Gästebereich » so important to the overall quality of the game. N

If Angelique Kerber is the type of thoughtful person who still writes thank-you notes, she probably has one in the mail right now to Serena Williams.Williams, the No. 2-ranked woman tennis player in the world (it still seems strange to read that, right?), basically handed No. 1 Kerber the year-end No. 1 ranking for 2016 when Williams declared that she was pulling out of the critical tournaments in Wuhan and Beijing.The decision torpedoed the scenario that both the ATP and WTA dreamed about when they created their tours and year-end championships: a battle for the top ranking that goes down to the wire, long after the last ball in Grand Slam tournament play is called out.I am disappointed that I will not be able to compete at the Dongfeng Motor Wuhan Open or the China Open due to continuing issues with my right shoulder, Williams said in a statement published on the WTA website last Friday. I have been practicing and playing but my shoulder is still not fit for tournament play. ... I am focused on getting ready to compete at the WTA Finals in Singapore.Problem: Kerber already leads Williams in the rankings by more points than the challenger could earn by winning Singapore. True, Kerber will be defending 1,215 points she earned last fall, but keep in mind she didnt win a single title and had a terrible WTA championships, which means there is a more than likely chance she will build on her lead over Williams.Williams obviously feels no need to put the Kerber genie back in the bottle. Williams has her own priorities, which clearly do not include finishing the year ranked No. 1. That might explain why she declared the subject off limits as Kerber closed on the top spot through the summer. It might not be as baffling a position as it appears. Williams shares the record (men and women) for more Grand Slam titles (22) in the Open era with Steffi Graf. Those two also hold the record for most consecutive weeks at No. 1 (186).Williams is 35 and shes been No. 1 for 309 cumulative weeks (good for No. 3 on the all-time list headed by Graf, then Martina Navratilova). Williams has been the year-end No. 1 five times. Adding another year to that count doesnt seem nearly as succulent a goal as bagging another major to surpass Graf.Finishing No. 1 for 2016 certainly wouldnt be worth the price if it left her unfit for the new year.Williams abdication might be disappointing, but theres evidence that shes offering delayed gratification in the form of a big, new push in 2017. In what might have been a rare moment of transparency last week, she told CNN, Im tired of playing tournaments unhealthy and taking losses that I would never lose.If Williams already has vengeful eyes riveted on 2017, Singapore becomes more of a question mark. Williams played no tennis after the US Open last year but nevertheless went on to reach the Australian Open final. Would she spurn the WTA Championships for two years in a row? Williams might be obliged to show up, but she cant be forced to train hard or arrive ready to play at full capacity. We wont be able to take the true measure of Williams until next January.Its almost impossible to see Williams going into the Australian Open as the No. 1 seed. She will be seen through different eyes in the locker room. She will know a different form of pressure at a time in her career when she seems to forget far too often how she became dominant. Williams might be great theater these days, but some still prefer the lethal, steely-eyed player who once struck fear in the heart of every opponent without a single shriek, clenched fist or shout of, Come on!After Australia, Williams went on to reach the French Open final and won Wimbledon. She closed out the season with a surprising semifinal loss to Karolina Pliskova. That setback reminded us that in many ways, Williams has become a suffering champion, which has brought her unprecedented attention.Now she must prove the rumors of her latest demise have been greatly exaggerated and that she has one last run in her. Call it: Serenas Last Stand. Wholesale Nike Shoes . And follow TSN.ca right through Deadline Day for all the updates. From Pierre LeBrun While Anaheim GM Bob Murray said earlier this season he was not going to trade Jonas Hiller despite the fact hes an unrestricted free agent on July 1, some sources have told TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun that Murray might be willing to move another goalie. Discount Nike Shoes . I cant pinpoint a date, but I do remember a player from my youth. Brian Downing was with the Chicago White Sox at a time when I listened to every game I possibly could on the radio. That particular season the late great Harry Caray was calling the White Sox games. http://www.cheapnikeshoesdiscount.com/ . Listen to the game live on TSN Radio 1050 at 7pm et. The Raptors traded Rudy Gay, Quincy Acy and Aaron Gray to the Sacramento Kings on Monday, in exchange for Greivis Vasquez, John Salmons, Patrick Patterson and Chuck Hayes. Cheap Nike Shoes China . Three came down to the fourth quarter while quarterbacks continued to shine in all four games; so important to the overall quality of the game. NEW HAVEN, Conn. -- Jake Melville threw for 315 yards and a career-high five touchdowns as Colgate streaked past Yale 55-13 on Saturday.Melville, who was 22-of-32 passing, threw for 219 yards and three touchdowns in the first half as Colgate (1-1) dominated throughout, rolling to a 35-13 halftime advantage.John Maddaluna pulled in seven passes for 147 yards with one TD and Nick Martinsen grabbed five for 69 yards and two scores.Colgate had 558 total yards while limiting Yale to 188.The Raiders defense shut down the YYale running game, allowing just 12 yards on the ground.dddddddddddd Pat Afriyie and Trent Williams had two sacks apiece and both totaled three tackles for loss. The Raiders also picked off four Yale passes.Rafe Chapple led Yale (0-1), throwing for 139 yards and one score.Yale scored first when Chapple hit Christopher Williams from the 11. Colgate responded with three straight touchdowns. ' ' '