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PRETORIA, South Africa -- Oscar Pistorius, the double-amputee Olympian described by a judge as a fallen hero, was sentenced on Wednesday to six years in a South African prison for the murder of girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, in a ruling viewed by some as too lenient.However, Judge Thokozile Masipa appeared to anticipate criticism of a jail term that fell far short of the normally mandated 15 years for murder under South African law, declaring: Our courts are courts of law, not courts of public opinion.Pistorius, who shot Steenkamp through the door of a toilet cubicle in his home in 2013, was asked to stand and face Masipa as she announced his sentence in a wood-paneled courtroom in the South African capital, Pretoria. He was calm after the ruling, embracing his aunt and tearful sister before being led down a courtroom staircase to a holding cell ahead of being taken to prison.Later, a convoy of police cars with lights flashing and sirens wailing left a side entrance of the courthouse. In the convoy was a van with tinted windows, possibly carrying Pistorius.The sentencing was the latest act of a three-and-a-half-year legal drama that has often played out on live television and shown the fall from grace of a runner once viewed as an inspiration to many for overcoming his disability. Both of Pistorius legs were amputated below the knees when he was 11 months old because of a congenital defect.He made history by running at the 2012 Olympics on his carbon-fiber running blades and was one of the worlds most recognizable athletes.Hes a fallen hero -- he has lost his career and he is ruined financially, said Masipa, who originally convicted Pistorius of manslaughter, a ruling that was overturned by an appeals court that instead convicted him of murder and sent the case back to her for sentencing.In explaining the sentence, Masipa said there are substantial and compelling circumstances to show leniency toward Pistorius because he is a good candidate for rehabilitation, is unlikely to commit another crime and had shown what appeared to be genuine remorse over Steenkamps death.Pistorius, 29, maintained he killed Steenkamp, a 29-year-old model and reality TV star, by mistake thinking she was an intruder hiding in the bathroom early on Valentines Day 2013. Prosecutors alleged that he killed her intentionally after the couple argued.Pistorius will be eligible to apply for parole after three years, according to legal experts. Prosecutors, who had asked that he be sentenced to 15 years in prison, can appeal for a heavier sentence but have yet to comment on whether they will do so.The family accepts the judgment, Anneliese Burgess, a spokeswoman for the Pistorius family, said outside the courthouse.The Steenkamp family did not criticize the sentence. The family has said it before they wanted the law to run its course. It has done so. No further comment. They will keep a dignified silence, said Dup de Bruyn, Steenkamp family representative.Legal expert Marius du Toit described the sentence as lenient but not wrong.Some people who gathered outside the courthouse were critical.The law didnt take its course, said Dukes Masanabo, a South African sports official who had hoped Pistorius would be sentenced to 10 to 12 years, not six.He said the sentence is too light because Pistorius was sentenced to almost the same sentence -- five years -- for his earlier manslaughter conviction. He served one year of that sentence before being place under house arrest at his uncles mansion in Pretoria, and he had some freedom of movement outside the home during certain hours.The time that Pistorius has already served in prison is not subtracted from his new sentence.Another South African, Sarah Maete, said she wanted Pistorius to get the full 15 years in prison for murder.Its not enough, she said.In delivering her sentence, Masipa referred to the difficulties she faced in deciding a sentence that satisfies every relevant interest in a case that captured the worlds attention and led to extremes of opinion over the celebrated athlete. She noted that Pistorius had fired four times -- not once -- through the closed toilet door and spoke of the devastating effect the crime had on Steenkamps family.Ultimately, mitigating circumstances outweigh the aggravating factors, the judge said.Steenkamps parents, Barry and June, were present in the courtroom, which was packed with relatives of both Pistorius and Steenkamp, journalists and other observers.Pistorius defense lawyers had asked for no jail time at all, saying he should be allowed to do charity work with children.Ulrich Roux, a South African lawyer and commentator who is not involved in the Pistorius case, said it had opened a window for South Africans into how their justice system works, including cross-examination and how a judge reaches a decision.He said: Its been a huge learning curve for our society. Paul Worrilow Jersey . 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Francis told several hundred members of the European Olympic Committees that when sport "is considered only in economic terms and consequently for victory at every cost . Nate Herbig Jersey . Once again Jordan Cieciwa (@FitCityJordan) and I (@LynchOnSports) go head to head in our picks. Last weekend at UFC Fight Night 32 my #TeamLynch got the best of #TeamJC by a score of 9-6. Let us know which side youre on for UFC 167 use the hashtag #TeamLynch or #TeamJC on Twitter. DURHAM, N.C. -- Dukes available roster has already evolved and thats before the season opener Friday night against Marist.But the convenient part for the Blue Devils, who enter the season with the No. 1 ranking, is that there might be a surplus of talent.That talent goes on display with the first game of the season at Cameron Indoor Stadium.A luxury is that we have so many talented guys that our practices are really intense, fifth-year senior forward Amile Jefferson said. I think well be OK.Duke played two preseason games without forward Jayson Tatum, who suffered a foot injury in practice more than two weeks ago, and center Harry Giles, whos coming off a surgical procedure in September.Coach Mike Krzyzewski said he expects Tatum to be on the court for the opener, though Giles wont play in the first weekend.Then the team announced this week that freshman forward Marques Bolden, whos another member of the heralded recruiting class, will miss at least two games because of a lower-leg ailment after sitting out the second exhibition.Senior guard Matt Jones said the Blue Devils are benefiting from using various player combinations during practices and in the teams two exhibition romps past Division II teams.Were still learning about each other and learning the flow of the game, Jones said.Krzyzewski said the injury bug is a concern in general.We had a lot of big, athletic guys in Duke polos, he said, referring to players out of uniform on the bench for exhibition games.Duke, which is the top-ranked team in the preseason for the eighth time, is aiming for a season-opening victory for the 17th year in a row. Krzyzewski has a 34-2 record in openers as coach of the Blue Devils.Marist arrives ass the opponent for a game thats part of the Hall of Fame Tip-Off Tournament.dddddddddddd Duke starts the season with home games on back-to-back days, with Saturdays matchup coming against Grand Canyon.Once we start Friday, well play eight games in November, Krzyzewski said, noting the busy schedule. We feel really good about (Tatum) and things for him have moved on really well.Duke and Marist have never faced each other.Third-year coach Mike Maker is aiming for some traction with the Red Foxes. Marist is coming off a pair of seven-win seasons.Twice, Maker took Williams College to the Division III championship game. He has one 30-win season, so that pales in comparison to Krzyzewski.Marist fifth-year senior guard Khallid Hart is the leading returning scorer in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. He posted 20.3 points per game last season while averaging a league-high 36.5 minutes per game.As a team, the Red Foxes were picked to finish eighth in the preseason coaches poll.Marist also unveils guard Richie Mitchell, a junior college transfer after one season at Weatherford College.He will add quickness and playmaking ability to our backcourt and he has a reputation for being a great teammate and a hard worker, Maker said.Its a daunting opening stretch for the Red Foxes, who play only one of their first five games at home.Mari