Pele did not attend Fridays opening ceremony of the Rio Olympics because of poor health, thereby denying Brazilians the chance to celebrate their greatest sports figure. Nike Air Max 270 Sale .The 75-year-old soccer great said this week that he had been invited to light the cauldron, but that was not confirmed by Rio organizers.Im not physically able to attend the opening of the Olympics, Pele said in a statement Friday.Pele had hip surgery recently and often walks with a cane. His absence was a huge disappointment to fans and organizers. He is easily Brazils most recognizable athlete -- or former athlete -- even though he stopped playing almost 40 years ago.Only God is more important than my health, he wrote. In my life, Ive had fractures, surgeries, pain, hospital stays, victories and defeats. And Ive always respected those who admire me.He said not attending was my own decision.He tweeted during the opening ceremony:Peles planned role in the opening ceremony was never clear. He said earlier that a commitment to a sponsor would force him to travel the day of the ceremony.If I manage to change [the travel plans], I would like to have the honor to light it, he said.Brazilian marathoner Vanderlei De Lima did the honors of lighting the cauldron, getting his golden moment 12 years later than he might have.De Lima was leading the 2004 race at the Athens Games when a protester attacked him and disrupted his run. De Lima wound up finishing third but has been lauded for how he handled the incident.Gustavo Kuerten carried the torch into the stadium, then handed it to Brazilian basketball legend Hortencia Marcari. She brought it to the stage, then De Lima brought it up the stairs and held it aloft for 60,000 to cheer.In his statement Friday, Pele apologized for disappointing Brazilians and said as a Brazilian, I ask God to bless all who participate in this event.He signed the statement Edson Arantes do Nascimento -- Pele.The Associated Press contributed to this report. Cheap Nike Air Max 270 . Belfort (24-10) needed just 77 seconds to down Henderson in the headlining bout of Saturdays "UFC Fight Night: Belfort vs. Henderson" event at Goiania Arena in Goiania, Brazil. The fight served as a rematch of the pairs 2006 meeting, which Henderson won by decision. Nike Air Max 270 From China .875,000, avoiding arbitration. Clippards deal Monday means all eight Nationals players who filed for arbitration wound up settling before a hearing. https://www.cheapnikeairmax270china.us/ . After dropping their final six games of December, the Wild opened the new calendar year with four consecutive wins. Following a loss to Colorado on Saturday, Minnesota rebounded the following night to blank Nashville 4-0, but then had the tables turned on them Tuesday. ST. LOUIS -- Maybe a goal by right winger Vladimir Tarasenko provided the jumpstart needed by the St. Louis Blues offense.Tarasenko, St. Louis leading scorer, had not recorded a goal in seven consecutive games before his overtime goal Saturday night gave the Blues a 2-1 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets.The Blues wont have to wait long to see if that happens as they will be back in action Sunday afternoon when they host the Colorado Avalanche.Tarasenkos streak without a goal has coincided with a total offensive slump by the Blues, who have not scored more than two goals in their last six games and in eight of their previous nine.It was the longest streak for Tarasenko without a goal since going eight games with no goals early in the 2013-14 season.The amount of time that weve been pouring into meetings the last few days, it hasnt been a great feeling around this locker room, defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk said. Finally to have sometime positive to build off it ... we have to bring that hunger into tomorrows game that we had tonight.The Blues scored 26 goals in their 12 games this season.The Avalanche also are coming off a low-scoring win, getting a power-play goal from Gabriel Landeskog midway through the thhird period and a shutout from Calvin Pickard to beat the Minnesota Wild 1-0 on Saturday afternoon for their second win in six games. Fake Nike Air Max 270. While the Blues got a good game from backup Carter Hutton, who stopped 20 of 21 shots, and the Avalanche got the shutout from Pickard, each team is expected to have their regular goaltender in net for Sundays game as the Blues Jake Allen opposes Semyon Varlamov.Allen allowed nine goals in last two games, regulation losses agalnst the Rangers in New York and the Stars in Dallas. Its only the fourth time in Allens career he has allowed four or more goals in consecutive games.Varlamov has struggled as well, going 2-5-0 to start the season.Were setting our goalie plan week to week, Colorado coach Jared Bednar said. Varly is getting a good opportunity early but were not setting our schedule month by month or season long.We said this week were going with Varly, Pick and back to Varly and play a rested goalie in back to backs because we believe in both of them. Well get to a point where we need results so we can ride a hot goalie for a little bit. ' ' '