Funny thing about Facebook, you realize that you really can’t remember everyone you meet in your life. I keep on seeing familiar names and familiar faces and sometimes I cannot match them. It’s particularly embarrassing when somebody sends you a message talking about stuff that you’re supposed to know but then you realize it has left you. Time passing, what can I say. I used to feel so guilty, but thinking about it too much would just give me reason to make use of the best wrinkle cream. So I’m giving myself a pass. But I need to remember better, too.
This has got to be one of my favorite tennis videos. Like, ever. Thanks to the very creative YouTube uploader.
First, the subtitles are completely false (except perhaps for a few things, like names mentioned). The commentator sounds like he is cheering for Federer and someone thought to make his own interpretations of the rather overly enthusiastic comments about our hgh (his greatest-of-all-time highness) Federer.
Roger Federer’s fans, rather expectedly, range from the average tennis spectator, his colleagues, journalists, fellow athletes, and fellow sporting heroes. I’ll never forget the late David Foster Wallace’s New York Times piece “Federer as a Religious Experience.” Take it as you will, but it was written with such passion for both the sport and the talent of the man who accomplished enough to transcend it.
Then there’s this interview with Olympic gold medalist Lindsey Vonn (alpine skier). What got my attention is this part (because I’ve always wondered about it):
You got to meet him after this year’s French Open final. What was your first impression when you met him? I thought he was a lot taller. On TV, he looks a little bit skinny. You can’t really see his height. When I saw him in person, he really had a big presence. He had a much bigger presence than I was anticipating. He was a tall guy, had broad shoulders, and didn’t look small at all.
Seeing Roger Federer on TV, you’d think sports build muscle but apparently not tennis. Time to rethink that theory. It’s scary to think, in this context, how bulky Rafa looks then.
I was buying something I really have an immediate need for at a 7-11 store. I handed the cashier a 1,000Php bill but she doesn’t have change. She looked at me and said, “Sorry Ma’am.” I looked back at her, possibly with a very annoyed look on my face because she seemed to backtrack a bit. I looked again at my purse and searched my entire bag for small bills until I was able to gather just enough to buy my item. The cashier apologized again, which left me wondering if I have a right to be annoyed. They don’t have change, so they can’t be of service? That seemed lazy to me.
If I say click here to learn more, would you readily click it? Because I got my thing but somehow I felt a bit bullied by the experience.
Speaking of badminton, here’s Maria Sharapova for Cole Haan.
A friend wondered what’s the deal about the shoes. We wondered about the outfit, too. And the racket on the left hand of the right-handed Russian. Well, I guess it’s just for pose. They’re trying to sell the shoes (which she helped design, I gather), not really the sport. Not even her sport – tennis. It’s a good thing they didn’t put a bag on her, though.
I feel so tired, and yet cannot be more contented. Well, except for this thing that happened to my apartment floor. It was too exhausting to even tell the tale, even if what it only involves is my irrational (sort of, if you know the extent of it) fear upon seeing that my floor tiles are popping up and breaking apart. I’ll save that for later, so I can recount the more tiresome task ahead of having it repaired.
For now all I want to say is that I love keeping busy. Even just feeling busy at times. I’ve been missing badminton sessions, though, even if I’ve been buying more energy drinks than usual; one of these days I may have to get into weight loss drinks, too.
After weeks, nay a couple of months, of not playing badminton, I returned to the courts last Saturday to join my friends on our usual Saturday play time. It seems everybody had been busy with their jobs that I realized I wasn’t the only one who had been absent in the games for a long time.
Well, I’ve been busy watching tennis, as this blog shows. Work also came in the middle. But now, I really need to go and get my game back. Especially because we’re playing on a tournament tonight! This is hoping I can still run and hit the shuttle, what with my heavy feet and heavier frame these days.
1. Federer is king. Australian Open organizers made sure that they highlighted that fact during the trophy ceremony. It seems funny now that just a year ago, tennis experts have been corroborating on their funeral planning of Federer’s reign in men’s tennis, eagerly appointing new names, even beyond the next-in-line Nadal. How his sweet 16 win must be really sweet for the guy.
2. Justine Henin is back. She may not be ready to defeat a player of Serena’s caliber at this time, but give her a few more months when she fully get her old groove back. I think she’ll be ready by the French Open in June, and expect her to be one the entire field would most likely fear the most.
3. Maria Sharapova needs to bounce back, fast. There’s no question about Maria’s commitment to the game and her champion spirit, but as the other women are getting better and better, and with the return of the Belgians, she needs to make a statement in the Grand Slams soon. At least that’s what Nike is expecting her to do, I would dare suggest.
4. Another Andy stole hearts with loss. In last year’s Wimbledon, Andy Roddick won many more fans by his courageous fight for the title, and more so by his heart-wrenching loss. This year, at Melbourne, Andy Murray wasn’t able to control his tears while accepting the runner-up plate. The fans understood, and felt his pain.
5. The Australian Open set a high standard for the rest of the year. The tennis was at a very high level, both for the men and the women – there were plenty of five setters and three setters, respectively. It was high on quality and high on drama. Here’s hoping the remaining 3 can live up to this one.
