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.

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.

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.

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.

Roger Federer - Wimbledon 2010 loss in Quarters

As a Federer fan,that was a shame.He has such a special place in Wimbledon history.Breakfast at Wimbledon without him.That hasn't happened in long time.
He acknowledged he was slightly injured since Halle.I think he was just being honest,Not making excuses.I don't blame players for telling the truth.
There was some talk on the web about him being cranky in the press conference.That wouldn't be hard to understand.He did say some things about the other players at the end of it that were taken to be bad mouthing them.Jon Wertheim of SI stated he was being sarcastic,and those statements should not be held against him.
I read the transcript,and it seemed out of character.You do really have to see video to get tone of voice,facial expessions etc..
I think Roger tends to take things pretty well for a man who can be emotional.

Stat of the match Break points converted:
Federer 1/8
Berdych 4/6

Points were;Berdych 127,Federer 118.
That close.

I'm really still trying to digest this.Federer is clearly passing his best.He said he is going to rest for awhile.Best thing for him.I hope he can gear up for the hard court season,and US Open.

He did lose to a thumping big player.Tomas Berdych has been long predicted to step up and contend for majors.He has disapointed those predictors for years.Semi at the French,and now Wimbldon.Maybe more.He woke up.

Best nickname for him T - Berd,Berdman,Berddog.
I like Berddog.

So who's going to win?
Amazing if Murray.

Quotes - Shakespeare "Troilus and Cressida" for Roger Federer

The first time I read this,I was struck by how it made me think of tennis.Of the process of the falling of champions.The passing of years,and glory.A beautiful piece of music,or a great play may be performed again,and again.But an athlete's time is only the time of a human youth.
It made me think of Federer.It certainly makes me think of Navratilova,and Evert in comparison to the current crop.
Watching Roger Federer now,I had to think of this.He's not finished.Years I watched him,and never really worried.But he has started looking more touchable,and less like a work of art in full song.I'm feeling the worry now.
Inevitable.
But I still feel this too;
You cannot tarnish true greatness.It's still there.Always.If you have the memory.
Most people don't seem to have enough.Or perspective.
Whatever shines now,shines brightest.Not always.Not to me.
But I'm an exception.

This is beautiful,sad truth;


William Shakespeare


Troilus and Cressida,Act 3,Scene 3.Ulysses addressing Achilles.


Time hath, my lord, a wallet at his back,
Wherein he puts alms for oblivion,
A great-sized monster of ingratitudes:
Those scraps are good deeds past; which are devour'd
As fast as they are made, forgot as soon
As done: perseverance, dear my lord,
Keeps honour bright: to have done is to hang
Quite out of fashion, like a rusty mail
In monumental mockery. Take the instant way;
For honour travels in a strait so narrow,
Where one but goes abreast: keep then the path;
For emulation hath a thousand sons
That one by one pursue: if you give way,
Or hedge aside from the direct forthright,
Like to an enter'd tide, they all rush by
And leave you hindmost;
Or like a gallant horse fall'n in first rank,
Lie there for pavement to the abject rear,
O'er-run and trampled on: then what they do in present,
Though less than yours in past, must o'ertop yours;
For time is like a fashionable host
That slightly shakes his parting guest by the hand,
And with his arms outstretch'd, as he would fly,
Grasps in the comer: welcome ever smiles,
And farewell goes out sighing. O, let not
virtue seek
Remuneration for the thing it was;
For beauty, wit,
High birth, vigour of bone, desert in service,
Love, friendship, charity, are subjects all
To envious and calumniating time.
One touch of nature makes the whole world kin,
That all with one consent praise new-born gawds,
Though they are made and moulded of things past,
And give to dust that is a little gilt
More laud than gilt o'er-dusted.
The present eye praises the present object.

Wimbledon 2010 Close One,Roger

Roger Federer just came within a whisker of a George Bastl job.Ouch,that was close.
I can see the punny headlines;Federer Falla-en,Fed Falla's in the first round.And other strained witticisms.
It was like watching a plumber tearing apart a miss tuned Stadivarius.
He just hasn't been the same this year.At least he still has the pride,if the urgency is failing.
Burned through that last set in a hurry though.
Maybe this will slap him across the face,and wake him up.

Alejandro Falla has to be amazed at the match he played.But when it got tight,he just couldn't close the deal.
How many times have I seen it happen?
Plenty.

Federer's Semifinal Streak - All good things

23 Major Semifinals.That's how many Grand Slam tournaments in a row that Roger Federer made it to the last four.Robin Soderling stopped it today.I don't think that any man will ever beat it.

The last episode of Star Trek;The Next Generation was titled "All Good Things"...
It came into my mind when the match was done.
An old English proverb written down in a work of Geoffrey Chaucer;
"All good things must come to an end".

So simple.
I believe Federer will win more Majors.I hope so certainly.

And to Soderling,there is a difference between being an "Upsetter" and a champion.
Good luck in the rest of the tournament.Because I suspect Rafa would dearly love to rip you bloody.

(Yeah,I just made a Star Trek reference.Everyone is allowed one sometime.It does not mean I'm sitting hear in my Star Trek jammies,with my Jean-Luc Picard action figure gazing down from the bookshelf.)