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

102615989
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 Master Ace 07/08/2010 at 05:05 PM

4 more hours before LeBron make The Big Decision.
Posted by Annie (Vamos Heavenly Creature) 07/08/2010 at 05:06 PM

Samantha: I don't know how you guys got on the subject of Betty White, but she's been on different TV series for years. Since I was a little girl. And she's always always hysterical. I hope she lives to 100!
Posted by aussiemarg [Madame President in Comma Rehab for 2009] 07/08/2010 at 05:06 PM

Hell 4 hours is like a life time to me
Posted by Master Ace 07/08/2010 at 05:07 PM

Friday Order of Play:

WTA: Budapest at 5:30 AM - Sevastova vs Dulgheru
WTA: Bastad at 6 AM - Pennetta vs Dulko to be followed by Safarova vs Rezai
WTA: Budapest at 7:30 AM - Schnyder vs Hercog
WTA: Budapest at 9:45 AM - Szavay vs Cornet to be followed by Medina Garrigues vs Ondraskova
ATP: Newport at 11 AM - Fish vs Dancevic and Harrison vs Bloomfield scheduled

Davis Cup Schedule(Friday - Saturday - Sunday):
* = Number 1 Player

France vs Spain (7 AM - 8 AM - 7 AM)
Gael Monfils* vs David Ferrer
Michael Llodra vs Fernando Verdasco*
Benneteau/Llodra vs Lopez/Verdasco

Russia vs Argentina (7 AM - 6 AM - 5 AM)
Nikolay Davydenko* vs David Nalbandian
Mikhail Youzhny vs Leonardo Mayer*
Gabashvili/Kunitsyn vs Nalbandian/Zeballos

Croatia vs Serbia (8 AM - 9 AM - 6 AM)
Ivan Ljubicic vs Novak Djokovic*
Marin Cilic* vs Viktor Troicki
Dodig/Veic vs Tipsarevic/Zimonjic

Chile vs Czech Republic (10 AM - Noon - 10 AM)
Nicolas Massu* vs Ivao Minar
Paul Capdeville vs Jan Hajek*
Aguilar/Capdeville vs Cermak/Dlouhy
Posted by Sherlock 07/08/2010 at 05:09 PM

" Keith Richards has never been the same since he fell out of a Coconut Tree while on holdiays many moons ago."

Lol. Is that for real? Sounds like a children's book. Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, will there be enough room for Keith and his lines of coke?
Posted by Colette (On Cloud 8) 07/08/2010 at 05:10 PM

Sadly, Betty is the only Golden Girl left.
Posted by aussiemarg [Madame President in Comma Rehab for 2009] 07/08/2010 at 05:12 PM

Sherlock Would I ever lie to you? please

Fact he was on hoildays in Fiji climbed up to get a coconut and fell out of the tree

Hmmm maybe he was on some kind of "recreational drug" thats what they refer to it these days dont they?
Posted by beth 07/08/2010 at 05:13 PM

great minds , Grant :)

MA - I will agree that SC probably got away with quite a bit for too long . And if they are guilty of infractions , a punishment was in order . So I am disappointed, but I will deal with it . I think Mike Garrett, the AD , is a an arrogant jerk, and should be fired , to get a fresh start with a clean slate.
But , I do not believe that SC is the only big time college program that had issues . They just happened to be the victim du jour . The others will get their come uppance as well. Now that the NCAA has finished with SC, they will move on to whoever is next. Watch out - Florida, Alabama, LSU , Texas , Oklahoma, Nebraska , UCLA , Oregon - whoever is high profile - they will be next up . Bet on it.
Orgeron may be a dirty recruiter , but with his accent can you ever really be sure of what he is saying ? I used to live in Louisiana , and the cajun dialect is difficult enough to interpret by the people who live there - much less an outsider. I don't know - but he did a lot more for LSU , Ole MIss and SC than he ever did in one year at Tennessee.

Posted by TeamNadal 07/08/2010 at 05:13 PM

anyone remember the story that was splashed all over the papers a couple of years ago that Keith Richards snorted his dead father's ashes mixed with cocaine? ...that ended up being false.
Posted by aussiemarg [Madame President in Comma Rehab for 2009] 07/08/2010 at 05:14 PM

Master Ace Seeing you are a "master" of most things

What are your feelings on Mr Le Bron
Posted by Annie (Vamos Heavenly Creature) 07/08/2010 at 05:15 PM

MA: where do you think LeBron is going? I think he's coming to New York. But I hope he stays in Cleveland.

