1. He might not have the largest fan base and he might not rake in the endorsements, but it’s awfully hard to deny Nikolay Davydenko his props. The Russian veteran won the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in London, beating a “Who’s Who” of men’s tennis, including Roger Federer and Juan Martin del Potro in the final two matches. His powers of recovery were remarkable, as he played match after grueling match and still returned with sufficient reserves the following day. And, in a larger sense, his powers of recovery are admirable. He’s returned from both injuries and an unfortunate controversy to reassert himself as a top-five player.

Read More

Riotboard's Latest

• Chris Mannix: Predicting the final Team USA roster
• Tim Vickery: Brazil hopes to find itself in Europe
• Cliff Corcoran: The five best deadline deals for contenders in the wild card era
• Cory McCartney: Hamlin may have a lock on a Chase spot, but has struggled in the second half of 2010
• Kerry J. Byrne: Titans’ Johnson is NFL’s best home run hitter