OMAHA, Neb. -- Missy Franklin stood beside the blocks, staring down the still water in her lane. Never had she faced so much pressure, yet she felt serene.A night after she failed to make the Olympic team in the 100-meter backstroke -- an event she won four years ago in London -- Franklin rallied to finish second in the 200 freestyle Wednesday night at the U.S. trials.It was good enough to earn her a spot in an individual event in Rio.Thats probably the most proud race Ive ever swam in my entire career, coming back from such a loss last night and telling myself that I still have it in me to do whatever I believe I can do, she said, tears glistening in her eyes.Katie Ledecky cruised to victory in the race. Franklin was tied for second on the last turn and churned through the water to get her hand on the wall as runner-up.I told her after the race shes one tough cookie, Ledecky said. That 2 race is for real, and theres more to come from her.Up next are the 100 free on Thursday and the 200 backstroke on Friday, giving Franklin two more chances at further redemption. Four years ago, she took London by storm, winning five medals, including four golds, and spread her infectious smile and bubbly personality everywhere.This time, just getting on the team has been a lot tougher.Franklin left college after swimming two years at California to turn pro last year. She juggles sponsor commitments, photo shoots and travel in between training and practice. The extra demands away from the pool were more than she had expected, but its her nature not to want to let anyone down.After struggling to seventh in the 100 back, Franklin returned to her hotel room and re-thought things.I realized that my job here is not to make an Olympic team, its not to defend anything, its to swim well, she said. Its me trying to work through how to deal with this kind of pressure that Ive never really dealt with before and I think, as we just saw, Im really starting to figure that out for myself.Franklin had her work cut out in the 200 free final. Besides Ledecky, there was defending Olympic champion Allison Schmitt (fourth) and Leah Smith (third), who had already made the team.Her coach, Todd Schmitz, pumped his fists and charged down the steps of the arena to congratulate his swimmer.She finally had reason to flash her trademark smile.Last night was really tough and coming back from that, I was telling myself, `Im not done fighting. Im not done with believing in myself, she said.For a while, it looked like Franklin might only make the team as a relay swimmer. Thats hardly what she spent the last four years working for.People say theres nothing like making your first Olympic team, but theres really nothing like making your second Olympic team, she said, laughing. Its moments like this that you kind of have to sit back and say, `You know what? I just did it. Cy Sneed Astros Jersey . Brad Jacobs and his Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., team took control of the game early. Rusty Staub Astros Jersey .Y. -- Buffalo Bills coach Doug Marrone has drawn on his Syracuse connections once again by hiring Rob Moore to take over as receivers coach. https://www.cheapastros.com/1833o-justin-verlander-jersey-astros.html .J. Jefferson has been charged with assaulting his girlfriend. Joe Morgan Astros Jersey .J. Jefferson has been charged with assaulting his girlfriend. Dean Deetz Jersey . After Mondays hard-fought loss, the wait seemed longer than usual. Getting set to go their separate ways for a short Christmas break, the Raptors coach credited his team for their effort on a seemingly impossible three-game road trip, urging them to build on that success when they get back to work at the end of the week. PRO BASKETBALLCHARLOTTE, N.C. -- NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said returning the All-Star Game to Charlotte in 2019 is a high priority, provided theres a resolution to a North Carolina law that restricts the rights of LGBT people.The NBA recently decided to move the 2017 All-Star Game to New Orleans because it didnt believe it could successfully host the All-Star Game and related events in Charlotte under the climate created by the law known as House Bill 2. Los Angeles hosts the game in 2018.Silver spoke following a ceremony in Charlotte in which Hornets owner Michael Jordan unveiled the first of three refurbished neighborhood basketball courts.Several concerts and sporting events have been relocated from North Carolina because of HB2.PRO FOOTBALLNEW YORK -- NBCs flagship Sunday Night Football game had its smallest audience in five years this week, evidence of the NFLs new