PLANTATION, Fla. - The former NFL fullback entered the room with a wobble in his walk, and needed assistance climbing a podium so he could face a media throng and discuss his death-defying 16-hour swim to shore.Rob Konrad sipped from a bottle of water, his efforts to rehydrate ongoing four days after the episode. His wife sat at his side rubbing his leg in support, and tears welled in their eyes as he spoke Monday.Happy to be here, he began with a wry smile.I shouldnt be here, he said later, his voice cracking.The 38-year-old Konrads escape was a testament to willpower and world-class athleticism. The first reports of his adventure last week received worldwide attention.Even endurance swimmer Diana Nyad was impressed.Its an incredible story, Nyad said. Taking his life in his hands and deciding he was going to save himself, I admire him.Konrad, who played for the Miami Dolphins from 1999 to 2004, had been around boats since his childhood on Bostons North Shore. So he knew what it meant when he fell off his 31-foot Grady-White while fishing alone nine miles from land.A boaters nightmare, he said.He swam to Palm Beach, covering a distance of 27 miles before ringing the doorbell of an oceanfront home for help at 4:30 a.m. Thursday.The U.S. Coast Guard last week provided a brief summary of the events. Konrad, still weak after several days in the hospital for treatment of hypothermia and dehydration, held a news conference to fill in the details.They were hard to believe, he and his wife agreed.It was a miracle he made it home, Tammy Konrad said.Her husband said he was taking his boat for servicing last Wednesday and decided to do a little fishing along the way. He had caught a large fish and was tending to the rod when a large wave hit, flipping Konrad into the ocean.His boat was on autopilot and headed east. There were no other boats in sight. Konrad wasnt wearing a life preserver. It was 12:30 p.m.I realized I was in some real trouble, he said.Konrad quickly decided to swim toward shore, although he figured the trip would take more than 10 hours, and feared succumbing to hypothermia or cramps after two or three hours. The ocean temperature was in the low 70s — far from frigid, but a lot colder than his body temperature.So Konrad decided hed better keep moving. He took off his shirt and began alternating between a breaststroke and backstroke.He said hes not much of a swimmer, but Nyad figures his football experience made a big difference.Were not really talking about a swimming story. Were talking about a survival story, Nyad said. Im sure his background as an athlete — toughness, having resolve, knowing things are going to be painful — were the saving grace for him.Konrad said he got bit by a whole bunch of stuff. A shark circled before moved along.There was a lot of stuff glowing at night, probably some jellyfish, he said.He could also see lights along the coast and pick out landmarks. As he tired, he gained emotional strength.Five or six hours in I realized, Maybe I can do this, he said.Twice he was nearly rescued. A recreational fishing boat approached to within 50 yards, but Konrad couldnt flag it down. Then a Coast Guard helicopter searching for him flew overhead.They had their lights on me and kept going. They didnt see me. That was a difficult time.But the ex-Dolphin kept swimming, thinking of his daughters, ages 8 and 10.He had two angels on his back, his wife said.I was probably pretty delirious at the time, but I could see the lights getting closer and closer, he said.Then the sound of the ocean changed. He could hear waves hitting the shore, and finally he reached land as well.The problem was I couldnt walk. My body was shaking uncontrollably. I crawled up on the beach and warmed myself up enough to be able to walk.Paramedics were summoned, and soon he was en route to the hospital. His boat was found near Grand Bahama Island on Deadmans Reef, the irony of the name not lost on Konrad. He had gone the other way.