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Several of the top male golfers -- Jason Day and Rory McIlroy among them -- have declared they will not compete in the Olympics due to concern about the Zika virus. But if golf legend Annika Sorenstam still was on the LPGA Tour, she would definitely play in Rio. Both to be an Olympian and to benefit the sport.Its sad because I was in the presentation to the IOC to get golf in the Olympics, said Sorenstam, a 10-time major champion. For them, it was, OK, we need to get the best players to play, and this was the first time in several years that all the organizations had lined up and were ready to commit ... So now when you see the players not competing, its certainly disappointing for whatever reason.Concerns over Zika might be overblown. Epidemiologist Mikkel Quam recently estimated that just one in 31,000 people might get the virus during the Olympics. Your chances of being killed in a car accident in the United States this year are substantially higher. Yet we still rent cars and drive around, Sorenstam said.Thus, Sorenstam isnt worried about going to Brazil as an analyst for NBC.As far as I understand, this is a good time of the year to go there, its more dormant, she said. Im going. Im not concerned about that. I may cover myself a little more with mosquito repellent and long sleeves maybe, but other than that, the Olympics is a one-time opportunity.Zika worries are not the only reason for withdrawals, what with the always-demanding professional tour schedules.Some players feel like theyre exhausted, Sorenstam said. They dont see the Olympics as that big of a deal in golf. But when you go to other countries, like Korea and China, thats all they live for. So its cultural.If Sorenstam was playing in Rio rather than broadcasting, just how competitive would she be at age 45 when the average age of players regularly winning LPGA tournaments is around 21 these days?The game is changing, she said. I think a lot of players are better at younger ages. A lot of them dont go to college anymore. Its become very global, so you have players from other parts of the world coming in early. We always talk about experience and how important that is, but we havent seen ... that this year, with people with lots of years of experience behind them.More opportunities for junior golfers is one factor. Sorenstam says her foundation, for instance, holds six junior tournaments around the world annually.We have kids who are 12 or 13 years old or 14 and you watch them and say, they play like they might be 19-year-olds, she said. There are different opportunities that they have early on that are preparing them for pro golf sooner than it used to.It will be interesting to see how long their careers span. Theyre 20; will they be done before theyre 30? Or will their careers be longer? I have a feeling their careers will be shorter if they start sooner. But right now were just starting this phenomenon, so well have to see how many of the 30-year-olds will continue.It will also be interesting to see how the growth of Asian golfers and champions continues.We havent seen the China invasion yet. We have had a few good players, but theyre coming and I think the Olympics will escalate that, said Sorenstam, who retired eight years ago. Were at the beginning of that, but I think other countries will connect and follow and try. There might be another resurgence of U.S. players, there might be a resurgence of European players.While several top male golfers are dropping out, only one woman has withdrawn.I would want to represent my country in the Olympics to be all around these other athletes and be among the elite few that get to do it, Sorenstam said. That is the premier [event] of sports. I know we have majors and our history, but the Olympics have a lot of history. That would be a privilege. An honor. Thurman Thomas Jersey . John Lucas, signed as a mentor for rookie Trey Burke, showed he can score if required, scoring 12 points of his 16 points in the second quarter as Utah built an 18-point lead. Vontae Davis Jersey .Y. - New Orleans forward Anthony Davis was chosen Friday to replace the injured Kobe Bryant in the NBA All-Star game that will be played in his home city. http://www.thebillsgearshop.com/Bills-Kelvin-Benjamin-Draft-Jersey/ . Meanwhile, there were huge victories for Sunderland and West Ham over fellow relegation rivals, leaving the battle to avoid the drop up for grabs with the bottom 11 teams separated by just six points. Eden Hazard and Fernando Torres scored second-half goals to seal a fourth straight victory for Chelsea, which climbed above Arsenal and