Shannon Miller has overcome more than your average Olympic champion. Now, two years after discovering she had a rare form of ovarian cancer, Miller is expecting a daughter in June.

She and husband John Falconetti also have a 3-year-old son, Rocco.There’s a video of Rocco learning about the news.

In late 2010, Miller was diagnosed with a germ cell malignancy. The ovary with the tumor was removed in January 2011, and nine weeks of chemotherapy followed. She has said she is now cancer-free.

Miller, 36, is a two-time world all-around champion. She won seven Olympic medals and nine at the world championships.

Copyright © 2013 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.

Landon Donovan has made progress, but not quite enough, according to U.S. soccer coach Jurgen Klinsmann who left the team’s all-time leading scorer off the roster for three World Cup qualifiers in June and two upcoming exhibition games.

“Landon is catching up,” Klinsmann said about Donovan, who took a four-month break from the game after citing physical and mental exhaustion. “We’re all excited that he has decided to continue to play. That was the first major answer that we needed to get, and now he’s just working himself back into shape and back into a playing rhythm.”

Donovan has eased back into fitness after rejoining the Los Angeles Galaxy almost six weeks ago. He had his best game of the MLS season Wednesday night with a goal and two assists in a 4-1 win at Philadelphia.

“He will get sharper and more confident with every game he’s going to play now,” Klinsmann said Thursday when the 29-player training roster was released. “We’ll watch that, we’ll monitor that and we’ll decide then when to bring him back into our picture. It’s not going to be for these upcoming games, but maybe later on we’ll definitely expect him back in the team.”

Donovan could still earn a spot on the U.S. roster if there’s injuries. He could also be asked to compete in July’s CONCACAF Gold Cup, a roster not expected to feature the U.S.’s top players.

Though disappointed, Donovan said he understood the decision. ” I’ve been gone for a long time,” he told Reuters. “I basically excused myself from the first three (qualifiers) so I understand the way the world works.” The Americans are 1-1-1 in qualifying and in a favorable position to reach the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Another notable exclusion: defender Carlos Bocanegra, the former captain who also wasn’t on the roster for a pair of qualifiers in March.

Two significant additions: Midfielder Stuart Holden returns after a 2½ year absence due to knee injuries and goalkeeper Tim Howard, who missed the March qualifiers with a back injury.

The Americans play two exhibitions against Belgium on May 29 in Cleveland, and Germany on June 2 in Washington, D.C., a celebration of U.S. Soccer’s Centennial. In World Cup qualifying, the U.S. travels to Jamaica on June 7, plays Panama four days later in Seattle and then faces Honduras in Salt Lake City on June 18.

Copyright © 2013 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.

Landon Donovan has made progress, but not quite enough, according to U.S. soccer coach Jurgen Klinsmann who left the team’s all-time leading scorer off the roster for three World Cup qualifiers in June and two upcoming exhibition games.

“Landon is catching up,” Klinsmann said about Donovan, who took a four-month break from the game after citing physical and mental exhaustion. “We’re all excited that he has decided to continue to play. That was the first major answer that we needed to get, and now he’s just working himself back into shape and back into a playing rhythm.”

Donovan has eased back into fitness after rejoining the Los Angeles Galaxy almost six weeks ago. He had his best game of the MLS season Wednesday night with a goal and two assists in a 4-1 win at Philadelphia.

“He will get sharper and more confident with every game he’s going to play now,” Klinsmann said Thursday when the 29-player training roster was released. “We’ll watch that, we’ll monitor that and we’ll decide then when to bring him back into our picture. It’s not going to be for these upcoming games, but maybe later on we’ll definitely expect him back in the team.”

Donovan could still earn a spot on the U.S. roster if there’s injuries. He could also be asked to compete in July’s CONCACAF Gold Cup, a roster not expected to feature the U.S.’s top players.

