Let’s see … Willie Randolph managed the Mets to a 2008 record of 34 wins and 35 losses. Jerry Manuel has 6 wins and 7 losses so far. Looks like the move was necessary so that they wouldn’t fall two games below .500…
While I realize I’m rather late to the party in reporting this, my Wimbledon prediction hasn’t changed since 2004 – Federer in straight sets over some other guy. That being said, some of my other predictions (which were also unreported) are coming to fruition. I believed that Mario Ancic would make a big step forward after missing a ton of time will illnesses and injuries. (C’mon … how can you root against someone who looks as much like Ralph Macchio as he does?) I also thought that Andy Murray would do well, even though he’s about to lose to Rafael Nadal. And, of course, I knew that Andy Roddick and James Blake would do their patented “get everyone in America excited about our chances at The Championships and then fizzle out quickly without putting up much of a fight” routine. Only they failed on the “get everyone in America excited” part.
On the women’s side, all the top seeds and major names are gone, save for the Williams sisters. So what does that mean? Every media outlet in the country is predicting an all-Williams final. While the odds of that are still slim, I guess I understand the sentiment. I, along with these “experts,” pine for the days when the three non-US tennis majors were a hot topic around the water cooler. (Disclaimer: I’ve only worked in an office for ten months, so any water-cooler talk predating 2007 did not include me. Furthermore, no one seems to talk around the water cooler anyway, so I don’t even understand how this term got started.) It has nothing to do with the level of play decreasing. In fact, just the opposite is true. Obviously it has to do mostly with the fact that there are no great American players. Sure, the aforementioned Williams sisters are super-talented, but they’re getting old for tennis and don’t play consistently anyway. Maybe it doesn’t even matter how popular the sport is … it’s just nice to know that everyone else cares as much about some things as you do. Tennis is one of those things for me. Egyptian hieroglyphics is another, but that’s a topic for a different day.
Did anyone else laugh really hard when the Knicks drafted an unknown foreign player? It was reminiscent of Kyle Brady’s introduction as a Jet. I guess Mike D’Antoni and company figured the only way to effectively clear up cap space within the next decade is to get a bunch of players who’ll work for free.
And just what exactly are the Nets doing? Richard Jefferson is a better player to build around than Vince “I’ll shoot 3 for 17 when my team needs me to play like the superstar I like to think that I am” Carter. I guess it’s partly due to the fact that Carter’s trade value is in the toilet because of his large contract and overwhelming level of suck. Still, they sure seem to have entered the 2010 LeBron James free agency sweepstakes a little early.
Lastly, I’d like to make it clear that the ever-rising price of gasoline doesn’t really affect me all that much. And by “doesn’t really affect me all that much,” I actually mean “is the worst thing that’s ever happened considering I commute 80 miles to and from work each day.” Had I anticipated this increase, I never would have splurged for that shiny circular object six months ago. My fiancée Kennedy says that I’m overacting and being childish. She might be onto something. Irregardless (which, Dear Readers, is not an actual word and should never, ever be used), I have decided that this fuel-frenzy will dictate my summer sport preferences. What mean I, you ask? Simple: the only sport that as far I can tell requires no gasoline (whether for travel or otherwise) is cycling. So my summer viewing will consist only of the Tour de France. My prediction? Some dude on ‘roids at three under par. (What do you mean “they don’t have par in bicycle races”?) And before you nail me with “what about swimming or track at the Olympics,” allow me to point out that not only are the Olympics sooooo 776 BCE, but they’re also an exhibition and therefore don’t count. Like an expired coupon or something…
July 1, 2008 at 11:20 am |
Thank you for the nets discussion in your blog. I think everyone will agree that there is no Labron James sweepstake, this is a done deal, already been worked out (Thank you Jay-Z), the day dude can get out of his contract, he will have a max deal worked out with the nets, his kids will have do nothing front office positions (ala Willis Reid) and they will also have about 2 billion in advertising locked up for him and his wife/girlfriend (just like J.Kidd’s ex) in the new york/new jersey market. Its never too early to start positioning, get your ducks in a row, find some mediocre talent on the front line to defend and rebound, and maybe somebody who can shoot from the outside. Sorry to see Jefferson go, but 2010 is not that far away. We need to be ready.
Also, I disagree with no american tennis discussion, I would much rather watch Federer dominate, I dont care if he is swiss. but honestly, I have not even done that, I barely turn my head during the sportcenter update.
Last though, although it make me extremely happy, even I can’t believe how far the knicks organization has fallen, they are going to suck for the next 15 years, they better hope there is another Kevin Mchale out there wanting to stike a deal, or another team that is willing to make a Kwame brown deal with them.
July 2, 2008 at 7:50 am |
Is Tennis still a sport? I do agree that the Knicks are a disaster. But hey, last time they drafted a foreign player, it was Fererick Weiss, and look how that turned out……