In May, unsealed court documents revealed that an alleged San

RIO DE JANEIRO -- The hope for one last trip to the Olympic medal podium gone when she stalled early in her routine during the uneven bars final on Sunday, Gabby Douglas decided to take a stand of a different kind.Against the online criticism thats dogged the 2012 Olympic champion seemingly from the moment the gold medal was draped around her neck four years ago. Against the backlash on everything from her hair to her attitude. Against the bullying on social media thats left her staring down at her phone in disbelief too many times to count.Douglas is over it. All of it.Yes, her comeback didnt end quite the way she envisioned. Yet Douglas isnt second-guessing her decision even though shell leave Rio with only a team gold, pushing her total to three spanning two games.In my head I pictured it a little bit differently, she said after finishing seventh in the uneven bars final. You want to picture yourself being on top and doing amazing gymnastics.At times Douglas did. She was second to teammate Simone Biles at the 2015 world championships and validated national team coordinator Martha Karolyis choice to bring her to Rio by putting up the third-highest score in the all-around during qualifying before helping send Karolyi into retirement with a dominant performance in the team final.The trouble with Douglas, however, is that gymnastics is typically only part of the story.A small but vocal portion of Twitter lashed out when she was the only member of the Final Five to not place her hand over her heart during the playing of The Star Spangled Banner. It grew louder during the all-around final when cameras caught her quietly sitting while the rest of Team USA cheered on Biles and Aly Raisman to a one-two finish.I apologize if that made me seem to be really mad in the stands, Douglas said. I was supporting Aly. I will always will support them and respect them. I dont want anyone to take it as jealous or I wanted attention. Never. I support them and Im sorry I wasnt showing it.It followed a familiar pattern thats followed Douglas around since London, when she oddly found herself having to defend her hair minutes after becoming the first African-American woman to win the Olympic title.When they talk about my hair or not putting my hand over my heart or being very salty in the stands, really criticizing me ... for me it was really hurtful, Douglas said.She later added: Did I choose my hair texture? No. Im grateful for having this hair on my head. When you read that hurtful stuff youre like `OK, wow.While Douglas tried to block it out, it hasnt been easy. She became a sensation in 2012, had her life story made into a TV movie, switched coaches three times and became the focal part of Douglas Family Gold, a reality TV series executive produced in part by herself and her mother that focused on Douglas bid to become the first repeat Olympic champion in nearly 50 years.In a way, her final performance on the Olympic stage mimicked the last few years. She lost momentum early in her set and could have bailed. Instead she powered through it and nailed her dismount. Her score of 15.066 wasnt near the top three but she walked off the podium with a hug from coach Christian Gallardo and a smile.I wanted to finish on a stronger note, she said. But fighting through that routine, you know what I was like, `Im just fighting through.Perhaps for the last time as a competitor. Douglas will be a fixture on the post-Olympic barnstorming tour but is in no hurry to discuss her long-term future. Shell move from Columbus, Ohio -- where shes been training the last two years -- to be with her family in Los Angeles. Its been a long and occasionally bumpy ride. Shes fine if it stops.When you go through a lot and you have so many difficulties and people against you sometimes, it kind of just determines your character, she said. Are you going to stand or are you going to crumble? I have no regrets coming back for a second Olympic team. Its been an amazing experience. Its been teaching me a lot.Brian Urlacher Youth Jersey .25 million option on reliever Jose Veras. Gale Sayers Youth Jersey .ca! Hi Kerry, Heres an interesting one. I know its common knowledge that all players are responsible for their sticks. We witnessed that when Zack Kassian hit Edmontons Sam Gagner in the face after a missed check. http://www.bearsfootballpro.com/Authentic_Walter-Payton_Bears_Jersey/ . Tomas Berdych and Radek Stepanek defeated Nenad Zimonjic and Ilija Bozoljac 6-2, 6-4, 7-6 (4) on the indoor hard-court at Belgrade Arena. The victory improved the Czech pairs impressive cup doubles record to 14-1. William Perry Womens Jersey .Y. -- The Buffalo Sabres have placed centre Cody Hodgson on injured reserve and recalled two players from their AHL affiliate in Rochester. Tom Waddle Youth Jersey . PETERSBURG, Fla.STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- Penn State plans to formally honor the late Joe Paterno on Saturday by having the co-captains from his first Nittany Lions team participate in the coin toss and by airing video presentations on the impact to student-athletes, the university said Thursday.?Penn State announced on Sept. 1 that it planned to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Paternos first game at the school -- a 15-7 win over Maryland on Sept. 17, 1966 -- but declined to provide any details at the time.?The decision to honor the longtime coach sparked widespread debate. Paterno was fired in 2011 amid the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandalThe Nittany Lions host Temple on Saturday at noon. ?Current Penn State coach James Franklin sidestepped questions Tuesday about the event, saying, All of those decisions, like Ive stated before, theyre for the administration. Our focus is on Temple.In a written statement Thursday, athletic director Sandy Barbour said, Coach Paterno wanted academic success not only for his players but also for every student who came through Penn State. Together with his wife, Sue, they helped countless students become leaders and earn a Penn State diploma. Our plans are consistent with the wishes of the Paterno family as well, with a focus on the players and their accomplishments at Penn State and beyond.Mike Irwin and John Runnells, captains of the 1966 team, will be hand on for the coin toss. Barbour said further in-game introductions of players will take place, along with video presentations on the impact to student-athletes.A Penn State spokesperson declined to comment further.The Paterno Foundation, which is not affiliated with the university, announced earlier this week that several hundred former Nittany Lions football players are expected to attend a private event Friday to celebrate the coachs career. The event will take place at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park, which is near Beaver Stadium.Sue Paterno announced plans for the lettermen reunion last November.Warren Hartenstine played on Paternos first team in 1966 and was one of a handful of former players to help the Paterno family organize Fridays reunion. As he pprepared to leave his Maryland home for State College on Thursday, he described his emotions in a telephone interview with the Associated Press.dddddddddddd He said he understands and accepts that Paterno has become a polarizing figure.Coach Paterno, I think in many ways was naive about everything in the world except football and human growth, Hartenstine said. We were the fulfillment of what his lifes goals were. He adopted my family, my college roommates, everyone. You were just very special to him. How to respond to the accusations? Theres a sense of impossibility about it.But Hartenstine said he doesnt consider the reunion a celebration of Paterno. Rather, its about recognizing the achievements of players who were a part of the coachs Grand Experiment that placed an emphasis on academics.The emphasis has been not so much on Joe Paterno, Hartenstine said. This is about the men of the Grand Experiment. (Sue Paterno) repeats it over and over again that the accomplishments of lettermen are what this is a celebration of. I shouldnt even say lettermen. There are walk-ons that were there, some on our team, who put in their four years and worked, very, very hard.In May, unsealed court documents revealed that an alleged Sandusky victim said he complained to Paterno about the former assistant coach in 1976 and was rebuffed. University president Eric Barron has said the allegation was not substantiated in court or tested by any other process.Paterno was never charged with a crime related to the scandal.Paterno finished his career as the winningest coach in FBS history with 409 victories, but he was fired in November 2011, shortly after his former defensive coordinator, Sandusky, was arrested for child sexual abuse.Paterno died in January 2012 of lung cancer. The university removed his iconic statue from outside the stadium six months later. Sandusky was convicted on 45 of 48 charges in June 2012 and is currently serving a 30- to 60-year sentence.Information from The Associated Press was used in this report. ' ' '