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP_NFL___Follow Steven Wine on Twitter: http://twitter.com/Steve_WineRandall Cobb Womens Jersey . His Brazilian opponents said he produced miracles. There is no doubt that Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa was the one responsible for spoiling Brazils hopes of another World Cup victory at its home tournament. Connor McGovern Jersey . Judging by his performance Saturday night, Cotto has plenty left in the tank. Cotto became the first Puerto Rican fighter to win world championships in four weight divisions, stopping Sergio Martinez in their WBC world middleweight title fight Saturday night. https://www.cowboyssportsgoods.com/Womens-Amari-Cooper-Inverted-Jersey/ . Peko, a fourth-round pick in 2006, started all 16 games and a playoff loss to San Diego last season. He was second on the line with 72 tackles and had a career-high three sacks. Connor McGovern Youth Jersey . Perhaps as important, shes sending a message to 17-year-old gold medal favourite Sara Takanashi of Japan. Iraschko-Stolz relegated Takanashi, who has 10 World Cup victories this season, to second place in two of three training jumps Saturday. Custom Dallas Cowboys Jerseys . With Washington teammate Nene drawing double-teams coming off his big game against the Lakers, Gortat scored 25 points on 11-of-12 shooting and grabbed eight rebounds to lead the Wizards to a 100-92 win in overtime over Milwaukee on Wednesday night.Spokane, WA (SportsNetwork.com) - The third-ranked Gonzaga Bulldogs continue their quest for a possible No. 1 seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament, as they play host to the Portland Pilots in West Coast Conference action on Thursday. Portland enters the contest having lost four of its last five to fall to 12-9 on the season and 3-6 in conference. The Pilots, who are just 3-4 in true road games, dropped a 74-64 decision to visiting Saint Marys last Saturday, and theyve won only twice in their last eight games overall. At the opposite end of the spectrum resides a Gonzaga squad that has won 13 straight games and owns an impressive 20-1 record for the season, which includes a 9-0 league ledger. The Bulldogs are 11-0 at home this season, and they own the nations longest active home winning streak at 36 in a row. Their last home setback occurred on Dec. 8, 2012. These two teams met in Portland back on Jan. 3, and the Bulldogs claimed an 87-75 victory. As a result, Gonzagas lead in the all-time series was extended to 94-66, and it has won 20 of the last 21 meetings overall. Kevin Pangos and Przemek Karnowski scored 21 points each to lead the Zags in the first meeting, while Alec Wintering finished with 20 points and eight assists for the Pilots. Bryce Pressley scored 18 points and Thomas van der Mars logged a double-double consisting of 16 points and 13 rebounds, but those efforts werent enough to push the Pilots past the Saint Marys Gaels last weekend. Additionally, fellow starters Kevin Bailey (13 points) and Wintering (10 points) reached double digits as well for Portland, which struggled to hit a mere 30.2 percent of its field goal attempts, actually shooting better from 3-point distance (.444) in the game. Conversely, SMC drained 46.2 percent of its total shots, while claiming a commanding edge in points in the paint (32-16). Portland was guiltty of only five turnovers, while Saint Marys had 10.dddddddddddd Bailey is averaging 14.1 ppg to pace three double-digit scorers for Portland, as he is joined by Wintering (13.2 ppg, 5.6 apg) and van der Mars (10.9 ppg, 8.0 rpg), who help out in other areas as well. The team as a whole is putting up 72.5 ppg while allowing 68.9 ppg, and it is shooting a solid 38.4 percent from beyond the arc while earning a +5.1 advantage on the glass. Furthermore, the Pilots have converted 72.4 percent of their free throws this season. Gonzaga entertained Pacific last Saturday, and the game got out of hand early as the Bulldogs rolled to a 91-60 victory. The Zags put forth a balanced attack as five players finished in double figures, led by Karnowski and Gary Bell, Jr. with 13 points apiece. Collectively, the team shot 60 percent from the floor, knocking down 11-of-25 3-point tries in the process, while at the same time limiting the Tigers to 33.3 percent field goal efficiency, which included a paltry 22.7 percent showing beyond the arc. Gonzaga doubled up its guests both in points in the paint (40-20) and second-chance points (16-8), while nearly doing the same in bench points (39-20). Kyle Wiltjer has been GUs most potent scorer this season, as he nets 15.8 ppg behind a stellar 53.7 percent shooting effort. Karnowski (10.8 ppg, 5.9 rpg) has been better from the field (.612), and Domantas Sabonis is shooting a ridiculous 72.7 percent in tallying 9.8 ppg to go with his club-best 6.7 rpg and 17 blocks. Kevin Pangos (12.4 ppg, 4.9 apg) is one 3-pointer away from establishing the new school record for career treys. In all, Gonzaga has six players averaging at least 8.5 ppg, each of whom helps the team put up 81.6 ppg. The squads defensive stance permits only 60.7 ppg, and the Zags are +8.7 in rebounding margin, and +2.0 in turnover differential. ' ' '