CALGARY - From people checking out what they have in their grocery carts to random folk bursting into tears in front of them, Jennifer Jones and her curling team are experiencing the power of an Olympic gold medal.Jones, third Kaitlyn Lawes, second Jill Officer and lead Dawn McEwen went undefeated en route to gold at the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, in February. It was Canadas first gold in womens curling since Sandra Schmirlers team won it in 1998.The Canadian Olympic Committee holds whats called Olympic Excellence Series a few months out from each Games to prepare athletes to compete there. But theres no instruction booklet or seminar on what to expect after youve stood atop the podium.We felt so prepared going to the Olympics. Coming home was a whole new ball game, Lawes said. You dont really know what its going to be like. But its been so much fun to share the medal with everyone.We kind of joke the medal has a life of its own. Everyone loves to hear the stories, but at the end of the day, they want to see the medal.The Winnipeg foursome are in Calgary for the annual Autumn Gold Classic, a World Curling Tour womens event worth $50,000 in prize money.The four-day tournament, which concludes with Mondays final, also features reigning Canadian champion and world silver medallist Rachel Homan from Ottawa.Jones, Homan and their teammates spent Thursday afternoon teaching Kaillie Humphries, Jesse Lumsden, Justin Kripps and the rest of the national bobsled and skeleton team how to curl at a local curling club. It was a Sochi reunion for the Jones team and the Olympic bobsledders.Officer writes a regular blog and describes being followed in the produce section of a Winnipeg grocery store by a woman working up the courage to speak to her.People watch curling at the Olympics who dont normally watch curling, Officer said. Instead of a million viewers, theres six million viewers. Theres certainly greater recognition. I know I feel that being in our community.Lawes says peoples reactions to her run the gamut when shes out and about.You kind of feel like theres eyes on you a little bit and whatever you have in the cart at the grocery store, people are checking it out, the third said.Its interesting because even some people just come up and start crying. Weve never met them before, but they had an emotional connection to what we did.You give them a big hug and say thanks for supporting us. You kind of encourage them to go after their dreams.As the skip and face of the team, its been an eventful summer for Jones, who brought her young daughter Isabella and mother Carol with her to Calgary.An Olympic gold medal transcends the sport in which it is won. It opens doors for its winners to do things outside of sport.Weve been able to do some amazing things, Jones said. We presented at the Junos. Weve had a street named after us in Winnipeg, which is the street that our curling club is on. Theres a mural of us. All these things we will treasure forever.The four women were unanimous on the Juno Awards in their hometown as their post-Sochi highlight. They taught the Sheepdogs how to curl, met country music star Johnny Reid and had their picture taken with singer Sarah McLachlan and astronaut Chris Hadfield.Basically we got home from Sochi and the next morning went to the press conference for the Junos, McEwen said. Thats was unbelievable and we got to experience the star life. That was really cool.There is a flurry of curling teams disbanding and reforming in the weeks after Winter Olympics as they try to come up with a team that can win the Olympic trials and the gold medal.Jones and her teammates have committed to stay together for another four years in hopes of representing Canada again in Pyeongchang, South Korea.Many athletes dial back training and competition the first season after the Olympics, or take the season off altogether.The Jones team has a full schedule of World Curling Tour events, the Canada Cup, Continental Cup and the Manitoba provincial playdowns they have to win to play in the Scotties Tournament of Hearts next February.The Autumn Gold is their second event of the season after finishing third in the Stockholm Ladies Cup in September. Jones says her team was ready to throw stones again, but they also need to play in events and earn points to qualify for the next Olympic trials.The way the system is set up for qualifying for the next Olympics is were kind of required to start from scratch and start right away, she explained. Were trying to defend our title in South Korea.We had to get right back at it this season. Normally wed be training hard in the summer, but we took the summer off. It was a great way to recover and were anxious to get back on the ice. Markelle Fultz 76ers Jersey . She still remembers the massive roar of the home crowd when the Canadians walked out on the pitch before 47,784 fans at Commonwealth Stadium in 2002. Lang expects a similar reception for the Canadian team as the host nation at this years tournament, which begins Tuesday. Markelle Fultz Authentic Jersey . According to TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger, the New York Rangers winger skated with extras and goalies today. http://www.authentic76ersauthority.com/ ... rsey-c-27/. Sources tell TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger that the team is quietly gauging interest on the Senators captain, though Spezza has a limited no-trade clause and carries a large contract. Markelle Fultz Blue Jersey . The league announced Thursday that Tom Higgins is leaving that post effective immediately. Markelle Fultz Womens Jersey . -- Albert Pujols is thrilled to have a reason to forget about his first two disappointing seasons with the Los Angeles Angels.ZAGREB, Croatia -- Croatia defender Josip Simunic lost his appeal at sports highest court on Monday, ruling him out of the World Cup for leading fans in a pro-Nazi chant after a playoff win. Announcing the ruling to uphold the 10-match ban, the Court of Arbitration for Sport said it unanimously rejected Simunics arguments and dismissed his appeal against the FIFA sanction. Simunics ban will start when Croatia opens the World Cup against host Brazil in Sao Paulo on June 12. Simunics lawyer, Davor Prtenjaca, slammed the ruling. "This was not the victory of justice, but the power of a big football association. FIFA had its ban based on political, not legal aspects," Prtenjaca said. Simunic invoked a World War II-era slogan used by Croatias then-puppet regime following a playoff victory against Iceland in Zagreb last November that qualified the Croatians for the tournament. After the match, Simunic took a microphone on the field and shouted to supporters: "To the battle, to the battle for the homeland!" The fans responded: "We are ready!" The slogan was used by Croatias Ustasha regime, which sent tens of thousands Jews, Serbs and Gypsies to death camps. "The expression used by Simunic was a clear and unequivocal reference to the call used by the (Ustasas)," CAS said.dddddddddddd FIFAs disciplinary panel has said Simunics action was discriminatory and offensive. The sanction reflected its commitment to harsher sanctions for racism and discrimination at matches. "FIFA considers that CAS gives a clear and strong support to FIFAs efforts in stamping out racism in football," footballs governing body said in a statement. Simunic, who plays for Dinamo Zagreb, apologized after previously defending his action. After the initial reaction, he said: "Some people have to learn some history. Im not afraid. I did nothing wrong." The 36-year-old Australian-born Simunic, who has played 105 times for Croatia, was a probable selection for his third World Cup. At the 2006 tournament, he was sent off against Australia after being shown three yellow cards by the referee. His current ban is likely to mean the end of his international playing career. 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