ind a way to prove that wrong, Carpenter said. September is a fun month, especially in St Louis. The weather starts to cool and typically we start to pla

RIO DE JANEIRO -- You love them now, right America?Mike Krzyzewski and Geno Auriemma may have their haters in college basketball, but this is the Olympics. This is when patriotic pride trumps school spirit, when there is no Tar Heel blue, only red, white and blue.So all those fans chanting USA! USA! should be shouting Go Coach K!Well, I hope theyre saying that. Im not sure all of them are completely saying that, Krzyzewski said with a laugh. But I would hope that most people are.College basketball, built on regional rivalries and March Madness, makes it impossible for anyone to be universally beloved, especially when theyve won as much as Krzyzewski has with the Duke men or Auriemma with the Connecticut women.So Auriemma also laughs when pondering fans on both sides of Tobacco Road in North Carolina, or way up on Rocky Top in Tennessee, suddenly being on board with the U.S. coaches.Well, some people are pro-USA but not necessarily pro-Coach K and Geno, Auriemma said. So Im sure theres a faction out there of anti-Duke, anti-UConn people who, `We love the USA so much that we want them to win in spite of those two guys.Theres little need to consider that in most of the Olympics, individual sports with emotional tales of underdogs overcoming the odds to win gold for their country. Thats what makes womens gymnastics so popular.But these guys arent underdogs, theyre definitely not Americas Sweethearts, and they dont come around every four years. For some fans, theyre the Evil Empire, in their faces every November to March.You have to put that aside right now, U.S. forward and former Tar Heels star Harrison Barnes said, although UNC did have a better season this year.Krzyzewski has won five NCAA championships and more than 1,000 games, most in Division I history. The Blue Devils are college basketballs version of the New York Yankees or Dallas Cowboys, the team that fans either love or love to hate -- and the haters believe the TV announcers and referees love them too much.Auriemma has won a record 11 national championships, a man in a womens world who doesnt apologize for the way he wins or talks. His comments sometimes overshadow his games, even back when the Huskies played Pat Summitts Tennessee teams.Now wearing their countrys colors and undefeated heading into the quarterfinals -- Auriemmas team is dominating at a record-setting pace and plays Japan on Tuesday; Krzyzewskis squad has been challenged and faces Argentina on Wednesday -- the guy from Chicago (Krzyzewski) and Philadelphia (Auriemma) should now be popular around the nation.I dont think they really think about those things, U.S. mens assistant Jim Boeheim said. I know Geno doesnt. He thrives on the fact that they root against him.Boeheim, friends with both, said the difference is that Krzyzewski is more careful than Auriemma in choosing his words, not wanting to offend anyone.Mike cares, Boeheim said. Geno doesnt care.Auriemmas response?First of all, Im surprised that Boeheim is even aware of anything anybody says, because he lives in his own world up there in Syracuse, Auriemma quipped. So thats the biggest shocker so far of the Olympics, the fact that he actually pays attention to anything.Mikes been at it a lot longer at a higher level than I have. And hes a West Point guy, and very smart, really bright, and knows how to think before he speaks. So why is that surprising, that I stick my foot in my mouth sometimes?He said hes tried to choose his words more carefully since beginning what he calls the unbelievable experience of becoming U.S. womens coach in 2009, realizing that on some issues hes speaking not just for UConn, but for the country. Auriemma said the writers who cover the Huskies like him less now because he wont say some of the things he used to.Krzyzewski is nearing the end of his 10-year run as U.S. coach, but the former Army captain has been involved with U.S. teams since 1979. He said people who dont necessarily root for him have shown they appreciate him.They say, `Coach, thanks for coaching USA, thanks for taking the time to coach USA, he said. And I tell them, `Look, its an honor. Thanks for watching and cheering for us.And cheering for him.Whether you like Duke or not, you cant underestimate what Coach Ks done. Whether you like UConn or not, you have to respect what Coach Auriemmas done, womens and former UConn star Diana Taurasi said. And I think the more that theyre seen in this setting, you know what, its not (they win) because theyre at Duke, its not because theyre at UConn. Its because theyre great coaches.