Talk » years. But Ive seen her pass the ball, and she h

Roger Federer is sitting out the rest of this season, including the Rio de Janeiro Olympics and U.S. Open, to protect his surgically repaired left knee.Federer wrote on his Facebook page Tuesday that he needs more extensive rehabilitation following my knee surgery earlier this year.The doctors advised that if I want to play on the ATP World Tour injury free for another few years, as I intend to do, I must give both my knee and body the proper time to fully recover, Federer said.The owner of a record 17 Grand Slams titles turns 35 on Aug. 8, so the reference to another few years might give his fans increased hope of seeing Federer continue to wield a racket for quite some time.His agent, Tony Godsick, wrote in an email to The Associated Press that Federers plan is to be ready for the start of next year.Federer is the first member of tennis so-called Big 4 -- a group that also includes No. 1-ranked Novak Djokovic, 14-time major champion Rafael Nadal and 2012 gold medalist Andy Murray -- to pull out of the Rio Games, where that sports competition starts on Aug. 6, a day after the opening ceremony.Federer often has spoken about how much the Olympics mean to him, in part because he met his wife, Mirka, when both were athletes at the 2000 Sydney Games. Federer won a silver medal in singles for Switzerland four years ago in London, and he teamed up with Stan Wawrinka to win a gold medal in doubles at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.In Brazil, Federer was expected to play singles, doubles with Wawrinka, and mixed doubles with Martina Hingis.He is the second big draw who will be missing from the Rio tennis tournament: Five-time major champion Maria Sharapova wont be there because she is serving a two-year doping ban.The arthroscopic procedure Federer had on his knee in February, repairing torn cartilage, was the first operation of his lengthy and accomplished career. Federer said he got hurt while preparing a bath for his twin daughters.Hes also had back issues this season, missed the French Open to end his record 65-appearance streak at major tournaments, and did not win a title of any sort in 2016 -- making it the first year since 2000 that he will finish without at least one trophy.So after participating in every single Grand Slam tournament from the 2000 Australian Open through the 2016 Australian Open, Federer will be sitting out two of the last three this year. He is a five-time champion at the U.S. Open and was the runner-up there to Djokovic last year.Federer, who has spent more weeks at No. 1 than anyone in the history of the ATP computerized rankings, currently sits at No. 3, having gone 21-7 this season. Depending on how other players fare, of course, Federers ranking will tumble over the course of the rest of the year.He hasnt played since losing to Milos Raonic in the Wimbledon semifinals early this month. Federer fell awkwardly during that match, winding up face-down on the Centre Court grass, and had a trainer come out to check on his left knee afterward.Federer said at the time he wasnt sure how badly he might have been injured.In his statement Tuesday, Federer wrote: The silver lining is that this experience has made me realize how lucky I have been throughout my career with very few injuries.And he added: I am as motivated as ever and plan to put all my energy towards coming back strong, healthy and in shape to play attacking tennis in 2017.---Follow Howard Fendrich on Twitter at http://twitter.com/HowardFendrichMarco Fabian Jersey . - Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco is not a fan of his teams use of the wildcat formation, saying "it makes you look like a high school offence. Jonathan dos Santos Jersey . Vokoun departed practice on Saturday morning after discovering swelling in his thigh. He was taken to a local hospital where the clot was revealed. The club announced the surgery following a 5-3 exhibition loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets. http://www.soccermexicojerseysteamstore.com/diego-reyes-mexico-jersey/ .J. Ellis hit two-run homers and the NL West champion Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the San Diego Padres 4-0 Saturday night. Mexico Jerseys . According to a report from the Winnipeg Free Press, the Bombers will name Acting GM Kyle Walters to the post full time. Raul Jimenez Jersey . -- Ryan Blaney provided more evidence that Penske Racings No.COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Before her first appearance for Ohio State in a competitive setting, albeit only a closed-door scrimmage against Louisville in October, Stephanie Mavunga experienced a moment of uncertainty. She looked to her teammates for an answer as the tip approached.They were playing the game in quarters, right?Change is in the details. A transfer from North Carolina, Mavunga sat out the 2015-16 season, the first to utilize quarters. She assured teammates who were both amused and incredulous that she had paid attention the previous season. But, you know, the world looks a bit different from the court.My teammates were laughing at me, Mavunga said.With Ohio State the most notable participant in a phenomenon of player movement, the college basketball season might turn on how comfortably the Buckeyes adjust to a whole lot of change.Ohio State has arguably the nations best player in junior Kelsey Mitchell. The supporting cast was already far from barren, but transfers Mavunga, Sierra Calhoun and Linnae Harper create what on paper looks like a super team as capable as any of stepping into the void left by the departure of Connecticuts senior class and its four national titles.Keeping Mitchell in the state was the first building block, and