Robert Shannon was known as a big banger at 119 pounds, good with his gloves and handy enough with scissors that he did his teammates hair.He still cuts hair in the Seattle area, but now is known more as the answer to a trivia question about the 1984 U.S. Olympic boxing team.The only one not to win a medal, he said. Thats how Im remembered.It wasnt totally Shannons fault. He and South Koreas Moon Sung Kil engaged in one of the best brawls of the Los Angeles Games until Moon caught him with a series of punches that ended the fight in the third round.Shannon could only watch as his teammates -- a group that included Evander Holyfield, Mark Breland and Pernell Whitaker -- paraded to the medal stand. By the time the final punches had landed, the Americans had won nine golds and two silvers in the biggest Olympic boxing haul ever.Just how talented was the team? A rising young heavyweight by the name of Mike Tyson couldnt punch his way on it, losing to eventual heavyweight gold medalist Henry Tillman in the U.S. trials.Contrast that to the last two Olympics, where U.S. boxers have won a grand total of one bronze medal. They havent won gold since Andre Ward turned the trick in 2004, and were embarrassed with a medal shutout in London.Unfortunately, things look just as bleak for the Americans next month in Rio.A once proud national boxing program has been dysfunctional for years, and there are serious questions about the future of amateur boxers in the Olympics. Only six Americans qualified to even go to Rio, leaving the country with no heavyweight or super heavyweight in the Olympics.Throw in the fact that Cam F. Awesome, the fighter with arguably the best name in boxing, didnt qualify, and Rio doesnt figure to be a showcase for a country with more medals in boxing -- 48 golds among the 108 -- than any other in Olympic history.Theres a lot of talent out there that is not in the Olympics for one reason or another, said Oscar De La Hoya, who built a pro career on his 1992 gold medal. We only have six kids on the Olympic team, and thats unheard of.Actually there are eight kids on the team, with womens boxing in the Olympics for the second time and two U.S. women qualifying out of four possible. One of them is Claressa Shields, who became the first U.S. woman to win a boxing gold in London and will be a favorite in Rio.Shields is a shining hope, and the male boxers are talented enough that they may end up bringing home a medal or two. But the days of the U.S. dominating boxing like it continues to do in swimming are in the past.The 1984 team was somewhat of an aberration -- the Russians and Cubans didnt compete -- but U.S. boxers always seemed to pick the Olympics to shine. That was especially true in 1976, when Sugar Ray Leonard led a star team that included Michael and Leon Spinks to five gold medals.Boxing meant something at the Olympics then, before changes in rules and horrendous scoring soured the public on the sport. Promoters circled everywhere looking for talent, and medalists fought their first pro fights on national television soon after the games.De La Hoya got in at the tail end of that, and America embraced the story of the teenager winning a gold medal in honor of his mother, who had recently died of cancer.We had national TV covering every single fight that took place before the Olympics, De La Hoya said. It gave us exposure, but most importantly it gave us the experience to go out there and perform against the toughest competition in the world.Not only does America not know the members of the abbreviated team going to Rio, the promoters barely know them. De La Hoya, who runs Golden Boy Promotions, said he doesnt have any of the fighters on his radar, though that could change if they have some success.And with pros now being invited to compete, there could come a day in the near future when chasing Olympic gold simply doesnt mean that much anymore to fighters.My dream as always was to make the Olympic team and win the gold for my country, my family and myself, De La Hoya said. A lot of these kids still have that dream, but as time goes by they are realizing that maybe its just best now to skip the Olympics and make some money.Judging from the way Rio is shaping up, they may have made the right choice.----Tim Dahlberg is a national sports columnist for The Associated Press. 