Andy Murray is now a Wimbledon champion

LONDON -- Britain is turning to the top official in Canadian tennis to improve its fortunes on the world stage. Michael Downey was hired as the chief executive of Britains Lawn Tennis Association on Tuesday, ending his nine-year tenure as president and chief executive of Tennis Canada. Despite being extremely well funded, mainly due to the profits handed down from Wimbledon, British tennis has little top-level talent outside Andy Murray, who this year became Britains first mens singles winner at the All England Club since 1936. The 38th-ranked Laura Robson is the only Briton in the womens top 50. "The opportunity that Andy Murray is now a Wimbledon champion, two-time grand slam champion, is immense for tennis in Britain," said Downey, who was formerly the regional president for Canadas largest brewery, Molson Canada. "Andy Murrays biggest contribution to tennis in Britain is winning. Thats when you want to write about him, thats when people want to follow him, thats when kids are going to go out, pick up racquets and want to be Andy Murray. And I believe theres a bevy of young talent thats coming up in Great Britain that is going to follow Andy Murray to the podium." Downey will take up his new role on Jan. 6 as the replacement for Roger Draper, who announced in March that he was stepping down. In 2012, the LTA invested 73.2 million pounds ($109 million) but with little tangible reward. Murray, who has been brought through largely outside the LTA structure, is the only British man in the top 150 in the rankings. The LTA said that Canadian tennis enjoyed significant growth at the grassroots and elite level under Downey, with more than 1.2 million people playing tennis at least twice a month. "This sport has far more importance in Britain than in Canada," Downey said. "The expectation will be higher of myself in this position." LTA chairman David Gregson said Downeys annual salary will be 300,000 pounds ($480,000) -- less than half of what Draper was earning. "We set out to recruit a CEO with true success in business, with exceptional leadership credentials and ideally with significant knowledge of tennis," Gregson said. "Michael demonstrably fits the bill perfectly and was the unanimous choice of our recruitment panel." Carolina Hurricanes Jerseys . Bjoergen pulled away from Swedens Charlotte Kalla on the final straight to win in 38 minutes, 33.6 seconds and defend her title from the 2010 Vancouver Games. Kalla was 1.8 seconds back. Heidi Weng of Norway took bronze. Justin Faulk Jersey .The result meant Juventus will spend the winter break three points clear of Roma after the league leader beat Cagliari 3-1 on Thursday.Milan remained seventh ahead of the rest of the weekends fixtures, but was provisionally two points behind third-place Napoli in their duel for the final Champions League spot. http://www.hockeyhurricanes.com/customized/. PETERSBURG, Fla. Rod Brind Amour Jersey . LeBron James and Chris Bosh didnt need any more. Williams scored 11 points in 10 minutes, Alan Anderson scored 17 points, and the Brooklyn Nets finished the exhibition season with a 108-87 win over the Miami Heat on Friday night.We came across this on Laughing Squid, who managed to get a quote from the new world record holder, "This was the first game I ever shot where I didnt turn to look at any of the shots (usually I turn my head immediately to watch the ball reaction). I kept my eyes focused up on the camera during each approach. I just trieed to stay focused on my form, as I didnt know what the ball reaction was.dddddddddddd I was quite emotional at the end. I did not actually see any of the shots in the game until I got home and watched the video. Any motioning Im doing is based purely on how I "feel" the shot is is going to hit." Stitched College Jerseys Cheap UCLA Jerseys NCAA Louisville Cardinals Jerseys North Carolina Jerseys Stitched Kentucky Wildcats Jerseys Stitched Alabama Crimson Tide Jerseys Cheap Basketball Wisconsin Badgers Jerseys Authentic NCAA Jerseys Store Wholesale Basketball NCAA Jerseys Cheap Duke Gear Stitched Alabama Jerseys Stitched Georgia Jerseys Cheap Clemson Jerseys Authentic Authentic Texas Jerseys Wholesale USC Jerseys Stitched Oklahoma Jerseys Stitched Ohio State Jerseys Cheap Notre Dame Gear UCLA Jerseys From China Cheap Louisville Jerseys Free Shipping Cheap North Carolina Jerseys Authentic Cheap Kentucky Jerseys Authentic Wisconsin Jerseys From China Cheap Michigan Gear Cheap Florida Gear Wholesale Arizona State Jerseys Cheap LSU Gear Cheap Auburn Gear Cheap California Jerseys Free Shipping Cheap Miami Jerseys Authentic Cheap Michigan State Gear Cheap Tennessee Jerseys Authentic Texas A&M Jerseys From China Authentic Wake Forest Jerseys West Virginia Jerseys From China ' ' '