Novak Djokovic stood stoically, as still as a stone -- was it another strong take on the mannequin challenge? -- and the smoke billowing at Londons O2 Arena began to engulf him.Before his opening match at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals against Dominic Thiem?on Sunday,?Djokovic stood there and briefly closed his eyes, and you have to wonder whether, even for a moment, he wished he could make himself disappear.For four of the past five seasons, Djokovic has finished as the No. 1-ranked player. He could still make it five out of six with a victory in this eight-man event, something that, based strictly on history, wouldnt be terribly surprising; he has won each of the past four editions of this tournament.After losing the No. 1 last week to Andy Murray, the world No. 2 essentially needs to go one step further than Murray in London.With Djokovics uneven 6-7 (10), 6-0, 6-2 victory over the 23-year-old Thiem, it would be a little too easy to declare Djokovics glorious run of dominance over. But its not irresponsible to wonder whether his shelf life at the top has a rapidly advancing expiration date.The recent signs, including this manic match with Thiem, arent particularly good. Lets just say that for Djokovic, the end of the season cant come fast enough.The frustrations were still evident Sunday, even after a smooth final two sets. In his postmatch news conference, Djokovic had a heated exchange with reporters when the world No. 2 found himself on the defensive answering questions about his recent bouts of temper. Heres how it went down:Question: Back to the end of the first set, we saw you similarly venting your frustration at Roland Garros, throwing your racket. Does it concern you one day that will cost you dearly? If it hit someone ...Djokovic: You guys are unbelievable.Q: Why is it unbelievable?Djokovic: Because youre always picking these kind of things.Q. If you keep doing these things ...Djokovic: I keep doing these things? Why dont you get suspended then?Q. You were close, werent you?Djokovic: Im close? Im still not suspended, so if Im not close, Im not close.Q: If that ball had hit a spectator, it could have been serious.Djokovic: It could have been, yes. It could have snowed in O2 arena, as well, but it didnt.Q: Youre not concerned about your mindset?Djokovic: Im the only player that shows his frustration on the court? Thats what you are saying?Q: Youre one of the top-ranked players in the world.Djokovic: So?Just five months ago, Djokovic seemed invincible. He won the Australian Open, the rare Indian Wells-Miami double and then the French Open, completing his career Grand Slam. That was his 12th major singles title, and that noise you heard was the crunching of all-time numbers.How long before the 29-year-old Serb caught his long-time rivals, Roger Federer (17) and Rafael Nadal (14)? Since taking three Grand Slams in 2011, Djokovic had won an astounding 11 of 22 majors up to that point. That trajectory would vault him past Nadal -- and Pete Sampras, too -- by the end of 2017. Federer would be in his sights by 2018.And then Djokovic -- perhaps in retrospect it was inevitable -- came back to the field. He lost to Sam Querrey in the third round at Wimbledon, Juan Martin del Potro in his first match at the Rio Olympics and Stan Wawrinka in the US Open final.After falling to Marin Cilic in the quarterfinals of the BNP Paribas Masters earlier this month, Djokovic unblinkingly tackled the elephant in the room: his disturbing and dramatic loss of confidence on the court.A lot of things, a lot of emotions went through my mind and body in the last two years, Djokovic said, with the things that I was blessed to achieve, obviously, and the career Grand Slam this year. But it took a lot out of me, and it has put some things in perspective and, obviously, raised some questions in which direction I want to go to.So Im in the process at the moment, and its going [to] obviously take some time really for me to redefine all these things.Against Thiem, it took a 69-minute first set to accomplish that reset.Djokovic was tentative in that frame and Thiem was consistently fiery. Then, after earning three set points in the tiebreaker, Thiem succumbed to nerves, pounding back-to-back double faults and a tight backhand into the net. Finally, on his seventh set point, he whipped a forehand winner.At one point, Djokovic lost his racket and his legendary balance, winding up on his behind, then offered a thin smile -- maybe it was actually an embarrassed grimace.Whatever it was, it returned him swiftly to full power.As Federer and Nadal have both learned, the 30th year of a professional tennis players life can be a difficult one. After winning his 16th major, at the 2010 Australian Open at the age of 28, Federer has won only one since. Nadal had just turned 28 when he won the 2014 French Open -- and he hasnt won one since. Sampras, too, won one major after turning 29.Djokovic celebrated his 29th birthday just before the French Open. He has struggled with physical and mental issues ever since winning that cherished, life-changing title.This season-ending tournament offers a revealing glimpse into his psyche.Look, in the end of the day, I have to get to that state of mind where Im able to perform as well as I want to match after match, Djokovic said at the Paris Masters. I was not able to find that level for last couple of months.But Im still here, and I feel like Im on the right path. Im in a better state of mind than I was some time ago. Thats all Im thinking about right now. Cheap Chase Edmonds Jersey . The veteran safety was a starter for the Bengals from 2008-2012. He totaled 41 tackles and three interceptions while starting all but four of the 13 games he played last season. Cheap Korey Cunningham Jersey . Terms of the deal were not immediately available. 