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MATTDUNHAM—THEASSOCIATEDPRESS Jamaica's Usain Bolt celebrates winning the gold medal in the men's 4x 100-meter relay final, during the athletics competitions of the 2016Summer Olympics at the Olympic stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday. ByEddiePells APNationalWriter RIO DE JANEIRO Usain Bolt kneeled down and gave the track one final kiss, then flattened his hand, reached down and slapped the white number "3" painted at the starting line. Three Olympics, three races at each, three gold medals every time. He could have just as easily slapped the number "1." That would need no explanation. The man who transcended track and became a world-class celebrity bid a blazing-fast farewell to the Rio de Janeiro Games — and likely the Olympics altogether — Friday night with yet another anchor leg for the ages. He turned a close 4x100 relay race against Japan and the United States into a typical, Bolt-like run- away, helping Jamaica cross the line in 37.27. "There you go," he said. "I am the greatest." Japan won the silver medal, finish- ing .33 seconds behind. The U.S. finished the race third but endured yet another relay debacle — disqualified because leadoff run- ner Mike Rodgers was ruled to have passed the baton to Justin Gatlin outside the exchange zone. That pro- moted Canada to the bronze medal. The American were protesting the ruling, and as midnight approached in Brazil, there was no word on the outcome. "It was the twilight zone. It was a nightmare," said Gatlin, who, along with his teammates, found out about the DQ while parading the U.S. flag around the track. "You work so hard with your teammates, guys you com- pete against almost all year long. All that hard work just crumbles." If the ruling stands, it will mark the ninth time since 1995 the U.S. men have been disqualified or failed to get the baton around at Olympics or world championships. (They blew a 10th medal, the silver at the Lon- don Games, after Tyson Gay's doping positive.) The disqualification will cause OLYMPICS BoltscoresgoldNo.9 Local Junior Giants coaches and parents are scheduled to be honored Sunday by Giants hall of famer Willie McCovey for their in- credible dedication and contribu- tions to their teams throughout the 2016 season. Those honored include Jason Foster of Cottonwood, Kristine Raimer of Los Molinos, Catrina Friend of Rancho Tehama and Tori Mays of Red Bluff. The event will include McCovey presenting the awards and on- camera interviews with Giants Community Fund staff. The home plate ceremony is scheduled to start at 4:45 p.m. at AT&T Park. The Giants are scheduled to host the New York Mets with first pitch at 5:08 p.m. JUNIOR GIANTS Localcoaches to be honored by Willie McCovey By Dave Campbell AP Pro Football Writer Here's a glance at Saturday's NFL preseason games. All times Eastern: GoingYoung — Carolina at Tennessee, 3 p.m. Carolina rookie cornerbacks James Bradberry and Daryl Wor- ley will get another meaningful audition at Tennessee. The de- fending NFC champion Panthers have a pair of vacancies, after All- Pro Josh Norman left and Charles Tillman retired. Bene Benwikere, the nickel back last year, is still in the mix, but coach Ron Rivera is strongly considering starting both Bradberry and Worley. Fittingly, the wide receivers on the other side are in flux after the Titans traded disappointing 2015 second-round draft pick Do- rial Green-Beckham this week to Philadelphia. The deal further ce- mented the status of rookie Tajae Sharpe and widened an opening for Justin Hunter. Veterans Harry Douglas and Andre Johnson are also trying to secure spots. Titans running backs DeMarco Murray and Derrick Henry will have a chance to build on the mo- mentum established against San Diego last week. Bad-luck bills — New York Giants at Buffalo, 4 p.m. Buffalo will play its first game at the newly renamed New Era Field, after the Buffalo-based ap- parel company bought naming rights for the former Ralph Wil- son Stadium. The Bills sure could use a break from a spate of bad news that has persisted through- out their offseason. Just this week, linebacker IK Enemkpali was lost to a season- ending knee injury and starting defensive tackle Marcell Dareus received a substance-abuse pol- icy suspension for the first four KICKING OFF Osweiler's home debut plus Foles plays ex-mates By Chip Thompson editor@redbluffdailynews.com @editorchip on Twitter