trying to get my hand stronger. We were working last night as well with the trainers, doing exercises and getting stro

It turns out Rio de Janeiro wont be a terminal destination for Roger Federer. The upcoming Olympics were where?the 34-year-old all-time mens Grand Slam singles champ was destined to go out in a blaze of glory -- or a tailspin.But Rio has become just another station that Federer bypasses without pause as he continues his unique journey in tennis, the terminus still unknown. That much was clear in the undertone of the announcement Federer posted the other day, declaring that he was skipping the Olympic Games and pulling the plug on the rest of the 2016 year.Instead, he will focus on extensive rehabilitation of his surgically repaired left knee.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 wrote on his Facebook page.Note his reference to another few years, and the added emphasis immediately thereafter.Federer may not be ready to revise his timeline and declare that he wants to play through until the Tokyo Olympic Games of 2020. But whos to say he couldnt do it?His decision to take the rest of the year off instead of mounting a retirement tour speaks volumes. It implies a long-term commitment. He wants to strengthen that left knee over a long, five-month period, presumably because he feels it still has a lot more work to do.Back in 2012, when Federer first declared that he intended to play on the ATP Tour at least until the Rio Games, some scoffed at his plans. Sure, he was a 17-time Grand Slam singles champion -- the most prolific in the games history. But he was 30 years old, pressed on all sides by younger men, including Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray.But Federer held his own, and then some. True, Federer hasnt won a Grand Slam tournament since his triumph at Wimbledon four years ago. That conquest was followed on the same Centre Court a few weeks later by a painful loss in the gold medal Olympic Games match to Murray. The failure helped crystallize Federers determination to play on, hoping for another crack at the golden prize in Rio.If the singles gold medal remains the only hole in Federers résumé, it has also been a source of motivational fuel. After their Olympic gold medal clash, Federer won six of eight from Murray. In 2015, a healthy Federer was a respectable 3-5 against the rampaging Djokovic. Federer was building steam toward that date in Rio.Then in late January of this year, Federer heard a click and felt a stab of pain in his left knee while drawing a bath for his children. It led to surgery, a hurried rehabilitation, missed time. If only he had taught his twins to shower, Federer might have gone into Rio seeded even higher than his current No. 3 ranking would mandate.Now, the fruit of his sustained excellence over four years is sharp disappointment. But its far from the end of anything.Federer took a spill at this years Wimbledon late in a semifinal loss to Milos Raonic. It was an uncharacteristically ungainly fall. To some, it appeared symbolic. But perhaps it wasnt father time tripping Federer and reminding him of his mortality. Maybe it was Federers knee sending a warning, telling Federer he had been a bit hasty in returning.Its pretty incredible to see the progress Ive been able to make in a short period of time, Federer told the ATP in late March, about seven weeks after his surgery. In his latest statement, a more sober Federer philosophically wrote, The silver lining is that this experience has made me realize how lucky I have been throughout my career with very few injuries.The one thing weve learned over the years is that theres no telling about longevity, about who will or wont have it. Despite this setback, Federer appears to be built for the long haul. Hes as much in love with the game as it is in love with him. It looks as if hes just been denied a final shot at glory. Hes found a greater project than two weeks in Rio.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, Federer wrote.Curious that Federer chooses to insert the adjective attacking. Its as if hes telling us: Dont expect to see some 35-year-old has-been hobbling around out there next year, punching up moon balls, either.Get the signs and posters ready: Tokyo, 2020. Custom Baltimore Orioles Jerseys . It was the kind of score that might make everyone else wonder which course he was playing. Except that Graeme McDowell saw the whole thing. Crouched behind the 10th green at Sheshan International, McDowell looked over at the powerful American and said, "Ive probably seen 18 of the best drives Ive seen all year in the last two days. Custom Oakland Athletics Jerseys . The players spoke Jan. 13 during a Major League Baseball Players Association conference call after Rodriguez sued the union and Major League Baseball to overturn an arbitrators decision suspending him for the 2014 season and post-season. http://www.customjerseysbaseball.com/custom-st-louis-cardinals-jerseys-824x.html .Y. -- Vancouver Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongo had little trouble picking up his first shutout of the season against a Buffalo Sabres team thats having trouble scoring goals. Custom Chicago Cubs Jerseys . Louis Rams wide receiver Stedman Bailey last Sunday. The fine is the fourth this season for Goldson. He was fined $30,000 for a hit on the New York Jets Jeff Cumberland in Week 1. Custom Pittsburgh Pirates Jerseys . The return match will take place next Wednesday. Udinese leads Fiorentina 2-1 in the other semifinal. Napoli staged a second-half comeback from two goals down after Gervinhos opener and a stunning strike from Kevin Strootman. CHICAGO -- The Kansas City Royals and Lorenzo Cain have agreed to wait a week before determining whether the outfielder will be shut down for the rest of the season because of his troublesome left wrist.Cain returned from a seven-game absence Friday, but said he could basically only swing one-handed and hasnt played since. He told Fox Sports Kansas City on Saturday he was likely finished for the season, while manager Ned Yost said the player was day to day.The two met in Yosts office before Sundays game against the White Sox and then Cain said he agreed to hold off on a decision. Yost said Cain will see a hand specialist this week in Kansas City.Like what Skip said, wait a week and see what happens, Cain said. Ive got to get back to KC. Ive been rehabbing and trying to get my hand stronger. We were working last night as well with the trainers, doing exercises and getting stronger.Cain said a stem-cell injection into his hand late last month didnt have the intended effect of strengthening the hand.ddddddddddddIt led to a little inflammation, he said. Its something that we all agreed upon that it would help, and we all know that it didnt work.The 2014 All-Star is hitting .287 in 103 games for the Royals, who entered Sunday four games behind Baltimore for the second AL wild-card spot with three weeks left in the regular season.I think if we can get it back to the point where I can just hold onto the bat when I swing, theres a chance (of returning), Cain said.The 2015 World Series champions have dealt with a number of injuries this season. Cain also missed most of July with a hamstring injury.Its never easy to lose one of your better players, and weve lost a few of them this year for extended periods of time, Yost said. You just move on and deal with it. ' ' '