as Willett to win the Masters and tied for second.---M

We are less than three weeks away from the NA League of Legends Championship Series summer championship in Toronto, Canada, but the road to get there starts Saturday in the warmer confines of the League Championship Series Arena in Santa Monica, California. While regular-season champions Team SoloMid (17-1) and runners-up Immortals (16-2) will be able to sit at home watching the action to see who makes the semifinals, the next four teams in the summer split standings will play in the quarterfinals to see which two advance.The time for preparation ends here. Its the postseason, and its either survive or perish in the ultra-competitive North American region.Quarterfinal #1: Cloud9 vs. Team EnvyThe Saturday matinee matchup will pit an upward-trending team against one that was decidedly sinking in the second half of the season. Cloud9, third-place in the league, comes into the quarterfinal matchup with a bit of the old swagger the organization used to have when it made four straight NA LCS finals. Although its been over a year since the former two-time champion has made it to a final, this is shaping up to be C9s best shot at it since back then, when it lost to TSM at the end of the spring 2015 playoffs.The added presence of veteran Jung Impact Eon-yeong has brought stability to a role that had been shaky ever since C9s golden days atop the league. The former world champion brings a shot-calling edge to the group that it seemingly lacked after captain Hai Hai Lam stepped down from the main squad; Impacts versatile style of play allows C9 the advantage of playing around any of the three lanes depending on the matchup.Its also been the readdition of old jungler William Meteos Hartman back into the lineup that has softened the blow of losing Hai. Meteos, who failed to gel with star mid laner Nicolaj Jensen Jensen in a short stint last summer, has rectified his in-game relationship with the offense-focused, talented ace of C9 to form a solid partnership. Meteos isnt a carry jungler -- eighth in kills and 11th in damage per minute (DPM) -- but he doesnt have to be; hes surrounded by the triple threat of Impact in top, Jensen in mid, and Zachary Sneaky Scuderi -- Mr. Consistent himself -- in the bottom lane. His set-up plays and engages have won C9 many a fight this split, and his supportive, experienced nature embodies the type of player the club needs prowling the jungle.Looking over to C9s opponent, Team Envy, there isnt nearly as much of a case for optimism. The team started out of the gate strong and appeared to be a shoo-in for a postseason slot, but a disastrous second half of the split left NV falling face first into the playoffs. The club changed team houses during the course of the season and had difficulties transitioning. Yet, when its postseason life was on the line versus last-place Echo Fox in the last game of the season, the navy-clad team was able to pull through.For NV to pull off one of the biggest upsets in NA LCS playoff history, itll need to find the form that brought them so much success in the early days of summer. The key player, per usual, for Envy will be Shin Seraph Woo-yeong in the top lane. Almost every team has at least one player that brings the entire team together, and for Envy that player is Seraph. When NV got off to a blistering start at the beginning of the split, it was thanks to the stellar play of the teams ace in the top lane. Seraph was believed to be one of the frontrunners for the MVP award in the first month of the season before his and Envys collapse back into the middle of the pack.Impact, who Seraph told ESPN.com was the player he looked up to most when he was developing as a professional, will be the one standing between Seraph and a flight to Canada. The rest of the team needs to wake up as well, but Seraph, above everyone else, needs to find the forward-thinking play that helped him lead Renegades renaissance at the end of last season and NVs bold beginning this past season.Prediction: Its hard to look at Team Envy in the second half of the split and think it can make the top four of the league. It possesses good players, yet, when compared to C9, the lineups seem like a mismatch in almost every position. While I think NV is an organization with a lot of potential to grow over the next few years, Cloud9 is at the point where its already full grown. C9 isnt just looking to settle for the third-place game in Toronto; rather, the boys in bright blue want another crack at the domestic title.Cloud9 3 - 1 Team EnvyQuarterfinal #2: Counter Logic Gaming vs. Team LiquidLast season, the semifinal matchup between Counter Logic Gaming (fourth seed) and Team Liquid (fifth seed) resulted in one of the greatest best-of-fives the LCS has ever witnessed. In the end, it was the defending champion, CLG, who found its path paved to a second straight finals. For Liquid, it was simply another split where regular-season expectations came crashing down. CLG went on to win its second championship in a row, and Liquid finished fourth for the umpteeth time by getting knocked around by Immortals 3-0 in the third-place series.After the first few weeks of the summer season, it felt like the roles were reversed for the teams. CLG was out of a playoff spot, and Team