Die Macht » secondary has also been hurt this season by

NEW YORK -- The big man was relentless. His serves crashed down like loose boulders onto a narrow mountain road. His forehand swung from one side of the court to the other with the force of a wrecking ball, demolishing the game -- and the US Open hopes -- of the little man.It was a savage beating, and on the surface, it appeared a mismatch of the kind that would ordinarily drive a crowd howling into the corner of the smaller man.But this was different.The towering figure was 6-foot-6 Juan Martin del Potro, a former US Open champion whose career has nearly been destroyed by wrist injuries and surgeries. He was playing a much-loved underdog, 5-foot-9 David Ferrer. But nobody wanted to see the Little Beast slay the beloved giant.So the fans continually called out del Potros name; they periodically broke into the singsong chant, Ole, Ole, Ole, Delpo, Delpo. Once again, they helped lift del Potro to a win, as he overcame a sleepy start to take the third-round clash, 7-6 (3), 6-2, 6-3.All of New York appears to be in love with Delpo and his hard-luck story. Even Ferrer, whos almost always on the receiving end of the crowds affection, didnt have a bitter word to say about the crowds embrace of his opponent.This is a show, Ferrer said after losing. And the crowd was supporting Juan Martin del Potro. I am trying to focus on my match; I dont care.I feel I am [in] my home [country], del Potro said after the match, referring to the support he felt despite being 5,470 miles from his home in Tandil, Argentina. You make me so happy every day.Del Potro, whos 27 and in the tournament as a wild card, made his great breakthrough at the age of 20 here at Flushing Meadows with a startling and unexpected upset of Roger Federer in the 2009 final. Just months later, his right wrist became sore; rest and therapy were of no avail. He had surgery and missed all of 2010.Del Potro was barely rounding into playing shape when his left wrist went hinky. After two surgeries failed, the depressed player almost quit the game. He had one more procedure and began his comeback last summer. His ranking at the start of this year was in quadruple digits: No. 1042.Somehow, through all that grief, Delpo has managed to win the sixth-most career titles (18) of all active players.Spectators at tennis tournaments seem to know del Potros story, but thats only a partial explanation of his popularity. Many of them also respond at a more visceral level. Hes the quintessential gentle giant. Little children especially like him, said Guillermo Salatino, a veteran Argentinian broadcaster. He is like a strange thing, a giant, but he is also a nice one.Ironically, del Potro hasnt always been as popular at home as abroad. He has missed some Davis Cup ties, alienating many of his fiercely patriotic countrymen. However, del Potros inspired performance in Rio has won them over, according to Salatino. In Rio, del Potro upset top-seeded Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal. He ultimately settled for the silver medal.Del Potro described his Rio experience as The happiest moment of my life.The moments he has experienced thus far at Flushing Meadows may be building toward a comparable peak. Theyve provided him with emotional fuel and inspiration. After his win against Steve Johnson on Thursday, del Potro said, Thats amazing when I get into the court, and the people likes just to see me. Im having great days at the US Open.Its heartwarming when a crowd of 20,000 adopts a player and showers him with the kind of love usually reserved for a lost, wet puppy. The rush is real when a player hears his name chanted. But while helpful, that support wont win you tennis matches. Del Potro is advancing inexorably in this tournament because hes a very big man hitting a very big ball like he hasnt done in a long time.As Ferrer said: He was injured two years; now he change a little bit his game. He is playing more aggressive with his forehand and with the serve.Del Potro won the match Saturday because he shook off the cobwebs and played aggressive tennis. His served clocked up to 133 mph, enabling him to win 81 percent of his first serve and 55 percent of his second-serve points. (Ferrers numbers in those key categories were 63 and 50 percent respectively.)More importantly, del Potro simply hit the ball deeper, harder and closer to the lines than Ferrer did, time and again. It counts, and it doesnt ever show up in the stat sheet.Ironically, this is how del Potros game might have evolved had he been on the tour, healthy, all these years. But in his case, necessity was the mother of invention. Del Potro still has to use his backhand sparingly if he can and slice more often than he might like.Thats why Im trying to play aggressive with my forehands, with my serves, del Potro said. Im trying to come into the net more often than years ago. Im trying to find a different way to play than I did in the past.His search is progressing nicely. Good luck to his rivals if and when he regains full use of all his shots. Wholesale Jordans . It was hard for Luck to pull off another comeback, or even get into the end zone, while standing on the sideline. Rivers threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to rookie Keenan Allen and Nick Novak kicked four field goals to give the Chargers a 19-9 victory against the Colts on Monday night. Cheap Authentic Air Jordan . Carey Price didnt, but he still came out on top against one of his rivals for the No. 1 job at the Sochi Games. The Anahim Lake, B.C., native was stellar in making 39 saves in his home province and Lars Eller got credit for a bizarre short-handed winner as the Canadiens defeated the Canucks 4-1. http://www.cheapairjordanfreeshipping.com/ . There are some early surprises in the race for the Hart Trophy, but two of the contenders are the leagues biggest stars over the past decade. There are many more players in contention for the awards than just the three that Ive named, and a good or bad week can easily alter the landscape, but through the first 20 or so games of the NHL season, this is how the awards races look to me. Wholesale Authentic Jordans . LOUIS -- Alexander Steen scored a power-play goal with 59. Air Jordan From China . -- For the first time in two months, an opponent was standing up to Alabama.WINNIPEG -- A jack of all trades last season for the troubled Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Demond Washington is hoping to add even more to his resume in 2013. "I played probably every position on the field last year," said Washington, who apart from helping out on defence also ranked third in the CFL in combined return yards. The Auburn product wasnt signed until April 2012 but his return credentials were already solid after compiling 1,117 yards in his senior year, good for fourth in all of U.S. college football. Now Washington is challenging for a starters job on a defence that must get a lot better -- especially in the secondary. "I told the first group of secondary people last night I wasnt happy with their performance and if they dont pick it up, theyre going to be gone," Bombers head coach Tim Burke said Tuesday at training camp. He says his defensive backs lack intensity and thats exactly what he sees in Washington. "Hes fast, hes quick, hes got really good hips and feet, and he plays with a lot of intensity," Burke said. "Thats what I like about him." Washingtons combined 2,011 return yards last season could have been even higher if not for some dropped balls -- an issue he has said he has been working hard to correct. "Last year was the most I had in my whole career combined so Ive got to eliminate those things," he said. Whether or not he gets the return job again as well is something that hasnt yet been determined, but Burke says he would have no problem with it if thats what special teams coach Craig Dickenson wants. Washington is currently pencilled in at weak-side linebacker, a position usually occupied by a player strong enough to support the run but also athletic enough to drop into coverage "I have Demond working the weak side of the coverage to put some pressure on some people," said Burke, who has also tried Washington at halfback in the secondary. "This is my first time playing boundary halfback and I think its coming along pretty good right now," Washington said after practice. One mmember of the defence who isnt on Burkes naughty list is middle linebacker Henoc Muamba.dddddddddddd The Bombers have been nothing but impressed with their first pick in the 2011 CFL draft. Muamba says with all the newcomers, the competition is stiff for starting jobs. "Weve got a bunch of great athletes, great defensive players. That is only going to make our team better," he said. "The competition is very high at every position and Im loving it." One of those newcomers is brother Cauchy Muamba, who has moved to the Bombers from the B.C. Lions. Henoc Muamba says his older (but not bigger) brother is fitting in well. The Bombers have him slated to start at safety. "Thats just a credit to how smart he is and how much he can pick up," Henoc Muamba said. "Its just a matter of being comfortable now and getting enough reps with each other at the position so we can react to each other very well and instinctively in games." Henoc Muamba is also glad to see the return of Casey Creehan as defensive co-ordinator, who was linebacker coach when Muamba joined the team. "I know how he coaches. I know what he expects of me," Muamba said. "He knows my game. Hes always told me hes going to help me take my game to the next level." Nickelback Johnny Sears has yet to return from off-season surgery and the Bombers secondary has also been hurt this season by the defection of linebacker Marcellus Bowman to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Cornerback Jovon Johnson, the CFLs outstanding defensive player in 2011, says Creehans return should also help get some of that intensity back for the secondary. A new diet and workout regime has seen Johnson gain 10 or 15 pounds of what looks to be pretty solid muscle. He says he now weighs in at around 190 and feels it can help his tackling ability. "It made me slim down at first but then we started training a lot harder in the weight room and I put the weight back on," he said. "I think people want to see me tackle more ... so I need to decide to go out and do that." ' ' '