Pirate Galaxy » ering how to escape that grant of rights.

NEW YORK -- Hes still gliding through major draws in his 13th professional season, which means Jo-Wilfried Tsonga still knows what time it is.Time, in this particular instance, to discard the screaming fuchsia baseball cap after dropping Sundays third set to American Jack Sock and replace it with a jauntier, aerodynamically efficient headband. A necessary -- and successful -- change in karma.Tsonga, 31, and the No. 9 seed here, is into the quarterfinals of the US Open for the second year in a row after defeating the No. 26-seeded Sock 6-3, 6-3, 6-7 (7), 6-2.Tsonga, meanwhile, was one of three Frenchmen into the fourth round and is joined in the quarters by No. 10 Gael Monfils and, possibly, No. 24 Lucas Pouille, who was playing well against Rafael Nadal. He has been to the semifinals of the three other majors, but never here.Tsonga likely will have to get through No. 1 Novak Djokovic, who played unseeded Kyle Edmund in the night match, to do it.For me, its to always play the right shot, dont give him too much free point, Tsonga said of playing Djokovic. I will play my game. I will be aggressive, as always.For sure Andy [Murray] and Novak won a lot before, so they are I think the favorite. But we are all outsiders, and we all want a Grand Slam.Sock, 23, was looking to become first American man in the US Open quarterfinals in five years, following John Isner and Andy Roddick. Sock, the third-ranked U.S. man behind Isner (21) and Steve Johnson (22), knocked off 2014 US Open champion Marin Cilic in the third round.While Tsonga mastered the breezy conditions, subtly altering his approach depending on which way the wind was blowing, Sock played a little too fast and loose, spraying forehands all over jam-packed Louis Armstrong Stadium.His best stroke was a trick shot: a marvelous behind-the-back, between-the-legs drop shot on the half-volley that clipped the net cord for a winner in the third set. But in the fourth set, as the match was careening away from him, Sock lost his composure when he got into it with the people calling the lines.Open your eyes, seriously, he said with disdain at one point.For Sock, who fought off a match point in the third-set tiebreaker, this result should be an eye-opening experience.What does he need to do to break through and advance to a major quarterfinal?I mean, piece a few more things together on the court, Sock said later. As you guys can see, Im right there. My last match was a straight-set win over a past champion here. Today, hold a few more times in the first two sets, you never know. I felt obviously right there with him. Had chances to make it a different match.Six years ago, Sock was the junior boys champion here and, by and large, he has evolved admirably. He has worked hard to clean up his service return and fortify his backhand. The next step is developing the mental toughness to hang with the very best professionals in the biggest moments.These matches later in these tournaments, against higher-ranked guys, it comes down to a few points, Sock continued. The experience obviously helps. Hes been around for a while. Been in those positions. Each of these matches I played help me more in the next one.This was his second journey to the fourth round of a major, the first coming a year ago at Roland Garros, when he lost to Nadal. In Rio de Janeiro, Sock was the most decorated American tennis player, winning a gold medal with Bethanie Mattek-Sands in mixed doubles and a bronze with Steve Johnson in mens doubles.As always, the enormous, self-serving aspect of Tsongas game is what creates separation from most of his peers.Tsonga is not a towering presence, like Isner or Ivo Karlovic, but hes typically hovering among the ATP World Tours best servers in most categories. When he needs a big one, as he did numerous times against Sock, Tsonga usually delivers -- again and again.In the end, Sock could break Tsonga only once. Tsonga won 83 percent of his first serves, significantly better than Socks 68 percent, and lost only 12 points on his first serve.According to Hawk-Eye data, Socks average forehand traveled 79 mph, five faster than Tsongas, and his average net clearance was 63 centimeters, eight fewer than Tsongas. Sock, who had 39 unforced errors, might do well to follow that lead and take a little off the fastball and give himself a greater margin for error.And so, its been 52 majors (12 years and 362 days, but whos counting?) since an American man, Roddick, won a Grand Slam singles title. That was 2003, the same year Roger Federer won his first major.Sock is the oldest of a group of young Americans with a chance to do some serious damage going forward. Taylor Fritz, 18, lost to Sock in the first round. Jared Donaldson, 19, got to the third round. Frances Tiafoe, 18, forced Isner to a fifth-set tiebreaker in the first round. And 6-foot-11?Reilly Opelka, 19, has promise, too.I think the future looks good, Sock said. Promising players coming up playing very good tennis. I take pride in being the last one here. Obviously wanted to go out there and keep it going for not only myself but for the U.S. as a whole. Unfortunately, couldnt do that today.Hopefully in the future I can keep playing these second weeks, representing the best I can.Paul Millsap Jersey . Rousey will put her perfect 8-0 record and hardware on the line against another undefeated fighter, 7-0 Sara McMann in the main event of UFC 170, which will be held at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas Nevada on February 22nd. Carmelo Anthony Jersey . -- The proud fathers huddled near the Dallas Stars dressing room, smiling, laughing and telling stories while wearing replica green sweaters of their sons team. http://www.nuggetsproshop.com/Thomas-Welsh-Nuggets-Jersey/ . Calgary scored on the first shift, and Michael Cammalleri scored twice as the Flames cruised to a 5-2 win over the Washington Capitals on Saturday. Thomas Welsh Jersey . 