Wimbledon 2012, subtitle - Roger is a genius

Roger Federer winning his seventh Wimbledon singles title.
I'm reminded of the recent holiday in the U.S., the 4th of July.It tends to involve a considerable amount of fireworks.Most displays end with a glorious crescendo.All the fireworks before are fine, but now let us show you what we can really do.Light up the sky with a thousand colorful stars.
People look up and gasp, ohhh,ahhh.Beautiful.
That's what it felt like seeing Federer winning his seventh Wimbledon title.He let loose with a lovely barrage of brilliance.
It does make me think of  Sampras at his last U.S Open.Navratilova winning her ninth.I hope this isn't Roger's last major.He may well feel re energized,and confident,and win more.I very much hope so.But after the dry spell, it feels great to see him holding the trophy once again.

Andy Murray; all credit.That was a mature effort.I don't think he beat himself.The fact that he can bear the awful pressure as well as he can is an accomplishment in itself.Tennis players do have to win it the hard way.I hope he can some day.

Rafael Nadal losing to Lukas Rosol; well, that was a bad day at the office.Rosol was in the classic zone.Sad to be the high ranking player on the wrong end of another player's greatest day on court.
If Rafa was tired,it's understandable after Roland Garros.And his knees were probably bothering him.But give Rosol his credit.He closed the deal instead of choking.

Congrats to an Englishman( !! ) Jonathan Marray and Danish partner Frederik Nielsen for winning the Doubles.

A few notes;
I'm still not sure I like the roof being closed just for the lights.Wimbledon night matches? I can do without them.

Gilles Simon; STFU.Your ideological sexism is embarrassing the sport.

Rufus the Hawk; How much of an idiot do you have to be to think it's good idea to steal a hawk?
"Look, there's a hawk in a cage", "Let's take him!". Why? Are you going to take him home to play with the  kids? ( Look out kid, he'll tear your eyes out! )
Sell him on the hawk black market? ( Hey,want to buy a hot hawk ? ) Brag to your friends? ( Wow dude, you stole a hawk! You really are an idiot! )
Thank goodness, he was returned without harm.

Serena Williams.
If she makes it through the first week, she's favored to win the tournament.Up hill the first week ( nice try ladies ), rolling down the hill the second.
Stranger than fiction, Serena.
I didn't watch the final.I'm ok with that.Post threatening the lineswoman, I'm through.Seen more than enough.

Roger Federer is like Masterpiece Theater.Serena Williams is like a "reality" show.

Credit to Agnieszka Radwanska.Well done making it to the final.And with an upper respiratory problem too.

Disappointed that Petra Kvitova lost to Serena.Would have loved to have seen her in the final again.
Maybe next year.

Lisa Raymond.Still adding to the titles.Mixed Doubles Champion with Mike Bryan.Nice.

The coverage;
I think ESPN did a fine job in their first year of covering the full tournament.It's a significant relief to say goodbye to NBC's horrible tape delays, and time shifting.NBC,and their local affiliate, made an aggravating mess out of the second week for way to long.
Tennis Channel did a wonderful job with their expanded coverage.Loved seeing Mary Carillo added to the team.

Wimbledon is tiring,but the most amazing show in tennis.

French Open Roland Garros 2012 Men

                                Rafael Nadal.Champion.

And by men,I mean Rafa.The man.
7.Wow.7
You know how much sports fans love to debate things? Well Nadal just comprehensively destroyed the debate about who is the greatest clay court player ever. It's over.Hardly an ember left to poke.
He muscled his way through the man who was trying to win a consecutive Grand Slam.I know Djokovic is disappointed by not being able to get that done.But absolutely no shame in having it end like this.
Does he win the eighth next year? Probably.

