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A Genuine Holstein	07/07/2010 - 4:37 PM

by Pete Bodo

Wimbledon is my favorite tournament to cover outside the U.S., for a variety of reasons, beginning with the most sensible—and selfish—of them all. London, more specifically Wimbledon Village, is the place where I feel most comfortable and which I find, to use a term any Anglophile will understand, the most civilized. It's not worth reading a whole lot into that; it's mostly circumstantial. For me, the living and working conditions at Wimbledon are unique. Others may not be so happy there.

I like to go for a run every other morning, at home or on the road. The spacious three-story townhouse I share in Wimbledon with El Jon Wertheim and one or more other colleagues (this year, it was Greg Couch, whose AOL FanHouse column is a great read) is in a setback off the Church Road. It's a 10-minute walk up the hill from the All England Club, and a five-minute walk from the heart of Wimbledon Village, with its restaurants, pubs, coffee boutiques and grocery stores. And just beyond town is Wimbledon Common, a huge, semi-forested park with, among other things, wide but shaded dirt trails, bridle paths for horseback riding, and a golf course.

So on my typical 5-mile run, I leave the house and within four minutes I'm on the Common, where I try not to get lost as I explore this or that path. I ought to drop breadcrumbs as I pick my route, but the abundant pigeons would get them. So I try to memorize mini-landmarks (OK, left at the forked tree with the strange scar on its bark; right at the discarded and flattened juice box some child left behind). It's a pleasant exercise for someone like me, who enjoys observing details and knowing where he stands—more or less.

I noticed this year that the typical English dog is well behaved (and they love their Labrador retrievers over there as much as we do). The dogs poke along, obediently, nosing around here or there in the brush or a trail-side meadow; they might briefly sniff a passing dog or simply trot by it. If they could talk, they might say to each other, Morning! Looks like we dodged that shower. Have a nice day!

Whereas my own dog Buck would be running hellbent through or over (he doesn't seem to care which) everything in his erratic and unpredictable path, and he'd try to engage every other dog along the trail; tease or irritate it into a spirited wrestling match, preferably near a mud hole, or goad it into playing a game of catch me—if you can.

It's often put the other way round, but I say people are a lot like their dogs.

One morning, I walked through the gate for credentialed personnel and debenture holding swells right behind an American couple, who clearly were meeting up with British friends who stood waiting just a few feet away. The British lady was dressed in a discreet, sleeveless flower-print dress and tasteful, pale yellow peep-toe sandals with a medium heel. A perfect outfit for Wimbledon, with just the right dash of (properly) sexy.

The American woman had wriggled into a tight, dazzlingly white dress with a hem well above her knees and a neckline that plunged as dramatically as a WTA ranking. She teetered on chartreuse spaghetti-strap sandals with high, pencil-thin heels.

"You look gorgeous," the British lady said, embracing her Yankee friend. "Just stunning."

What? She looks like a hooker, I thought—not that it doesn't work for me...or these other two gents.

I reckoned the British lady thought the same thing. But she's British, you see...

Anyway, as I run back out of the Common, I roll into town and stop at the grocery for some peaches or cherries, a can of that San Pellegrino Limonata (highly recommended), and a medium iced coffee (Americano) at Starbucks. If you were at Wimbledon these past two weeks, you could see Lindsay Davenport at the intersection of the High Street and Church Road on any given morning, wrestling her stroller and child up onto the curb while desperately trying to avoid spilling the cup of Starbuck's coffee in her hand, expletives not deleted.

The working conditions at Wimbledon are superb. The Centre Court compound (including the seeded-player locker rooms), International Press Centre, and Millennium building (which houses, among other things, the player's tea room/restaurant, the "buttery" for umpires and line officials, and the All England Club member's bar and dining enclave) are connected by various elevated walkways and open spaces. You can also access the massive Broadcast Centre from them, although you have to run a gauntlet of security guards who make sure your credential gives you access to each successive area. Which mine does.

My favorite spot is the "Players' Garden," the second-story terrace between the press centre and Millennium building. It has a real turf floor just like Centre Court itself, which is odd, given that you're 20 feet above ground level. The garden is dotted with lawn furniture, and there's a sandwich shop (you custom-build your own) and small bar. The Players' Garden is where you go to meet people—or catch coaches, celebrities, former players, officials and most any pooh-bah who makes his way to Wimbledon for the day.

We caught up with Toni Nadal and Bjorn Borg there, right after the final. Nearby, Grace Jones was swanning around, and she finally sat down with Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood. He's a skinny little fella, and I couldn't help overhear him bragging to Jones that he's been "clean and serene." Way to go, Ronnie.... You're too old to die now, which is how it works in rock and roll.

