COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- Although Antonio Vargas still thinks about the cut that nearly ended his Olympic dream, his unprotected head will be clear when he steps into the ring in Rio de Janeiro.Vargas grew up sparring and competing in protective headgear, so he had never been cut in a fight before his face split open in that bloody loss at the U.S. Olympic team trials seven months ago. The gifted flyweight from Florida had to fight his way back through the challengers bracket, surviving to earn a spot on the team.Cuts havent been a major concern in Olympic boxing since 1980, but they will be a constant danger in Rio, where the 250 male fighters will box without headgear for the first time since Moscow.Fighters have had three years to adjust to the change, and theyve adapted with the same tenacity that made them boxers in the first place.Im always going to do what I have to do, Vargas said. I dont think its really changed my style. Ill still have the same style going into the Olympics. I just have to be careful.The International Boxing Association (AIBA) made a highly visible alteration to its sport when it removed the headgear ahead of the 2013 world championships. Many fighters are excited for fans to see a sport that looks more like the pros, but the move is still criticized by other fighters and coaches who believe safety has been made secondary to appearance, particularly because of the high potential for cuts in a short, multi-fight tournament.I dont think it was a good idea, taking off the headgear, because were still amateur, U.S. light flyweight Nico Hernandez said. I got cut on both eyes before. I got stitches and stuff from head-butts. I just dont think its as safe for the amateur boxers. But I also like it, because you can have more peripheral vision and you dont get as hot. Ive had a lot of fights without now, so Im used to it.The bulky protective pads were placed on Olympic fighters heads in 1984 because organizers wanted to improve safety, and theyve been pulled off the fighters heading to Rio for ostensibly the same reason.In its lengthy quest to become a professional boxing promoter with control over the Olympics , AIBA went to great lengths to establish a scientific backing for its decision to drop headgear. The IOC also cited research to support the notion that the bulky head guards reduced the number of knockouts and stoppages, thereby reducing concussions.Their conclusions have been disputed by other scientists and fighters alike, but the benefits of removing headgear go beyond any concussion data in an inherently dangerous sport: Quite simply, the removal of headgear allows television audiences to see the fighters faces.Billy Walsh competed in headgear for his native Ireland at the 1988 Seoul Olympics before becoming one of the amateur sports foremost teachers. The new U.S. coach has adjusted his instructions under the new rules.Without the headgear, weve now got to be a bit more mobile, a bit more flexible, a bit more careful of heads, Walsh said. Weve got to be a bit more elusive. With headgear, we just locked up. Weve had to adapt some skills and techniques, but weve adapted similar stuff we would have been teaching when they had headgear. We all have to adapt.AIBAs changes are expected to continue after Rio, too. Womens boxing kept the headgear for its second Olympic tournament because AIBA says it doesnt have enough concussion data on women, but most female fighters expect AIBA to remove their headgear next year. The male boxers are still wearing tank tops in the ring in another holdover from the sports amateur days, but those are likely to be removed soon as well.Hernandez is among dozens of top Olympians who got experience without headgear by participating in World Series of Boxing, one of two professional leagues launched by AIBA. The WSB fighters have five-round fights that largely resemble pro bouts.Even fighters who dont agree with the science of the decision credit AIBA for attempting to improve their sports marketability, and the governing body has conducted a lengthy campaign to persuade boxers to fight without the in-close, head-butting style that could ruin the tournament.Most of the American fighters also plan to turn pro shortly after the Olympics, so the absence of headgear gives them a head start on the process.But all fighters in Rio will have to be careful with the knowledge that one cut could end their Olympics.With no headgear, at first I was nervous, and I didnt really want to do it, 18-year-old U.S. middleweight Charles Conwell said. But when I got in there, it was the same, basically. You just have to worry about cuts and head-butts. Im less worried now, because Ive got more experience with it. I know the dos and donts of not having headgear on. So Im going to adjust, because I know theres going to be some dirty things that are going to happen out there. Roberto Alomar Jersey . Just not the game. Kyle Palmieri scored two straight goals in the third period to rally the Anaheim Ducks past the Philadelphia Flyers 3-2 on Tuesday night. Tim Beckham Jersey . The International Olympic Committee released the official list of bid cities on Friday after the deadline for applications had passed. The candidates -- all previously announced in their own countries -- are: Almaty, Kazakhstan; Beijing; Krakow, Poland; Lviv, Ukraine; Oslo, Norway; and Stockholm. http://www.theoriolesteamshop.com/Orioles-Kevin-Gausman-Kids-Jersey/ .ca! Hi Kerry, Its another day and here we are looking at another dubious hit to the head. In this case Blue Jackets forward Brandon Dubinsky elbowed Saku Koivu in the head about a second after he dished off the puck to a teammate, knocking him unconscious. Eddie Murray Jersey . Cuban testified Thursday that he was upset when the companys CEO told him news that would reduce the value of his shares, for which hed paid $7.5 million. But he said he did nothing improper when he sold those shares over the next two days. Anthony Santander Jersey . R.J. Umberger scored twice to lead the Blue Jackets to a franchise-record for consecutive wins with a 5-3 victory Tuesday night over the Los Angeles Kings. National Performance Squad 9 for 231 (Cartwright 81, Abbott 44, Tremain 5-47) beat Australia A 7 for 177 (Lynn 42, Stoinis 42, Cartwright 3-26) by 12 runs (D/L method)Scorecard Hilton Cartwright starred with bat and ball to deliver National Performance Squad (NPS) a 12-run win (Duckworth-Lewis method) over Australia A in a rain-affected match at the Tony Ireland Stadium in Townsville.Rain had reduced the match to 49 overs a side before Cartwright scored 81 off 92 to lay the platform in the NPS total of 231. He then took 3 for 26 to ensure that Australia A fell 13 runs short of the D/L-adjusted target of 190 from 28 overs.Put in to bat, NPS lost opener Caleb Jewell after a laborious opening partnership of 19 off 52 balls. Cartwright then shared half-century stands with Sam Heazlett and Sam Harper to carry NPS to 2 for 143 in 35 overs. Fast bowler Chris Tremain dismissed Cartwright and Harper in the 36th over, to precipitate a passage of play in which NPS lost 4 for 15 in 26 balls.However, handy lower-order cameos from Sean Abbott (44 off 28) and Michael Neser (31 off 32) helped NPS make good use of theeir last few overs to register 9 for 231.dddddddddddd Tremain ended up with 5 for 47, having dismissed four of the five batsmen to have reached double figures. This was his second successive five-for, following on from returns of 5 for 25 against India A in the previous match.Australia As run chase was complicated by the early loss of Kurtis Patterson - trapped lbw by Abbott for a third-ball duck - and the rain interruptions, which ultimately left them with a target of 190 from 28 overs. Captain Chris Lynn, batting at No. 3, did his best to set up the chase with 42 off 21, and was ably complemented by opener Marcus Stoinis, who also scored 42, albeit at a more stately pace.But Abbott and Cartwright continued to strike for NPS, reducing Australia A to 7 for 138, at which point the batting side needed 52 off 28. Cameron Bancroft (37* off 32) and Tremain (26* off 16) did their best to make a match of it, but could not provide enough firepower to get Australia A past the line. 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