French Open Roland Garros 2012 Women

                                       Maria Sharapova, Champion




I don't think that I did believe Sharapova could ever win the French title.I could admit it was possible if all the pieces fell into place.Well there she is.And she earned it.She came back from surgery, and disappointing results and completed the career Grand Slam.She has placed herself in elite company.
Good for her,and for tennis.
She gets tons of attention for her glamour.Many non tennis fans know who she is.I'm sure there are a number of people who would tune in just to watch her.I'm not really filled with warmth for that crowd, but I understand.
But this is not a model.This is a tennis champion who is going into the Hall of Fame.    
( notice how I didn't mention the horrible screaming )

Sara Errani.That was an amazing run to the final.It's always fun to see those stories.She and Roberta Vinci did win the doubles.Italian women's tennis is doing mighty fine in Paris.

A few ouches.
Li Na; didn't really expect her to repeat.
Kuznetsova; just spaced out in the match she lost.
Stosur; I bet she'd like to kick herself sometimes.She could have had the whole thing.

Dominika Cibulkova.If you want to sound like a pissy sore loser,go ahead and say your opponent played like a man.Not cool actually.
   

Roland Garros Morane-Saulnier N Fighter Monoplane (1915-1916)

If you are a tennis fan; of course you know that Roland Garros was not a tennis player.He was a World War 1 pilot from France.
Here is one of the planes he flew.
This is from the book; Conquerors of the Air - the evolution of aircraft 1903-1945
Text by Heiner Emde, Illustrated by Carlo Demand.
Published by Viking Press 1968, Edita S. A. Lausanne.

A beautiful book with many color illustrations.Heartily recommended for those interested in the history of aircraft.

After his death in action his friends had the area of the sporting complex named after him.

A user on TheAerodrome.com forum had this comment;

Vigilant -
"Right, I'm starting a petition to the All England Club to get Wimbledon renamed James McCudden"!
 I'm sure he must have played the odd game of bumble-puppy at 56 Squadron.

Clever joke.Like that.

As Roland Garros flies away into the sunset to be shot down by Wilhelm Habich
( Either that or according to his wingman his Spad collapsed during the dogfight ),
We bid adieu to Paris.

Suzanne Lenglen leaps into a volley

Leaping into the French Open; here is a picture of Suzanne Lenglen.
This is a postcard,or it may simply be a photo card.
The printing on the back;
1921 Nice
Suzanne Lenglen
Photographie par Jacques-Henri Lartigue
Ministere de la Culture-France / A.A.J.H.I.

Australian Open 2012

Novak Djokovic during a changeover




I noticed during the enthusiastic tweeting going on during the Men's final; the players and writers watching the match kept using the word INSANE.In caps.
Maybe slightly short of that crazy superlative, but not by much.
I can't think of too many players who have so comprehensively changed their reputation in the highest ranks of tennis so much in about a years time.
Novak Djokovic has now cemented a Hall of Fame career.He's not the scrawny guy who wheezes his way to another disappointment.He's the magnificent marathoner who captures one of the epic finals of recent tennis history.
Improved diet, and fitness? Yes, I guess.But somehow it just seems like it was time for him to give his best.Things have fallen into place for him.This is the golden chapter of his career.

Nadal.Class act.Heart of a Lion.And he's going to beat Djokovic again.
Watching that match against Federer, I couldn't help but think how much he must have wished it was the Final instead of the Semi.That's the match up he understands completely.That's the back of his hand.I knew he had Roger again after turning the momentum his way.It was just a "here we go again" for Federer.
And of course how many people have thought of the Rock,Paper,Scissors analogy?

The Woman's final was a loud, and dull affair.
The Battle of the Screaming Me Me's.
Not really surprising to see Viktoria Azarenka come through and win a major.She had as good a chance as anybody.Credit to her for claiming it.

Australian Open notes.

Andy Roddick - Fun Mohawk, lousy results.Oh well.

I wonder if we're nearing critical mass on the screaming issue?
The WTA leadership has been anything but leading on this issue.But it seems they may make an effort with the Juniors.Not the money making stars of course.Goodness forbid.

Sharapova in a press conference on the noise; " No one important told me to stop."
Fans aren't important enough.Message received.

I did hear a little of the old whine about equal prize money.It's a done deal.Why bother bringing it up?
No one would deny the men are the superior entertainment product right now.They are in a golden time.They are putting on classic shows in the Grand Slam finals.
But the majors are not stepping backwards.
I think it would benefit the Women to play Five set matches in the Semi's,and Finals.
Why not consider it? I don't question their capacity for stamina.