If you stand leaning on the railing of the Players' Garden, you may be looking down upon fans jammed into the relatively narrow walkway between the Centre Court and Millennium building. The two are connected, but only by an open, narrow bridge above the walkway. The fans have figured out that if they crowd into the passageway and stand there, they have a fair chance of seeing any personage on his way out from Centre Court to the Millennium building and transportation desk and courtesy car pick-up area. On most big days, a steady stream of tennis celebrities crosses that bridge, and each of them has a chance to wave at the cheering throngs below on either side.

Last Sunday, a maintenance man appeared at intervals after the final, as the crowd below the bridge waited patiently for a glimpse of Rafael Nadal (or was it Xisca? There sure were a lot of boys in the throng). He had a plastic Wimbledon bag full of used tournament tennis balls. He began tossing them from the bridge to the crowd, who fought (insofar as polite Wimbledon-goers are capable of aggression) for the balls, crying and cheering out all the while. It reminded me of my Catholic grammar school, where my third-grade teacher (Sister Aurelia, if I remember correctly) on Friday would have us push our desks to the walls and line up at the back of the classroom. Then she'd throw pieces of taffy or a peppermint and we'd all scramble and fight over them like they were golden ingots. Talk about old school...

Actually, the press work room where I violate the language on a daily basis is directly below the Players' Garden, and the large windows look out on that passageway and across at the Radio Wimbledon office and studio, built into the Centre Court. All in all, Wimbledon has done a great job, from my perspective, in keeping the various parts of its official body nicely connected with the others. It's not that the other majors treat the press as the tournament body's appendix, or make a conscious effort segregate the different components of the community. It just works out that way more so than at Wimbledon. The planning has been superb and sensible.

I don't want to leave you all without a little tennis today, so here's an anecdote relayed to me by my pal Alejandro Delmas, of the Spanish language Diario As. In his meeting with the Spanish press after his semifinal win, Rafael Nadal was asked what he would write about Roger Federer if he were a journalist.

"First," Rafa replied, "no way I would be a journalist."

He went on to say, "You guys have tried to kill Roger—often. But he's always come back and proved you wrong. So one thing I would not do is make the mistake of saying Roger is dead."

A group of us caught also up with Rafa's uncle and coach, Toni Nadal, up in that Players' Garden shortly after the final. He was peppered with the usual assortment of questions, including the inevitable one: Has Rafa surpassed Federer, as the rankings insist?

"Maybe right now Rafa is the better player," Toni conceded.

Will Rafa eclipse Federer's record of 16 major titles. Toni pondered this, then gestured toward his pocket and said, "If I have to put money on it, I say maybe no."

Sixteen is a very big number, and I see two big obstacles standing in Rafa's way. The first is the state of his knees. They caused him to miss a chance to defend his Wimbledon title and, eventually, surrender his No. 1 ranking. That's no small deal. It's a valid subject for speculation, although I wouldn't start using that as an excuse when Nadal loses a match. If he plays, he's fit, or fit enough for injury to be, at best, a minor theme. But who in his right mind would miss a chance to defend a Wimbledon title, as Nadal did last year, because he had a little soreness in an arm, back or leg? That beats a note from the doctor in my book, any day.

The other roadblock is more subtle but no less formidable, and that's Nadal's lack of a natural affinity and affection for hard courts. Sure his asphalt game has improved, and he's successfully incorporated elements into his repertoire that have made him a much better hard court player. And there's no doubt that he's poised to focus his summer on making a run for the U.S. Open title that would complete his career Grand Slam. But does he really feel it on hard courts, the way he feels it on clay, and grass?

Nadal loves clay. We always knew that. But he loves grass as much as he loves red dirt, and that's a bit of a surprise. I don't think many of us took it seriously when Nadal first revealed that he really burned to win Wimbledon. We shrugged: Who doesn't? It sounded like he was just saying the right thing, blowing a little smoke to be polite. And we'd been conditioned by a succession of clay-court champions to believe that you couldn't possible love both surfaces. Roland Garros winners like Thomas Muster, Sergi Bruguera, and even Gustavo Kuerten made no secret of their antipathy to grass; in some of their cases it bordered on contempt. Grass is for cows, and all that. They basically lowered the bar of our expectations. But Nadal, even in his youth, never harbored such feelings.

We know now how much Nadal loves grass and Wimbledon. You don't get to the Wimbledon final in four of five years, as Nadal has done, pretending to a Holstein. So Nadal's main problem now, if he hopes to catch up with Federer, is one that's not likely to change even if he should win the U.S. Open in September. He's less likely to be happy on hard courts; less inclined, perhaps, to cultivate and maintain the same frame of mind he has on clay and grass. With two of the four majors on hard courts (the Australian Open, where Nadal has collected one title, is the other), he's going to need a tremendous fund of determination and discipline, because it's always easier to play where you feel truly comfortable, even happy.

