Privates :) und Spiel » a Moore victory would bring him the FedEx Cup,

As speculation about Cristiano Ronaldos future at Real Madrid rumbles on, a potential successor is returning to form... Barcelonas brilliance makes the rest look like mere mortals, but watching Luis Suarez and Lionel Messis defiance of penalty-taking convention last weekend would have angered the men in the capital more than most.At home to Athletic Bilbao last Saturday, Real had laboured to victory, with the 4-2 scoreline flattering Zinedine Zidanes side, while the Catalan juggernaut rolled on against Celta Vigo a day later. Yet, one Galacticos showing against Athletic, and then against Roma on Wednesday night, would certainly have pleased Zidane - who may have even saw something of himself in James Rodriguezs fleet-footed flamboyance.Ronaldo provided the perfect response to critics of his away goals record in the first leg of Reals Champions League last-16 tie in Rome, but we still saw examples of the selfishness and petulance that has made him tough to take for many of the those notoriously hard to please Madridistas. James Rodriguez scored a fabulous long-range effort for Real Madrid against Athletic Bilbao James isnt of the same ilk, and will not come close to matching the goal tally of Ronaldo, but as we saw with some sublime delivery in Rome, the Colombian is capable of being a different kind of focal point to the Portuguese.It is fair to say, the 24-year-old has struggled to replicate the form which saw him star at the 2014 World Cup since arriving in Spain. A thigh injury has severely restricted his playing time, but criticism levelled at Rodriguez seems to have some substance. Ivan Mejia, a journalist in Colombia, launched a scathing attack on the player during a radio show, insisting that he had lost his humility during Rafael Benitezs short reign, with his apparent refusal to warm up to replace Gareth Bale against Sporting Gijon in January.The accusations did not stop there. Mejia was also adamant that James game was in decline due to the fact he was going out at night and racing his car, in reference to accusations he was speeding at 200kmph.However, there has recently been a seismic shift in mood and fitness - a welcome boost to all concerned.James showed glimpses of that desired extravagance on Saturday and in midweek, but it is his penchant for a stunning strike that will endear him to the fans the most. James Rodriguez (right) celebrates with Cristiano Ronaldo The stats are eye-opening. No player in Europe has scored more goals from outside the box than James since he joined Real.Saturdays stunner against Athletic means he has managed a joint-high of nine league goals from over 18 yards in less than half (42) the attempts from outside the box of his fellow leaders Christian Eriksen (111) and Bayer Leverkusens Hakan Calhanoglu (127).Ronaldo has netted seven times from outside the box in that space of time but from even more attempts from range - 139.The disdain James had for Benitez was palpable, with the decision to play Bale in a more central role, overlooking a fit-again James, not sitting well. Yes, I am much better, James said after Benitezs departure. This helps a lot and I do not think its just me. This helps a lot and I do not think its just me. James Rodriguez on Zidane taking over from Benitez The coaching change has been good for everyone. Not just for me. He [Zidane] talks a lot with everybody and I think its good for our play.Under a coach who is an icon at the Bernabeu, and a man who knows a thing or two about how to utilise No 10 talents like James, all the variables are working in the Colombians favour.When you are the richest club in the world 11 years in a row, a players commercial appeal is fundamental to how much time theyll be afforded to develop into the next Galactico, and James has an entire continent waiting for him to flourish into the star they believe he can become. Ronaldos response Cristiano Ronaldo silenced his critics against Roma Ronaldo may or may not move on at the end of the season, but even if the record-breaking forward stays to see out his best years in Madrid, Real have to plan for his successor now, with Neymar, Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez only getting better.And, playing in his preferred role, the time is now for James to take heed of any advice from his iconic coach and prove that there can be life after Ronaldo, doing something not even the former Manchester United star and his goalscoring exploits could in the process - winning over the demanding Bernabeu masses.Watch Malaga v Real Madrid live on Sky Sports 3 HD from 3pm on Sunday. Also See: Ronaldos response WATCH: James hits a cracker Adidas NMD R2 Heren . Durant finished with 24 points and 13 rebounds, Jackson matched his career high with 23 points on 10-of-14 shooting and Lamb scored 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting, lifting the Thunder to a 94-88 win over San Antonio and snapping the Spurs 11-game winning streak. Adidas NMD Dames . -- Claudio Bieler hadnt scored since early September, and not from the