This week Mercedes has found itself in an unusual situation as it looks to replace reigning world champion Nico Rosberg for next year. Most of the grid is locked into contracts for 2017 -- and in some cases beyond -- making finding a replacement potentially complicated and expensive. Whats more, Rosberg had been at the team since it first ran under the Mercedes name in 2010, meaning he not only leaves an empty cockpit but also a huge gap in the teams engineering department. A replacement will not only have to be quick, but also a team player capable of working at the very highest level. And thats before we even mention the huge mental task of going up against Lewis Hamilton, arguably the greatest talent on the F1 grid today.Mercedes team management will meet in Brackley on Monday to discuss its choices, so here is a look at some of the potential candidates.The obvious choicePascal Wehrlein Although he has only driven one season in Formula One, Wehrlein has completed more test days in Mercedes Formula One cars than any other driver this year (including Rosberg and Hamilton). He has been Mercedes go to guy for both in-season tests and 2017 tyre development tests and has a good working relationship with the team. Two years ago he won the competitive DTM championship with Mercedes, proving he has the right mindset to fight at the front and the pace to beat some of the best drivers outside F1. Yet when it came to Force India deciding on a replacement for Nico Hulkenberg earlier this year, the Mercedes-powered team chose Wehrleins Manor teammate Esteban Ocon for 2017. Both Wehrlein and Ocon had tested with the team previously and the latter was considered to be the easier to work with as well as showing the greater long-term potential. That decision inevitably led to some soul searching for Wehrlein, but a Mercedes drive next year would be the ultimate opportunity to prove his doubters wrong. It would be a leap of faith for Mercedes, but it is in the best position to make a well-educated decision after gathering reams of data on Wehrlein during testing this year.The fans favouriteFernando Alonso The prospect of pairing Hamilton and Alonso in one of the best cars on the grid is a tantalising prospect for all F1 fans. They were teammates at McLaren for a single, explosive season in 2007, but their tense relationship led to a falling out between Alonso and team boss Ron Dennis. Speaking to ESPN earlier this year, Alonso said it would be very different if he was paired with Hamilton now, but would Mercedes really be willing to take the risk? Hamilton versus Rosberg proved hard enough to manage over the past three years, so Hamilton versus Alonso could prove catastrophic for the team. In the unlikely event Mercedes did push ahead with the dream/nightmare pairing, it would have to prize Alonso from his current McLaren-Honda contract. Many believe Alonso has exit clauses built in to his deal if such an opportunity should arise, but the reality is likely to be messier than that. It would be a sensational story, but dont build your hopes up.An escape route for a four-time championSebastian Vettel Vettel is committed to a Ferrari contract next season, but there have been signs this year that the driver/team relationship is on edge. Above all, the results that both sides desired have not materialised and there are few signs that an up-turn in form is just around the corner. Technical director James Allison left earlier this year, meaning the new Ferrari dream team Vettel had hoped to build when he joined in 2015 is missing one of its key components. Ferrari has also sent a couple of warning shots towards its star driver this year, with team boss Maurizio Arrivabene saying Vettel must earn a contract renewal beyond 2017. Some people in parent-company Daimler would no doubt welcome a German four-time world champion at their team, but -- just as there is with Alonso -- there is a danger the strong-willed 29-year-old would unsettle the ship alongside Hamilton. Its another very unlikely choice.The rising starEsteban Ocon Ocon only has half a year of F1 experience behind him, but he has made a big impression in that time. Driving for Manor at the back of the grid he was unable to score a point this season, but it was his ability to take the fight to teammate Wehrlein that really impressed. As things stand he has been rewarded with a Force India seat for next year, but as a Mercedes-contracted driver a further upgrade is not beyond the realms of possibility. He is highly-rated within Mercedes hierarchy, although the main question is whether it would be too much, too young for a talent that clearly has the potential to go all the way to the top if nurtured in the right way. On the other hand, he beat Max Verstappen to the F3 title in 2014, so Mercedes may feel that whatever Max can do in F1, Esteban can do better.A safe pair of handsValtteri Bottas With Wolff a part of his management team, Bottas would seem like a straightforward solution to Mercedes Rosberg-shaped problem. He is a proven points scorer -- if not race winner -- and clearly has the ability to deliver the consistent results that constructors championships are made of. He is apolitical and therefore unlikely to upset the team, but perhaps doesnt quite have the star quality Mercedes is seeking. Last year he was linked to a move to Ferrari, but ultimately didnt have the edge the team felt he needed to replace Kimi Raikkonen. For all the people in the paddock who feel he deserves a chance at a top team in Formula One, it seems there are as many who remain unconvinced.The one that got awayMax Verstappen Back in 2014 Mercedes tried to sign Verstappen to its driver development programme but ultimately couldnt place him in a Formula One seat. Red Bull could, and for that reason he raced for Toro Rosso in 2015 and became the youngest F1 driver in history. This year he was promoted to the senior Austrian-owned team, where he is not only seen as the future of Red Bull but also F1. As much as Wolff would love to get one over on rival team boss Christian Horner by luring him