On November 9, Andre Agassi released his autobiography titled "Open". About a week before the release, news got out from his book that in 1997 he used crystal meth. This may come as a shock to most of the world and maybe some of the tennis world, but to me this doesn't came as much of a surprise. As much as I admire Andre Agassi, he was known as the wild child of tennis. He changed the face of tennis with a short marriage to Brooke Shields, crazy hair, and a strange style of life.
When looking back at the time when Agassi took crystal meth, it is obvious that it impacted his career and in no way was it positive. Agassi dropped to No. 141 in the world and was playing worse than he had ever played before. After ridding the addiction, Agassi made the largest one-year jump into the top 10 in the history of the ATP rankings in the 1998 season. The next season, Andre went on to win the French Open to complete a career Grand Slam. Then he finished the year with winning the U.S. Open and finished No. 1 in the world.
Though I don't agree with Agassi decision to do drugs or his letting he wrote to the anti-doping agency filled with lies, I do agree with Agassi coming out about this. This little secret could have gone to the grave with him and that would have been fine also. But for Andre to be honest and truthful to his fans and peers his something that I will keep as a memory of him for a long time. One of his biggest reasons for telling this was in hope that others wouldn't follow in his footsteps and I praise Agassi for that move. He did to preserve the game that he loves and that's all anyone can ask for.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Federer vs. Roddick
This past summer at Wimbledon, the longest match according to games played occurred in the championship match between American, Andy Roddick, and Swiss tennis star, Roger Federer. Andy Roddick is considered to be one Federer's two rivals, the other being Rafael Nadal. Even though the Roddick-Federer rival is lopsided with Roger having the overall of 19-2 in 21 matches, each match is worth watching. This past summer at Wimbledon was nothing different from what has occurred between the two.
After 77 games, a record most at Wimbledon, the match finally ended with both players running on nothing but fumes. Federer won with a total of 5-7, 7-6 (8/6), 7-6 (7/5), 3-6, 16-14. And yes, those last numbers for that final set are correct. The final set went into 30 games, a record. Ironically enough, Federer played Nadal the year before in a defeat but recorded the longest times match of Wimbledon. So two years back-to-back of record breaking matches for Federer with his two rivals and he comes on top in victory in the last one.
With that upsetting win over Roddick, Federer passed Pete Sampras with his 15th grand slam setting the record. Despite the demoralizing loss that Roddick faced, it's similar ground for Andy. This is the third time that Roddick has lost in the finals to Federer at Wimbledon and once at the U.S. Open. This match though was one that took every once of energy from both sides and proved how much a green court, a racket, and a ball can do. It brings out passion of both sides and their love of the game.
After 77 games, a record most at Wimbledon, the match finally ended with both players running on nothing but fumes. Federer won with a total of 5-7, 7-6 (8/6), 7-6 (7/5), 3-6, 16-14. And yes, those last numbers for that final set are correct. The final set went into 30 games, a record. Ironically enough, Federer played Nadal the year before in a defeat but recorded the longest times match of Wimbledon. So two years back-to-back of record breaking matches for Federer with his two rivals and he comes on top in victory in the last one.
With that upsetting win over Roddick, Federer passed Pete Sampras with his 15th grand slam setting the record. Despite the demoralizing loss that Roddick faced, it's similar ground for Andy. This is the third time that Roddick has lost in the finals to Federer at Wimbledon and once at the U.S. Open. This match though was one that took every once of energy from both sides and proved how much a green court, a racket, and a ball can do. It brings out passion of both sides and their love of the game.
Ireland vs. France
In a November 18th match between Ireland and France, the deciding goal of the game and to put the winner into the World Cup was decided by a handball and an off sides all on one play. Some have criticized Thierry Henry for hand-balling the ball in the front of the goal to set up for the game winning goal in injury time. I personally, as a soccer player, do not see this as cheating. Though the outcome really sucks for Ireland and it may not be fair that France made it to the World Cup off of a missed call but that gives no one the right to call a player a cheater. Besides the fact that he did redirect the ball, it was an in the moment type of thing. Plenty of professionals have stated that they might have done the same thing. As you can see in the video, the first ball hit his forearm by accident, then he slapped it down with his hand to his foot and passed it across the goal for the win.
A lot of the media has been complaining for Henry to get suspended. I heard a commentator says this and I agree, what Henry did was breaking the rules but it's the same as tackling someone in a soccer game, or getting a yellow or red card. If you suspend Henry, then every time a player gets called for a foul, you have to suspend him too. So as much as this sucks for Ireland and even the credit for France being in the finals, Henry nor France should get in trouble for this. If FIFA wants to do something about it, had some sort of review system by the goal or add a few more officials to the field.
