More bad news for Maria Sharapova fans. 
        Not only was the 20 year-old Russian bounced from the Kremlin Open in straight sets by unseeded Victoria Azarenka of Belarus, the leggy blonde announced Sunday, she has pulled out of the Linz Open, scheduled to begin on October 22, as persistent shoulder pain continues to dog her. 
        The two- time Grand Slam champion announcement comes right on the heels of withdrawing from the Zurich Open that begins today; and even her Sony Championships (Madrid) participation in November appears in doubt.
        This is all leading to loud whispers, whether Sharapova will ever return to form, and might join others famous athletes, such as Herb Score, Mark the ``Bird'' Fidrych, and Bo Jackson, whose careers, tragically, were cut short due to injuries.
        Let’s hope Masha makes patience her new creed, by shutting down her play for the rest of the year, and devoting her full attention to healing, so she can be ready for battle in 2008. 
        Good things, after all, comes to those who wait.
        -Bill Lucey
         billlucey@bellsouth.net