ne of my top priorities every year. While spectacular to watch

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. Air Max 97 Undefeated Olive . President of baseball operations Larry Beinfest was fired Friday after 12 years with the Marlins. The move came as the team neared the end of its third consecutive last-place season in the NL East. Nike Air Max 98 Og Buy . From filmmaker Nanette Burstein (On the Ropes), The Price of Gold revisits the saga that rocked the figure skating world ahead of the 1994 Lillehammer Olympic Winter Games: the assault on Nancy Kerrigan, and the plot that led its way back to her rival Tonya Harding. http://www.prestotrainersuk.com/uk-cheap-nike-air-footscape-magista-51/ . The players spoke Jan. 13 during a Major League Baseball Players Association conference call after Rodriguez sued the union and Major League Baseball to overturn an arbitrators decision suspending him for the 2014 season and post-season. Nike Presto Uk . Collaros, 25, was solid last season, posting a 5-2 record as the starter while incumbent Ricky Ray was injured. Collaros also started Torontos 23-20 regular-season finale loss to Montreal — Ray didnt dress because the Argos had already clinched first in the East Division — but was one of three quarterbacks to play that day. Nike Air Vapormax Flyknit Moc Womens Running Shoe . Now tied for second in the league in shootout goals, the 24-year-old likes to see what the opposing goaltender has in store before he ultimately lands on a move. The 12th annual Tour of California will race from the state capitol in Sacramento to the finish in Pasadena with seven stages covering 600 miles from May 14-20.Other host cities are Big Bear Lake, site of the individual time trial, Modesto, Morro Bay, Mount Baldy, Mountain High, Ontario, Pismo Beach, San Jose, Santa Barbara and Santa Clarita.Event owner AEG says next years race has been elevated to UCI WorldTour status, the only stage race in North America with that designation.Racing in the Amgen Tour of California is always one of my top priorities every year. While spectacular to watch from a scenic standpoint, the route is consistently tough and challenging and one that brings out the best in all of the riders, 2015 champ Peter Sagan said in a statement.dddddddddddd The incredible fans and all of the cities of California that we get to visit truly makes the Amgen Tour of California one of the best experiences of the year for me.The womens race will involve four stages starting in South Lake Tahoe and finishing in Sacramento from May 11-14.Check out the full race map, courtesy of Amgen Tour officials: Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Jerseys From China Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys ' ' '