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HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. -- After all the quad talk and quad practice and quad obsession, if not by the skaters then certainly from those who watch them, Jason Brown admitted it was hard to keep it together during his free skate at Skate America.It was kind of one of those dazed moments, Brown said after landing his first quad, in the Oct. 23 mens final in Hoffman Estates, Illinois. I was so focused. I said, Im going to attack it, and suddenly Im on one foot and I didnt have to fight for the landing. I thought, Oh my God, this is happening. As the 2018 Winter Olympics comes into focus, it is that same attitude that seems to be gripping both the American men and women.You would be completely unrealistic if you werent thinking about [the Olympics] right now, because its going to be here in no time, Ashley Wagner said.Whether the Americans can land solidly in South Korea 15 months from now depends on what happens between now and then. The U.S. men are still working on earning three spots at the worlds, while U.S. women are jockeying for position among themselves.Wagner won the gold at Skate America, with American Mariah Bell capturing the silver and Japanese teen Mai Mihara taking the bronze. On the mens side, despite landing his quad toe loop, it was determined to be under-rotated, and Brown took the silver behind another Japanese teen, Shoma Uno, with American Adam Rippon showing off a new free skate and winning the bronze.For the U.S. women, Skate America was built as the anticipated showdown between Wagner and U.S. champion Gracie Gold after Golds disappointing fourth-place finish at the world championships in Boston last March. But Gold fell on her triple loop and triple salchow at Skate America and downgraded her other triple jumps to doubles, calling her fifth-place score of 184.22 overly generous.It turned out to be the continued coming-out party for for the 20-year-old Bell -- Wagners and Rippons training partner under new coach Rafael Arutunian -- who scored a personal best of 130.67 in her free program.Bell called an appearance at the Worlds this spring in Helsinki very realistic. Just going into nationals [in January] to be on the podium, I think is very realistic for me. But right now, I honestly am just focused on going home and training for whatevers next.Though Wagner, a three-time national champion and silver medalist at the worlds this year, admitted she felt the pressure of Wagner versus Gold, she is clearly demonstrating a newfound maturity at age 25 that is paying dividends on the ice.The amount of nerves that I felt going into this competition, I would not have been able to handle last year, Wagner said. The way it was built up to be the ultimate showdown between Gracie and I, that was something I felt the pressure of, but I dealt with it and didnt succumb to it. I pushed through, and thats how I got to the top of the podium.Wagner finished in seventh place in Sochi in 2014 and was best remembered for speaking out openly against Russias anti-gay laws and the countrys president Vladimir Putin. She said she was mentally exhausted and overwhelmed after the Olympics.I was 22 and super excited about everything, and I think going into the next [Olympics] I will be way calmer in the way that I deal with everything, she said. I mean, I regret nothing in Sochi. I think it was a great event for me. Im always true to who I am. But I think going into this next Olympics, I am much more of an adult and more poised. I think Im more thoughtful in my responses but still myself. I still say what I feel, but I have more polish to it.Polish will not be a problem on ice for Brown and Rippon, whose artistic gifts were on display at Skate America. But the question for the men continues to be the quad -- whos landing it? How many are they doing? -- and the seemingly age-old debate of athleticism versus artistry.Uno cleanly landed a quad flip and quad toe loop in the opening seconds of his long program, and the 5-foot-3, 18-year-old followed with another quad toe and four triple jumps, a personal-best 279.34 points, helping him finish 11 points ahead of Brown.With American Nathan Chen landing two quads in his short program and four in his free at nationals in January at age 16, the pressure has presumably become that much greater for Brown and Rippon.We have such an incredibly talented mens field, Wagner said. Its just really hard because our men are coming up at a time that weve never seen the likes of before. I think for our men, its the quad game for sure. But if you dont have the quads, then its the quality game and youve got to max out everything else and hope for the best. But for right now, in all honesty, if you dont have that quad, what are you doing? Or two or three or five.Sidelined from competition for much of the year with a back injury, Brown is acknowledged as one of the most gifted artistic skaters in the world. The question has been