. -- Nebraska coach Mike Riley has fired special teams coordinator Bruce Read.The Cornhuskers have underperformed on special teams all season, and Read has been a target of fa

SAN JOSE, Calif. Portland Trail Blazers Shirts . -- She knows she is constantly described as the rare sure thing in a sport that doesnt usually allow sure things. But after her last workout before the U.S. Olympic womens gymnastics trials begin Friday, Simone Biles wasnt willing to let anyone tell her shes a lock to win this two-day meet or to get to the Rio Summer Olympics. It doesnt matter to her that she has won three consecutive world all-around titles, or that she beat her nearest American rival by 3.9 points at the U.S. national championships two weeks ago.Biles instead smiled Thursday and told a story about a recent dream she had about finally arriving at this, her first Olympic trials.I cried before the start of every single event, Biles said with a laugh. That was my dream. Hopefully that doesnt really happen to me tomorrow.It almost certainly wont.But Biles knows it cant.Biles is only 19, but she is fully aware that as preposterously great as her last three years have been, the Olympics are the only place where she can truly cement her place in history and in the public imagination.If Biles does not go on to dominate as expected and win gold medals next month in Rio -- as many as five golds are possible for her -- it wont matter that she is already closing in on passing three-time Olympian Svetlana Khorkina as the most decorated female gymnast ever, or that longtime gymnastics observers say Biles has already eclipsed two-time Olympian Nadia Comaneci in the discussion about the greatest female gymnast of all time.Comaneci was the sports standard of perfection -- until the 4-foot-9 Biles came along displaying more power and greater degree of difficulty than Comaneci did at the 1976 and 80 Games.I do think of history and [gymnasts who came before] because they all paved the way for us, Biles said, sitting in a directors chair setup at a team press conference after Thursdays workout. If it hadnt been for them, we wouldnt be here doing such strong gymnastics. Were just trying to carry the legacy on.Biles, with the exception of the rare anxiety dream, seems to have found a few ways to chop the pressure bearing down on her into manageable pieces.When asked again and again Thursday about being a prohibitive favorite here, Biles shrugged and said, Its just labels. What does it do for me if I walk around here saying, Im the favorite?Told that her journey toward Olympic fame is a Hollywood story -- shes risen to greatness after being adopted at age 5 by her paternal grandparents because her estranged mom struggled with drugs and alcohol use -- Biles amiably pushed back a little again and said, Well, they [outsiders] turn it that way, but I honestly thought everyone was adopted until I spoke up. People would say to me, Youre adopted? And I would say, Arent you?Biles smiled. And everyone laughed.America has the best womens gymnastics team in the world, yet Biles could probably fall twice in the four events -- balance beam, floor, vault and uneven bars -- and still win these trials.The difficulty and amplitude she packs into her routines is that much higher than anyone elses. Anywhere.Even for a gymnast, she has freakish strength and an amazing ability to pick up new skills. Aimee Boorman, Biles Houston-based coach since Biles was in elementary school, often says Biles has the uncanny ability to know exactly where she is in midair, even when practicing tricks that other gymnasts are afraid to try because they fear gravely injuring themselves. Plenty of heart-to-hearts with Boorman over the years, along with seeing a sports psychologist beginning in 2013, has also helped convince Biles that she doesnt need to listen to conventional thinking or other peoples expectations for her once shes at a competition.Other people do enough thinking for me, she said Thursday with a smile.Gymnasts are all better when they dont think and just do what theyve trained to do, national team coordinator Martha Karolyi agreed with a laugh.And so Biles bounces along, doing things her way. She had a lot of fun throwing out the first pitch at a Houston Astros game on Tuesday by doing a handspring off the mound and then coming up throwing. Team veteran Aly Raisman said here Thursday that she had to move to a different room at the U.S. teams training center, farther away from Biles and Gabby Douglas room, because Biles and Douglas were often laughing so loudly Raisman couldnt sleep. And I can fall asleep sitting right here if I just shut my eyes, Raisman said with a laugh.These Olympic trials are expected to be yet another coronation for Biles. She is expected to be the breakout American star of the Rio Games, along with Katie Ledecky, U.S. swimmings female successor to Michael Phelps. Again, its not something Biles is eager to linger on.But what can you do? she sighs. If I walk around here saying Im the favorite, how does that help me? Nothing is set in stone until its set in stone.Biles did concede once Thursday that she does perform better when she goes out before a mind event, such as the 4-inch-wide balance beam, and tells herself Im the bomb before she begins, instead of dwelling on what might go wrong.Were all a little nervous and jittery right now [about making the Rio team], Biles said, so we all try not to talk about it because its such a touchy subject.We just try to live in the moment.At the moment, Biles is the best gymnast in the world. She might just be the strongest-willed gymnast, too. She actually has convinced herself that shes not a Sure Thing at these Olympic trials or in Rio.Shes had far less luck convincing anyone else. Mychal Thompson Jersey . Murray beat Sam Querrey 7-6 (5), 6-7 (3), 6-1, 6-3 to clinch Britains opening-round victory against the United States on Sunday at Petco Park. "Im proud of the way Im playing just now, because I had to do a lot of work to get back to where I want to be," Murray said after celebrating with his teammates on the red clay court in a temporary stadium in left field of the downtown home of baseballs San Diego Padres. Nicolas Batum Jersey . -- When the Florida Panthers fell behind by two goals in the first period to the top team in the NHL, it appeared they were on their way to yet another loss. https://www.cheapblazersonline.com/1038i...ey-blazers.html . Peter Holland and Brad Staubitz were sent to Toronto on Saturday as the Maple Leafs traded defenceman Jesse Blacker and draft picks to the Anaheim Ducks. LINCOLN, Neb. -- Nebraska coach Mike Riley has fired special teams coordinator Bruce Read.The Cornhuskers have underperformed on special teams all season, and Read has been a target of fan complaints because of his $450,000 annual salary. Riley announced Reads dismissal Sunday, effective immediately.Nebraska ranks 127th out of 128 FBS teams in net punting and has had three punts blocked. Nebraska is second-to-last in the Big Ten in opponent punt returns and 11th in opponent kick reeturns. Blazers Jerseys China. The Huskers also have been unable to get return man DeMornay Pierson-El many chances to run back punts. He returned three for touchdowns two years ago.Read has coached in the NFL and with Riley at Oregon State before joining him at Nebraska last season.---More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-Top25 ' ' '