as Ohio State coach Kevin McGuffs fourth season begins, for the first time, a championship is a realistic objective.It was partly everybody was kind of looking at it [as] UConn and everybody else, McGuff said. And then we were still trying to add the right pieces to where I felt like we had the balance inside-out and the depth to do something like that. Now I think we have the pieces in place.Its obviously extremely difficult to do, but I feel like were one of the teams that have got enough talent and depth and balance that we could make a run at the national championship.The conundrum is that rarely -- maybe never -- has a team with so much proven talent provided so little evidence of how the pieces fit together. Calhoun, Harper, Mavunga and Mitchell have played a combined six and a half college seasons. We know they are excellent. Yet none has played an official college game with any of the others.We got a lot of chemistry-building to do, Mitchell said. Weve got a lot of growing to do, as far as knowing what people can do and what they cant do, where theyre most comfortable and where theyre most uncomfortable. I think its a growing stage for us.Ohio State is not alone in conducting an experiment under these conditions. Once novelties for elite programs, high-profile transfers are rapidly becoming commonplace. When South Carolina visits Columbus on Monday, the Gamecocks will have both Allisha Gray, Mavungas former teammate at North Carolina, and Kaela Davis at their disposal. Baylor is a title favorite in large part because Alexis Jones is settling into her second season in Waco after starting at Duke. That is the same Duke that hopes transfer Lexie Brown can help it bounce back from a disappointing season that ended with Azura Stevens transferring to Connecticut, where she will sit out this season.Why there is so much movement remains a topic of debate. Systemic answers range from a sense of entitlement among a generation raised in the often maligned AAU culture to the increasing empowerment of student-athletes to reject dictatorial coaches.Each player has her own story. Mavunga said she had no regrets about choosing North Carolina or spending two seasons in Chapel Hill and that being so far from her home in Indiana forced her to mature. She said she just didnt feel tthe program, which saw most of her recruiting class transfer, was the best place for her to keep growing.ddddddddddddThe larger debate will continue. That movement is the new reality isnt up for discussion.I think were going to keep seeing it, McGuff said. Its just hard. I think were in a generation when [if] expectations arent met quickly, then kids move on to the next thing. Its not always bad. Its not always bad at all. Ive had plenty of transfers come in, and Ive had some come out. Its just the way it is and every program is. I dont think thats going away anytime soon.The corresponding reality is that programs must incorporate new moving parts alongside returning players and incoming freshmen. Ohio State must do so three times over.Last we saw her, Mavunga averaged 14.4 points, 9.6 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game for the Tar Heels. She gives the Buckeyes a true back-to-the-basket post presence to pair with Alexa Harts shot-blocking athleticism. Harper, who will be eligible for the Buckeyes at the end of the fall semester, was a defensive and rebounding standout for Kentucky two seasons ago and the most-used sub on a United States Pan-Am roster that included the likes of Breanna Stewart and Moriah Jefferson. Ranked 16th in her recruiting class by ESPN HoopGurlz, Calhoun started and averaged 10 points per game as a freshman at Duke. Then she left the team at midseason.On top of that, Ohio State added a well-regarded freshman class headlined by 6-foot-4 Tori McCoy, a prep All-American ranked among the top-10 recruits. That leaves the matter of chemistry. To those who believe teams that play well get along well, Mitchell remains the key figure. After leading the nation in scoring as a freshman, she averaged 26.1 points per game as a sophomore. Although a commendably efficient scorer, she attempted 1,308 field goals and 447 free throws in her first two seasons, in each case more than a quarter of the teams total. Yet not just her coach but also some of those who lose sleep about trying to slow her down think she is suited to the task at hand and that the most prolific soloist in the country can be the conductor of a multipiece ensemble.I think one of her greatest strengths, and well find out this year because shes surrounded by a lot of really great players, is her ability to pass the basketball and her ability to see the floor, Michigan coach Kim Barnes Arico said. I think a lot of people see her as a pure scorer because thats what shes had to do for her team the last couple of years. But Ive seen her pass the ball, and she has vision as great as anyone Ive ever seen.For their part, as Mitchell alluded to, the Buckeyes seem to believe that a team plays well when it already has chemistry and common purpose.As talented as UConns been, theyve kind of out-cultured everybody for years, McGuff said. We had to make a lot of progress in that area, and were working on it.That ultimately comes down to the people involved. The transfers arent strangers. All were around a season ago. But like playing by quarters for the first time, its a different experience. Its about Mitchell learning that she and Harper are similarly soft-spoken and that the gregarious Mavunga is not.Different roads led them all to Columbus. Only one road will lead them to Dallas, host of the 2017 Final Four.Im still learning a lot about each and every one of them, Mitchell said. But I wouldnt want them anywhere else. ' ' '