Someone wants to eat their own cake

More nonsense about how men's tennis isn't manly enough. The writer of this opinion piece peppers it with caveats in order to have it both ways. But the title, and the article's very existence, is basically a call for animosity between players. Because that's exciting. Or something. It's a vague love letter to days gone by, the good ol' days, when bratty American's ruled. I wonder if he also joneses for Marcelo Rios to return. Somehow I doubt it.

Reminds me of that nut that NPR gives a pedestal to on Wednesdays Frank Deford). Just look at Grandpa Munster. He once had an NPR-level rant about how male tennis players should not collapse after a win, because it wasn't triumphant enough for him. It did not, in his opinion, celebrate enough. Too passive a practice, he thinks. I nearly pulled a muscle with that eye roll. How could anyone contemplate that subject long enough to record a show on?

Tennis is, at its heart, a gentlemanly sport. And that's what I like about it. Like Federer Hingis was a very amiable number one. I think this is a good thing. I know many people mean well when they suggest changes to attract more fans (by making it more like other sports). But I love the sport as is. It's unique. I hope it stays that way.

Agassi to start the senior tour

Man, I feel for everyone else on the senior tour. But this should give it more fan interest. The matches that I have seen are no where near the level of play on the regular tour. And since it really hasn't been that long since Agassi retired, I don't see how he won't be collecting tournaments with ease.

What a load....

This article by The Nation is simply absurd. I used to subscribe to this magazine, and find it can be a very good one. But it is wildly uneven, and sometimes simply ridiculous. The article is an example of that.

To equate vague expletive spewing ("I don't give a shit") with actual physical threat ("If I could, I would take this fucking ball and shove it down your fucking throat." ), means that the writer of this story should never be taken seriously. Between the lines of the article is the evidence that the writer knows little about tennis history. Yes, McEnroe is known as the former bad boy....as if he was never fined, as if he was never suspended from the sport. He was. And he never threatened anyone with bodily harm.

The writer of that article is trying so hard to find misogyny or racism or something. But all he did is make an ass of himself.

Serena (and Venus, though in my mind less so) has a history of post-match press conferences where she gives her opponents little credit, even if the opponent won. I think in this instance she was less so for many reasons. For one, what she did was so wrong even she can see it. Also, Clijsters is reportedly one of the nicest players on tour, and that sets a tone. But more importantly is the release date of One the Line--September 1, 2009. Just before the Open. And as Serena tells the press frequently--she is also a business woman.

Serena Williams as Mother Nature?

When you think of menstruation, think of Serena Williams. Or so Tampax would have it. Her recent crankiness at the US Open was not, apparently, inspiration for this choice.

Justine Henin is coming back!

I personally guessed this one wrong. I thought this would never happen.

What in the world is a "doubles rubber"?

I was confused by this story's headline:

"Murray to play in doubles rubber"

What is a doubles rubber? It was a difficult term to track down, but I did. Here and here. It is apparently the deciding match/game in a series, the one that decides a tie. I personally had never heard this term before, so I thought I'd share.

Zero to 19 in 3 tournaments

Not bad at all. Clijsters has gone from no-ranking to being #19 in the world after winning the US Open (her 3rd tournament). The game needs her, so I hope there is much more of this to come.

Belgium was elated.

If she can climb like that in 3 tournaments, why can't Serena take #1 from Safina...(that's another post).