whether he could master the quad, the thought being that he could not reach the Olympic or world podium without it.Working this past summer on jumps with Frank Carroll in addition to working with his longtime coach Kori Ade, the always ebullient Brown comes as close as he ever will to bristling when discussing the hot-button topic.I found myself in many situations, Brown said. Youre not going to make the junior final. You dont have a triple axel. You know what? I went and won the junior final that year. I was told I couldnt make junior worlds without a triple axel. I got third.It was all about, I cant make the Olympic team without a quad. I made the Olympic team. I was told, You never have a chance of the podium at the Olympics. I was sixth after the short. I was less than a point from third, and I think I turned a lot of peoples heads when it happened, and so I think from that, its really about believing in yourself that you can do it.Brown knocked on the nearest wood as he pointed out hes not one to bomb. And when he does make a mistake, hes adept at recovering quickly.This is sport, he said. Crazy things happen all the time. Someone who does four quads may have an off-day that day and fall, and you seize the moment.Two-time Olympic team coach Audrey Weisiger, now a consultant for other coaches developing Olympic athletes like Brown, said since Sochi, Brown now has a mans physique and is very, very, very capable of landing quads consistently.In the meantime, though, I think hes one of most beautiful skaters we have in our competitive community, Weisiger said. People are drawn to him even if he doesnt do quads. People want to watch him. Youll see in competitions multiple standing ovations for him ... if he adds in a clean quad, he will be unbeatable.Brown said he has to guard against overtraining and reinjuring his back.My goal is to make the next Olympic team, he said. I want to be able to be on the podium, and I want to be able to be on the podium with doing three quads in my program and doing two quads in my short. Those are definitely big goals, but I cant do it injured. So for me, its just doing it the best that works for me and coming every day and constantly doing the best that I can and doing it right and right for me.Rippon fell on his opening quad toe at Skate America but was judged to have completed all four rotations. He said he would like to add another and land them cleanly before nationals. But the 2016 U.S. champion is with Brown: While he is working on quads, it is going to have to be done carefully.When I see somebody like Nathan, who is doing five quads, you know what, Im not going to do that tomorrow, Rippon said. Thats impossible. Im not 17, Im 26. So I have to take a different approach. My approach has to be a little bit more mindful. Hes already had a surgery. Ive never had hip surgery. Ive never had any surgery. Ive had a relatively healthy career, and mentally, Ive really focused on taking the whole thing rather than one thing dictating how its going to affect the program.Rippon also agrees with Brown that the power of a beautiful artistic performance should not be forgotten.When I go out there, I want to put on the best performance I can because thats what I remember growing up, Rippon said. I remember Michelle Kwan making me want to rip my heart out she was so good. I remember Tara Lipinski. I remember Alexei Yagudin and yes, they could have looked around and seen Timothy Goebel trying three quads, but they did what they knew was their best. And they pushed themselves to have those clean performances because thats what really gets people involved. And judges are people.Weisiger said both the American men and women have a chance at the Olympic podium in South Korea.Skating is one of those things where on the day of the Olympics, anything can happen, and sometimes when you get an Olympic champion, people are scratching their heads, Weisiger said. Whats brewing now is what happens in the Olympics. There is some skater out there getting ready to be an Olympic champion that we may not know at all. Cheap Air Max 97 Wholesale .com) - The women will also have a new champion at the Australian Open. Air Max 97 Mens Clearance . The 31-year-old Spain midfielder hasnt played since Madrid lost in the Copa del Rey final to Atletico Madrid in May due to back and foot injuries. http://www.outletairmax97.com/ . Reassurance came from Paul Tesori, his caddie and close friend whose newborn son is in intensive care in a Florida hospital. "Paul sent me a text this morning, just told me he loved me and wanted to go out and fight as hard as I would any other day," Simpson said Sunday after doing just that. Air Max 97 Off White Wolf Grey Menta . -- If this was Aaron Gordons final home game at Arizona, and it almost certainly was, then he went out in style. Air Max 97 Ultra 17 Silver Bullet . Mitch Holmberg added a goal and three assists. Connor Chartier also scored for the Chiefs (3-0-0). Luke Harrison spoiled Garrett Hughsons shutout