RIO DE JANEIRO -- Mention to a badminton superfan the widespread American view that the sport is mostly a backyard lark and watch the steam come out of their ears.They find it inconceivable that anyone, even Americans steeped in football and basketball, could mistake badminton for anything other than a complex, endlessly fascinating symphony of power, agility and speed.With apologies to the purists: Most Americans cant see past their leisurely, backyard BBQ encounters with the game.It wasnt always that way.Badminton once enthralled many in the United States. Its athletes graced the cover of Sports Illustrated, staged badminton on ice escapades and won world championships.That was half a century ago. They now struggle to make it out of the first rounds of the Olympics, and to win fans enamored with swimming and track superstars.The problem, as it is for many Olympic sports that are sensations internationally but less popular in the United States, is money.When a U.S. athlete faces a player from a traditional badminton power, theyre not just facing the individual, theyre facing an entire system -- all of its financial backing, training facilities, coaching and scouting infrastructure.For the U.S., we are all still self-funded. Were individuals. Were not a team, said Iris Wang, a 21-year-old U.S. Olympian from California, after a recent practice session in Rio.Wang pointed toward some South Koreans practicing nearby.They fly together; they train together. We all train separately. They have the resources to bring in a masseuse, physical therapy, said Wang, who took three years off from UCLA to focus on badminton and who will return soon for her sophomore year. I heard China sometimes brings chefs to tournaments, and were just struggling to make it through.Until the mid-20th century, Americans often dominated badminton, and the sport enjoyed widespread popularity.Dave Freeman, the Pasadena Flash, a neurosurgeon considered by some to be badmintons greatest player, was the only American man to reach world No. 1 and won the equivalent of the world championship in 1949.FBI agent Joe Alston boosted the sport when he appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated in 1955 after winning his second U.S. Open singles title.Badminton comedy shows toured America in the `40s and `50s, and people lined up for badminton on ice reviews.Gradually, however, football, baseball and basketball began to rob attention from badminton.Those who now embrace the game in the United States often do so because their parents are fans or because they have relatives or friends whove shown them how seriously badminton is taken in parts of Asia and Europe.A return to its 20th century heyday will be difficult.In Asia, the big powers often subsidize their badminton programs. Prospects are scouted young, brought into well-run training programs and nurtured. They dont, for the most part, have to worry about money.U.S. players, by contrast, must often hustle to pay for a court to practice on, a coach to instruct them, equipment, sparring partners, air fare and tournament entry fees. Without resources they struggle to win, which means sponsors are reluctant to help.Wang has a sponsorship with a Taiwan-based tech company but also gets help from her parents. She played hard in Rio, but ran into Li Xuerui, the defending Olympic champion from China, and lost 2-0.Wang said making badminton an NCAA sport could help increase its popularity and encourage more high school students to play. Otherwise, many potentially good players will go to other sports.Wang smiles when asked how she discovered badminton.A backyard birthday party for my sisters friend, she said. I thought, `Oh my gosh, thats so cool. 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Bjorn, who had a 36-hole total of 8-under 134, made a testing six-foot putt to save par on the 16th and a birdie on the 17th before bogeying the final hole after a misjudged approach shot. American Kevin Streelman was in second place after shooting a 69. Toni Kukoc Jersey . Luis Suarezs double powered Liverpool to a 4-0 victory over Fulham, and Southampton easily overcame Hull 4-1 to continue the south coast clubs impressive start to the season. Liverpool and Southampton sent Chelsea down to fourth place as the west London club was held to 2-2 at home. LOS ANGELES -- Nneka Ogwumike grew up as part of a dazzling hoops sister act with her sibling, Chiney.But since coming to the Sparks, her pairing with Candace Parker has helped Ogwumike win the leagues MVP award and has Los Angeles a victory away from a WNBA title.Its like I have another sister now, Ogwumike said after the Sparks 92-75 victory over Minnesota on Friday in Game 3 of the WNBA Finals. Ive learned so much from her, and I think shes learned from me.We play through our mistakes together, were always communicating, were switching people on defense. Were that voice in each others head that really gets us going. Thats the relationship weve developed.Ogwumike