REDBLUFF After putting up 69 points in a season-opening win over Central Valley in 2015 the Red Bluff Spartans didn't have much to celebrate, going 1-9 in a frustrating year. But that hasn't discouraged players from coming out and a roster swollen with 46 names has the coaching staff optimis- tic the team can bounce back. Add to that depth the return of the league's No. 2 passer, Wes Clawson, who threw for 2,511 yards and 23 touchdowns and ran for 529 yards and 10 touch- downs as a junior, and the ad- dition of defensive coordinator Orlyn Culp, who brings 22 years of coaching experience at Yreka, and there's every reason to be optimistic. Head coach Corey Hein said the coaching staff examined the team's deficiencies in the off season and will concentrate on strengthening the offensive line and reworking the defense, where Culp is expected to make a difference. Culp said he's instituting a 4-4 defensive scheme that's a completely new system for the team. The focus will be running to the football. As for facing his former team, which will happen in Week 6 on Sept. 30 in Red Bluff, Culp was matter-of-fact, saying he enjoyed many good years with Yreka and has good friends in the community there. "They'll be an opponent," Culp said. Assistant coach Laird Rich- ards said the team has more depth at the line than he's seen since 2012, and is benefiting from the help of 2009 gradu- ate Wade Kittle, who played for Southern Oregon Univer- sity and is now a member of the coaching staff. Standouts include junior wide receiver Conner McKen- zie, who pulled in 32 receptions for 655 yards and 9 touchdowns in 2015; receiver Cameron Ortega, who had 38 catches for 583 yards and 2 touchdowns and junior receiver Tanner Tweedt, who had 846 receiving yards from 41 receptions and 11 touchdowns on the JV squad. Senior Kaden Pearce and sophomore Tanner Gantenbein will team up in the backfield for the Spartans. Pearce carried 27 times in 2015 for 173 yards and Gantenbein ran 104 yards on 25 carries with a touchdown. Junior Marshall Brose will back up Clawson at quarterback and play wide receiver. He had 1,724 passing yards and 18 pass- ing touchdowns and ran for 623 yards and 14 touchdowns with the JV team. On the lines, Keagan Rich- FOOTBALL SPARTANS LOOK TO DEPTH FOR REBOUND PHOTOS BY CHIP THOMPSON — DAILY NEWS Red Bluff Spartans players run plays Thursday a ernoon. NFL PAGE 2 By Beth Harris The Associated Press RIO DE JANEIRO U.S. Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte apolo- gized Friday for his behavior surrounding an incident at a Rio de Janeiro gas station, say- ing he should have been more "careful and candid" about how he described what happened af- ter a night of partying with his teammates. But he didn't explain why he embellished details of an en- counter with armed security guards and called it a robbery, and why he omitted to say that he and three teammates had vandalized a gas station rest- room. "Regardless of the behavior of anyone else that night, I should have been much more responsi- ble in how I handled myself and for that am sorry," Lochte said in a lengthy post on his Insta- gram account. "This was a situ- ation that could and should have been avoided. I accept responsi- bility for my role in this happen- ing and have learned some valu- able lessons." Whatever they were, for now, he's keeping them to himself. The situation raises questions about the future for Lochte, who is planning to take time off from swimming but wants to return to compete in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Usually known for his party boy image and love of the limelight, he now is facing a line of nervous sponsors, the possi- bility of legal charges in Brazil and sanctions from USA Swim- ming and the International Olympic Committee. The robbery flap deeply hurt Brazilians, who were eager to prove they could get street crime under control and host a safe Olympics. And it overshad- owed the efforts of U.S. Olym- pians, who have dominated the medal count. Swimmers alone piled up 16 golds and 33 medals total at the games. Known for his outsized per- sonality and regular 'bro' be- havior, Lochte has always been about having fun. This is the guy who gleefully admitted SWIMMER A er apology, questions about future loom for Lochte SPARTANS PAGE 2 LOCHTE PAGE 2 BOLT PAGE 2 SPORTS » redbluffdailynews.com Saturday, August 20, 2016 MORE AT FACEBOOK.COM/RBDAILYNEWS AND TWITTER.COM/REDBLUFFNEWS B1