Manchester City in the standings ahead of their games on Monday and Sunday respectively. Patrick DiMarco Jersey . And when it opened, every player was at his stall. Thats a sure sign that a team is in a slump and is searching for answers. "Its embarrassing to be at home and play the way we did," said defenceman Josh Gorges. Shaq Lawson Jersey . Parker had 26 points and eight assists and San Antonio beat Toronto 112-99 Monday night. "We won that game because of Tony Parkers aggressiveness," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "His juice; his aggression all night long. DENVER -- On the roster, 36-year-old Mike Miller is listed as a shooting guard/small forward. His most essential position is mentor.Its an assignment Miller takes seriously on a young squad still learning how to consistently win.The Denver Nuggets boast a rookie sharpshooter (Jamal Murray), an array of up-and-comers (Emmanuel Mudiay, Nikola Jokic and Jusuf Nurkic) and a few veteran leaders hoping to blend it all together.Being a dinosaur in this league, and seeing everything that I have, Ive been a part of really talented teams that have won 23 games. Ive been a part of talented teams that have won championships, said Miller, who agreed to a two-year deal in July. Whats the difference? To me, its the culture and having that understanding in the locker room where you can hold guys accountable. Those are things you have to start developing.These days, the Nuggets are all about development. That begins with Mudiay, a 20-year-old point guard who steadily improved during the second half of last season. Theres also Jokic, a versatile big man who is loaded with confidence after a summer in which he helped Serbia to a silver medal at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics. And its hard to overlook Nurkic, a bruising 7-footer who pairs nicely in the middle with Jokic.The reason so many of our young players grew last year is we allowed them to play through mistakes. It wasnt a situation where a guy made a mistake and looked over at the bench and was like, `Am I coming out? said coach Michael Malone, whose team finished 33-49 in his first season in Denver. Guys had the confidence to play through their mistakes.That approach certainly will apply to Murray, the seventh overall pick during the June draft. No doubt, Murray can shoot. No doubt, the Kentucky product will at times play like a rookie.All part of the process, Malone said.For a change, the Nuggets actually head into a season healthy. Wilson Chandler is back from a hip injury that sidelined him all last season and Danilo Gallinaaris ankle -- the one that forced an early end to his season -- is healed.ddddddddddddIm well rested and ready to go, Gallinari said Monday.This city has grown on Gallinari, so much so that the Italian forward has a house in Denver. This roster has grown on him, too. So much so that hes voiced his desire to remain with the squad whenever trade rumors seem to surface.I think were close and getting closer, Gallinari said.Still, the Nuggets are a team without an alpha player -- a LeBron James or Steph Curry type that can take over in big moments.The way general manager Tim Connelly sees it, maybe that top-notch player is already on the roster, and just needs some time to mature. Possibly even Mudiay, the seventh overall pick in 2015.Im an alpha player. Ive been like that my whole life, Mudiay said. I dont plan to change that.Nor do the Nuggets want him to. Millers task is to help Mudiay & Co. elevate their games -- and think big.Our expectations and our goals have got to be playoffs, Miller said. I wouldnt say that if I didnt think it was realistic, because nothing good comes out of making unrealistic goals, especially for a young team.Keep winning and the fans should return, too. At times last season, the Pepsi Center looked half-empty.President Josh Kroenke understands. The Nuggets have to earn back respect after missing the postseason for a third straight year. This offseason, Kroenke made a big push to bring in Dwyane Wade, before Wade signed with Chicago.Fans are going to see a direction with a young roster that has a chance to be pretty good, Kroenke said.Game notes The Nuggets will retire Dikembe Mutombos No. 55 jersey in a ceremony on Oct. 29, even wearing the Rainbow Skyline throwback jerseys for the occasion. Mutombo was drafted fourth overall by Denver in 1991 and played for the Nuggets before leaving after the 1995-96 season. Wholesale Hoodies NFL Shirts Outlet Jerseys NFL Wholesale Cheap NFL Jerseys Free Shipping Wholesale Jerseys Cheap Cheap NFL Jerseys China Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys ' ' '