sxx123: pic gold medal to her already impressive resume. She and

pic gold medal to her already impressive resume. She and

28 Feb 2018 at 03:22

This story is part of ESPN The Magazines Oct. Shawn Williams Jersey . 31 NBA Preview Issue. Subscribe today!Sacramento KingsOverall: 113 Title track: 121 Ownership: 109 Coaching: 105 Players: 122 Fan relations: 118 Affordability: 65 Stadium experience: 76 Bang for the buck: 79 Change from last year: -17The Kings have not been to the playoffs since 2006, when now-VP of player personnel Peja Stojakovic was still a player. Since Rick Adelman was let go after a playoff loss that year, Sacramento has gone through eight head coaches; the ninth, Dave Joerger, will be on the sideline this season. The lack of stability has permeated the franchise, even more so since Vivek Ranadive bought a majority share in the club in 2013. The Kings have a lack of direction -- except, that is, in our rankings, in which theyve headed to the bottom.Whats goodThis month, Sacramento opened a state-of-the-art arena, the Golden 1 Center, which cost an estimated $556.6 million and helped the Kings stadium experience ranking jump 26 points to 76th -- one of the teams best rankings this year. The San Francisco Chronicle described the arena as a computer disguised as a sports arena. For those buried in smart phones -- which is everybody -- the Wi-Fi network can handle more than 500,000 snapchat posts per second! You should think of this entire building as a giant Tesla, Ranadive told the Chronicle. Rather than you having to check into the arena, the arena will just be checking into you. It should tell you how to get there, where to park, how to get to your seat. It should cater to you.Whats badHeres what has gone wrong with the Kings: instability at head coach (105th in these rankings), locker room arguments (the roster comes in 122nd), trade rumors and disdain within the teams brass (ownership is 109th). Most notably, there were reports last season that Sacramentos minority ownership wanted to overthrow majority leader Ranadive, whom they believed to be running the franchise into the ground. Their reasons? Friction between departed head coach George Karl and star DeMarcus Cousins, about whom trade rumors have been swirling for years, and the lack of support around the talented but volatile Cousins. No fan base in sports voted its team less likely to win a championship during their lifetimes (that title track ranking of 121 -- yikes). Other than that, things are great.Whats newAll the drama within the Kings organization has caused ownership to fall 27 spots. A few years ago, Ranadive could dine out on the goodwill he earned by keeping the team in Sacramento, but that seems to be long gone in 2016. The Kings are the NBAs worst in five categories within our survey, including demonstrate a commitment to winning and have players that give their best effort. The Kings are also well below average in have honest ownership, which has contributed to the aforementioned bottom-of-the-barrel ranking in fan relations (also down 34 spots this year).Next: New York Knicks?| Full rankings Bengals Jerseys China .7 million, one-year contract, a raise of $2.2 million. Wieters had asked for $8.75 million and the Orioles had offered $6. Wholesale Bengals Jerseys Authentic .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. www.cheapbengalsjerseysauthentic.com/?tag=authentic-vincent-rey-jersey . Perez, 35, posted a 1-2 record with a 3.69 earned-run average in 19 relief appearances last season. His season ended Aug. 9 due to a torn ligament in his left elbow. Perez joins infielder Andy LaRoche and catcher Mike Nickeas with minor-league agreements for 2014 that include invitations to attend spring training. These days, youre never quite sure what youre going to get from 34-year-old Serena Williams -- and womens tennis is more compelling (not to mention competitive) because of it.After sailing through her first two matches at the Olympic Tennis Centre in Rio de Janeiro, Serena was stopped in the third round by Elina Svitolina, and the draw opened up dramatically -- to the extent that the No. 34-ranked woman, Monica Puig, vaulted into the gold-medal match.Those who believe Olympic rings are meaningless to todays thoroughly professional players might want to reconsider that take. The emotions displayed in and around that final match against Angelique Kerber underlined just what a special event the Olympics can be. With nine days of sterling tennis in the rearview mirror, here are five fleeting takeaways from the womens event:1. Monica Puig was a (startling) revelationThe 22-year-old from San Juan is the first person, male or female, to win an Olympic gold medal representing Puerto Rico. She stared down Kerber, the reigning Australian Open champion, in a powerful finals performance, 6-4, 4-6, 6-1. In fact, Puig took down three Grand Slam champions en route (also?Garbine Muguruza and Petra Kvitova). Going forward, believe it or not, that achievement might resonate greater than the gold itself.2. Serena Williams is showing some nerveAnd this is not in a good way. For several years, Serena, who turns 35 in September, has floated nicely above the fray when most 30-somethings normally start to lose their command. At the time, what we saw at the US Open last year in a semifinal loss to Roberta Vinci looked like a collapse under the pressure of chasing a calendar-year Grand Slam. In retrospect, it might have been the beginning of the end of her complete dominance of the sport. Jordan Willis Jersey. Losing to Svitolina, a woman who had never beaten her, is typical of where Serena finds herself these days. She will likely win more majors, but its going to get progressively more difficult.3. Madison Keys is still a work in progress?The 21-year-old American is widely thought to be a future No. 1 player, but she experienced some growing pains in Rio. Keys hits the ball huge, but Kerber is that rare player who can defend those big strokes. Keys was 0-for-10 in the crucible of break points on Kerbers serve and must find a way to master those pivotal moments with something other than bash and brawn.4. Venus finds redemption?While the 36-year-old failed to escape the first round in singles and went down early with her sister in doubles, mixed doubles was another story. Playing with Rajeev Ram in an attempt for her record fifth gold medal, Venus fell to Jack Sock and Bethanie Mattek-Sands in the championship match. Still, a silver was her fifth Olympic medal in tennis, equaling Kathleen McKane of Great Britain, who won a gold, two silvers and two bronzes in the 1920s.5. Bethanie Mattek-Sands is money?You have to love the spark this 31-year-old American can still create. Mattek-Sands can now add an Olympic gold medal to her already impressive resume. She and Sock came back to beat Venus and Ram 6-7 (3), 6-1, 10-7. Mattek-Sands had previously won two Grand Slam womens doubles titles (in 2015, with Lucie Safarova) and two mixed-doubles crowns, with Horia Tecau in 2012 and Mike Bryan in 2015. Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys From China Cheap NFL Jerseys Authentic Wholesale Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys China NFL Cheap Jerseys ' ' ' 



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