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FRAMINGHAM, Mass. -- Pride in the Rio Olympics is palpable in this Boston suburb, nicknamed Little Brazil for its thriving population of Brazilian immigrants and their shops and bakeries flying the nations green and yellow flag, often alongside the U.S. flag.But here and in other major Brazilian-American enclaves, many expats also are striking a cautionary tone, reflecting concern that the celebration of the Rio games may only serve to mask Brazils deeper political, economic and environmental problems.Estimates of how many people with Brazilian roots live in the U.S. vary widely, as the Census Bureau includes South Americans under the umbrella of those of Latino or Hispanic descent. Framingham, a diverse town of nearly 70,000 total residents, first began attracting large numbers of Brazilian immigrants some three decades ago.At Rosas Beauty Salon near the heart of downtown, owner Rosa Barrosa gushes over Brazils opportunity to host the Olympics.Perfeito, perfeito, perfeito! (perfect, perfect, perfect), said Barrosa, who glides between English and Portuguese while discussing the games. The world is going to be surprised. Its going to be the best Olympic games. I know Rio de Janeiro. Brazil is a perfect country for this.Barrosa, 54, emigrated 20 years ago but keeps close ties with Brazil and believes skeptics are focusing too much on the negatives, rather than positives about a country which she boasted, really knows how to throw a party.Nearby, at the Brazilian-American Center -- which helps immigrants assimilate -- young children in a summer camp program shouted yes in unison when asked if they were proud the Olympics were being held in Brazil. The youngsters displayed a keen knowledge of Olympic happenings, aware for instance that Brazils vaunted mens soccer team was struggling in early matches, and that its first gold medal had come in womens judo (Rafaela Silva).Thulio Felisberto, a staffer supervising the children, sensed mixed feelings about the Olympics among many adults in the community.Some people see it as `wow, a really prideful thing to have it in our country, but other people look at it as maybe like a cover-up for these other political things that have happened, especially recently, said Felisberto, a Worcester State University student who came to the U.S. with his parents at age 5 but still has extended family in Brazil.While preparing for the games, Brazil has endured a recession, a political crisis that led to impeachment proceedings against the countrys president, reports of polluted waterways and a health emergency caused by the Zika virus.Right now I think Brazil is not ready for this kind of event, said Gustavo Mota, a manager at Tropical Cafe. Yet while citing similar worries about the nations economy and politics, Mota also saw potential for the games to present a more upbeat image of Brazil to the world and provide a needed boost to its own self-confidence.As for the competition itself, he noted that many Brazilians are largely ambivalent toward most sports -- with one exception, of course. People get crazed about soccer but not the other games, Mota said.Few among the lunchtime diners were paying much heed to rugby or other events being shown on TVs at the restaurants bar. Larger crowds were anticipated for the soccer matches.To many young immigrants like Mota, 27, Brazils future is of far more than passing interest because they havent ruled out returning someday to live in their native country.Otavio Souza, 18, a restaurant worker and Framingham High School student, said he came to the U.S. with his mother two years ago to pursue a better life. His father and brother remain in Brazil. Souza echoes the mix of pride and skepticism about the Olympics.Half the Brazilians they like it, and half dont, he said. Ronald Guzman Rangers Jersey . The 26-year-old Ireland striker, who has four goals this season, has signed a three-and-a-half year contract with his new club. Jeff Burroughs Jersey . 8 Iowa State on Saturday, sending the Cyclones to their third consecutive loss. The Longhorns (14-4, 3-2) got their biggest win of the season with their third in the row in the Big 12. https://www.cheaprangersbaseball.com/2672h-steve-buechele-jersey-rangers.html . Miller reached right to deflect Mikhail Grabovskis attempt with just over 2 minutes remaining in regulation, and then made two more saves in the shootout Sunday to give the Sabres a 2-1 win over the Washington Capitals. Colby Lewis Rangers Jersey . Reassurance came from Paul Tesori, his caddie and close friend whose newborn son is in intensive care in a Florida hospital. 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I mean the teams a member of the family for a lot of folks, Ricketts said, and the fact that we had this kind of success after all these years of not quite getting there is just magical for this whole city.Ricketts will be acknowledged by his fellow owners for the title at some point during the meetings, but otherwise its pretty much business as usual. Asked whether he might be handed a few more bar tabs as a result of the historic championship, a grinning Ricketts responded: Well see tonight.Among the steak dinners, drinks and hallway chatter at The Drake in downtown Chicago, the dominant item on the owners agenda is baseballs collective bargaining agreement, which expires Dec. 1. Negotiators for owners and players have been meeting since spring training.Baseball has not had a work stoppage since 1994-95, and Commissioner Rob Manfred appears confident there will be an agreement by December.I trust the commissioner, trust the commissioners office, New York Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner said. Theyre going to do a great job, and everybodys been working hard. Thats about all I could add.Some of the major issues include the owners desire for a draft of international amateur players, the luxury-tax threshold and whether there will be changes to the draft-pick compensation system for premier free agents.The uncertainty surrounding the CBA could affect free agency and trade talks, but Steinbrenner made it sound as if the Yankees are pretty set about their plans no matter what happens with the labor talks.I dont think its going to impact it much as far as where were going to be, Steinbrennner said.ddddddddddddI mean weve got money coming off the payroll for the first time in a few years, and were going to put a decent portion of it back into the club, like we always do. How much remains to be seen, depending on what our needs are and whats available.The Yankees traded slugger Carlos Beltran and relievers Andrew Miller and Aroldis Chapman in a rare pre-deadline sell-off on their way to an 84-78 record and a fourth-place finish in the AL East. Steinbrenner reiterated his desire to get under the luxury-tax threshold, wherever it lands with the new agreement, but he mentioned upgrading the bullpen as a priority.That could lead to a reunion with Chapman, who saved 20 games for the Yankees before helping the Cubs win the World Series.Look, anytime you can get a guy thats already proven he can play in New York ... its a tough place to play and if you can get a guy thats proven he can play there, then thats a plus, Steinbrenner said.Everyone is chasing the Cubs after they won a major league-best 103 games and the franchises third championship. But winter also is the season for stadium renovations, and the Yankees and Cubs are both working on construction projects.Yankee Stadium is getting more social gathering places, and the club also is enhancing its facility in Tampa, Florida. Wrigley Field is getting what Ricketts called a home plate club of premium seats, similar to other stadiums, but nothing as dramatic as when the jumbo videoboards were added to the iconic ballpark for 2015.Now it really is primarily about rebuilding the park and adding bathrooms and adding points of sale and doing all the little things to make it not only the park you would want to watch a game in, but one that serves as then like a modern park, Ricketts said.---Jay Cohen can be reached at http://www.twitter.com/jcohenap ' ' '