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He has four home runs and two walks against them since returning from the minor leagues earlier this month. Hes started all six games in September against lefties, who have given the Dodgers fits this season.Hes done some things mechanically, manager Dave Roberts said. When he elevates the ball with his strength good thing are going to happen. Hes getting to a lot of pitches he wasnt prior.The Dodgers beat left-hander Madison Bumgarner 2-1 in Mondays series opener and got to fellow lefty Matt Moore (11-12) early.It was good for us to break out, Roberts said.Puig is batting .333 (6 for 16) with eight RBI in seven games at home since being recalled on Sept. 2.Thats the guy we all know he can be, Turner said. Hes an exciting player on both sides of the ball. We knew he could be a game-changer for us.The Dodgers pounded out 12 hits in taking two of three from the rival Giants, who remained tied in the NL wild-card race after both the Mets and Cardinals lost earlier. The Dodgers conclude the regular season with three games at San Francisco next week.Kenta Maeda (16-9) allowed two runs -- one earned -- and three hits in five innings while improving to 4-0 against the Giants this season. The right-hander struck out six and walked one in making his 30th start of the season for just the second time in his career. Maeda is one win from tying Rick Sutcliffes record by a rookie set in 1979.Moore gave up six runs and seven hits in one inning, walked one and struck out none in a messy outing for the left-hander who had pitched exceptionally well at Dodger Stadium.It was a bad day to have a bad day, he said. There was a lot of small stuff going on.Moore was one out away from throwing his first career no-hitter on Aug. 25 in Los Angeles when Corey Seager broke it up with a single. He previously held the Dodgers to just one unearned run in 15 1/3 innings.He was making a lot of mistakes and we made them pay, outfielder Kike Hernandez said. Last time he was making every pitch.After two close games, including a 2-0 loss Tuesday, the Dodgers put the game away early.They took a 5-1 lead in the bottom of that inning on Puigs 11th homer and RBI singles by Adrian Gonzalez and Maeda.They made it 6-2 in the second on Turners sacrifice fly. Howie KKendrick doubled in two more runs with two outs in the third.dddddddddddd The Dodgers added another run on pinch-hitter Andrew Toles RBI double in the sixth.The Giants runs came on Angel Pagans RBI single in the first, Ehire Adrianzas homer in the second and Brandon Belts RBI single in the sixth.TRAINERS ROOMGiants: RHP Johnny Cueto had an MRI on Wednesday that confirmed a Grade 1 groin strain, which forced him out of his start in the sixth inning Tuesday. Hes questionable for his next start, although manager Bruce Bochy hasnt ruled him for the Giants next series. ... SS Brandon Crawford came out of Tuesdays victory with a dislocated left pinky on his glove hand in the second. Hell need a couple days to recover, Bochy said.Dodgers: LHP Scott Kazmir comes off the disabled list to start Friday against Colorado after missing nearly a month with neck inflammation. Hes expected to throw about 90 pitches, but will be monitored. He threw a 35-pitch bullpen session on Tuesday.REELIN IT INDodgers outfielders Kike Hernandez and Puig made dramatic catches in the fourth. A charging Hernandez caught Belts fly ball to center, landing on his front side fully stretched for the second out of the inning. Puig tracked Joe Paniks ball over his shoulder, made the catch and, with his momentum carrying him, climbed a step up on the right field scoreboard before jumping down to end the inning. His catch was way better than mine, Hernandez said. I never thought he was going to make the play and sure enough he did.TROUBLE BEHIND THE PLATEDodgers catcher Carlos Ruiz had a troublesome first that led to the Giants first run. Denard Span walked and took second on a passed ball by Ruiz before Pagan singled to right. Puigs throw to the plate bounced once and Ruiz missed the tag in a close play.VISITING VINBochy visited retiring Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully before the game, joining a long list of opposing managers and players whove done so this season. They chatted in Scullys fifth-floor booth, where Bochy said he could see where he does his magic.I was telling him all the memories that go through my head, the manager said. Ive been coming to the ballpark for 21 years; hes been here 67 years. Hes an incredible man who has done so much for the game.UP NEXTGiants: RHP Jeff Samardzija (11-10, 3.97 ERA) starts the series opener against the Padres. Hes 3-1 with a 4.31 ERA in five starts against them this season. Hes struggled in his last two outings, allowing nine runs (eight earned) in 11.0 innings.Dodgers: LHP Brett Anderson (0-2, 24.75) starts the series opener against the Rockies for the first time since Aug. 20 after being on the disabled list with a blister on his left index finger. Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Jerseys From China Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Cheap Jerseys ' ' '