As Rafa might say, "The true is that grass is the perfect soor-face for me, the same like clay."

Who are we to argue?

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Posted by Lucius the Luscious (Head Cheerleader - Team Dark Side)

07/08/2010 at 02:47 PM

NBC can't cover all of the Wimbledon matches, but ESPN can devote an hour to LeBron's decision. *smacks forehead and moves to Europe*

Posted by CherryNYC

07/08/2010 at 02:48 PM

Exactly, Sherlock. I sprouted a few gray hairs at the news.

Is Rafa really going to the WC final?

Posted by TeamNadal

07/08/2010 at 02:49 PM

"Is Rafa really going to the WC final?"

Yep, he's going!

Posted by Master Ace

07/08/2010 at 02:50 PM

Lucius the Luscious,
LeBron talks and Tennis walks on ESPN.

Sherlock,
Why do you think LeBron's team chose Jim Gray to do the introduction tonight on ESPN?

Posted by Colette (On Cloud 8)	07/08/2010 at 02:52 PM
Think we need a pool on what minute the "announcement" actually comes (and someone to volunteer to watch).

Posted by Master Ace	07/08/2010 at 02:54 PM
Colette, At least we know the time will be b/w 9 and 9:10 tonight but as far as exact minute, I have no idea even though I will be watching.

Posted by Lucius the Luscious (Head Cheerleader - Team Dark Side)

07/08/2010 at 02:55 PM

"LeBron talks and Tennis walks on ESPN" - Master Ace, no truer words were spoken.

Love to ya'll, off to meet a client. stoopid work.

Posted by Master Ace

07/08/2010 at 02:55 PM

USOpen champions will make 1.7 million dollars each which is the richest amount in history.

Now, we will get the usual Lucy Garvin with her speech and Jane Erdos bringing the check to the winner.

Posted by CherryNYC

07/08/2010 at 02:56 PM

I'm glad people agree re: The LeBron Hour on ESPN tonight is thoroughly ridiculous. ESPN does a lot of things right, but come on....

As for NBC, I give up. I have fond memories of childhood "Breakfast at Wimbledon" with Enberg and Bud Collins when they still had their faculties....but they need to step it up. And don't tell me it's because of low ratings -- Fed and Rafa in particular are hugely appealing and popular around the world -- that's not good enough to show live matches? Don't get me started.

Posted by TheMightyFunk

07/08/2010 at 02:57 PM

Ah - I was just waiting for someone to bring up Lebron for the chance to send a link to this article that I agree with completely. Thie whole thing is beyond ridiculous...

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/jack_mccallum/07/08/lebron.free.agency/index.html?eref=sihp

Can someone instruct me on how one does the tinyurl thing to provide links?

Posted by Ruth

07/08/2010 at 02:58 PM

Lebron is staying in Cleveland because Betty White asked him to stay. Full stop. Period.

Oh...and one would never announce that one is leaving one's hometown and home team in the first 10 minutes of an hour-long show and then spend an additional 50 minutes -- doing what? -- rubbing it in the faces of one's homeboys and homegirls? Nah! Never happen! LOL

I was so happy when I heard that the decision would be announced early in the show tonight, but now I find myself morbidly curious about how the heck they'll fill the remaining time in the hour-long show. It'll probably be like a reverse version of those hours and hours (it felt like hours!) I used to spend sitting with my husband watching the lead up to the running of the Kentucky Derby or any other of those celebrated minutes-long horse races.

Posted by Franchise	07/08/2010 at 02:59 PM
For those who are interested in the Serena-Kim exhibition in Belgium http://video.rtlinfo.be/video/185272.aspx?categoryid=2194

Posted by Tari	07/08/2010 at 03:00 PM
@TMFunk: Thank you very much. Don't know if you saw my thanks over there.

Posted by Master Ace

07/08/2010 at 03:01 PM

Ruth,
After the announcement, you know that there will be a lot of questions asked on how he arrived to his big decision.

Franchise,
What is the score of Serena and Kim? Some of us are at the day job that can not access the link(In my case, streams are prohibited)

Posted by TheMightyFunk

07/08/2010 at 03:03 PM

Ruth - I am thinking the same thing - He wouldn't me so detached from reality to not see what a huge mistake it would be to announce in this special that he's leaving Cleveland...would he???

Tari - My pleasure!

Posted by Colette (On Cloud 8)	07/08/2010 at 03:03 PM
MA, duh! I missed the fact that the big announcement would come in the first 10 mins. I figured they'd drag it out.

