RIO DE JANEIRO -- Padraig Harrington was a strong voice in golfs bid to become an Olympic sport for the first time in more than a century.And then golfs image took a hit as players began dropping out, and the Irishman went quiet.He desperately wanted golf to succeed, and that meant unified support from the top players. But as they began pulling out -- particularly Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland -- it became personal. Without players withdrawing, he wouldnt have a chance to play.I was wearing two hats when it came to this, Harrington said. Obviously, I want golf to be a success in the Olympics, but I clearly wanted to go. So I wasnt jumping up and down saying, `Guys, you should all go. I was staying out of it. Because it is a dream of mine.It becomes a reality when Harrington arrives in Rio de Janeiro on Monday and the draw is announced for the 72-hole competition that starts Thursday and concludes with the first medals awarded since 1904 in St. Louis.Golf began its bid process in April 2008, about the time Harrington soared to his greatest heights. He repeated as British Open champion that year, and then won the PGA Championship to become the first European to win back-to-back majors in the modern lineup of Grand Slam events.Harrington joined the biggest names in golf -- Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Annika Sorenstam -- in a strong pitch to the IOC to put golf back in the program. But when the Rio Games rolled around, Harrington was nowhere close to qualifying because of three Irish golfers well ahead of him in the world ranking.And then McIlroy pulled out, citing the Zika virus. Graeme McDowell withdrew because his wife is due with their second child and he didnt want to be out of the country. Shane Lowry also withdrew. And now Harrington, the most famous of all Irish golfers, is headed to the Olympics.He hasnt even met the other Irish qualifier, Seamus Powers, who plays on the Web.com Tour. But he is thrilled to have him as a teammate.Id be hoping that the two of us have a chance coming down the last nine holes, Harrington said.Why are the Olympics so important? Why would a three-time major champion care more about gold than the silver claret jug or Wanamaker Trophy?That dates to his teenage years, when Harrington was starting to blossom in golf and was invited to three or four banquets each winter that honor the best sporting achievements in Ireland and feature the heroes of Irish sport over the years.Every sports awards I went to from 15 years of age, the first man they called out was a guy named Ronnie Delany, who won the 1,500 gold medal in 1956, he said. Every sports award. Thats how big a deal it is. I sat there and looked up and this guy ... who is this guy? Its a huge deal in Ireland.Harrington can recite the Irish history in the Olympics, from Delanys gold medal in Melbourne to Pat OCallaghans two golds in boxing in 1928 and 1932, Bob Tisdall in the 1932 Olympics for the 400-meter hurdles, even Jack Butler Yeats winning a silver in mixed painting, when art competitions were part of the games.So yes, its a huge deal.He even chose to sacrifice his standing on the PGA Tour. Harrington played the Travelers Championship in Connecticut last week, failing in his bid to move into the top 125 in the FedEx Cup. There are two events remaining, but hell be in Rio -- playing one week, watching the next.I normally come back and would play, but I think so much of the Olympics, Im going to take a weeks holiday and go to a number of events, Harrington said. Its an opportunity of a lifetime to really have a great weeks holiday the second week. The first week will be all business but hopefully the second week well have a good week.On his agenda are table tennis, gymnastics, diving, cycling, boxing.Im sure Im missing out on one or two, he said. This is all the second week. So Im trying to do two things a day the second week. Im really keen on it. Its really great fun watching all those sports. The Olympics ... the pain of losing is exceptional, the joy of winning, its right there on the line. So Id watch anything in those circumstances and obviously, the Olympics is the pinnacle of it all.He felt that way when he lobbied hard for golf to be part of it. And now he gets to take part of it himself.To listen to him, this is pure joy. Air Jordan 5 Australia . The home side created most of the chances but struggled to break down Braunschweigs resilient defence, resulting in the Bundesligas 1,000th scoreless draw. Cheap Jordan 5 For Sale . By having more great seasons. Manning was the only unanimous choice for the 2013 Associated Press NFL All-Pro team Friday. http://www.airjordan5australia.com/ . Scott Kazmir allowed four hits in seven shutout innings, Michael Brantley hit a two-run homer in a three-run first inning and the Indians maintained their hold on an AL wild-card spot with a 4-1 win over the Houston Astros on Saturday night. Cheap Air Jordan 5 Australia . Artturi Lehkonen, Joni Nikko and Ville Leskinen had the other goals for Finland (1-0) while Juuse Saros stopped 28 shots. Tim Robin Johnsgard had the lone goal for Norway (0-2). Air Jordan 5 For Sale Australia . In what the team had called a retirement, Ryan said Thursday that he is resigning as chief executive of the Rangers in a move effective at the end of this month. ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Forward Rickard Rakell, who set career highs in goals and assists last season, has signed a six-year extension with the Anaheim Ducks, the team announced Friday.A source told ESPNs Pierre LeBrun that the deal is worth an average of $3.8 million per season.Rakell, the 30th overall pick of the 2011 NHL entry draft, led the Ducks with seven game-winning goals last season. He finished with 20 goals and 23 assists in 71 games.The restricted free agent didnt participate in training camp while technically holding out for a new deal, although he would have been unable to play anyway after surgery last month related to his appendectomy.The surgery kept Rakell out of the World Cup of Hockey, but the 23-year-old is working out again in Sweden with hopes of returning to hockey before the end of October. He is expected to play on one of the Ducks top two lines.I think its something we both agreed was common ground for the two of us, Ducks general manager Bob Murray said. The injury held us up a little bit. We wanted to be totally comfortable Ricky was going to be OK going forward. Hes over 200 pounds right now and hes skating.Rakells contract, which runs through the 2021-22 season, absorbs two potential seasons of unrestricted free agency.With Rakells deal complete, Murray can turn his full attention to re-signing defenseman Hampus Lindholm, Rakells fellow restricted free agent. Lindholm is still at home in Sweden, depriving the Ducks of an elite, young blueliner as they begin their first season under returning coach Randy Carlyle.Murray had no progress to report on negotiations with Lindholms representatives, but Murray is speaking with them frequently.ddddddddddddTheres lots of different things that could happen with Hampus, Murray said. Were trying hard to get that accomplished. Both sides are talking. We have no idea what that deal is going to be.Murray said he wouldnt necessarily need to trade another player to create room on his limited payroll for Lindholm. Defenseman Cam Fowler has been widely mentioned in trade rumors.Murray is less optimistic about the health of defenseman Simon Despres, who left their season opener at Dallas on Thursday night with an unspecified upper-body injury.Despres missed large stretches of last season following a concussion, and Murray clearly is concerned about a possible reoccurrence of symptoms. Despres didnt absorb any major hits before leaving in the second period.He was not feeling good last night, Murray said. Were trying to figure out whats going on with him. He had those problems last year. Something is wrong here, and weve got to get to the bottom of it.After losing their season opener, the Ducks play at Pittsburgh on Saturday, continuing their five-game East Coast road trip before their home opener against Vancouver on Oct. 23.Anaheim also assigned forward Joseph Cramarossa to its AHL affiliate in San Diego on Friday, a day after the Ducks claimed veteran forward Emerson Etem on waivers from Vancouver.The Associated Press also contributed to this story.? ' ' '