HES RECEIVE RINGSMiamis Rodney McGruder and assistant coaches

MOSCOW -- Russian President Vladimir Putin attacked the ban on his country from the Rio de Janeiro Paralympics as immoral and inhumane on Thursday, while six Russian athletes launched a bid to compete at next months games as individuals.Russia was suspended on Aug. 7 over what International Paralympic Committee president Philip Craven called a medals over morals culture with evidence of state-sponsored doping. The ban was confirmed Tuesday when the Court of Arbitration of Sport rejected a Russian appeal.The decision to disqualify our Paralympians is outside the bounds of law, morality and humanity, Putin said at an award ceremony for Olympic athletes at the Kremlin. He called the ruling against Russia cynical and claimed that it even humiliates those who take such decisions.Foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova added to the criticism, calling the ban collective responsibility for an unproven crime. While Russia has accepted there were some shortcomings in its anti-doping system, it insists drug use was not systemic or supported by the government.The Paralympics start Sept. 7. On Thursday, six Russian athletes, including three gold medalists, wrote to IPC president Craven asking for a route into the games as individuals.I strongly believe that real perpetrators of the dirty system must be punished and banned from sport. I do not want to lose to cheaters and I dont want to compete with cheaters, even Russians, says the letter, which was provided to The Associated Press by Andrei Mitkov, an agent representing the six. However even more strongly I believe that innocent people should not suffer for actions of cheaters that tried to deceive clean athletes of the world.The athletes, who say they have been repeatedly tested outside Russia and found to be clean, asked for the IPC to provide criteria which could allow some Russians to compete if they can show they are clean. The approach is similar to the criteria that allowed U.S.-based Russian long jumper Darya Klishina to compete at the Rio Olympics when the rest of the Russian team was banned.I would be very grateful if you review my individual request for entry to the Paralympic Games in such exceptional circumstances or, alternatively, describe me conditions upon which my participation in Rio Games would be possible, the letter states. In the event of a refusal, the athletes say they may request a ruling from the Court of Arbitration for Sport.On Thursday, Putin said special competitions will be organized in Russia for banned Paralympic athletes with winners getting the same prizes they would have had from success in Rio. Russia awards cash prizes to Olympic and Paralympic medalists and gave out dozens of BMW luxury cars to its Olympic medalists Thursday.Putin also attacked what he said was political manipulation of sport directed against Russia, whose team was reduced to a single athlete in track and field and banned entirely from weightlifting at the Olympics. That came after World Anti-Doping Agency investigations detailed widespread doping and evidence that senior sports ministry officials allegedly covered up hundreds of doping cases.You came through a tough test with honor, Putin told a room full of Olympic gold medalists. We know how difficult it was for our athletes in Rio. Ahead of the competition, the team was cut by almost a third, and was deprived of the chance to show what it can do in sports where Russia is traditionally considered one of the favorites. But our team, you, my friends, coped with all the difficulties, competed as a united team.Russia was fourth in the medal count with 56 medals, 19 of them gold.Earlier, Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko appeared to cast doubt on the achievements of second-placed Britain, suggesting it had won medals in Rio thanks to its lobbying power.Look at the comparative growth in results of some countries, such as Britain. I dont want to accuse them of anything, he said in comments reported by the state R-Sport agency. And look at the leadership of all the sports institutions. There are only British and Canadians there.Britain won 67 medals in Rio, with 27 golds, in its best performance for more than a century.Hydro Flask Coffee Australia . DAmigo scored twice in regulation and added the shootout winner as the Toronto Marlies edged the San Antonio Rampage 5-4 in American Hockey League action. Hydro Flask 24 Oz Sale . 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The catch: It needs a lot of money, and it needs it fast.MIAMI -- Hassan Whiteside likes when teams challenge him inside.The reigning NBA blocks leader piled up seven to go with 12 points and 17 rebounds and the Miami Heat beat the Milwaukee Bucks 96-73 on Thursday night to end a six-game losing streak.Theres two different types of coaches and teams, Whiteside said. Theres coaches that say, `Hassan Whiteside is down there, dont attack him. And then there are coaches that say, `Hassan Whiteside is down there, lets attack him, God bless those teams. Long live those teams. I need more of those teams.Dion Waiters led Miami with 23 points, and Josh Richardson added 18. The losing streak was the Heats longest since 2008.Its just another game, we cant get too happy about one win, Richardson said. Were glad we won, but weve got to move on to the next game.Point guard Goran Dragic returned for the Heat after missing three games with a sprained left ankle. He had 16 points in 35 minutes.Rusty a little bit, Dragic said. I didnt feel quite fast enough. The first half I struggled a little bit and then I finally got my legs under me a little bit and in the second half I felt great.Giannis Antetokounmpo and Tony Snell each had 14 points for Milwaukee. The Bucks shot 32.9 percent (28 of 85) from the field and have lost four of five.As a team we struggled on the defensive end, Bucks head coach Jason Kidd said. We couldnt guard the ball. We couldnt grab rebounds when we had to. We gave them second opportunities. On the offensive end, we just lost our patience.Richardson hit a corner 3, Whiteside blocked a layup attempt by Antetokounmpo, and Dragic hit a 3 in a flurry of big plays to give Miami an 80-69 lead with 7 minutes left.That was a big sequence for us, Richardson said. Hassan, when he gets blocks like that it energizes everybody and were running I think were a dangerous team.The Heat held on the rest of the way, with a 3 by Waiters making it 88-73 with 3:31 left.Miami outscored Milwaukee 29-11 in the fourth quarter.The Bucks entered the game leading the NBA in points in the paint, averaging 49.8 a game after leading the league a year ago, but were held to 34 and just 10 in the second half.dddddddddddd.They cover so much ground in particular G.A. and (Jabari) Parker, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. They really have a way of cutting and attacking, and catching and going into the paint. You have to have guys who are willing to compete, be physical, and do it with technique and discipline. And then when you get beat it helps to have a great eraser back there (with Whiteside).Milwaukee jumped out to a 20-6 lead, which included three impressive dunks by Parker, including taking one around-the-back on a dribble to avoid Richardson, and holding the Heat to 3-for-18 shooting.Miami quickly bounced back as Tyler Johnsons 3 gave the Heat a 30-27 lead and the teams were knotted at 48 at the break.Josh Richardson hit a pair of 3-pointers for the Heat during a 13-4 run in the third quarter to give Miami a 65-54 lead.Miami led 67-62 to start the fourth quarter.Our best basketball was in the second half, Spoelstra said.BUCKS STARS STRUGGLEAntetokounmpo and Parker, who entered the game averaging over 41 points, combined to score 25 on 10-of-35 shooting (28.6 percent).(Whiteside) did a good job of contesting shots, but I go to the basket, and I didnt get nothing the whole game, Parker said. I didnt get no calls.McGRUDER, COACHES RECEIVE RINGSMiamis Rodney McGruder and assistant coaches Dan Craig and Octavio de la Grana received their NBA D-League championship rings for winning the title last season with the Sioux Falls Skyforce, Miamis affiliate.Thats the same rock we got, thats awesome, Spoelstra said in reference to the Heats three championship rings. We all felt that we were a part of it.McGruder, a Kansas State product who went undrafted in 2013, made his NBA debut this season and recently earned his first start.UP NEXTMilwaukee will host Golden State on Saturday. The Bucks handed the Warriors one of their nine regular-season losses last year ending their 24-game winning streak to start the season.Miami begins a four-game, seven-day trip Saturday at Washington. ' ' '