So Rafa is going to the WC final. I hope his whole family goes. His uncle Miguel should go. They can all go to the Shakira show and then watch the final. Don't know if the closing ceremonies are near the final but there are always helicopters. Sounds like a fun time!!
Posted by TeamNadal 07/08/2010 at 05:16 PM

Mike Francesa on WFAN is saying that he has heard from a "source" that LeBron is going to Miami....lets see if that pans out
Posted by aussiemarg [Madame President in Comma Rehab for 2009] 07/08/2010 at 05:18 PM

Team Nadal Hmmmm soo much speculation

I cant believe its stopping a whole nation lol!
Posted by just horsen(Laverorwellafafeden for GOAT!!!) 07/08/2010 at 05:19 PM

MA: Does anybody south of the Mason-Dixon not know that the SEC NOT know that the SEC rules football? Or that they've won 4 straight BCS titles. Or that Urban Meyer "quit" because of chest pains and was promptly back on the job within 24hrs. if I remember correctly, or that Vandy actually made(and won!) a bowl game year before last, or that Jonathon Crompton was the most-improved quarterback in the game last year, or that UT\Alabama rules the 3rd week in October(like groomsmen taking portable radios into weddings because they don't want to miss the game). or that this or that that. Like I said it's pretty much impossible not to hear about the SEC. whether it be football, basketball, baseball. even lacrosse has been known to make the headlines.
Posted by aussiemarg [Madame President in Comma Rehab for 2009] 07/08/2010 at 05:20 PM

CL If you are still around.You will be pleased to know I have that Lindt chocolate now

Like its been forever coming here to Sydney.My local guy said its the hardest one to get.

I have already eaten it sad to say Hmmmmm.
Posted by beth 07/08/2010 at 05:21 PM

I remember when Keith fell out of the coconut tree
I am frankly amazed that he could climb the thing in the first place, much less get up in the tree high enough to do any damage

and by high , I do not mean drugs high , but height high :)

Posted by Master Ace 07/08/2010 at 05:21 PM

Annie and Aussiemarg,
Before sources were saying Miami early today, I was leaning toward Cleveland for LeBron but if he was staying at Cleveland, why is he making the announcement at Greenwich, CT instead of Akron, OH
Posted by just horsen(Laverorwellafafeden for GOAT!!!) 07/08/2010 at 05:21 PM

http://tinyurl.com/2cca3xl


funny lebron article.

Posted by aussiemarg [Madame President in Comma Rehab for 2009] 07/08/2010 at 05:23 PM

Manuel If you are around big news concerning the Doctor aka Rossi.After 1 month after having a compund fracture on his shin and having surgery he is back on his bike and looking to ride in the German Grand Prix????
Posted by aussiemarg [Madame President in Comma Rehab for 2009] 07/08/2010 at 05:24 PM

Beth Ok whatever you say lol!

Maybe drugs and the height of the tree
Posted by aussiemarg [Madame President in Comma Rehab for 2009] 07/08/2010 at 05:25 PM

Master Ace Thanks.We Gonna See No? lol!
Posted by TeamNadal 07/08/2010 at 05:25 PM

oh please, the damage was done way before Keith fell out of that coconut tree...
Posted by Master Ace 07/08/2010 at 05:26 PM

Just Horsen,
Well done on 5:19 PM post. Yes, Crompton was horrible to start 2009 as Kiffin ran 4 straight plays inside the 10 late in the game against UCLA. Urban Meyer situation was another fiasco.
Posted by aussiemarg [Madame President in Comma Rehab for 2009] 07/08/2010 at 05:27 PM

Team Nadal Word!

