LOS ANGELES -- After eight seasons and two Stanley Cup titles as the Los Angeles Kings captain, Dustin Brown thought he deserved better.Brown doesnt agree with the Kings decision to strip him of their captaincy this summer, and he aired his differences with team management Thursday in a phone interview.I felt like Ive done a very good job leading this team, he said. The last couple of years have been really disappointing for all involved, and we all have a lot of work to do to get back where we want to be.But I just remember when I was named captain, where we were at as a team. It was not a pretty picture. So what Ive been able to accomplish with the help of a lot of my teammates has been pretty great, and I felt Im still able to do that.Anze Kopitar was appointed the Kings captain two weeks ago after a series of meetings among Brown, coach Darryl Sutter and general manager Dean Lombardi. Brown said the decision was made several weeks before that, but the team waited to announce it until well after news of the plan leaked to reporters.Ultimately, I understand the decision and I respect the decision, Brown said. Part of my problem was how it was handled. It just put me in an awkward spot.Brown also said he believes the Kings have tried to trade him. When asked to describe his current relationship with Kings management, he replied: Im not going to say its rosy.His declining offensive production and his $47 million contract through the 2021-22 season make him practically unmovable, but Brown isnt interested in leaving, anyway.Brown hasnt scored 30 points in any of the Kings past four seasons. The U.S. Olympian is no longer widely considered one of the NHLs top power forwards, and Lombardi said he hopes Brown will rediscover his game with the burden of leadership lifted.Brown didnt want to be rid of that burden, however.It was a tough pill to swallow, Brown said. There are a lot of emotions that go through it. But at the end of the day, it was really out of my control because this is a management decision, not the players voting on it or anything like that. To be quite honest, it wouldve been a lot harder had it been my teammates doing this.Brown acknowledged he has had differences with Sutter, who became the Kings coach in late 2011, more than three years after Brown became captain. Brown said their recent clear-the-air meetings probably should have happened a year ago.Sutter and Brown led the Kings to two titles and 10 playoff series victories from 2012-14, but Los Angeles missed the playoffs entirely in 2015. The Kings led the Pacific Division for most of the past season, but were eliminated by San Jose in five first-round playoff games.Los Angeles struggles in the past two seasons -- and Browns shortcomings on the ice -- ultimately led to the change.I enjoyed the responsibility, but whether I have a `C on my chest or not, Im going to put pressure on myself to be better, because Im not OK with just being OK, Brown said.If you are, then youre out of this league pretty quickly. I think this is maybe them trying to get me to a place where Im not worried about the young guys, or all the stuff you kind of have to worry about a little bit more when youre the captain, and now I can just focus on my game a little bit more.Brown still threw his support behind Kopitar, his teammate and close friend for the past decade. Kopitar has led the Kings in scoring for nine consecutive seasons, and he won the Selke Trophy last week as the NHLs top defensive forward.I think Kopi is going to be a great captain, Brown said. Ive been with him since he came into this league, and hell be fine in this situation. I have all the faith in the world in Kopi in being the guy now, but from my perspective, I wasnt happy with this decision. Christian Fruchtl Jersey . But by the time the game started, the Toronto Raptors forward felt even worse. And, for three quarters, it showed as Gay shot a woeful three-for-13 from the field. Leon Goretzka Jersey . - Oakland Raiders running back Rashad Jennings was speaking to a group of local high school students earlier this week when the conversation turned to the importance of being prepared when opportunities in life arise. http://www.soccerfcbayernshop.com/kids-kingsley-coman-bayern-munich-jersey/ . 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NEW YORK -- Seven years ago, a 20-year-old from Argentina lit up Arthur Ashe Stadium with an array of sizzling strokes capable of taking your breath away.Juan Martin del Potro brought down Roger Federer, ending a 40-match win streak, in a five-set final that suggested many more major titles.That one, glorious effort remains del Potros only Grand Slam championship. Four wrist surgeries, untold misery and large doses of heroic fortitude later, he was back Thursday night, desperately trying to rejuvenate his career.Technically, based on the bare rankings, del Potro was the underdog against No. 19 seed Steve Johnson, a diligent player who has improved himself every year since turning professional five seasons ago.In truth, the near-capacity crowd seemed torn between rooting for the American -- or the feel-good story of 2016.In the end, the good feelings continued, as del Potro eased away with a 7-6 (5), 6-3, 6-2 victory that sent him sailing into the third round.Its amazing, the stadium, amazing the atmosphere, del Potro said in his on-court interview. I am so happy to be playing tennis again after my third surgery on the [left] wrist.Im trying to play as I did in 2009, but its not easy because Im older.Johnson, No. 22 among ATP World Tour players, is only one spot behind highest-ranked American John Isner, something that might surprise casual fans of the game.In the first round, the 26-year-old Californian authored a monumental escape after trailing Evgeny Donskoy 6-4, 6-1, 5-2 -- serving at love-40. He rallied for his second career comeback from a 0-2 deficit, winning the last three setts 7-6 (2), 6-3, 6-3.dddddddddddd He saved a total of six match points.In Thursdays pivotal first set, Johnson saved four break points in one game. In the tiebreaker, he erased a 5-1 deficit with four straight points of his own. But eventually, the sheer weight of del Potros shot (and some relentless defending) seemed to wear down Johnson.Its tough when you dont play your best tennis against a guy like Juan, Johnson said. I didnt feel nervous at all. I just didnt execute what I needed to execute.Del Potro emerged this year, modestly enough, advancing to the third round at Wimbledon. But at the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, the No. 141-ranked player was a revelation, scalding No. 1 Novak Djokovic in the first round and taking it all the way to the gold-medal final before losing to Andy Murray.When the USTA announced it was giving the 6-foot-6 del Potro a wild card into the tournament, Johnson said, It may make a lot of American fans upset if he faced an American in the opening round. Turns out, it was an American in the second -- Johnson.This was the first-ever night win at the US Open for del Potro, but his 0-for-3 record came at the hands of Djokovic (twice) and Lleyton Hewitt, both champions here.I lost the three night matches, but I won the most important one, against Roger in the 2009 final, del Potro said. That will be in my heart for the rest of my life.A second title here, considering everything he has gone through, might be even more heart-wrenching. ' ' '