AKRON, Ohio -- The U.S. Open trophy was on the kitchen table in Dustin Johnsons home in South Florida. That was by design.So when I came down the next morning, it was sitting right there, Johnson said Wednesday. Gave me a smile a little bit.For all his power, there is a subtle side to Johnson. He never got too down on himself when he was shooting 82 at Pebble Beach or grounding his club in sand without realizing it was a bunker at Whistling Straits. He played golf with friends the day after a three-putt cost him a shot at Chambers Bay.He sure didnt go over the top when he captured his first major at Oakmont.How to celebrate? Johnson skipped all the talk shows in New York. He waited until last Wednesday, his 32nd birthday, to head for some solitude in the Bahamas with family and friends, spending time on his boat, in the water and playing a little golf (a couple holes here and there) at Bakers Bay.He wasnt seen in public until he showed up on the range Wednesday at Firestone for the Bridgestone Invitational, and even then, he didnt get a lot of work in. Cleveland Cavaliers guard J.R. Smith stopped by for more than an hour, chatting with Johnson and former U.S. Open champion Justin Rose and taking a few swings with the driver.If his life has changed, its mainly finding time to respond to more text messages than he can count. Johnson figures he still has more than 100 messages on his phone, and he intends to respond to all of them.But first, he has more golf to play.The Bridgestone Invitational is in a different spot on the calendar because of the Olympics, squeezed in between a pair of majors. It also is opposite the French Open, which angered the European Tour so much that it is not sanctioning this World Golf Championship for the first time and has offered big incentive for players who have skipped Firestone for the French Open.That put defending champion Shane Lowry in a tough spot. The Irish is on the cusp of qualifying for his first Ryder Cup, but felt he should be at Firestone to defend. Whatever ranking points he earns this week will not count toward the Ryder Cup, leaving him three big events -- the Scottish Open, British Open and PGA Championship -- to make the team.Only 61 players are at Firestone, the smallest field since 2001, when this WGC featured a 39-man field of only Presidents Cup and Ryder Cup players.Johnson might have a little rust, but he is equipped with more confidence than ever.It was a popular victory, evident by the number of messages he received. Among the most meaningful was from hockey great Wayne Gretzky, his future father-in-law, who told him it was one of the greatest performances he ever saw. It meant a lot, because hes seen a lot of good things, Johnson said.And it was popular with his peers, particularly having to play the last seven holes not knowing the score because of an impending USGA ruling, and mainly because of how much heartache Johnson already had endured in the majors.Hes arguably the most talented golfer in the world. Ive been quoted saying that quite a few times, Jordan Spieth said. It was not a surprise, but personally knowing him and also knowing kind of the experiences to an extent that hes gone through, I thought it was very cool.Johnson said he had his doubts, normal for someone whos had so many close balls in the majors.Those appear to have been put to rest.I felt like I had it before, but it never worked out, Johnson said. But now I really know Ive got what it takes to get it done. I believed that I had it, but theres always that thing in the back of your head telling you, `Do you really have what it takes?He watched over the last six years as Rory McIlroy won four majors, Spieth won back-to-back majors last year, Jason Day won his first at the PGA Championship.Johnson moved up to No. 3 in the world, and he believes he is just getting started.I know when I play my best I can beat them, he said. But can you play your best all the time? The only person thats ever done that for a long period of time is Tiger (Woods) in recent years. But I know Rory and Jason and Jordan, when they play their best, theyre going to be very, very difficult to beat, just like when I play my best. Its going to be hard to beat me. Walter Brown Jersey . Speaking to the Chicago Tribune at baseballs Winter Meetings in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, Boras called the former home of the Expos a "tremendous environment" for baseball. Reggie Lewis Jersey . It says Pocklingtons lawyer filed the appeal Friday in a California court. CTV Edmonton also says Pocklington gave a $100,000 cash deposit as part of the conditions of his bail, and that he will be out on bail until his appeal is heard. http://www.celticsofficialsstore.com/kids-larry-bird-celtics-jersey/ . I cant pinpoint a date, but I do remember a player from my youth. Brian Downing was with the Chicago White Sox at a time when I listened to every game I possibly could on the radio. That particular season the late great Harry Caray was calling the White Sox games. Paul Pierce Jersey . Vokoun departed practice on Saturday morning after discovering swelling in his thigh. He was taken to a local hospital where the clot was revealed. The club announced the surgery following a 5-3 exhibition loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets. Dennis Johnson Jersey .J. -- New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz will miss the rest of the season after having surgery on his left knee. TEMPE, Ariz. -- The Arizona Cardinals returned to practice Tuesday after a long bye weekend off and the biggest news was Tyrann Mathieus rapid recovery from a shoulder injury.Coach Bruce Arians said he `really has been surprised by how quickly Mathieu is coming back. The do-everything All-Pro defensive back was projected to be out three to six weeks after he sustained a shoulder subluxation in the teams Oct. 30 loss at Carolina.Arians described Mathieu as real close but didnt know if that meant he could play Sunday when the Cardinals are home against the San Francisco 49ers.Mathieu is coming off an offseason knee surgery and was getting closer to being his old self when the shoulder injury hit. His absence could mean another chance for rookie Brandon Williams, a starter at cornerback when the season began. Williams lost his job to Marc us Cooper after struggling mightily and has been inactive in recent weeks.I thought Brandon has gotten better and better, Arians said. He had a nice interception today. He is more than ready if he is needed.Arians said tight end Darren Fells (ankle) and outside linebacker Alex Okafor (calf) were ahead of schedule in their return from injury. There was no official injury report because Tuesdays workout was a bonus practice due to the bye week.We actuallly should get a few guys back that might be able to play in this ball game that I didnt think we would, Arians said.ddddddddddddhe Cardinals entered the bye with a disappointing 3-4-1 record midway through their season. They fell two games behind first-place Seattle in the NFC West when the Seahawks beat Buffalo on Monday night.The schedule gets tougher after the 49er game, with five of the Arizonas final seven games on the road, including trips to Minnesota, Atlanta and Seattle.There is no doubt the bye week did the Cardinals a lot of good, Arians said, a lot of rest and a lot of guys that wouldnt have been able to play last week that are healthy and practicing now.He insisted the season is still salvageable.Just go to work every day, Arians said. Everything that we set our goals for in April is obtainable. We just have to play better.During the bye weekend, the coach and his staff spent a bunch of time reviewing film of the teams first-half games.What was discovered?I wouldnt care to share that part, Arians said, but there were a lot of things we learned about ourselves.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Cheap Jerseys China NFL Jerseys China NFL Jerseys Wholesale Discount Basketball Jerseys Cheap NHL Jerseys Authentic Cheap Baseball Jerseys Free Shipping Cheapest College Jerseys Sale Cheap Football Jerseys China Nike NFL Jerseys Canada Wholesale NHL Jerseys From China MLB Jerseys Outlet Canada Wholesale NBA Jerseys Canada Store Cheap Soccer Jerseys China Cheap Authentic Jerseys Canada ' ' '