Dein erstes Forum » Wake Forests last win in the series came i

EUGENE, Ore. -- One one-hundredth of a second.After receiving a kidney transplant last September and going through a second kidney surgery in October, after going through months of recovery, training and daily medication, Aries Merritt missed making the U.S. Olympic team Saturday by just one one-hundredth of a second.Racing in the 110-meter hurdles final at the U.S. Olympics trials, Merritt thought he crossed the line in second or third place. But after an agonizing delay, his place was shown as fourth with a time of 13.22, just behind third-place finisher Jeff Porter (13.21).Merritt was obviously disappointed, but he said he had come to grips with it. After all, he has a gold medal in the event from the 2012 Olympics and is still competing against the worlds best despite once thinking he could never run again because of his failing kidneys. Not making the Olympics is far better than being hooked to a dialysis machine for the rest of your life.Nothing can be worse than being told you can never run again, even if you come up a little short here, he said. Ive been to the Olympics, I won the Olympics. Ive broken the world record. So, I mean, someone else can have a turn.Even though Merritt will not compete in Rio, he should still be an inspiration to everyone. While you watch Michael Phelps, Simone Biles and Usain Bolt this August, also keep Merritt and what he overcame prominently in mind.After winning gold in 2012, his kidneys began to fail in 2013. Even with his kidney function no higher than 15 percent, he finished third at the world championships in Beijing late last August. He then underwent a transplant just days later in Arizona, receiving a kidney from his older sister, LaToya Hubbard.And he was only one one-hundredth of a second from making the Olympics again the following summer.It hasnt even been a year since the transplant, only 10 months, Hubbard said. For him to put his heart on the line and just miss at the team, I dont look at it as a failure or coming up short. Hes still on top. Hes still an Olympic gold medalist and still the world-record holder. He may not be able to defend that title, but nobody can take away what he did.No, nobody can take that away. But what should they take away from what he has done and overcome?People should just know that no matter what youre going through in life, if you keep your mind focused on something you want to accomplish, anything is possible, Merritt said. At world championships last year in Beijing, I had roughly no kidney function -- under 15 percent -- and I was still able to do amazing things.This time was a little different because I was compromised by the surgery. Me being sliced open, and my muscles shifted and putting a new organ in and me getting adjusted to the meds, its a lot to comprehend. People dont understand the severity of what Ive been through. Despite the fact Im still out here doing the best I can.Merritts kidney doctor, Les Thomas, says that not only should people look to the hurdler for inspiration -- a way to say no matter how dark it may be, there is always a brighter spot -- they should look to his sister as a hero, as well. She demonstrated extraordinary altruism, giving him a kidney.Thomas also says people should take this story as a reason to consider organ donations. Donating a kidney is not that risky -- you only need one -- but the waiting list can be many years for a transplant.They may not have anyone in their lives who can give them a kidney and they will wait and wait and wait because there is a huge demand for kidney transplants, Thomas said. And sometimes they will pass away with no kidney ever coming to them. ... If [more people donated], we would have a lot less people on the waiting list and less people would die.Hubbard, who gave birth to her daughter the previous year, said she never worried about any risk in giving up her kidney. She simply asked her brother for the phone number of the Mayo Clinic so she could schedule a time.Let me go through this process and get on a table and help my brother out, she said. He had something in his body that was dying and I have something that was living.She gave it to him. And because she did, Merritt is alive and healthy and competing. And inspiring.This is still just a beginning, Hubbard said. We still have the 2020 Olympics ahead and two world championships. I think this is eye-opening for kids and others. ...Always extend a hand and pay it forward.Russ Grimm Jersey .Y. - General manager Billy King says the Brooklyn Nets are looking to add a big man and