[Glaken]

TENNIS-X NEWS, NOTES, QUOTES AND BARBS
Is there a bigger slam choker in tennis than David Nalbandian? Is there even a debate on this topic after Thursday's display? Ouch...Marcos Baghdatis has won 18 of 19 matches in his career at Melbourne, only losing to Roger Federer last year. The only Top 10 player to even beat Baghdatis is Federer...Think Andy Roddick and coach Dean Goldfine are sleeping better now?...Maria Sharapova has lost her lost four Slam semifinals while Justin Henin-Hardenne has won four straight...The seven-year span for Amelie Mauresmo between Slam finals is the longest for a woman in the Open Era...The Australian Open has a roof, but incredibly for the second time during the event it rained on Laver during play, forcing stoppage. First during the Serena Williams-Daniela Hantuchova match early in the first set, then again Thursday night with Marcos Baghdatis serving 5-4, 15-15 in the fifth set. Nice timing. Both delays lasted roughly 25 minutes as the ballkids used towels to dry the court. Further, storms were forecasted in both cases but tournament officials thought the rain would miss...Justine Henin-Hardenne has won 20 straight matches in Australia, 13 straight in Melbourne...Fined for verbal abuse in his match versus Sebastien Grosjean, Nicolas Kiefer's fines during the Aussie Open now total $6,000...From Finanzen.net: "The Pantry, Inc., the leading independently operated convenience store chain in the southeastern U.S., today announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Mark D. Miles to serve as a Director of the Company. Mr. Miles, 52, was Chief Executive Officer of ATP, the men's professional tennis organization, from 1990 through December 2005. He presided over ATP's transformation from a start-up situation in 1990 into a world-class sports organization. As of December 29, 2005, the company operated 1,401 stores in eleven states under a number of banners including Kangaroo Express(SM), Golden Gallon(R), and Cowboys(SM)." We could make a snarky comment, but we'll enjoy the silence...Maria Sharapova on her popularity in Asia: "In Asia, well, I'm blonde, and when people see someone that's blonde, they go crazy over there. That's one of the reasons." Maria lecturing the media on the quality of her loss against Justine Henin-Hardenne: "Look, guys, I think, I mean, I know you are reporters and I know this is your job, but, you know, take your note pads, take your pencils down, take your grunt-o-meters down, the fashion police, put everything away and just watch the match, you know, from just the fans' perspective. I seriously think that the quality of the match today was great." Maria on being coached from the player's box by her dad: "I mean, I look towards my box for, you know, to get me going. I don't -- I can't, I mean -- you think it's easy to hear what -- there are so many people in the stadium talking, you think it's easy to hear what one person's saying? I mean, I play by instincts on the court. I don't care, you know, if someone tells me to marry them, I'm not going to marry them, you know. If someone tells me do something else, I'm going to do everything my way. I'm not going to listen to what other people are saying to me."...From Matt Cronin writing for Tennisreporters.net: "The only positive to come out of Nicolas Kiefer's marathon five-set win over Sebastien Grosjean in the semis is that the whole tennis world finally saw what a jerk he is. The sour-pussed German is one of the most dour, confrontational and ill-mannered beings ever to set foot a Grand Slam court. He is against the world and believes the world is against him. As long as he comes out of top -- even in very minor contest, on court and off -- he's satisfied, but he'll go to demonic lengths to win. It was so obvious that in the 12h game of the fifth set that when Kiefer threw his racket across the court after fielding a drop shot that he distracted Grosjean, who muffed an easy forehand volley. Kiefer's racket sailed right in front of Grosjean' sight path. But was Kiefer a sportsman and conceded the point to his "friend?" No. Did he even offer to play two? No. He just walked back toward the baseline while the job-challenged umpire Carlos Bernades missed the call entirely, as did the supervisor Mike Morrissey, who sided with the umpire." And on ESPN's coverage of the Australian Open: "What's going on at ESPN during the AO? Why aren't the producers telling the talent to actually get out there and cast some strong opinions, or let the viewers in on some inside knowledge that they have. Saying that everyone is a "great player" or "played great," or is a great guy or gal isn't going to pull in more viewers. Part of the problem is that some of the talent is too close personally to the players and doesn't want to risk offending them. But, constructive criticism is never offensive and is far more interesting than some droll comment about player "X" having an off-day. I'm not going to take potshots at individual talent, but suffice to say that the only props I'm giving are to Luke Jensen (better bald than with hair and some interesting web blogs), Mary Carillo (interesting on any topic) and to Brad Gilbert, who still has a long way to go, but is improving with each broadcast."...Lleyton Hewitt says he will not play Davis Cup for Australia against Switzerland, citing an ankle turn in his second-round loss in Melbourne.

[Jimmy Hoffa]

I'm working on some badminton futures now.

Should be posted soon...

[Glaken]

Originally Posted by Jimmy Hoffa

I'm working on some badminton futures now.

Should be posted soon...

You know where to stick the Birdy .... Billy