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DAKAR, Senegal -- Former British police officer Ben Hooper hopes to make history by swimming every mile of the Atlantic Ocean from Africa to South America. After more than three years of preparation, he set off on Sunday.The 38-year-old walked down a beach in Dakar and into the Atlantic Ocean, launching a swim for 1,635 nautical miles, or nearly 2,000 land miles (3,200 kilometers), from Senegal to Brazil.This is for my daughter, said Hooper, who filled a water bottle with sand to keep for the 8-year-old who he said inspired the swim. Its been a long time coming.Flanked by two boats and a crew of less than a dozen, Hooper aims to be the first person to swim every mile of the Atlantic Ocean from continent to continent, stepping on land again in March.He says he trained three years as he gathered a crew for the Big Blue, the main boat on which he will eat and sleep when he is not swimming for about eight hours each day through waters infested with sharks and jellyfish.Water has loomed large in his life.I nearly drowned when I was 5 in a swimming pool in Belgium, Hooper told The Associated Press. Ever since ... Ive had this affinity with water. It was the calmest Ive ever felt.Hooper said he had a bout of depression about 3 1/2 years ago and decided to turn his life around for his daughter. So he looked to water.Nobody had swum a full ocean. More people have landed on the moon than have tried this, so at that point I thought maybe this is my calling, said Hooper. If I can inspire myself, other people and raise money for charity, why not do it?Inspired by British explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes, Hooper said he hopes to motivate others, especially children, to swim.Funding for the expedition has taken time, and the launch was set back several times as various crew members dropped out and the boats faced mechanical issues.This will be a major achievement overall, said Nigel Taylor-Schofield, the captain of Big Blue. If anybody can accomplish this, it would be Ben. He is very determined.The crew, including a paramedic, will track the miles, and Hooper has said if he gets to Brazil with the help of currents, he will swim until he fulfills the full Atlantic mileage.The challenges, be it marine life, dehydration, and more, will be vast, but Hooper says his biggest fear is letting the team and his daughter down. Hell listen to a playlist on customized earphones that he said will include eurotrash music, Eminem and The Scripts Hall of Fame. Hooper will also wear various gear that helps camouflage him from sharks, and a tracking device so supporters can follow his nearly five-month swim online.Around 10:30 a.m. on the beach outside the Monaco Plage hotel in Dakar, Hooper and the crew were ready.See you in Brazil, he said, before eventually swimming off into the sunlit waters toward his goal.---http://www.swimthebigblue.com/--Follow Carley Petesch on Twitter at www.twitter.com/carleypeteschCustom Nike Baseball Jerseys 2020 . How great will be revealed in the next couple of days at the board of governors meeting in Pebble Beach, Calif. Custom Baltimore Orioles Nike Jerseys . There are some early surprises in the race for the Hart Trophy, but two of the contenders are the leagues biggest stars over the past decade. There are many more players in contention for the awards than just the three that Ive named, and a good or bad week can easily alter the landscape, but through the first 20 or so games of the NHL season, this is how the awards races look to me. https://www.custombaseballnikejerseys.com/?tag=custom-texas-rangers-nike-jerseys .Y. -- Sabres defenceman Tyler Myers had no intention of changing his hard-hitting style before taking part in a disciplinary hearing for his illegal check to New Jersey forward Dainius Zubrus head. Custom New York Mets Nike Jerseys . -- Playing time has been limited for Maxim Tissot this season, so the Montreal Impact defender made the most of his first scoring opportunity on Saturday. Custom Arizona Diamondbacks Nike Jerseys . Newcastle dominated in the early stages but City weathered the storm and then raised its game in extra time. Negredo broke the deadlock from close range after a simple move in the 99th minute before Dzeko took the ball round goalkeeper Tim Krul to seal the victory in the 105th.BAGSHOT, England -- The Los Angeles Rams have allowed more than 400 total yards twice this season and won both games.Thats why theyre not concerned by any potential challenge posed at Twickenham Stadium in southwest London on Sunday by New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr.He does some great things for their offense, and we definitely have our work cut out for us with him, but were ready for that challenge, strong safety T.J. McDonald said. Were going to go out there and execute the plan.Beckham is expected to play despite missing time at practice this week with a hip injury. Hes listed as probable on the injury report.That injury, sustained in the first half of the Giants 27-23 victory over the Baltimore Ravens, didnt seem to hamper him. He finished with 222 yards on eight catches, including a 75-yard touchdown grab in the