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. Alex English Nuggets Jersey . Rousey will put her perfect 8-0 record and hardware on the line against another undefeated fighter, 7-0 Sara McMann in the main event of UFC 170, which will be held at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas Nevada on February 22nd.The Big 12 board of directors meets Monday in Dallas and the topic of expansion will be addressed.Not necessarily decided, but definitely addressed.Maybe after three months of vetting, analyzing and interviewing potential new members the presidents and chancellors will decide the Big 12 Conference should add schools. Maybe they will even decide which schools to add.Or maybe they will decide 10 members are enough for the smallest Power Five conference and stick with what they have.Or maybe they will decide not to decide and keep college footballs never-ending story going.It is impossible to know which way this will go, but news reports from Big 12 country over the last month suggest the conference has cooled on the idea of expansion.The only public statements that provide a hint at which way the Big 12 is leaning have come from Oklahoma President David Boren, who once called the conference psychologically disadvantaged by having only 10 members.First, Boren said expansion should not be considered a given. Then, responding to reports citing unidentified sources that he had changed his position, Boren released a noncommittal statement in late September.I do not know where the speculation came from, but Oklahoma has not yet taken a position on expansion, he said.Consultants have provided data to conference leaders showing expansion could increase the Big 12s chances of reaching the playoff and the bottom lines of its members.The Big 12s television contracts with ESPN and Fox call for the networks to provide increases to cover the addition of new members. So two new schools would mean an extra $50 million or so each year through 2025.The new members would, as is standard, receive a partial share of conference revenue for the first three or four seasons in the league. The old members would split the rest.More money and a better chance to make it to the playoff. So why wouldnt the Big 12 expand?THE CHOICESBig 12 officials held face-to-face interviews with 11 schools during September: Air Force, BYU, Central Florida, Cincinnati, Colorado State, Connecticut, Houston, Rice, South Florida, SMU and Tulane.None is an obvious choice.- BYU has had the most football success and is a national brand, but the Cougars other sports dont play on Sundays and the schools honor code has received scrutiny from LGBT advocacy groups.- Houston received an endorsement from the governor of Texas and some public support from the University of Texas, but promoting an in-state competitor could make winning and recruiting more difficult for current members.- Cincinnati, South Florida and Central Florida provide new media markets and recruiting territory, but limited history of success on the field. And those media markets dont have as much impact for a conference that is not likely to follow-up expansion with its own television network.- Colorado State would put the Big 12 back in a state that is home to many of its schools alumni, but it is not the flagship university of that state.- Connecticut has a national brand, but its for basketball.- Football-only membership probably makes the most sense for Air Force. Maybe for BYU, too. But is that woorth it?- Rice, SMU and Tulane have strong academic profiles, but it is highly questionable whether they could compete in football.ddddddddddddCONSENSUSAny decision would require agreement from eight of the Big 12s 10 presidents, though do not be surprised if the conference publicly claims unanimity about whatever is decided.So first eight of the 10 schools would have to agree on expanding. Then eight of the 10 would have to agree on whom to invite. If you have followed the Big 12, consensus has not been its strong suit.DILUTIONThe Big Ten is experiencing this now. The addition of Maryland and Rutgers means less opportunity for Nebraska, Iowa and Wisconsin to play Ohio State, Michigan and Penn State.Thats not great, but the Big Ten offset that with the financial gains. Expanding the conferences footprint to the Northeast corridor boosted the value of the Big Tens cable network and increased its exposure into a highly populated area where lots of its alumni live.The addition of two more teams to the Big 12 would mean fewer games against Oklahoma and Texas for many of the current members, but without the ancillary benefits because the Big 12 wont be getting a cable network.THE BIG 12 DIDNT REALLY WANT TO DO THIS IN THE FIRST PLACEIn June, the Big 12 announced it was paying out $30 million apiece to its members and the expansion talk seemed to be put to rest.In late July, Commissioner Bob Bowlsby and Boren emerged from a CEO meeting and announced the conference would explore expansion, making the league again seem unstable.What changed? The Atlantic Coast Conference announced with ESPN that it would start a network and extend its TV contract and the grant of rights that helps bind the schools through 2035. Seeing the ACC strengthen its position, along with having the Big 12s pro rata deal clearly spelled out, moved the Big 12 presidents to do a deep dive on expansion.LONG-TERM FLEXIBILITYStanding pat. Dream big.Maybe the ACC network is a dud and six years from now Florida State and Clemson are pondering how to escape that grant of rights. Maybe Pac-12 falls behind the rest of the Power Five and its members look at the Big 12 as more fertile territory.MONEYESPN and Fox were reportedly not thrilled about the idea of paying for a bigger Big 12. Would the networks be willing to pay the Big 12 a smaller amount to stand pat in return for an extended contract and grant of rights?CHAMPIONSHIP GAMERegardless of expansion, the Big 12 has plans to bring back its football championship next year. So theres more new revenue and another game for the College Football Playoff committee to consider.OKLAHOMA AND TEXASUltimately, the long-term stability of the Big 12 is predicated on Texas and Oklahoma happily remaining in the conference. At some point the Longhorns and Sooners have to decide if they want to be the most powerful members of the Big 12 or just another member of another conference. And adding teams to the Big 12 now doesnt change that.---Follow Ralph D. Russo at www.Twitter.com/ralphDrussoAP ' ' '