When news spread that Maverick McNealy, the No. 1 ranked amateur golfer in the world and Stanford star, might not go pro after his college career, surprise and bewilderment were the typical reactions; at least from those on the outside looking in.To those who know McNealy best, it came as no surprise that the son of Scott McNealy, the co-founder of Sun Microsystems, was considering foregoing a professional golf career to pursue opportunities within the business world. Not just because of his fathers business acumen and success, but because the younger McNealy believes he has much more to offer than just a great golf game.Stanford coach Conrad Ray has been around McNealy since 2004, when the Portola Valley, California, native was just a young golfer who played for fun growing up around the Stanford golf course. Ray has seen McNealy grow from a golf and hockey player in high school to an elite amateur player with boundless opportunities ahead of him.When Ray found out that McNealy was considering a different route than professional golf, he was one of many on the inside that wasnt surprised.Making a living at golf is not really a motivation to play for Maverick, he plays because he loves it, Conrad said. He is driven by the highest level of performance in everything he does, so thats maybe a little different than some young guys going pro. A lot of those guys are going to sign endorsement deals and play for some serious cash, which becomes the motivator, but for Mav, I dont think hes processing it that way, because he believes he can do a lot more.McNealy is majoring in Management Science and Engineering at Stanford with a concentration on finance and decision analysis. He describes it as a major giving him tools from different backgrounds to make an effective decision, which has come in handy since he is grappling with one of his biggest life decisions to date.He doesnt feel rushed to make his choice, but McNealy has been asked so many times about going pro that he quips that if he got a dollar every time someone asked him about it, he wouldnt have to go pro.I have the chance to get a world class education and the chance to play for one of the best golf teams in the country, McNealy said. To me, ?one of the most motivating things in golf is getting better, thats a huge draw to try to play professional golf. And then probably even the bigger uncertainty, is what opportunities will be available after school.I dont know if one of my best friends from school is going to have a really cool idea that is something really interesting and a lot of possibility for social good and [maybe] I [will] want to join that company after school, or what other job opportunities will be there.One of those friends is Viraat Badhwar, who was one of the three members of McNealys recruiting class at Stanford and current teammate. The two have become close friends through golf, similar studies, personalities and interests, and have been roommates for the past year.Badhwar and McNealy have discussed the potential of playing professional golf together, but also the idea of entering the business world to create a different path for themselves. Within those conversations, Badhwar has come to know and understand what drives McNealy, which is why he, too, is not surprised that his friend could hang up his spikes for loafers.When most people see an elite athlete they believe sports is what he does best, but Badhwar believes that McNealy could do whatever he wanted and have the same amount of success.In my opinion, what drives him the most is something simple: that he likes getting better no matter what it is, whether its at golf, school, whatever he applies himself to, he wants to constantly be getting better, Badhwar said.Hes sort of addicted to the process of improving and I think more than anything else, thats what inspires him to keep improving at golf, to keep working at school and keep improving at all aspects of his life. I think thats why hes torn, because to him its not a decision he needs to make right now, because all he wants to do is get better at both and when the time comes he feels like he will be ready to make the decision.Ultimately the golf world could see McNealys decision come over this coming winter break, before the spring season starts in the next six or seven months. For now he is keeping true to form and trying to get better one step at a time.His focus has turned to the U.S. Amateur in August at Oakland Hills Country Club in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, a tournament hell tee it up at with that No. 1 ranking emblazoned on his back. There is pressure that comes along with that title, and McNealy is hoping to push that aside and perform at the highest level.He has become accustomed to shutting out the distractions, which is what he has done with all the questions about his future. If he decides to go pro or not, he will have the same drive and will to get better that has gotten him this far.Those that are closest to him wouldnt expect anything less from McNealy, and those who know him best wont be surprised either way.I think what hes kind of torn between is that he thinks he can have a pretty great impact playing golf and inspiring kids and also running a successful business, hiring a lot of people and creating an impact through that, Badhwar said. So I think thats why hes tossing between the two, and in my opinion, regardless of what he chooses, I think hes going to be very, very successful. Trysten Hill Jersey . -- There were a lot of firsts for the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday night. Jaylon Smith Jersey . The quest begins with what is supposed to be an easy one, although Germany has traditionally been a stubborn opponent to Canadian teams at international tournaments. https://www.cowboyssportsgoods.com/Womens-Jaylon-Smith-Inverted-Jersey/ . 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With a background in gymnastics, Szogedi adapted quickly to the dynamic flips and groundwork characteristic of the Japanese martial art.After just six months, Szogedi won a silver medal at Hungarys national championships.I was hooked, she told the Associated Press in a recent interview. I loved winning medals and started to think this might be the sport for me. Szogedi began attending a specialized sports school and qualified for the national judo squad.But after her parents divorced in 2007, money was tight and Szogedi was forced to drop judo. She moved to the U.K. shortly afterwards and began working as a waitress in a London hotel. One afternoon, as she watched the opening ceremonies for the Beijing Olympics with friends at a pub, she saw one of her former Hungarian judo teammates walk into the Birds Nest stadium.I had the feeling that I had some unfinished business, Szogedi said. She soon started training again at a London judo club, where she met her future husband, a Ghana-born engineer.After securing her Ghanaian passport through him, Szogedi began competing for the West African country at major judo tournaments and narrowly missed out on qualifying for the 2012 London Olympics. Szogedi has been to Ghana once to meet her husbands familyy and says she was overwhelmed by the welcome she received.dddddddddddd.The people are so lovely and so kind that it doesnt feel weird to me to be representing Ghana. I feel very proud to be able to fight for them, she said, recalling when she won a bronze medal at the African Championships last September. I was on the bus when some random Ghanaian athletes came on, saw my medal and just started singing and dancing, she said. That would never happen in Europe.Szogedi is now based in Camberley, 32 kilometers (20 miles) south of London, where she trains alongside several members of Britains national team. In preparation for Rio, Szogedi is working to sharpen her fight strategy and in particular, is working on being more aggressive in controlling her matches by getting a dominant grip on her opponents uniforms.Although she is among the shorter competitors in her 63-kilogram weight division, her coach says that could work to her advantage.She has a great ability to get underneath other players and score some big throws, said Luke Preston, Szogedis coach at the Camberley judo club and also a national coach for the British team.Though Szogedi is ranked 40th in the world, Preston said that matters little in the combat sport.The beauty of judo is that world champions can get knocked out in the first round, he said. It just takes somebody to step up and seize the moment. Theres no reason that cant be Szandra. ' ' '