Could it be that Novak Djokovics season, which seemed nearly golden just two short months ago, has turned to dross before our very eyes?On Sunday, he fell to Juan Martin del Potro, perhaps the most dangerous unseeded player in the Rio Olympics draw, in the tournaments opening round. It was a loss that Djokovic described as one of the toughest of my life and one that left him in tears.But it only got worse. The next day, he and Nenad Zimonjic lost in the first round of doubles.Djokovic clearly had enough. Shortly after his Rio failures, he announced he was pulling out of the Cincinnati Masters, a baffling move that suggests the workings of a mind or heart in turmoil.All this with Roger Federer out of the picture for the rest of the year and with Andy Murray, Rafael Nadal and other ATP stars heavily committed at the Olympics in singles, and in some cases, doubles.A Masters shield is no substitute for an Olympic gold medal -- its not even close. But punishing a few second serves and midcourt forehands would provide balm for a wounded spirit. Playing Cincinnati certainly would do a few other good things for Djokovic: It would help put Rio behind him and he could grind burrs off the edges of his game. Idle hands are the devils workshop, and all that.Djokovic might even get a few good, close looks at that monstrous serve of much-improved US Open contender Milos Raonic. Thats a player who, like Tomas Berdych, made a tactical decision to detour around Rio with his eyes already fixed on the New York prize.Instead, Djokovic vanished. He walked out on a Masters 1000 event that counted heavily on his presence (a snub made more striking by Djokovics stated desire to be perceived as an ATP leader). It looks like he will enter the US Open having played just one competitive singles match in almost a full month -- that bitter loss in Rio.Suddenly, it seems like his holistic approach has sprung some holes. His laser-like focus has, at least temporarily, gone haywire. He appears the be hurting and confused. Hes suffered from bad timing and endured bad luck in the form of bad draws, the sum of which appears to be a puzzling, if not downright bad, decision to bail on Cincinnati.It goes to show that bad can happen to anyone.Timing-wise, its impossible to say how much that long-awaited win at the French Open distracted and ultimately might have contributed to Djokovics form at Wimbledon. The defending champion, he certainly said all the right things in London about putting the win that earned him his career Grand Slam behind him. But wanting, saying and doing are three very different things. Its something well never know.It certainly didnt help Djokovic that his third-round opponent at Wimbledon was Sam Querrey. The 28-year-old, 6-foot-6 American is the type of player the elites at Wimbledon most fear. Hes capable of taking the racket out of anyones hand with his atomic serve. He has the reach to cut off passing shots and the power to belt winners from the baseline.Djokovic absorbed the upset as talk of a calendar-year Grand Slam died, as did chatter about Djokovic closing in on Federers major singles title record. The notion that Djokovic was struggling with some physical or personal problem was floated in his postmatch press conference. Djokovic endorsed the theory but refused to elaborate.It was a discordant end to Djokovics quest, but he appeared to find his rails again in the Canada Masters, where he won the title without the loss of a set on a court very much like the one in Rio.But there was more bad in store. And it was at an event where Djokovic desperately wanted to shine.It will still be interesting to see what lasting effects, if any, these Olympian blows will have on Djokovic, and whether a golden start to the season completely unravels at the US Open. 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But what about the officials? Every sport has officials and they also have stories about hard work and sacrifice but their accomplishments are seldom recognized by anyone outside their inner circle. METAIRIE, La. -- Jrue Holiday couldnt hide his enthusiasm after his first practice with the New Orleans Pelicans this season.Holiday spent the past three months tending to his wife, Lauren, who gave birth to the couples daughter in late September and underwent surgery one month later to remove a benign tumor from the right side of her brain.Holiday said Thursday he is excited to play in his first game this season, Friday against the Portland Trail Blazers. But he was more thrilled that his wifes recovery was far enough along that both felt comfortable with his return.Asked why he was returning now, Holiday said, Because my wife said I could.It was really just to see where my wife was in her recovery. And since shes doing so well, and since my daughters getting bigger, and since my family and her family are there to help her out with anything ... I just feel comfortable being back and being able to leave them, if its on a road trip or whatever it is.As hard as it is, again, Im really excited.Lauren Holiday -- formerly Lauren Cheney -- was a longtime member of the United States womens national soccer team.Jrue Holiday respectfully declined to give specifics on his wifes condition, or where she and their daughter, Jrue Tyler Holiday, will stay during the season. Holiday, 26, said FaceTime will allow him to see his familys progress during Pelicans road trips.The Holidays found out about Laurens condition this summer. They relocated to the Raleigh, North Carolina, area, near the Duke University medical specialists who handled the surgery.My wife was, I think, four or five months pregnant, and all of a sudden she found out she had a tumor, Holiday said. Because she has another person in her, obviously there are things she couldnt do for them to know what type of tumor it was or how serious it was.Holiday said he was able to see peoples true colors in such trying times, and the reaction from fans and the Pelicans organization has left him feeling blessed. He said the Pelicans, from whom he has received constant communication and support, have been open to his taking a day off should he need it.She has great fans who support her through soccer internationally or throughh her faith, he said.dddddddddddd I mean, just on Twitter, every day people are always saying theyre praying for her. ... So many people since Ive been back, they dont even ask how Im doing, they ask how my wifes doing. And to me, thats awesome. That just shows how great people are around us.Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry said theres a good chance Holiday, a regular starter, wont be in the starting lineup on Friday as he acclimates to game conditions. Gentry said he will discuss the situation with Holiday at shootaround.Its going to be fine, Gentry said. Obviously its going to take a little while for him to get his timing back, from a basketball standpoint. I think hes in really good shape conditioning-wise and everything, but you have to actually participate and play in games to get your basketball timing.Holiday has maintained his conditioning by working out with assistant coach Jamelle McMillan and a strength and conditioning coach while away.The 2-10 Pelicans are in last place in the Western Conference, but Holiday said hes encouraged by what he has seen.I dont think our record shows how good we are, Holiday said. I do think we have a lot of effort there and obviously there are some games where we were there at the end of the game and we had it won, but [there are] some things that we have to clean up at the end of the game to seal the deal.I can do whatever they want me to do -- if its cheerlead, hand out Gatorades, play defense, call a set, whatever it is. Im just here to help.Holiday was limited to a combined 74 games in his first two seasons in New Orleans because of right leg injuries, but he broke through in 2015-16, averaging 16.8 points and six assists and a career-high 19.7 player efficiency rating in 65 games. His season was cut short after he fractured an orbital wall of his right eye during a game.Im so excited, Holiday said of his season debut. At the end of it my teammates are always there for me. My teammates and the Pelicans were always there. To come back and fight for them like they supported me, Im happy to do it. ' ' '