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A peeled grape, sire?
Credit to nickg for image
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Another year, another Roger Federer win. Tennis has become quite ho-hum. As I predicted, Roger Federer is once again king of the world, swiftly and soundly defeating the new-comer Rafael Nadal.
While Rafael Nadal walked into the nightmare that was the ATP World Tour Finals, Roger Federer sipped a creamy espresso, asking his assistant, “What do I need to do today?” “Swiftly and soundly defeat some new-comer, Raphael,” he answered. “Whatever,” Roger replied, drifting away to a place so wonderful that neither you nor I shall ever known about it.
It came as no surprise to me that Roger Federer won the ATP WTF (World Tour Finals, silly!). Things come easily to the God of tennis, controlling the game like a puppeteer performing a show. His domination is akin to Michael Jordan – beating competitors by absolutely pounding them with embarrassment, exploiting their naiveté and making super sick gear. Granted (and for the sake of transparency) I like Michael Jordan’s sneakers far more than I like Roger Federer’s. There’s absolutely no competition. Seriously. Jordan V’s against Federer’s Lunar Vapors? Get outta here!
I guess you could say that I’m back on that bandwagon, but don’t call me some Yankee-hater-turned-Yankee-lover-come-pennant-time. I’ve been a tried and true Fed fan since day one and I’m glad to see that he’s finally decided to give half a care about tennis (that’s all it takes for him) and has decided to retake the crown. Never will you see me doubt Roger again – but remember, it takes a true fan to recognize faults in the character of your hero.
So get real and see what’s up. Rog is back.
But seriously, see?
Posted to Tennis Stars Burning Bright by
Sean Bradley on 12/1/2010 11:57:58 AM | with 0 comments
With not a whole lot going on in tennis right now, it seems like an apropos time to entertain reader questions. Granted, there are no questions from actual readers this today, I will go ahead and be the asker and the teller. So, reader, go ahead and write me a question about tennis during the last year, about my personal opinions on tennis, the level of my mathematic education, or how I feel about Wikileaks…and tennis.
Q: How does it feel t to be wrong about every prediction you’ve made during the last year regarding the resurrection of Andy Murray, the fall of Roger Federer and exactly how Serena Williams was going to break her foot (you said it was going to be from a firewood accident)?
A: I’m but a simple person with limited resources. I apologize about lead you astray, but perhaps you shouldn’t take things so seriously. And who is to say these are not more long-term predictions? See it here in writing right now – Andy Murray will become a tennis god, Roger Federer will stop being amazing, and Serena Williams will quit tennis because she chopped firewood improperly. My word is truth!
A: Bjorn Borg.
Q:Sometimes I wish I could have the bourgeoisie swagger of somebody like Roger Federer. How can I attain such wallet-girth?
A: Get some sponsors. Roger Federer is currently sponsored by Credit Suisse Finacial, Gillette, Jura Coffee, Lindt Chocolates, Mercedes-Benz, Nationale Suisse, Net Jets Airlines, Nike, Rolex and Wilson. So it’s really pretty simple. Good luck!
I’d like to thank everyone for writing in this week and please feel free to ask your messages in the comments. I will answer everyone of the questions with deep thought and consideration.
Posted to Tennis Stars Burning Bright by
Sean Bradley on 12/8/2010 5:01:52 PM | with 1 comments
Thanks for all the feedback, everyone! This is part two of the year end review ala question and answer with your dutiful Tennis Stars Burning Bright writer. I would like to personally thank Tennis Now royalty, Lauren Lynch, for responding to the request for questions. Her question is as follows:
Q: “Who is going up and down in ladies' tennis?”
A: I’m going to go ahead and assume this isn’t a double entendre or joke and that you’re actually asking about the rankings of the WTA. Well, there are some serious contenders out there, including (but not limited to) Melanie Oudin and Beatrice Capra. After making a serious impact in some of the more recent slams, these two (especially Beatrice Capra) caused quite the upset and advanced far more than anyone ever thought that they would. Those are my two cents.
Q: What qualifies you to be answering people’s questions?
A: My internet connection and my vast knowledge of all things tennis. For example, did you know that you can opt to play a “no ad” game? The player(s) win by getting to four points, no matter if the team is ahead by two points. If the game reaches 3 points each, the receiver of the ball chooses which side of the court the ball will be delivered to. So how about that for throwing some knowledge down on you? Kablow!
Q: Who is going to win at the Australia Open?
Thanks for another great session of questions and I encourage everyone who reads this to write me with their burning questions. Because I know everything there is to know about tennis and I know you have a question.
And just for your viewing pleasure, here is a picture of Nolan Ryan among the pillars of the Corina Nebula:
Posted to Tennis Stars Burning Bright by
Sean Bradley on 12/14/2010 5:18:22 PM | with 0 comments
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But this is Michael Chang in moccasins.
