Kevin Durant said his experience in Rio de Janeiro with Team USA provided a needed escape from the backlash he has received since leaving the Oklahoma City Thunder to sign with the Golden State Warriors. Xavier Williams Jersey .Durant scored 30 points Sunday in the United States?96-66 victory over Serbia in the gold-medal game. He told The Vertical that playing for his country helped to flip his script and change his role from villain to hero.It was therapy for me after making a big change in my life, Durant told The Vertical. It made my life easier ... I knew [a backlash] was coming.It was definitely different for me, but to come here in an environment where people accepted me and didnt care about anything except being my buddy, thats what I needed.USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo agreed that Durants Olympic appearance was a needed distraction for the All-Star forward, who signed in June with the Warriors on a two-year, $54.3 million deal with a player option after the first year.This was good for him. For his psyche, Colangelo said.Durant didnt dispute Colangelos diagnosis.I cant let anybody steal my joy, Durant said, presumably addressing critics of his free-agency decisions. [Former Thunder assistant and current Team USA assistant] Monty Williams used to tell me that every day; dont let anybody steal my joy.ESPNs Marc Stein contributed to this report. Marcus Allen Jersey . The Vancouver coach and an announced sellout crowd of 18,910 watched in dismay as the Canucks lost 7-4 to the New York Islanders on Monday night by squandering a 3-0 lead in the third period. Ron Parker Jersey . R.J. Umberger scored twice to lead the Blue Jackets to a franchise-record for consecutive wins with a 5-3 victory Tuesday night over the Los Angeles Kings. http://www.cheapchiefsjerseyssale.com/?tag=jordan-devey-jersey-sale . Most important, perhaps, it went off without a hitch. Organizers poked a little fun at the now-infamous opening ceremony gaffe that saw only four out of five snowflakes open up into rings, leaving the Olympics logo one ring short. SEATTLE -- In the midst of Washingtons John Ross returning after 20 months away from football and reminding everyone just how fast he is on the field, the unthinkable happened.Huskies quarterback Jake Browning actually managed to overthrow Ross when the speedster was open sprinting down the sideline.Ive got to put more air under it, Browning said with a grin.The return of Ross proved the biggest highlight for No. 14 Washington coming out of its 48-13 win over Rutgers to open the season. While the Pac-12 took its collective lumps on the opening weekend, the Huskies appeared worthy of their preseason billing, even if their first true test of whether they are a top 15 program wont come for a few more weeks. They play Idaho on Saturday.Ross was the star, playing for the first time since suffering a major knee injury during spring practice in 2015. Ross had five catches for 90 yards, with 88 of those yards coming on two long touchdown catches, and he returned a kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown. It was his fifth touchdown of 90 yards or more in 27 career games at Washington.I figured they would kick it to me because I didnt do nothing last year. I havent really proved anything, Ross said. Just to see they did I got very excited.Ross immediately provided a dynamic that was missing from Washingtons offense a year ago when the Huskies struggled to push the ball downfield in the passing game. In 13 games last season, Washington had five passing touchdowns of 30 or more yards.They had three touchdown passes of 30 or more yards in the opener.It cant just be the John Ross show, Washington coach Chris Petersen said. People will figure out how to slow that down fast. But I think its really nice to come out of the gate and make some plays there so people have to pay attention to that closely.Speed was never the queestion about Ross prior to his injury. Tanoh Kpassagnon Jersey. The question was what would be the best position to play him. His exceptional speed made him a threat as a wide receiver, but it also made him effective as a defensive back. With the injuries Washington suffered in its secondary during the 2014 season, Ross split his time between offense and defense.The last time he was on the field in a game setting prior to Saturday -- January 2015 in the Cactus Bowl -- Ross started at cornerback, meaning the growth potential at wide receiver is significant. Since suffering his knee injury, Ross has focused solely on being a wide receiver, but it takes game opportunities to really assess where the improvement needs to be.I feel better than I have ever, Ross said. I feel bigger. I feel faster. Just really thankful Im able to do it again.Petersen understands there is more development needed with Ross, pointing out not just the lack of game reps but the limited practice reps for Ross as a wide receiver. His speed will always separate Ross and be his biggest strength, but now its learning the intricacies of the position that will really allow him to stand out.I dont want to say behind, but I still think he has a lot more to him, Petersen said on Monday. I mean, just in terms of practice reps. He hasnt had a ton of practice reps. I maybe even think about that more than the game reps. Some of these guys have had a lot. As we all know, to build true skill takes hours and years of these reps over and over. He hasnt really had that, with us, at least.So its been nice to watch him this fall progress with some detailed, route-running stuff.---AP college football site: http://collegefootball.ap.org Cheap Adidas Hockey Jerseys Wholesale College Jerseys Cheap Nike Basketball Jerseys Cheap Football Jerseys Free Shipping Cheap Baseball Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Free Shipping Cheap Jerseys From China Wholesale Nike NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Wholesale Nike NBA Jerseys Cheap NHL Jerseys Authentic Cheap MLB Jerseys Authentic Wholesale Soccer Jerseys China Cheap NCAA Jerseys China Stitched NFL Jerseys Cheap Custom Jerseys China Cheap Basketball Jerseys Authentic NFL Jerseys China Cheap College Jerseys Wholesale Football Jerseys ' ' '