morning emma.
how is the weather over there? any break from the brutal winter yet?
it is finally starting to warm up here. it looks like it is going to be a great day here on the gulf coast.
I am going to get out and enjoy it. I will definitely do a bike ride along the ocean.
later this evening we will look for the Rotterdam draw. Andy is progressing nicely.
maybe he can snatch the title.
nole is probably getting married this year.
was it general Tee that predicted this?
But that's a prediction. Is there any other news that confirms it or is it just a wishful thinking from a Nadal fan's perspective?
that is the word on the street now.
there was some news to that effect in our breaking tennis news tickers at the top of the page as well.
we will just have to see.
morning emma.
how is the weather over there? any break from the brutal winter yet?
it is finally starting to warm up here. it looks like it is going to be a great day here on the gulf coast.
I am going to get out and enjoy it. I will definitely do a bike ride along the ocean.
later this evening we will look for the Rotterdam draw. Andy is progressing nicely.
maybe he can snatch the title.
We had a big snow storm on Wednesday so still recovering from that. It's not as cold, you know from a Canadian's perspective, but outsiders might find it cold. It's been sunny and bright since Wednesday though but we are getting another round tomorrow on Sunday. February is supposed to be worst month winterwise in Canada though so let's see how that turns out in the end. It's been a terrible winter so far no doubt.
I just found out yesterday that Andy's back home and now heading for Rotterdam. Took a wild card there and even though no Rafa or Nole or even Roger there, the field still looks strong with Berdcyh, Del Potro, Tsogna etc. around. I heard Stan has pulled out.
Let's see how it turns out. Andy did well at DC just the week before but I feel here is his real test. He should win it if he's injury free (that is if the back has healed 100%) and match fit. And of course serious. I think he's serious otherwise he wouldn't have flown all the way from US to the Netherlands.
that is the word on the street now.
there was some news to that effect in our breaking tennis news tickers at the top of the page as well.
we will just have to see.
I heard directly from the horse's mouth that he's gunning to win RG this year.
And since Nole is engaged anyway, I don't think the marriage itself is big news. Hopefully if anything, it will motivate him more to achieve bigger things. He's very good for tennis. And I am sure he hired BB for a reason. Whatever BB teaches him I am sure it will take a few months for it all to reflect on his game. If Federer can play still now I am sure Nole will be encouraged to play just as long if not longer. He seems mighty fit too.
Thanks for reminding us, Emma, of the Great Pete Sampras. I loved his demeanor and uncompromising personality. He never changed who he was for anybody. He remained true to himself. Very cool.
My favorite memory, well one of my favorites was the light bulbs going off when he won Wimbledon, the vindication at the USO, the quarterfinal against Andre with four 7-6 sets, and the Krajicek tiebreaker where he was down 6-1, I think, and came back to win the set.
Pete was a beast.
Pete was a beast on court no doubt but he was also physically very artistic since his movement was that of a cheetah and he would never grunt. So he was more of a beast on the mental aspects of things as he really hated to lose. The only criticism he had ever received during his time was that some found him boring, since he really didn't have the flamboyant character like Agassi's or McEnroe's or some of today's players. He was even told to change his character for the limelight purpose but he found the suggestion utterly ridiculous.
Here's a beautiful documentary on him. It covers most of the important things that happened during his career. If there's one child out there who's got big dreams but doesn't know how to go on about it, this is the right video for him. He's not only a great human being and an amazing player, but he's also a great role model for all the kids out there who are trying to break into tennis. No wonder so many of today's players see him as their idol and try to model at least some aspect of his game. I always call him the quiet champion.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NlradLtf5Q
Wow, that's really deep, Emma. I know exactly what you're describing here. I had the same experience as the guy in your lecture and I did make the choice, but it was fraught with difficulties. However, they were difficulties that purged me of previous ideas. Still, that feeling that you say have may stay in your mind for years, but now is not the time. When the time comes you won't be able to still that voice. It may come suddenly, but you when the actual time comes you will have peace.
I took it as a sign since I really had no reason to wake up just after an hour and half sleep in the middle of a night, and listen to that particular teacher which then led me to listen that particular line that then ended up alarming me. Anyway, I am not taking any drastic decisions of course but it does seem hints are being dropped every now and then. So that means if I don't do anything right now things will be forced to happen to me if it is meant to be that way. You know how people don't like sudden change since there are so many 'unknown' elements to it, even when they live in really tight circumstances and badly need a way out, but still somehow they are much more afraid of the 'change'. What's worse or perhaps not, is the fact that, my boss is forcing me to go for bigger things and frankly, not only I don't know if that's the way I should go since I am not really that ambitious but also, this means, I will have to cut down a lot of stuff that I love doing in my spare time including watching tennis of course, but I mean mostly the researches and study that I do to make myself become more aware or say, spiritual. I am definitely sitting on a fence right now and the feeling is not comfortable. But you maybe right as well, now may just not be the time.
Maybe I will just go with the flow and see what unfolds before my very eyes.
I like this picture. This is the first time I am seeing it I must admit. What's that in that glass in front of Andy? Is it wine? Andy doesn't drink so I wonder what that might be?
general CETSVids is rocking this place.
check out his latest entries. he is on a mission to stock his center with the matches from the greatest rivalries in tennis.
he has already starting adding the greatest matches in history from the Federer vs Nadal rivalry.
its is Rafa vs Roger at Camelot:
**general CETSVids spans the globe to bring the fans of the tennis from all over the globe the greatest matches in tennis history.
In my honest opinion, I find it the worst rivalry in history. The match up issue is too big for it to be attractive or even competitive. And their exchanges are very predictable and monotonous due to the match-up issue. If I were a Federer fan, I wouldn't be wasting my time watching a lot of these matches. Not all of them are bad though and may be there are some hidden gems there too, but I find it to be rare. I do think it's a much better proposition for Nadal fans.
nole posted on his facebook page that he is "all set to win the French open":
It's no secret that I'm all set to win ROLAND-GARROS, but how about my new sponsor Peugeot !! They made me start clay court preparations a bit sooner than i planned haha, better safe than sorry! Fingers crossed it works
Nije tajna da sam potpuno fokusiran na osvajanje RGa ove godine, ali tek moj novi sponzor!!! Haha, zbog njih sam mnogo ranije nego planirano otpoceo pripreme za sljaku sto je sigurno, sigurno je
So how does Nadal fans feel about this? I am sure Nole is serious but do you feel he's there to make this extra step that I really think he should have done it at least 2 years ago? But sadly when it comes to RG, he's still mentally fragile against Nadal. So saying is definitely one thing but doing it quite another. It will have to be a quantum leap for him to finally make it but of course things can open up for him otherwise too if someone takes, say, Nadal out.
Hello everyone.
I haven't really been in the mood to post lately. My dog died a while ago and it was really horrible for me. It all happened so quickly and unexpectedly.
I'm still not over it and I think I won't be the same for a while. Getting a new dog is out of question for me at the moment. I don't know where I will be in the next few years. Actually it was my dog which kept me from moving away for all these years. Now I have nothing holding me back anymore. I have my family and friends but they could come to visit me anywhere in the world.
I'm also very heart-broken at the moment. Actually I have been feeling like this for quite some time but always had something to keep my hope alive. Just at the moment I feel like this person is completely slipping away from me. It is a really long story and at the moment it is just driving me insane. If I could, I would spend all day in bed just crying and blaming myself.
Anyway, I'm off to keep myself busy with tennis, TV series and online shopping for make-up and other beauty items.