Though disappointed, Donovan said he understood the decision. ” I’ve been gone for a long time,” he told Reuters. “I basically excused myself from the first three (qualifiers) so I understand the way the world works.” The Americans are 1-1-1 in qualifying and in a favorable position to reach the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Another notable exclusion: defender Carlos Bocanegra, the former captain who also wasn’t on the roster for a pair of qualifiers in March.

Two significant additions: Midfielder Stuart Holden returns after a 2½ year absence due to knee injuries and goalkeeper Tim Howard, who missed the March qualifiers with a back injury.

The Americans play two exhibitions against Belgium on May 29 in Cleveland, and Germany on June 2 in Washington, D.C., a celebration of U.S. Soccer’s Centennial. In World Cup qualifying, the U.S. travels to Jamaica on June 7, plays Panama four days later in Seattle and then faces Honduras in Salt Lake City on June 18.

Copyright © 2013 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.

NEW YORK — In its push to keep their sport in the Olympics, wrestling will get a makeover, the acting president of the sport’s world governing body said Tuesday.

So say goodbye to singlets and hello to shirtless Greco-Roman wrestlers. The stage too could change – why be limited by a boring square mat? Taking the lead from the MMA world, wrestling is thinking big and bold when it comes to showmanship. Incorporating staged weigh-ins, walk-out music, lighting, visual effects and video screen replays are all being discussed.

“We have to think about how to make a show because without that today, it’s difficult,” FILA acting president Nenad Lalovic told USA TODAY Sports.

Former world champion Bill Scherr, chairman of the Committee for the Preservation of Olympic Wrestling, has met with UFC chief executive Dana White and Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney. MMA stars and officials have been very supportive of wrestling’s efforts. Scherr said his sport can learn about presentation from the MMA world.

“We need to think about ways to change how the stage is presented,” Scherr said. “They compete in an octagon and we compete on a mat. We don’t have to compete on a mat. We can compete in sand, we can compete in grass and we can compete on a mat or an octagon. I don’t know. We can get survey groups together and see what looks best.”

Scherr said MMA officials have helped from the public relations perspective and partnerships may be explored in the future. However, that doesn’t mean the ancient sport is going to go the way of the arm bar and head kick. “The non-violent perspective of wrestling is not going to change,” Scherr said.

Olympic champion Jordan Burroughs is all for adding some flair to his sport. “In face-offs it would be good to have something cool other than two guys walking on to the mat, shaking hands, wrestling, then walking off. It shows great sportsmanship but not very good showmanship.”

Thinking beyond the mat, the U.S., Iran and Russia will compete tomorrow at Manhattan’s Grand Central Terminal, in an event dubbed “The Rumble on the Rails.”

During a news conference held at the United Nations to promote the event, Dan Gable, the 1972 Olympic champion who went on to coach an NCAA dynasty at Iowa, stood in the back of the room and marveled at the three flags – American, Iranian and Russian – standing side by side.

He talked about that unity and about how the sport needs to embrace change. “I stand strong on whatever is necessary to get us back in,” Gable said.

Mike Novogratz is used to thinking big. He is chairman of the Beat The Streets program, which helps introduce the sport to city kids, runs a private equity and hedge fund group and is also a former Princeton wrestler. For branding purposes, and t-shirt sales, a two-piece uniform makes sense. “Two pieces? Dan will probably roll over in his grave,” he said about the legend standing next to him.

“Nah. I wore a three-piece in college,” said Gable about his time at Iowa State in the late 1960s. “A shirt, tights and a pair of shorts that went over.”

Since the IOC made its recommendation in February to remove wrestling from the Summer Games beginning in 2020, the U.S., Iran and Russia, unlikely allies in the political arena, have worked together to keep wrestling in the Olympics.

Wrestling, along with seven other sports, will make its case before the IOC executive board in St. Petersburg, Russia, on May 29. The board is expected to recommend three sports for possible inclusion. A final decision on the sport to add or keep will be made in September.

