APPLICATION » Popovich the job, which he soon accepted as long as Cola

LAS VEGAS -- Mike Krzyzewski is working with his team when suddenly Gregg Popovich enters the gym with his own guys looking to play ball.Krzyzewski vs. Popovich. Five-time NCAA champion vs. five-time NBA champion. Its a mega matchup that would look good on one of the giant marquees that light up Las Vegas.Except this is just practice for the 2016 Olympics.And for 2020.While Krzyzewski readies the Americans for Rio, Popovich is getting an early start on his own Olympic preparations. The San Antonio Spurs coach is overseeing the Select Team of young players training against the U.S. this week, and some of those players might be in the mix when Popovich coaches the Americans in Tokyo.Hes seen what were doing and its called succession, Krzyzewski said. The fact that were both military guys, we understand that I have the unit right now, hes going to take command of the unit, and we both want the unit to do well.During practices this week, Popovich works with the young players in one part of UNLVs basketball complex while Krzyzewski and his staff put the national team through drills in another. Eventually, the Select Team heads into the main gym for scrimmaging.But Popovich isnt just here to help the young guys. Hes basically a behind-the-scenes assistant for Krzyzewski.Pop is in all the meetings, hes participating and this is giving him a feel for how we do things, and so its a seamless transition, USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo said.Thats what Colangelo had in mind when he announced Popovichs hiring in October. That allowed Popovich to become a part of the program before he inherits it.I get to spend time with Coach K and Mr. Colangelo and pick their brains, see how they operate, see what works, Popovich said. If I learn from them it makes it a lot easier and smoother for me when I end up doing this, so watching them operate is a huge advantage for me in that sense.Krzyzewski is ending his run after Rio, one that started when Colangelo chose the Duke coach over Popovich when he started the national team program in 2005. There was some anger after, as Popovich -- an Air Force Academy graduate -- felt Colangelo mischaracterized his interest in his national teams job when explaining the choice to the media.They met last summer in Carmel, California, to clear the air about the past and start laying out the future. Colangelo offered Popovich the job, which he soon accepted as long as Colangelo agreed to stay on for four more years.But before Popovich gets to coach the All-Stars, hes got the future stars.The Select Team is made up of young NBA players and serves as a way to get into the USA Basketball pipeline. Thats how 10 of the 12 members of this Olympic team got their start, with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving in particular using their stints as springboards to stardom.There are 25 players on this years roster, some a few years into the NBA and others just a few months out of college, such as No. 2 pick Brandon Ingram. Being invited this week means they have talent, and a few days under Popovich can only make them better.Honestly, Coach Pop, hes saying a lot of things Ive heard from my coaches before, but when you hear it from Coach Pop it sticks in that much more, Phoenix Suns All-Rookie selection Devin Booker said.But Popovich is doing more than working with the younger guys. Hes making his mark on this years team, which has some players who have never suited up for Krzyzewski, by providing his knowledge about them.Popovich will lead the Americans in the 2019 Basketball World Cup and then the Tokyo Games. He was an assistant to Larry Brown at the 2004 Olympics, when a hastily assembled U.S. team lost three times in a third-place finish, so hes seen what happened to unprepared teams before Colangelo and Krzyzewski overhauled the program.Now hes got four years to get ready.Theyve changed this whole thing since 2004, when it was a debacle, Popovich said. Now its this, and Id be ignorant if I didnt try to figure out everything that theyve done to make it like this.