The time zone difference never ceases to mess up my sleep schedule for a week after the tournament.I kept trying to get to bed relatively early,and then waking up in the am.
If I had of known before I got drawn into becoming a tennis fan that there is no off season,and it's played around the clock, I may have thought better of it.
Oh well,another done deal.

Happy notes.
Loved seeing Svetlana Kuznetsova, and Vera Zvonareva winning the doubles.I just give them credit for playing the doubles!

The Bryan Brothers losing the final was a disappointment, but getting home on time for the birth of Bob's daughter was sweet timing.

Historic LOL Court Tennis

From Historic LOLS.com

I give credit for any joke about Court/Real Tennis.

Look alike - Dorothea Douglas Lambert Chambers and John Cleese

Dorothea Douglas Lambert Chambers


John Cleese


John in a rather fetching hat


Since we're on the subject of resemblances between tennis players,and members of Monty Python's Flying Circus.
When I saw this Photo of Dorothea Douglas Lambert Chambers,I coudn't help but be reminded of the strong jaw,and upright carriage of a young John Cleese.
Just something about the English.A fine,upright,and strong jawed people.
Just liked the picture of John in the hat.

Wimbledon 2011

Well this about sums it up.
Two very happy first time Wimbledon champions.
A masterful job by Djokovic.A great first major breakthrough from Kvitova.
Happy to see the Bryan Brothers take the Doubles title as well.

Is Petra Kvitova going to be a future number 1? I hope so.

I admit I wrote this later.I just got busy with other things,and neglected my Blog.

POGO mini - Wimbledon Weatherman

Here's another fun Mini.Unfortunately,the rain is not so much fun.

Nicolas Mahut, Pogo Mini

I belong to the game site,POGO.They have avatars called minis.I made this one last year to salute the effort of Nicolas Mahut after the amazing match he and John Isner played.And I really couldn't make one to look like Isner.But that hair works for Mahut.The background is a London cab.They don't have a tennis court that looks right.

Update - Isner def Mahut 7-6 6-2 7-6
2011 1st round.Oh well.

Roland Garros 2011 / French Open 2011

I'm so tried after a major I just want to crash.So I wrote this about a week after the tournament.Just my impressions.

That had to hurt for Djokovic.Going in no losses on the year,and then the wheels kind of fell off/got kicked off by Federer.One match though.
I'm a Fedhead so I loved seeing him end the streak and get into the final.
Strong effort.Great tennis but..

Nadal is still the king of clay.He's just the best.Federer needed,no NEEDED,that first set.Way ahead.Didn't get it.End of story.
Nadal bites another trophy.

The women.Now here's where it gets a little painful.I realized watching the tournament how much I've grown to enjoy Schiavone.I really wanted her to win.As the the tournament went on,I started to believe she could.I thought she could take the final.And then Li wins it.

I knew what was going to happen.called it on my twitter(Like that matters).The media were fawning over China.Why? Are we supposed to feel sympathy for China? Really?
Two points.
An individual won this title.She deserves the credit.Not a country.
China "good for tennis".
It's not all about money folks.Tennis is a western sport.Born and bred.
I'm trying to think of a sport that is substantially dominated by China that is popular in the west? None come to mind.
If a player from China loves tennis,and wants to be a part of it,of course she/he is welcome.
But for the ultimate welfare of the sport,Tennis needs American,French,UK(please!),and European players,with some Aussies thrown in for good measure.There's your tennis tradition.
I'm not trying to be nasty.Just telling the truth.And what's the point of writing a blog in the first place if you're never going to have an opinion and just stifle yourself?
Li is not a problem.And she's clearly no flunky for the Chinese sports authorities.It's the media,and the head of the WTA I don't see eye to eye with on this.

I admit I wasn't cheering for Li.But taking it on it's own,she's a nice,funny young woman.good for her and all that.