Calipari, the Cheater
John Calipari is probably one of the most praised and hated basketball coaches in college basketball. Calipari has been the head coach of now three college basketball program, University of Massachusetts, Memphis, and now Kentucky. Calipari was first caught cheating at the University of Massachusetts in 1996 after the NCAA found out that Marcus Camby, a player for UMass, had received money and gift from an agent. UMass was then forced to vacate it's 4-1 1996 NCAA record. Calipari left UMass after that season for the NBA to coach the Nets. Calipari would be setting a trend that he would soon follow again. After three unsuccessful season, Calipari was fired and soon found himself as the head coach of Memphis's basketball team. Calipari would stay from 2000-2009 and develop a successful program.
It didn't take long for controversy to arise at Memphis. In 2001, Calipari recruited Dajuan Wagner to Memphis. After the signing, Dajuan's father, Milt Wagner, was hired as the Coordinator of Basketball Operations. A little suspicious? I think so. The controversy at Memphis would not stop here, after the 2007-2008 season, the NCAA investigated a player. The player was Derrick Rose and he has someone take his SAT so that he could score high enough to get into Memphis and play one year of basketball for them. Memphis had also let Rose's brother, Reggie, travel with the team to road game for free. Another NCAA violation. When all the investigation was finished, the 2009 season was complete and Calipari had ruined yet another school. The entire 2007-2008 season was vacated, the season that Memphis was the runner-up for the National Championship.
Calipari once again, left another program in the hole. He then left for Kentucky, to become there head basketball coach. Though a successful coach, how could anyone want to play for or hire a man that does nothing but cheat a program? I don't understand why the NCAA punishes school and players for the school while Calipari gets away with it. They should definitely punish him from coaching. He doesn't love the game, he loves seeing how far he can go cheating it before getting caught.
It didn't take long for controversy to arise at Memphis. In 2001, Calipari recruited Dajuan Wagner to Memphis. After the signing, Dajuan's father, Milt Wagner, was hired as the Coordinator of Basketball Operations. A little suspicious? I think so. The controversy at Memphis would not stop here, after the 2007-2008 season, the NCAA investigated a player. The player was Derrick Rose and he has someone take his SAT so that he could score high enough to get into Memphis and play one year of basketball for them. Memphis had also let Rose's brother, Reggie, travel with the team to road game for free. Another NCAA violation. When all the investigation was finished, the 2009 season was complete and Calipari had ruined yet another school. The entire 2007-2008 season was vacated, the season that Memphis was the runner-up for the National Championship.
Calipari once again, left another program in the hole. He then left for Kentucky, to become there head basketball coach. Though a successful coach, how could anyone want to play for or hire a man that does nothing but cheat a program? I don't understand why the NCAA punishes school and players for the school while Calipari gets away with it. They should definitely punish him from coaching. He doesn't love the game, he loves seeing how far he can go cheating it before getting caught.
The Great Wall
John Wall, the phenomenon out of Raleigh, North Carolina, has been covering the highlights on ESPN lately. Being from Eastern North Carolina and a big fan of basketball, I had heard of John Wall since he was probably a sophomore in high school. He tore up 1-A high school basketball. People would come from 30 minutes to an hour away just to watch him play basketball. Wall was rated by Scouts.com to be one of the best high school basketball players in the nation for his grade and the best for the point guard position.
When it came to John Wall making his decision on what college he wanted to attend, he waited until practically the last minute. Wall waited until May 19, 2009 to make his decision on attending Kentucky; about a month and half after John Calipari left Memphis to become the head coach of Kentucky. About 15 days after Calipari became the head coach, DeMarcus Cousins committed to attend Kentucky. John Calipari has been known for coaching remarkable basketball players for one year so that they can go on and do well in the NBA. This decision for Cousins to be attending Kentucky then led to John Wall's decision.
I personally think that the NCAA should change their rules on players attending college. They should make it the same as college baseball, either go pro from high school or stay three years. If this were true, then John Wall would have never had to wait so long to make a decision and the same goes for DeMarcus Cousins. John Wall's decision for college was based on which program and coach can give him the best spotlight and opportunities in one year of college basketball. Maybe I'm just a bitter Carolina fan, but this would prevent him from tearing up college hoops for one year and then leave the game. This personally frustrates a fan of college hoops. I love players to stay for a while and I can see them develop. John Wall and all these other players are great basketball players, but they're only in it for the self recognition and money. Hardly little love for the game.
When it came to John Wall making his decision on what college he wanted to attend, he waited until practically the last minute. Wall waited until May 19, 2009 to make his decision on attending Kentucky; about a month and half after John Calipari left Memphis to become the head coach of Kentucky. About 15 days after Calipari became the head coach, DeMarcus Cousins committed to attend Kentucky. John Calipari has been known for coaching remarkable basketball players for one year so that they can go on and do well in the NBA. This decision for Cousins to be attending Kentucky then led to John Wall's decision.
