finished second.(This award) is certainly one of the most importa

RIO DE JANEIRO -- So when the dust settled over the hype machine that welcomed the three infamous professional boxers to the Olympic Games it was all a bit flat inside the venue.The trio of mercenaries that jumped at the opportunity to fight for their country at the Olympics were an odd threesome and their arrival, like their predicted early departure, barely registered here in the boxing hall at Riocentro.The Cameroonian Hassan NDam NJikam, who held a version of the world middleweight title in 2012, had gained over a stone to compete at light-heavyweight and he fought like he had twelve rounds and not just three to complete his work. He looked a bit sad in the end, frustrated and confused.NJikam actually boxed at the 2004 Olympics but in Rio he was simply not busy enough and lost easily to Brazils Michel Borges on the opening day. NJikam had taken part in a professional fight in France just eight days before his exit from the Olympics and that was an error in preparation and an insult to the boxers that had travelled out to Brazil three or four weeks earlier to acclimatise.The Italian professional featherweight champion Carmine Tommasone, unbeaten in 15 as a professional, scraped through an opening bout and then hit fresh air for three rounds as he chased the Cuban Lazaro Alvarez, the favourite for gold. It proved that the best Cuban amateur is better than the best Italian professional and that was not a shock, it was just inevitable. The Cubans are, for all intents and purposes, professional boxers without the glamour and cash.The last of the trio to lose was Thailands Amnat Ruenroeng and he was the one with the highest profile, the one that abused the system the most. Ruenroeng took outrageous advantage of the decision by the Olympic sports governing body to allow all and any professional boxer access to the gold hunt.Just 42 days after losing his world flyweight title by stoppage, Ruenroeng qualified for the Olympics but was forced to jump up in weight from flyweight to lightweight, an increase in excess of 25 pounds and six professional weight divisions. They are questions about his medical eligibility and there should be questions asked about his jump up in weight.Ruenroeng, 36, actually fought at the Olympics in 2008 and won his return to the Olympic ring on Sunday, but was brutally manhandled by the slick Frenchman Sofiane Oumiha and stopped on Tuesday. The Thai fighter looked like an old, small man and his exit will surely make AIBA, the sports governing body, look closely at the way they select professionals in the future.The three high-profile professionals were not an embarrassment but they added absolutely nothing to the event and denied young amateurs a chance to compete at the Olympics during the qualification event in July in Venezuela. Perhaps before the Tokyo Games all the professionals of all ages, shapes and sizes should have their own qualification event with just the winner reaching the Olympics.Now that the three known professionals have lost it is down to the unknown professional, Mathieu Bauderlique, to push on and get close to a medal. Bauderlique, a French fighter, is unbeaten in 10 as a professional, and is a veteran of the APB, a tournament where boxers compete without vests and over six, eight, ten and twelve rounds. Bauderlique is the APB champion and that gained him access to the Olympics, where I expect him to meet the great Cuban Julio Cesar La Cruz in the semifinal.Nobody in Rio will miss or mourn the departure of Ruenroeng, NJikam and Tommasone, but it is very likely that they will remember Bauderlique. The Frenchman could be the ideal fighter and perhaps hungrier, younger and more exciting professionals can be blended with the state-run professional amateurs from Cuba, Kazakhstan, Russia and Uzbekistan in the future. Kevin Kiermaier Rays Jersey . -- Ryan Getzlaf grabbed the three pucks wrapped in tape and held them up to his chest in the Anaheim Ducks dressing room for a celebration nine seasons in the making. Oliver Drake Jersey . Varlamov made 33 saves and Ryan OReilly had a goal and scored in the shootout as the Avalanche beat the New Jersey Devils 2-1 on Thursday night. https://www.cheapraysonline.com/926i-avisail-garcia-jersey-rays.html .C. -- Kemba Walker and the Charlotte Bobcats got off to a fast start, and the Sacramento Kings were never quite able to catch up. Nick Anderson Rays Jersey . According to a report from the Vancouver Province, the Lions are expected to replace former DC Rich Stubler with defensive backs coach Mark Washington. Chaz Roe Jersey . -- Five former Kansas City Chiefs players who were on the team between 1987 and 1993 filed a lawsuit Tuesday claiming the team hid and even lied about the risks of head injuries during that time period when there was no collective bargaining agreement in place in the NFL. Geelong superstar Patrick Dangerfield has taken out this years AFL Coaches Association player of the year award.In what promises to be the first of a swag of individual honours following on from his stellar first season with the Cats, Dangerfield won the award with a record number of votes and by a record margin.The 26-year-old averaged just more than 31 possessions a game and kicked 23 goals to poll 121 votes - 28 ahead of former Adelaide teammate Rory Sloane who finished second.(This award) is certainly one of the most important because the most important thing for you as a player is to do as your coach says and to try and execute your role, Dangerfield told Fox Footys AFL 360 on Monday night.No one knows that better than your own coach and then to have the opposition coach analyse who was the most influential (player) is certainly important ... theyre the two most important people in every game.ddddddddddddDangerfield is the red-hot favourite to take out this years Brownlow Medal after a standout season in which his consistently brilliant play was a key factor in Geelong securing second spot on the ladder.Individual awards are terrific but every player understands that to taste that premiership success and to win games of footy is always (what we play for), Dangerfield said.The Cats begin their finals campaign with a highly anticipated qualifying final clash against Hawthorn at the MCG.AFLCA PLAYER OF THE YEAR TOP FIVE: 1. Patrick Dangerfield (Geelong) 121 2. Rory Sloane (Adelaide) 93 3. Dustin Martin (Richmond) 90 4. Marcus Bontempelli (Western Bulldogs) 88 5. Luke Parker (Sydney Swans) 86; Joel Selwood (Geelong) 86. ' ' '