Monday, March 26, 2012

Highlight Reel

Grigor uses all his assets to play defense in his first top 10 win.


This was nice to see.



Rafa has a nice reply to this volley.

Friday, March 23, 2012

Passing Shots: Olympics

Visa Commercials:

Nastia Liukin:

Michael Phelps:

Li Na:

Pacific Rim Gymnastics:

Senior Event Finals:

Charlotte Sullivan from Christchurch New Zealand only 13 years old. She is too young to be at the Olympics or World Championships for a few years still but looking forward to hopefully seeing her there in the future. Listen to Team New Zealand's story here.

Roster announced for USWNT games in Japan

April 1 at  6:30 a.m. ET vs Japan
April 3 at 7 a.m. ET vs Brazil
Both games will be live on ESPN2 and ESPN3

Torch Bearers and Olympic Kits



What Andy Murray will be wearing at the Olympics.  I think it would look better with more red in the shorts or possibly just red shorts all together. 



Oh Wells

The final weekend of Indian Wells had surprises, weather,  drama along the way. Let us start with the ladies in the semifinals Vika went through to the final relaitivly comfortably. The match for the other spot in the final was not without drama as one Australian Open final rematch that of the 2008 final gave way to another Aussie Open rematch. When Ana Ivanovic had to retire within the first two games of the second set against Maria Sharapova with a hip injury. The final was the top two seeds which had not happened on the WTA in over four years. Maria had few answers to Vika's game as the number one went to 23-0 winning her first Indian Wells singles title.


While the ladies final lived up to its seeding, one of the more unexpected twists of the weekend was that the men did not, as the third seeded Federer faced the eleventh seeded Isner. Isner defeated the number one seed in three sets closing it out in a third set tiebreaker. Then after an almost four hour rain delay, the second semi final got under way between Federer and Nadal. This match was frankly a mess of conditons in that Roger dealt with way more than Rafa. Actually, at times it seemed like Rafa wasn't even dealing with the conditions. He was just trying to play his normal patterns against Roger in which, like their matched on the indoor low bouncing courts, he left the ball in Roger's strike zone where Roger barely missed. By the time Rafa realized that he needed to hit through the court, he was already down a double break with Roger serving for the match. In that game, down 5-2, Rafa hit through the court to break then hold for 5-4.  The game in which Roger closed out the match had to be one of the more bizarre service games I had ever seen after getting the score to 30-All. Rafa nets a forehand into the middle of the net to give Roger match point. Then the sky opens up for which causes about a five minute delay after the delay Roger hit an ace and it was over. In the final the first set was decided in a tight tiebreaker which Roger won he them broke John's serve early in the second set to win in straights. So what do I think we learned from here Roger has not gone any where having only lost two matches since the US Open to Rafa and John who he beat this weekend. Welcome to the top ten John hope you can stay a while and that even after a month and a half off Rafa was really not as rusty as I thought he would be except for his tactical errors in the semifinals where he just did not adjust his game to the conditions before it was too late and Roger took advantage.

It was that kind of day for Big John. 

Then came the men's doubles final was something I really looked forward too. After not being able to see the doubles at all I was very excited that Rafa and Marc Lopez had advanced to the finally supposed to be televised but eventually shown on espn3 doubles final against John and Sam Querrey. Marc was the star of this show with his awesome doubles skills. Rafa and Marc won the first set breaking Sam's serve a few times. It was a fun match with lots of great rallies that saw Rafa and Marc win in straight sets closing it out in a second set tiebreaker. It was a bummer to see John lose in two finals on the same day but he put in three great performances against the top three players over two days and came out of it with one win and a spot in the top ten. As for Rafa it was the first final he had won since Roland Garros last year and the first title he had one on a hard court since Tokyo 2010. It might just be doubles but I think it matters and when you see the look on his face and how he was holding on to that trophy it looked like it mattered a whole lot to me. 




Thursday, March 15, 2012

No Doubles Lovin'

There were very many disappointed fans when Rafa Nadal's and Marc Lopez's doubles semi final was not able to be viewed Thursday night. Lindsay Davenport tweeted: "For everyone wondering why certain matches (including dubs) aren't broadcasted, it's not up to @TennisChannel.They don't control the cameras...So even though @TennisChannel wants to show certain matches, there are no camera men working the courts..hence no feed." I wonder who is in charge of the cameras because matches like these are fun to watch. Rafa and Marc advanced to the double final which will be aired on Tennis Channel at 7:30 PM est on Saturday night. 

He's floating.

Splitting the middle.

They survive to Vamos Adorably another day. 



Desert Delight

Ana Ivanovic won this battle of former number ones, golfer WAGs and ohh yeah thats right never mind. 

Ohh pretty Pablo Andujar you fought hard. Well done.

Yeah Vika we know your number one and 21-0 on the season.


That face means Daddy must have just hit an error. 

Guess whose back....

Rafa is back after his February hibernating.

Ohh Thomaz Bellucci it's not your game it you brain. 

This episode did not have the ending that The O.C wanted but he fought hard to take the second set after facing match points and being breaker bageled in the first set.  

Thursday, March 8, 2012

Doubles Fun: Indian Wells

I think that Indian Wells is one of the best events all year for exciting doubles pairings. Everyone seems to be playing and it's fun to see the singles players out playing doubles.


We have the defending Doubles Champions: Alexandr Dolgopolov and Xavier Malisse.

The 2010 Indian Wells Doubles Champions: Rafael Nadal and Marc Lopez.

The 2009 Champions: Andy Roddick and Mardy Fish.

Here is the full draw for the men.

Petra Kvitova and Victoria Azerenka are teaming up as a wild card team.

Sam Stosur and Casey Dellacqua

Julia Goerges and Sabine Lisicki


Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Fake Out

Roger Federer and Andy Roddick were playing Madison Square Garden exhobition. In the middle of the first set someone in the crowd yelled out "Go Rafa" right before Andy was going to serve. Andy  obliged by rolling up his sleeves, whipping those forehands from seven hundred feet behind the baseline and ended with a wining shot complete with fist pump. He then went on to break Federer twice in the set and win the second in a tie breaker after they traded breaks in the second. 

Highlight Reel: American Cup

The American Cup was held this past Saturday at Madison Square Garden. While the status quo was held up with Jordyn Weiber winning her second consecutive and third American Cup in all. Gabby Douglas put a bit of a jolt into the event when she finished with a higher score then Weiber for her scored exhibition routines.


Full Broadcast

Aly Raisman's amazing Amanar that wasn't shown in the broadcast.

Watch more videos on Gymnastike

Gabby Douglas Routines:

Vault:


Uneven Bars:


Feature on American Cup at MSG and how it seems to bred Olympic Champions


NBC Olympics Gymnastics Promo:

Friday, March 2, 2012

Three Queens




Mary Lou Retton, Carly Patterson and Nastia Liukin were on the Today show this morning. The American Cup which they have all also won is tomorrow at Madison Square Garden.

1984: Los Angeles

2004: Athens

2008: Beijing

Will there be a fourth member of this exclusive club come July?