lessly.What is supposed to be a gag among 25 guys

RIO DE JANEIRO -- Evan Jager knows steeplechase history about as well as anyone.Like, how difficult the Kenyans are to beat and how the Americans havent captured an Olympic medal since 1984.Hence, Jagers raw emotion at the finish line when he updated that particular piece of history Wednesday.The 27-year-old from Algonquin, Illinois, ran a strong tactical race to earn a silver medal in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, finishing one second behind Kenyan winner Conseslus Kiprutos Olympic record time of 8 minutes, 3.28 seconds. Two-time Olympic champion Ezekiel Kemboi finished third, but was later disqualified for stepping outside the track, giving the bronze to fourth-place finisher Mahiedine Mekhissi of France.I think I had the perfect race today, Jager said. I was just enjoying every second of it.Before Jager, the Americans hadnt won a medal in the event since Brian Diemer earned bronze at the 1984 Los Angeles Games. Its been a historic couple of days for the Americans in the distance events.On Tuesday night, Jenny Simpson became the first U.S. woman to win a medal in the Olympic 1,500 meters. On Monday, Emma Coburn won the first Olympic medal for the Americans in the womens steeplechase, a bronze.Jager certainly appreciates history.I do know how big of an achievement it is, said Jager, the American record-holder in an event that includes jumping over barriers and into water. I dont know if it has hit me yet. The happiness has definitely hit me, but outside of that I havent really thought about anything.Jager, with his distinctive blond hair tied back, was ready for anything in this race, including Kipruto settling in behind him. Kipruto made his move and surged into the lead about the time the bell sounded. He began to celebrate shortly after leaping over the last barrier as he extended his countrys streak to nine straight Olympic titles in the event.No doubt, Jager knew that piece of trivia. And of course this: His silver was the highest an American has placed since Horace Ashenfelter won the race in 1952.Hillary Bor wound up eighth for the Americans by running a personal-best time. Bor is a sergeant in the U.S. Army and one of four runners of Kenyan descent whove taken a unique path to Rio by enlisting in the military, earning American citizenship and training with the Armys World Class Athlete Program. Bors brother is currently serving in Afghanistan.I tried to hang in with them but Im not ready for that kind of pace, Bor said. I feel good with my effort and thinking of how I thought I would never be here but to come here and finish in the top-10. That is such an accomplishment. Its a good experience. Ive never been in this kind of atmosphere.One things for sure: Jagers got the attention of the Kenyans.Last year, when I was running with him in a Paris Diamond League (meet), he was stronger and I told the guys in Kenya, `We must work extra hard to beat this guy, recounted Kemboi, who thinks Jager might be a world or perhaps Olympic champion one day. Hes a threat.Asked if in some way a silver felt like a lot like a gold, given the dearth of history in the steeplechase, Jager simply responded, No.It feels like silver, but Im totally OK with silver, Jager added. I think breaking up the Kenyans in the steeplechase, and just beating Kenyans in championship steeplechases, its a very hard achievement.---AP Sports Writer John Pye contributed. Jay Novacek Youth Jersey . - NASCAR announced a 33-race schedule for the 2014 Nationwide Series with virtually no changes from this years slate. Roger Staubach Jersey . "Jeff is a hard worker who was an important special-teams contributor for us last season," said Stamps GM John Hufnagel. http://www.cowboysrookieproshop.com/Cowboys-Charles-Haley-Jersey/ . Boucher previously coached the Tampa Bay Lightning and had a 97-78-20 record over two-plus seasons. He was dismissed by the team last March after the Lightning struggled in the lockout-shortened season with a 13-18-1 record. Daryl Johnston Jersey . -- Edmontons Val Sweeting is two wins away from a trip to Winnipeg to play in Canadas Road of the Rings in December. Tony Romo Womens Jersey . The Clippers were angry about blowing a big lead; the Kings didnt like being in that kind of hole and nearly digging themselves out only to lose. Ill make this clear before anyone begins to get too upset: Bullying and hazing have no place in organized sports, or in civil society for that matter.On that Im sure we can all -- at least most of us -- agree. The combination has ruined many lives, and wed all be better off without it.That said, Im still finding it hard to imagine who brought this up when negotiators for Major League Baseball and the players union got together at the bargaining table for their new contract .Uh, guys, weve been getting some complaints lately that players have had to dress up like women. Some have even put on lipstick, and badly. Before we get to free agency and the minimum wage, Id like to propose some new contract language that bans players from dressing up as Hooters waitresses or Dallas Cowboy cheerleaders.To be sure, its not such a bad thing. If youve ever seen a grown baseball player in a dress and wig, youd quickly realize most are no RuPaul. Fellow players might find it funny, but locker room humor isnt always that humorous.Still, you have to wonder why baseball players seem to have such a need to be protected from everything these days.They cant slide hard into second base anymore for fear of either hurting themselves or the $20 million-a-year shortstop. No collisions allowed at home plate, either, because someone watched an old film clip of Pete Rose running over Ray Fosse in the 1970 All-Star Game.Dont even think of violating a pitch count, or a new-age manager like Dave Roberts of the Dodgers will head to the mound with a hook even when a pitcher (Rich Hill) is throwing a perfect game.And, of course, soon they wont be able to spit tobacco all over the turf, something thats been around in baseball for well over a century and helped popularize the spitball in the old days.Whats next, a ban on shaving cream pies in the eye after game-winning RBI? They can sting a bit, you know, and who can say there wont be permanent eye damage?Sometimes, these big bruising multimillionaires just look like babies. Actually, they did last year when manager Joe Maddon had his Cubs wear pajamas on the flight home from a tough 1-0 loss to the Dodgers in Los Angeles.That surely will be banned, too, especially after the newspaper headline the next morning in Chicago after pitcher John Lester was seen walking from the clubhouse in a onesie and cowboy boots.ddddddddddddCubs sent home in their pajamas after series spanking by Dodgers, it read.Some of the rationale for the new rule is that what happens in the clubhouse doesnt stay in the clubhouse anymore. Thats largely because of social media, which the players themselves can sometimes use carelessly.What is supposed to be a gag among 25 guys doesnt look so funny when its spread on Instagram or Twitter.Theres lots of pictures of baseball players dressed up as Disney princesses, MLB Vice President Paul Mifsud said.Theres also a picture of Mike Trout dressed as Lady Gaga in a 2011 rookie hazing that still circulates online. Trout seems to be taking it in good spirits, but you have to wonder if he will one day regret he didnt get to be a Disney princess instead.Yes, the line should be drawn at outright bullying and hazing. Richie Incognitos bullying of Jonathan Martin when the two were teammates on the Miami Dolphins highlighted the ugly and very real consequences of such behavior.But Im not sure that grown men getting paid millions of dollars to play sports need protection against everything. And while having rookies don cheerleader outfits or princess costumes may be a bit embarrassing and not politically correct, its probably not going to scar anybody for life.Not everything can be legislated, and not everything can be negotiated. Ballplayers will sometimes just be ballplayers, and thats part of their appeal.They scratch and spit, and do things sometimes that youd rather not see your kids doing. But then you watch them jumping all over each other after winning a World Series and realize that underneath it all theyre a lot like kids, too, only bigger.Oh, wait, no more jumping around. Someone might get hurt.A polite handshake will have to suffice.----Tim Dahlberg is a national sports columnist for The Associated Press. Write to him at tdahlberg(at)ap.org or http://twitter.com/timdahlberg ' ' '