Wrestling will also move forward with significant rule changes which will be announced this weekend at FILA’s congress in Moscow. “We have to make the sport more watchable and understandable for fans, otherwise we cannot acquire more fans,” Lalovic said.

Lalovic also said the sport will add two weight classes in women’s wrestling and eliminate one each in men’s freestyle and Greco-Roman. Each discipline will have six weight classes.

The uniform changes will also be discussed and implemented next year. Freestyle wrestlers would likely wear fight shorts and a tight-fitting microfiber t-shirt. Though the singlet is iconic in wrestling, it isn’t exactly fan friendly. After all who wants to wear a singlet in public? “My own thought is to go a little more mainstream and get uniforms that look like the rest of the Olympic Games,” Scherr said.

Copyright © 2013 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.

Missy Franklin was out all night. She slammed into a few cars. She didn’t get to bed until 7 a.m. She woke up with a tattoo. Has America’s Olympic sweetheart turned all Reese Witherspoon and gone bad?

Not exactly. It was prom night. She and her date (her “best guy friend”) went with the rest of his senior class to the after-prom event at a place called the “Family Sports Center.”

“It was so fun. It was a blast,” said Franklin, still gushing after just two hours of sleep. After a night of bumper cars and dancing to the music video game DDR, she and her best girlfriend got air brush tattoos … of dolphins.

After four gold medals at the London Olympics, Franklin still is waiting for someone to shake her awake from what she calls a Hannah Montana life. Normal high school kid during the week, perhaps a Hollywood red carpet on the weekend.

Franklin, 17, finishes classes at Regis Jesuit High School in Aurora, Colo. this week then graduates May 20. Ten days later, Franklin will be on the big screen when the official film of the London Games debuts in U.S. movie theaters. FIRST: The Story of the London 2012 Olympic Games features the journeys of 12 first-time Olympians from all over the globe as they prepare for and compete in the London Games.

Though crazy busy, Franklin has been able to catch a little bit of another documentary of sorts — Ryan Lochte’s E! reality show, What Would Ryan Lochte Do?

“It’s so Ryan. He’s such an incredible, incredible guy,” Franklin said. “He loves to relax and have fun. It’s so him to be so laid back and not have a care in the world. I love that about him. Some of the things they do on the show are absolutely hilarious. I always get a kick out of when his sisters are giving him dating advice.

“I love Ryan to death. From what I’ve seen, the show shows him as someone who likes to have fun but someone who is an incredibly hard worker once they get in the pool.”

Just like Franklin, though the type of fun she likes to have is much more G-rated.

Her hard work in the pool continues with a busy summer schedule: the final Grand Prix event of the season in Santa Clara the end of May, followed by nationals in Indianapolis the end of June, then the world championships in Barcelona a month later. On Aug. 23, she leaves for California-Berkeley where she will swim the next two seasons before likely going pro in advance of the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

“I’m so excited,” Franklin said about college. “It’s scary because it’s such a big unknown. I just found out who my roommate is. I literally can’t wait because I’m so excited.”

And so perfectly Missy Franklin.

Copyright © 2013 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.

Sochi officials Wednesday announced plans to kill more than 2,000 stray cats and dogs before the 2014 Olympics, according to RBC Daily, a Russian business newspaper and the official Russian website for “public tenders.”

The stray animals will be exterminated to ensure the safety of visitors and improve the city’s image, Sergei Krivonosov, a government official from Sochi, said in an interview with RBC.

“It’s obvious that there should be no animals on the streets. We have responsibilities to the international community,” the lawmaker said. “Killing (the animals) is just a faster way to solve this task.” he said

Krivonosov added that he did not agree with the decision, but shelters would be a strain on city finances. Sochi is budgeting about $54,000 for “work to catch and dispose of” the strays.

Animal rights activists have begun to mobilize. Olga Noskovets, who organized a rally, said killing animals is an ineffective way to control its population.

“For some time, there will visually be fewer of them, but it won’t solve the problem,” she said. “Moreover, if you kill dogs and cats, the rat population starts to increase rapidly.”

