hedule, is already cumbersome. Adding the captaincy, just as he is about to become a parent, seems unnecessarily onerous. The time for him to t

Im about to compare golfs successful re-entry into the Olympic Games after 112 years with an end-of-year money grab that might be the absolute antithesis of the play-for-pride competition that we witnessed this past week. If that seems ridiculous as you read it, trust this much: Its even stranger to write it. Bear with me, though, because there are some startling similarities between the two, which should spell positive news for future presentations in the Olympics.Over the next few weeks, the PGA Tour will celebrate 10 years of its FedEx Cup playoff series -- and no, there isnt a punchline to this story.That wouldnt have always been the case. In its nascent years, the big idea of commissioner Tim Finchems reign was treated with varying measures of disdain. Any decision to celebrate its relevance back then wouldve come across as a lack of awareness and a self-serving gesture, like a grown adult throwing a party for every half-birthday.Since then, though, its matured into exactly what Finchem had envisioned. Its a worthwhile conclusion to the season -- no, its not bigger than any major, nor was it ever supposed to be -- which is a direct result of players buying into the idea.Heres a brief explanation for the evolution: As many of the players who were around pre-FedEx Cup started to fade away, so did much of the disdain. They were gradually replaced with younger players -- think Jason Day, Jordan Spieth, Dustin Johnson, Rory McIlroy -- who never knew PGA Tour life before the playoffs, and therefore not only had no reason to question it, but were fully vested as a learned response.All of which brings us to golf in the Olympics.There are some definitive parallels here between the early days of the FedEx Cup and the games return to the Olympics. Just as occurred a decade ago, many of the games elite players never bought into the Olympics idea. Their apathy bled into the larger scope of the competition. After all, if guys such as Day, Spieth, Johnson and McIlroy didnt play -- under the guise of security threats or health risks -- there was initially more punchline than punch to the proceedings.Much of that has already changed. Sergio Garcia called playing in Rio de Janeiro my best decision ever. Bubba Watson said it was a dream to be here. In a not-so-thinly veiled dig at those who skipped the competition, Padraig Harrington contended that all 60 players who entered were winners.Then there were the three medal winners -- Justin Rose (gold), Henrik Stenson (silver) and Matt Kuchar (bronze) -- each of whom beamed with pride as he spoke about the thrill of competing for national pride among the worlds greatest athletes.When the games top four players return at next weeks Barclays -- ironically, the commencement of that 10-year FedEx Cup anniversary -- theyll be asked questions such as, Do you regret not playing in the Olympics? and How much do you regret not playing in the Olympics?Whether you believe the contention of those powers-that-be who pushed for golfs inclusion in the Olympics -- that it will prominently assist worldwide grow-the-game initiatives -- its undeniable that this years tournament will perpetuate the understanding that it now exists among the games more important events.More elite players will compete four years from now in Japan, and then -- if golf does indeed remain in the Olympics -- more and more in following years. There will be a time when the worlds best players wont even remember when apathy cast a shadow over the proceedings. They will know only a world in which their predecessors always played the Olympics because of the events importance in the games hierarchy. Theyll be fully vested as a learned response.Sound familiar?The similarities between Olympic golf and the FedEx Cup dont end with future perceptions. The PGA Tours playoffs underwent a variety of format and procedural alterations during their formative years. So, too, will the Olympic tournament. Future versions should have a team element to the festivities. They could undergo format changes that extend beyond simply 72 holes of stroke play; they could even be creative and offer events like a mixed-doubles competition.When future generations of elite golfers ponder the games roots in the modern Olympics, they wont think about the consternation over the initial format, nor will they remember how many of the top players of 2016 decided to bypass the tournament.There arent many ways we can compare the innocent, prideful display of Olympic golf to the inherent opulence of the FedEx Cup -- there are no cash prizes for Olympic medalists, although sometimes certain countries give out medal-based bonuses. But this analogy fits the situation. Just as todays best players have known only a world in which each season ends with an important series of playoff events, tomorrows best will know only that the Olympics are important, part of a tradition that was recaptured beginning with this years event. Ronald Acuna Jr. Jersey .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. David Justice Braves Jersey . This should be celebrated because it will not always be this way. With the amount of money given to players by their clubs these days, it is a wonder that so many of those teams allow the sport to continue to take away many of their assets so they can play for a different team in the middle of their season. http://www.baseballbravesproshop.com/ronald-acuna-jr-braves-jersey/ . Bryzgalov stopped 25 shots on Saturday in the Oklahoma City Barons 4-1 victory over the Abbotsford Heat. The Oilers signed Bryzgalov to a one-year $2 million contract last Friday after shedding payroll by dealing defenceman Ladislav Smid to the Flames. Ender Inciarte Braves Jersey . 