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NEW YORK -- This season hasnt started and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver already has good news about next season.It appears theres no chance it will be affected by a work stoppage.Silver said Friday the league and players have made tremendous progress toward an extension of the collective bargaining agreement, saying he hoped a deal would be completed soon.We are not done, done as we say as bargainers in terms of ultimately having a completed collective bargaining agreement, but were on our way towards getting an extension done of this collective bargaining agreement, Silver said. Im very pleased to report that.Silver said the process was far different than the contentious negotiations of 2011, which led to a lockout and a 2011-12 season that was shortened to 66 games.This time, the sides have been meeting for a few months and seem eager to make a deal long before Dec. 15, when either side can notify the other of its intention to opt out of the 10-year pact, which expires in June 2021.If either side chooses to opt out, the deal would end on June 30, 2017.The sides met Wednesday, the day before owners began their two-day preseason meetings. They received an encouraging report on the status of the talks.Weve made tremendous progress and Im pleased to report that, Silver said.An agreement wasnt reached in 2011 until Thanksgiving weekend, and 16 games from each teams schedule had been shaved before the season opened on Christmas. The players guarantee of basketball-related income was reduced from 57 percent to about 50 percent.The sides arent fighting over money this time, not after the national TV deals worth more than $2.6 billion annually sent revenues soaring and the salary cap skyrocketing.Silver credited union executive director Michele Roberts for the more cordial tone of these talks and noted the role on the negotiating committee of Hall of Fame player Michael Jordan, now owner of the Charlotte Hornets. Silver said Jordans relationship with players has added an enormous amount to the atmosphere in the room.For players to see him in that position, it doesnt mean if Michael says it, it necessarily means that they should accept it as the position they should take, Silver said, but I think thatts really added a special element unique to this league to have a superstar player like that owning a team now.dddddddddddd.Longtime Commissioner David Stern led owners and former NBPA executive director Billy Hunter represented players in the last few negotiations, and the league lost games in both 1998-99 and 2011-12. Silver said both sides feel that the most recent deal has been working.I think the fortunes of the league, the fact that there is more money to distribute among our players and teams, has created an atmosphere that makes it more conducive to continue a deal that looks a lot like the current deal, Silver said.And because they are working to extend it, rather than negotiate a new one, Silver said there would be more tweaks than wholesale changes.Silver and Roberts appear to have developed a stronger working relationship than their predecessors, and players have long looked up to Jordan for what he accomplished on and off the court.All-Stars Chris Paul, the union president who took part in this weeks meeting, and vice presidents LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony are among the players thinking business as well as basketball.Ill say that when you have someone like Michael Jordan now on the owners side of the table, we all remember the old slogan from when Michael was a player of `Be like Mike. I think theres the sense now for the players that thats yet another area where they want to be like Mike, Silver said. Look what hes done, taking sort of his success on the floor and translated that into being an incredibly successful businessman.Silver didnt want to comment on specifics of the deal since it had not been completed, though its expected to include new league-funded programs to help retired players with education and medical expenses, and an increase in the rookie salary scale.But hes optimistic hell be able to discuss them soon.Hopefully, we will be back to all of you in the not-too-distant future to say that negotiations have been completed, but were not quite there yet, he said.---Follow Brian Mahoney on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Briancmahoney Youth NFL Jerseys Wholesale Wholesale Jerseys Nike NFL Jerseys China Wholesale Jerseys 2020 Wholesale Jerseys 2020 China Jerseys White NFL Jerseys Cheap ' ' '