The tree incident just sped things along quicker lol!
Posted by beth 07/08/2010 at 05:28 PM

yeah, Team Nadal
I don't think the fall from the tree is responsible for Keith's corpse like behavior or appearance
it is just a strange little anecdote
Rock star climbs tree and cracks his coconut :)

Posted by aussiemarg [Madame President in Comma Rehab for 2009] 07/08/2010 at 05:28 PM

Beth LOL!!!!!!!!
Posted by TeamNadal 07/08/2010 at 05:29 PM

"Rock star climbs tree and cracks his coconut :)"

LOL
Posted by Annie (Vamos Heavenly Creature) 07/08/2010 at 05:32 PM

MA: Greenwich? that's so weird. I was in Greenwich today. My brother lives there. That is mysterious. ESPN headquarters is about an hour from Greenwich.
Posted by Annie (Vamos Heavenly Creature) 07/08/2010 at 05:33 PM

beth: i'd forgotten about that little incident. He really got hurt though. He's got nine lives that Keith.
Posted by Arun 07/08/2010 at 05:34 PM

Tari: Thanks for that link.
Posted by just horsen(Laverorwellafafeden for GOAT!!!) 07/08/2010 at 05:34 PM

MA: thanks. so who's your favorite team?
Posted by aussiemarg [Madame President in Comma Rehab for 2009] 07/08/2010 at 05:35 PM

Well talking about music Legends

Leonard Cohen who will be 75 this year

Is coming back to Australia this year.Last time he was here was 2 years ago.

Coming in November I cant wait to see him again

Also just happens to be around my birthday and I am flying to Melbourne with hubby of course to see him and staying in a 5 star hotel which just happens not to be far away from Chanel? funny that.
Posted by Mr.X (Live, from Minionland!) 07/08/2010 at 05:36 PM

Hi everyone!
I'm merely passing by for a short while to say hello, because i'm exhausted. What a night last night was. Sunday could be beyond words.
Actually, i'll also be staying shortly because this is a tennis site, and i just can think of tennis right now. Sports-wise, there's only one thing at the moment. If you dont believe me, ask Rafa Nadal. Although he maybe be going to South Africa for other reasons:)
After watching the lineup for DC, all i'll say is that i hope Costa is ready to throw Pretty Boy Flo in for a singles tie, because he will probably be needed. It's played on fast indoor HC, right?
Frazzle-o-meter reached its limit, and it broke, by the way.
Posted by aussiemarg [Madame President in Comma Rehab for 2009] 07/08/2010 at 05:40 PM

Greetings Mr X

May I say Ole,Ole,Ole, to Spain and their world cup thingy

Hmmm I will pass on that line you mentioned about My Boy

Gee the knee treatment didn take too long did it?

Rafa was giving away 2 tickets to the final through his sponsor Kia I did post that

Though I know you dont take notice of me anyway
Posted by tommy 07/08/2010 at 05:40 PM

I'm not surprised NBC's ratings went down over 50%. We goofed on it while it happened. Delayed tape of Shvedova and Vesnina so they can show 25 minutes of commercials per hour. LOL!

Ebersol doesnt want viewers, or he would have Nadal/Murray live. Every big match live.
Posted by Mr.X (Live, from Minionland!) 07/08/2010 at 05:41 PM

Yes, that first post shows that i'm quite out of sorts right now. I meant to type "i just CANT think of tennis..."
I see that you guys are quite surprised there's going to be coverage of Lebron's decission tonight.
Well, i'll say this: you American guys have nothing on Minionland, as far as completely losing it goes. Tomorrow, here in Spain, a channel will show LIVE Paul the Octopus' pick for the World Cup final. And i'm not kidding.
Yes, the whole country has gone absolutely nuts. And we are loving every minute of it.

Posted by Grant 07/08/2010 at 05:41 PM

"Actually, i'll also be staying shortly because this is a tennis site"

I could've sworn you've been here long enough to know you can talk about whatever when there isn't a major or masters going on.

Also, what have we learned about doubting Grant's predictions?
Posted by Master Ace 07/08/2010 at 05:42 PM

Annie,
Yes, he will be at the Boys and Girls Club in Greenwich making The Decision.

