Former South Carolina tennis student-athlete Ricardo Acioly has played and coached in the Olympics. Recently, he helped carry on the great tradition of running with the Olympic torch in his home country, and now the Brazilian native is excited to share the Olympic experience in a new capacity, as a spectator and a father.In every Olympics, the torch tours around the host country before it gets lit up in the stadium at the opening ceremonies, Acioly said. A few people get a chance to carry the torch, and since I have a history in the Olympics as a player and a coach, and because of what Ive done in my tennis career and what Im doing now with my coaching career and my involvement in sports, I was honored to get a go at this. So I was pretty happy, and pretty honored. Its not something that happens every day.When you are carrying the Olympic torch, you are the only person in the world doing that. I thought that was quite cool to be able to do that and knowing what it means.Acioly played doubles for Brazil in the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, Korea, and was later a coach for Brazil at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia.One of my best memories (as an athlete) is of the opening ceremony, Acioly recalled. It was really, really neat to be there with everyone. At that time, we didnt have all the communications like we have now with email and mobile phones. Being in front of the whole world at that time was unreal. The atmosphere was something I had never felt before. Walking in with the other athletes and representing my country was very special. That experience is something I will cherish my whole life.The experience in Sydney was also amazing. It was a little different because I was outside of the court. In Sydney, the team stayed in houses as part of the Olympic Village. Our house was quite successful because we got three medals from the athletes that stayed in the house. We had two judo guys winning a couple of silver medals. The womens basketball team won the bronze medal, and their coaching staff was together in the same house. We were bragging a lot about our house.Acioly enjoyed participating from both perspectives. He also enjoyed watching a lot of other events during his Olympic experiences.I watched track and field, Acioly said. When the whole Ben Johnson story happened, I was there. I saw volleyball and basketball. You try to see the sports that you like a lot, or you end up meeting the other athletes and you get a feel for what they do, so you want to watch.After a standout playing career for the Gamecocks from 1983-1985, Acioly is a well-recognized figure in the tennis community in his home country. He founded the R3A Sports Management company, continues to coach young players at a couple of tennis schools near his home in Rio de Janeiro, and he is the director of the ATP 500 event, which is the largest tennis tournament of its kind in South America. Among the many young players he has coached includes current Gamecock womens tennis sophomore student-athlete Ingrid Gamarra Martins, who earned SEC All-Freshman Team honors last year.Its great to be so involved in tennis, Acioly said. There were quite a few schools interested in Ingrid since she was 12 to 15 years old. I saw her grow up. She is doing quite well. I came back to visit South Carolina a few years ago. I had a chance to meet (womens tennis head coach) Kevin Epley at that time, and I already knew (mens tennis coach) Josh Goffi. The way they are running their programs is a lot like what we do and where our players want to go. Theyre very professional. Thats why I thought it was a good fit for Ingrid.Acioly and teammate Richard Ashby led the Gamecocks with 22 doubles wins in 1984, and although an injury curtailed some of his playing career, he has many good memories of his time as a Gamecock.I had some misfortune while I was there because I tore a ligament in my knee, Acioly said. But I enjoyed being able to represent Carolina all over the U.S. I embraced the college scene. The whole atmosphere of being a student-athlete and being involved with other athletes from other sports was also pretty cool.Acioly noted that his time at South Carolina helped him prepare for his life after college.It helped me grow as a sportsman and as a person, Acioly said. That was key for my development on the court and off the court.Now that the Olympics have come to his home country, Acioly is proud to be able to witness the games with his nine-year-old son and 11-year-old daughter.I have tickets to go somewhere every day, Acioly laughed. Obviously I will go see the tennis. Im going to see basketball. Im going to see volleyball and beach volleyball. Brazil has a good chance to get some medals there. I want to see some of the radical BMX biking. I want my kids to see some neat