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In another act to commodity the faces of our young, Turkish Airlines has hired Caroline Wozniacki to be the sponsor of their new Business Class flights. Currently ranked as the number one player in women’s tennis, Wozniacki is not the first to sign with the growing eastern European flight company – she is joined by Kobe Bryant and several Manchester United soccer players, the Barcelona soccer club and the entire Euroleague basketball organization. Regarding the sponsorships, the Turkish Airlines’ Marketing and Sales Deupty Director General Faruk Cizmecioglu said, “ Major sporting events are followed by billions of people, which is definitely unmatched by any other activity. That is why we are preferring clubs like Barcelona and Manchester United, or competitions like the Euroleague.”
The 20-year old Dane will no doubt be in the spotlight for some time to come, being as she is both a fabulous tennis player and an attractive young woman. Unlike most corporate sponsorships, however, this one seems to have at least an inkling of self-interest on the part of the celebrity. Istanbul, Turkey’s capital (you already knew that though, didn’t you?) was the location of one of her first tournament wins took place (way back in 2006).
Thereby, in lieu of such circumstances, the partnership only makes sense. I foresee a promising future for not only Turkey and the Turkish Airlines, but the Danish tennis player as well. It is nice to see such a relationship blossoming, as Turkey has recently struggled to gain the acceptance of the European Union (of which Denmark is a part), or was it the other way around?
Coming up next:
Posted to Tennis Stars Burning Bright by
Sean Bradley on 12/21/2010 12:34:24 PM | with 2 comments
I can honestly say that I’ve never dreamt of punching Kim Clijsters in the face until now. She seems like a totally nice person and I bet that she might know a place to get some really good French fries. Err, I mean, Belgian fries - my bad. I bet if I met her, she would be pleasant and maybe even sign an autograph after a long match. But I really, really just want to strap on some boxing gloves and wail my weak-wristed arms around until I hit something fleshy. But not because I think she deserves, oh by golly, no way! It seems as though Kim has picked up the sport of boxing as a supplement to her tennis.
Apparently it has become very popular for tennis stars to train with other sports in their down time. Makes sense to me. I certainly wouldn’t want to practice tennis all year to stay in shape so that I could play tennis and get interviewed about tennis and wear tennis clothes and think about tennis strategy for the rest of the year.
It would be nice to mix up such a monotonous routine with something else. Ana Ivanovic likes to play basketball or volleyball, Sam Stosur likes to kayak, Marion Bartoli likes to play volleyball or squash, Liezel Huber likes to mow the lawn and Vera Zvonareva likes to sleep. But I don’t know if boxing is the activity I would choose.
But I will give you one guarantee right here and right now: I could beat her up.
Posted to Tennis Stars Burning Bright by
Sean Bradley on 12/22/2010 5:12:51 PM | with 1 comments
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Novak and Jelena Poolside
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Novak Djokovic and his long-time girlfriend, Jelena Ristic, were spotted sporting swimwear at the Habtoor Grand Hotel in Dubai recently. The third-ranked Serbian is spending time there, training for the upcoming 2011 season before heading off to the Australian Open (January 17 th- mark you calendars).
The pictures show the scantily clad couple lounging beach and pool-side, sipping cocktails and carrying designer shopping bags.
With all of this weather hitting us here in the northeast, pictures of a Middle Eastern beach and a $2,000/night hotel couldn’t make me any more jealous.
Photo Credit: Pacific Coast News
Posted to Tennis Stars Burning Bright by
Sean Bradley on 12/27/2010 3:29:13 PM | with 1 comments
Andy Roddick has finally reported that he feels 100 percent, after having a 6-month long bout with mono, or as my 5 th grade friends and I used to call it, “the cootie disease.” While it’s pretty interesting to think about what this means to his career, how it might have upset his prior six months and how it makes how much a powerful contender for the 2011 season, I’d much rather talk about my own case of mono, which was contracted in the 10 th grade after a rather exhausting gathering for Elizabeth Shoemaker’s 16 th birthday party from Marilu Morantez, but I shall bite my tongue about that.
I think I’d rather talk about someone else’s trivial romantic exploits anyways. Of the illness, Andy Roddick said, “For me it’s just a matter of getting right, getting healthy,” Roddick said. “I battled sickness for a big part of last year and from there I just felt like I was playing catch-up.”
Roddick failed to reach the quarterfinals for Wimbledon, the French Open and the US Open this year and said, “It’s the first time I’ve felt right since last May so when you are fit it takes a lot of the mental pressure off.”
While we’re all certainly awaiting America’s return to the big leagues (and hoping that Roddick can fulfill our manifest destiny of tennis greatness), I’m quite interested in will catch the next kidding disease.
Rafael Nadal? Novak Djokovic? No, those racy photos of Novak and his girlfriend lounging beachside suggest that we would already known if he’d contracted it.
Posted to Tennis Stars Burning Bright by
Sean Bradley on 12/29/2010 4:23:20 PM | with 0 comments
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