after Williams banned LaRoches son from the clubhouse. L

RIO DE JANEIRO -- You love them now, right America?Mike Krzyzewski and Geno Auriemma may have their haters in college basketball, but this is the Olympics. This is when patriotic pride trumps school spirit, when there is no Tar Heel blue, only red, white and blue.So all those fans chanting USA! USA! should be shouting Go Coach K!Well, I hope theyre saying that. Im not sure all of them are completely saying that, Krzyzewski said with a laugh. But I would hope that most people are.College basketball, built on regional rivalries and March Madness, makes it impossible for anyone to be universally beloved, especially when theyve won as much as Krzyzewski has with the Duke men or Auriemma with the Connecticut women.So Auriemma also laughs when pondering fans on both sides of Tobacco Road in North Carolina, or way up on Rocky Top in Tennessee, suddenly being on board with the U.S. coaches.Well, some people are pro-USA but not necessarily pro-Coach K and Geno, Auriemma said. So Im sure theres a faction out there of anti-Duke, anti-UConn people who, `We love the USA so much that we want them to win in spite of those two guys.Theres little need to consider that in most of the Olympics, individual sports with emotional tales of underdogs overcoming the odds to win gold for their country. Thats what makes womens gymnastics so popular.But these guys arent underdogs, theyre definitely not Americas Sweethearts, and they dont come around every four years. For some fans, theyre the Evil Empire, in their faces every November to March.You have to put that aside right now, U.S. forward and former Tar Heels star Harrison Barnes said, although UNC did have a better season this year.Krzyzewski has won five NCAA championships and more than 1,000 games, most in Division I history. The Blue Devils are college basketballs version of the New York Yankees or Dallas Cowboys, the team that fans either love or love to hate -- and the haters believe the TV announcers and referees love them too much.Auriemma has won a record 11 national championships, a man in a womens world who doesnt apologize for the way he wins or talks. His comments sometimes overshadow his games, even back when the Huskies played Pat Summitts Tennessee teams.Now wearing their countrys colors and undefeated heading into the quarterfinals -- Auriemmas team is dominating at a record-setting pace and plays Japan on Tuesday; Krzyzewskis squad has been challenged and faces Argentina on Wednesday -- the guy from Chicago (Krzyzewski) and Philadelphia (Auriemma) should now be popular around the nation.I dont think they really think about those things, U.S. mens assistant Jim Boeheim said. I know Geno doesnt. He thrives on the fact that they root against him.Boeheim, friends with both, said the difference is that Krzyzewski is more careful than Auriemma in choosing his words, not wanting to offend anyone.Mike cares, Boeheim said. Geno doesnt care.Auriemmas response?First of all, Im surprised that Boeheim is even aware of anything anybody says, because he lives in his own world up there in Syracuse, Auriemma quipped. So thats the biggest shocker so far of the Olympics, the fact that he actually pays attention to anything.Mikes been at it a lot longer at a higher level than I have. And hes a West Point guy, and very smart, really bright, and knows how to think before he speaks. So why is that surprising, that I stick my foot in my mouth sometimes?He said hes tried to choose his words more carefully since beginning what he calls the unbelievable experience of becoming U.S. womens coach in 2009, realizing that on some issues hes speaking not just for UConn, but for the country. Auriemma said the writers who cover the Huskies like him less now because he wont say some of the things he used to.Krzyzewski is nearing the end of his 10-year run as U.S. coach, but the former Army captain has been involved with U.S. teams since 1979. He said people who dont necessarily root for him have shown they appreciate him.They say, `Coach, thanks for coaching USA, thanks for taking the time to coach USA, he said. And I tell them, `Look, its an honor. Thanks for watching and cheering for us.And cheering for him.Whether you like Duke or not, you cant underestimate what Coach Ks done. Whether you like UConn or not, you have to respect what Coach Auriemmas done, womens and former UConn star Diana Taurasi said. And I think the more that theyre seen in this setting, you know what, its not (they win) because theyre at Duke, its not because theyre at UConn. Its because theyre great coaches.---AP Basketball Writer Doug Feinberg contributed to this report.