A few more notes.
-Sad to see Clijsters hurting.Women's tennis desperately needs her.She has a personality brighter than a parade.
-Kuznetsova.usually in the category of "I like you, but I'll never under stand you'
she could have won this whole thing.If she had a burning pride.It seems she did not get that installed at the factory.
-The French box holders.What the hell is wrong with you people!? I know the food is good,but get through with lunch already and put your but in a seat court side.
Why do you want to improve the site.Do you need more seats not to sit in.
-American tennis.Whither thou?
Just whithering.

I didn't mean to sound so cranky.But getting up at 4a.m. for two weeks will do that to you.Really.The wretched schedule makes me miserable.

I hope Wimbledon is more fun.It almost always is.Just something profoundly refreshing about the green grass after the ruddy dirt.

I will leave on my positives;
Federer making it to the finals.
Nadal just making tennis look great,and being such a decent guy.
Schiavone being as entertaining as usual,and fighting her way to the finals for a second straight year.

Who invented Red Clay? Answer;Friedrich Becker

Friedrich Becker Standing in uniform (middle of picture)at Bad Homburg Tennis club.



This is the short version of the story.I know I read about it in one of my tennis books.The problem is I can't find it.I tried.

Grass courts didn't do as well in the German climate as in England so they went for hard courts.
The hard courts used at the Uhlenhorst club don't sound very pleasant.
The courts were described as "..a surface which consisted mainly of the black rub-off of imperial cobblestone roads and a finishing cover of fine gravel."The lines were sheets of iron painted white.
Friedrich Becker (circa 1898) was the Groundsman at the Bad Homburg club.These dark gravel courts had a repution for getting the players clothes dirty.Particularly the long skirts of the ladies.When it rained,no doubt it was worse.
The story is that Becker walked past a place where they made clay flower pots.He had an idea that the red clay would make a good court surface.He gave it a try,and the rest is history.

*See "Tennis.A Cultural History" by Heiner Gillmeister
Page 252,Note 209,Figure 98

Tennis Racket as Guitar 2

I happened upon another strumming tennis player.This is an ad,or postcard from the Estby Organ Company.

Lawn Tennis Print

The only words on this print is Lawn Tennis.
I mail ordered it from England a few years ago.Not worth anything,really.But I like the picture.

Nick Charles of CNN Sports Tonight faces his death from cancer

Before the Internet,you had two ways to get your sports news;The sportspage,or television.Ted Turner had launched a great channel called WTBS/TBS Superstation in the late seventies-early eighties.I stayed up late many nights watching old movies,and Braves baseball games.I was an insomniac as a a kid.
CNN was started in 1980.Another project from Turner.
CNN Sports Tonight ran from 1980-2001.It was a great way to get the tennis results.The usual hosts were Nick Charles,and Fred Hickman.The show had a great team of sportscasters,but the Charles/Hickman pairing was classic.
The show aired several times during the night.The first at 11:00pm eastern,then two repeats later that night.During Major events,or in the event of an upset tennis may have been a big story that night.But most of the time it would be in the last five minutes of the broadcast.I knew I could count on it.Most nights for about twenty years,I would make the effort to see the tennis news.I also watched ESPN Sportscenter,but the show was longer and it was hard to catch the tennis.Then there was a channel that ran from 1996-2002 called CNNSI that was all sports news all the time.It was great.CNNSI had an international sports news show that would reliably give me the tennis news several times a day.CNNSI was just not able to compete with the ESPN networks,and the repercussions of September 11th.
Then I got on the Internet and that's another matter.

Yesterday I'm drinking coffee and reading the news on CNN.There's a picture of a haggard old man in a ball cap.Something to do with sports,and he's dying of cancer.I think he's probably an old baseball player.I didn't recognize him.I click the story.It's Nick Charles.
How many nights for almost twenty years did I see this man? Nick Charles was not a tennis guy.But he was a very fine sportscaster.Professional,smooth,easy to listen to,well presented,attractive.He had all the qualities they are looking for when they hire a person to give you the news.
I read the story.Terminal bladder cancer.
It seems like he's facing it with considerable grace.As best as he can.
Nothing to say but it's sad.Nobody deserves this agony.
Sad to see him going through this.

