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Kevin Martin, a Canadian curling star whose career highlights include an Olympic gold medal and a world championship, will soon throw his last rock. Keyshawn Johnson Youth Jersey . The Edmonton skip announced his retirement Friday at the Grand Slam of Curlings Players Championship in Summerside, P.E.I. Martin plans to finish the event before becoming a spokesman for the series. The decision to retire came after the Canadian Olympic curling trials in December when Martins rink failed to book a ticket to the Sochi Games. Martin had make an official announcement when the season was over, but that changed when news surfaced last month that second Marc Kennedy and lead Ben Hebert were joining national champion Kevin Koes rink. But retirement has been on the 47-year-olds mind since winning gold at the 2010 Vancouver Games. "I guess when it comes to sports you kind of know when its time," said Martin. "I thought about retiring after Vancouver and we ended up deciding to play and try to get to Sochi and trained extremely hard in the last year and came close. But (Brad) Jacobs ended up winning, which is great, but that was it. "Im not trying for another four-year term. Right after the trials, thats when I told the team and I phoned my sponsors. Everyone knew, I just didnt want to announce anything at the time. Thats not really proper." The affable Martin, nicknamed "The Bear," has been a powerhouse in Canadian curling since making his junior debut in 1984. He won a Canadian junior curling championship with Alberta in 1985 and never looked back. He leaves the sport with a glittering resume that includes a world championship in 2008, a silver medal at the 2002 Salt Lake City Games and four gold medals at the Brier. He also holds the record for Grand Slam titles with 17, including seven Players Championships. Martins departure from the sport wont coincide with a drop in results. He said it was important to end his career at a high point. "Absolutely. Its really important to me that I wasnt one of those guys that, you know, youre sliding down the hill there. I just dont want to be that guy," he said. "You know the trials, I felt so good after the trials. Its about the best Ive ever played I think. About a 93 per cent average for the week. "So I was really good. So I was happy, not happy to not win, but that it was a good strong effort because Im certainly not waiting around four more years for sure." Martin conceded his career highlight was his perfect run to gold in Vancouver. But a 20-year-old memory also stood out for Martin, who recalled rallying to beat Ed Werenich in the 1994 Players Championship. He remembers the losses, too. Losing out in the 2002 Olympic final stung, but Martin considers the bronze-medal match against the United States at the 1992 Albertville Games as his biggest defeat. "I dont really think we should have lost that game," he said. "And now of course, all these years later, which is many years, and I think to myself, geez, win that game and I would have had won one of each -- a gold, a silver and a bronze. Theres not many people who have that." Martin, who began playing at age seven, also has the benefit of being able to reflect on a sport that has evolved significantly during his career. Television time and corporate sponsorship have increased, ice conditions have improved, the international game is far more competitive and the players, according to Martin, look more like athletes. "The conditions have changed dramatically, and therefore the training and the precision of the athlete is completely changed as well. Its just not the same," he said. "Its so much better now because the precisions there. The athletes are in phenomenal shape." The demands of the ice are almost over for Martin. Hes looking forward to the broadcast booth, representing the sport and taking a break from practising two or three hours every day. Getting to spend more time with his three children will also be a welcome change. "It was pretty interesting for them today, because with the announcement coming tonight they dont usually phone and talk to me during curling events of course. It was a pretty big day for the Martin family, for sure." Brandon Marshall Womens Jersey . A 23-year-old rookie, Stroman is 4-2 with a 3.44 earned run average in 12 games this season, the past seven of those being starts. He logged the first scoreless outing of his career on Friday versus Oakland in a no-decision. Curtis Martin Jersey .com) - Matt Beleskey has helped give the Anaheim Ducks some scoring depth and hell look to stay hot on Wednesday night when his club hosts the struggling Philadelphia Flyers. 403 Forbidden . Now he has a complete game. Scherzer tossed a three-hitter in his 179th career start for his first complete game and Victor Martinez hit his 16th homer to lead the Detroit Tigers a 4-0 win over the Chicago White Sox.DOHA, Qatar - Top-seeded Novak Djokovic celebrated Serbian Orthodox Christmas by beating Sergiy Stakhovsky of Ukraine 6-2, 6-1 in the second round of the Qatar Open on Wednesday.Djokovic, who also won his doubles match with Serbian partner Filip Krajinovic, needed only 61-minutes to bypass Stakhovsky and move into the quarterfinals.Yes, Orthodox Christmas. Its the biggest holiday that we have, Djokovic said. Obviously not a holiday for me. Im working on the court. But its a big day. So Im really glad that I was able to perform well and get two wins on this day.Djokovic, who is playing at the Qatar Open for the first time, won 29 of 34 points when his first serve went in and saved all three break points he faced against Stakhovsky. He next plays seventh-seeded Ivo Karlovic, who beat qualifier Nikoloz Basiashvili of Georgia 7-6 (3), 6-3.Karlovic became one of three men in tennis history to surpass the 9,000 aces mark earlier this week — he now has 9,041. Its an ability that makes him a tricky challenge for opponents.Im definitely going to try to get some good sleep so my reaction tomorrow is quick, because Im going to need that, definitely, Djokovic said. Honestly, Im still to meet a player who enjoys playing him.There wont be a singles match between Djokovic and Rafael Nadal at this years tournament after the Spaniard was uupset in the first round. Dennis Byrd Jersey. .But the two will face each other in doubles on Thursday, after Nadal and Juan Monaco of Argentina also moved into the doubles semifinals.Its going to be interesting to play against each other in doubles, which is not the common case for us, but I look forward to that, said Djokovic.Third-seeded Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic brushed aside Slovakian qualifier Blaz Kavcic 6-1, 6-2 to reach the quarterfinals.Berdych is showing top form this week. In two matches played, hes yet to offer an opponent a break point opportunity.He now faces sixth-seeded Richard Gasquet, who defeated Simone Bolleli of Italy 6-3, 6-2.David Ferrer, seeded fourth, won an all-Spanish battle against Fernando Verdasco 6-3, 6-2.Ferrer, who led Verdasco 5-0 in the second set, was unable to take advantage of one match point on Verdascos serve in the sixth game, and two match points on his own serve in the seventh game.He finally won the match on a fourth match point at 30-40 on Verdascos serve in the eighth game.Ferrer will play Dustin Brown of Germany, who posted a 7-6 (9), 6-4 win over compatriot Jan-Lennard Struff.Andre Seppi of Italy and Ivan Dodig of Croatia will compete in the other quarterfinal.Dodig knocked out Michael Berrer 7-6 (1), 6-2, while Seppi defeated Joao Souza of Brazil 7-5, 6-2. Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Jerseys From China Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Cheap Jerseys ' ' '