News & Neuigkeiten » Then everybody else will fall in line with that

RIO DE JANEIRO -- Amnat Ruenroeng speaks openly, even eagerly, about his years in a Thai prison.His path out of poverty, crime and drug addiction began in a cell. He wants it to end in an Olympic ring with a medal around his neck, and he was willing to return from the pro ranks to try for that storybook ending again.There are some good parts of being in prison, Ruenroeng said through a translator. You get discipline. You learn how to know whats right and whats wrong. In the prison, they provide education, and they have boxing, football and martial arts. Im good at boxing.Eight years after Ruenroeng fell just short of a medal in Beijing, the 36-year-old former IBF flyweight champion got his second Olympics off to another winning start Sunday night.Fighting 11 kilograms above his professional weight after qualifying for the games just one month earlier, he still beat Argentinas Ignacio Perrin by decision.I felt good, but I must do better because this is my chance, he said.When AIBA invited professional boxers to attempt to qualify for the Rio de Janeiro Games earlier this year, no big international names accepted the offer, and only three pros are in the Rio field. But Ruenroeng eagerly seized the chance just a few weeks after losing his professional title, and he earned qualification last month.He is hardly a man among boys in the amateur game, however: Ruenroeng decided to fight at the 60-kilogram lightweight limit, a whopping 11 kilograms above his flyweight professional limit. He was stopped during the qualifying tournament in Venezuela last month, and he will have to beat two more veteran Olympic-style fighters to get a medal in Rio.Its difficult, because my opponents have an advantage, Ruenroeng said. Theyre bigger, but I have the will.The risk was negligible to Ruenroeng, who still feels he owes a debt to boxing. He also shares many Thai athletes devotion to the King of Thailand, who pardoned him from a 15-year sentence after he showed boxing talent.Thats why I came here for a second time, to prove myself, he said. I have to find out whether I can get the Olympic medal or not.The second chapter of Ruenroengs life has been all about righting wrongs.A grade-school dropout, Ruenroeng said he went to jail three times and was serving a 15-year sentence for robbing a tourist when he first discovered his knack for boxing through a prison athletics program. He soon had a national title, a pardon and a purpose: To win internationally for Thailand, which has a decent history of boxing success.He earned a spot at the Beijing Olympics and won two fights, but fell one fight short of a medal in the light flyweight division. He lost a painful 5-2 decision to Mongolias Purevdorjin Serdamba, who went on to win silver.Ruenroeng didnt turn pro until 2012, but he had quick success. He won his title in January 2014 and defended it five times, even trouncing two-time Olympic gold medalist Zou Shiming last year.The amateur sport has changed since Ruenroeng and Zou left it. The fighters no longer wear headgear, and the Olympics are scored under a version of the 10-point professional standards instead of the punch-counting system used in Beijing.Ruenroeng didnt change much about his approach, sticking to the skills that had kept him unbeaten as a pro under Johnriel Casimero stopped him and took away his belt in May.Ruenroeng misses his wife and son back in Thailand, but he speaks to them daily. He sounds like the very definition of a rehabilitated prisoner when he looks back at the path behind him and the possibilities ahead.(Prison) made me know the importance of the family, of my friends, Ruenroeng said. It taught me that whatever I do, I have to have a conscience. I have to think before acting. Freddie Freeman Jersey . Louis Blues. Shane Hnidy joins Brian Munz for the broadcast on TSN 1290 Radio at 7pm ct. Darren ODay Jersey . Terms of the deal were not immediately available. 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PITTSBURGH -- Sheldon Jeter practically did a spit take when Pittsburgh hired Kevin Stallings to replace Jamie Dixon last spring.I was shocked, as I imagine most people were, said the senior forward, who played under Stallings for one season at Vanderbilt before eventually making his way to the Panthers. I didnt see that coming.Shock, however, eventually gave way to acceptance and something even more promising: optimism. When Jeters teammates asked him for a read on Stallings while they pondered whether to leave or not, Jeter offered some salient advice.I told them coach is a genuine guy, Jeter said. Everything he says, he means.Ultimately, everybody stayed, giving Stallings a solid foundation to start with as he begins anew following 17 years with the Commodores.Theyve embraced the changes, Stallings said. Theyve embraced the newness of the culture. Theyve embraced me.The promise of a fresh start in a system that will be more free-flowing than the one Dixon used to unprecedented success during his dozen years at Pitt helps. Stallings, who jokingly admitted he couldnt cover his butt with both hands as a defender during his own playing career, wants the Panthers to feel empowered to go out and make plays instead of reflexively looking at the bench following every miscue.I dont want them to make a turnover and say `Oh, coach is going to take me out, Stallings said. Eventually that negatively impacts their playing psyche.Pitt returns four starters from a team that went 21-12 in Dixons final season, one that ended with a second-round loss to Wisconsin in the NCAA Tournament. External expectations are modest. Not so inside the Petersen Events Center. The day Stallings took over he and athletic director Scott Barnes both said the deciding factor was each sides firm belief the Panthers have everything in place -- from facilities and leadership to recruiting footprint -- to reach the Final Four.Getting back to the tournament would be a solid first step, one Pitt believes it can take even with Dixon at his alma mater (TCU) and the decidedly more emotive Stallings on the sideline.Were trying to build something this year, senior forward Jamel Artis said. People, writers, dont have us top in the nation right now. Were trying to prove them wrong.Somee things to look for as Pitt prepares for its opener on Nov.dddddddddddd 11 against Eastern Michigan:SENIOR MOMENTS: In Jeter, Artis, Michael Young and Chris Jones the Panthers have four seniors who have helped guide the rest of the roster through the transition from Dixon to Stallings. Stallings expects to repay that loyalty by relying heavily on the quartet, who averaged a combined 44 points a game last season.We will go as those guys go, Stallings said. If they lead us in a productive and positive way. Then everybody else will fall in line with that. If they are individualistic or self-driven then it becomes a problem.MAKING A POINT: Stallings has come up with an interesting solution in replacing four-year starter James Robinson at point guard: give Artis the ball. The 6-foot-7 Artis was effective at times when handling the ball in the high post under Dixon. Stallings wants Artis to bring the ball up too. Artis didnt exactly balk at the idea, figuring its the best way for the Panthers to win while also showing pro scouts what he can do.Watching Vanderbilt, their offense was pretty spaced out, Artis said. (Handling the ball) is part of the transition to the NBA.GIDDY UP: Stallings described his offense as structured freedom. The Panthers plan to take the concept and run with it. Contrary to popular opinion, Dixon did give his players more leeway offensively after the Panthers transitioned to the ACC. Yet they came with certain caveats and the threat of a quick hook when things went awry. While Stallings isnt going to indulge mistakes, but he will try to live with them as his players try to figure things out.You have to get to everybody going uptempo, Jeter said. We have to get everyone used to playing at his speed and really thinking on the fly instead of having a play set in motion.JUSTICE FOR ALL?: The Panthers welcome just three new faces this year: transfer guard Crisshawn Clark and freshmen Corey Manigault and Justice Kithcart. The fleet 6-1, 185-pound Kithcart should get plenty of opportunities to show Stallings hes capable of running the show. The key will be finding a way to play fast, but not loose. ' ' '