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RIO DE JANEIRO -- Michael Phelps has a lot of memorable moments at the Olympics.This one ranks right up there.Adding another honor to his remarkable career, Phelps was chosen to carry the U.S. flag in Friday nights opening ceremony at Maracana Stadium.The pick seemed obvious -- Phelps, after all, is the most decorated athlete in Olympic history and will be competing in his fifth Summer Games -- but he was clearly overwhelmed Wednesday after being selected in a vote of American athletes representing each sport.To lead our country into this Olympics is something, honestly, that I never thought Id have the opportunity to do, Phelps said.In fact, this will be the first time hes participated in the opening ceremony, which can be a grueling experience requiring athletes to spend hours on their feet.As a 15-year-old, his handlers thought it best that he not take part even though he qualified in only one event at the 2000 Sydney Games. At the last three Olympics, Phelps skipped the ceremony to rest up for his first event, the 400-meter individual medley, which was held the next day.With the 400 IM no longer part of his program, he was available to lead the American team into one of the worlds most iconic stadiums.Phelps got word of his selection Tuesday night.I think I had the biggest smile on my face that you could possibly find, he said. A little bit of emotion came over me. I probably shed a little bit of tears, just of joy.Phelps will be only the second swimmer to lead the U.S. delegation in the opening ceremony. Gary Hall carried the flag at the 1976 Montreal Olympics.Phelps has captured 18 golds and 22 medals overall, far more than any other Olympic athlete, and hell be the first U.S. male swimmer to compete in five Summer Games.While Phelps did have some concerns about the physical toll of marching in the opening ceremony rather than spending a relaxing night in front of the television, he couldnt pass up the chance to carry the flag.Its a no-brainer, he said. I have to do it. I want to do it.Phelps will certainly be hard to miss at the Maracana. Ralph Lauren has come up with an ensemble for the U.S. team that provides the flag bearer with an extra touch of flash -- a jacket in which the letters USA light up across the back.I kind of want to steal that jacket, said Ryan Lochte, who is Phelps roommate in the Olympic village.While more than half his life has been spent as an Olympian, the 31-year-old Phelps said he can still remember watching coverage of the opening ceremony as a child. Those images of smiling athletes from around the world entering the Olympic stadium always stuck with him.As a kid, youre like, `Yeah, it would be pretty sweet to be able to carry the flag, Phelps said, beaming.In a way, this is a perfect capper to Phelps career, no matter how many medals he adds to his already staggering total in Rio. He has become a true leader of the U.S. swimming team, mentoring younger athletes and eagerly embracing the chance to be a role model.For the first time, Phelps is serving as a team captain at the Olympics.Now, hes received an even bigger accolade.It feels so right, said 21-year-old teammate Missy Franklin, one of many swimmers inspired by Phelps during their early years at the pool.The 31-year-old Phelps, who retired from swimming after the London Games but quickly reversed that decision, will compete in three individual events at Rio and could be a member of all three relay teams. But he has continually stressed that his desire to compete in another Olympics had little to do with collecting more gold.Phelps skimped on his training before London and, frankly, didnt really want to be there. After taking a yearlong break, he rediscovered his love of training and competing, sparking a desire to close his career the right way.Then theres his personal life, which has endured a series of missteps including a second drunken-driving arrest in 2014. Since then, Phelps went through six weeks of inpatient therapy, gave up alcohol, reconnected with his estranged father, got engaged and became a father for the first time with the birth of his son, Boomer.Ive been able to experience things that I probably didnt really notice or I took for granted in the past, Phelps said. This has been the greatest two years of my life for a lot of reasons.And, after insisting all along this truly would be his final Olympics, Phelps dropped a tantalizing hint that he might not be done.Talking about how much he looks forward to having his infant son along for the ride in Rio, Phelps called it my potential last Olympics.Just so you guys dont beat me to death if I come back, he told a packed interview room at the Main Press Center. Im not. But Im going to say that.---Follow Paul Newberry on Twitter at www.twitter.com/pnewberry1963 . His work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/paul-newberry . Nike Air Max 97 Dames Sale . Rousey will put her perfect 8-0 record and hardware on the line against another undefeated fighter, 7-0 Sara McMann in the main event of UFC 170, which will be held at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas Nevada on February 22nd. Air Max 1 Sale Nederland . Fellow centre Pavel Datsyuk remains out because of a concussion. Zetterberg has 11 goals and 19 assists for a team-high 30 points, and Datsyuk has a team-high 12 goals and 11 assists. http://www.airmaxkopennederland.com/uitverkoop-air-max-270/max-270-heren.html . Bjorn, who had a 36-hole total of 8-under 134, made a testing six-foot putt to save par on the 16th and a birdie on the 17th before bogeying the final hole after a misjudged approach shot. American Kevin Streelman was in second place after shooting a 69. Nike Air Max 200 Nederland . Nathan MacKinnon, Jamie McGinn and Jan Hejda also scored for the Avalanche, who won despite being outshot 38-23. MacKinnons goal, also on the power play, came with just over a minute remaining. Nike Air Max 270 Aanbieding .Y. -- Buffalo Bills coach Doug Marrone has drawn on his Syracuse connections once again by hiring Rob Moore to take over as receivers coach. Benji Marshall is reportedly set to be thrown a lifeline by Brisbane as the veteran playmaker seeks an NRL swan song.The former St George Illawarra half is poised to sign a one-year deal with the Broncos, Channel Seven reported.The 31-year-old earlier in the year knocked back a $300,000 offer from the Dragons before falling out of favour after a lacklustre 2016.He was dropped for the penultimate last game of the season by coach Paul McGregor and appeared set to be without a club for 2017 before the likely cut-price deal tabled by the Broncos under coach Wayne Bennett.The former New Zealand Test pivot has a long association with the master coach, having played under him with the NRL All Stars and they were both a part of the Kiwis 2008 World Cup win.If he does ink a deal with the Broncos, he is likely to play most of the year in the Queensland Cup with the Broncoos boasting quality halves in Anthony Milford and Ben Hunt.ddddddddddddHowever Marshall would give them much-needed depth, especially with both Hunt and Milford on the cusp of State of Origin representation with Queensland next year, especially if Johnathan Thurston, Cooper Cronk and Michael Morgan suffer injury.Marshalls manager Mario Tartak last week said he was in discussions with three Sydney clubs.Marshall also took to Instagram to apologise to Dragons fans for their lack of success during 2016.I am personally sorry for the results on the field this year and the part I played in that, Marshall said.But Im glad I could be a part of last years team in making the finals for the first time in four years which was a highlight for me. 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