third quarter and the deciding 66-yard touchdown reception with 1:24 remaining.Beckham was back in the spotlight for his performance and the antics of his elaborate touchdown celebrations.The Rams know Beckham well, having engaged in a brawl on the Giants sideline during a game in December 2014. The melee involved nearly 20 players after Alec Ogletree hit Beckham out of bounds and drove him into the ground. Three Giants and one Ram were ejected.Youve got to protect yourself at all times, Beckham said Friday when asked if hed be on the lookout for late hits. You dont need stuff like that to happen, like what happened last time.It shouldnt be a big issue. ... I always say: `Stay ready so you dont have to get ready.Players insisted all week the incident is irrelevant, and defensive backs downplayed any desire to get an edge by baiting Beckham.Obviously, Ive seen the (antics) and everything, but thats not really my game, Rams cornerback E.J. Gaines said. I like to keep my own head out there and worry about what I need to do to make some plays for this defense.Los Angeles coach Jeff Fisher praised Beckham, saying he has a chance to go down as one of the all-time best.After surpassing 100 receiving yards in a game eight times last year, hes done that once this season -- against the Washington Redskins in Week 3 -- and didnt score a touchdown until the Giants loss to the Green Bay Packers in Week 5.The Rams (3-3), who entered the week with the 16th-ranked pass defense at 246.2 yards per game, have allowed three players to gain more than 100 receiving yards this season. Only the Detroit Lions Golden Tate, who had 165 yards and a touchdown last Sunday, emerged with a victory.Los Angeles again will be without cornerback Trumaine Johnson, who has been declared out because of a high ankle sprain that also kept him from facing Detroit. Gaines and Troy Hill, who last week became the fourth starting tandem the Rams used this season, figure to continue in those roles.One of those former starters, Coty Sensabaugh, was released on Oct. 8 and later picked up by the Giants.Theyve all grown because we have a next-man-up philosophy, defensive coordinator Gregg Willams said. We have to be able to step up and do yoour job in this league.ddddddddddddhe Giants (3-3) signed kicker Robbie Gould after Josh Brown was not allowed to travel with the team to London on Thursday. The NFL is reopening its investigation into a 2015 domestic abuse complaint made by Browns former wife after police released journal entries and emails in which the place-kicker admitted repeatedly verbally and physically abusing her.This week should be the return of defensive end Robert Quinn, who missed the last two games with what he said was a freak shoulder injury. Hes considered questionable.Quinn, who has averaged nearly a sack a game over the past four seasons but has just two in four games, could help the defense put more pressure on Giants quarterback Eli Manning. If Manning has less time to throw, he has less time to get the ball to Beckham and other wide receivers, which could lighten the burden on the Rams secondary.I think guys are just ready to get our blood back going ... because were definitely a little disappointed about our last couple performances, Quinn said. I think guys are just a little antsy and, like I said, ready to prove that were a lot better than we showed these last two weeks.DUKES HOME: The Giants have made the Duke of Northumberlands ancestral home their base of operations for their three-day stay in London. The 200-acre (80-hectare) Syon Park in suburban southwest London features extensive gardens along the banks of the Thames, a castle-style residence with statue-lined halls and gilded ceilings, a spa hotel, a trout fishery and, until Sunday, a makeshift football field. ... Several Giants showed they know little about London, mostly failing in a team video to identify Big Ben, the London Eye, Abbey Road and Tower Bridge. All managed to recognize Twickenham Stadium as the place theyre playing -- except Rashad Jennings, who called it Wembley.LAST TIME IN LONDON: The Giants last played here in the first NFL game on Oct. 28, 2007, a 13-10 victory against the winless Miami Dolphins. It wasnt pretty as New York prevailed amid rain, mud, seven fumbles and a chorus of boos. The NFL overseas project survived that wretched start to achieve nearly a decade straight of sold-out successes at Wembley Stadium, the home of English soccer. The game Sunday will be the 16th in London, the second of three this season. Its the first held at Twickenham Stadium, home of Englands rugby team.Game notesDT Michael Brockers (thigh) has also been ruled out, while LG Jamon Brown (hand) and WR Nelson Spruce (calf) are considered doubtful. ... Cornerback Dwayne Gratz is expected to play in his fifth game in London and second this season. Drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2012, he was cut and claimed off waivers by the Rams on Oct. 11. I havent been the tour guide, he said. I should be. Ive got a lot of experience here.---Online:AP NFL website: http://www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL coverage on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '