Pirate Galaxy » has been a very special time for me, Hend

In recent years, no tennis player has been more physically fit than Andy Murray. Mental fitness, however -- particularly under duress -- has been an enduring issue.For the better part of six years, Novak Djokovic has been the best player in the world, the consummate model of commitment and mental toughness.And now, after Murrays decisive 6-3, 6-4 finals victory Sunday over Djokovic at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, they have traded places.With the year-end No. 1 ranking on the line in a single match, Murray absolutely commanded the court, dictating to Djokovic the way Djokovic dictated to him in winning 24 of 34 previous matches -- and 16 of the past 19.In two of those matches, back in January in the Australian Open final and, four months later, in the final at Roland Garros, Djokovic was indomitable. But here, the roles were reversed.I just played very poorly, made a lot of unforced errors from the backhand side, Djokovic said to the media afterward. On the other hand, credit to Andy for being mentally tough and playing the right shots, making me play extra shots in every rally. He definitely deserved to win.Murrays forehand was massive, and so were both his first and second serves, but it was his composure that was so unnerving to the man across the net. Two points from the match, at 30-all, Murray fearlessly bounded up to the net and forced a long lob.It was obviously a big match, a very important win for me, Murray said later. It was just a huge match to finish the year, to try and obviously finish No. 1. Obviously, this is a major event, as well, and one Ive not done well in in the past.So its been a great week.Djokovic, the four-time defending champion, meanwhile, was a mess -- off balance and tentative.Tellingly, he missed a bunny of an overhead in the sixth game of the first set and an even easier volley in the fourth game of the second. His cross-court backhand, the best and most natural shot in his entire palette, missed early and often.Djokovic came in with an enormous edge in terms of freshness. He dropped only five games in his Friday and Saturday matches; Murray went 3 hours, 38 minutes in his Saturday semifinal win over Milos Raonic, his second three-hour-plus match of the tournament.But fatigue was never a problem for Murray, whose body language was exemplary.I guess, even though he has had very long matches, especially the one yesterday, people were thinking maybe hes going to be slightly tired, Djokovic said. But he didnt seem so. More than anything, he felt comfortable in the rallies and exactly knew what to do.Murrays first big push to the top came four years ago. He won the gold medal at home in the London Olympics, and then, after losing his first four Grand Slam finals, he finally won one, the 2012 US Open, beating Djokovic in the final. The same scenario played out at Wimbledon the following year.Ivan Lendl, who coached Murray through that best-ever stretch, gets a lot of credit for giving him the gift of confidence. Lendl, a no-nonsense, eight-time Grand Slam singles champion, implored the cautious Murray to aim for the lines -- and not to despair when he missed. Going for it, Murray came to learn, was the same thing as believing in yourself.That surge might have eventually taken him to No. 1, but back surgery after the 2013 US Open and the departure of Lendl early the next year arrested that potential championship development.In June, Lendl agreed to return to Murrays coaching box, but he has hardly been a fixture in the athletes daily routine. Back in February, Murray and his wife, Kim, became parents. Pretty much ever since, outside of that French Open final and a five-set quarterfinal loss to?Kei Nishikori?at the US Open, things have gone swimmingly for Murray.At the age of 29, he finds himself ranked No. 1 for the first time ever. Murray finished the season on a run of 24 consecutive match wins. This, after establishing a career-best of 22 straight victories earlier this year.Thats a ton of momentum going into 2017.I would like to try and stay there, obviously, Murray said of the No. 1 ranking. Its taken a huge effort the last five, six months to get there. Im aware thats going to be extremely difficult because I had a great year this year. I only managed to do it by one match. To repeat that again next year is going to be extremely difficult.But now that Ive got there, I obviously would be motivated to try and stay in that position.Will Grier Panthers Jersey . 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Greg Olsen Youth Jersey . -- Stanfords Kevin Danser knelt on one knee and hardly moved on the sideline as Michigan State celebrated its Rose Bowl victory and his Cardinal teammates made their way to the locker room.COLUMBIA, S.C. -- Its almost a sure thing that Coastal Carolina running back DeAngelo Hop Henderson will find the end zone.The Chants fifth-year senior holds the NCAA Division I mark for consecutive games with a touchdown, currently 29 games and counting. Henderson ran past the old mark of 27 set by Virginia Tech runner Lee Suggs from 2000 through 2002 with his 17-yard burst in the opening quarter of Coastals 49-10 victory over Florida A&M on Sept. 10. Henderson extended things last Saturday with his 4-yard TD run in the third quarter of a 27-26 loss at Jacksonville State.I didnt even know much about it until the guys started talking about last year, Henderson said.Thats when Henderson topped the Football Championship Series mark of 20 previously held by Monmouth running back David Sinisi in the 2006 and 2007 seasons. Henderson looked at scoring touchdowns as his job on the field, but acknowledges hes enjoyed his run to the record.Its real cool, Henderson said.Hell try to keep the streak going Saturday against Furman.Coastal Carolina coach Joe Moglia, hired before Hendersons redshirt season in 2012, said Henderson has been accountable and reliable from the moment they met. So it was a no brainer, Moglia said, trusting him with the ball around the goal line when Coastal needed points.Hes a hard worker, Moglia said. It was easy to have confidence in him.Henderson, nicknamed Hop in high school because he appears to hop when changing directions on cuts, grew up dreaming of big time football while starring for Summerville High. He was a finalist for South Carolinas Mr. Football award in 2010, an honor eventually won by Houston Texans first-overall NFL draft pick Jadeveon Clowney.Henderson had thought he would join Clowney, who played college ball at South Carolina, at a Southeastern Conference or Atlantic Coast Conference school. But at 5-foot-8, Hendersson was considered too small to make it at a Power Five program and signed with the Chanticleers.ddddddddddddenderson spent his first season off the field strengthening his academics, then red-shirted in 2012 because Coastal Carolina had a glut of running backs including FCS All-American Lorenzo Taliaferro.When Henderson did play, he wasted little time having an impact. His first college touchdown came in his fourth game of 2013, a 2-yard run in a blowout win over Hampton.Hendersons streak started the next season as he took over as a starter from Taliaferro with a 5-yard scoring run against Citadel. Henderson help lead the Chants into the FCS playoffs where they lost in the semifinals to eventual champion North Dakota State.Henderson broke the FCS consecutive games with a TD mark at Monmouth last season with Sinisi in attendance. This has been a very special time for me, Henderson said.Hes got more ahead. Should Henderson keep the touchdown streak going this season -- Coastal is transitioning between its FCS past and the Football Bowl Subdivision after joining the Sun Belt Conference last July -- he will tie the all division mark of 38 held by Chadron States Danny Woodhead.Henderson, who graduated after his junior season, considered leaving college this spring and got what he said was good feedback from the NFL draft advisory board. But Henderson said he wanted to finish his college journey the right way.If he matches Woodheads mark, great, Henderson said. His goal remains the same each game -- do what he can to help Coastal Carolina succeed.The streak has never been on my mind, Henderson said. Its nothing I think about. I just want to play as well as I can.---Online: AP College Football website www.collegefootball.ap.org ' ' '