MOSCOW -- Russian President Vladimir Putin attacked the ban on his country from the Rio de Janeiro Paralympics as immoral and inhumane Thursday, while six Russian athletes launched a bid to compete at next months Games as individuals.Russia was suspended Aug. 7 over what International Paralympic Committee president Philip Craven called a medals over morals culture with evidence of state-sponsored doping. The ban was confirmed Tuesday when the Court of Arbitration of Sport rejected a Russian appeal.The decision to disqualify our Paralympians is outside the bounds of law, morality and humanity, Putin said at an award ceremony for Olympic athletes at the Kremlin. He called the ruling against Russia cynical and said it even humiliates those who take such decisions.Foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova added to the criticism, calling the ban collective responsibility for an unproven crime. While Russia has accepted there were some shortcomings in its anti-doping system, it insists drug use was not systemic or supported by the government.The Paralympics start Sept. 7. On Thursday, six Russian athletes, including three gold medalists, wrote to Craven asking for a route into the Games as individuals.I strongly believe that real perpetrators of the dirty system must be punished and banned from sport. I do not want to lose to cheaters and I dont want to compete with cheaters, even Russians, says the letter, which was provided to The Associated Press by Andrei Mitkov, an agent representing the six. However even more strongly I believe that innocent people should not suffer for actions of cheaters that tried to deceive clean athletes of the world.The athletes, who say they have been repeatedly tested outside Russia and found to be clean, asked for the IPC to provide criteria that could allow some Russians to compete if they can show they are clean. The approach is similar to the criteria that allowed U.S.-based Russian long jumper Darya Klishina to compete at the Rio Olympics when the rest of the Russian team was banned.I would be very grateful if you review my individual request for entry to the Paralympic Games in such exceptional circumstances or, alternatively, describe me conditions upon which my participation in Rio Games would be possible, the letter states.In the event of a refusal, the athletes say they may request a ruling from the CAS.On Thursday, Putin said special competitions will be organized in Russia for banned Paralympic athletes, with winners getting the same prizes they would have had from success in Rio. Russia awards cash prizes to Olympic and Paralympic medalists and gave out dozens of BMW luxury cars to its Olympic medalists Thursday.Putin also attacked what he said was political manipulation of sport directed against Russia, whose team was reduced to a single athlete in track and field and banned entirely from weightlifting at the Olympics. That came after World Anti-Doping Agency investigations detailed widespread doping and evidence that senior sports ministry officials allegedly covered up hundreds of doping cases.You came through a tough test with honor, Putin told a room full of Olympic gold medalists. We know how difficult it was for our athletes in Rio. Ahead of the competition, the team was cut by almost a third and was deprived of the chance to show what it can do in sports where Russia is traditionally considered one of the favorites. But our team, you, my friends, coped with all the difficulties, competed as a united team.Russia was fourth in the medal count with 56 medals, 19 of them gold.Earlier, Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko appeared to cast doubt on the achievements of second-place Britain, suggesting it had won medals in Rio thanks to its lobbying power.Look at the comparative growth in results of some countries, such as Britain. I dont want to accuse them of anything, Mutko said in comments reported by the state R-Sport agency. And look at the leadership of all the sports institutions. There are only British and Canadians there.Britain won 67 medals in Rio, with 27 golds, in its best performance in more than a century. Youth Kentavius Street Jersey . The Nashville Predators were glad their captain was still on their side. Weber had a goal and two assists, and Roman Josi scored the shootout winner to lift the Predators to a 4-3 win over the Flyers on Thursday night. Youth Mike McGlinchey Jersey . 