confirmed the team worked out centre Jason Collins, who would become the first openly gay active NBA player if signed. Sam Huff Womens Jersey . The next step is a better finish. Bae played bogey-free Friday on another gorgeous day at Riviera for a 5-under 66, giving him a one-shot lead over Aaron Baddeley and Robert Garrigus going into the weekend. http://www.redskinsfansproshop.com/Redskins+Ereck+Flowers+Rush+Jersey.html?cat=1369 . Nigeria beat surprise package Ethiopia 2-0 in the second leg of their playoff for a comfortable 4-1 aggregate victory. Victor Moses converted a 20th-minute penalty after an Ethiopian handball, and Victor Obinna made certain of Nigerias place in Brazil with his powerful free kick in the 82nd at UJ Esuene Stadium. Joe Theismann Womens Jersey . -- Patrick Reed got an early start in golf. DaRon Payne Redskins Jersey . They reached the 100-point plateau for the fourth time in five games, bested the visiting Trail Blazers by 34 in the paint and scored 19 of the final 25 points in regulation.One loss didnt really cost No. 5 Clemson a shot at the national title. A second one wont be as forgiving.The Tigers (9-1, 6-1 ACC, No. 4 CFP) are still in control of the leagues Atlantic Division, and remained in the top four of the College Football Playoff rankings -- even after Pittsburgh beat them last week.A loss at Wake Forest (6-4, 3-3) on Saturday night, though, would change everything.Quarterback Deshaun Watson called that one-point loss to Pitt a good learning lesson before pointing out that its something they know they cant afford to experience again.I havent had too many losses, especially in college, Watson said. Its new around here. But you live and you learn. Youre going to take losses at some point in your life. Everyones not perfect. Theres no one thats playing football right now thats completely undefeated, regardless if youre a player or a coach. Its a good time to learn and grow from it.With a win, Clemson will wrap up a share of the division title with Louisville and would earn a spot in the ACC championship game in two weeks in Orlando, Florida. A loss, and its the Cardinals who will represent the Atlantic Division -- and would move into prime position to claim one of the four playoff spots.Wake Forest felt the potency of those Cardinals last week, and now wants to do a better job of playing the full 60 minutes against Clemson.The Demon Deacons led Louisville and had Heisman Trophy front-runner Lamar Jackson bottled up through three quarters before the Cardinals reeled off 34 points in the fourth quarter of a 44-12 victory.I told the team that you battled your butt off and had everyone in the country turning the channel to see the fourth quarter of a Wake Forest football game and we didnt finish the deal, coach Dave Clawson said. What can we learn from that? I think the lesson is to beat a team of that calibber, you have to execute for four quarters.dddddddddddd If there is any let up, a team like that makes you pain instantly and dearly.---Some other things to know about the Clemson-Wake Forest game:WATSONS TENDENCIES: Watson is passing more often and throwing less frequently than he did last year when he was a Heisman finalist. The Clemson QB is averaging five more pass attempts and four fewer rushes than in 2014, though those passing numbers might be skewed by the 70 throws he made against Pitt last week. Hes rushed eight times or fewer in three of his last five games.TURNOVER MARGIN: Takeaways are always key and Wake Forest can give itself a chance at the upset by continuing to force turnovers. The Demon Deacons lead the ACC with a turnover margin of plus-9 -- a marked improvement over last year, when they were minus-13 -- and Watson threw three interceptions in the loss to Pitt.DABO VS. WAKE: Clemson coach Dabo Swinney is 7-0 against the Demon Deacons and the combined score is 264-94. Wake Forests last win in the series came in 2008 and three days after the game the Tigers parted ways with then-coach Tommy Bowden and promoted Swinney on an interim basis.ONE WHO GOT AWAY: Keep an eye on Clemson DT Dexter Lawrence, a freshman from Wake Forest, North Carolina, who had nine tackles in the Pitt loss while also recovering a fumble and blocking two kicks. Only three other players in school history have that many blocks in one game.---AP Sports Writer Pete Iacobelli in Clemson, South Carolina, contributed to this report.---Follow Joedy McCreary at http://twitter.com/joedyap. His work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/joedy-mccreary---More AP college football: http://www.collegefootball.ap.org. ' ' '