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To fully appreciate Tamika Catchings impact on the U.S. Olympic team in this, her fourth and final appearance in the Summer Games, we need to go back to her first. That was in August 2004 in Athens, Greece, and Catchings had turned 25 the month before.She was just entering a professional athletes peak years. In her third season in the WNBA, she already was one of the top players in the league and the face of the Indiana Fever.And she was part of a new wave of national team players, which included Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi. Catchings had started for the Americans in the 2002 world championship, and she got the call to do so again in the 2004 Olympics.My biggest role with that team was defense, Catchings recalled. I was trying to bridge the gap between the younger players and the older players, with them passing that torch on to our generation.In Athens, U.S. coach Van Chancellor started Catchings alongside more experienced players Dawn Staley, Sheryl Swoopes, Lisa Leslie and Tina Thompson.To be the fifth Beatle in that group? Taurasi said. She was the only one who could go into that group and hold her own. She kind of represented the younger generation. So when I saw her out there with that group, I thought, Catch is going to be legendary.It also helped inspire Taurasi, who averaged 8.5 points off the bench in the 2004 Olympics, and Bird, who was the point guard understudy to Staley, then playing in her final Olympics.Bird recalls national team scrimmages over the years when her primary concern was whether she and Catchings were on the same side.I just always remember thinking, I hope Tamikas on my team, Bird said. Because we would do drills where you could only score if you got the rebound, or if you get a deflection or have a steal. And in those scenarios, theres nobody you want on your team besides Tamika.Catchings has been a staple of the national team, winning three Olympic gold medals and three world championship golds. Now age 37, she represents the older generation, and will retire from her playing career at the conclusion of this WNBA season. But she has been able to keep this final year of playing in the present tense as much as possible.Ive definitely been able to stay in the moment and not take anything for granted, she said. Im grateful to have this opportunity again and be around all these great players.Its been a dream come true. And this year, it just means a lot more with it being my last time to be able to represent my country from this perspective.Catchings said it wasnt until she was a teenager following the news about the U.S. national teams 1995-96 tour to prepare for the Atlanta Games that she truly understood just how important the Olympics were. In the summer of 1996, when she was a rising senior in high school, Catchings was training in Colorado Springs with USA Basketball for the junior world championship qualifying tournament.After practice was over, they said, Hang tight, guys, weve got a surprise for you all, Catchings said. Then the door at the end of the gym opened, and Ruthie [Bolton] walked in with everybody else on the Olympic team, and they started singing, Mighty Ruthie! And we were like, Oh my God!It was like the greatest moment. I was like, I want to be them. I want to be on that team someday.Catchings joined the senior national team in 2002. That was her first year in the WNBA. She had sat out 2001 in the league due to a knee injury that had ended her Tennessee collegiate career.As is the case for Bird and Taurasi, Catchings only loss with the Team USA came in the 2006 world championship semifinals. Other than that, it has been an overwhelmingly golden success.The thing that players like Sheryl, Lisa and Dawn left with us is how to represent yourself every day as an American, as an ambassador for ourselves, individually, and our team, Catchings said. People are always watching us, whether its playing in the WNBA, overseas, or working with our respective charities. But theres something especially important about representing the USA team, and how we act on a daily basis. That is about being a professional.Catchings averaged 6.9 points and 5.4 rebounds in the 2004 Olympics. In 2008, she battled injury to be ready for the Beijing Games, and came off the bench to average 6.8 points and 4.4 rebounds.With Catchings, you knew she was going to go through a wall to get the job done, said Anne Donovan, coach of the 2008 Olympic team and a former Olympic player herself. Whether that was a rebound we had to get, a play we needed to run, a screen she had to set, it didnt matter. She was going to do whatever was needed.Her work ethic and her pride in wearing red, white and blue ... Its hard to put it into words, but we all know it. We see it. Catchings is the one whos going to come up with that loose ball or make that play when someone else thinks its impossible.For Catchings, 2012 was the most special