away, both Red Bull drivers are contracted through to 2018 and extremely unlikely to be allowed to leave.The ultimate partner to HamiltonDaniel Ricciardo For the reasons mentioned above, Ricciardo would need to pull of a Houdini act to release himself from his Red Bull contract. But in a hypothetical scenario where every driver on the F1 grid was free to move where he liked, the Australian would surely be at the top of Mercedes list. A proven race winner who is both hungry enough to win world titles and easy going enough to coexist with Hamilton, Ricciardo ticks every box. But Red Bull knows more about those qualities than anyone else and would be mad to let him go to a main rival. Whats more, whos to say Red Bull wont be a better championship prospect than Mercedes next year.A surprise returnJenson Button For most of the last few races of the season it appeared as though Button was content in his decision not to drive in Formula One next year. Then came a slight moment of doubt in Abu Dhabi. Perhaps such things are normal for a driver leaving the sport he dedicated so much of his life to, or perhaps he would be open to a surprise return in 2017. Mercedes is, after all, the team he won his title with in 2009 and many of the same people are still working in Brackley today. As unlikely as it seems, Button could offer a one-year solution that would allow the British driver to end his career on a high as contracts elsewhere expire.An overlooked talentCarlos Sainz A product of Helmut Markos sink-or-swim junior programme, Sainz looks like he could be one of the rare few who leave Toro Rosso for a team other than Red Bull in F1. He was high on Renaults list this year, but Red Bull were unwilling to let him go and he remains contracted to Toro Rosso for another season in 2017. However, there is a limit to how long Red Bull can hold back his talent and an offer from Mercedes might just be enough to tip the balance. On the basis of his performance in an under-powered car this year and his performance as Verstappens teammate last year, he certainly wouldnt embarrass himself in a race-winning team.Another NicoNico Hulkenberg It seems as though Hulkenberg has been on the shortlist for a top drive in F1 at every point in his career. For 2017 he has secured a manufacturer drive with Renault, which is a great long-term opportunity but not one that is expected to deliver wins in the next two seasons. But when you look at the other talent on this list, it seems unlikely that he would feature at the very top of Mercedes wishlist, especially as it would require the unpicking of a newly-signed two-year contract.Custom Los Angeles Rams Jerseys .1 million pounds ($61.2 million) on Saturday, giving the beleaguered English Premier League champions a major lift. Robert Woods Womens Jersey . Ouellette, from Montreal, already has three Olympic gold medals since joining the team in 1999. http://www.ramsrookiestore.com/Rams-Tyler-Higbee-Jersey/ . Tevez, who has had conflicts with coaches in the past, has not been called up since Sabella was named coach in 2011. Argentina boasts Lionel Messi, Gonzalo Higuain, Sergio Aguero, Ezequiel Lavezzi and Angel Di Maria. Todd Gurley II Womens Jersey . Arsenal failed to take full advantage of its main rivals stumbles on Saturday as substitute Gerard Deulofeu levelled with a hard shot from a tight angle in the 84th minute to give Everton a deserved point. Ahead of a crucial fortnight that will see them play against Napoli in the Champions League, Manchester City and Chelsea, Arsenal leads by five points ahead of Liverpool and Chelsea. David Long Womens Jersey . A knee to the thigh might have stung him the most, but his sixth straight double-double made up for the brief burst of pain.With more than 700 hate incidents reported since the recent presidential election, a significant part of America stands tense and fearful. It is at times like these that we expect our educational leaders at institutions of higher education to share wisdom and help calm the storm. But if you look at who is in the leadership positions there, they are overwhelmingly white and male.The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport at the University of Central Florida continues to research and report on racial and gender equality in sports. Today, we are releasing our report -- Collegiate Athletic Leadership Still Dominated by White Men: Assessing Diversity Among Campus and Conference Leaders for Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) Schools in the 2016-17 Academic Year -- assessing the racial and gender makeup of key leadership positions.In the 2016-17 report, 88 percent of our presidents, 86 percent of our athletic directors, 89 percent of faculty athletics representatives and 100 percent of our conference commissioners were white. In those positions, 76, 79, 63 and 90 percent were white men, respectively. Overall, whites held 341 (88 percent) of the 388 campus leadership positions reported in this study, which was a slight decrease from 89 percent in 2015.As we release this annual report, I think of hearing from one of our graduates, an African-American woman who is so talented and smart that we wanted to hire her at the NCAS. She shared with me that someone at the post office yelled, Heil Hitler. I was alone with that man and the two postmen behind the counter. They laughed and proceeded to tell me that they couldnt mail my letter and every post office was out of stamps for me.As we release this annual report, I watch with horror the increasing number of hate incidents and overall unrest in our country. Throughout my life, I have seen incredible advances in the rights of women and people of color, but the recent climate has led me to wonder what the future holds for the next generation.Those who are parents are genuinely fearful for their childrens safety. How could they not be? Each year, as I conduct research for this report, I am hopeful the results will show increased representation for women and people of color in the leadership roles at the FBS schools. If there were more women and people of