearing costumes depicting angel wings. The idea was to seem like a prayer, said Natalia Ishchenko, who along with Svetlana Romashina became a five-time Olympic gold medalist, matching former Russian great Anastasia Davydova as the most decorated synchronized swimmer of all time.I think its the best program in the history of synchronized swimming, Ishchenko said. We joked before the competition that there are five Olympic rings and we need five Olympic medals.Russias opponents have come and gone -- the U.S., a former power in the sport, has not even competed in the team event at the last two Olympics -- and few have even come close to contending for Olympic gold. Its hard to match the countrys combination of top training facilities, state funding and choreography experience drawn from the Russian ballet tradition.On Friday it wasnt even close. Russia won with 196.1439 points, with China taking silver at 192.9841 and Japan the bronze at 189.2056. The second- and tthird-place finishers were almost an afterthought for Ishchenko, who said of them merely that we always respect our opponents a lot and they help us to be better.ddddddddddddRussia is already looking to the 2020 Olympics and the next generation of its swimming dynasty. Careers in the sport tend to be short, with the exception of the veterans Ishchenko and Romashina. Teammate Maria Shurochkina estimated that about half the team would not be around for Tokyo, but Russia would nevertheless be strong, the best in the world.A possible obstacle to Russias hold on the sport would be the introduction of male synchronized swimmers to the Olympicsl. Mixed-gender duets debuted at last years world championships to strong opposition from Russia, which won one of two titles in the new discipline but lost out to the U.S. for the other.Ishchenko said she was against the inclusion of mixed duets in the Olympics, fearing the long-established womens duet could be removed to make way.Its a tough question, she said. The female athletes in classical duets perform on a higher level. Now I think there are only three countries in the world at a good level in the mixed duet.Even so, Russia has already spent years training a mixed pair in case of an Olympic change, and it would be brave to bet against another Russian gold-medal sweep in 2020. ' ' '