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Sand, sun and samba.Even on a royal parade ground in the middle of staid London, the Olympic beach volleyball competition four years ago pulsated to the music of a DJ while dance teams jiggled during the breaks. When the Summer Games sexiest sport opens in Rio de Janeiro, the biggest competition for the party atmosphere inside the venue could come from the surrounding Copacabana Beach.Although the sport was invented in Southern California, its spiritual home could be the stretch of sand in Brazil where a temporary 12,000-seat stadium will welcome the worlds top players. Among the favorites are the hometown teams, including two Brazilian womens tandems that will try to stop American Kerri Walsh-Jennings in her attempt at a fourth straight gold medal.Here are some things to look for from the Olympic beach volleyball venue on Copacabana Beach, where music and passion are always the fashion:HER NAME IS KERRIA three-time defending Olympic champion, Walsh Jennings will turn 38 during the Rio Games. Her path to a fifth Olympics -- she also went to Sydney with the American indoor volleyball team -- has been more of a struggle than years past because of a separated right shoulder that twice interrupted the path to qualification.Walsh Jennings says shes healthy now, and since returning from shoulder surgery she and partner April Ross have steadily moved up the rankings on the international tour. They will arrive in Rio as a No. 3 seed, behind the two Brazilian teams.AND WHILE SHE TRIED TO BE A STARWhen longtime partner Misty May-Treanor retired after the London Games, Walsh Jennings looked across the net to grab Ross off the team they beat in the gold medal match.Ross, 34, brings a little more youth to the partnership, but she still has Olympic experience. She was three-times voted the FIVB tours best server, and she has also earned top honors for her hitting and her offense.But there was also a problem in the new pairing: Both Ross and Walsh Jennings were accustomed to playing on the left side. Walsh Jennings volunteered to make the switch.AT THE COPABrazil is the most decorated nation in Olympic volleyball history, winning 11 of the 30 total medals since the sport was added to the Summer Games program in 1996. (The United States has nine.)But the Brazilians have only claimed two golds -- one each in mens and womens -- despite dominating the international tours that determine Olympic qualification. (The U.S. has six of a possible 10.)This year, the defending womens world champions Agatha and Barbara were second in the rankings only to the pairing of 2012 bronze medalist Larissa and 2008 fourth-place finisher Talita. On the mens side, Alison and Bruno bring a No. 1 seed and a world championship to their hometown, while fourth-ranked Pedro and Evandro could use the home-town advantage to step onto the medal podium.THEY WERE YOUNG AND THEY HAD EACH OTHERWalsh Jennings and Ross arent the only Americans with new partners.Two-time Olympian Jake Gibb is back, this time with newcomer Casey Patterson. And Phil Dalhausser, who won gold in Beijing and finished ninth in London with Todd Rogers, is paired up with Olympic rookie Nick Lucena.The only tandem of first-timers is the second U.S. womens team, with Brooke Sweat and Lauren Fendrick making their Olympic debut.THEY USED TO HAVE A SHOWDefending mens champions Julius Brink and Jonas Reckermann of Germany wont be back.Reckermann retired five months after the London Games due to back and shoulder injuries. Brink teamed up briefly with former training partner Sebastian Fuchs before calling it quits.Also sitting this one out: Five-time Olympian and three-time medalist (one of each) Emanuel, who won silver in London with Alison.It will be the first time there will be an Olympic beach volleyball tournament without him.---Follow Jimmy Golen on Twitter at: http://www.twitter.com/jgolen . Air Max Tn Dam . The Australian is competing in his final season in Formula One and still looking for his first win this year. He will look to end Vettels run of six straight race wins on Sunday. Webber, who is fifth in the championship, earned his second pole from the past three races and 13th of his career. Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 36 Dam . Its sharpness matched my mind. This was no night to go to sleep. http://www.airvapormaxsverige.com/ .4 million title. Ryan Riess emerged with the title after a session in which he started behind, but used expert skill to gather the chips to his side amid the unpredictability of no-limit Texas Hold em. Riess put his final opponent Jay Farber all-in with an Ace-King. Nike Air Vapormax Sverige . Only three players drafted by NHL clubs were included on the Czech selection camp roster on Wednesday. Those players were Dallas Stars 2012 first-rounder Radek Faksa, Winnipeg Jets 2013 fourth-rounder Jan Kostalek and Phoenix Coyotes 2012 seventh-rounder Marek Langhamer. Nike Zoom Sverige . -- The Missouri Tigers might not have a roster full of superstars. ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Jim Harbaugh reflected a bit on his own playing days when assessing the quarterback matchup for this weekends Michigan-Wisconsin showdown.I think back when I was the same age as they were, the same kind of experience playing your first couple ballgames, Harbaugh said. Both of those guys are doing better in my mind than I did and some other guys did when we were young.Michigans Wilton Speight is a junior but in his first season as a starter. Wisconsins Alex Hornibrook is a redshirt freshman and started his first game just last weekend. Each has shown poise so far for his undefeated team, helping turn Saturdays clash between the fourth-ranked Wolverines and eighth-ranked Badgers into one of the most anticipated games of the week.Michigan (4-0, 1-0 Big Ten) has lived up to expectations so far in Harbaughs second season at the helm. The Wolverines have outscored opponents by 38 points a game, with Speight throwing for nine touchdowns and only one interception.It looked initially like Michigan might not even be challenged until its late-October game at Michigan State, but Wisconsin (4-0, 1-0) has now emerged as a definite threat in the Big Ten. The Badgers won 30-6 at Michigan State last weekend, and they beat LSU earlier in the season.Wisconsin intercepted Tyler OConnor three times in the win over Michigan State, and Hornibrook was solid, throwing for 195 yards and a touchdown. The Badgers were 7 of 16 on third down and converted both of their fourth-down attempts, repeatedly keeping drives alive against the Spartans.Thats definitely not what you want to rest on. Coach made us sure of that, Hornibrook said. Weve got to do better on the other downs so that we have a better situation on third (down). Obviously youll be in those situations and youve got to take advantage of them.Michigan opponennts are only 6 of 50 on third down this season.ddddddddddddThis is the first time Michigan and Wisconsin will face each other with both teams in the top 10. Here are a few things to watch:STRONG UP FRONT: Wisconsin is allowing only 11.8 points per game, and Michigan State had a lot of trouble blocking the Badgers. Forcing Speight out of his comfort zone could be crucial if Wisconsin is going to upset the Wolverines.ALL-PURPOSE: LB Jabrill Peppers is a fan favorite at Michigan for obvious reasons. Hes a threat to do something spectacular whenever the ball is in his hands. In a game that pits two impressive defenses, Peppers could be the difference if he can produce a big play on special teams.ENDICOTTS CHANCE: Wisconsin K Rafael Gaglianone missed last weekends game because of a back problem. Andrew Endicott missed an extra point but made his first career field goal, from 41 yards.I didnt realize those were the first points that hed scored. They can never take them away from him. Thats pretty cool, coach Paul Chryst said earlier this week. What I really liked was he worked and was really good all week. He did all the things to give himself a chance. He didnt want to miss the extra point but came back, and that you love.Gaglianone ended up needing surgery and will miss the rest of the season.TESTED: Theres little doubt which team has faced the tougher schedule so far. Thats Wisconsin, and it doesnt get easier for a while. After this game, the Badgers will have a week off before hosting Ohio State.HANDLING WITH CARE: Speight threw an interception on his first pass of the season, but Michigan has turned the ball over only once since.---Follow Noah Trister at www.Twitter.com/noahtrister ' ' '