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MELBOURNE, Australia - When Viktor Troicki was banned from tennis for failing to provide a blood sample for a drug test, he was so angry he needed a little distance from the game.He went skiing — a lot. He spent time with family and travelled with his good friend, Novak Djokovic.I just had fun, he said.After some time, though, Troickis mind started to return to the court.When you are forbidden to do something that you love, you start missing it a lot, he said. You want to get back and be there again and be even better and prove to the world that you can be there again.Troicki is making the most of his second chance at the start of 2015. After capturing just the second title of his career at the Sydney International last week, hes now into the third round of the Australian Open after upsetting Leonardo Mayer, the 26th seed from Argentina, on Wednesday.Im trying to use any chance, any match, any tournament, he said. Its going well.Troicki and the International Tennis Federation differ over what actually happened when the Serbian player was asked to give a blood sample during the 2013 Monte Carlo Masters.Troicki said he provided a urine sample but wasnt feeling well and asked to give blood the following day, which the doping control officer permitted him to do. His urine tests later came back negative.An ITF tribunal panel, however, sided with the doping control officers version of events, saying in its ruling: Her response was that this was not a matter upon which she could advise the player.Troicki appealed the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport and his original 18-month ban was reduced to 12 months.The Serb, who was once ranked as high as No. 12, takes accountability for his decision not to provide the sample that day and said he isnt bitter about losing a year of his career.But he wants to make one thing clear.I never refused (to take the blood test). Thats what hurts me. I want everyone to know that I never refused anything, he said.Troicki had the support of many of his fellow players during his suspension, including Djokovic. In fact, Troicki would travel to cities where Djokovic was playing to practice with him and other players away from the tournament sites, where he wasnt permitted to be.Then, after the suspension was lifted in July, he began his comeback. Because his ranking wasnt protected, he had to play on the challenger circuit and try to qualify for ATP tournaments again.It gave me some memories back when I was starting (my career), he said. I knew Id done it once, so why not do it again?By the end of 2014, he had boosted his ranking enough to gain direct entry into the Australian Open — his first major in more than a year. And now he has a chance to reach the fourth round — matching his previous best result at a Grand Slam tournament — if he beats No. 7 seed Tomas Berdych.I never thought of giving up, he said. That work is paying off now. 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NFL Jerseys Supply .com) - Cincinnati Reds pitcher Mat Latos had an arthroscopic procedure performed on his right elbow last week, the teams official site reported Wednesday.AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- Stan Van Gundy introduced his new general manager Wednesday and then tried to quell any concerns over how the Detroit Pistons would distribute power within their front office. "I think the final decision thing gets overblown," Van Gundy said. "What we want is a collaborative process with a lot of hard-working, intelligent people, who are thinking, and then use the process to come to a decision." Jeff Bower is now the teams general manager, after Van Gundy was hired as coach and team president last month. They both appeared at a news conference, then were available for more informal interviews afterward. Van Gundy was surrounded by reporters almost immediately, and its clear that hes still the face of the franchises next big effort to return to relevance. But Bower brings plenty of experience at the NBA level to his new job. He was the coach at Marist College last season, but hes been a general manager and coach in the pros with New Orleans. "Hes done almost everything at the NBA level," Van Gundy said. "Hes been an assistant coach, hes been a head coach, hes been a scout, hes been an assistant general manager, hes been a general manager, so hes got an experience that really allows him to know the NBA on every level of what goes on in terms of basketball operations." Bower said his coaching experience helps shape the way he evaluates talent. "Being able to see how players change and the impact that you can have on a players game -- aalways kind of kept that thought process in mind, that you can improve players, and that players can get better," Bower said.dddddddddddd Bower was the general manager of the Charlotte-New Orleans Hornets from 2001-03 and again from 2005-10. He also coached the team in 2009-10, going 34-39. Bower has also been an assistant coach at Penn State and Marist. Van Gundy said their relationship dates to when Bower was an assistant at Marist and Van Gundy was an assistant at Fordham. "Ive always had a tremendous respect for people who have really had to work their way up the ladder," Van Gundy said. Detroit went 29-53 last season, missing the playoffs for a fifth straight year. That disappointing performance helped lead to the end of Joe Dumars tenure as team president. Van Gundy said he felt the players could have performed better last season, and Detroit does have a young standout to build around in big man Andre Drummond. Greg Monroe is a restricted free agent, so much of the off-season outlook may depend on whether he returns to the Pistons. Detroit does not have a first-round draft pick. That selection was lost because of a trade made by the previous front office, but Bower is hopeful the Pistons can improve themselves in the draft anyway. "The 38th pick can be a pick of value," Bower said. "Although its not a first-round pick, we would hope to be able to dig in and find a prospect that can provide value to the team and to the organization." ' ' '