stuff like that. Gymnastics, too. Obviously well see track and field as well. I want them to catch some spirit. The Olympic spirit is so great.It is something I will never forget for my whole life. Its the first time that the Olympics have come to South America. Normally, all of the athletes from Brazil have to travel abroad to compete in the big arenas. Now the big arenas are here. That is something that probably wont happen again for a long time. Houston Astros Store . A knee to the thigh might have stung him the most, but his sixth straight double-double made up for the brief burst of pain. Carlos Correa Jersey . "It doesnt get any better than that," Giambi said. "Im speechless." The Indians are roaring toward October. 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TORONTO -- In back-to-back postseasons, Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion hit the two biggest home runs Blue Jays fans had seen in a generation.But after making baseball history in Toronto, both might be about to become history in Toronto.One year after a six-game AL Championship Series loss to eventual champion Kansas City, the Blue Jays fell to World Series-bound Cleveland in five-games Wednesday. Now a winter of change is expected. Bautista and Encarnacion highlight a list of nine Toronto free agents, including six on this years playoff roster.Largely unheralded when each arrived by trade -- Bautista from Pittsburgh in 2008 and Encarnacion from Cincinnati in 2009 -- the Dominican sluggers developed into All-Stars. The team evolved, too, from an also-ran playing before sparse crowds to a contender that led the American League in attendance this season, reinvigorating a national audience across Canada.After Toronto ended a 22-year playoff drought with an AL East title last year, Bautista blasted the Blue Jays into the ALCS with a three-run homer to win Game 5 against Texas, punctuating his shot with a memorable bat flip.This year it was Encarnacions turn, with a three-run drive in the 11th inning to beat Baltimore in the wild card game.The two homers are Torontos most indelible moments since Joe Carters World Series walk-off gave the Blue Jays a second straight title in 1993.They really helped put this team back on the map again, what theyve accomplished, manager John Gibbons said. Both of them made their name here in Toronto. But baseball is still a business. Its a game we play, but its still a big business and guys earn the right to try free agency.In a September radio interview, Blue Jays President Mark Shapiro said probably the most likely scenario was that Torontos free agents would be allowed to hit the open market. Outfielder Michael Saunders, right-hander R.A. Dickey, left-hander Brett Cecil and right-hander Joaquin Benoit are among the remainder of that group.A sold-out crowd of 48,000 roared as Bautista and Encarnacion batted in the ninnth inning Wednesday.ddddddddddddAfterward, Encarnacion acknowledged mixed emotions about his future.Im really sad because I dont know whats going to happen next, Encarnacion said through an interpreterr. But overall I feel really proud for the fans and what this organization has done for me.Bautista (265) and Encarnacion (239) rank second and third behind Carlos Delgado (336) on the Blue Jays career home run list.Encarnacion signed a three-year, $29 million deal in in 2013 and is coming off a team option at $10 million. After matching a career-best with 42 homers and career-high 127 RBI, he could command a nine-figure contract.Encarnacion stopped to sign autographs and pose for pictures with fans still chanting his name as he left the stadium more than two hours after Game 5. Citing an affection for the city, he called Toronto his first choice in free agency.Bautista signed a $65 million, five-year deal in 2011 and the team picked up a $14 million option this season. The six-time All-Star arrived at spring training openly demanding a big raise, but may not earn what he once hoped. Limited to 116 games by injuries, he finished with 22 homers, his lowest total since 2009, and 69 RBI.In a somber clubhouse Wednesday, Bautista said he wasnt in the proper state of mind to consider whether he and longtime friend Encarnacion had played in Toronto together for the final time.I know its a possibility but well see what happens, Bautista said.Even if their free agents find new homes, the Blue Jays still have several key players under contract next season, including 2015 AL MVP Josh Donaldson, shortstop Troy Tulowitzki and catcher Russell Martin. Toronto also controls closer Roberto Osuna, AL ERA leader Aaron Sanchez and four other starters from the rotation that posted a league-low 3.64 ERA.Shapiro has said Gibbons will return for in 2017, the final year of his contract. The rest of Torontos coaching staff is also expected to stay. ' ' '