All I can say is;Thanks Nick.
Thanks for doing a great job.Thanks for sharing your enthusiasm for sports.It was appreciated.
Have as many good days with the people you love as you can now.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nick_Charles


http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/04/06/nick.charles.facing.death/index.html?eref=sihp

The link to the CNN story will probably not last long,but there it is for now.

Djokovic Wins Miami

Future!? The future may be now.The computer rankings don't reflect the recent dominance of Novak Djokovic,But he's been besting everybody.
Djokovic is having a scorching start to the year.It's amazing to think that last year Nadal had one of the great years in tennis,and now Djokovic is doing this.The plot changes fast sometimes.
Of course the year is young.Clay could change the balance.We'll see how it goes.When Djokovic has his current streak snapped will it ding his confidence?

On the women's side, Victoria Azarenka defeated Maria Sharapova in the final of the Earplug Open.

Novak Djokovic - Future Number 1?

Novak Djokovic comprehensively whipped the field at the recent Indian Wells tournament.He was the man to beat going in,and nobody could. I wasn't surprised he defeated Roger Federer.This makes it three in row now.Federer had a shot at it.winning the second set,but he fell short in the third. I was more impressed by his out battling Rafa Nadal in the final.Rafa is a hard beat down.

Djokovic won the 2008 Australian Open,and the Masters late in the year.No major victories in 09-10.I was starting to see him as a version of the Hana Mandlikova story.Martina Navratilova,and Chris Evert were dominating women's tennis in the eighties.Hana chased them,and managed to win four majors.She was a brilliant player,but rather flaky.Trying to get past Navratilova,and Evert was like getting caught between Scylla and Charybdis.She would often have to beat both to win a tournament .She couldn't accomplish that daunting feat often.

It looked like Novak was falling back.It seemed like Murray would emerge as the solid number three.King in waiting,just a matter of time.But it's Novak who has overcome his weaknesses,and breathing problems,and shown the courage to provide the real threat to the two man show.
Clay court season?That's another matter. Rafa will do his best to grind him into the dirt.

Postcard - Great Hill Observatory 1905

This is a postcard of the Great Hill Observatory, Hough's Neck, Quincy, Mass.
It's from the Rotograph Company.Copyright 1905.

Tennis on a slope.Good drainage at least.
A charming picture of a time when people would just string up a net and play.

Australian Open 2011

I did watch it.As much as I could anyway considering the crazy hours for a US resident.
I'm very happy Kim Clijsters won.It just seems right.
I thought a few days before the Men's semis that Novak Djokovic could win this whole thing.
Should have written that down BEFORE it happened huh?
Anyway,good for him and all that.He played with very fine form.

I was hoping Federer could find the magic and win,but his wand is getting rusty.

Nadal? what rotten luck to have an injury when he could have held all the majors at once.Doesn't diminish him,but merely unfortunate circumstances.

The most remarkable string of matches would have to be on the women's side.Kuznetsova defeating Henin in what would be Henin's last match.Schiavone over Kuznetsova in a titanic struggle.
The women provided some first class drama.


Venus Williams dress;Good grief can't we have an intervention with her?Pie crust lattice.I used to like pie.

Celebrities Serve - Book

Well here goes my first book review.It feels a little funny to call it a review because I'm writing about a book that came out a long time ago.I've bought quite a few books about tennis over the years.I'm sure my collection is pitiful compared to some.But what I'm interested in is the actual experience of reading it.I don't buy books just to have them.


I read a story about a book collector once.It said he had the books stacked all over his house.Someone would come in and ask,"Have you read them all?".He would answer,"Every last page".Because when he got a book he would glance at/read the last page of the book.
Ha ha.Jackass.

I read them.Old,musty,brown pages,or worse,boring.I read them.
Whoever stuffs their head with the most useless information before they die wins.Wins what?I don't know.But let me tell you,I'm ahead of most people.

This book is subtitled "A Celebrity Tennis Cookbook".It was written(or compiled) by Dee Gordon,De Lora Maurus, and Shirley Gorospe.It was published in 1991 to benefit The International Tennis Hall of Fame.It's a hardback with ring binding on the inside.