Before the 2004 Athens Olympics, animal activists were outraged about rumors that the government planned to exterminate thousands of stray dogs roaming the city’s streets. Athens Mayor Dora Bakoyannis said the rumors were “absolutely untrue.” She said at the time the city of Athens “does not have, never had and never will have plans to kill our dogs.”

Copyright © 2013 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.

NEW ORLEANS — When it was Breanna Stewart’s turn to take a snip of the net after Connecticut won its eighth national title, she probably could have done it without a ladder. Given the impressive heights she’s reached as a freshman, it’s clear Connecticut’s dynasty isn’t in danger of ending anytime soon.

John Wooden’s legendary run at UCLA, in which he won 10 national titles, has always seemed like one of those records that would stand for basketball eternity.

Then along came Geno Auriemma, who has never lost an NCAA championship game. The Huskies (35-4) won their eighth national title, tying Tennessee’s record, by routing Louisville 93-60 on Tuesday. It was the most lopsided victory in a title game.

“To be there in that spot with her means a lot to me,” Auriemma said about his long-time rival Pat Summitt, whose career was cut short after last season by early-onset Alzheimer’s. Still, he said he didn’t belong to be compared to anyone but Summitt, whom he called “the greatest women’s basketball coach that’s ever lived.”

“I never beat Coach K in a game, never coached against John Wooden,” he said.

With Stewart on campus for three more years, there likely will be more hardware in UConn’s immediate future. Stewart, the game’s most outstanding player, was unstoppable, with 23 points and nine rebounds. “If we didn’t have her, we wouldn’t be here,” UConn senior Kelly Faris said.

Stewart downplayed her achievement. “I appreciate it. It’s nice,” she said, adding that the national title, that little snippet of net, means much more. “That’s the best thing,” she said.

During the last stretch of the regular season, Stewart, the 2012 national high school player of the year, settled into a scoring slump she couldn’t shake.

The 6-4 Stewart plays the game with lightness and ease. When her smile went away, Auriemma said, “I was really really worried about her.”

In the Big East tournament, Stewart rediscovered her shot, her sense of self, and most importantly her smile. “She got it back and she got it back just in time and here we are,” Auriemma said.

In the NCAA tournament, Stewart had one of the most impressive freshman runs in history. She averaged almost 21 points, six rebounds, while blocking 21 shots in five games. (She missed the first round game against Idaho with a calf injury.) With the national title, she accomplished something that neither Diana Taurasi or Maya Moore achieved as freshman.

Many believe Stewart, who’s from Syracuse, N.Y., could be the greatest player in UConn history. Louisville probably wouldn’t argue.

“She’s a freak of nature. She’s got a wingspan that’s close to Brittney Griner’s, I think,” said Louisville’s Sara Hammond, who led the Cardinals with 15 points. Baylor’s Griner is 6-8.

Hammond said that because Stewart can hit jumpers from anywhere on the court, post you up, take you off the dribble and block your shot when you least expect it, she’s an impossible match-up.

The needling that takes place between star and coach is an Auriemma staple. Over the years, and the eight national championships, the mock exasperation and sarcasm go back and forth with easy banter. Stewart became Auriemma’s new foil.

In his postgame press conference, he began by effusively praising Faris. “She deserves this championship because she competes for a national championship every day in everything she does. I’m really, really happy for her,” Auriemma said. Then he looked over at his freshman. “Stewy,” he said. “Eh.”

Despite the ribbing, which goes back and forth, Stewart’s actions when she left the podium said it all. She hugged Auriemma tightly, then mussed his perfectly coiffed hair.

Given the rout, Griner, and many others, felt a Baylor-UConn final would have been a much better show. Baylor handed the Huskies one of their four losses this season. (Notre Dame beat UConn three times this season but lost to the Huskies in the national semifinals.)

