tunately, I wasnt on the same sideline, so I thought he looked good in these

RIO DE JANEIRO -- American sabre fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad had spoken so often and movingly about her life as an openly observant Muslim and African-American woman at this particularly tense juncture in world events, it was easy to forget sometimes that her Olympic journey was about delivering a medal along with her message.But the athlete in the 30-year-old Muhammad showed up Monday midway through her Round of 16 match at the Rio Summer Games against Frances Ceclia Berder. Muhammad was fighting to stay in the Olympics. She got frustrated over a lost lead and then a series of calls, and the white-hot competitiveness she always told us was in her -- Trust me, she often said with a laugh, its there -- came spilling out.Muhammad pulled off her masked helmet and began talking to the referee after Berder went ahead, 11-7. Scoring is always highly subjective in fencing, especially when both fencers clash blades or trade touches at nearly the same instance. The athletes often both pump a fist at the same time, trying to buy a call or lay claim to the same point. But this time, Muhammad got a yellow card warning. Her early 6-2 lead and the match had changed to the rallying Berders favor now, and a few moments later, the ninth-ranked Frenchwoman, who sat one slot behind Muhammad in the world rankings, stopped Muhammads Olympic run two wins short of the medal round with a 15-12 loss.#USA fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad made history 2day: She is the first American to compete in a hijab. #fencing pic.twitter.com/mllDimffb8- Rio 2016 (@Rio2016_en) August 8, 2016After that, it took the deeply disappointed Muhammad more than an hour to arrive at the postmatch media area. But when she did, the advocate who has caught attention in America and beyond for the grace of her message and eloquence of her example, was standing here again. She was asked to put her remarkable journey to this point in perspective. As usual, words didnt fail her.Someone suggested perhaps it had been a burden to undertake all she had done -- training at the same time she was speaking out tirelessly about being the first American Olympian to compete in a hijab; taking on what she calls misconceptions about Muslims in general, and specifically Muslim women like her who wear modest clothing in observance of their faith -- but she answered the same way she always has.Its been a blessing, Muhammad insisted.I feel like things meant for me will never miss me, she added. And I realize this moment is bigger than me. No matter what happens in my life, I try to accept it for what it is, whether its winning or losing. I realize even with hard work, sometimes you may fall short. I worked so hard for this moment. But at the end of the day, I feel this is part of being in sport and representing my country and the Muslim community. So I always end every single match with the same sentiment, and thats that Im thankful to God for the experience, for allowing me to even be present in this moment.She was smiling now.I think this was written for me. It just fell the way it did.Muhammad, who grew up in Maplewood, New Jersey, before attending Duke University, still has another chance to win a medal here in Rio when the U.S. women compete in the team sabre competition. But she hasnt elaborated much on her plans beyond that.The witnessing she did over the past two years, in particular, pushing back against the anti-Muslim rhetoric that has heated up around the world, both within and without the Muslim community, and her message of tolerance earned her widespread attention. Everyone from sports networks to political figures, womens organizations to religious groups sought her out. Entertainers such as Stephen Colbert and Ellen DeGeneres put her on TV, President Obama asked her to take part in a discussion panel when he made his first visit as president to an American mosque, and Time magazine named her among its 100 most influential people of 2016 and elaborated on her story.But nobody tells the story as well as Muhammad herself.Monday, she patiently, calmly, sometimes humorously recapped parts of it again in the cattle-chute media zone underneath Carioca Arena 3 for the latest wave of people whod never heard it before.She stressed how honored she was to represent the U.S. and the transformative effect sports has had on her life. She talked movingly about how she was struck at Fridays Opening Ceremony by sports beautiful ability to bring people of different cultures together under this umbrella for one purpose. ... I think thats the most important thing I take away from my whole experience at the Olympics. This whole message of tolerance.She also spoke of hearing from girls on social media who say she has inspired them to consider doing things theyve been discouraged from doing. She only obliquely alluded to the various examples she has given over these many months of how she herself has been discriminated against for wearing her hijab. (There was a stranger in Times Square who asked her if shes a terrorist who intends to blow something up; the South by Southwest security worker who smirked when she declined to remove her hijab while going through the medical detector, even though she explained she wore it for religious reasons. Yeah, well, youre in Texas now, he said.) Monday, she preferred to dwell on the takeaway she hopes people get.Muhammad was asked to name the biggest misconceptions she still fights, and she said: That someone is forcing me to wear hijab. That Im oppressed. That I dont have a voice. Anyone who knows me knows Im very vocal. ... Very comfortable expressing myself. She stressed what shes doing is not just to challenge misconceptions outside the Muslim community, but also within the Muslim community. I want to break cultural norms. I want to show girls that its important to be active, its important to be involved.Has she been successful changing peoples minds?I hope so, she said. I dont know necessarily what is going through everyones mind at this moment.Unless she reconsiders plans to retire from fencing, her Olympic career will end after the sabre team competition later this week.She hasnt said what she intends to do after the Olympics, beyond continuing to run her online clothing business, Louella, which makes modest clothing for religiously observant women. A couple of questions about the coming elections