Posted by Franchise	07/08/2010 at 03:04 PM
@Master Ace it's 3-2 Kim, Serena to serve now

Posted by chegu	07/08/2010 at 03:04 PM
just wanted to say hello to every one. any news/updates on federer?

Posted by CherryNYC

07/08/2010 at 03:06 PM

"USOpen champions will make 1.7 million dollars"

The winner should distribute some of it to the guys sweeping the floors in the locker room, doing the players' laundry, etc. Or maybe buy health insurance....

All I really need for a successful USO is a non-cringeworthy trophy ceremony. This is probably too much to ask.

Posted by Ruth

07/08/2010 at 03:15 PM

"Ruth - I am thinking the same thing - He wouldn't me so detached from reality to not see what a huge mistake it would be to announce in this special that he's leaving Cleveland...would he???"

TMFK: I'm hoping that he isn't that detached and callous. I don't know why; but, for some strange reason, I tend to expect better from him than I do from most of the athletes of his ilk. I thought Wade and Bosch (sp?) seemed rather smug and we-know-something-you-don't-know in their announcement appearances yesterday, but I still don't want to think Lebron will be joining them or heading to New York.

Posted by Nam1

07/08/2010 at 03:17 PM

"All I really need for a successful USO is a non-cringeworthy trophy ceremony. This is probably too much to ask."

I concur.

Who was the guy who brushed off Delpo's attempt to thank his family in Spanish last year?

they should ban him from the ceremony.

Posted by Rafalicious	07/08/2010 at 03:20 PM
Nam1, that was Dick Enberg

Posted by Colette (On Cloud 8)	07/08/2010 at 03:24 PM
Ruth, back to "ages," I wonder how old Robin Quivers is now. She looks pretty good. Although they showed a fuller body shot of her later, and she looked heavier. Coincidentally, an HBO channel was showing Private Parts at the same time. Ah, for the days when you could actually glean the humor.

Posted by CL

07/08/2010 at 03:24 PM

Would it be VERY wicked of me to wish that the second LeBron signs with Team Stupid, he suffers an injury? Nothing life or career threatening, certainly. Just something that would keep him sitting on his ludicrously well payed derriere for about a year.

tsk, tsk..SUCH a bad person am I.

Posted by Master Ace	07/08/2010 at 03:27 PM
Nam1, That was CBS doing on why Enberg acted the way he did at the trophy ceremony but Roger was interviewed longer than Juan Martin. Juan Martin wanted to speak to his people in Argentina but CBS had to move on to their prime time programming.

Posted by Master Ace	07/08/2010 at 03:29 PM
CL, Be nice to LeBron as he know that he can not win a title as long as the Celtics and Lakers have their key players under contract.

Posted by Word of knowledge	07/08/2010 at 03:30 PM
According to www.rogerfederer.com somebody could retire rather soon...

Posted by Sherlock

07/08/2010 at 03:32 PM

CL @ 3:24, +1. :)

"Why do you think LeBron's team chose Jim Gray to do the introduction tonight on ESPN?"

MA, great question. I haven't the foggiest idea. Do LeBron and Gray have some kind of history? Ever since that sickening Pete Rose interview Gray did, or TRIED to do anyway, I don't have a very favorable opinion of him.

TMFunk, go to tinyurl.com, paste in the box the link you want to compress, then click the button ("create tinyurl", or something like that), and the page will return a tinyurl link. Copy and paste that over here, and you're good to go.

Posted by aussiemarg [Madame President in Comma Rehab for 2009]

07/08/2010 at 03:40 PM

Good Morning Everyone,

Rafa and his knees are going to the World Cup? well that was quick treatment Hmmmmm.

By the way Down Under on Fox later this morning that Le Bron character is giving a special news conference as to where he is going

He is bigger than Obama now?

Posted by CherryNYC	07/08/2010 at 03:41 PM
I cannot stand Jim Gray. Just getting that off my chest.... :)

Posted by Sherlock

07/08/2010 at 03:42 PM

Morning, AM. :)

Maybe Shakira is giving Rafa some special knee treatment at the WC? :)

Posted by CL

07/08/2010 at 03:46 PM

To drown my Wimby sorrows, I have been watching some Fed matches from happier days. Today is the '07 USO match against Roddick. Up until Wimby 09 arguably the best Andy had ever played Roger. (His win in Canada aside.) Leaving Roger's play totally aside in each match, the thing that really strikes me about Andy in the 2 matches, is how much CALMER he was at Wimby 09. At the USO he is so jacked on his own adrenaline , that he is actually wasting a ton of energy. He is ripping his forehand, hitting his serve SO well, REALLY going after Fed's second serve, and generally playing at the top of his game. But he must be burning up as many calories just 'agitating' around the court as he is actually playing. It as if he had had about 18 cups of coffee before the match. And you can see it begin to cost him.

