NEU » rding to UFC officials. The UFC 209 pay-per-vie

RIO DE JANEIRO -- Spain got its first victory of the Olympics, and almost nobody saw the beginning of it.The mens basketball silver medalists in the last two Olympics held off Nigeria 96-87 Thursday night in a game that started in a nearly entirely empty arena while police exploded a suspicious backpack.The public address announcer welcomed fans, players were introduced and national anthems were played, a standard pregame scene except for people in the seats.We thought, I guess nobody came to watch the game, Pau Gasol said.They had come, but couldnt get in.Security officials prevented fans from entering while police exploded the backpack left near a public restroom. The explosion reverberated inside and outside of Carioca Arena 1.Gasol was startled by the boom as he was walking onto the floor near the Spain bench.We heard an explosion but we didnt know exactly what it was or how big it was, Gasol said. We thought it was fireworks or, I dont know. The arena was pretty much dead empty at the beginning.Spain had started the Olympics with narrow losses to Croatia and Brazil and needed a victory with unbeatens Lithuania and Argentina still on their schedule in the preliminary stage.But with their fans unable to get in to provide an energy boost, coach Sergio Scariolo was worried his team might start slowly. Instead, -- with the squeaking of the players sneakers echoing in the eerie silence of the empty gym -- Span jumped to an 11-2 lead and was ahead 25-11 after one quarter.I was delighted from our first quarter, Scariolo said, how we started the game, how serious we were at the beginning, how intense we were defensively, how we moved the ball together. I think it was a great first quarter, but its true, I was concerned. I was worried about that.The Spanish players noticed the empty crowd while warming up, but werent aware what caused it. Inspectors had determined the game could start as scheduled and allowed media and volunteers -- who werent informed of the situation -- to remain in the building while the ticket holders were kept outside.Nigeria coach William Voigt had been briefed, but said it wasnt the reason for his teams slow start.I decided not to really say anything to anyone else, he said. I didnt want it to be a distraction, but I knew and certainly when whatever was detonated went off I think it was something everybody noticed.Fans were allowed in later in the first quarter and the Nigerians rallied to take a one-point lead into the fourth. But Gasol finished with 24 points to help Spain pull away.He had a potential tying shot blocked by Croatias Dario Saric to end the opener and then missed two crucial free throws in the closing seconds of the loss to Brazil. Frustration seemed to be setting in during this game, as Gasol picked up a technical foul in the second half for screaming at a referee after not getting a foul call.Now with two games left against the teams ahead of them, the Spanish can still put themselves in good position heading to the quarterfinals. Spain was 1-2 at this point of last summers EuroBasket tournament and rallied to win it, so the team still believes in its chances.Basically we normally went from bottom to top throughout the competitions, Scariolo said. We always did that. Always. Hopefully we will do the same thing here.---Follow Brian Mahoney on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Briancmahoney Scorpio Shoes Wholesale . "It doesnt get any better than that," Giambi said. "Im speechless." The Indians are roaring toward October. Giambi belted a two-run, pinch-hit homer with two outs in the ninth inning to give Cleveland a shocking 5-4 win over the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday night, keeping the Indians up with the lead pack in the AL wild-card race. Ua Hovr Online . PAUL, Minn. http://www.outletunderarmourstore.com/cheap-ua-micro-g-online.html .B. - Sebastien Auger made 44 saves as the Saint John Sea Dogs edged the visiting Acadie-Bathurst Titan 2-1 on Saturday in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action. Curry 4 Shoes For Sale . Goals from Jerome Boateng, Franck Ribery and Thomas Mueller extended Bayerns unbeaten run to a record 37 matches. "This record is incredible," Bayern coach Pep Guardiola said. Threadborne Shoes Outlet . "I was fortunate to play many years at this level with a great organization and unbelievable teammates," said Hejduk in a statement. A marquee heavyweight matchup between former UFC title contenders Mark Hunt and Alistair Overeem will take place at UFC 209 on March 4 in Las Vegas.Both fighters have verbally agreed to the bout, according to UFC officials. The UFC 209 pay-per-view event will take place inside T-Mobile Arena.Hunt (12-10-1) has not fought since a decision loss to Brock Lesnar at UFC 200 on July 9. After that bout, it came to light Lesnar had failed multiple drug tests around the event, including one taken June 28.The positive tests showed the presence of clomiphene, an anti-estrogen. In documents submitted to the NSAC, Lesnar denied knowingly taking any banned substance.Lesnar was still able to compete because the result of the June test was not available to the UFC or Nevada State Athletic Commission until after the fight. He has since been suspended one year and fined $250,000. His win over Hunt was also changed to a no contest.Hunt, 42, was furious when results of Lesnars test became public. In October, he hired an attorney to demand a clause to his future UFC contracts that would call for stiffer penalties on opponents who fail a drug test. Representatives for Hunt were not immediately available to comment onn those demands.ddddddddddddSpeaking on his website, MarkHunt.TV, Hunt confirmed he is willing to accept the Overeem bout, but reiterated his demand for the additional clause to offer him protection in the event of another doping violation.My clause will protect me in this instance and take the financial gain of the opponent caught cheating, Hunt said. That deterrent will protect me and other fighters. Im pushing for this clause. I want to fight, and Im ready. If the fight doesnt go ahead, its not my doing.According to sources, Overeem has not agreed to any additional clause in the contract as of Tuesday night. The UFC has not yet commented on Hunts contractual demands.Overeem (41-15) is coming off a first-round knockout loss to Stipe Miocic in a heavyweight title fight at UFC 203 in September. Before the loss, Overeem had won four consecutive bouts.Hunt and Overeems fight at UFC 209 will be a rematch of a contest that took place in Japanese promotion DREAM in 2008. Overeem won via submission in just 71 seconds.The UFC has not yet announced a main event for UFC 209. ' ' '