NEW YORK – The reign’s in Spain now, falling mightily and mainly on the crowned head of Roundhouse Rafa. Spain, of course, has a king, Juan Carlos I, with a palace in Madrid. A good fellow, we’re told. But the real monarch today is young Rafa I, whose roundhouse knockout punches on a tennis court are massive left hooks that leave no doubt of his being No. 1 in his … [Read more...] about SIZZLING RALLIES AS NADAL WINS THE US OPEN
Archives for September 2010
BOB BRYAN AND PARTNERS KEEP WINNING MAJORS
NEW YORK – Oldest game in the world? That’s easy – mixed doubles on a tennis court. I believe the Dead Sea Scrolls revealed that Adam and Eve won the first Eden Open over a Hittite couple, using apples as balls. Apparently Eve ate some apples, causing Adam to scold her: “How can we play if you dine on the balls?” Then she stepped on a snake, a thoughtless foot fault … [Read more...] about BOB BRYAN AND PARTNERS KEEP WINNING MAJORS
NUMBERS KEEP PILING UP AS LONG AS ESTHER IS PLAYING
NEW YORK – One of these days she will not win the US Open. Maybe. But don’t count on it. Just count on the wheeler-dealer of Flushing Meadows to ride the paved range like Annie Oakley, hitting her targets at will, making sure of one thing: you lose. It has been this way –- her way – for years since she began competing. Fourteeen years, to be exact — while the world … [Read more...] about NUMBERS KEEP PILING UP AS LONG AS ESTHER IS PLAYING
LAST YANK GETS YANKED BEFORE QUARTERS
NEW YORK – Lunging desperately at the little yellow ball they were eyeball-to-eyeball at the net for their last swings of the day. The witnesses, about 15,000 of them in Arthur Ashe Stadium , were screaming, urging — most of them in the corner of the young Californian, Sam Querrey. Make the shot and hang into this fifth set melodrama on the blue pavement – or go home, … [Read more...] about LAST YANK GETS YANKED BEFORE QUARTERS
NOTHING ROTTEN IN THE STATE OF DENMARK!
NEW YORK – Through one of his characters, Marcellus, a scribbler named Shakespeare said there was “something rotten in the state of Denmark.” But if the Bard had been among 20,000-or-so ticket-holders at an open-air theatre called Arthur Ashe Stadium yesterday, he might have reconsidered that line from his ancient soap, “Hamlet.” He would have gazed down at a battleground … [Read more...] about NOTHING ROTTEN IN THE STATE OF DENMARK!