Fed meanwhile, is, well, Fed.

Just a random observation from someone hiding from the heat.

Back to your regularly scheduled programming.

Posted by just horsen(Laverorwellafafeden for GOAT!!!)

07/08/2010 at 03:47 PM

"He is bigger than Obama now?"

...or thinks he is.

Posted by aussiemarg [Madame President in Comma Rehab for 2009]

07/08/2010 at 03:49 PM

Sherlock I see you have been hanging too much with Mr X Again?

Just Horsen lol!

I love these big sports stars who thinks they are Bigger than the game

Posted by aussiemarg [Madame President in Comma Rehab for 2009]

07/08/2010 at 03:51 PM

Hmmmm I could have chapareoned Rafa I would love to go on a Safari

Stuff the soccer!

Posted by CherryNYC

07/08/2010 at 03:51 PM

CL -- I remember that '07 match very well and agree totally about Roddick's wasted energy. Never made any sense to me and as you get older, I think it becomes a liability....

Do you think I can avoid doing any actual work for the rest of the day? I think so.

Posted by TheMightyFunk

07/08/2010 at 03:51 PM

Sherlock - Thanks!
Word of knowledge - Wha??????
Master Ace - I read somewhere that after some event Jim Gray went to Maverick Carter, who's Lebron's Body Man I guess (now that Lebron is all presidential and stuff...) and asked that he be given first opportunity to interview Lebron when he decides on free agency...It was either on espn.com or cnnsi.com that I saw that, but not able to locate it now...

Posted by Sherlock	07/08/2010 at 03:52 PM
He he, CL. Interesting observation. Andy definitely has that overly hyped-up vibe going most of the time on court, doesn't he? Kind of like Andre to me. Even when he was going through a rough match against Sampras or something, Andre would just keep rushing through his serve games as fast as he could, while I'd be yelling, "Dude, slow doooooowwwwn!!"

Posted by CL	07/08/2010 at 03:53 PM
Word of disinformation - Really?!? Rafa is retiring???!! To join the family soccer business? Who'da thunk it!

Posted by sblily (Wheeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!/We gonna see, no?)

07/08/2010 at 03:55 PM

Ahhh, the Lebronathon. Love the snark here!

CL - Yes, that would be evil. I merely hope that the signal goes out tonight, right as he says the name of the team that will receive the rose.

If he does indeed end up in Miami, I will be rooting for anyone else to win the whole thing (hell, even Kobe).

Posted by Master Ace	07/08/2010 at 03:55 PM
TheMightyFunk, I would not be shocked if Jim Gray did that.

Posted by Sherlock

07/08/2010 at 03:56 PM

AM, he he. :)

Speaking of Mr. X, between Rafa and Spain's WC team, he's probably buying lottery tickets by the bushel. Or having Grant buy them for him. :)

Hmmm, does Spain have as many lotteries as we do here in the States?

"Do you think I can avoid doing any actual work for the rest of the day? I think so."

Lol. We've got confidence in you, CherryNYC. Productivity is wildly overrated. :)

Posted by CL

07/08/2010 at 03:58 PM

Cherry/Sherlock- Andy isn't quite so bad as Andre in rushing his serve...even in trouble, he takes a beat there...but there is that 'duck in the shooting gallery at the fair' mode that the both of them got into...DING/move/DING/move/Ding/move!!

Fed played AWESOME defense in this match.

Cherry - certainly - you have my permission.

Posted by Ruth	07/08/2010 at 03:59 PM
Colette: Wikipedia says 58 for Robin; she does look good.

Posted by aussiemarg [Madame President in Comma Rehab for 2009]

07/08/2010 at 03:59 PM

Well Rafa was giving away 2 cup final tickets through his sponsers Kia motors

I did post that just before Wimby s/finals

Posted by CL

07/08/2010 at 04:01 PM

Oh, also - almost forgot..I have never heard Andy as VOCAL as he is in this match...he is grunting even as he RUNS for the ball, as well as when he hits it. Plus, his usual running commentary is even more in Chatty Cathy mode.

From Fed's side - silence. (I think there was a fairly load c'mon when he broke in the third.)

Posted by aussiemarg [Madame President in Comma Rehab for 2009]

07/08/2010 at 04:01 PM

I thought my good friend and Lakers supporter NP would surely have his say on Mr Le Bron by now

He has been missing here in action at TW

Posted by Master Ace	07/08/2010 at 04:02 PM
Kim won the exo 6-3,6-2 per WTA website.

