Andy Murrays drive to seize the world No. 1 ranking over the past six months has been a thing of beauty, and Sunday, it got the happy ending it deserved.Murray won the Paris Masters 1000 title with an artful, gritty 6-3, 6-7 (4), 6-4 win against surprise finalist John Isner.Sometimes after you achieve something big, or something that you maybe didnt expect, it can be quite easy to have a letdown and feel a little bit flat, Murray told the media after the final, a reference to having clinched the No. 1 ranking. I felt really nervous before the match today, and I was happy about that.The win brought closure to a process that breathed new and welcome life into mens tennis in the second half of the year. As recently as June, Novak Djokovics dominance was so comprehensive that pundits were speculating he might complete the first calendar-year Grand Slam since Rod Laver did it in 1969. By the end of October, the roar of Murrays progress was like the rumble of a freight train, drowning out all else -- including the question, Whats wrong with Djokovic?Nobody knows the answer to that question, but we do know whats right with Andy Murray.The 29-year-old Scot, who had been humiliated -- theres no other word for it -- by Djokovic at the peak of his powers in so many Grand Slam finals, never gave up. He never settled for the comfort of being a solid, successful also-ran.It was never enough for Murray to be a Big Four afterthought. He still trails Djokovic 24-10 in the head-to-head, and come early February, the deposed Serb might make Murray pay dearly for this moment of insolence. After all, Djokovic battered Murray into submission in the Australian Open final in four of the past six years.But each time Murray got knocked out, he picked himself up off the canvas and came lurching back for more. In the end, it wasnt Murray who went away. It was Djokovic.Djokovic is 3-1 against Murray this year, and that includes wins in the Australian and French Open finals. A skeptic might argue that were it not for a mysterious loss of focus, motivation, or both, on the part of Djokovic, Murray would not have realized his mission. Or you could argue the absence of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal were a great boon to Murray, on the grounds that beating two or even three of the Big Four at the same tournament has always been a bridge too far for him.Theres some truth in those theories. But the on-the-ground reality tells a different story. Although Djokovic was busy evolving as a human being and trying to sort out his desires and goals after completing his career Grand Slam at Murrays expense at the French Open, the Scot sucked it up and soldiered on. He was beaten by Djokovic at Roland Garros despite playing some of the best tennis of his life. Instead of becoming discouraged, Murray won the Queens Club, Wimbledon and the Olympic Games.That trio of wins set him up for the big push, which was marred by only one puzzling loss -- his US Open quarterfinal collapse against Kei Nishikori. After that, Murray won three more tournaments on the trot, including the Shanghai Masters 1000, to set himself up for this critical last week in Paris.Murrays final-round wins in recent months, counting backward from Paris to the French Open, were against Isner, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Roberto Bautista Agut, Grigor Dimitrov, Juan Martin del Potro and Milos Raonic (twice). His tournament losses were to Nishikori and Cilic. It isnt Murrays fault that Djokovic was unable to make any of the appointments the seedings set up for them.The symbolic value of Murrays win over Isner in Paris is significant, but so is the practical fruit. Murray picked up 400 additional rankings points for winning. They will provide him with a valuable cushion at the ATP World Tour Championships, which begin in London in a weeks time.Thats likely to be helpful to the hard-working new No. 1, who just achieved something he said he maybe didnt expect, but something he surely earned and deserved.Custom Nationals Jerseys . LOUIS -- St. Custom Nationals Jersey China . He was followed closely by David Clarkson, donning red, seconds later. Clarksons actions one night earlier, leaping off the bench in defence of Kessel during a pre-season game against the Buffalo Sabres, will cost him the first 10 games of the regular season. http://www.customnationalsjersey.com/ .