During UConn’s 19-0 run in the first half, Griner tweeted: “It’s a wrap!! Show no mercy.” Griner became a Huskies fan after the Cardinals bumped Baylor out of the tournament in a regional final.

“I’m not going to sit here and tell you that if Baylor had been in this game against us, we win by 30,” Auriemma said. “Things had to break right a little bit for us. But that’s just the way the tournament goes.”

Not even Louisville men’s coach Rick Pitino, who delivered a pregame pep talk, could lift the Cardinals. In January when these two teams last played, the Huskies (minus Stewart, who had an ankle injury) easily dispatched Louisville by 14 points. Since then, Stewart’s dominance has made the Huskies even better. Their relentless defensive pressure wore the Cardinals down. They also beat Louisville at their own game, hitting 13 three-pointers. The Cardinals’ storybook run was built on their long-range prowess.

Louisville’s only other trip to the championship game, in 2009, ended with a loss to UConn. Louisville (29-9) has beaten UConn only once — in 1993, the first game of their 14 meetings. Eight of UConn’s wins have been by 20 or more points, none more devastating than Tuesday night’s.

As soon as the nets were cut down, the dance party began. As the Huskies headed off the court, they lofted Auriemma on their shoulders. But, somehow he ended up horizontal, as if he was crowd surfing. Despite the awkward exit, it didn’t matter. With eight down, two more to go, history is in reach.

Copyright © 2013 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.

NEW ORLEANS – All throughout the women’s NCAA tournament, destiny has seemingly been on Louisville’s side.

Along the way, the Cardinals improbably knocked off defending champ Baylor, put away eight-time national champ Tennessee with ease and became only the second No. 5 seed to reach the national semifinals. Then against California on Sunday, they made history becoming the lowest-seeded team to win a national semifinal.

With a 64-57 win, Louisville secured a spot in Tuesday’s national championship game against Connecticut, which beat Notre Dame 83-65.

UConn, which beat the Irish for the first time in four tries this season, was led by freshman forward Breanna Stewart’s 29 points, a career high, and four blocks.

The women will have an all Big East title game. With the men’s team also in the championship game, Louisville is hoping to pull off a rare double-double. Only one school, Connecticut in 2004, has won both the men’s and women’s titles in the same season.

This season the Cardinals lost to UConn, 72-58.

Soon after the game, Louisville coach Jeff Walz wasn’t ready to talk about the heavy challenge ahead. “We’re going to enjoy this and go on Bourbon Street as long as they’re back by 2, we’re OK,” he said of the team curfew.

“We got a problem. Louisville really thinks they’re the best team in the country right now,” UConn coach Geno Auriemma said about the confident Cardinals. “They probably think it would be a huge upset if we win that.”

After trailing by 10 at the half, Louisville took its first lead since early in the the game with less than four minutes remaining and held on in a frenzied finish. Antonita Slaughter led all scorers with 18 points, followed by Bria Smith’s 17. Slaughter hit 60% from three-point range, nailing six-of-10. In the end, the Bears were undone by 19 turnovers.

“Tonight, we’re down by 10 at half and then we just chipped away and chipped away,” Walz said. “Once we took our first lead I saw it in our kids’ eyes. We can do this.”

The Cardinals’ only other Final Four trip was in 2009 behind Angel McCoughtry, which ended in a loss to UConn in the championship game.

Louisville’s run in the tournament is as improbable as the team itself. The most exciting player throughout their journey had been Louisville guard Shoni Schimmel, but on Sunday, she took more of a complementary role than a starring one. She was held to 10 points with six assists. Instead, her younger sister, Jude, had more of an impact.

The Schimmels might be the most intriguing story in the Final Four. They grew up in Mission, Ore., on the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation.

Walz, too, is a bit of an atypical coach. With a speech impediment, he takes plenty of ribbing from his team about his stutter and dishes back just as much. He’s also the polar opposite of the Cardinals better known men’s coach.