I personally think that the NCAA should change their rules on players attending college. They should make it the same as college baseball, either go pro from high school or stay three years. If this were true, then John Wall would have never had to wait so long to make a decision and the same goes for DeMarcus Cousins. John Wall's decision for college was based on which program and coach can give him the best spotlight and opportunities in one year of college basketball. Maybe I'm just a bitter Carolina fan, but this would prevent him from tearing up college hoops for one year and then leave the game. This personally frustrates a fan of college hoops. I love players to stay for a while and I can see them develop. John Wall and all these other players are great basketball players, but they're only in it for the self recognition and money. Hardly little love for the game.
Tiger Woods
In June of 2008, Tiger Woods won once again another U.S. Open. This win was different of any other win and will probably go down in history as his best win of all time. It took Woods 91 holes of play to win, including a 19 hole playoff.
Two months prior to playing at Torrey Pines, Woods had knee surgery and it was still uncertain on whether he would play. Woods played through some pain in the U.S. Open, limping from hole to hole and stating that that he was in severe pain. Two days after defeating Rocco Mediate in an epic playoff, Tiger revealed that he had played through the open with a torn ACL and would need to undergo surgery to repair his left knee. Woods also told media that he had been playing for the previous ten months with a torn ligament in his left knee and due to that sustained a double stress fracture in his left tibia.
"The atmosphere is what kept me going," Woods said. "The tournament, being a major championship here at Torrey Pines, all the people, it could have very easily ... I couldn't ever quit in front of these people. It wasn't going to happen." - ESPN.com (Tiger puts away Mediate on 91st hole to win U.S. Open)
From this quote, one can tell that Woods desire to win is something that pushes pain and physical comfort out of the way. Woods love for the game and love for self recognition pushed him to win once again another major.
Two months prior to playing at Torrey Pines, Woods had knee surgery and it was still uncertain on whether he would play. Woods played through some pain in the U.S. Open, limping from hole to hole and stating that that he was in severe pain. Two days after defeating Rocco Mediate in an epic playoff, Tiger revealed that he had played through the open with a torn ACL and would need to undergo surgery to repair his left knee. Woods also told media that he had been playing for the previous ten months with a torn ligament in his left knee and due to that sustained a double stress fracture in his left tibia.
"The atmosphere is what kept me going," Woods said. "The tournament, being a major championship here at Torrey Pines, all the people, it could have very easily ... I couldn't ever quit in front of these people. It wasn't going to happen." - ESPN.com (Tiger puts away Mediate on 91st hole to win U.S. Open)
From this quote, one can tell that Woods desire to win is something that pushes pain and physical comfort out of the way. Woods love for the game and love for self recognition pushed him to win once again another major.
Melanie Oudin
Melanie Oudin, 17 year old tennis star from Marietta, Georgia, tore up the 2009 U.S. Open this past summer. She sent home consistent superstars such as currently ranked number 4 Elena Dementieva from Russia along with former number 1 Maria Sharapova also reigning from Russia. The tennis star from Marietta had already received great recognition from the media, but could she advance on through this tournament or were these wins just a little Cinderella story. Well it turns out that she would go on to beat Nadia Petrova, the 13th ranked player also from Russia, in the Fourth Round of the Woman's U.S. Open Draw.
Melanie was then heading on into the quarterfinals which means she she would is one of the final 8 players left in the world of woman's tennis. Even with the hype of the media praising on Melanie and her whole home town in anticipation of her every move, a loss in this round would still be understandable. But, Melanie falls short of advancing on with loss to the number 9th ranked tennis player in the world, Caroline Wozniacki, in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2. Despite the brevity of the match, I still don't think anyone could have written this story any better for Melanie, unless it resulting in being the champion. She went on to tear up the media world covering almost every story line and winning over the hearts of Americans. Her love for the game of tennis is a story that I believe any sports fan and even a non-sports fan can relate with. Her passion for her love, tennis, is something that everyone has, but more than likely that passion lies with something else. Melanie's passion lies with a racket, a ball, and a tennis court. Nothing else matters.
Melanie was then heading on into the quarterfinals which means she she would is one of the final 8 players left in the world of woman's tennis. Even with the hype of the media praising on Melanie and her whole home town in anticipation of her every move, a loss in this round would still be understandable. But, Melanie falls short of advancing on with loss to the number 9th ranked tennis player in the world, Caroline Wozniacki, in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2. Despite the brevity of the match, I still don't think anyone could have written this story any better for Melanie, unless it resulting in being the champion. She went on to tear up the media world covering almost every story line and winning over the hearts of Americans. Her love for the game of tennis is a story that I believe any sports fan and even a non-sports fan can relate with. Her passion for her love, tennis, is something that everyone has, but more than likely that passion lies with something else. Melanie's passion lies with a racket, a ball, and a tennis court. Nothing else matters.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)