It's nicely made with a good number of color pictures.Many pictures taken at the beautiful Hall of Fame in Newport RI.
It seems like the sort of thing people would do for a benefit project.Very Junior League.



There are recipes from current (at the time) players,former players,executives,and famous fans.

Many of the recipe's come from a particular genre of American cooking I like to call the Campbell's soup casserole.Noodles,meat(probably chicken) some vegetables to keep it respectable,and a can of Campbell's cream of chicken,celery,or mushroom soup.
If that doesn't bring back memories of childhood dinners.

I do have a feeling most of the young players just asked their moms for a recipe."Hey mom what's that thing you make,you know,the thing with the noodles"?
My mother had one of these dishes,she called it glop.
The older players may have gotten recipes from themselves, wives,or maybe the chef from the club.Some casseroles,and a lot more seafood.A match at the club,a shower,and then a lovely lobster salad.
Almost every recipe from a Czech is for Dumplings.

The recipes start out with Hall of Famers.These are from people already in the hall.
Saint Germain Soup from Arthur Ashe.
Tennis Club Special from Margaret Osborne duPont.(It's taco salad,and I can make a far better version of it.)
Cheesy Potatoes from Billie Jean King (Hash browns,cheese,and cream of chicken soup.Right off the package I bet.)
Then Professional Tennis Players.
V.J. Armitrage with two chutney recipes.
Gourmet Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich from Jennifer Capriati (sigh)
Swedish Meatballs from Stefan Edberg
Puerto Rican Chicken Fricassee from Gigi Fernandez
Weiner Schnitzel from Steffi Graf
Black Forest Cake from Tim Mayotte
Paella from Arantxa Sanchez Vicario
The next section is Celebrity Chefs.Former players,coaches,sportscasters,and fans.
California Lemon Bread from Dick Enberg
Cape Cod Fish Chowder from Edward M Kennedy
Roast Squirrels from Larry,Darryl,and Darryl (These guys were characters on a sitcom called Newhart.Which doesn't really even begin to explain it.Uhh..they was hicks.)
Irish Colcannon from Bob Newhart (Yes! that Newhart.)
Kennebunk Pickle from Tom Poston(Newhart cast)
Sorrel Vegetable Soup from Julia Duffy (Newhart cast)
What I want to know is,where the hell was Peter Scolari the day they turned in their recipes!
The last section is Tennis Parties.
This is by Martha Stewart.

I ordered this book directly from the Hall,and it had a brochure to join as a contributor.
I wonder how much they raised with this effort? Maybe time to do another one.

As a recipe book,I would have to call it a little uneven.
As a tennis book,it's an interesting item.A bit of fun in seeing what the players contributed.
There are plenty of copies available from sellers on Amazon for about $5.00 to $10.00.

Larry Scott's Corn Bake recipe

I have been meaning to start writing about my tennis book collection.To write some reviews etc..
But since it's Thanksgiving time,I thought I would start with this.
In 1991 the International Tennis Hall of Fame put out a cookbook called "Celebrities Serve".
It contains recipes from Tennis Players,and fans.
Here is a very easy,and very good one from Larry Scott.

Corn Bake

1 17- ounce can whole corn(I would suggest using a bag of frozen corn instead,tastes better)
1 17-ounce can cream style corn
1 box corn bread mix(Jiffy is perfect for this)
1 stick butter,softened
1 8-ounce container sour cream
1 egg

Preheat oven to 375 F.Grease a 9" x 9" baking dish.

Mix all ingredients together and put in baking dish.
Bake for 40 minutes.


My family has made this often.

If you're wondering who Larry Scott is http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larry_Scott_(sports_administrator)

Elena Dementieva Retires.

There aren't many times that tennis happenings make me genuinely sad.I called myself the melancholy tennis fan for the sake of whimsy.I'm a bit of an Eeyore,that's all.

Elena quitting does make me sad.What can you say,it's a bummer.

I'm sure the timing makes sense.Though really I thought she could play maybe two more years.But it just came out of the blue.No hints,no whispers.No farewell tour.Just that's it ,I did what I could.Bye.

