Dein erstes Forum » seasons in Miami, helping the Heat win two

WIMBLEDON -- For many, the first week of Wimbledon has been like an itchy sweater, a paper cut, a long line at the airport. The rain delays have made players annoyed and impatient, and in the case of American women Madison Keys and Sloane Stephens Saturday, anxious to shed their discomfort and move on to a sunnier day.I told [someone] yesterday, I think I have bedsores, said Stephens, who began her postponed second-round match Friday -- a day in which she spent 12 hours in the womens locker room, much of it on the couch. I dont think Ive ever been in one position at a tournament for so long.For both Stephens, who eventually prevailed Saturday by outlasting Mandy Minella 3-6, 7-6 (6), 8-6, and Keys, who defeated Alize Cornet also in a third-round match, 6-4, 5-7, 6-2, that has the feel of hard labor. For Keys, the struggle is part of the process.I mean, it would have been nice to win in straight sets, said Keys, the No. 9 seed who has won two consecutive three-set matches. But its definitely good to figure out tough situations and be able to play better in the third set.Cornet, best known here for her upset of Serena Williams in the third round two years ago, lost her third straight match to Keys. But Cornet tested the resolve of Keys, who cut down on unforced errors, and with three breaks of serve in the third set, showed why she is in the top 10 for the first time in her career and in contention for the title.Today was funny, said Keys, who moves on to meet No. 5 Simona Halep. I was walking on to Court 1 as the higher-ranked player for the first time. Obviously thats a different set of nerves that Im learning to deal with. Hopefully I get to keep trying to learn how to deal with those things, because it means that Im where I want to be.With five American women currently still in the tournament, the U.S. has a chance to advance the highest number of players to the fourth round since seven did it in 2002.Keys was especially pleased, however, talking about the victories Saturday of good friends Sam Querrey, who pulled off the upset of the year by defeating top-ranked Novak Djokovic, and Steve Johnson, who beat Grigor Dimitrov.I had Sam on one court and Stevie on the other while I was warming up for my match, Keys said. It was amazing to watch those guys do so well. Im really close with both of them. Its really fun to see people who you know work so hard get to have great tournaments like this.Its not dead, Keys said of American tennis, and Im really happy that were having positive conversations about it for once.And despite the general grumpiness of a player population that would have preferred to have the customary middle Sunday off, playing in the second week isnt so bad.I feel like it was almost a restart button thats pushed, and its almost two separate tournaments, Keys said. I think everyone just gets a little bit more focused. The matches get tougher, because obviously youre playing people who have won multiple matches.Its more that just you feel everything a little bit more once the second week rolls around.And if its a sunny week, all the better. Lavonte David Buccaneers Jersey . LUCIE, Fla. Jameis Winston Buccaneers Jersey . Jordan Lynch, the all-purpose Heisman Trophy finalist from Northern Illinois, failed to make it into that exclusive club. http://www.authenticbuccaneerspro.com/O-j-howard-buccaneers-jersey/ . - The Oakland Raiders re-signed offensive lineman Khalif Barnes on Friday. John Lynch Buccaneers Jersey . "I was fortunate to play many years at this level with a great organization and unbelievable teammates," said Hejduk in a statement. Anthony Nelson Youth Jersey . Nathan MacKinnon, Jamie McGinn and Jan Hejda also scored for the Avalanche, who won despite being outshot 38-23. MacKinnons goal, also on the power play, came with just over a minute remaining.MIAMI -- Mike Miller was a luxury that the Miami Heat decided they could no longer afford. Miller was designated Tuesday as the teams amnesty player, a move that may save the Heat more than $30 million in luxury tax payments over the next two years and comes only a few days after team president Pat Riley said the two-time defending NBA champions were hoping to keep the core of the roster largely intact for next season. But with the teams tax bill set to be bigger than ever -- depending on what the final payroll numbers are, the Heat could pay as much as $2.50 per $1 they are over the salary-cap threshold for this coming season under the leagues new and more punitive rules -- the team ultimately made the call to part with Miller, a move that he suspected was coming. "I understand the business side of basketball," Miller told The Associated Press. "Its a combination of being very, very thankful for the opportunity that Ive had, but it hurts that we had a chance to do something very, very special and Id love to have been a part of it." Riley said the team tried to trade Miller, then had to make "a very difficult decision" to use the one-time amnesty provision on him. He said the teams managing general partner Micky Arison, CEO Nick Arison and coach Erik Spoelstra all struggled with the decision. "Mike had an incredible impact on the Miami Heat; helping us to three finals appearances and winning back-to-back World Championships," Riley wrote in a statement released by the team. "This was a very difficult decision for me personally, the Arison family, Erik and the entire Miami Heat organization. Mike was one of the best we have ever had here, and will be sorely missed. We wish Mike, his wife Jennifer and their family nothing but the best." Miller would have made $6.2 million this season, and $6.6 million next season. He still gets that money, but his salary will not count against Miamis cap, nor will it count against a luxury-tax hit that was in line to exceed $30 million this coming season alone. "I love Mike. We all love Mike," Heat guard Dwyane Wade told AP as the news of the teams decision broke. "Its tough to lose one of our brothers. But I think we all understaand its not personal.ddddddddddddIts a business decision." If Miller is not claimed off waivers, he becomes a free agent later this week. Its believed he would like to play for a title contender, and a return to Memphis -- where he spent parts of six seasons -- would likely appeal to Miller. "I know I can be very, very productive for a couple years for sure," Miller said. "But at the same time, it would be very difficult to go into a situation where youre not competing for a title. So Im going to have to weigh those things, and well see how it plays out." Miller spent three seasons in Miami, helping the Heat win two titles and playing big roles in each playoff run. He started the last four games of this years NBA Finals, the highlight of that run possibly being how he lost a shoe during play early in the fourth quarter of Game 6 against San Antonio, flipped it over to the bench, came downcourt and swished a 3-pointer anyway to help the Heat rally from 10 points down in the final 12 minutes. He also came off the bench to make seven 3-pointers in the title-clinching Game 5 win over Oklahoma City in 2012. "Ive had a pretty good career and Ive been a part of a lot of special things," said Miller, the NBAs rookie of the year in 2000-01 and sixth man of the year in 2005-06. "Ive won some individual awards and now two rings, so Im going to have some pretty good memories." Miller plans to keep playing for at least a couple more years, saying that he feels better now than he has in several seasons. He expressed disappointment that not only will he not get to help the Heat try for a third straight title, he will no longer be playing alongside Udonis Haslem, his former college teammate at Florida. Reuniting with Haslem was one of the many reasons why Miller signed with Miami. "I said this when I first got back here: My career started in the state of Florida with unbelievable teammates, one of them being Udonis," Miller said. "And then ending back up in Florida with UD, that was a special thing. We had a chance to win a national championship, came up short, then at the end got back as teammates in the NBA and won two championships together. Thats special." ' ' '