Just Horsen,
No favorite team.
Posted by Mr.X (Live, from Minionland!) 07/08/2010 at 05:45 PM

"May I say Ole,Ole,Ole, to Spain and their world cup thingy"
Greetings back to you, AM, and thank you, although "world cup thingy"?
Thingy???????
This is THE BIGGEST THING IN SPORTS EVER, by an enormous margin, as far as i'm concerned. No "thingy".
Who says Rafa isnt going to take some, errr, treatment, while he's over there?
Posted by aussiemarg [Madame President in Comma Rehab for 2009] 07/08/2010 at 05:45 PM

Master Ace Back to tennis for a moment okay dont faint

Will the new WTA rankings be out next Monday?
Posted by Annie (Vamos Heavenly Creature) 07/08/2010 at 05:46 PM

Mr.X: I saw the shot of downtown Madrid after the win over Germany. It.was.insane. And the octopus was right! Can't wait for the match on Sunday. Try not to burn yourself out before the game even starts. It's gonna be fantastic!

did you see your queen in the locker room? I posted the vid upthread.
Posted by TennisFan2 07/08/2010 at 05:47 PM

Mr. X - you must be thrilled! Rafa wins Wimby and Spain in WC finals all in the same week. :-)

Personally I would take Paul the Octopus live over the LeBron show any day of the week.

Bad day in Newport for Dustin Brown. I saw him play a couple of times this week. Seems to have loads of talent and athletic ability but I'd say he is in need of the psych couch and perhaps a bit of fire under him as he seems to get a bit lazy during some points. He has also has quite a serve when his head isn't bringing him down.
Posted by aussiemarg [Madame President in Comma Rehab for 2009] 07/08/2010 at 05:47 PM

Mr X Calmer Down okay no? {pls give me strength}

Rafa taking his Knees to get treatment in the final of the World Cup

This I have to see

I hope he dosent do his signature "Somersault" thingy.
Posted by Mr.X (Live, from Minionland!) 07/08/2010 at 05:49 PM

Well, Grant, then i will use no excuses: i think i slept around 3 hours last night (being optimistic). I was surprised i was able to be slightly productive at work today. If it happens, i dont know what it will be like Sunday night and Monday.
About Grant's predictions, i know that they work well for me, and for that i thank you, and bow down to you enormous knowledge.
Although you still have nothing on Paul the Octopus:)
Posted by aussiemarg [Madame President in Comma Rehab for 2009] 07/08/2010 at 05:50 PM

Please leave Paul alone ok
Posted by Grant 07/08/2010 at 05:54 PM

"Well talking about music Legends

Leonard Cohen who will be 75 this year

Is coming back to Australia this year."

See, while I have no desire to see the Stones live, I'd totally see Cohen if tix weren't an arm and a leg. The Stones made music to be played by young guys, whereas Cohen's age doesn't detract from his songs.
Posted by aussiemarg [Madame President in Comma Rehab for 2009] 07/08/2010 at 05:54 PM

Hmmmm I would much rather watch my Tour

Those bikers in their tight fitting lyrca

Great calves,quads and bottoms to boot

Okay I have few good moments left in my life.
Posted by Annie (Vamos Heavenly Creature) 07/08/2010 at 05:56 PM

Mr.X: monday will be a national holiday if, no when , you win! Don't plan on going in..
Posted by aussiemarg [Madame President in Comma Rehab for 2009] 07/08/2010 at 05:57 PM

Grant His tickets arent that expensive really

I remeber his concert last time here.It went for over 3 hrs

He did 4 encores

He brought the house down with his "signature song" of course

His voice is just the same

Legend Indeed.
Posted by TeamNadal 07/08/2010 at 05:57 PM

Lebron Watch UPDATE:

Mike Francesa now saying EVERYBODY knows he is going to Miami.......
Posted by Mr.X (Live, from Minionland!) 07/08/2010 at 05:57 PM

Annie,
I'm saving energy indeed. Trying not to think about it too much. But it's very tough. Saw the video (it's impossible not to, the news start with 15 minutes about the World Cup in every channel). My comment about it is usually that the Queen really has a lot of trouble to express herself in Spanish (she's Greek). Also, it was funny to see her shake yesterday's hero, Puyol's hand, when he was wearing only a towel. By the way, that guy must have ball the size of my head. What a goal. What a goal. I must have seen it 50 times already. LA FURIA!!!!!!