Though both are at their respective Final Fours, the differences between Rick Pitino and Walz are about as wide as the Ohio River.

Walz is 41. Pitino is 60. Walz grew up in Kentucky and played at Northern Kentucky. Pitino is from New York and played at UMass.

Pitino makes bold fashion choices and isn’t shy about rocking an all-white suit and Gucci loafers. Walz is definitely an off-the-rack (or out-of –the-hamper) type of guy.

Against California, on the biggest of stages on Sunday, Walz didn’t do an an extreme makeover. He wore an open-collared shirt that looked like graph paper with red lines. “I’m wearing the same thing I always wear,” Walz said. Which is certainly not a suit jacket or tie.

Auriemma, a fancy dresser himself, took a jab at Walz’s attire. “He had an Italian table cloth for a shirt today,” Auriemma joked. “I was going to hire him for my restaurant.” (Then Auriemma praised him profusely: “I don’t think there’s anyone I respect more for their coaching ability than Jeff in our league.”)

Walz would like to start a new trend, though. He’s lobbying for sartorial change. “I’m trying to get it approved to be like a baseball coach and just wear a uniform,” he said.

Even if Walz made Pitino cash, he likely wouldn’t spend it on a wardrobe upgrade. Walz has a base salary of $700,775, with $8,000 in endorsements, according to his contract obtained by USA TODAY Sports. Pitino’s base is $3.9 million with $602,500 in endorsements.

Walz views the soon-to-be Hall of Famer as a mentor of sorts – in all areas but fashion. “If I’ve got a basketball question, I can pick up the phone and call him,” Walz said.

Now both are hoping to win a national title. They texted each other Saturday, passing on wishes of good luck.

Now both can do the same one more time.

Copyright © 2013 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.

NEW ORLEANS – All throughout the women’s NCAA tournament, destiny has seemingly been on Louisville’s side.

Along the way, the Cardinals improbably knocked off defending champ Baylor, put away eight-time national champ Tennessee with ease and became only the second No. 5 seed to reach the national semifinals. Then against California on Sunday, they made history becoming the lowest-seeded team to win a national semifinal.

With a 64-57 win, Louisville secured a spot in Tuesday’s national championship game against Connecticut, which beat Notre Dame 83-65.

UConn, which beat the Irish for the first time in four tries this season, was led by freshman forward Breanna Stewart’s 29 points, a career high, and four blocks.

The women will have an all Big East title game. With the men’s team also in the championship game, Louisville is hoping to pull off a rare double-double. Only one school, Connecticut in 2004, has won both the men’s and women’s titles in the same season.

This season the Cardinals lost to UConn, 72-58.

Soon after the game, Louisville coach Jeff Walz wasn’t ready to talk about the heavy challenge ahead. “We’re going to enjoy this and go on Bourbon Street as long as they’re back by 2, we’re OK,” he said of the team curfew.

“We got a problem. Louisville really thinks they’re the best team in the country right now,” UConn coach Geno Auriemma said about the confident Cardinals. “They probably think it would be a huge upset if we win that.”

After trailing by 10 at the half, Louisville took its first lead since early in the the game with less than four minutes remaining and held on in a frenzied finish. Antonita Slaughter led all scorers with 18 points, followed by Bria Smith’s 17. Slaughter hit 60% from three-point range, nailing six-of-10. In the end, the Bears were undone by 19 turnovers.

“Tonight, we’re down by 10 at half and then we just chipped away and chipped away,” Walz said. “Once we took our first lead I saw it in our kids’ eyes. We can do this.”

The Cardinals’ only other Final Four trip was in 2009 behind Angel McCoughtry, which ended in a loss to UConn in the championship game.

Louisville’s run in the tournament is as improbable as the team itself. The most exciting player throughout their journey had been Louisville guard Shoni Schimmel, but on Sunday, she took more of a complementary role than a starring one. She was held to 10 points with six assists. Instead, her younger sister, Jude, had more of an impact.

