Dein erstes Forum » You do that and yoou dont give yourselves a chance

Given the long and grueling march Andy Murray endured to finally get to the summit of mens tennis, it seems like sweet justice that the 29-year-old Scot now gets to enjoy sitting atop the world rankings for a few weeks longer. His rout of longtime nemesis Novak Djokovic on Sunday in the year-ending ATP World Finals ensured that Murray will have top ranking until at least the beginning of 2017.Murray has rarely accomplished anything great quickly. Its just not his M.O. But his careerlong habit of stubbornly persevering, come what may, is precisely what lifted and distinguished him in a mens tennis year that became a war of attrition by the end of 2016.First, Roger Federer fell out, injured. Then Rafael Nadal, too. After finally winning the French Open for the first time and holding all four Slam titles at once, Djokovic abruptly hit a wall that seemed more mental than physical. Djokovics results the past five months of his year, starting with his third-round flameout at Wimbledon, featured a series of upsets and occasional tantrums on the court that left him looking like a man sapped of self-belief by Sundays straight-sets loss to Murray.But it would be too easy (and unfair) to say Murray simply feasted on other peoples absences or mistakes on his way to becoming the oldest first-time No. 1 since Australias John Newcombe earned the top spot at the age of 30 in 1974. Murray is better than that.Murray is a three-time major champion, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and a Davis Cup champ. He plays some of the best defense in the game, returns magnificently and runs down balls others dont bother to chase. The conviction it took him to physically build himself up from a string bean kid from Scotland who had some promise into an indefatigable athlete who can handle the kind of workloads he routinely endures at major events is a talent. The same goes for his ability to remain resolute as he tried and tried to crash the Federer-Nadal-Djokovic stranglehold on the top and finally succeeded, ending all that dismissive talk that the Big Four was really the Big Three-and-a-Half.A lesser competitor wouldve said the hell with it a long time ago.So it was a little odd Sunday to hear Murray say, I never, ever imagined [No. 1] was possible after he defeated Djokovic before a raucous crowd that cheered the Scot on and on at Londons O2 Arena.His disclaimer is hard to believe.Murray has not only navigated an era in which the three champions in front of him hoarded 43 Grand Slam titles (Federer, 17; Nadal, 14; Djokovic, 12). He also had to carry the hopes of tennis-mad Britain on his shoulders. And at times, never more so than at Wimbledon, it was hard to know whose hovering presence was more of a burden for Murray: the ghost of 1930s champion Fred Perry, the last British man to win the All-England Club title before Murray, or poor star-crossed Tim Henman, who came tantalizingly close to winning Wimbledon between 1998 and 2002 but never did.Last week, Murray even heard -- unfairly -- that there was an asterisk next to his year-closing rush to No. 1 because he hadnt beaten a top-five player between the US Open in September and ATP Finals week. And he was right to parry back, telling reporters, I can only beat the people in front of me. And I did that this week.He sandwiched career-best winning streaks of 22 and now 24 matches (and counting) around his grouchy quarterfinal loss to Kei Nishikori at the US Open. Murray finished the year with a tour-best nine titles.His June reunion with Ivan Lendl as his coach has the same transformative effect on him that their work together the first time around did. Lendl demands that Murray play with a calm that even Murray wasnt sure he could achieve.Looking forward now, Murrays ability to hang onto the No. 1 ranking sets up a fascinating dynamic for 2017. It should be one of the most interesting mens tennis seasons in years because of the uncertainty, the sentimentality in play and new faces involved.Remember, Murray wasnt the only player rising in 2016 while Federer, Nadal and Djokovic slid backward or tried to stay in the top 10. Stan Wawrinka, who beat Djokovic for the US Open title, affirmed his stature as the most dangerous floater in every Grand Slam draw.All of this was new: Milos Raonic finally showed signs of becoming a big-tournament threat, not just a big server. Argentinas Juan Martin del Potro gave fans hope that his long-running wrist problems might finally go away long enough to let him contend for majors again.Nishikori continued to run down balls and wins like the second coming of Lleyton Hewitt, and Marin Cilic remains capable of giant-killing tears, too. Dominic Thiem, the most successful of the #nextgen players the ATP is pushing, finished ranked No. 10 but was playing on fumes by August. Hopefully, he learned a lot this year about overscheduling himself.If Australian bad boy Nick Kyrgios comes back from his suspension and fines for tanking an autumn match in China with his head finally screwed on straight -- a big if -- and countryman Bernard Tomic tones down his antics, too, Murray wont be the only one troubling Federer and Nadal as they try to prove once again their days as major title contenders arent over. Even 19-year-old Alexander Zverev, the youngest player in the top 50, has the talent to break through like Thiem did this year.But all of them have to pursue Murray now. And Murray has proved he will not be easy to catch or tire of the race.He was