---AP Basketball Writer Doug Feinberg contributed to this report.---Follow Brian Mahoney on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Briancmahoney Scott Stevens Jersey . The 25-year-old Japanese star has officially been posted by his club team, the Rakuten Golden Eagles. Jesper Bratt Jersey . He said Tuesday thats a big reason why he is now the new coach of the Tennessee Titans. Whisenhunt said he hit it off quickly with Ruston Webster when interviewing for the job Friday night. http://www.cheapdevilsjerseys.com/?tag=adidas-ben-lovejoy-jersey . Pierce was ejected in the third quarter of Indianas 103-86 win Monday. George Hill stole a bad pass and was going in for a layup, and Pierce hustled back and appeared to be trying to wrap him up. Will Butcher Jersey . LOUIS -- Lance Lynn was one of the more enthusiastic participants as the St. Blake Coleman Jersey . Darren Helm scored on Detroits sixth attempt in the shootout and then Jonas Gustavsson stopped Andrew Shaws shot, lifting the Detroit Red Wings to a 5-4 win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday night. ST. LOUIS -- Jaime Garcias recent woes continued and so did the St. Louis Cardinals season-long struggles at home.Garcia gave up a three-run homer to Stephen Vogt in the third, a two-run shot to Khris Davis in the first and the Cardinals lost 7-4 to the Oakland Athletics on Sunday.St. Louis dropped two of three to the Athletics and the Mets on the homestand and has won only one of its past five series at Busch Stadium. The Cardinals own the majors best road record (38-34) but fell to 30-37 at home.Every game we dont win, there is a level of frustration, doesnt matter home or road, Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said.Garcia, who worked four scoreless innings after the Athletics took a 5-1 lead, has allowed 16 runs in 16 innings over his past three starts. He has served up seven homers in those outings after giving up six in his first 13. Both homers against the Athletics came with two out.Weve seen it a few times where he gets some quick outs and something happens and it rolls out of control for a little while, Matheny said.You make mistakes and stuff happens fast, Garcia said. I need to do a better job.Rookie Andrew Triggs (1-1) earned his first win in his fifth start, allowing three runs on four hits with no walks and eight strikeouts in six innings. Ryan Madson pitched the ninth for his 27th save in 33 chances.Triggs, who was called up from Triple A Nashville for the eighth time earlier this month, said about 15 family and friends made the trip from his hometown in Nashville to watch the game played with the temperature 92 degrees at first pitch.Once you get through those first couple of innings with that heat, youre maxed out in sweat so theres not much more you can do, Triggs said.Matt Carpenter doubled twice, homered and scored his teams first three runs to help the Cardinals close to 5-4 after seven innings. His homer in the third extended the Cardiinals streak to 17 games with a homer, matching their season best.ddddddddddddThe Cardinals were hurt by reliever Zach Dukes error in the eighth. Duke failed to cleanly field Vogts grounder with a runner on third that led to a second run for Oakland in the inning. The typically strong defensive Cardinals rank among the worst fielding teams in the National League.Theres going to be some kind of narrative every year and this year thats the narrative and were going to find a way to prove that wrong, Carpenter said. September is a fun month, especially in St Louis. The weather starts to cool and typically we start to play really well and ride that into October. Hopefully that will be no different this year.Oaklands Ryon Healy doubled in the third to extend his hitting streak to 14 games, the longest active streak in the majors.St. Louis brought the tying run to the plate with one out against Madson but Randall Grichuk lined out to third and Greg Garcia flied to center for the final out.The Cardinals finished interleague play 1-8 at home and 8-12 overall. Oakland finished 7-13.TRAINERS ROOMAthletics: INF Billy Butler (concussion) is expected to be cleared to return Monday.Cardinals: SS Aledmys Diaz (right thumb) will see a hand specialist Monday to determine when he could return. Diaz has not played since July 31.UP NEXTAthletics: Rookie LHP Sean Manaea (5-8, 4.53) starts the opener of a three-game series at Houston seeking his first road win. He worked seven scoreless innings against the Astros in a 2-1 loss July 10.Cardinals: RHP Carlos Martinez (12-7, 3.13) will make his third start at Milwaukee as St. Louis opens a nine-game, three-city trip. Martinez won his first two starts against the Brewers, allowing one run in 13 innings. ' ' '