color in the decision-making positions at our colleges and universities, they would be helping to address the issues that are continuing to boil up on the surface.The NCAA met and deliberated about the shockingly poor record of hiring practices in college sport and decided to adopt the Pledge and Commitment to Promoting Diversity and Gender Equity in Intercollegiate Athletics in September 2016. It is a strong call and has been signed by many presidents. The criticism is that the pledge is not binding and there are no sanctions for not improving the hiring record of a university athletics department. We can hope that the pledge and the strong backing of President Mark Emmert will lead to change.But I think we need what I have called The Eddie Robinson Rule, patterned after the NFLs Rooney Rule, with built-in sanctions to stop more years of overwhelmingly white men leading us in higher education. We need people of color and women in the candidate pool for all leadership positions on our campuses.As a child of the civil rights movement, I grew up in a family fighting for equal opportunity and the human rights due to every human being. However, at this moment, division and animosity appear to dominate our country.I have personally experienced the power sport has to unite people of all cultures and backgrounds. I believe colleges and universities must take advantage of the power they have to foster camaraderie and continue to fight for equality. Student-athletes have a major role to play in standing up for justice so the establishment cannot block its path.We release this report not to add to the contentious nature of these issues but to inform America of the continued pattern of under-representation of women and people of color in our society. The FBS D-1 Leadership reports main objective is to challenge all colleges and universities to mirror the diversity of their students and student-athletes in their campus leadership positions.dddddddddddd.Women and people of color who seek leadership positions in American higher education and college sports face enormous odds. This years report presents 19 women as presidents, and nine as athletic directors. Among people of color, there are 15 who are presidents and 16 who are football head coaches out of 128 FBS institutions. That number is about to go down as it is being reported that Charlie Strong, the coach at the university of Texas, is being fired. As we move toward college football playoffs, bowl games and the national championship, these poor numbers stand in stark contrast to our college football student-athletes, which are comprised of 58.7 percent people of color.In the DeVos Sport Business Management Program that I chair, and at the National Consortium for Academics and Sport, which I helped found more than 30 years ago, we always talk about using the power of sport to heal communities. The most recent example was after the nightmare of the Pulse Nightclub shootings, when the Tampa Bay Rays, Orlando City Soccer and, most recently, the Orlando Magic dedicated games to the victims and first responders. I am proud that it was our DeVos alumni who prepared the production of those events at all three sites. The City of Orlando and its sports teams took the despair and did something about it.I spent 50 years of my life working to bring people together. My wife, Ann, and I have done that together for the past 30 years. Bridging gaps. Talking about love conquering hate and love leading to forgiveness. Yet the morning after the 2016 presidential election, I did not know what to do. I felt helpless.But as the day went on, I heard from more than 15 former students and spoke to a dozen current students. Among them were women, African-Americans, Latinos and Muslims. Gays and lesbians. My family had been texting back and forth all day. The path became more clear. We need to do what we do best and work relentlessly with even more determination than in the past to fight against injustice and discrimination.Through the NCAS, we have been doing diversity and inclusion training for nearly three decades. For many of those years, we did a pretraining survey, and the biggest distinction between the opinions of white men, white women, black women and black men was that white men and women overwhelmingly felt that affirmative action discriminated against them. However, black men and women, by between 70 to 80 percent, felt that affirmative action did not discriminate against white men or women.The surveys we did after our training showed significantly different opinions in all four groups. White men and women felt less threatened by affirmative action, and black men and women were more sympathetic to the apprehension that white people had shown about the effects of affirmative action. Bridges were built. Bridges were and are possible now.We cannot sit on the sidelines. To use a sports analogy, we need to be in the game for social justice. I ask our student-athlete leaders, professional athletes and coaches to continue doing that if they already are, and perhaps add more emphasis. If you are not already involved, take this as an opportunity to pick an issue you are passionate about and help a local group advance that cause.We can do something about social justice in America. Our childrens future is at stake. We can all fight for that, no matter whom you voted for in the election. We need our leaders in higher education to help show the way, but that leadership needs to look more like America. We have a lot of work to do.Richard E. Lapchick is the chair of the DeVos Sport Business Management Graduate Program in the College of Business Administration at the University of Central Florida. Lapchick also directs UCFs Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport, is the author of 16 books and the annual racial and gender report card, and is the president of the National Consortium for Academics and Sport. He has been a regular commentator for ESPN.com on issues of diversity in sport. Follow him on Twitter @richardlapchick and on Facebook at facebook.com/richard.lapchick. ' ' '