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. Custom Nationals T-shirts . -- In one brief spurt, Brazil turned a close game into a rout and proved again it will be a strong World Cup favourite. Authentic Custom Nationals Jersey . -- On the field, it was business as usual for Jameis Winston and No.OLYMPICSNEW YORK -- American swimmer Ryan Lochte said he over-exaggerated what happened at a Rio de Janeiro gas station and acknowledged it was his immature behavior that got him and three teammates into a mess that consumed the final days of the Olympics.Lochte, in a portion of an interview with NBCs Matt Lauer, continued backtracking from a story that he initially described as an armed robbery. Police have said the swimmers vandalized a bathroom after a night of partying and armed guards confronted them and asked them to pay for the damage.Lochte said a guard pointed a gun in his direction and demanded money, but admitted he understood he was being told the Americans had to pay for the damage or the police would be called.Lauer told Lochte that his story had morphed from one about the mean streets or Rio to a negotiated settlement to cover up dumb behavior.Lochte also said he had lied in telling NBC interviewer Billy Bush the next day that a gun had been cocked and pointed at his forehead. He said he was still under the influence of alcohol when he talked to Bush.RIO DE JANEIRO -- Police are blocking Irelands top four Olympic executives from leaving Brazil as their ticket scalping investigation expanded with a raid on the team on the final day of the Rio de Janeiro Games.The Rio police force said it executed search warrants to seize passports and evidence from Ireland team leader Kevin Kilty, chief executive Stephen Martin and secretary general Dermot Henihan, who are accused of illegally selling Olympic tickets.The trio, whose phones and laptops were taken by police, agreed to present themselves for questioning by police on Tuesday, the OCI said in an earlier statement.The new development in the investigation came as Olympic Council of Ireland president Patrick Hickey, who is also a top Olympic official, remained in jail following his arrest on Wednesday.RIO DE JANEIRO -- The U.S. Olympic Team made itself right at home in Rio.The British, they had a Games to savor as well.The host Brazilians got soccer gold that they craved, the Russians struggled on the heels of the exposure of a state-sponsored doping program, and the Chinese finished well below expectations.So went the medal race at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, where the Americans -- with women leading the way -- dominated both the gold and overall totals. The U.S. finished with 46 gold medals and 121 medals overall, its 51-total-medal margin over second-place China the largest in a non-booycotted Olympics in nearly a century.ddddddddddddFor the fourth consecutive games, U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps left with more medals than anyone else. He won six in Rio, while gymnast Simone Biles and swimmer Katie Ledecky each won five to lead to lead a big haul from American women.COLLEGE FOOTBALLDefending national champion Alabama is No. 1 in The Associated Press preseason Top 25 as the Crimson Tide attempts to win a fifth title in eight seasons.Coach Nick Sabans Tide received 33 of 61 first-place votes from the media panel and 1,469 points. No. 2 Clemson received 16 first-place votes and 1,443 points. Its the first time since 1992 that Nos. 1 and 2 in the preseason rankings are the same as they were in the final poll of the previous season.Oklahoma is No. 3 and has four first-place votes. No. 4 Florida State has five. No. 5 LSU, No. 6 Ohio State and No. 7 Michigan all received one first-place vote.Alabama is the preseason No. 1 for the fifth time overall (2013, 2010, 1978, 1966).SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Notre Dame kicked starting safety Max Redfield off the team and suspended reserve cornerback Devin Butler indefinitely after they were arrested in separate incidents, while four others arrested with Redfield face internal discipline.Coach Brian Kelly said in a statement he made the decision after meeting with the players, reviewing the evidence available to him and talking with team leaders.All six could still face additional discipline from the university. The players, who had been given the weekend off before the start of classes on Tuesday, got in trouble after completing preseason camp Friday.Butler, who already was out until October with a broken foot, was taken into custody early Saturday after a police officer said the player punched and slammed him to the ground outside a bar near campus. Officers had to use a stun gun to subdue Butler, according to a probable cause affidavit.Redfield and the four other players -- running back Dexter Williams, linebacker Tevon Coney, wide receiver Kevin Stepherson Jr. and cornerback Ashton White -- were arrested Friday night after Indiana State Police said a trooper stopped a car in Fulton County, about 35 miles south of South Bend, for speeding. The trooper detected the odor of marijuana and with the help of a drug-sniffing dog, he found the marijuana and a handgun, police said. ' ' '