TennisFan2,
Actually, Paul's pick is irrelevant. If he picks us, we'll say that he has been right the whole World Cup. If he picks them, we'll say that the only time he was wrong in the Euro 2008 was in the final, when Spain beat Germany. So in our eyes, we cant lose:)

AM,
I cant calm down. 80 years, and this is the first time it happens. I still cant quite believe we're in the final.
By the way, looks like you didnt quite get my "treatment" comment:)
Posted by aussiemarg [Madame President in Comma Rehab for 2009] 07/08/2010 at 06:00 PM

I remember his drummer was called Rafael too

He had a lot of Spainish music guys in his band
Posted by Mr.X (Live, from Minionland!) 07/08/2010 at 06:01 PM

"monday will be a national holiday if, no when , you win"
Annie,
I'm gonna pretend i didnt see that "when" part of your comment. No confidence. No relaxing. It's not a given. WE ARE NOT FAVOURITES!!

"I would much rather watch my Tour"
What is that?

Anyway, almost falling asleep, so i'll leave.
Probably wont come back till after THE MATCH.
But i'll leave with a message:
ZENGGI, IT'S ON.

See ya, everyone.
Posted by aussiemarg [Madame President in Comma Rehab for 2009] 07/08/2010 at 06:03 PM

Mr X I realise Spain hasnt been in the world cup for over 100yrs or soo

Yes I did get your Rafa treatment thingy

As usual I just Rolled My Eyes

By the way how is your new Brunette g/friend doing just making small talk of course
Posted by Grant 07/08/2010 at 06:04 PM

"He brought the house down with his "signature song" of course"

I know a lot of people love Hallelujah and with good reason, but the idea of a writer like him having a signature song just bothers me. Seriously: Suzanne, Famous Blue Raincoat, Joan of Arc, Bird on a Wire, Chelsea Hotel to name just a few - he's written too many great songs to have a signature song!
Posted by Carol (Rafa/Spain) 07/08/2010 at 06:06 PM

Hola everyone!!
I've just seen on TV that there is another *psychic*. This one is a parrot with the name Manny and he lives in Manila. They put two cards with both flags face down and he picks one. Until know he has got right every winner and now to the final he picked................Holland
Hope Paul will pick Spain, otherwise I'm going to cry from now
Posted by aussiemarg [Madame President in Comma Rehab for 2009] 07/08/2010 at 06:06 PM

Grant Point taken with Leonard

He is a great song writer

Though when he started singing that song

People all stood up and just clapped and never sat down until it was over.
Posted by TennisFan2 07/08/2010 at 06:07 PM

Annie, thanks for posting the video!

Would love to be Queen of Spain! Rafa and the World Cup team!!!
Posted by Grant 07/08/2010 at 06:09 PM

I really wasn't loving Spain this year due to their 'let's play keepaway for 90 minutes and take the occasional halfhearted shot' style, but seeing Mr. X's enthusiasm makes upfor a lot :)
Posted by aussiemarg [Madame President in Comma Rehab for 2009] 07/08/2010 at 06:11 PM

Carol Hi.Fingers crossed for Spain in the World Cup

I have watched some of their matches and are looking good

Gosh if they lose

I believe Mrr X could do some harm to himself? lol!
Posted by Ruth 07/08/2010 at 06:12 PM

"...channel will show LIVE Paul the Octopus' pick for the World Cup final."

As long as Paul the Octopus doesn't need 60 minutes of air time to make and celebrate his decision, Mr X, he's OK with me!

(Pete has a post up about Davis Cup, y'all.)
Posted by CL 07/08/2010 at 06:17 PM

"He brought the house down with his "signature song" of course"
I know a lot of people love Hallelujah and with good reason, but the idea of a writer like him having a signature song just bothers me. Seriously: Suzanne, Famous Blue Raincoat, Joan of Arc, Bird on a Wire, Chelsea Hotel to name just a few - he's written too many great songs to have a signature song!

to say nothing of "Born Free"!!!!
Posted by daylily 07/08/2010 at 06:17 PM

am this one's for you!

http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=TsyF8M9

and so is THIS one....

http://img651.imageshack.us/i/aaeurp.jpg/
Posted by aussiemarg [Madame President in Comma Rehab for 2009] 07/08/2010 at 06:19 PM

CL LOL!!!!!!!!!

Word!!!