actually has three younger sisters, including Connecticut Sun star and former Stanford teammate Chiney, but Parker has been like her older sister. Since Ogwumike was drafted No. 1 by the Sparks in 2012 -- Parker was the top pick in 2008 -- weve watched this duo develop. Friday was an exceptional showcase of just how much this tandem means to the Sparks.In a game in which the Sparks aggression and energy were exactly what they hoped for, the table was set for Parker and Ogwumike to feast. Parker had 24 points and nine rebounds, Ogwumike 21 and nine. They were a combined 19-of-33 from the field and helped Los Angeles win the board battle 29-24 for just the second time in the teams six meetings this season.Theyre our team, said Sparks guard Alana Beard of the post duo, although she had a heck of a game herself with 15 points and a game-high seven assists. Theyre two different players who make each other better. I think Game 2 was a prime example of what happens when they dont play in sync. And tonight was an example of when they do.Nneka does all the little things, and Candace is one of the best all-around players in the game. So it works.It sure did Friday, and the Lynx were not able to do much to stop it.Its absolutely all on the want-to of Nneka Ogwumike and Candace Parker to start the game, Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve said. And then [Essence] Carson and Beard throughout the game. Their want-to was on 10, which is exactly where you would expect it to be.They won the persistency battle. We didnt rise to the occasion. We were soft. Did I see that coming? Absolutely not. It was disappointing, to say the least.Parker and Ogwumike are such a 1-2 punch, though, that they can knock the stuffing out of other teams. Even a team with three championships like Minnesota.The Sparks havent won a WNBA title since 2002; Parker was 16 years old then and Ogwumike 12. Parker won two NCAA titles while at Tennessee; Ogwumike led Stanford to the Final Four each of her four seasons but didnt win a championship.Once they were together with the Sparks, they knew they could help each other to a title. But it would take collaboration and flexibility from both. Parker, as great a player as sshe is, can get lost in her own ruminating sometimes and tend toward pessimism.ddddddddddddOgwumike, by contrast, could be president for life of the look on the sunny side club.They balance each other really well, Beard said. Nneka is the one whos always going to be optimistic in everything. Candace is more of a thinker who will analyze everything.Parkers analysis of her own performance in the first two games of this series was pull-no-punches brutal.I was nonexistent until this game, Parker said. Even the first game, we squeaked it out with Alanas buzzer-beater, but I wasnt effective.Thats harsh. Parker had 14 points, nine rebounds and three assists in the Sparks 78-76 victory in Game 1. But she was disappointed that she didnt have more of an impact in the fourth quarter. And disappointed doesnt even begin to describe her evaluation of her 3-of-12 struggle for six points, with four rebounds, in Tuesdays 79-60 loss.I had to look myself in the mirror; thats not what I want to give, Parker said. I still need to be aggressive for my team, even when things arent going my way. My teammates told me, and my coach told me.Thats where I think this team is special: Were able to be honest with each other because we know its coming from a good place.Parker said the bond she has with Ogwumike was particularly strengthened by the difficulties the team went through in 2014, when coach Carol Ross was fired in late July after 22 games, and general manager Penny Toler took over on the sidelines. Los Angeles finished 16-18 and got swept in the Western Conference semifinals by eventual champion Phoenix.The Sparks had been expecting so much more that season, and it was crushing to them to have not come closer to reaching their potential. Brian Agler took over as coach for 2015, and Parker sat out the first part of the season to rest. But once she returned, things really began to click. The Sparks lost 2-1 in the conference semifinals to Minnesota last year, but the seeds were sown for this season when they went 26-8 and had the second-best record behind the Lynx.Ogwumike had the best season of her young career and won the MVP award. Her rise to the most elite level of the WNBA didnt stir any sibling rivalry with Parker, a two-time MVP herself. In fact, no one was happier than Parker, who says of Ogwumikes zest for playing, I really respect her. That girl never stops.As Beard said, Parker and Ogwumike have cultivated some of their own best qualities in each other.I definitely feel I am a little more fierce now because of her, Ogwumike said. And I think my looking at the bright side of things ... is something that I hope has rubbed off on her. When we tap into those things, on and off the court, its really awesome. 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