Calgary has been headed in the opposite direction as the strug

RIO DE JANEIRO -- Nothing could stifle Dan Paynes spirits Tuesday, not even the U.S. teams heartbreaking 17-14 loss in rugby sevens when Argentina scored after the siren.The CEO of USA Rugby expects a big boost in the sports popularity in the U.S. with the mens gutsy performance coming on the heels of a surprisingly strong showing by the womens squad.The Olympics is what we understand in the United States, more than anything, Payne said. Its just a pleasure for these guys to be able to play the game that they love in front of a strong crowd.And really for us its about competing here, but its also about that 8- to 9- to 10-year-old boy and girl at home watching it. We want them to aspire to be future rugby Olympians and share that goal, and that really helps the game grow and fills the stands.Player Nate Ebner, who learned the game from his late father, who played college rugby, has similar hopes for the sport.I hope it does worlds for rugby. I hope it changes the game, Ebner said after the Americans followed the loss in the opener with a 26-0 shutout of host Brazil. We can kind of be trailblazers for something great in the United States and obviously thats our hopes and dreams for this sport.I love this sport. I want to see it have tremendous success, but thats ultimately up to the people back in the United States and how they embrace the game and how many people get involved, added Ebner, whose fulltime job is as a safety for the New England Patriots.Rugby sevens is a fast-paced version of the time-honored sport that was last played at the Olympics in 1924. The Americans won the gold in that 15-a-side tournament back when boxing and horse racing were the big pastimes, baseball was blossoming and the NFL wasnt even around.Rugby sevens features two seven-minute halves divided by a two-minute halftime plus any stoppage time kept by the referee. The games are over in 20 minutes tops.One thing thats helping grow the sport in the U.S. are fears of head injuries that are driving plenty of of parents to steer their kids away from football. Some youths are taking up rugby, where head-to-head hits are rare and the cardiovascular and aerobic benefits are more like soccers.What I can say safely is that growth is taking off exponentially, especially in that age group. So, whatever the reasons are, I like to say that theres multiple contributing factors, Payne said. But even just watching that (first slate of games) and being around that energy is probably the primary driving factor.But contrary to popular belief, its a very safe game, Payne added.There was only one player in the 24 womens matches who was taken off the pitch for concussion protocol and she returned in the second half.So, the rules are around keeping it safe. And when you dont have the helmet and you dont have the pads, you have to do things very technically, and thats in how you carry the ball and in how you tackle, Payne said.In youth rugby in the U.S. kids 5 to 12 play with flags just like flag football, and when contact starts with the teenagers, the first season is dedicated to learning body control, safety and proper tackling technique where the head is protected and players hit with a shoulder as they wrap up, he said.Youre seeing it in football where theyve started to do a lot of the rugby tackling in a lot of the NFL camps and colleges, Payne said. So, its a very safe game and I think people will see it and watch and theres the contact. Especially in America, we love the physical contact, theres that. But its in a very safe and controlled way.Rugby can be played by all sorts, the big, the tall, the squat, the fast, the slow.The greatest thing about the game? Payne said. Whatever position you are, you have a chance to carry the ball, which is what we love.Americans that know the most obscure of NFL rules, however, have a difficult time with rugbys rules.So, what does Payne tell his confused compatriots?Youre not alone, he said with a chuckle. Its like anything: you have to do some research on it but you also just have to sit next to somebody that knows the game, Payne said. Its pretty quick to pick up, but youre right, it looks like a little bit of chaos but its a controlled chaos. Theres a rhyme to the reason.Just then, the Brazilians made a good play on the pitch against powerhouse Fiji and the stadium shuddered.That was amazing, Payne said. There was just goosebumps on my arms, just hearing that crowd and the energy.He wants to have that feeling back home, too.---AP Summer Games website: http://summergames.ap.org---Follow AP Sports Writer Arnie Melendrez Stapleton on Twitter: http://twitter.com/arniestapleton Dave Kingman Cubs Jersey .