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SAN DIEGO -- There are any number of reasons why the San Diego Chargers need a victory at home Sunday against Marcus Mariota and the Tennessee Titans.Its the final game before Election Day, when the Chargers will ask the public for a $1.15 billion subsidy in the form of an increase in the hotel occupancy tax to help pay for a new $1.8 billion stadium and convention center annex downtown to replace aging Qualcomm Stadium.They dont want to play poorly on Alumni Weekend in front of such greats as Dan Fouts, Lance Alworth, Kellen Winslow, Charlie Joiner and LaDainian Tomlinson.And if they hope to get into the AFC West race, they cant risk falling any further behind.I imagine it will be a special day on Sunday, Philip Rivers said. Weve just got to make sure we do our part and go in and find a way to win.Its doubtful that a victory will sway many voters Tuesday. Most observers think Measure C will fail to gain the two-thirds super majority needed to pass.Obviously we all care about it at different levels, Im sure, in that locker room, Rivers said. Its very meaningful for us to be here, and how bad I want us to be here. When youre sitting at 3-5 and some of the tough losses weve had and really, where we are in the season, I dont know that we can want to win a game any badder than we do right now. For obvious reasons you can throw that in there, sure, but I dont l think its something thats really on the top of our minds in the locker room.The Titans (4-4) have won three of four and are playing on the road for the first time in four games. Theyre coming in with extra rest after beating Jacksonville 36-22 at home on Oct. 27.We did some good things in the first half of the season, linebacker Derrick Morgan said. Weve just got to keep building off of that. ... We have to keep stacking wins. Its a critical time in our season. Were right where we want to be. Weve just got to keep it going.Here are some things to look for when the Titans try to avoid a seventh straight loss in San Diego dating to 1993, when they were still the Houston Oilers:WHISENHUNT EFFECT: The Titans fired Ken Whisenhunt a year ago after a 1-6 start to his second season. Mike Mularkey replaced him for the final nine games and had the interim tag removed in January. Whisenhunt has returned to the Chargers as their offensive coordinator. The Titans are aware of how Whisenhunt likes to attack a defense, but Tennessee comes into this game as one of only two NFL teeams ranked in the top 10 in both offense and defense.dddddddddddd Mularkey said he doesnt think theres an advantage.Our personnel has changed dramatically, Mularkey said. A lot has changed since hes left. The guys that are here, hes got a good feel for them.RUNNING BACKS: The Titans feature the NFLs third-ranked rushing offense, led by DeMarco Murray, who leads the AFC and is second in the NFL with 756 yards rushing. Hell be going against a Chargers defense woefully thin on inside linebackers. The Chargers offense will counter with Melvin Gordon, who has run for 572 yards and eight TDs, plus two TD catches. Chargers coach Mike McCoy and Whisenhunt were heavily second-guessed after the Chargers didnt once try a running play after advancing to the Denver 2-yard line late in last Sundays 27-19 loss. Rivers threw four straight incompletions.BIG TEN REMATCH: Chargers defensive end Joey Bosa (Ohio State) and Titans right tackle Jack Conklin (Michigan State) know each other from the Big Ten, and the rookies will now face off in the NFL for the first time. With the way the Chargers move Bosa around, the rookie also likely will go against left tackle Taylor Lewan, who played at Michigan.Hes a good player, Conklin said of Bosa. Looks like he picked right up where he was in college and is playing hard in the NFL.The Titans have allowed only 12 sacks this season with Conklin, the eighth pick overall, helping anchor the right side of the line despite losing right guard Chance Warmack to a hand injury and then left guard Quinton Spain with an injured right knee. Bosa has four sacks in four games.MARIOTAS MONTH: Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota is coming off perhaps the best month of his young career. He posted a 120.7 passer rating during the last four games, which is second in the NFL over that span only to Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (133.9). Over the past four games, Mariota is 77 of 112 for 949 yards with 10 TDs and only one interception.BIG SHOTS IN TOWN: More than 20 members of the Chargers Hall of Fame will be honored at halftime. The Chargers will wear their powder blue throwbacks.---AP Sports Writer Teresa Walker in Nashville contributed.---Follow Bernie Wilson on Twitter at http://twitter.com/berniewilson---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Youth NFL Jerseys Cheap Cheap Jerseys Online China Jerseys Wholesale Cheap NFL Hoodies Wholesale NFL T-shirts Stitched Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys 2020 ' ' '