Nine players have withdrawn from the Australian Open through the first two days due to injury, including No. 12 Tommy Haas, No. 13 John Isner and No. 21 Philipp Kohlschreiber. Thats five more players in two days than the entire 2013 U.S. Open in September of last year. While the final Grand Slam at the end of a gruelling season might be expected to have more impact on the health of players, the Australian Open is taking out competitors at an alarming rate to kick off the 2014 schedule. And although none of the nine players officially retired due to the roaring heat in Melbourne, one would think its played a part. Heat has always been an issue for this event but it seems to be getting worse. What should be done to make things better for the players? The average temperature in Melbourne in January - the first month of summer Down Under - is 25.9 C. The average temperature for the opening two days of the seasons first Grand Slam was 36 C. Despite any match-ending issues related to the heat, there is no shortage of players - and a ball boy - struggling to maintain their composure under the sun. But tournament organizers have not suspended any matches as yet. "I think its inhumane, I dont think its fair to anybody, to the players, to the fans, to the sport, when you see players pulling out of matches, passing out," Canadian Frank Dancevic told reporters after his first-round loss in which he collapsed on the sideline during the second set. "Ive played five set matches all my life and being out there for a set and a half and passing out with heat stroke, its not normal." The tournament has contingencies in place to deal with the heat, which was put into effect Tuesday by granting womens matches an extra 10-minute break between the second and third sets. Stopping a match, however, is at the discretion of tournament director Wayne McKewen as part of a new rule instituted this year. "We have to reach a minimum threshold and have a forecast that it will be sustained for a reasonable time," McKewen said in a statement. "That didnt happen. While conditions were hot and uncomfortable, the relatively low level of humidity ensured play would continue." Organizers use the Wet Bulb Global Temperature composite, which factors in humidity and wind in an attempt to assess the conditions more accurately. On Tuesday, temperatures were expected to reach as high as 42 C. Rod Laver Arena and Hisense Arena are the only two venues with retractable roofs and air conditioning, but have yet to be utilized. All other courts remain at the mercy of the heat and the forecast is calling for high 30s on Wednesday and low 40s for Thursday and Friday. Two-time defending champion Victoria Azarenka said the court at Rod Laver was "like youre dancing in a frying pan." Is it time for organizers to provide more cooling options, including stopping matches before its too late? Could the tournament begin earlier or later and still comfortably sit between the U.S. Open in September and the French Open in May? What more can be done to combat the uncomfortable and potentially dangerous conditions at the Australian Open? As always, its Your! Call. Kd Shoes Wholesale . Lynn was tied for 16th entering the fourth round, six shots behind leader Paul Waring. He started with two birdies and added three more on his last five holes at the Oceanico Victoria course for an 18-under total of 266. Replica Air Max 270 .35 million. The right-hander had agreed last February to a deal that pays him $3.775 million this year and allows him to earn an additional $225,000 in bonuses based on games finished. http://www.wholesalenikeshoesclearance.com/ . The union filed a grievance late Thursday, one day after Goodell suspended four players who participated in bounties from 2009-11. The complaint says Goodell is prohibited from punishing players for any aspect of the case occurring before the new collective bargaining agreement was signed last August. Nike Vapormax Wholesale .Jeff Green, playing in his second preseason game after missing the first four because of a calf strain, had 18 points. The Celtics (3-3) shot 47.2 per cent from the floor and made 15 of 37 3-point attempts. Air Max 720 Outlet . With the win, the Marlies complete a three-game series sweep of the Admirals and move on to the second round of the Calder Cup playoffs. T.J. Brennan added an empty netter with less than 25 seconds remaining for his second of the playoffs.AUSTIN, Texas -- Arizona State athletic director Steve Patterson is leaving the Sun Devils for Texas, where he will take over the wealthiest athletic department in the country and a program facing serious questions about the job security of its football and mens basketball coaches as well as its president. Patterson accepted an offer from Texas on Tuesday after interviewing for the job over the weekend. West Virginias Oliver Luck had reportedly been the leading candidate, but it will instead be Patterson who succeeds DeLoss Dodds, who is stepping down at Texas after 32 years. "Steve Patterson emerged as the perfect candidate to build on Texas athletic success and DeLoss Dodds legacy," Texas President Bill Powers said. Pattersons hiring must still be approved the University of Texas System Board of Regents, which meets Nov. 12-13, but that step is considered likely. The search panel included two regents, Steve Hicks and Robert Stillwell, who are the boards athletics liaisons. Powers office said Patterson would be introduced as a news conference later this week. Pattersons most immediate questions at Texas likely centre on the future of the football coach Mack Brown, mens basketball coach Rick Barnes, and a potential federal civil rights lawsuit from former womens track coach Bev Kearney, who was forced to resign in January after revelations a previous relationship with one of her athletes. He also comes to Austin at a time when his new boss is also fighting for his job. Powers has tangled with the regents in recent years over tuition and graduation rates and other issues, and has a thin majority of support on the nine-member board. State lawmakers are investigating whether to impeach one regent over attempts to force Powers out. Dodds and Powers have been Browns staunchest allies through three consecutive sub-par seasons for the storied Texas football program.dddddddddddd Brown faced intense criticism and renewed speculation about his job security when Texas started 1-2, but the Longhorns are on a five-game winning streak and in first place in the Big 12. The mens basketball program opens its season Friday night at home against Mercer. The Longhorns had their first losing season in 15 years under Barnes last year and havent made it past the first weekend of the NCAA tournament in five years. Texas began its job search last month when Dodds announced he would leave by Aug. 31, 2014. Dodds had said he would stay in the job until his replacement was found, but would step aside into an advising role once that person got to campus. Patterson, 55, has been Arizona State athletic director only since March 2012 and had previously been responsible for the schools athletics business operations and facilities. Patterson has deep Texas ties: He got his undergraduate and law degrees at Texas, and had executive jobs with the Houston Texans in the NFL and the Houston Rockets and Portland Trail Blazers in the NBA. "Steve helped build an NBA championship team and brought the Super Bowl game to Houston. Far more important, hes run a winning program at Arizona State that places students first and is committed to their lifelong success," Powers said. Arizona State President Michael M. Crow said senior Vice-President James Rund would serve as the Sun Devils interim athletic director. Crow said he understood Pattersons desire to return to Texas and wished him well. "During his stay at ASU, Steve Patterson has positioned Sun Devil athletics to continue its forward momentum well into the future," Crow said. "He first became involved with ASU three years ago to put the universitys athletic department on a sound financial footing and that is exactly what he has done." ' ' '