RIO DE JANEIRO -- Carmelo Anthony had one last thing to teach his young teammates.On the podium wearing his third Olympic gold medal, Anthony, who led this inexperienced U.S. team from the moment it first gathered weeks ago in Las Vegas, pointed toward one end of Carioca Arena, to the spot where the American flag was about to rise.I just told them, `Look at the highest flag, Anthony said, and thats what we did.Now theres nothing left to do for Anthony, whose Olympic career began in disgrace and ends with him being the most decorated player to ever wear a USA jersey. Its a comeback almost hard to believe.I dont think I can explain how I feel right at this moment, he said, later adding he will retire as an Olympian.The only U.S. male player to be chosen for four Olympic teams, Anthony became the first to win three golds as the Americans saved their best for last and crushed Serbia 96-66 on Sunday.The blowout win capped a remarkable 12-year journey around the five interlocking rings for Anthony, only 20 and fresh off his rookie year in the NBA when he played on a 2004 team remembered for failure.The Americans lost three times at the Athens Games, and the sight of them wearing olive wreaths on their heads, bronze medals around their necks and disappointment on their faces, was a low point for the sports standard of excellence. USA Basketball was down and deflated.But along with LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Kobe Bryant, Chris Paul, Kevin Durant and others, Anthony helped pump pride and power back into the U.S. program, which remains on top of the world.Anthony grew over his Olympic run spanning games in Europe, Asia and South America. He matured as a person and found his voice, which he has used to address social issues at home. He became more than just a player whose talents seem to perfectly suit the international game. Anthony, so often criticized for not winning NBA championships, became the model for U.S. players.He showed commitment, dedication and heart. While James and Paul and other skipped these games, Anthony signed up for another tour of duty to represent his country.Its just his love for the game, said U.S. forward Paul George, who completed his own amazing story following a horrific leg injury. Its his passion for the country and his love for the game, thats all that it comes down to.During his stay in Brazil, Anthony became the leading scorer in U.S. history and he returned late in the second half of Sundays rout just so he could snatch one rebound and move past David Robinson on the career list.However, Anthonys most significant mark in Rio may have come when he visited the citys favelas, blighted areas he compared to Baltimores inner city of his youth.Its another sign of his maturity, which outgoing U.S. coach Mike Krzyzewski saw developing 10 years ago.After the Americans lost to Greece in 2006 in the FIBA World Championships at Tokyo, Anthony sat at the postgame podium with Coach K and expressed humility and determination.He didnt make any excuses, Krzyzewski said. He took responsibility for the loss and gave credit to the Greek team and weve built on that. I call it character, and in that moment, sometimes after a loss, you find out a deep character in someone. Thats what happened with Carmelo and in the commitment of LeBron and Kobe and Chris, all these guys have great character and it just built to where we now have a great culture.The Americans havent lost since, winning 76 straight games counting exhibitions. And Anthony has collected three golds as precious to him as an NBA ring.A fifth Olympics isnt in his plans, but neither was a dozen years wearing the red, white and blue.Im hanging these things up, USA Basketball-wise, he said. Its been a fun journey for me. Its been a fun ride. Ive seen both sides of it. Ive seen the losing side and Ive seen what it feels like to win three gold medals. I wouldnt trade that for anything in the world. Hydro Flask 24 Oz Sale . Detroit and Boston are deadlocked, 1-1, and Tigers manager Jim Leyland could be forgiven if he was caught rationalizing instead of dissecting how his club could blow a 5-1 lead late in Game 2. 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EVANSTON, Ill. -- Bryant McIntoshs early season shooting slump finally ended.McIntosh scored 19 of his 23 points in the second half to lead Northwestern to a 65-58 victory over Wake Forest on Monday night in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.McIntosh struggled in the first half on 2-of-8 shooting, but caught fire midway through the second, hitting 8-for-8 from the field for 19 points after the 12:02 mark. His 3 with 1:02 left gave the Wildcats (5-2) a 61-56 lead.McIntosh was shooting just 35 percent from the field coming into the game.I was going through a struggle where the ball just wasnt falling and it was nice to see it finally go in. Coach (Chris Collins) always was telling me this week that the law of averages will come out. Maybe there is a little jump in the averages, said McIntosh.John Collins had 12 points and 16 rebounds and Keyshawn Woods added 12 points for Wake Forest (5-2).Woods 3 cut the Northwestern lead to 61-58 with 30.3 seconds left, but Sanjay Lumpkin scored four straight points to finish the game off for the Wildcats.I thought with three minutes to go in the game, we were right there. Northwestern didnt let us make enough plays to win the game and they made the plays down the stretch, said Wake Forest coach Danny Manning.Scottie Lindsey added 12 points and Lumpkin finished with 10 points and seven rebounds for Northwestern.Lumpkins defense limited the 6-10 Collins in the second half.To see the plays Sanjay Lumpkin made by guarding John Collins the last 10 minutes of the game by giving up six inches, tons of weight, he wouldnt let him touch the ball. Sanjay Lumpkin was magnificent tonight in his own way, said Collins.McIntosh had to leave the game early in the second half after taking a shot to the face. After being tended to on the ssideline he returned to ignite a 6-0 Northwestern run.ddddddddddddIm really proud of my team tonight. That was kind of a good ole fashioned fist fight, in my opinion, said Collins.Trailing 42-38, McIntosh scored the games next six points to give the Wildcats a 44-42 lead with 11:01 in the second half.BIG PICTUREWake Forest: The Demon Deacons began a stretch on Monday where they play four of their five opponents on the opposing teams home court.Northwestern: After not being able to close out Notre Dame in the final seconds last week, the Wildcats bounced back with a win over another power five opponent. Last week, they defeated Texas, which was ranked No. 22 at the time.HOOSIERSAfter taking an elbow to his face McIntosh had a flashback to one of his favorite movies. I think my favorite part is when I came out. Im a big Hoosiers fan, obviously, because Im from Indiana. I heard coach, `patch him up, patch him up. And for whatever reason it took me back to the movie Hoosiers, said McIntosh.STAY IN THE GAMEManning wants to see his, big man, Collins stay out of foul trouble.He could break out a little bit more if he stayed out of foul trouble. But Johns an athletic kid. Last year, in the minutes that he played, his production was really high. He gets a lot of things down out there on the court. The thing were trying to stress to him is defensive position, said Manning.UP NEXTWake Forest travels to Richmond on Saturday. Richmond loss to Maryland in overtime and is coming off a win against Boston College on Saturday.Northwestern faces DePaul on Saturday. 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