Buchstabensuppe History &'nd about us » to go on a long break, b

Worn down. Aching back. Sore hips. Mental fatigue. Sounds more like the final round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs than the FedEx Cup playoffs. But to hear the golfers talk, the ridiculous schedule that has been thrust upon those lucky enough to make it all the way to the last PGA Tour event of the year means this will be a hobble to the $8 million purse and the $10 million bonus. While there wont be much sympathy for guys in slacks vying for millions and millions of dollars, the game is clearly suffering at whats supposed to be its big finale. "I did take a month off before coming into the stretch," said Jim Furyk, who is among the remaining golfers in the field this week in Atlanta. "So Im now playing my eighth event in the last nine weeks. Im definitely a little tired. Im a little worn down." Phil Mickelson pulled out of the BMW Championship because hed had enough and was hoping to send a message to the calendar planners. And the No. 1 player in the world made a detour on the way home from the BMW in Denver to enjoy the simple things. "Its amazing what a night in your own bed can do," admitted Rory McIlroy. "I mean, just one night. Its funny, I was standing in the shower on Monday morning in Denver and I was thinking to myself: Why am I going to Atlanta today? So I didnt. I changed and Im going to go to Florida. Im going to go home for a day and a half." The driving range and putting green last week were ghost towns as golfers preserved their energy. Thats not much fun for spectators. How beat up are some of these guys? Consider that Dr. Craig Davies, Canadian chiropractor and trainer to many of the top players on tour has been travelling with a portable hyperbaric chamber, a device that can speed up healing through pressurized oxygen. This years schedule compacted the FedEx Cup playoffs into a four-week squeeze, something no one seems to want and is unlikely to happen again. Certainly that was the word from on high from the commissioner. "Four in a row doesnt really work," Tim Finchem said last week. "So we understand that. We didnt like it this year. Were not going to do it going forward." But the problem is deeper than just the final four weeks. There is a stretch from the Open Championship through this week where there are two majors, a World Golf Championship event and then four playoff stops. Somewhere in there are also the RBC Canadian Open and the Wyndham Championship. Those tournaments have found it necessary to sponsor golfers, including Furyk, to get them to tee it up on the field. Pity poor Brandt Snedeker who has sponsorships with both companies meaning a nine-week stretch was possible, although he only made if as far as the second week of the playoffs. Not only does this schedule hurt the quality of play in these events, but it means that golfers dont play as much before it, saving up their energy for the big run. Theres no easy solution other than cutting back on the total events, which isnt going to happen. Perhaps the playoffs could be three events instead of four, but thats unlikely, especially with millions on the table. You could create an off-season, longer that is, than the three weeks between the Tour Championship and the Frys.Com Open, the first stop on the 2014-15 calendar. For now, its going to be the last man standing come Sunday afternoon. After that, dont expect to see too many of these guys for a while. Oh wait. . . 12 of them are playing in the Ryder Cup. At least theyll get one week off. Rudy Gay Jersey . “The fact that he was willing to do the deal the way we wanted it to be done showed that he wanted me to be a part of something great," Lowry said, noting that Ujiri willingness to sign off on the proposal that both Lowry and his agent presented to the GM was the final straw that convinced him to return. Lonnie Walker Spurs Jersey . 1 goaltender tonight when they conclude a four-game road trip versus the Winnipeg Jets. https://www.spurslockerroom.com/Bruce-Bo...Edition-Jersey/. The 34-year-old averaged 10.1 points and 2.7 rebounds in 82 games played in 2013-14 with the Utah Jazz. Jefferson has averaged 14.5 points, 4. Patty Mills Jersey . Kuznetsov, who was selected by the Capitals in the first round of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, has been playing for his hometown team Chelyabinsk Traktor of the KHL. Patty Mills Spurs Jersey . Eller said the Oilers were a "junior team" that was "all over the place" before Edmontons 4-3 victory over Montreal on Tuesday night, Oilers head coach Dallas Eakins took offence to Ellers comments and used it to motivate his youthful team.ST. PAUL, Minn. - Nino Niederreiter snagged the puck off the boards and rushed toward the net, deftly setting up a wrist shot with a slick deke to each side. The puck whizzed past Nashville goalie Carter Huttons stick to give Minnesota an overtime victory but, before it got there, it had to elude Niederreiters good friend. Niederreiters goal with 2:44 left in the extra period lifted the Wild past the Predators 3-2 on Thursday night, and the tipped shot went between the legs of Roman Josi, who will play with Niederreiter next week for Switzerland in the Olympics. Theyll be roommates, actually. "I might mention it to him right now, but Im not sure if hell be happy about it," Niederreiter said. "At the same time, like I said, it was a big win for us and we needed those points. It felt like a playoff game out there because it was a pretty tough one." Jonas Brodin and Zach Parise scored early to offset two goals for the Predators by Craig Smith, who raised his team-leading total to 18. Hutton made 33 saves and helped thwart a Wild power play in the waning minutes of regulation, but that wasnt quite enough. All three goals Hutton gave up were to his stick side. "It was like a knuckle puck," Hutton said of Niederreiters winner. Josi was impressed by his buddy but not happy with him. "We didnt play that well in the first. We played a little slow, and they got on us quick. After that we played a good game. We obviously wanted two points, but its good to get a point on the road," Josi said. Smith tied the game midway through the second period when he redirected defenceman Victor Bartleys shot past Darcy Kuemper, who made his 12th straight start in goal for the Wild. The Predators hit the post twice in that middle frame and with another try in the third period. "A little bit of puck luck goes a long way," Kuemper said, adding: "I was just trying to do my part to battle and help the guys out because they were sure helping me out." Kuemper made 16 saves to improve to 7-3-2 since Jan. 1, and the Wild raised their home record to 21-7-2 this season.dddddddddddd Coach Mike Yeo stressed to his players this week the danger of looking ahead to the break and not letting up against a team behind them in the standings, and their performance suggested the message was received. "I was real impressed with our guys, the way that they approached this game," Yeo said. "I asked them for a playoff-type mentality coming into the game, and thats a lot to ask for in February when youre about to go on a long break, but they brought it." Parise wasnt worried about a letup. "I think were all mature enough that we understood we have a game still before, and I dont think that was ever a concern about guys thinking about their flights tomorrow or their plans for the break," he said. The Predators had a jarring start to their day, when television announcer Pete Weber was taken for emergency heart surgery and general manager David Poile was hit by an errant puck that flew off the ice during the morning skate and hit him in the face where he was standing behind the bench. Poile was staying in a hospital overnight for observation and evaluation, the team said, and was unable to be present for the pregame ceremony the Wild held for all the Olympians in attendance for each team. Poile is the general manager for Team USA. "There was some bad stuff that happened today, but weve got to come out and find a way to get two points," Hutton said. "Good for them. We werent able to do it." The Predators are in last place in the Central Division but still within striking distance of the playoffs. "It was a good road point considering all the stuff that went on today," coach Barry Trotz said, adding: "We grind them out." NOTES: Wild D Marco Scandella sat out due to a sprained knee sustained the previous game. LW Stephane Veilleux cleared waivers and was sent to AHL affiliate Iowa. ... Smith has 20 points and 12 goals in his last 23 games. ... Niederreiter has 12 points and a plus-six rating in his last 19 games. ' ' '