Posted by CL	07/08/2010 at 04:03 PM
sblily - will the 'signal' be like when there is a new Pope? Colored smoke rising over the 'lucky' team's arena? ;-)

Posted by CL	07/08/2010 at 04:04 PM
er, make that 'loud' - 'load' has other connotations...lol.

Posted by Master Ace	07/08/2010 at 04:06 PM
Kim won the exo 6-3,6-2 per WTA world website. Also, Francesca was there in case Serena or Kim could not play.

Posted by aussiemarg [Madame President in Comma Rehab for 2009]

07/08/2010 at 04:07 PM

sblily We here at Lakers fan club will always welcome another supporter

Yes Kobe walks on Water

Phil Jackson isnt a Moron until next season of course.

Posted by just horsen(Laverorwellafafeden for GOAT!!!)

07/08/2010 at 04:14 PM

oh great....new headline on att: "Lebron vacation spot giveaway on decision?"-like I'm supposed to care where the guy goes on vacation? I don't even know what time his look at me special comes on tonight....let alone even think about wasting an hour watching it. seriousely, Rafa heading off to see Shakir...*cough cough* WC final :) is actually newsworthy compared to some of the lebron stuff going one.

Posted by TheMightyFunk

07/08/2010 at 04:15 PM

Master Ace: from the cnnsi article I referred to earlier: Link to full article below - In tinyurl format no less, thanks to Sherlock! :)

"James's camp requested that veteran interviewer Jim Gray introduce the proceedings and ask the first couple of questions after the decision is announced. (The New York Times reported Wednesday that the opportunistic Gray told Carter at the NBA Finals that he wanted the first interview with James after his decision.) ESPN's Michael Wilbon will conduct a full-length interview with James after Gray is done. Analyst Jon Barry will also ask follow-up questions with James."

http://tinyurl.com/29mxk34

Posted by Franchise	07/08/2010 at 04:15 PM
Yeah @MasterAce, apparently Navratilova said that Serena's foot was bleeding due to the fact she just won an event, maybe that's why Serena could not make it competitive. Anyway good to Serena, Kim, Francesca and Justine chatting all together. They were all having so much fun.

Posted by Master Ace	07/08/2010 at 04:16 PM
Just Horsen, Unfortunately, LeBron is King in the USA. USA is saying Rafael who? Shakira who?

Posted by aussiemarg [Madame President in Comma Rehab for 2009]

07/08/2010 at 04:18 PM

Just Horsen

Please you know my thoughts on that,

Over Rated Latin Cougat that cant Sing to Save Her Own Life?

Hmmmm she is engaged too by the way

Why cant she just set sail off to the Bermuda Triangle and get Married and leave my Boy in peace.

As if he dosent have enough to deal with already.Pfft.

Posted by Master Ace	07/08/2010 at 04:19 PM
Franchise, Thanks for the information. Look like Serena and Martina may not play each other in WTT action tomorrow night.

Posted by Tari	07/08/2010 at 04:23 PM
Awww. So OT, but this was adorable. Kitties rescued by US Marines: http://is.gd/dks4V

Posted by aussiemarg [Madame President in Comma Rehab for 2009]

07/08/2010 at 04:27 PM

Miss Tari They are Adorable

Sniff I would love to take them

Though I dont know how my Remus and Hermione would feel about amymore in their territory

Love the article.

Posted by Sherlock	07/08/2010 at 04:29 PM
Awesome, Tari. :)

Posted by Samantha Elin, Caro to the haters, don't you wish your pusher was hott like me.	07/08/2010 at 04:29 PM
Don't know who Betty White is. Is she someone who is having an affair or something with Lebron? Thanks Arun on the livestream.

Posted by Master Ace	07/08/2010 at 04:32 PM
Samantha Elin, No. Betty White is 88 years ago who has been acting since 1940s. One of her famous shows is The Golden Girls.

Posted by sblily (Wheeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!/We gonna see, no?)