run of play since mid-July. http://www.nmdbelgie.com/kopen-adidas-continental-80-sale.html . Hazard cut in from the left and scored with a swerving right-footed shot for ninth goal of the season, which proved to be enough for the victory despite Chelseas forwards again lacking a cutting edge up front. Adidas NMD XR1 Heren . -- Patrick Reed got an early start in golf. Adidas NMD Kopen . -- Timbers coach Caleb Porter didnt stray from his business-like approach to the season even after Portland downed the two-time defending league champion Los Angeles Galaxy to gain crucial playoff position. ATLANTA -- Hardly anything ever goes right for Rory McIlroy in the FedEx Cup.McIlroy won two straight FedEx Cup playoff events in 2012 and was the best player in golf only to watch Brandt Snedeker win the Tour Championship to beat him out of the $10 million bonus. Two years ago, he again was the No. 1 seed and was tied for the 54-hole lead until Billy Horschel beat him at East Lake.McIlroy never looked like he had a chance Sunday.He was three shots behind with three holes to play. Nearly two hours later, he poured in a 15-foot birdie putt on the fourth playoff hole to win the Tour Championship and claim the FedEx Cup in the wildest finish of its 10-year history.All it took was a wedge he holed from 137 yards for eagle on the 16th hole and a birdie on the par-5 18th hole for a 6-under 64. Along the way, he needed Dustin Johnson to fade, and the U.S. Open champion did just that with a 73.I needed stuff like that to happen, McIlroy said. But I think after 2012 and 2014, it feels that little bit sweeter that Ive been able to get it done.Nothing was sweeter than No. 16.I guess it all started on 16 in regulation when I holed that wedge, McIlroy said.Kevin Chappell was in the final group behind him and showing no signs of doing anything but winning, especially when Chappell stuffed a shot into 4 feet for birdie on the 16th to build a two-shot lead. Ryan Moore was in the penultimate group alongside McIlroy, and he was busy scrambling for pars until he rolled in a 15-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole, which gave him a share of the lead when Chappell made bogey behind him.Moore and Chappell were tied at 12-under par. McIlroy was at 11 under.Johnson, who never recovered from a tough start on the front nine with some errant tee shots and closed with a 73, was out of it at this point. As long as Moore or Chappell won the Tour Championship, Johnson would win the FedEx Cup.It just didnt work out that way.McIlroy nearly holed his bunker shot on the 18th hole and made a birdie. Moore (64) and Chappell (66) made par, setting up a three-way playoff at East Lake where money was potentially changing hands with each shot.Chappell was eliminated on the first extra hole with a par on the 18th. McIlroy looked as though he would put the finishing touches on this stirring rally with a shot into 6 feet for eeagle on the first playoff hole -- except that he missed the putt, and Moore made a 10-footer for birdie to keep it going.ddddddddddddIt finally ended where it all started for McIlroy -- on the 16th.Moore still made him work for it, holing a 15-foot par putt that force McIlroy to make his from about the same distance, and he did. McIlroy stiffened his back and screamed at reaching a goal that never looked like a possibility until the end.Just to see that ball drop, and everything thats come together for me this year ... to pull it off was really special, McIlroy said, his voice still hoarse from screaming over so many quality shots, so many clutch moments over the final two hours at East Lake.McIlroy picked up $11.53 million in one day -- the $10 million FedEx Cup bonus and $1.53 million for the Tour Championship, his second victory in three weeks that made him the first player to win four FedEx Cup playoff events.I just wanted to make him earn it for that much money at least, Moore said. I wanted him to make the putt. It was nice to get up and make it, but you give a great player like him that many opportunities, and hes going to make one eventually.Moore had quite the consolation prize -- he was the final captains pick for the Ryder Cup later Sunday night.Johnson had to settle for a $3 million bonus, though that was OK with him. He realized a Moore victory would bring him the FedEx Cup, and that would have been fine.It didnt feel right because I didnt win the Tour Championship, Johnson said. Thats why I was here to win. I knew I controlled my own destiny.The real heartache belonged to Chappell, who played superbly for so long until one tee shot on the 17th tumbled into the nasty rough and led to bogey. He had a 20-foot birdie chance on the last hole that he left woefully short, and he failed to birdie the 18th again in the playoff.It was his fourth runner-up finish this season, in which he made more than $4.5 million but still doesnt have a PGA Tour trophy. In those four runner-up finishes, Jason Day beat him twice and McIlroy beat him once. Chappell shot 67, 69, 69 and 66 in those finishes.Im proud of the way I fought, he said. It just wasnt enough. ' ' '