NEW YORK, N.Y. - Novak Djokovic beat Andy Murray 6-3, 7-6 (2) in an one-off match at Madison Square Garden on Monday, with the pair mixed the usual exhibition hijinks with some long rallies reminiscent of their epic Grand Slam meetings. A born showman, Djokovic always has fun with the New York crowd at the U.S. Open. When on a game point Monday he shanked an overhead into the net, the Serb did push-ups in penance. It was the first time playing at the Garden for both. "I was amazed by the size of it," Djokovic said. "With the history in the world of sports and entertainment and music, its probably the most impressive and most important indoor facility in the world." Murray grimaced more than once after an unforced error as if he were a few miles away at Flushing Meadows. But he also high-fived a fan after hooking in a winner down the line. And the Brit provides plenty of entertainment value simply with his ability to run down nearly every ball. Chasing a drop shot in the first set, Murray wound up all the way on Djokovics side of the court, bumping into a TV camera along the way. Djokovic went over and jokingly massaged Murrays quad, lest he need a medical timeout. During one changeover, they pulled their phones out of their bags and met at the net to take a couple of selfies. Both tweeted them during the next break. "We might never get the chance to play here again," Murray said. "Wanted to enjoy it. Hope everyone who came along had a good time as well. That was the whole point today." And hes in a good mood after his surgically repaired back held up well following four matches in four days in Acapulco last week. There were the obligatory exhibition shenanigans: between-the-legs shots, pulling a kid from the crowd to play a point. In a bit of a twist, Djokovic invited reigning Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli, who has since retired, from the stands to briefly take his place. Murray welcomed her by launching a serve as hard as he could that had the Frenchwoman ducking. Bartoli then ably exchanged groundstrokes with Murray in high-top canvas sneakers that were more fashion than function. The BNP Paribas Showdown opened with the Bryan brothers beating the McEnroe brothers 8-3 in doubles. John McEnroe added a little sizzle to the meeting a few months ago when he made some harsh comments about the current state of doubles, suggesting that top players today are the guys who werent athletic enough to make it in singles. While Bob and Mike Bryan insisted there were no hard feelings, they respectfully disagree with his opinion, and they played Monday with the seriousness of an ATP Tour match. There was no aiming any slams toward Johns head. Instead, they picked on Patrick McEnroes volleys — he doesnt play as much these days as his more-successful older brother. The twins needed 44 minutes to win the single pro set. 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Kurt Warner Jersey . - Robert Griffin III has a sprained throwing shoulder that limited him in practice Wednesday as the Washington Redskins prepared for their season finale against the Dallas Cowboys.(The Notorious) Conor McGregor is one win away from a title shot, a championship clash that will make UFC history if the brash Irish featherweight has his way.McGregor hopes to challenge 145-pound champion Jose Aldo, second only to light-heavyweight title-holder Jon (Bones) Jones in the UFCs pound-for-pound rankings. And he hopes to dethrone the Brazilian before a record crowd outdoors in Dublin at either Croke Park (his preference given its rich history) or Aviva Stadium.UFC president Dana White believes McGregor could sell out 90,000 tickets in Ireland. The UFC record is 55,724, set at UFC 129 in April 2011 at Torontos Rogers Centre.It will be the biggest fight that division has ever had. And it will be the biggest payday Aldos ever had, White said recently.But first, McGregor (16-2) must dispose of German veteran Dennis Siver (22-9 with one no contest) in the main event of a televised card at Bostons TD Garden on Saturday night.Ali needed Frazier, Bird needed Magic and the list goes on and on. And thats what McGregor is for Aldo, UFC boss Dana White said in a recent chat with reporters in Las Vegas.But everybody just assumes hes going to walk through Siver. Nobody thought he was going to beat (Dustin) Poirier but now hes just going to walk right through Siver. I dont ever count the chickens til they hatch man, believe me, because anything can happen in this sport so well see what happens.McGregor, whose four UFC wins have included three first-round stoppages, is ranked fifth among 145-pound contenders. Siver, who at 36 is 10 years older, is No. 10 on the featherweight pecking order.McGregor, who fights very well and talks even better, says its no longer personal as the fight nears.As the fight gets closer, I have no thoughts, he said in an interview. The face becomes blank. Simply a new body type that I must figure out a way to (beat).That wont take long Saturday, he believes. McGregor, who has won 12 straight, predicts a victory within two minutes.With Siver not speaking English and generally averse to trash talk, the pre-fight banter has been less than most McGregor fights.I dont engage with cheats, McGregor said in a shot at the German, who was suspended for nine months after failing a UFC 168 drug test in December 2013.Siver blamed a supplement for the failed test. McGregor isnt buying it, saying Siver tried to hide the doping.So Im sure hes probably on something right now, he said. I will go in there and I will be ruthless with him. I will really hurt him bad if thee referee doesnt step in there.ddddddddddddiver said he made one mistake in the past, but was clean otherwise. And he insists he is clean in the present and will continue to be so.Its a measure of McGregors draw that this is his second UFC main event — the first was a July win over Brazilian Diego Brandao in his native Dublin.The fight before that, McGregor wasnt even on the main card for his Boston bout with Max Holloway, although he was one of the stars of the show.Nothing happens overnight. Sometimes youll find people that are so different than the norm, like a Conor McGregor, White said in a recent chat with reporters in Las Vegas. This kids had a couple of fights in the UFC, (and hes now) selling out the Boston Garden. What he did in Ireland. Even here in Vegas (against Poirier at UFC 178) was crazy.Those guys are one in a million.Reebok has jumped on the McGregor bandwagon, giving the featherweight a featured role in its UFC sponsorship deal along with the likes of Jones and fellow champions Ronda Rousey and Anthony Pettis, and former title-holder Johny Hendricks.McGregor reacted to the news with typical bluster.Congratulations to @Reebok on netting the biggest signature in the game. #StayReady, he tweeted.But science has backed up McGregors hype.Recent tests at the Center for Sport Performance at Cal State Fullerton demonstrated McGregors athleticism. The Irish fighter broke the lab record for balance, erasing the mark set by pro surfer Keanu Asing, and angular velocity, set by golfer Rory McIlroy. All we test in our lab is elite-level athletes. So what we found out today is not that Conor is elite. Hes elite compared to the elites, said Dr. Andy Galpin, a Cal State professor of kinesiology.Science, baby, said a contented McGregor.McGregor is fast and furious. He connects with 4.6 significant strikes per minute, a rate 60 per cent faster than the UFC average of 2.83, with three knockdowns in his four UFC fights. And hes never been put on his back in the Octagon.Aldo made his thoughts clear about McGregor last October after defeating No. 1 contender Chad Mendes for a second time at UFC 179 in Rio de Janeiro with McGregor watching.I think the court is complete, Aldo said in the cage after, through an interpreter. Im the king, Chads the prince, and now we have a joker.Aldo (25-1) has won seven straight in the UFC, bringing his 145-pound title over from the WEC where he won eight in a row.He won his title in November 2009.Follow @NeilMDavidson on Twitter ' ' '