She could do a lot.Fight like hell.And unfortunately yes sometimes come up short.She won the o8 Gold medal.I know she's very proud of that.If I could play tennis god;I wish I could give her that French Open over Myshkina(no offence to Myshkina)And I very much wish to give the 09 Wimbledon title.Held match point against Serena,and lost in the semi.Of course she would almost certainly have lost to Venus in the final.But it's my dream,so she gets it.



I can't say enough for a female player who never gave a whiff of the Diva bitch act.I have no use for that kind of person.She was a class act.Not shallow and self focused.Not a brat.Not an,"It's all about me"type.Gad what a breath of fresh air that is.



Ok,she didn't win any majors.But how can you not love a pro player who could make you feel so good about your own serve.Bless her.



So I guess now she marries her Hockey player and has kids.Happily ever after is warmly wished,and deserved.



Here are a few things said.



from Elena;

"It's so emotional. It's hard to say goodbye. I'm going to miss you so much".



"You don't have to be perfect, but you have to try very hard, and I did all the time".



Kim Clijsters;



"She brought elegance,kindness, discipline and beautiful tennis to the tour!I will miss having her around because there are not many like her ".



Vera Zvonareva;



"She was a role model. I looked up to her. She had such a great career. Right now, the whole country will be sad and everyone will support her,''





And here's why Jon Wertheim is one of the best;



http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/jon_wertheim/10/29/dementieva.retires/index.html



That last paragraph is beautiful.

The Champs Nadal and Clijsters

div style="text-align:center;">


Clijsters,and daughter;Jada

Nadal;Champion 2010



Clijsters fought for for it and earned it.Gutty,and well deserved.That woman could almost outrun her own shadow.What chance did Stosur,or Venus have against that.Not enough.

Venus lost the US Open trophy in the Second set tiebreak vs Kim in the Semis.Two double faults.She blinked.She lost.Kim closed it out.Venus would have beaten Zvonoreva.I could be wrong about that.But I'm not.

Poor Vera popping strings,fraying nerves.But what a great year for her.solid victory over Wozniacki.



Kim Clijsters is going into the Hall of Fame.This just cements it.I do hope she can add a few wins at the other majors.She can.



Nadal.

People who think he is a greater player than Federer are bad at math.

But he doesn't deserve to be graded on a curve.He is a great.

I have a rare feeling of surety watching him when he's playing at his best.That no one can out muscle him,and wrest the match out of his hands.

Death to the Crawl line!

Or the ticker,or the info centipede,or whatever you want to call it.It's a bad idea.
I don't have any illusions that anybody actually reads my blog (heck,I don't even have any spam in my comments) but I'll have my little say.
I hate crawl lines.They are in fact a useless distraction.In the age of the Internet,and super phones,and ipads, there are other,better ways to give people information than to ugly up a TV screen.
When you try to watch a tennis match, it's like having a strand of string raked across your eyeball.There it goes constantly racing across the bottom,or middle,of the screen insisting on it's own importance."Look at me!!" "I'm value added!" "Wouldn't you rather read trivial information than watch a sporting event?"
No. No I would not.

Maybe dull witted people don't mind it.Goody for them.
It bothers me.It bothers plenty of people.But how loud would you have to complain to get it stopped? Probably hopeless.
I'm afraid the button pushing monkeys in the control rooms enjoy it to much."Ooh,ooh dump some more eye stabbing crap on the screen." "Because we can!"
Just because you can,doesn't mean you should.

ESPN has always done this.They should have classed up and dropped it some time ago.But now for some inexplicable reason,Tennis Channel has added a constant crawl line.Which is usually in the middle of the screen.To small to read,but enough to annoy.
What are you thinking?

If it does irritate you;there is a way to rid yourself of the pestering visual trash.Cover it up with duct tape.
No I don't mean to stick it to the screen,and damage the TV.

Get two long strips of duct tape,and stick them to each other.Sticky side to sticky side.
Wrap the strip around the bottom of the screen.Put a little tape on the ends to hold.
Visually neutral,and much better than a crawl line.