deflation issue.The game between Indianapolis and Houston reached 13.6 million viewers, removing the weekly broadcast from its usual spot at or very close to the top of the Nielsen company ratings. CBS Thursday night game scored slightly higher.To be fair, Indianapolis and Houston represents few fans idea of a marquee matchup. NFL ratings have been down in general this year, leading to much speculation about the cause. Intense interest in the presidential race is thought to be one factor in the slump.This season, NBCs prime-time games have been down 17 percent from last year, when ratings were at their peak for the telecast.UNDATED -- Independent medical observers stopped five NFL games in 2015 and two so far in 2016 -- the first two seasons in which the Medical Timeout has been employed as a method to identify players with major injuries or possible concussions.In its 2016 Health and Safety Report , the NFL said an average of 29 health care providers, including two unaffiliated neurotrauma consultants, attend games. Many of them, along with on-field officials, can rule a player out due to a concussion or other severe injury.In a new move last season, the NFL stationed athletic trainers in spots high above the field and allowed them to watch replays -- and to call time out if they saw injuries that otherwise went unnoticed.BOSTON -- Bill Belichick is throwing in the towel in his ongoing fight with the use of tablets on the sideline.Responding to a question in a conference call about headset issues the Patriots had during last weeks win over the Bengals, Belichick said he cant take it anymore with the tablets, adding there isnt enough consistency in the performance of the devices.He also railed for several minutes about on-going issues with NFL technology, including the communication system between coaches in the press box and those on the field, as well as the coach-to-quarterback play calling system, which Beelichick said fail on a regular basis.ddddddddddddEarlier this season Belichick was caught on camera slamming down a sideline tablet following a Bills touchdown.Belichick said going forward hes going to stick with low tech -- printed images taken of plays during the game to help strategize on the sideline.DERRICK ROSE LAWSUITLOS ANGELES -- Lawyers for Derrick Rose and two friends say the woman accusing them of rape is a liar trying to trick jurors with her tears.The attorneys said in closing arguments in the civil trial that Roses ex-girlfriend faked the allegations to extort money from the NBA star.The defense says the woman was angry Rose dumped her after she willingly engaged in sex with him and his childhood friends in August 2013.Attorney Michael Monico says the woman had no evidence of rape, so she lied that she was too drunk to remember anything and tried to sway jurors with tears instead of evidence.The womans lawyer says the defense was slut shaming her by lying about her behavior that night. Her attorney says she was unconscious and couldnt consent to sex.PRO HOCKEYMONTREAL -- A man who took put a full-page ad in a Montreal newspaper to express his anger over P.K. Subbans trade from the Canadiens to Nashville is making a big donation to the popular defensemans charity.The Montreal Childrens Hospital said that Dr. Charles Kowalski and his wife are donating $250,000 to P.K.s Helping Hand Fund. The couple had originally pledged $50,000 to the foundation.Kowalski, an emergency room physician living in Ottawa, Ontario, and until recently a die-hard Canadiens fan, will make the check presentation Wednesday at the hospitals P.K. Subban Atrium.The Canadiens dealt the flashy Subban to Nashville this offseason for star defenseman Shea Weber.In a full-page ad in Thursdays Montreal Gazette, Kowalski thanked Subban for his time in Montreal and said the trade has shaken his belief in the Canadiens.AUTO RACINGCHARLOTTE, N.C. -- NASCAR will resurrect its series in Mexico behind new title sponsor PEAK, an automotive products company seeking to boost its profile.The rebranded NASCAR PEAK Mexico Series will mark its return with an exhibition race in Mexico City in December. The series plans to run a full championship schedule next year.The announcement in Mexico City was attended by Daniel Suarez, who used the series as a starting point that led to his current ride with Joe Gibbs Racing.Suarez is currently tied for the lead in the Xfinity Series championship. He spent four years racing in NASCAR Mexico and won 10 races before graduating to the national series level. Hes the first Mexican driver to win a national series race and lead a national series in points. ' ' '