Liquid, having reinstated ace jungler Joshua Dardoch Hartnett, was rising up the rankings at a steady pace, believing it could challenge either Immortals or TSM for the top spot in the league. Yet, almost as though their destinies dictated it, CLG found its groove in the second half of the season and TL started to trail behind the rest of the top teams in the league. Eventually, TL settled into a fifth-place spot with an even record for the season.Team Liquid, fifth or not, wont be happy unless it makes Worlds this split. As the only remaining long-running North American team that has never qualified for the biggest tournament of the year, another missed opportunity would feel like a failure for a team that has always been on the cusp of greatness. It won its first regular-season title last year, but then fell in the postseason semifinals. In the spring split, the team was rounding into championship form with a confidence to back it up, and then, as mentioned previously, CLG ended its journey prematurely.Jovani Fabbbyyy Guillen is my highlighted player for TL in the quarterfinal duel. Liquid decided to swap its main rosters AD Chae Piglet Gwang-jin with Fabbbyyy from its minor league team. During the first few weeks it seemed like a brilliant swap for Liquid, with the main team communicating on a higher level and Fabbbyyy more willing to take on a background role; however, things havent been so smooth to end the season, and the new patch implemented in the playoffs will favor teams with stronger in-lane combatants. TL has been able to survive even with Fabbbyyy and support partner Matt Matt Elento getting held down early in games, but that wont be the case if it happens in the upcoming games against CLG.For the back-to-back winner of the league, Counter Logic feels at home being considered a longshot to win the championship. It wasnt expected to beat Team SoloMid at Madison Square Garden last summer in New York City, and then CLG swept them. CLG were underdogs once again to TSM last split in Las Vegas, and while SoloMid took two games that time around, it was CLG who ultimately raised the trophy.When it comes to leaders, CLGs Zaqueri Aphromoo Black is one of the best in the business. The veteran knows how to get it done in difficult situations, and he has two championships to back up his confidence. All season long, even when CLG was faltering near the bottom of the table, Aphromoo spoke confidently of his team as a whole and didnt fear missing the playoffs at any point. And here he is, again a top four seed in the playoffs, and only one match victory away from possibly facing TSM for the third straight postseason.Prediction: Like the matchup on Saturday, Sundays match is a contest between two teams on diverging roads, albeit less extreme. Liquid shouldnt be counted out by any means, but the team certainly comes in as an underdog against the reigning champion. Fabbbyyy will need to have the best professional games of his life to push Liquid into the semifinals. CLG will play like it has this past year once it found the most organizational success its ever had by far; its mantra: respect all, fear none, and believe youre going to win.CLG 3 - 2 Team Liquid Custom Cleveland Browns Jerseys . How great will be revealed in the next couple of days at the board of governors meeting in Pebble Beach, Calif. Bernie Kosar Browns Jersey . The Browns coaching search remains incomplete. http://www.footballbrownsnflprostore.com/Youth-Baker-Mayfield-Elite-Jersey/ . The scientists believe the small earthquake during a Marshawn Lynch touchdown was likely greater than Lynchs famous "beast quake" touchdown run three years ago, which also came against New Orleans during a playoff game. Sione Takitaki Youth Jersey . They had already blown a double-digit lead, fans were hitting the exits, and a long seven-game road trip waited at the end. Jim Brown Browns Jersey .In my heart and mind Im competing for India, luge competitor Shiva Keshavan told The Associated Press in an email interview. Every day Im flooded with messages from Indians all over the world telling me they are supporting me. A look at the European team in the 41st Ryder Cup on Sept. 30-Oct. 2 at Hazeltine National in Chaska, Minnesota. Players are listed in the order they made the team.RORY MCILROYAge: 27.Country: Northern Ireland.Ryder Cup record (3 teams): 6-4-4.World ranking: 3.Career victories: 20.Majors: U.S. Open (2011), British Open (2014), PGA Championship (2012, 2014).2016 victories: Irish Open, Deutsche Bank Championship.Ryder Cup partners: Graeme McDowell, Ian Poulter, Sergio Garcia.Outlook: McIlroy showed a spark by winning the Deutsche Bank Championship with improved putting, though it deserted him the following week. The putter has come under serious scrutiny this year, when the four-time major champion failed to contend in any major and missed the cut in two of them. He is unbeaten in three singles matches at the Ryder Cup.---DANNY WILLETTAge: 28.Country: England.Ryder Cup record (rookie): 0-0-0.World ranking: 10.Career victories: 5.Majors: Masters (2016).2016 victories: Omega Dubai Desert Classic, Masters.Ryder Cup partners: None.Outlook: One of six rookies, Willett is the only one of them with a major. He comes into the Ryder Cup off a runner-up finish in the Italian Open. However, that was only his second top 10 since he won the Masters.