RIO DE JANEIRO -- Competing against the United States womens basketball team at the Olympics is like trying to outswim Michael Phelps while wearing work boots and a tool belt and towing a keg of beer.At the beginning, its scary, Spains Laia Palau said. You know you will have to have a really good game to stay with them. They do everything pretty well. Its hard to scout them. But I think we were really motivated to play this game. Its a chance to improve and get better. I take it as a positive.Mind you, Palau said that after Spain lost 103-63 to the U.S. on Monday. That she took a 40-point loss as a positive just goes to show you how challenging it is to take the basketball court against the American women. Hey, Senegal lost to the U.S. by 65 points in the Olympic opener Saturday.Mondays victory was the 43rd consecutive for the U.S. women at the Olympics, where they havent lost since 1992 in Barcelona. That was so long ago that 35-year-old team captain and four-time Olympian Sue Bird says she doesnt even remember it.During that 43-win span, the U.S. has defeated 22 nations, ranging from A (Australia) to Z (Zaire), outscoring them by 1,277 combined points for an average victory margin of 30 points. China probably has suffered the most at the hands of America -- losing three times by an average deficit of 45 points.What must it be like to face such a dominating opponent?We dont talk about that as coaches because were always fixated on what theyre going to do, U.S. coach Geno Auriemma said. How are we going to stop them? How are we going to guard them? Were obsessed with that. And then when somebody brings up [how the other team feels], you kind of step back and say, Yeah, well, how are they going to guard us? They have to handle us.Were not easy to deal with, obviously.Can anyone ever beat the American women? Maybe. After all, the U.S. men lost three times at the 2004 Olympics, even with LeBron James and Tim Duncan on the roster. The beauty of sport is you never know what will happen.I think its possible, Spains Laura Nicholls said. OK, its really, really difficult, but in one game you can do it. Maybe our team could have more options because physically we are not on that level. One day our shooting percentage would have to be 75 percent on 3-pointers and everything else. Because they score a lot. Every second is difficult to get to them. But its not impossible.Right. It could happen. After all, the Cubs could win the World Series.You go to the games thinking, Maybe today could be the day you can beat them, because its not impossible, Nicholls said. You just have to have a wonderful game on your side and they have to be, I dont know, maybe a little sick. One day it could happen. Maybe one day they will be in trouble. Im not saying Spain. Maybe France.While the American women havent lost in the Olympics in 24 years, they lost the FIBA world championship to Russia in 2006.That memory motivates us, propels us. We never want to relive [that] again, Bird said. Its probably the best thing that could happen to us, to be honest. Look at how we played in 2008. We were all business in that tournament. And we are here, too.In other words, that loss just made it more difficult to beat the U.S.Having played at UConn and having won three gold medals in the Olympics and two WNBA championships with the Seattle Storm, Bird hasnt played on a lot of underdog teams in her career apart from some recent WNBA seasons when her team has struggled.So I do have an awareness of what its like to feel that no matter what you do, you dont have a chance. Its not a good feeling, Bird said. But on the other hand, there is that opportunity to upset, that opportunity to make history that Im sure is in the back of all their minds. And thats what were guarding against.Would I want to be in their shoes? Probably not, but theyre trying to make history by beating us.Just dont expect anyone to make that history anytime soon. Cheap New Balance Shoes Australia .Y. - New Orleans forward Anthony Davis was chosen Friday to replace the injured Kobe Bryant in the NBA All-Star game that will be played in his home city. New Balance Outlet Store Australia .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. http://www.cheapaustralianewbalance.com/ . "No difference at all," chirped U.S. roommate and linemate James van Riemsdyk. "Its still the same cranky Phil. New Balance Shoes Online Australia . The showiest items on Calgarys lot were forwards Mike Cammalleri and Lee Stempniak. Both will be unrestricted free agents this summer. New Balance Clearance Outlet Australia . Brett Kulak and Jackson Houck of the Vancouver Giants were each charged with assault causing bodily harm on Aug. 18, according to the B.C. court services. PHILADELPHIA -- Much of the week in the world of Philadelphia Phillies baseball has revolved around separate blows to the organizations young pitching staff.On Wednesday, it was announced that Aaron Nola (right elbow) was transferred to the 60-day disabled list. On Friday, young starter Zach Eflin underwent successful surgery on his right knee. A surgery is likely to follow on the left. He, too, was transferred to the 60-day DL, ending his season.What once looked like a promising young pitching corps now has some question marks.Saturdays starter, Jeremy Hellickson (9-7, 3.65 ERA), almost wasnt here after the trade deadline a few weeks ago. But his presence is needed now more than ever for a pitching staff and team trying to get through the rest of whats likely another season without playoff baseball.Phillies GM Matt Klentak wouldnt acknowledge Friday afternoon that injuries had anything to do with keeping Hellickson around.It didnt really affect our thinking, Klentak said. We did know that something was going on with Aarons elbow, but didnt know the significance of it at that point. It would have been hard to adjust a trade deadline plan on incomplete information. But the decision we made to hang on to Jeremy had more to do with Jeremy and what we thought the market was than anything to do with Aaron.Hellickson, who was signed last offseason on a one-year deal to provide some veteran presence, is coming off a brief injury of his own. The right-hander left his last start on Aug. 10 in Los Angeles with back tightness.The last month and change of 2016 is important for his futuure, as well.dddddddddddd In a weak free agent market, Hellicksons 3.65 ERA -- his lowest since 2012 -- and what will be his highest career strikeout total (if he stays healthy the rest of the year) will be awfully attractive come winter.Hell look to continue a strong 2016 campaign Saturday night against the St. Louis Cardinals against RHP Luke Weaver (0-0, 4.50).The Cardinals won their fifth straight game overall in beating the Phillies in come-from-behind, extra-inning fashion 4-3 on Friday night.Jedd Gyorko launched a game-tying, two-run homer off Phillies closer Jeanmar Gomez in the ninth inning.Later on, Randal Grichuk, who finished a triple shy of the cycle, put St. Louis ahead for good with an RBI double in the 11th.Im a big believer that hitting is contagious, Gyorko said Friday night.Winning is starting to become contagious for St. Louis, as well.They entered play Friday night just two games off the pace of the San Francisco Giants for the final wild-card playoff spot in the National League.To continue their climb in the standings, the Cardinals will need good outings from their pitching staff. Adam Wainwright struggled a bit with a wet mound in Philadelphia on Friday night but battled to complete six innings. He allowed three runs -- including back-to-back solo homers -- and five hits and struck out five while walking two.Adam was better today, St. Louis manager Mike Matheny said. Just a couple of those solo home runs put us in a hole. ' ' '