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.