1 position. The Mustangs (6-0), who beat Queens 50-31 last weekend, earned 17 first-place votes and 287 points in voting by the Football Reporters of Canada. Western was last ranked first in the country in October 2011. Tom Glavine Braves Jersey . "I wrote 36 on my sheet at the beginning of the game," the Cincinnati coach said, referring the yard line the ball would need to be snapped from. A day that started with the game delicately poised ended with it bearing all the competitive elements of a firing squad. Suffice to say, England arent the ones with the guns.Barring a miracle, India will have wrapped up this series by the time people in England are bracing themselves for a chilly commute or dark school run. A 3-0 scoreline will mean England have lost four of their last five Tests and five of their last seven. That is a run of form that, in other sports, might have consequences.It is natural at such moments to look at what has gone wrong and demand change. It gives us a sense that we are correcting errors and making progress. It provides the illusion that things might be better next time.A current theme that appears to gathering momentum is the captaincy of Alastair Cook. James Anderson was the latest to be asked about it in the post-play press conference on Sunday - unsurprisingly, he was supportive, though he did admit he had no idea if he was going to continue - underlining the sense that it is becoming the thing to blame for this defeat.But thats simplistic. Cook has never been a great orator or inspired tactician. Like most modern Test captains, he is cautious and like most modern Test captains, he can appear formulaic. Much of the pressure, in fact, has been brought to bear by the words of his own coach, Trevor Bayliss, whose call last week for a more positive approach from Englands batsmen was at clear odds with Cooks more adhesive style.But he has other skills. Most importantly, he leads by example and has, on the whole, absorbed the demands of the job without it ruining his own game. He has captained sides that won in India and South Africa and, only a few months ago - had a result or two gone their way - England would have briefly regained the No. 1 Test team ranking. His record, as player and captain, is stronger than some would like to admit.He also protects Joe Root. While Root might, by nature, be more in tune with Baylisss positive message, he has very little captaincy experience and is still at the developmental stage of his career when he is coming to terms with batting at No. 3. The burden on him, as Englands best batsman in all three formats of the game and bearing in mind this teams silly schedule, is already cumbersome. Adding the captaincy, just as he is about to become a parent, seems unnecessarily onerous. The time for him to take over will come soon enough, but theres no hurry. Besides, replacing Cook with Root as captain would not have made Englands spinners more accurate or more potent. Replacing Cook with Root would not have ensured England took the three important chances they squandered - all three of Indias centurions were given lives; two of them before they had 50 - and replacing Cook with Root would not provide any grreater answer to the problem Englands bowlers have with dismissing Virat Kohli.dddddddddddd Disconcertingly for England, there have been times this series when Indias seamers - notably Mohammed Shami - have looked more potent than any of Englands.We can argue with Cooks tactics on day four. But Jake Ball had dismissed Cheteshwar Pujara early on day three and Adil Rashid has been Englands most effective bowler in the series. It was reasonable to turn to them, it just didnt come off. We can argue that there should have been more flexibility with the batting order, with a case being made to rest Moeen Ali, who had bowled 53 overs, for a little longer before he batted. But there is an equally good case for some consistency in the batting line-up and providing Moeen with some certainty over his position. And we can argue with the selection of the side, but it is na?ve to think that the inclusion of either Gareth Batty or Liam Dawson would have made the difference. Not all decisions are right or wrong; many just come off, or dont.That does not mean were not about to have a change in the captaincy. It may well be that Cook, after a long and demanding period in the role, has lost a bit of hunger for it. It may well be that, once he gets back to England and has time to reflect, he decides it is time to move on. And it may well be that Root proves himself a more instinctive leader.But were fooling ourselves if we think that replacing Cook would have led to England winning in India.The reality is that England keep missing chances in the field, that they still dont have, full-time, a spin-bowling, wicketkeeping or fielding coach, and that the county game is structured to prioritise the Ashes and, of late, limited-overs tournaments. If England really want to win in India, they are not going to spend every August playing only white ball cricket - as they will when ECB plans are ratified from 2020 - with the consequent marginalisation of attacking spin bowlers that will follow. The desire to embrace the T20 revolution is not wrong - it might even be essential to the sustenance of the game in the UK - but it does come at a cost.Cook cannot control any of this stuff. He has arrived in India with an inexperienced line-up of batsmen (you could argue that, but for Cook, a certain well-known player with a pretty decent record in Mumbai might still be a member of the squad, but lets not go there) an ageing pack of senior bowlers, and spinners who have been outclassed by their opposition. India are just better than England. Cook cant change that. He may not be perfect and his form with the bat - and in the field - is a concern. But hes not the key problem here. ' ' '