I know – most of you don’t really follow tennis and if truth be told, you would prefer more golf chatter. But that is one of the advantages of being the blogger vs. the bloggee. SU is a big Djokovic fan and although he has only won the US Open one time, I think he will add #2 in two weeks time. He has a potential quarterfinal match up with Nadal which would be entertaining and of course, Federer and Murray are both playing great this year. It often comes down to the weather. Djokovic seems to not like playing in the extreme heat even though he’s in great shape. I do think the 3 out of 5 set format helps him against both Murray and Federer and he will make it through to collect another grand slam.
On the women’s side, SU is not a Serena fan. It’s always all about her and she has never been gracious to her opponents when she loses. She also berated that lineswoman here in NY several years back and never fully apologized for that either. While I can’t actually identify any player who can beat her, I will take the rest of the field and say she will come up short of winning the Grand Slam. I actually think she will go out before the semi-finals as the pressure gets to her. It’s hard to actually identify any player who can beat her but I think it will be someone not in the top 10.
Stephen Drew is torturing SU. Just when you think the Yankees will finally look at someone else to play 2nd base, he comes through with a 4 for 4 day to get his average over .200. I actually called the homerun yesterday although I was watching by myself. You just knew he was going to do it and guarantee himself 4 more weeks of starting at 2nd base. But when he talks about his performance, there is no apology for the .200 average. He talks like it’s just fine and he deserves to be starting. Man, the Atlanta Braves are a bad, bad team. SU will be interested to see how the Yankees hit over the next week against the Red Sox and Rays. The 20-run games cover up statistics-wise for all of the 1- and 2-run efforts by the offense.
The Mets came back down to earth for a couple of games but that’s baseball. You don’t win all of the close games. They are still right where they need to be. The line up is so much more complete and balanced now. You have to give Alderson props for the moves he’s made this year at the trade deadline.
Sports Update Intergalactic 
I gave no credit to Toronto for their moves at the trade deadline but they just keep winning. I still think it’s a result of their record finally matching their ability (their run differential has been near the top of the league all year) rather than the moves they made.
I think the David Price addition gave them a lot more attitude and confidence. And Tulowitzki is much better than Reyes at this point in both of their careers. Plus they reinforced their bullpen which has not been as heralded but I think was just as important.
I caught the last few innings of Arrieta’s no hitter. What dominating stuff he had. Every pitch was working and he hit 95 mph in the last inning. Impressive. I guess it helps that the Dodgers think that Rollins and Utley are actually major league hitters and keep putting them in the lineup. With those two and the pitcher the Dodgers are only batting 6 hitters, and that does not even take into account Pederson who may have actually had the first negative batting average for the month of August in baseball history. If Arrieta and Lester can get it going in the postseason the Cubs could be a tough out. If the Dodgers fail to make the postseason or lose in the first round then Mattingly and McGwire are an easy out.
What about the euphoria and then disappointment for the Pennsylvania Little League team? To score 10 runs in the first and then only score one more the rest of the way and lose 18-11 had to be disheartening. However, knowing how hard it is just to get to the LLWS those kids have to be quite happy and their parents quite proud. Now those families can get back to their regular day jobs (from which they may have been fired due to the commitment to LL Baseball) and eat regular food. Plus, when you are playing against 13-14 year olds (or maybe older) from these other countries you are playing from behind at the start.
The Braves are so amazingly bad. I don’t even want to talk about it. The worst thing about it (outside the very unfortunate death of the man yelling at A-Rod) is that because of management’s decision to tank for two years they are going to keep Fredi Gonzalez as the manager. Hey, any time you can keep a Class A ball quality bullpen coach as your major league manager you have to do it.
Pete, I saw that the US was up 10-2 after one inning. Shocking they lost that way but hey, these are 12 year old kids (we think). The Braves have hit rock bottom. Long way to go back to respectability. They need to get there in time for the new stadium.
I’m the only sports fan who thinks there should be less sports on TV. I don’t think Little League baseball (even the LLWS) belongs on TV. These are kids and they should be playing in front of family and friends and the rest of us should be watching the professionals. But I’m also the only person in the country who doesn’t think college sports should be on TV either. I know few will agree with me but just wait until these 12 year old kids start looking for salaries and union representation.
The linesman called a dubious foot fault on a second serve at break point. Serena should have shoved the ball down her throat.
Many times (not always) Serena has been gracious towards her opponents but that has not been recognized.
Hey, rules are rules. I believe it’s the same thing in golf right? I don’t think you would see Federer or Nadal say the same thing. Serena has been more gracious the last couple of years. But both Venus and her for most of their careers are always all about their own games vs. crediting the opponent. It would be interesting to see a Venus-Serena match up at the US Open this year.
3 sure things in life – death, taxes, and a Yankee hot streak after they get buried by SU.
Whichever way folks try to explain it, Serena is just not very likeable. The men’s bracket is shaping up to be interesting in the Open. Roger is looking tough again, Nadal is definitely playing better, and Djoko has been very consistent every time out. There are a number of good match ups outside those three as well.
For the you’ve got to be kidding me pile: Tristan Thompson is looking for a max deal. Good luck with that. There is probably a (Canadien) team out there dumb enough to do it but lets see how well he works out when he’s not playing next to LeBron.
Mark, I agree about Thompson. The road is littered with blue collar, hard working type guys who are given big contracts that do not come close to fulfilling their potential. These types of players need to be in a certain situation and they will not thrive just anywhere. Thompson could stay for less in Cleveland and pick up a few rings but I suspect he will go for something less than max money and have a pretty unspectacular career.