---Follow Brian Mahoney on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/BriancmahoneyHurricanes Jerseys China .com) - The game was all punts and field goals before Kodi Whitfields catch. Custom Hurricanes Jerseys . The quest begins with what is supposed to be an easy one, although Germany has traditionally been a stubborn opponent to Canadian teams at international tournaments. http://www.customhurricanesjersey.com/ .com) - The Calgary Flames aim to bounce back from their first regulation home loss of the campaign on Friday night when they host a Detroit Red Wings club that they swept in three meetings a season ago. Glen Wesley Jersey Large . -- Peyton Manning will have all of his wide receivers available for the first time in a month when the Denver Broncos begin their playoff run Jan. Custom Hurricanes T-shirts . The return match will take place next Wednesday. Udinese leads Fiorentina 2-1 in the other semifinal. Napoli staged a second-half comeback from two goals down after Gervinhos opener and a stunning strike from Kevin Strootman.CHICAGO -- Robin Ventura insists he can work with Chris Sale despite the suspended aces critical comments about the White Sox manager.Sale is serving a five-day, unpaid ban after he destroyed throwback uniforms the team was supposed to wear for his start Saturday. Sale told MLB.com in a story published Monday that he doesnt regret standing up for what he believed and said Ventura should have stood up for his players.Ventura shook off the comments before Tuesday nights 3-0 win over the Cubs and supported general manager Rick Hahns decision to send the left-hander home after the incident.Everything that happened in (the clubhouse) Im going to keep it in there. But we had to act, Ventura said. It was over the line.White Sox executive vice president Ken Williams expressed support for Ventura and Hahn before Tuesday nights game against the crosstown Cubs. Ventura, in his fifth year as manager, is in the final season of his contract and Chicago is fading from playoff contention after a 23-10 start.The one thing I can say is the way that Rick and Robin I think handled the situation, it was a difficult situation, certainly a unique situation, but one in which I think they handled in an excellent fashion, Williams said.Sale called the 1976 V-neck, collared jerseys uncomfortable and unorthodox in the MLB.com interview. Sale said he first complained about the uniforms in spring training and then twice revisited the subject before Saturdays scheduled start against Detroit. Sale also criticized Williams during spring training for restricting clubhouse access for Adam LaRoches son, Drake.After seeing the collared jerseys hanging from players lockers when he arrived Saturday, Sale became enraged. When the team didnt agree to change them out, Sale cut up enough jerseys that the White Sox had to switch uniforms.Robin is the one who has to fight for us in that department, Sale told MLB.com. If the players dont feel comfortable 100 percent about what we are doing to win the game, and we have an easy fix -- it was as easy as hanging up another jersey and everyone was fine.dddddddddddd For them to put business first over winning, thats when I lost it.Sale, 14-3 with a 3.18 ERA, never wore the replacement 1983 throwback jersey. He was scratched from his start, sent home and the next day suspended for what Hahn described as insubordination and for destroying team equipment.There are a lot of people that work hard on that stuff that are on the other side of the hall, Ventura said. Thats their job, to either create a different uniform, create a promotional night to help get people in the stands and make money.The volatile Sale and Ventura engaged in a heated argument during the 2014 season. In spring training this year, Sale accused Williams of lying to players after Williams banned LaRoches son from the clubhouse. LaRoche later retired, and Sale hung the jerseys of LaRoche and his son in his locker.Sales future in Chicago is uncertain. The White Sox were 50-50 after Tuesdays win and third in the AL Central. Theyre expected to field inquiries for Sale before the Aug. 1 deadline. Sale has a club-friendly contract that runs through 2019, counting two years of team options.Despite all of that, Ventura said he can absolutely still work effectively with Sale. The left-hander worked out on his own at U.S. Cellular Field early Tuesday and is scheduled to start Thursday against the Cubs at Wrigley Field.Im more interested in everyone moving on, Williams said when asked about Sales behavior. Any further comment beyond what I just said is counterproductive to all of that. At one point in my career, you probably couldve gotten me to comment in a very different way. Im sure it would be more entertaining for all, except me. ' ' '