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 runaway, helping Jamaica cross the line in 37.27.There you go, he said. I am the greatest.Japan won the silver medal, finishing .33 seconds behind.The U.S. finished the race third but endured yet another relay debacle -- disqualified because leadoff runner Mike Rodgers was ruled to have passed the baton to Justin Gatlin outside the exchange zone. That promoted 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 compete 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 London Games, after Tyson Gays doping positive.)The disqualification will cause more hand-wringing in the States.In Jamaica, theyll party.Less pressure when you know youre the fastest man out there.Bolts record in Olympic finals improved to nine victories over nine events.Nobodys done that before, and nobodys on the horizon to do it again soon.Along for his final trip down the track were Nickel Ashmeade, training partner Yohan Blake and the Jamaican elder statesman, former world-record holder Asafa Powell.When Bolt received the yellow baton from Ashmeade for his final run down the straightaway, he was even, or maybe a step behind Aska Cambridge of Japan and Trayvon Bromell of the United States.That lasted about four steps.With 70 meters to go, it was over. Bolt looked at the clock -- same as he did when he won the 200 the night before. No world record, but he still has a piece of that one, too -- its 36.84 seconds, set four years ago at the London Games. He also owns the records in the 100 (9.58) and 200 (19.19).I am just relieved. Its happened. I am just happy, proud of myself. Its come true, Bolt said. The pressure is real. I look at it as an accomplishment.Musical selection for Bolts final parade around the track: Bob Marleys Jammin.With most of the other debates over about greatest this, greatest that, a new one might be whether Bolt now surpasses Marley as the most famous person to rock the world from the country known for sea, sun and sprints.Counting all the preliminaries, finals and his approximately nine-second blast down the stretch in Fridays final race, Bolt has spent 325 seconds -- a tad less than 5 1/2 minutes -- running on the track at the Olympics since he made his debut in Beijing eight years ago.Every tick of the clock has been a treasure. And while he may not close things out with 23 golds, the number Michael Phelps left Rio with earlier this week, its hard to argue there is anybody more successful or electric -- or important to his sport, and the Olympics themselves.The anchor sport of the Olympics has been mired for decades, but especially over the past year, in a cesspool of doping, cheating and bad characters.When Bolts on the track, everyone forgets.A great sprinter, said Gay who, once upon a time, was Bolts biggest challenger. Nine gold medals, words cant even describe what hes done for the sport.So much of that is because the show isnt over when hes through running.After crossing the line for his finale, Bolt pumped his fist in the air, slowed down and took off those famous gold spikes. He huddled with his teammates and they prayed. Then, a final, luxurious lap around the track.Ill stay up late tonight, Bolt said when asked how hed celebrate.All week, when asked a hundred different ways if this really is his last Olympics, he kept saying yes.He has also mentioned, more than once, that coach Glen Mills keeps telling him not to rule anything out.Tokyo is four years away, and now the world must ponder: Without Bolt on the track, how will things ever be the same? Bouchon Hydro Flask France . Despite dominating possession, Schalke needed an own goal from Nicolas Hoefler for the breakthrough a minute before the interval. The Freiburg midfielder misjudged Jefferson Farfans corner and bundled the ball into his own net. Bouchon Hydro Flask . R.J. Umberger scored twice to lead the Blue Jackets to a franchise-record for consecutive wins with a 5-3 victory Tuesday night over the Los Angeles Kings. http://www.hydroflaskbouteille.fr/ . The International Olympic Committee released the official list of bid cities on Friday after the deadline for applications had passed. The candidates -- all previously announced in their own countries -- are: Almaty, Kazakhstan; Beijing; Krakow, Poland; Lviv, Ukraine; Oslo, Norway; and Stockholm. Bouteille dEau Hydro Flask . The Croatian served 21 aces and hit 42 winners against Sijsling, who double-faulted to give Cilic a 4-3 lead in the deciding set. "All the players, they know me and they were really happy to see me and they were really happy that this is over for me," Cilic said. Bouteille Hydro Flask Pas Cher . -- Stanford squashed Oregons national championship hopes again, schooling the Ducks in power football. SAN DIEGO -- The San Diego Padres have activated outfielder Jon Jay from the 60-day disabled list.Jay had been since June 20 with a right forearm fracture. He recently played three games with Single-A Lake Elsinore, going 3 for 10 and stealing two bases.Before gettingg hurt, Jay was hitting .dddddddddddd.296 with two home runs and 23 RBI.San Diego announced the move before Tuesdays game against Boston. ' ' '