Everytime I hear that song I wont to run off in the nearest jungle and never return
Posted by Carol (Rafa/Spain) 07/08/2010 at 06:21 PM

AM, I'm keeping my fingers crossed, it could be so wonderful if we can win the WC

I'm sooooo glad that Wade stays in Miami and more to know that he is going to have a good help with Bosh, both together can do a great job. Wade deserve to have more help in the team. Can you imgine if LeBron will play with the Heats too?? a dream
Posted by aussiemarg [Madame President in Comma Rehab for 2009] 07/08/2010 at 06:21 PM

Daylily Many thanks.I will add those to my links

Love the first one of Rafa

Sherlock was here earlier though he is probably fast asleep by now lol!
Posted by daylily 07/08/2010 at 06:25 PM

i said hello to him a couple of days ago and he ignored me. tsk tsk tsk dunno if i'll get over it anytime soon. if he's asleep now he'll be fired soon, it's 3 something california time :)

tari if you're still around, that kitty cat link is wonderful!

Posted by aussiemarg [Madame President in Comma Rehab for 2009] 07/08/2010 at 06:27 PM

Daylily He ignored You

The Famous Miss Bubbles

Okay I will wait till he wakes up Hmmm whenever that may be

He will get my wrath big time ok.
Posted by Or 07/08/2010 at 06:27 PM

Okay. This is... um, weird.

I'm getting the Goran/Jmac exo (was it today? Yesterday) on one of the Israeli sport channels. Say what? We get 99% of our tennis broadcast through Eurosport/ESPN, if it's ain't there, the Israeli sport channels would usually not bother to buy the broadcast rights unless Shahar/Dudi are playing.

But we're getting a Jmac exo? Interesting choice, I hope it came cheap.

Oh well, at least it is tennis.
Posted by Tari 07/08/2010 at 06:32 PM

Daylily! *rubs eyes* What?! :)

Thanks. Love kittehs. :))
Posted by Ruth 07/08/2010 at 06:56 PM

daylily: That'll be the day when Sherlock ignores his Watson. Now way! Must have been one of those ships that pass in the night things. :)
Posted by aussiemarg [Madame President in Comma Rehab for 2009] 07/08/2010 at 06:59 PM

Hmmm Ruth

Sherlock has been missing a lot of ships lately

To me

No Excuse at all.
Posted by daylily 07/08/2010 at 07:02 PM

yeah, ruth, he'd better watch out or moriarty will be paying him a personal visit....:)

tari, hi! i just adopted three in february. dolce, jasper and olliver. they are all about 9 months old now and so cute. i probably should have named one rafa.....heee! how's your young man???
Posted by aussiemarg [Madame President in Comma Rehab for 2009] 07/08/2010 at 07:06 PM

Master Ace Just heard on our sports radio news here that 75,000 people were in attendence for that expo match between Kim and Serena
Posted by Tari 07/08/2010 at 07:10 PM

How sweet, daylily! My "young man" is now 17! Time flies. :) The stinker asked last night if he could join a group of his friends for a "jog" through the neighborhood at 3:30AM. Umm...that was a quick no. :)) Then I realized it won't be long before I really can't say no. *sobs* (Might even already be in that territory.)

How is your daughter?
Posted by daylily 07/08/2010 at 07:20 PM

great balls of fire -- 17????? you are too young! daughter daylily turned 30 in january -- unbelievable. she's teaching spanish too, different school here. thanks for asking!

so, think we'll see the clash of the titans at uso? i sure hope so -- i hope both our boys are on their game and we have some fireworks. much as i like mandy, there just wasn't a lot of fire and ice at wimbles. you know what i mean.
Posted by Master Ace 07/08/2010 at 07:26 PM

"Will the new WTA rankings be out next Monday?"

Aussiemarg,
Are you talking about my Ace rankings or the real WTA?
Posted by aussiemarg [Madame President in Comma Rehab for 2009] 07/08/2010 at 07:32 PM

Master Ace Your Ace rankings for sure and the WTA rankings

Posted by Annie (Vamos Heavenly Creature) 07/08/2010 at 08:12 PM

Tari: I've met you and you look way too young to have a 17 yr old!

Hi daylily! nice seeing you around these parts..

We need a Fedal final. Slam final. USO would be just perfect.
Posted by aussiemarg [Madame President in Comma Rehab for 2009] 07/08/2010 at 08:33 PM

Miss Tari I want what you are on ok

Hmmm I have a daughter 24

Needs to update my anti age program
Posted by aussiemarg [Madame President in Comma Rehab for 2009] 07/08/2010 at 08:34 PM

Daylily We do have new Rafa fans since you were last here.
Posted by Master Ace 07/08/2010 at 08:42 PM

Aussiemarg,
WTA rankings are updated weekly and I have posted the Ace rankings but I will repost in the new thread.
Posted by aussiemarg [Madame President in Comma Rehab for 2009] 07/08/2010 at 08:48 PM

Master Ace Many thanks.Like der to me about the WTA rankings lol!

Daylily I forget to return the email that you sent me a few days ago

Sorry I have been kept busy answering emails from Rafa fans on his great Wimby win and trying to catch up with press for him around the world

I need to get back to my Spainish lessons ASAP

Anway I just emailed you.
Posted by Tari 07/08/2010 at 09:26 PM

Annie, AM, and daylily: Sweeties! :)

And daylily, how nice, that she's a teacher too! As for Fedal finals, I must say count me out. :))) There are simply not enough anti-frazzle meds available for this gal.

Posted by Tim (Outlaw the Moonball!) 07/08/2010 at 09:58 PM

'Daylily We do have new Rafa fans since you were last here.'

marg, thats the understatement of the YEAR! lol

Posted by aussiemarg [Madame President in Comma Rehab for 2009] 07/08/2010 at 10:05 PM

My Dear Tim

Now play nice ok

I wont offer you anymore Free GE okay

Hey I am a Roger fan too

I swing both ways

Hey did that come out right no?
Posted by Tim (Outlaw the Moonball!) 07/08/2010 at 10:07 PM

oh dear marg, when even YOU stop getting my little jokes, we're all in trouble!

Posted by aussiemarg [Madame President in Comma Rehab for 2009] 07/08/2010 at 10:10 PM

Dear Tim

I got the joke

Though I just rolled over it ok no?
Posted by aussiemarg [Madame President in Comma Rehab for 2009] 07/08/2010 at 10:12 PM

Tim Roger will be back and save tennis ok

He has his hair trimmed now

I feel this is the one thing that has held him back oops sorry about mentioning his back

If anyone thinks Roger is past it???

Please they need to book into a Shrink Pronto!!!!!
Posted by daylily 07/08/2010 at 10:44 PM

thanks, annie! nice to see you, too.

tari i know what you mean.....eggzackly. i have found that a mixture of koolade, sams donuts, hydrocodone and zoloft works pretty well, with a few hundred mg of ambien on sunday nights.....as needed....
Posted by temes 07/09/2010 at 03:06 AM

That Kim-Serena expo was just a total fiasco...LOL.
Posted by Geellis 07/09/2010 at 07:27 AM

@everyone
So, Peter and Tom Perotta just ho-hummed their way to a mealy-mouth assertion that Serena is probably the best player ever. As I've oft said, they distinguished between most-decorated champion (which she surely is not) and best player if you took the greats and had them playing each other on their relative best days. Of course, I agree with this estimate, but just curious what others think and why.
Posted by thebigapple 07/09/2010 at 01:49 PM

Roger is 29.

Hardly a prime age for a tennis player. If tennis palyers do not retire age 29-31 then they must slide down to playing small tourneys and getting knocked out before the quarters. Oh, Roger is barely getting to the quarters now. He struggled mightly in the first round on grass....except against Clement, another perosn from the Ringo Starr cohort.

Oh, well. I hope Roger finds a fountain of the tennis' equivalent of those "little blue tablets".

Posted by JohnP 07/09/2010 at 02:00 PM

Very nice to hear Pete's description of Wimbledon, including Wimbledon village. Brings back memories. I attended Wimbledon in '91 and '92. I can still hear over the loud speaker in a gruff British accent, "May I have your attention, please. May I have your attention, please. This is a message for the Somerset Road queue....." This as we awaited the much-anticipated opening of the gates and thus sales of tickets for Centre Court and Court #1 after queueing, or "camping out," all night.

Brings back memories of getting off the subway, or "tube," and approaching Wimbledon on foot with the expectation and hope of entering tennis' hallowed grounds. I can picture it, smell it.

Posted by FoT 07/09/2010 at 05:01 PM

Hey CL, I also go back and watch past Roger matches. I have, at last count, about 350 of his matches on dvds, vhs, etc. from 1999 to present that I pop in and watch. I have singles as well as some of his double's matches. I just finished watching the 2008 US Open Final where he beat Murray. It helps to ease the time that he's away from tennis!
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