umped from 21 to 18. ' ' '

INDIANAPOLIS -- Andrew Luck cherishes his European roots.As a child, he learned to appreciate the history, the cultures and the sights of a whole different part of the world.As an adult, he uses the bustling cosmopolitan cities as his personal refuge, a place where he can spend part of the summer relaxing and enjoying life like just another face in the crowd.All of which makes this weekends business trip to London, one of his childhood hometowns, a little different. This time, there will be nowhere for one of the NFLs higher-profile quarterbacks to hide.I am looking forward to it -- as just another game, Luck said Wednesday. It doesnt really matter where we play. Its not like were going to Big Ben or Buckingham Palace, youre going there to play the game.Any other week, the Indianapolis Colts franchise quarterback would be peppered with questions about dissecting Jacksonvilles defense.And while that assignment certainly takes precedence for Luck, this week also has been about finding the proper balance playing the roles of team leader, teacher and tour guide for a city he knows well.Oliver Luck moved his family to Frankfurt, Germany, when Andrew was a toddler then relocated the family to London a few years later.There, the eventual No. 1 overall draft pick spent his formative school years and developed an affinity for many things European -- a trait that has made Luck one of the most unique American sports celebrities.Despite signing a six-year, $140 million contract in June, Luck still clings to his old-fashioned flip phone and still remains passionate about soccer.Last spring, he started his own online book club, and, yes, occasionally he can be spotted riding a bike around town to pick up food.What really makes him different, though, is his unquenchable thirst for detailed knowledge and his ability to pass it on.The first time I really saw it was when we landed in Denver, rookie center Ryan Kelly said. Theres this huge horse right near the airport, and he knows the whole thing about it so he started telling us the story.Im sure as soon as we land in London, hes going to be telling us some story, not about Big Ben or something like that, but about something nobody knows about. Its pretty fascinating, really.Luck has plenty of stories to share from both sides of the pond.Some of his teammates, such as Pro Bowl receiver T.Y. Hilton could benefit from Lucks advice about where to go, what to do and how to get around. Hilton has never traveled or lived outside the U.S.Others have their own experiences to rely upon.Assistant head coach Joe Philbin made the midseason European jaunt twice when he was head coach of the Miami Dolphins, going 1-1.Head coach Chuck Pagano has acknowledged that he consulted with Philbin, Indys offensive line coach, before mapping out a schedule.Running back Jordan Todman lost both games he played at Wembley Stadium as part of the Jaguars (0-3), but found a couple of hangout spots.I have a thing for Harrods Mall and I like Piccadilly Square as well. Its a cool place, Todman said. Everything about it is cool. Check it out, different accents, its fun.Running back Frank Gores two trips proved more successful. He ran for a combined 189 yards, scored three touchdowns and came home with two wins.But its not easy living up to Lucks standard.He was pretty business-like because we had a camp there when we went, Dwayne Allen said, recalling the time he spent with Luck in London this summer.But I was able to see some sights, and I dont know a lot about British history, but he taught me a lot.So what does Luck want his teammates to know about London?Its a fabulous place to visit during the offseason when theres time to take it all in.But this week only one thing matters: The Colts (1-2) trying to come home with a .500 record.I try to go to London every year because its sort of easy to get to, and I really enjoy going to a soccer game or whatever and I get to be sort of anonymous and just a normal bloke, Luck said. This week, were going there to play a game and thats our focus.---Online: AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP-NFLKevin Love Cavaliers Jersey .J. -- Marty Brodeur beat the Pittsburgh Penguins yet again. Jordan Clarkson Jersey . The mixed zone is not a place to make friends. http://www.cavaliersbasketballpro.info/tristan-thompson-cavaliers-jersey/ . 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. Collin Sexton Jersey . -- Chicago Bears cornerback Tim Jennings was selected Monday to his second straight Pro Bowl, while guard Kyle Long made it after a solid rookie season. Kyrie Irving Jersey .com) - Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray and Roger Federer were easy first-round winners Tuesday at the Australian Open.If Rafael Nadal is going to win Wimbledon for a third time, hell have to do it the hard way. Fresh from winning his eighth French Open, Nadal is seeded only No. 5 at Wimbledon — setting up the possibility of a quarterfinal match against title contenders Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic or Andy Murray. The All England Club released the seedings Wednesday for this years grass-court Grand Slam, which starts Monday. The top five in the ATP rankings remain in their positions: Djokovic at No. 1, followed by Murray, Federer, David Ferrer and Nadal. Nadal slipped down the rankings after being sidelined for about seven months with a left knee injury following his surprise loss to Lukas Rosol in the second round at Wimbledon last year. The Spaniard has won seven of the nine tournaments he has entered in his comeback — including the French Open last month — but he still fell to No. 5 after Roland Garros behind the man he beat in the final — Ferrer. Wimbledons seeding order is determined using the ATP rankings and points are added for achievements in grass-court tournaments in the past 12 months. The All England Club could have moved Nadal up to No. 4 ahead of Ferrer but decided to stick to the rankings. The womens seedings follow the WTA rankings, with five-time Wimbledon champion Serena Williams at No. 1 and Victoria Azarenka at No..dddddddddddd2. Serenas sister, Venus Williams, withdrew Tuesday, citing a back injury. While Nadal was losing to then-No. 100 Rosol in one of the biggest upsets in Wimbledon history last year, Ferrer reached the quarterfinals for the first time in 10 attempts before losing in four sets to Murray. Although clay is Ferrers best surface, he has twice won the Dutch grass-court title at Rosmalen. However, he lost his first-round match there this year to Xavier Malisse on Tuesday. Nadal may have to beat all of the worlds top three players if he is to add to his Wimbledon titles in 2008 and 10, two of his 12 Grand Slam championships. He will find out when the draw is held on Friday. "Id sign up to be in the quarterfinals against Rafa tomorrow if someone offered me that," Murray said in his column for the BBC website. "You could say if I get through that match, then the semifinal might not be as tough, but if you want to win the biggest tournaments you have to beat the best players in the world. "It doesnt really matter where they are in the draw." Jo-Wilfried Tsonga jumped one spot in the seedings to No. 6, with Tomas Berdych dropping a place to No. 7. Marin Cilic, runner-up at the Queens Club tournament on Sunday, moves up to No. 10 from an ATP ranking of 12. American player John Isner jumped from 21 to 18. ' ' '