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RIO DE JANEIRO -- Carlos Balderas qualified for the Olympics nearly nine months ago, and he has been waiting anxiously for his next fight ever since.The American lightweight only has to wait a few more hours after the opening ceremonies in Rio. Balderas fights in the opening session of the grueling, 16-day Olympic boxing tournament on Saturday morning.Its everything Ive been thinking about since November, Balderas said. The only thing thats been in my mind is bringing back a medal.His friend and roommate, light flyweight Nico Hernandez, also fights on a big first day for the eight-person U.S. team. After the American men failed to win any Olympic medals for the first time in London, the new U.S. fighters believe their teamwork can help them exceed relatively low outside expectations in Brazil.Were definitely close, because were all young, Hernandez said. Im the oldest one on the team, and Im 20. Weve all been on the same team since juniors, so weve been traveling together for a couple of years now. Were really close, like family. I think that helps us a lot. We all support each other.Balderas and Hernandez are key parts of the tight-knit core on a U.S. team that has bonded through years of shared competition. All six American men were born less than two years apart.The vibe is really, really cool, Balderas said. Because me, Nico, Tony (Vargas), Shakur (Stevenson), weve pretty much been together since the youth team. We were always around each other. Its not like somebody came out of nowhere and just took a spot. Everybody was always very cool with each other.The U.S. men could use all the good vibes they can get.They havent won a gold medal since Andre Ward triumphed in Athens in 2004. They claimed just one bronze medal in Beijing -- and none at all in London, an embarrassment for the most successful boxing nation in Olympic history.USA Boxing hired veteran Irish coach Billy Walsh last year, but his plans are necessarily focused on Tokyo in 2020. He hopes the current teams talent will be enough to counteract their opponents years of centralized training.Its a massive challenge, Walsh said. There definitely is a skill level that we need to change. Its a Tokyo project.Balderas and Hernandez could have turned pro before Rio, but instead participated in the professional ventures of the International Boxing Association (AIBA) to improve their chances of landing a spot in Brazil. Balderas qualified early for the Olympics through his victories in AIBAs World Series of Boxing.They both realize the importance of starting a pro career with an Olympic pedigree. They also wanted extra experience with the particularities of Olympic-style boxing, which can be difficult for American-trained prospects.Neither fighter hails from a particular boxing hotbed, either: Hernandez is from Wichita, Kansas, while Balderas came up from Santa Maria, California.Its definitely not a big sport in Wichita, Hernandez said. It means a lot to me to get here, because not a lot of people that came from there have really made anything of themselves. I want to be the one to inspire other people. I like to say that Im one of the ones that made it from there, because theres not a lot of recognition like there is in California or something.Balderas is a first-generation Mexican-American whose grandfather moved his family north to work the fertile fields of central California.I know regardless of what happens at the Olympics, my family is always going to be behind me, Balderas said. I do feel some pressure, because I feel like I cant let them down, you know? I know that everybody has made sacrifices for me, so I feel like its only right for me to do the same for them.Balderas and Hernandez both train with their fathers and other relatives. Hernandezs parents are leaving the U.S. for the first time to watch their son, while Balderas traveling party is slightly larger -- including uncles, aunts and cousins who were able to book the trip several months in advance because of his early qualification.It kind of makes me feel nervous in a way, but also it makes me just feel happy, Balderas said. I want to prove to them that I can do something big, because we went from the strawberry fields to the Olympic Games. Cheap Air Max 97 Rose China . Miikka Kiprusoff had just announced his retirement after a decade-long run in Calgary and it would be up to Berra and Ramo to fill the void. Cheap Air Max 97 Grey China . 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Clarksons actions one night earlier, leaping off the bench in defence of Kessel during a pre-season game against the Buffalo Sabres, will cost him the first 10 games of the regular season. Never be dead.Thats been Canberras mantra this season and they lived by it on Sunday at GIO Stadium, staging one of the NRLs greatest escapes to beat Newcastle 29-25 in golden point.A miraculous Jordan Rapana try was the difference and puts his side on the brink of the top four.Down 22-0 just before halftime, the Raiders looked destined for an unthinkable loss to the competition cellar-dwellers.But four unanswered tries - including a double to skipper Jarrod Croker - in regular time set them up for a grandstand finish in front of 9,731 fans.Locked up at 24-all, five-eighth Blake Austin kicked what looked to be the match-winning field goal inside the final 90 seconds.But Trent Hodkinson replied moments later with a successful attempt of his own after the Knights regained possession from a short kick-off to send the game to golden point.Its the second time this season the teams have played beyond the 80 minutes, having drawn 24-24 in round three.On that occasion there were seven missed attempts at a field goal, but there were only five on Sunday.The last wayward kick was by Austin, on which Rapana - who earlier jarred his shoulder - somehow pounced to score and seal the victory.Theyre the little pieces off play that make or break teams, coach Ricky Stuart said.dddddddddddd.I missed it to be quite honest. After we missed the field goal I think I was abusing somebody. But it was just wonderful to get that feeling.Stuart lauded his sides tenacity in the first half, when Rapana (shoulder), Croker (concussion) and man mountain Shannon Boyd (knee) all came off hurt.None of the injuries appear to be serious.Theyre a very, very tough and resilient bunch of players that Im very fortunate to be coach of, he said.Ive had media talk to me all week about complacency - its not in the joint.Croker said the team had been in similar situations before and constantly spoke about hanging tough.Its not an ideal situation to be in, but we talk about having pride in the jersey, we talk about never being dead and we showed that today, he added.It was the Raiders fifth win in the past five games and puts them just one point outside the top four.For the last-placed Knights it marks their 10th successive loss. Theyll have a much-needed bye next week while the Raiders host North Queensland next Monday. ' ' '