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KENNER, La. -- The wife of slain former New Orleans Saints player Will Smith said Friday that the defensive ends zest for life and refusal to accept failure has guided her recovery from the physical and emotional wounds she suffered on the night her worst fear came true.Racquel Smith, who was shot twice in the legs when her husband was fatally shot last April 9, made her first public remarks since Will Smiths death at the former Pro Bowl players formal induction into the Saints Hall of Fame.There were days when I couldnt get out of bed, nor did I want to, Racquel Smith said. I knew I had to be strong for my three beautiful kids, and thats when I felt Will the most -- his strength, his determination, his commitment to being the best.Through my darkest days of my life, Will gave me so much, she continued. He instilled so much in me and he showed me how to be strong. He always told me, `Rocky, you can do this.Will Smith was fatally shot following an argument over a relatively minor car accident, just blocks from New Orleans renowned Garden District. Cardell Hayes, who remained on the scene until police arrived and has argued he fired in self-defense, has been indicted on a charge of second-degree murder in Smiths death. He has also been indicted on a charge of attempted second-degree murder in the wounding of Racquel Smith, who described having to learn to walk again because of nerve damage and a broken femur.Prosecutors say Hayes provoked a confrontation by ramming his SUV into one driven by Smith. The defense has argued that Smith was the aggressor and that Hayes fired in self-defense after Smith went to his own car to get his gun.Jury selection in Hayes trial is scheduled Dec. 1. Racquel Smith, a potential witness in the case, did not take questions or make any public remarks at the Hall of Fame event beyond her prepared speech.Im heart-broken that Will isnt here to accept this in person, she said. In my heart, he is with us here today in spirit.Hes proud as ever, she added. I can hear his voice, and I so miss his voice.Shortly before speaking, Racquel Smith intermittently wiped away tears as she and a Hall-of-Fame luncheon crowd packing a suburban country club ball room watched a video featuring highlights of Will Smiths playing career, as well as footage of the burley defensive end interacting with children at charitable events and football camps. At one moment, the video showed Smith nearly flipping over Pittsburghs Ben Roethlisbergers shoulder as the sturdy Steelers quarterback tried to duck under Smiths tackle, only to have Smith latch onto his arm and pull him to the turf for a sack. Then there were scenes of Smith wearing a red and white Santa Claus hat with children on his lap.About a month before Smiths death, a panel of veteran reporters covering the Saints elected him into the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. Smith, a former Ohio State standout whose Saints career spanned from 2004 to 2012 and featured 67+ sacks, was informed of the honor before his death.Will and Racquel Smiths three children, Wynter, Williams and Lisa, also attended the induction. They smiled as they posted with their mother and other family members in front of a Hall-of-Fame portrait of Smith, which depicts him in a blazer, smiling and holding the Vince Lombardi Trophy that he helped the Saints win in the Super Bowl at the end of the 2009 season.Will, you will always be a part of me, Racquel Smith said. I love you, Will. Congratulations, baby. 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Nick Kyrgios has just seven weeks and three tournaments to slash his ranking in half or face more heavy-duty grand-slam roadblocks at the US Open.Gutted by his fourth-round Wimbledon loss to Andy Murray, Kyrgios at least departed the All England Club with his career-high world No.18 ranking intact.But until the 21-year-old cracks the top eight, the two-time major quarter-finalist continue being at the mercy of the tennis gods at grand slam draws.A priceless top-eight seeding would protect Kyrgios from striking any of the sports big guns - including Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray and Roger Federer - until at least the quarter-finals.Kyrgios couldnt hide his frustration at running into a merciless Murray in the fourth round at the All England Club.My record here is 10-3, I think. Every time I come here, I lose to good players, he lamented.But its just disappointing. I dont know. I just want to do better.Kyrgioss frustration is understandable given hes never lost to an unseeded opponent, let alone a lower-ranked player, at a major.It is an extraordinary record that not even Djokovic, Murray, Federer or Rafael Nadal could boast of 13 slams into their grand careers.But despite his meteoric rise from world No.144 when he conquered Nadal at Wimbledon two years ago to his current standing as the youngest player in the mens top 20, Kyrgios remains vulnerable at grand slam draw time.In his 13 majors since making his maiin-draw debut as an 18-year-old at the 2013 French Open, Kyrgios has lost four times to Murray and twice each to dual grand slam semi-finalists Milos Raonic and Richard Gasquet.ddddddddddddHis other five defeats have come at the hands of 2014 US Open champion Marin Cilic, former grand slam finalists Tomas Berdych and David Ferrer and seeds Tommy Robredo and Benoit Paire.Now Australias most exciting prospect faces the tennis equivalent of mission impossible to secure a top-eight seeding for Flushing Meadows.Scheduled to play Washington, Cincinnati and Toronto before the US Open, Kyrgios would need to win at least two of the three lead-up events, two of which are Masters 1000s that demand mandatory attendance from the worlds elite.NICK KYRGIOSS GRAND SLAM DEFEATS (PREFIX DENOTES OPPONENTS SEEDING):Australian Open 2016: lost 3rd rd to 6-Tomas BerdychUS Open 2015: lost 1st rd to 3-Andy MurrayWimbledon 2015: lost 4th rd to 20-Richard GasquetFrench Open 2015: lost 3rd rd to 3-Andy MurrayAustralian Open 2015: lost QF to 6-Andy MurrayUS Open 2014: lost 3rd rd to 18-Tommy RobredoWimbledon 2014: lost QF to 9-Milos RaonicFrench Open 2014: lost 1st rd to 9-Milos RaonicAustralian Open 2014: lost 2nd rd to 28-Benoit PaireUS Open 2013: lost 1st rd to 4-David FerrerWimbledon 2013: didnt qualify ' ' '