The Schimmels might be the most intriguing story in the Final Four. They grew up in Mission, Ore., on the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation.

Walz, too, is a bit of an atypical coach. With a speech impediment, he takes plenty of ribbing from his team about his stutter and dishes back just as much. He’s also the polar opposite of the Cardinals better known men’s coach.

Though both are at their respective Final Fours, the differences between Rick Pitino and Walz are about as wide as the Ohio River.

Walz is 41. Pitino is 60. Walz grew up in Kentucky and played at Northern Kentucky. Pitino is from New York and played at UMass.

Pitino makes bold fashion choices and isn’t shy about rocking an all-white suit and Gucci loafers. Walz is definitely an off-the-rack (or out-of –the-hamper) type of guy.

Against California, on the biggest of stages on Sunday, Walz didn’t do an an extreme makeover. He wore an open-collared shirt that looked like graph paper with red lines. “I’m wearing the same thing I always wear,” Walz said. Which is certainly not a suit jacket or tie.

Auriemma, a fancy dresser himself, took a jab at Walz’s attire. “He had an Italian table cloth for a shirt today,” Auriemma joked. “I was going to hire him for my restaurant.” (Then Auriemma praised him profusely: “I don’t think there’s anyone I respect more for their coaching ability than Jeff in our league.”)

Walz would like to start a new trend, though. He’s lobbying for sartorial change. “I’m trying to get it approved to be like a baseball coach and just wear a uniform,” he said.

Even if Walz made Pitino cash, he likely wouldn’t spend it on a wardrobe upgrade. Walz has a base salary of $700,775, with $8,000 in endorsements, according to his contract obtained by USA TODAY Sports. Pitino’s base is $3.9 million with $602,500 in endorsements.

Walz views the soon-to-be Hall of Famer as a mentor of sorts – in all areas but fashion. “If I’ve got a basketball question, I can pick up the phone and call him,” Walz said.

Now both are hoping to win a national title. They texted each other Saturday, passing on wishes of good luck.

Now both can do the same one more time.

Copyright © 2013 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.

Ryan Lochte isn’t dating Kanye West. Nor is he related to Bruce Jenner. But he does share something in common with Kim Kardashian.

“We both have our own reality TV shows,” the Olympic swimmer said Thursday about his new E! series What Would Ryan Lochte Do?, which premieres April 21. Lochte also hopes his show leads to a similar branding empire.

“I have the most respect for her with her business and what she’s done,” he said. “She started from nothing and now look at her. You can ask anyone and they’re going to know who she is. She’s handled herself really well throughout the years of doing her own show. She’s a star.”

To prepare for the taping of the six-episode show, Lochte tuned in to Kourtney and Kim Take Miami. “I started watching to try to learn what to expect,” he told USA TODAY Sports. “The whole Kardashian family, they have a bunch of energy. Wow, this was awesome. That’s how my family is. We all have a bunch of energy and we are all different.”

Lochte hasn’t met Kardashian yet, but he has met Jenner. Most who grew up in the Reality Show Generation simply know Jenner as Kardashian’s stepfather. But once upon a time, Jenner’s fame was based on the 1976 Olympic gold medal he won in the decathlon.

“I hope that doesn’t happen with me,” said Lochte, who met Jenner at the Olympics. “Just because I love swimming. I hope people don’t lose that about me.”

Now that taping for the show is over, Lochte is back in Gainesville, Fla., training six to seven hours daily, focused on what brought him such attention in the first place.

“I’m back in my normal routine, getting my butt whipped all the time,” he said about preparation for July’s world championships in Barcelona.

How he’s remembered in years to come remains to be seen. According to a feature in this week’s Hollywood Reporter, the show will put Lochte’s relevancy to the ultimate test: “Was he just a flash in the pan, or is he a personality whose cultural relevance can endure over the three long years until the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro?”

“Not to have a big head about it,” he told the magazine, “but people love me.”

Copyright © 2013 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.