bid with a power-play goal at 13:17 of the third period. The Spokane goaltender finished with 28 saves, including a Brandon Fushimi penalty shot in the second period that would have tied the game 1-1. PITTSBURGH -- Fan cheered when Mark Melancon came on to start the bottom of the ninth inning to try to protect a one-run lead for the Washington Nationals. The cheers got louder when the Pittsburgh Pirates former closer blew his first save with his new team.Rookie Jacob Stallings pinch-hit single in the 11th lifted the Pirates over Washington 6-5 on Friday night, preventing the Nationals from clinching a postseason berth.Sean Rodriguezs two-out RBI double in the ninth tied the score 5-5. Melancon blew a save for the first time in 13 chances since he was acquired from Pittsburgh on July 30 in a trade for left-handed reliever Felipe Rivero and a minor leaguer.A brief video tribute was played on the scoreboard when Melancon entered the game.I didnt know they were going to put a montage up there, said Melancon, an All-Star in three of his four seasons with the Pirates. It was classy. It was very cool to get a standing ovation. ... I wanted to tip my cap but I didnt because I didnt want to mess up my mojo. I should have tipped my cap.Pittsburgh loaded the bases with one out in the 11tth against Yusmiero Petit (3-5) when Francisco Cervelli doubled, Andrew McCutchen was intentionally walked and Pedro Florimon walked. Rodriguez struck out and Stallings, a son of University of Pittsburgh mens basketball coach Kevin Stallings, grounded a 3-2 pitch into left field.Pittsburghs seventh win in nine games kept it on the fringe of the NL wild-card race.Washington lost for the fifth time in six games. The Nationals have magic numbers of one for a playoff berth and two for an NL East title.Despite the expanded September rosters, Stallings was the last player left on the Pirates bench.I kind of did the math in my head, Stallings said. Bases loaded, two outs was the only way I was going to come up that inning. (Bench coach Dave) Jauss came up and told me to be ready. I went down and hit on the tee before that inning. I knew I was the last guy, so I figured just in case.Wilson Ramos and Danny Espinosa homered for the Nationals. Bryce Harper had three hits and Ryan Zimmerman hit a pair of doubles.Zimmermans RBI double in the second inning opened the scoring and was the 1,500th hit of his 12-year big league career. Espinosa followed with 23rd homer for a 3-0 lead.Ramos led off a two-run sixth with his 22nd homer, a drive off Antonio Bastardo. Jayson Werth drew a bases-loaded walk later in the inning as the Nationals went back ahead 5-3.Adam Frazier haad a sacrifice fly in the bottom of half.ddddddddddddWade LeBlanc (4-0) pitched one scoreless inning.Pirates left fielder Gregory Polanco left the game in the first inning when bruised the left side of his face when crashing into the fence while chasing a double by Harper.Both starters, Washington left-hander Gio Gonzalez and Pittsburgh rookie Jameson Taillon, allowed three runs in five innings.Its disappointing because you want to wrap up a playoff berth as fast as you can but youre not going to win every game, Gonzalez said. Youve got to come back and get them tomorrow.MINOR HONORSFirst baseman/outfielder Josh Bell is the Pirates minor league player of the year and right-hander Mitch Keller their minor league pitcher of the year. Bell hit .295 with 14 home runs in 114 games for Triple-A Indianapolis before being promoted to the major leagues. Keller went a combined 9-5 with a 2.35 ERA in 24 starts at Class A with West Virginia and Bradenton.ROTATION SWITCHRookie right-hander Tyler Glasnow will start Sunday for the Pirates rather than rookie left-hander Steven Brault. Considering the organizations top propsect, Glasnow is 0-1 with a 4.11 ERA in five games, including two starts.TRAINERS ROOMNationals: 2B Daniel Murphy did not start for a fifth game in a row after an MRI revealed a strained glute muscle. He will sit out the three-game series be reevaluated.Pirates: RHP A.J. Schugel (shoulder inflammation) was placed on the 60-day disabled list, opening a roster spot for LHP Phil Coke, who joined the team after being acquired Thursday from the New York Yankees. . LF Starling Marte (back) sat out after being removed from Thursday nights loss at Milwaukee in the third inning. He missed 15 games before pinch hitting against the Brewers on Wednesday night. . SS Jordy Mercer (right forearm tightness) missed his second straight game.UP NEXTNationals: RHP Joe Ross (7-5, 3.48 ERA) will start Saturday night, his second outing since missing 2 1/2 months with shoulder inflammation. He pitched three innings and gave up one run last Sunday against Atlanta in a no-decision.Pirates: RHP Ivan Nova (12-7, 4.19) is 5-1 with a 2.93 ERA in nine starts since being acquired Aug. 1 from the New York Yankees in a trade. He took his first loss with the Pirates last Sunday, allowing five runs in three innings against Cincinnati. ' ' '