RIO DE JANEIRO -- The fans chant their names, wave their flags and do a little samba in their seats whenever the Brazilians take the sand at the Copacabana Olympic beach volleyball venue.If its a lot of pressure for the hometown teams, theyre handling it well.All four Brazilian teams advanced out of pool play at the Olympic tournament, and three won their first matches of the knockout round on Friday and Saturday. After a disappointing fourth-place finish as hosts of the soccer World Cup in 2014, Brazils other national sport has thrived on its hometown sand.It is not a pressure for us, said Barbara, a Rio native, who with her partner Agatha beat China on Friday to reach the quarterfinals. We are living the dream now. Inside our hearts is joy.Beach volleyball is a passion in Brazil, as much a recreational sport on the Copacabana shore as soccer or surfing or sunbathing. And that has led to Olympic success, with the country winning 11 of 30 total medals since the sport was added to the Summer Games in 1996.So dominant were the Brazilians -- and Americans, who have claimed nine medals -- that quotas were created to limit each country to two entries (per gender) in the Olympics.And when Rio de Janeiro won the rights to host the 2016 Olympics, it was only natural that the beach volleyball venue would be on Copacabana.I fell so lucky, so honored, as a first-time Olympian to be here in my home, Barbara said. I am so proud to be a part of this Olympic year at home.The fans appear to enjoy it, too.With green and yellow shirts filling the stands and Brazilian music wafting over the security barriers onto Copacabana beach beyond, the Olympic venue has been shaking at times with the cheers for the four hometown teams.Agatha and Barbara were the first to reach the quarterfinals, followed later on Friday by the defending world champions Talita and Larissa. Alison and Bruno reached the round of 8 by beating Spain on Saturday, and the party was only slightly spoiled when the No. 2 mens team, Pedro and Evandro, lost to Russia.Still, the crowd gave the Brazilians a standing ovation on their way off the court, though part of the crowd was certainly acknowledging the 21-16, 14-21, 15-10 victory by Russia as well.Here on Copacabana, they know how to play, Russias Nikita Liamin said. They know the good play, and they know how it is done.Two-time Olympian Ana Paula, who is working with the stadium entertainment crew in Rio, agreed. At one break in the match, she introduced American Randy Stoklos, a five-time world champion and volleyball hall of famer who played before the sport was added to the Olympics.We might have built this stadium, but the Brazilians really made this sport, he said to a huge cheer.All of the Brazilians knew who he was, Ana Paula said. Its because Brazil really, really loves beach volleyball. Its because volleyball -- its been in our DNA.Ana Paula said she thinks volleyball and beach volleyball have even surpassed soccer in her homeland -- in part because of the soccer teams much-lamented 7-1 loss in the World Cup semifinals. We dont talk about the World Cup, she said with a smile.By contrast, the beach volleyball players seem to be thriving under pressure.I dont think we are going to see anything like that in volleyball, said Bruno, whose uncle Oscar Schmidt is a basketball Hall of Famer and one of Brazils most celebrated athletes. The crowd is so happy, so full of happy people.And thats been a boost for all of the players -- even Brazils opponents.Spains Elsa Baquerizo and Liliana Fernandez said they were excited when the pools were drawn and they knew they would be playing Agatha and Barbara.At the beginning, I felt like, `Oh, my God. The whole stadium is going to fall down on me, Liliana said after beating the Brazilians. But we wanted to play them on Copacabana.The Spaniards had already clinched a spot in the knockout round, so they didnt feel the full pressure of 12,000 fans rooting against them.When Germanys Britta Buthe and Karla Borger drew defending world champions Talita and Larissa in the playoff round of 16, their coaches tried to cheer them up.Everyone was saying, `Oh, its such a tough draw for you guys. But we were really excited, Buthe said after the Brazilians eliminated them in straight sets.We would have liked it if we would have played for it and won. We werent able to experience it, she said. But still I think this is one of our best memories, even if it did end. Jared Spurgeon Jersey . -- Quarterback Will Finch threw for 252 yards and three touchdowns, and Yannick Harou rushed in two scores as the No. Ryan Suter Jersey . Brandon Morrow allowed five runs on six hits over three innings. He struck out two, walked one and hit a batter. 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SUZUKA, Japan -- Mercedes has lodged a protest against the result of the Japanese Grand Prix based on the way Max Verstappen defended his position on the penultimate lap of the Japanese Grand Prix, but the hearing has been deferred until the U.S. Grand Prix when both drivers can be present.Hamilton was closing on Verstappen in the final five laps of the race and attempted to make a move at the final chicane on lap 52 of 53. As he moved to the inside, Verstappen mirrored the Mercedes to block the overtake and Hamilton had to take swerve to the left and into the run-off area in order avoid a collision.The stewards held a hearing on Sunday night in Suzuka but by that time both drivers had left the circuit and were not able to give their version of events. As a result the stewards of the Japanese Grand Prix have delegated their authority to the stewards of the U.S. Grand Prix in two weeks time when the hearing will be held.The Stewards convened a hearing of the Protest lodged by Mercedes AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team against the driver of Car 33, Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing, read an FIA statement on Sunday night. The protest was lodged in accordance with Article 13.4.4 of the International Sporting Code.At the commencement of the hearing the Stewards noted that neither driver was in attendance and hence was unable to give or refute any evidence. After hearing initial comments by representatives of Mercedes, the Stewards decide that in order to ensure fairness and afford both drivers the opportunity to be heard, the matter should be deferred and in accordance with Article 11.9.2.s of the International Sporting Code, the Stewards delegate their authority to the Stewards of the 2016 United States Formula One Grand Prix. Both team representatives agreed to this.The move did not appear to be in breach of the FIAs specific rules about how to defend position, but Mercedes claims the 19-year-old drove erratically and in a dangerous manner.ddddddddddddA protest has been lodged by Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team against car 33 driven by Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing relating to an alleged breach of Article 27.5 of Formula One Sporting Regulations, in that he allegedly drove erratically and in a dangerous manner, forcing car 44 to take evasive action at turn 16, the stewards original statement said. The Stewards are conducting a hearing. The results are still provisional.After the race, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff had spoken about the need for clarity over Verstappens driving.Im biased obviously, and you will be surprised by my response. At heart Im a racer and I love hard racing, and hes refreshing, he defends very hard, but the rulebook says something else, the rulebook says you cant move under braking.It hasnt been penalised until now, so I think we just need to know what is permitted or not, again, from my perspective, hard racing is OK.Although the rule cited by Wolff does not exist in the regulations, it will be up to the stewards in Austin to decide whether Vertsappens defence could be seen to be in breach of Article 27.5.The relevant section of Article 27.5 reads as follows: At no time may a car be driven unnecessarily slowly, erratically or in a manner which could be deemed potentially dangerous to other drivers or any other person. This will apply whether any such car is being driven on the track, the pit entry or the pit lane.Verstappens driving has been questioned before by his rivals after he made similar moves while defending position from Kimi Raikkonen at the Hungarian and Belgian Grands Prix. Although neither move was investigated -- let alone penalised -- FIA race director Charlie Whiting had a private chat with Verstappen at the Italian Grand Prix to discuss the incidents. Black China NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys From China NFL Jerseys China Wholesale NFL Autographed Jerseys Wholesale Throwback Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Online ' ' '