Any Tennis Fans In Here

[Ron61]

Have any of you been watching the U.S. Open? I try to watch as much of it as I can. Weather is typical humid and hot. So far some very good games and a few that were really bad.

Ron

[CSX4236]

Ron,
Glad to see at least 1 other fan in the audience. I was there last weekend and saw some really good tennis plus the weather was perfect. Really disappointed I didn't get to see Ivanovich. Doubles, in person, is the best. It's fast but with style, just like a Cobra. NY is fun but EXPENSIVE! Would love to see anyone but Nadal win this thing. Can't stand him picking his butt all the time...cheers! Enjoy the show...

-lb

[wtm442]

Is that the game that the girls in short skirts run around hitting balls and grunting all the time?

I watch it sometimes when there is a test pattern on all the other 99 channels.

[427 S/O]

talent and personalities make the game, we just haven't had any personalities in the last few years......imo..

[Buzz]

Quite true, Perry. The days of Connors and Johnny Mac are gone - personality wise anyway. The talent is definitely there but personalities make a huge difference (look at boxing for example). I've played tennis 3 times a week for most of my life. A hard fought singles match is one step down from boxing or open hand combat in the sense that you can brutally slug it out with an opponent without actually busting each other up and (usually) have a cold beer afterwards.

[Ron61]

Actually it was Johnny Mac that really got me interested in Tennis. Until he came along it reminded me of a proper British parlor game where no one could question anything or lord forgive, yell at the umpire. I agree there is a lot of talent out there, but sorely lacking in personality.

I believe myself that Tennis requires the most athletic ability and stamina of any sport as they have to play for hours in hot, humid sun and get only a few short breaks. In other sports they can take players out and rest them for periods of time.

I wish I could have gone to Flushing Meadows when I was young and we lived in upstate New York as it looks like a really nice place on TV.

Ron

[427 S/O]

I was glued to the TV when Conner's 'almost' made it to the finals many years ago. At 41He was considered old and passed his prime, but man! did that guy fight.

[Ron61]

Ah the great old days. Conners, Everet, Becker, Graph, Agassie, and the rest who really made tennis in my opinion. John McEnroe still looks very good and trim when they show him on TV in tha announcers booth. And then there is Roger Fedderer. Even though he has dropped all the way down to # 2 in the world, he held the # 1 ranking for I think they said 352 straight weeks, Far and away more than any other person ever has.

Ron

[Buzz]

Originally Posted by 427 S/O

I was glued to the TV when Conner's 'almost' made it to the finals many years ago. At 41He was considered old and passed his prime, but man! did that guy fight.

Man, was that a display of heart or what! Sheer guts and determination. What a soldier he would have made. A few good men with that kind of stuff could take on half the world and kick a ton of a$$.

[Ron61]

Serena won the women's title and now the men's title game should be really good. Nadal sure wasn't in control of his semi final match at any time except in the 3rd set he showed some flashes of playing like he normally does.

Darn but Flushing Meadows is a pretty place when they show it from the air. I would like to go there sometime but never will make it.

Ron

[Buzz]

I was happy to see Serena pull it off last night. I'm not too fond of Jankovic, plus I've generally always rooted for the Americans at the US Open. Roddick continues to be a disappointment - he's over dependent on his big serve and never put the discipline and effort into the rest of his game. Connors coached him for a while and tried to pass on some of his mojo, but you can only lead a horse to water...

I wanted Nadal to win yesterday. Murray is a bit of a moron and a Federer/Nadal battle would have been a great finale to the season. Nadal had a chance to make history too, as the first man to win the French, Wimbledon and the US Open in the same year since Rod Laver did it in 1969.

Last year, five of us planned a group trip to the Open this year, but two of them went and had "new additions" to their families and - so much for that. Maybe next year.

[Ron61]

Buzz,

I was hoping that Serena would win also. I just never thought that Nadal played anywhere near up to his normal level and Murray went through the whole tournament so far on a high. I hope that Federer wins as that would give him 5 straight open titles.

To bad about your planned trip. Now don't you go and mess up your next planned trip to the Open.

Ron

[Buzz]

Many think that the sheer number of matches Nadal has played going the distance in every tournament plus the olympics, combined with his brutal playing style has just taken its toll on him physically and mentally.

The only new additions to my family were 13(!) Bull Mastiff/Belgian Shepherd pups six weeks ago courtesy of the beautiful Daisy Duke and that rascal shepherd Julius Caesar. We're in the process of hooking them up with good homes right now as our dog family is at full capacity. They had a litter of ten in January and we kept one male, The Outlaw Josey Wales who is already at 125 lbs and catching up to his mother, now a bit light at 145 after giving birth. We definitely have to get her fixed this time - 13 playful, hungry little furballs are quite a handfull!

[Ron61]

I don't doubt that his style has taken a toll on him, and the number of matches he has played in the past year. He even looked tired at times which is unusual for him. I think that tennis is the sport that a person has to be in the best physical and mental shape to play at that level. All other sports they can take breaks and rest. But a 3 minute break between sets in hot, humid weather really isn't much.

Glad to hear that your family additions are doing well. I like that name, The Outlaw Josey Wales. I also enjoyed the movie.

Ron

[427 S/O]

One way to get tennis back on the front page....have McEnroe ump!.

[Ron61]

I watched the men's finals yesterday and Federer won pretty easy. He had one set that he was pushed but now he holds two records and is just one Grand Slam away from tying Pete Samparas record of 14 slams won. He is the only person to win two major slams 5 times in a row, Wimbledon and the U.s. Open. Also he holds the record by far as to being ranked number 1 for then most consecutive weeks.

Ron