---Follow Brian Mahoney on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Briancmahoney Cheap Custom Raiders Jersey . -- The Bishops Gaiters are showing they belong among the countrys top varsity football teams. Custom Clelin Ferrell Jersey . -- Team after team passed on Andre Ellington in the draft. http://www.customraidersjersey.com/ .J. Ellis hit two-run homers and the NL West champion Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the San Diego Padres 4-0 Saturday night. Authentic Custom Raiders Jersey . With the short-handed Warriors needing help from someone -- anyone -- to stop a three-game skid, ONeal returned from right knee and groin injuries that had sidelined him for four games and put up season highs with 18 points and eight rebounds. It was just enough to help lift Golden State to a 102-101 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday night. Raiders Jerseys China . The Dutchmans tenure got off to a poor start when referee Guido Winkmann awarded a penalty within two minutes for Niklas Starks clumsy challenge on Alexandru Maxim. KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Royals starter Yordano Ventura returned from an eight-game suspension for his role in a benches-clearing fight, only to get slapped around by the St. Louis offense on Tuesday night.It wasnt even the worst thing to happen to Kansas City, either.That was the moment All-Star outfielder Lorenzo Cain reached for his hamstring while trying to beat out a single in the seventh inning of an 8-4 loss. Cain immediately left the game and declined to speak to reporters in the clubhouse, though he appeared to be walking without much of a limp.I wish I had an answer for you but it doesnt happen that quick, Royals manager Ned Yost said. Well have an MRI soon as they can get him in. Well determine how much fluid is on it and what the extent is.As for Ventura -- well, Yost didnt have much of an answer for that performance, either.I thought he was OK. I was really pleased he stayed with himself, Yost said. He was inconsistent at times with his arm slot, but a lot of good signs out there for me.Just about everybody in the Cardinals lineup contributed to their offense, while Michael Wacha (4-7) allowed four runs over six bumpy innings -- he served up nine hits and three walks.We could have helped him with a couple plays we need to make, Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said.His bullpen nearly gave away the win, too: Seung Hwan Oh loaded the bases with one out in the ninth before getting pinch-hitter Alex Gordon to pop out and inducing Eric Hosmer into a routine fielders choice.I dont want to put the team in that situation, Oh said through a translator.The cross-state series shifts to St. Louis for two more games beginning Wednesday night.Ventura actually breezed through the first inning on just 12 pitches, but trouble came promptly in the second. He gave up three hits, walked two and Yadier Molina, Kolten Wong and Greg Garcia drove in runs.He appeared to settle down over the next couple innings before more trouble hit in the fifth.Matt Carpenter started it with a homer to center, the 48th allowed by a Kannsas City pitcher this month -- the club record is 51 in May 2006.dddddddddddd Matt Adams added a sacrifice fly later in the inning to make it 5-2.Venturas night was done in the sixth, when another hit and walk brought Yost ambling from the dugout. He was charged with seven runs on seven hits, three walks and a hit batter in 5 1/3 innings.Theres no excuse to the outing, but I felt a little weird at times just because of the layoff, he said. Its not an excuse. Ill continue to work hard in-between starts and get back after it.Carpenter provided an RBI double and Brandon Moss and Matt Holliday made it 8-2 later in the sixth inning before reliever Brian Flynn finally got Kansas City out of the jam.The Royals tacked on two runs in the bottom half before its comeback collapsed in the ninth.We had some opportunities. We capitalized in the second inning, Yost said. We had a couple of more opportunities. We made it exciting in the ninth inning, but couldnt make anything happen.YOURE OUTTA HEREPlate umpire Tim Timmons tossed Royals RHP Edinson Volquez from the bench during the third inning, though it was unclear what prompted the ejection. It was the second time Volquez has been ejected in his career.ROSTER MOVESThe Cardinals activated C Brayan Pena (left knee surgery) from the DL and designated C Eric Fryer for assignment. Pena signed a $5 million, two-year deal to backup Yadier Molina but has not played this season.TRAINERS ROOMCardinals SS Aledyms Diaz had no structural damage after fouling a ball off the ground Monday night that ricocheted back off his forehead. He experienced blurry vision in his right eye and visited the hospital after the game, but Matheny said Tuesday that Diaz should be back in a few days.UP NEXTRHP Carlos Martinez takes the mound for the Cardinals while Kansas City counters with Volquez on the mound at Busch Stadium. Martinez is 3-0 in his last five starts. ' ' '