Offtopic/fun » time, Karlovic went up 2-1 by delivering a cro

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady sounded a rallying cry to players across the NFL on Thursday night, calling for them to band together in the coming years during negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement.I actually think its a great opportunity for the players to come together and the players to recognize all the things we have negotiated, and as we negotiate hopefully a CBA extension, that we as players come together to really stand up for the things we believe in and continue to fight just as the players who fought before us, Brady told host Jim Gray in a pregame radio interview on Westwood One before Thursday nights NFL opener.Bradys remarks came when he was asked about the current system and if any part of him was upset about certain rights being negotiated away.?With five more seasons under the current CBA, there hasnt been any movement toward an extension at this time.I have great respect for the guys that fought to stand up for the rights of the players, just as myself and certain players did in 2011, he said on the program. I know there will need to be great leadership from the players moving forward. It definitely is a business. The players need to understand whats collectively bargained and put all the issues on the table to make for a better game. I think thats what all the fans would want.Brady said he thinks the system can always be improved.Not just for my situation, because my situation is obviously in the past. But for everybodys situation in the future, I think we as players need to stand together, so collectively we can be as strong as possible, and the NFL can continue to thrive and be the great game it is. Vans Shoes Outlet . Jordan Lynch, the all-purpose Heisman Trophy finalist from Northern Illinois, failed to make it into that exclusive club. Vans Old Skool Sale . How great will be revealed in the next couple of days at the board of governors meeting in Pebble Beach, Calif. http://www.vansshoesclearancesale.com/vans-old-skool-sale/black.html . The Dane followed up his first European Tour title last weekend with eight birdies and just a single dropped shot on Thursday for a one-stroke advantage over South Africas Allan Versfeld and Portugals Ricardo Santos. Vans Shoes Sale . "I wrote 36 on my sheet at the beginning of the game," the Cincinnati coach said, referring the yard line the ball would need to be snapped from. Vans Old Skool Clearance . The defending champion beat Gael Monfils of France 7-6 (6), 6-3, while second-seeded Andy Murray of Britain dispatched Edouard Roger-Vasselin, also of France, 6-3, 6-3. Making his first appearance since injuring his wrist a month ago, Del Potro had difficulty with his service games in the first set. WASHINGTON -- Ivo Karlovics big serve carried him to a second consecutive final at age 37, earning a 6-4, 6-4 victory over fifth-seeded American Steve Johnson at the Citi Open on Saturday.The 6-foot-11 Karlovic, a Croatian seeded 13th at the hard-court tournament, saved all five break points he faced in the semifinals. He has won all 43 of his service games this week.This is my game. This is my strength, Karlovic said in an on-court interview. I will never run like he does.He broke Johnson in the third game of each set, each time right after saving break points on his own serve.Its definitely frustrating when you have chances, you dont take them, and you lose your focus for a second and you lose serve, said Johnson, who eliminated top-seeded John Isner in the quarterfinals. And thats the margin when you play a guy (like) Ivo, (who) pretty much only has a serve.Karlovic will face No. 2-seeded Gael Monfils of France or No. 7 Alexander Zverev of Germany in Sundays final.Last week, at the grass-court tournament in Newport, Rhode Island, Karlovic became the oldest man since 1979 to win an ATP singles title.I believe its (because of) hard work and also because I didnt begin very young, said Karlovic, who was 21 when he turned pro. Im not as used up as my age would suggest.This has been something of a resurgence for the man whose biggest victory was a first-round upset of defending champion Lleyton Hewitt at Wimbledon in 2003. Since losing his first six matches of 2016, Karlovic has gone 16-7.Much of his success is based on his serve, which comes at opponents from way up high and gets quite a bounce on Washingtons hard courts, especially in the July heat.In the 25 years that ATP service stats cover, Karlovic leads the tour with more than 11,000 career aces and by winning 92 percent of his service games. He began Saturday averaging 22 aces per match at the Citi Open and finished the semifinal with 14, including a pair on the lastt two points at 134 mph and 132 mph.ddddddddddddJohnson serves well, too, and he came into the semifinal having held in all 32 of his service games in the tournament, saving 7 of 7 break points.Those streaks did not last long against Karlovic, who isnt necessarily known for his prowess as a returner.In Johnsons second service game, less than 15 minutes into the match, he missed a shot at deuce to hand over a break point and angrily smacked a ball into the stands. Then, with both men at the net, Karlovic lunged for a backhand volley winner to go up 2-1.A game earlier, Karlovics first on serve, represented perhaps Johnsons best chance to steal a break.Struggling to see the ball on his toss because of a bright sun that brought the temperature near 100 degrees, Karlovic double-faulted three times, helping create two break points. But Karlovic erased the first with a 130 mph service winner, then came up with this sequence after the second: 130 mph ace, 128 mph service winner, 109 mph service winner.Similarly, in the second set, Karlovic broke right after saving a break point created by a double-fault. This time, Karlovic went up 2-1 by delivering a cross-court forehand return winner, followed by a down-the-line backhand return winner.When Johnson held a pair of break points at 15-40 in the next game, Karlovic responded by hitting three consecutive aces, then a service winner to hold for 3-1. And he was on his way.After the match, Johnson took to Twitter to respond to some of the meaner messages he received about his loss. Among Johnsons choice phrases: Learn English so we know what you are trying to say and you are an idiot.Asked at his news conference about the exchanges, Johnson said he doesnt take it seriously, whatsoever and considers those sending pointed messages his way useless human beings. ' ' '