07/08/2010 at 04:33 PM

Don't know who Betty White is. Is she someone who is having an affair or something with Lebron?
~~~~~

LMAOOOOOOO Samantha! Most unintentionally funny post I've seen here in Idunnohowlong!

CL - I was thinking along the lines of The Bachelor. "Miami... *earnestly looks into camera with calculated lip quiver and "sensitive man" look* ... will you accept this rose?"

But I think I like your idea better. :D

Posted by CherryNYC	07/08/2010 at 04:33 PM
Sam E -- you made my day! Betty White is an 88-yr-old actress/comedian who I believe is on a new TV show set in Cleveland. She absolutely rocks....

Posted by CherryNYC	07/08/2010 at 04:35 PM
sblily -- hilarious!!! There is so much comic talent here at TW.

Posted by Samantha Elin, Caro to the haters, don't you wish your pusher was hott like me.	07/08/2010 at 04:36 PM
Serena is too much, she just went there to collect a big paycheck. LOL! Oh, thanks Patrick.

Posted by Sherlock	07/08/2010 at 04:36 PM
Ringo is 70 and Betty White is 88. My world is spiraling out of control. :)

Posted by beth

07/08/2010 at 04:37 PM

I cannot believe that anyone would waste heartbeats watching a tv program devoted to Lebron and the billionaire NBA franchise owner who has decided to grossly overpay him .
But then , those are the people who allow him to be so grossly overpaid

it is exactly the reverse of the old Field of Dreams catch phrase

if you come , they will build it

I hope that Sherlock/ sblily's predictions come true - just as the white smoke is about to be released over the "lucky stadium " , the network experiences technical difficulties :)

and on another note - love that drawing of the costume Shakira is going to where - she is going to look smokin' in that

Posted by TeamNadal	07/08/2010 at 04:37 PM
omg, Betty White was hilarious on SNL a couple of months ago....heard she partied with the cast after the show 'til 4 a.m.

Posted by beth

07/08/2010 at 04:40 PM

Ringo is 70
whoa

and although he has never made my personal hott list , I would venture that he is looking slightly better than Ron Wood these days

Posted by just horsen(Laverorwellafafeden for GOAT!!!)

07/08/2010 at 04:40 PM

MA: yea, I know. I'm in the U.S. I used to not like basketball at all. I've come around a little now, it's fun to play and being in the southern part of the country you can't avoid the SEC. but the whole Lebron thing is just a little over the top.

AM: sorry....but if it makes you feel any better that line was there especially for you :) I haven't ever really heard her sing, neither have I seen the whole gypsy video with Rafa(I got about 45sec. into and decided it was worthless) so ya know, I'll just have to trust your opinion as far as vocal talent.

Posted by beth

07/08/2010 at 04:44 PM

I cannot believe that I missed Betty White on SNL
heard she was hysterical -
I even made a note to be sure and set the tivo , so I would not miss it
and I completely forgot

epic fail

Posted by Sherlock

07/08/2010 at 04:44 PM

"I would venture that he is looking slightly better than Ron Wood these days"

Lol, Beth. Though I'm not sure Ron is actually alive, so does that count? He and Keith Richards are quite a pair, eh? :)

Posted by aussiemarg [Madame President in Comma Rehab for 2009]

07/08/2010 at 04:45 PM

Just Horsen No worries

Mr X started this Crap with her and then led astray many of the Rafa fans WHO were senseible? well I thought they were

After millions of Demerit Cards Later Mr X is still getting on my nerves.He even started Chanting one of her songs

Master Ace Who I bow down to even got in on the act one day.Though I felt he was just having a "bad moment" like we all do from time to time.

Posted by aussiemarg [Madame President in Comma Rehab for 2009]	07/08/2010 at 04:46 PM
Sherlock You have the delightful Carol Brady to fall back on

Posted by beth	07/08/2010 at 04:46 PM
Sherlock - yep , quite a pair indeed I have seen healthier looking corpses than those two

Posted by Colette (On Cloud 8)	07/08/2010 at 04:48 PM
From the waist down, Mick has some mini-rear admirables of his own

Posted by Master Ace

07/08/2010 at 04:49 PM

Aussiemarg,
As you know, Rafael and Shakira is all about having fun. Have you noticed since the video, Rafael failed to make semifinal at one event and that was at Queens(less than a week after winning the Rafael Nadal Invitational)

Just Horsen,
Do you realize that the SEC rules football as they have had the last 4 BCS champions and favored to do it for a 5th year(Texas, Ohio St and Oklahoma say differently)? Do agree that the decision for LeBron is over the top.

Posted by Grant

07/08/2010 at 04:51 PM

"Though I'm not sure Ron is actually alive, so does that count? He and Keith Richards are quite a pair, eh? :)"

They look like corpses, sure. But at least they don't look like zombies, like Pau Gasol.

Posted by Samantha Elin, Caro to the haters, don't you wish your pusher was hott like me.	07/08/2010 at 04:52 PM
I just googled Betty White and it's LOL. I think Serena and Venus might play Fed cup, they need to in order to qualify for the Olympics which they both want to play. Frannie and Penetta will be strong for Italy and are both better players than Mattex Sands and Oudin who they beat in straights last year, so US will need Vee and Ree.

Posted by Samantha Elin, Caro to the haters, don't you wish your pusher was hott like me.	07/08/2010 at 04:52 PM
I just googled Betty White and it's LOL. I think Serena and Venus might play Fed cup, they need to in order to qualify for the Olympics which they both want to play. Frannie and Penetta will be strong for Italy and are both better players than Mattex Sands and Oudin who they beat in straights last year, so US will need Vee and Ree.

Posted by Ruth	07/08/2010 at 04:54 PM
beth: If they ever announce that they're repeating that Betty White SNL show, I promise to e-mail you so that you won't miss it. F.U.N.N.Y!

Posted by aussiemarg [Madame President in Comma Rehab for 2009]

07/08/2010 at 04:54 PM

Master Ace Hmmmmmmmmm Fun?????? moving on

Rafa has lost one game since April that was in the q/final at Queens.Not bad hey?

Posted by TeamNadal	07/08/2010 at 04:55 PM
Keith Richards is FRIGHTENING...his face is a complete road map.....however, his wife Patti Hansen who used to be a model is STILL gorgeous - as well as his two daughters (Theodora and Alexandra)

Posted by TeamNadal	07/08/2010 at 04:56 PM
Go on youtube and search Betty White on SNL....I'm sure there are tons of skits she was in from the show.

Posted by sblily (Wheeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!/We gonna see, no?)

07/08/2010 at 04:56 PM

From the waist down, Mick...
~~~~

