hit 43 winners in just 18 games, 22 from the baseline

RALEIGH, N.C. -- A federal judge has granted the NCAAs motion to dismiss the governing body from a lawsuit filed by two former North Carolina athletes seeking to hold it at least partly responsible for the schools long-running academic fraud scandal.In a ruling signed Friday, U.S. District Court Judge Loretta C. Biggs stated attorneys for former womens basketball player Rashanda McCants and ex-football player Devon Ramsay hadnt proven that the NCAA had a legal obligation to ensure the soundness of classes offered at UNC under state law.McCants and Ramsay filed their lawsuit in January 2015 months naming the NCAA and UNC as defendants, arguing that neither had done enough to ensure athletes receive a quality education while citing the scandal on the Chapel Hill campus as a result. The case against UNC is still pending.NCAA spokeswoman Emily James didnt immediately return an email for comment Friday afternoon.The lawsuit came three months after an independent probe conducted by former U.S. Justice Department official Kenneth Wainstein outlined nearly two decades of irregular courses featuring GPA-boosting grades in a department popular with athletes.The case led to questions from UNCs accreditation agency, which placed the school on a year of probation that expired in June. UNC also is currently facing five potentially top-level charges from the NCAA connected to the case.Biggs issued a stay on UNCs motion to dismiss, noting that another lawsuit filed by two former ex-UNC athletes is pending while the court determines whether the school is an arm of the state with sovereign immunity. That case was filed by former football player Michael McAdoo and former womens basketball player Kenya McBee.Biggs heard arguments and questioned attorneys in both cases during an all-day court session in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, in April.It would appear that what the Plaintiffs really seek is for the NCAA to do more, i.e., to undertake these tasks of oversight and ensuring the academic soundness of courses, Biggs writes in Fridays order.One of the attorneys handling the McCants-Ramsay case is Michael Hausfeld, who represented former UCLA mens basketball standout Ed OBannon in an antitrust case against the NCAA. Another is Robert F. Orr, a former North Carolina Supreme Court Justice who has become an advocate of NCAA reform.In a phone interview with The Associated Press, Orr said that attorneys would take some time digesting Biggs order to figure out whether to appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, located in Richmond, Virginia.We have to sit down and evaluate the chances of success and review the judges order to see what we disagree with other than the conclusions, Orr said.The case centers on independent study-style courses requiring a research paper or two in the formerly named African and Afro-American Studies (AFAM) department. Many were misidentified as lecture courses that didnt meet and were run by an office administrator, not a faculty member.Wainsteins probe estimated more than 3,100 students were affected between 1993 and 2011, with athletes across numerous sports making up roughly half the enrollments.Hausfeld had argued that athletes who took even one of the irregular courses had been defrauded, while noting the NCAA bore some oversight responsibility for academics in college sports.But Biggs writes the NCAAs public statements espousing aspirational goals regarding academics for athletes werent enough to trigger a legal duty to ensure the quality of courses. Biggs also dismisses claims of negligence, noting it would only apply to physical injury or property damage instead of purely economic damages according to state law.In addition, Biggs notes that broad, sweeping assertions in the lawsuit do little to support ... that the NCAA voluntarily assumed a duty of care to them.To the extent that Plaintiffs raise policy rather than legal issues for the Court to determine, Plaintiffs have chosen the wrong forum, the order states.---Follow Aaron Beard on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/aaronbeardap Kevin Durant Shoes Deals .J. -- Seven games into a disappointing season, New York Giants defensive catalyst Jason Pierre-Paul is getting the feeling hes back. Cheap Kevin Durant Shoes . Soukalova missed only one target and completed the 15-kilometre course in 40 minutes, 32.6 seconds for both victories in this seasons individual discipline. 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It looked like she might drop it.Williams stepped up to the service line and in what seemed the blink of an eye -- bang, crack, bang, bang -- hammered out three aces and one serve that Svetlana Kuznetsova barely touched. It was just the third game of the fourth-round clash Monday at Wimbledon, but by the time Williams won the match 7-5, 6-0 in an hour and 16 minutes, it seemed the world No. 1 of old was back among us.And it looked like her sister, Venus, is as well. While Serena was scorching the damp Centre Court with aces, Venus was ripping into Carla Suarez Navarros vulnerable serve over on Court No. 1 en route to a 7-6 (3), 6-4 win. Venus, at age 38, is up to No. 8 in the WTA rankings and in the quarterfinals for the first time since 2010.[Venus] knows how to play, Serena reminded the assembled media after her win. I say this constantly. I feel like shes my best opponent, my toughest opponent.Venus might also be her real opponent come Saturday afternoon. Venus plays unseeded surprise quarterfinalist Yaroslava Shvedova next, and the winner gets either No. 4 Angelique Kerber or No. 5 Simona Halep.She served good, Suarez Navarro said of Venus. You know, shes there every time. She fight. Sometimes she looks like she was tired, but then she served and returned really good.Much the same could be said of Serena on this Fourth of July. Any American missing home needed only to peek into Centre Court to witness a spectacular display of fireworks. Williams smoked 14 aces, but her ground game was even more impressive.Kuznetsova, a free-spirited, two-time Grand Slam champion, is in resurgence again. Shes 31, but more dangerous than her No. 14 ranking because of her outstanding mobility and retrieving ability. The score line was deceptive: Despite that spectacular serving display in the third game, Kuznetsova would not cave.She engaged in spectacular rallies throughout the first set and broke Williams to take a 5-4 lead, then served a poor gamme to give the break back.ddddddddddddBy then, the grass was so greasy that both women feared for their safety. They complained, and the tournament referee ordered the roof closed. The interruption proved to be an unfortunate episode for Kuznetsova, because it allowed Williams to unwind and take a breather. It enabled her to get with her coach, Patrick Mouratoglou. Hes her stress-buster.Patrick gave me some tips on what I could do, Serena said, Hes very calm. Sometimes I dont understand because Im really worked up a lot, as you can see. Hes just so sangfroid all the time. I think that really helps me. It helps me realize that when Im calm, I usually can find answers. Hes been a wonderful coach to me. Hes great at what he does.When play resumed, Serena hit new heights. She didnt lose another game against one of the most proficient guerilla warfare specialists in the game. Williams backhands sounded like bones snapping, while forehands flew like tracers. Williams hit 43 winners in just 18 games, 22 from the baseline.I moved very well, as well, Williams said. Especially when I want to. Ive been wanting to lately just kind of get out there and pretty much get every ball back. Ive been working on my defensive game. I feel like Ive got an extremely strong defensive game, and always have throughout my career. I wanted to bring it up to par again the way it was.Neither of the Williams sisters gets enough credit for her ability to play defense. Its an easy oversight to commit, because the offense of each is so persuasive. But Venus has always had remarkable range around the court, and even now, shes still running down and digging out balls like a 25-year-old.Ironically, Serenas defensive abilities have been interdicted by her service return. Its still the best in the womens game. Certainly, its the most aggressive. Serenas biggest problem when it comes to having her defense acknowledged is the quality of her offense. It simply keeps points from developing.Its a nice problem to have. ' ' '