---HENRIK STENSONAge: 40.Country: Sweden.Ryder Cup record (2 teams): 5-4-2.World ranking: 5.Career victories: 18.Majors: British Open (2016).2016 victories: BMW International Open, British Open.Ryder Cup partners: Justin Rose, Paul Casey, Oliver Wilson, Robert Karlsson.Outlook: Stenson might be Europes most reliable player, though he is coping with a slight tear of the meniscus in his right knee. He withdrew after one round at The Barclays and sat out the BMW Championship to rest. He turned in the years best performance at Royal Troon, where his 264 set a major championship record. He also was the silver medalist at the Olympics.---CHRIS WOODAge: 28.Country: England.Ryder Cup record (rookie): 0-0-0.World ranking: 30.Career victories: 4.Majors: None.2016 victories: BMW PGA Championship.Ryder Cup partners: None.Outlook: The lanky Englishman made the team largely on the strength of his victory in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth. He has been slowed by a neck injury this year, which might have contributed to the lack of any top 10s since his victory.---SERGIO GARCIAAge: 36.Country: Spain.Ryder Cup record (7 teams): 18-9-5.World ranking: 12.Career victories: 24.Majors: None.2016 victories: AT&T Byron Nelson.Ryder Cup partners: Jesper Parnevik, Lee Westwood, Luke Donald, Jose Maria Olazabal, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Paul Casey, Nicolas Colsaerts, Rory McIlroy.Outlook: Garcia won in Dallas this year and followed that with three finishes in the top five, including the U.S. Open at Oakmont. He figures to be the threat he always has been in the Ryder Cup, particularly with his driving and iron play.---RAFA CABRERA BELLOAge: 32.Country: Spain.Ryder Cup record (rookie): 0-0-0.World ranking: 29.Career victories: 4.Majors: None.2016 victories: None.Ryder Cup partners: None.Outlook: The Spaniards last victory was more than four years ago, but he has been steady all year. His only missed cut in 21 events worldwide was at The Players Championship, and he tied for fifth in successive weeks at the Olympics and the Wyndhamm Championship.dddddddddddd--JUSTIN ROSEAge: 36.Country: England.Ryder Cup record (3 teams): 9-3-2.World ranking: 11.Career victories: 16.Majors: U.S. Open (2013).2016 victories: Olympics.Ryder Cup partners: Ian Poulter, Martin Kaymer, Henrik Stenson.Outlook: Rose is unbeaten in his last six Ryder Cup matches, dating to that 45-foot putt he made on the 17th at Medinah on his way to beating Phil Mickelson. He only has one victory this year, but it was memorable -- an Olympic gold medal after going head-to-head with Stenson. Putting is the only unreliable part of his game.---ANDY SULLIVANAge: 30.Country: England.Ryder Cup record (rookie): 0-0-0.World ranking: 48.Career victories: 3.Majors: None.2016 victories: None.Ryder Cup partners: None.Outlook: Sullivan had three victories last year, none this year. His best stretch, which secured his spot in the Ryder Cup, was in the summer when he tied for fifth in the French Open, tied for sixth in the Scottish Open and tied for 12th in the British Open.---MATT FITZPATRICKAge: 22.Country: England.Ryder Cup record (rookie): 0-0-0.World ranking: 44.Career victories: 2.Majors: None.2016 victories: Nordea Masters.Ryder Cup partners: None.Outlook: The youngest player for Europe, the Englishman has five top 10s and 11 missed cuts. He locked up his spot on the team by finishing fifth in the Czech Masters. His match play history includes his victory in the U.S. Amateur in 2013. As an amateur, he won the British Boys Amateur and was low amateur at the 2013 British Open.---LEE WESTWOODAge: 43.Country: England.Ryder Cup record (9 teams): 20-15-6.World ranking: 45.Career victories: 39.Majors: None.2016 victories: None.Ryder Cup partners: Nick Faldo, Darren Clarke, Sergio Garcia, Colin Montgomerie, Soren Hansen, Luke Donald, Martin Kaymer, Francesco Molinari, Nicolas Colsaerts, Jamie Donaldson.Outlook: Westwood is playing on his 10th consecutive team. He has 23 points, fifth all-time in the Ryder Cup and with a chance to break Nick Faldos record of 25 points. This is his third time, and second in a row, that he has needed a captains pick. He had the same chance as Willett to win the Masters and tied for second.---MARTIN KAYMERAge: 31.Country: Germany.Ryder Cup record (3 teams): 4-3-3.World ranking: 52.Career victories: 15.Majors: U.S. Open (2014), PGA Championship (2010).2016 victories: None.Ryder Cup partners: Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter, Justin Rose, Thomas Bjorn.Outlook: Kaymer has something special happen in even-numbered years, so hes still waiting. He won the PGA Championship in 2010, holed the clinching putt at the 2012 Ryder Cup in 2012 and won the U.S. Open in 2014. He hasnt won since that eight-shot victory at Pinehurst No. 2 for his second major.---THOMAS PIETERSAge: 24.Country: Belgium.Ryder Cup record (rookie): 0-0-0.World ranking: 39.Career victories: 3.Majors: None.2016 victories: Made in Denmark.Ryder Cup partners: None.Outlook: Pieters victory in Denmark was enough to persuade Darren Clarke to use his last captains pick on him. Pieters won the NCAA title at Riviera when he played at Illinois. Much like countryman Nicolas Colsaerts, he is blessed with enormous power. ' ' '