Ugh. Do Not Want.

Thanks to whoever it was that posted the pic of Shaki's Cavalli dress. I'm sure it will look great on her.

Posted by Annie (Vamos Heavenly Creature)

07/08/2010 at 04:57 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vCwN7-oZRc

This is so funny! Queen Sofia in the Spanish teams locker room after the
semi win against Germany. How many royals do that?

Posted by beth

07/08/2010 at 04:57 PM

hey , MA - do we get to put an asterisk by the Oklahoma BCS title - since on the field - SC won that game :)
and then we could asterisk the Alabama win , cause Texas played most of the game without their starting qb

just kidding , just kidding
I know the SEC is one tough conference - but sooner or later , the NCAA wlll catch up with them , too
now that they have finished off SC
It is only a matter of time

Posted by Ruth

07/08/2010 at 04:58 PM

http://popwatch.ew.com/2010/07/02/betty-white-lebron-james-cleveland/

Just for you, Samantha!

Posted by aussiemarg [Madame President in Comma Rehab for 2009]

07/08/2010 at 04:58 PM

Mick has great Hips I will testify to that

Stones are a great group Live I have seen them many times

Though they are ageing somewhat

Hmmmm just cancelled my lastest Cavelli

Though I will hold onto my Cavelli shoes though.

Posted by beth

07/08/2010 at 04:59 PM

thanks , Ruth
and Team Nadal for helping out
I do want to see that one

hmmm - I am totally with you there ,sblily
I don't want any of Mick Jagger either , I never saw the appeal
although , I love their music

Posted by aussiemarg [Madame President in Comma Rehab for 2009]	07/08/2010 at 05:00 PM
Team Nadal Keith Richards has never been the same since he fell out of a Coconut Tree while on holdiays many moons ago.

Posted by Master Ace	07/08/2010 at 05:00 PM
Beth, LOL on Oklahoma and Alabama getting *. NCAA caught up with Alabama twice in the past 10-15 years and therefore, folks in Alabama is saying USC deserves to get their punishment. If the NCAA does get someone in the SEC, leading candidate should be Tennessee while Kiffin and Orgeron was there but we will see.

Posted by Grant

07/08/2010 at 05:01 PM

"Though they are ageing somewhat"

congratulations on mastering the art of understatement

Posted by TeamNadal

07/08/2010 at 05:01 PM

Here is one skit w/Betty White......TOO FUNNY!!!!!!!!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMjE_RPpYZw

Posted by aussiemarg [Madame President in Comma Rehab for 2009]

07/08/2010 at 05:02 PM

Mick can "Start me Up" anytime he wants

Hang on did I just type that???????

Posted by beth

07/08/2010 at 05:03 PM

"ageing somewhat ? "
That is the understatement of the year
While Mick can still strut with the best of them
I would put money on it , that Keith Richards cannot play the guitar anymore
He can play the riff - but then sort of zones out - and the back up musicians pick up the slack and actually play
while Keith just stands there on stage looking dead
At least , that is what happened about 3 years ago , when we saw them play live here

Posted by aussiemarg [Madame President in Comma Rehab for 2009]

07/08/2010 at 05:03 PM

Grant Many thanks

Like it has taken years lol!

Posted by aussiemarg [Madame President in Comma Rehab for 2009]

07/08/2010 at 05:05 PM

Beth Methinks Keith Richards is lucky to be still alive

Hmmmmm he did love his drugs somewhat lol!

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