only 22 the first time he got to No. 2 in the world.It took him seven years and 82 days to take this last step up to No. 1. Murrays title win in Paris two weeks ago ended Djokovics 122-week run at the top. Sundays win was only Murrays 11th against Djokovic in 35 career showdowns.Djokovic, who is also 29, has still not elaborated on the personal problems that he said weighed on him this fall. But he will have time to mend now, same as Federer and Nadal have.All of them should return refreshed and ready when the tuneups for the Australian Open arrive in January.But Andy Murray, so long the tortoise among the hares, finally has everyone pursuing him for a change.Sunday, he shook his head when reminded of that.Pretty special, he said. Patrick Ewing Jersey . PETERSBURG, Fla. Sarunas Marciulionis Jersey . Once again, DeLaet finished tied for second at a PGA Tour stop on the weekend, this time at the Waste Management Phoenix Open. The pride of Weyburn, Sask. https://www.cheapthunder.com/ .J. -- Josh Cribbs was in the Pro Bowl in February and out of a job six months later. Art Harris Jersey . Manuel was offered a position the day he was fired. He accepted earlier this week and the team made the announcement Friday. Jim McIlvaine Jersey . Bryant, who signed a five-year, $34 million contract as a free agent with Cleveland in March, reported symptoms on Monday morning, a team spokesman said. CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The Kansas City Chiefs had no offensive touchdowns, and their defense was on the field for much of the afternoon.No big deal. They found another way to win -- again.Marcus Peters stripped Kelvin Benjamin with 20 seconds left, Cairo Santos kicked a 37-yard field goal as time expired, and the Chiefs overcame a 17-point deficit to top the Carolina Panthers 20-17 on Sunday.The game was tied when Benjamin caught a 14-yard pass from Cam Newton at his own 34. Peters ripped the ball from his arms and returned it to the Carolina 24.I took it from him. It was simple, Peters said.Santos fourth field goal of the day split the uprights, lifting the Chiefs to their fifth straight victory and 17th win in their last 19 games.This group has some character, Kansas City coach Andy Reid said. It doesnt mean you win every game but when you play like this you give yourself an opportunity to win.The Chiefs also put together an impressive rally in a 33-27 victory against San Diego on Sept. 11, erasing a 21-point deficit.Eric Berry provided a big spark, returning an interception 42 yards for a touchdown. Newton made a huge mistake on the play, simply throwing the ball up while under pressure.Alex Smith threw for 178 yards and Spencer Ware ran for 61 yards for the Chiefs, who managed just 256 yards overall. But Kansas Citys defense came up with big plays when needed.Things dont go your way sometimes, Berry said. You have to make them go your way. I knew there would be an opportunity somewhere. We had to make it count.Berrys big play helped the Chiefs (7-2) move into a tie for first place in the AFC West with the idle Oakland Raiders.Newton threw for 261 yards and a touchdown and ran for 54 yards and a score for the Panthers (3-6).The game turned late in the third quarter when Chris Jones sacked Newton for a 12-yard loss on third-and-18 at the Kansas City 28, taking the Panthers out of field goal range. Instead of making it a three-possession game, the Panthers were forced to punt.We cant take back-to-back sacks, Panthers coach Ron Rivera said. We cant have two negatives plays like that. You do that and yoou dont give yourselves a chance to win the football game.ddddddddddddThe Chiefs kicked a field goal to make it 17-6 before Berrys interception return and Smiths pass to Travis Kelce for the conversion. Santos third field goal tied it with 4:25 left.We didnt keep the aggression as a whole, Newton said. It starts with me as the leader of the offense to realize that every play counts. ... Its keeping the foot on the pedal and knowing that we have to finish.The Panthers had won two straight and were looking to get back in the playoff hunt, but remain three games behind the division-leading Atlanta Falcons and two games behind Tampa Bay and New Orleans in the NFC South.We have put our backs completely and utterly up against the wall now. There is no room for error, Rivera said.NEWTONS NUMBERSNewton established franchise records for pass completions and touchdowns rushing.Newton passed Jake Delhomme for the most completions in franchise history with 1,581 with a strike to Greg Olsen in the first quarter and DeAngelo Williams with his 47th career TD rushing.ODD STAT OF THE DAYThe Panthers had a 20-play drive in the third quarter that took more than 10 minutes off the clock, but came away with no points.WHAT WAS THATSmith threw a pass late in the fourth quarter that was batted up in the air. He caught the ball, which is legal, but then attempted to throw the ball a second time. At that point flags were flying everywhere and the Chiefs were penalized 5 yards for an illegal second forward pass.INJURIESChiefs: Cornerback Phillip Gaines left with a neck injury in the third quarter.Panthers: Kicker Graham Gano was forced to handle punting duties in the first quarter after Andy Lee injured his hamstring. Ganos first punt since 2010 went for 42 yards but he struggled on trying to pin the Chiefs inside the 20.UP NEXTChiefs: Return home to host another NFC South foe in Tampa Bay next Sunday.Panthers: The Panthers have a quick turnaround, hosting the New Orleans Saints on Thursday night. ' ' '