in November didnt tease out any of her plans, either. But its hard to imagine her sitting quietly on the sidelines given how Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump - a target of hers before -- has called for a national registry for all Muslims, much like some convicted criminals must now do. Muhammad has already called such talk a throwback to dark times in our nations history.It is hard to imagine her fading away quietly now.I think anyone who listens to the news reports at all would realize the importance of having a Muslim woman on Team USA, she said. Its not just any team, its the United States of America. And in light of whats going on in our country, the political thoughts that we hear about -- all these things -- I feel kind of circle back to my presence on Team USA and, again, just challenging those misconceptions that people have about who the Muslim woman is.Its almost like how could you not see that Muslims are like any other group, you know? We are conservatives and we are liberals, there are women who cover and women who dont. There are African-American Muslims, there are white Muslims, there are Arab Muslims. There are so many different types of Muslims. There are so many Muslim countries that have had women as their heads of state. Those are things that I want people to be aware of.If Muhammad is right -- if this indeed has all been written for her, and things intended for her will not miss her -- its smart to stay tuned. Her time in the 2016 Olympic spotlight is almost over. But Ibtihaj Muhammad is not the kind of woman whos inclined to sit on the sidelines for long. Already, she has made the conversation about race and religion in America more intelligent with her voice and example. It will be fascinating to see what she undertakes next.Wholesale Nike MLB Jerseys .Y. - Nelson Mandela will be honoured by the New York Yankees with a plaque in Monument Park. Signed Nike MLB Jerseys . P.A. Parenteau scored early in the third period to help the Avs edge Toronto 2-1 on Tuesday night. Cory Sarich also scored for Colorado (3-0-0), which is off to its best ever start. http://www.cheapmlbjerseyssigned.com/ . -- Running backs Darren McFadden and Rashad Jennings were back at practice for the Oakland Raiders on Wednesday despite being hampered by hamstring injuries. Discount Nike MLB Jerseys . The native of Mont-Tremblant, Que., captured a World Cup downhill event Saturday, his second this year and fifth career victory on the circuit. Cheap MLB Jerseys Authentic . "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.NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Andre Johnson has been working out every day since March, making sure he would be ready when an NFL team called for the services of the man with the most catches and yards of anyone still playing.He waited a long time before the call finally came.The 13-year veteran jumped on a plane Friday night and flew to Tennessee, making the Titans his third stop in three years in the four-team AFC South. He spent an hour with coaches before going to a hotel and was on the field Saturday for the morning walk-through and the afternoon practice -- the first of training camp.Its a new kind of whirlwind for the seven-time Pro Bowl wide receiver.Ive never been in a position where I got a phone call and was told to get on a flight at six oclock and come out and practice the next day, Johnson said. It was a little different, but it was fun to be out here.Tennessee is the team Johnson spent the first 12 seasons of his career shredding with reception after reception, touchdown after touchdown for the Houston Texans. He even fought then-Titans cornerback Cortland Finnegan during a game in 2010.That might have made this speedy transition a bit surreal if not for Johnsons one-year stop with another division foe, the Indianapolis Colts, last season.I think it felt more weird last year than it did this year, Johnson said.Johnson found himself waiting for a call after what was a down year for the wide receiver in 2015. He caught only 41 passes for 503 yards with four touchdowns, his worst production in any season where he played all 16 games. He caught only 33 passes in 2011 when injuries limited him to seven games. The receiver said he has no issues with the Colts, who cycled through quarterbacks because of injuries to Andrew Luck.It didnt help that Johnson turned 35 earlier this month. Johnson said he wasnt surprised with how the NFL trends toward younger players despite his career numbers of 1,053 catches for 14,100 yards.I dont have anything to prove, said Johnson, who worked oout for Tennessee earlier this week.dddddddddddd I think my career speaks for itself.The Titans are glad to have Johnson in camp, a move that helped fill out the roster. As bad as Johnsons season was last year, he still had more receptions than any Tennessee receiver. Last year, Harry Douglas and Kendall Wright led the receivers with 36 catches apiece, while Dorial Green-Beckham led the group with 549 yards receiving.Tennessee needs better options for quarterback Marcus Mariota after going 3-13 last season, and the Titans are giving Johnson a chance to compete for a starting job. They also are asking him to mentor a couple big receivers in the 6-foot-5 Green-Beckham and 6-4 Justin Hunter. Wright, who got to know Johnson back in Houston, welcomed the veteran.I think he has a lot in him, Wright said. I mean as you see out here today, hes still Andre Johnson and making plays. I think he can really help us a lot.Johnson made two very nice receptions that had fans cheering. With Rishard Matthews and Tajae Sharpe working with the first-team, Johnson worked with the second-team.Well Ive seen that before, Titans coach Mike Mularkey said of Johnsons leaping catches. Unfortunately, I wasnt on the same sideline, so I thought he looked good in these colors, I know that for sure. But it was really nice to see those plays made. Thats what we need to be successful, make some plays -- big plays. You know, thats what hes been doing his whole career.The Titans are asking Johnson to learn one position, though he did practice at all three spots Saturday. Johnson isnt setting any goals for himself right now beyond his simple focus.Making plays, enjoying the moment, Johnson said. Just trying to get better as a player.---Online:AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed: http://twitter.com/AP-NFL---Follow Teresa M. Walker at www.twitter.com/teresamwalker ' ' '