year of all in her pro career. She again was a starter for the U.S. Olympic team, averaging 6.1 points and 4.9 rebounds at the London Games. Then she went back to Indiana and led the Fever to the WNBA title.This year, Catchings has been doing a farewell tour in the WNBA, and she also has dealt with a heavy heart in saying goodbye to her beloved college coach, Pat Summitt, who died in June. The court, always her sanctuary, has been that again for Catchings. The chance to create another happy Olympic memory is something that she cherishes.This is her fourth time, and shes still good enough to be a contributor, said USA Basketball coach Geno Auriemma, who also coached Catchings in the 2012 Olympics. When you mention Tamika and say what is she great at? She just plays harder than everybody else. She competes harder. Ive always admired that in her.NHL Jerseys From China . But when it comes to determining if Raymond will find a place on the Leafs roster when training camp concludes in a week, well, that decision will ultimately fall to the head coach. Wholesale NHL Jerseys Online . - Blake Griffin had 30 points and 12 rebounds, J. http://www.cheapnhlcustomjerseys.com/ . The next step is a better finish. Bae played bogey-free Friday on another gorgeous day at Riviera for a 5-under 66, giving him a one-shot lead over Aaron Baddeley and Robert Garrigus going into the weekend. Fake Adidas NHL Jerseys . Q: Team Canada announces their Olympic roster three weeks from today. Who is general manager Steve Yzerman watching? LeBrun: Over the last 48 hours, hes taken in the home-and-home between the Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche with Jamie Benn and Matt Duchene being the obvious targets. Wholesale NHL Jerseys Authentic . - The Oakland Raiders re-signed offensive lineman Khalif Barnes on Friday.BOSTON -- Jimmy Hayes capped Bostons three-goal second period with his first of the season, Tuukka Rask stopped 30 shots and the Bruins beat Tampa Bay 4-1 on Sunday to snap a three-game skid.Rask allowed only Victor Hedmans goal with 2:39 to play.David Pastrnak had his team-leading 13th goal, and David Backes and Dominic Moore also scored.Claude Julien coached his 726th game with the Bruins, tying Milt Schmidt -- the oldest living member of the Hall of Fame at 98 years old -- for second in team history.Ben Bishop made 26 saves for Tampa Bay.COYOTES 2, OILERS 1EDMONTON, Alberta -- Jamie McGinn broke a tie with 3:44 left and Mike Smith made 41 saves in Arizonas victory over Edmonton.McGinn was left all alone in front and beat goalie Cam Talbot to the stick side.Radim Vrbata also scored to help the Coyotes complete a home-and-home sweep. They edged the Oilers in a shootout Friday night in the desert.The Coyotes have won three of their last four to improve to 8-10-2. Arizona is 21-0-4 against Edmonton in the last 25 meetings between the two teams.Milan Lucic scored for the Oilers, and Talbot stopped 21 shots.HURRICANES 3, PANTHERS 2RALEIGH, N.C. -- Jeff Skinner had a goal and an assist for Carolina, and Florida fired coach Grrard Gallant after the game.Florida fired Gallant after the game, a person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press. Tom Rowe, who was promoted to general manager before the season, will assume the coaching duties, said the source who spoke on condition of anonymity because the team hasnt announced the moves.Carolina goalie Michael Leighton stopped 31 shots in his first NHLL game this season.dddddddddddd Cam Ward started the previous nine games for Carolina.Viktor Stalberg and Derek Ryan also scored for Carolina, with Ryan getting his first of the season.Jonathan Marchessault and Aaron Ekblad scored for Florida.FLYERS 5, FLAMES 3PHILADELPHIA -- Anthony Stolarz made 29 saves for his first NHL victory in Philadelphias win over Calgary.Stolarz also became the first New Jersey native to appear in goal in an NHL game. The 22-year-old was born in Edison, about 60 miles northeast of Philadelphia.Michael Raffl, Jakub Voracek, Chris VandeVelde, Wayne Simmonds and Roman Lyubimov scored to help the Flyers snap a two-game losing streak and improve to 10-10-3.T.J. Brodie, Matthew Tkachuk and Alex Chiasson scored for the Flames.SENATORS 2, RANGERS 0NEW YORK -- Craig Anderson made 32 saves for his third shutout of the season and Ottawa beat New York for its fourth straight victory.Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Mark Stone scored in the second period.Rangers goalie Antti Raanta made 18 saves in his first loss of the season.JETS 3, PREDATORS 0WINNIPEG, Manitoba -- Connor Hellebuyck made 42 saves, Drew Stafford scored his first goal of the season and Winnipeg beat Nashville to end a five-game losing streak.Hellebuyck had his second shutout of the season and fourth overall. Mark Scheifele and Adam Lowry added empty-net goals for the Jets.Rookie Juuse Saros made 21 saves for Nashville. The Predators beat Winnipeg 5-1 on Friday night in Nashville with Hellebuyck in net. ' ' '