RIO DE JANEIRO -- The golden drought is over for France in fencing.One of the sports traditional powers won its first fencing gold medal since 2008, easily defeating Italy 45-31 in the mens team epee final on Sunday at the Rio de Janiero Olympics.Yannick Borel wrapped the match up for France with a quick touch of opponent Marco Fichera. Borel ripped off his mask and let out a scream to celebrate.Eight years is a long time for France to go without an Olympic fencing gold.Just the happiest moment in my fencing life, said Borel, a grin running from ear to ear. You want to share this with your friends. They are screaming, you are screaming, too.Until Sunday, the French team overall managed just a silver and bronze in fencing in Rio. They were left off the podium entirely at the 2012 London Games.The shutout ended with a resounding victory at Carioca Arena 3.Hungary won the bronze after beating Ukraine 39-37.In the final, Borel seemed to let out eight years of frustration for French fencers with a yell in the direction of vocal fans waving the French flag and his teammates.Later, Borel locked arms with teammates Daniel Jarent and Jean-Michel Lucenay, and the team jumped up and down in unison under the spotlights on the piste. Dance music filled the dimly-lit arena before the medal ceremony.There was much to celebrate for France, which was ranked first in the world in mens epee. The event wasnt contested in London, but France had won the previous two golds in mens epee, in Beijing in 2008 and Athens in 2004.Still, a victory on Sunday wasnt a lock, not against the third-ranked team in the world. Italys team included Enrico Garozzo, ranked second in the world.We came as a favorite, and they did their job with their performances here, France coach Hughes Obry said through an interpreter about his team. This is such a relief for them.Obry took over the program after London. Getting the team back to the top required tough training every day, he recounted.Once Borel got to Rio, he focused only on looking ahead.Today, I didnt look back, Borel said. I did this, and London is far away for me.France became the third country to win three straight golds in the mens team epee event, following Italy and Hungary. It was Frances ninth Olympic title in the event, breaking a tie with Italy for most golds.Mens team epee wasnt an event in 2012 because the sports international governing body has been rotating two team events out of the Olympics since Beijing.---Online:AP Summer Games: http://summergames.ap.org/Wholesale Nike Dunk Shoes .Y. -- Sabres defenceman Tyler Myers had no intention of changing his hard-hitting style before taking part in a disciplinary hearing for his illegal check to New Jersey forward Dainius Zubrus head. Cheap Nike Dunk Shoes Free Shipping . The Masters champion and winner of last weeks Australian PGA has a three-round total of 14-under 199 at Royal Melbourne. "Im in a really good position for tomorrow," Scott said. http://www.cheapnikedunk.com/ . The (11-11-4) Jets are seventh in the Central Division with 26 points. Fifth place Dallas and sixth-seeded Nashville also have 26 points, but the Stars have three games in hand on Winnipeg while Nashville has two. Discount Nike Dunk Shoes Store . Miikka Kiprusoff had just announced his retirement after a decade-long run in Calgary and it would be up to Berra and Ramo to fill the void. Cheap Nike Dunk Shoes Authentic . "I was fortunate to play many years at this level with a great organization and unbelievable teammates," said Hejduk in a statement. MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Lionel Hollins has been more successful than any Grizzlies coach and will be a free agent after June 30. He has the Grizzlies in the Western Conference finals for the first time and has won more games with this team than any other coach. He probably wouldnt have a problem getting another job, but is very happy with the one he has. And hes not worrying about what the future holds. "I have a job," Hollins said. "Im happy with where we are and excited about what were doing. Thats my only concern. Everything else is irrelevant." New owners took over in November and decided to wait until after the season to see what they had before extending contracts. That has made Hollins a popular potential candidate for other openings. Memphis needs Hollins full post-season attention right now with the Grizzlies down 0-2 heading into Saturdays Game 3 against San Antonio. They rallied from an 0-2 deficit against the Clippers in the first round, becoming only the 10th team to win four straight and the first to win all four by double digits. The challenge now is tougher because no NBA team has won two series in the same post-season after trailing 0-2. Centre Marc Gasol said Thursday that Hollins focus on the task at hand definitely helps the Grizzlies concentrate only on the Spurs right now. "We know that theres nothing we can do about it right now," Gasol said of Hollins future in Memphis. "Eventually, thats going to come, and hopefully, its going to be solved quickly after we do what were supposed to do." Dealing with adversity is nothing new for Hollins. The sixth selection overall in 1975 by Portland remembers having to wait to make sure his check had cleared in a career that included 673 games five teams. He also has a championship starting for the Trail Blazers in 1977 when they won the NBA title despite starting the finals with an 0-2 deficit themselves. Hollins started coaching at his alma mater Arizona State before returning to the NBA where he worked at Phoenix. He was an assistant on the original Grizzlies coaching staff as an expansion franchise in Vancouver in 1995 and even served as interim head coach twice before Memphis hired him the last time in January 2009 as the teams 11th head coach. "As an assistant coach, I was on a one-year contract that ran out every summer," Hollins said. "People that have jobs, their contract runs out. You still just have to do what you do while theyre there and while youre under contract." Since being brought back in January 2009, all Hollins has done is help the Grizzlies win a little bit more than they did the season before. Hes turned in his best season yet with a franchise-record 56-26 that includes the most wins at home and on the road. Hollins starts with defence. As a player,, Hollins was on the NBAs All-Defensive team, and he uses that same defence-first mentality as a coach.dddddddddddd. Memphis had the leagues best this season holding opponents to 89.3 points a game and 33.5 field goal percentage. Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said Hollins put in a consistent system that has been taught well with the Grizzlies buying into the schemes. "I thought he did one of the best coaching jobs of the season," Popovich said of Hollins. "Hes been steady, hes been classy. Thats why theyre in the conference finals. Theyve come together really well. Thats a tribute to him, his staff and the hard work of the players. They come every night with that consistent physical effort, and thats not easy to do." Spurs forward Boris Diaw said they had seen the Grizzlies building to this success the past few years under Hollins. "Theyve been playing great together from the beginning of the season," Diaw said. "They have a great team defensively. They really play as a team. There is really no one guy dominating, its everybody playing together." Hollins faced some challenges this season that made it seem easier for the new owners to move on without him. The new owners, who took over in November, finally ended weeks of uncertainty Jan. 30 trading away leading scorer Rudy Gay to Toronto. Hollins wasnt happy, having lobbied publicly to keep his starters together for another playoff run. "When you have champagne taste, you cant be on a beer budget," Hollins said a day after the trade. But Hollins also told his players they had no excuses and to get back to work. He mixed in new players like Tayshaun Prince and Ed Davis, and the Grizzlies went 23-8 after the All-Star break for the third-best record in the NBA. "We got a good team dont forget that, but he did a great job with the trade and putting us in position the way we play having confidence," Grizzlies forward Zach Randolph said. To point guard Mike Conley, Hollins is a mentor and father figure on the court who fought for him to play at a time when team officials considered trading the point guard away back in 2009. "Hes always been on me about every single little thing I can improve on, and I think thats just made me better each day knowing that hes going to point out everything I need to improve on and not sugar coat anything and be honest with me," Conley said. "And obviously, he gave me the opportunity I have today so I just try to take advantage of it." Some of Hollins best lessons have been off the court for the Grizzlies. "Thats what he taught us that basketball is just an aspect of your life," Gasol said. "Its real important, but you have to do it the best you can. But youre working for something bigger." ------ ' ' '