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. Custom Chicago Cubs Jerseys .J. -- Marshawn Lynch said Thursday it will be good to get back to football after the Seattle quiet talking running back wrapped up his final mandatory media session of Super Bowl week. https://www.cheapcubs.com/1990t-victor-caratini-jersey-cubs.html . The visitors took a deserved lead in the 16th minute with midfielder Yohan Cabaye curling the ball beyond Adrian from inside the penalty area. Sammy Sosa Cubs Jersey . The Dutchmans tenure got off to a poor start when referee Guido Winkmann awarded a penalty within two minutes for Niklas Starks clumsy challenge on Alexandru Maxim. Kerry Wood Cubs Jersey . 8 Iowa State on Saturday, sending the Cyclones to their third consecutive loss. The Longhorns (14-4, 3-2) got their biggest win of the season with their third in the row in the Big 12. GLENDALE, Ariz. -- The Calgary Flames expected a fight from a desperate team and got one.Once they shook off a slow start, the Flames fought back and Dougie Hamilton scored a crafty overtime goal to extend their winning streak to five games.Hamilton scored 1:09 into overtime, Chad Johnson stopped 27 shots and the Calgary Flames beat the Arizona Coyotes 2-1 on Thursday night.We had to stick with it, Flames coach Glen Gulutzan said. Our start wasnt good -- our first 12 minutes wasnt very good -- but we found a way.The Coyotes were the aggressors early, seemingly taking out a season full of frustration in a chippy game filled with big hits and multiple fights.The Flames appeared stunned early and fell behind on a power-play goal midway through the first period before standing their ground.Mark Giordano scored late in the first period, Johnson was stellar the rest of the way and Hamilton capped it by using a forehand deke to set up his backhand winner.Calgary has won eight of 11 (8-2-1).We need to win these type games every once in a while, Flames captain Johnny Gaudreau said. We did a great job of figuring out the play after the first 10 minutes, played well in overtime and got the two points.Max Domi scored and was involved in one of three fights before leaving with an upper-body injury and Mike Smith stopped 33 shots for the Coyotes.Arizona captain Shane Doan became Arizonas all-time assist leader and is the fifth player in NHL history to own his teams records for games played, goals, assists, points, game-winning goals and power-play goals.But for all the fight, the Coyotes still ended up with yet another loss, their sixth straight and 11th in 14 games (3-7-4).There were a lot of emotions out there and everybody was trying hard, Coyotes defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson said. We need to keep getting better and keep finding ways to get better.Calgary has been headed in the opposite direction as the struggling Coyotes, winning seven of its previous 10 games to bounce back from a slow start to the season.ddddddddddddYet as they headed to Arizona, the Flames were concerned about the Coyotes.Arizona has struggled with puck possession and tended to put a heavy burden on its goalies -- 35.1 shots against per game -- but Calgary knew better than to overlook a desperate team on the road.The Coyotes came out hard at the Flames, leading a physical first period that included two fights.Domi put the Coyotes up midway through the first on a scramble that left Johnson flailing outside the crease. Johnson was unable to secure the puck and it squirted out front to Domi, who one-timed past two Flames for his fifth of the season.But after gathering themselves, the Flames scored on a power play late in the period. Giordano got it, one-timing a pass from Gaudreau in the right circle by squeezing it past Smiths pad and the post for his second goal in three games.Thats one I should have, Smith said. I was there and thought I had it. Im not sure how it went in.Another fight punctuated a scoreless second period, when Domi and Garnet Hathaway squared off. Domi left the ice with blood dripping from his eye and did not return after playing one shift in the third period.Game notes Doan had an assist on Domis goal to break Thomas Steens franchise record of 553 assists. ... Calgary RW Kris Versteeg did not play after injuring his hip against Dallas on Tuesday. ... Arizonas Ryan White was called for instigating and was issued a 10-minute misconduct in the first period after Lance Bouma ran Coyotes Ekman-Larsson into the boards.UP NEXTFlames: Host Winnipeg on Saturday to start a three-game homestand.Coyotes: Host Nashville on Saturday before leaving on a four-game road trip next week. ' ' '