The State of Tennis

If you listened to the Wimbledon preview podcast, you know that everything went according to my predictions. Well, almost. I had both Nadal and Sharapova taking the men's & women's Wimbledon title, and I was so close. So close. Anyway..

The Take Away: WTA
Regardless of how the matches may have played out, having nameless, albeit sometimes very attractive, players make it past the likes of the Williams sisters and then dominating Sharapova in the final, this year's Wimbledon was not good for the WTA.

The fact that the the No. 1 seed is meaningless became even more apparent this year with Caroline Wozniacki continuing her tradition of not making it to the final 8. There could be stability coming for the WTA, however. Both Williams sisters played relatively well considering the length of their absences, and Sharapova and her bad serving self seem to be back. Consistent play from top players such as Li Na and Petra Kvtiova is needed, and of course the return of Kim Clijsters. But going into US Open, the women's draw will be as confusing as ever.

Early US Open prediction: The winner will have the last name Williams

The Take Away: ATP
I thought that I would be arguing that Rafa Nadal is the 2nd greatest player of all time today, behind Rod Laver. If you dominate a player like Roger Federer rather consistently and have double digit majors there is no way that "number one" player can be better than you. Yet, thanks to Novak Djokovic, this was not to be the case. Djokovic is having just a legendary year and is becoming the player to Nadal that Nadal is to Federer. As a whole the ATP is extremely interesting. There are the top 3 players, but then there are players like Andy Murray, Jo-Willy Tsonga, Del Potro, and Gael Monfils, who no one would be shocked to see make it to the final and would make some great tennis.

Early US Open prediction: Novak, if be only plays no more than 2 US Open Series. Nadal if he plays 3 or more.

Although I have been down on the WTA, once the US Open Series starts I think you can expect some great tennis from both the men and women because there are a lot of players with something to prove.

Sharapova Maria

Sharapova Maria

Sharapova Maria The Championships - Wimbledon 2011: Day Twelve.

Maria Sharapova of Russia and Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic court Ladies' final round match on Day Twelve of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 2, 2011 in London, England.

Roger Federer 2011 French Open

Roger Federer 2011 French Open

Roger Federer 2011 French Open - Day Thirteen.

Roger Federer of Switzerland the men's singles semi final match between Roger Federer of Switzerland and Novak Djokovic of Serbia on day thirteen of the French Open at Roland Garros on June 3, 2011 in Paris, France.

Unspectacular

Ah Memorial Day weekend, the most overrated sports weekend of all time.

We had the UFC fight, but we aren't going to cover that because Mountain Dew isn't our drink of choice.
Nor the Indy 500 because a faster, less popular NASCAR race really doesn't interest anyone.
The Indy 500: Look, watch us! There are women driving! No, they aren't very good, but look at them!

But, I suppose we should give thanks to the Champions League final, the Grand Prix of Monaco, and the French Open.

Nothing of note has really happened in the French Open (besides the roller coaster that is Women's Tennis), but there has been some good tennis and any chance I have to watch semi attractive women jump around in short skirts, I take. (Bring on the Women's World Cup!)

The Grand Prix of Monaco was memorable, two crashes that resulted in drivers being taken to the hospital, a battle between Vettle, Alonso and Button. But the battle was marginalized by a crash that brought out the red flag and Vettle and fizzy-pop took P1.

And of course the biggest game of the year -- no, not the Superbowl you small minded Americans! -- the UEFA Champions League! The battle between Barcelona and Manchester United or as I dubbed it: the cocksuckers vs the douchebags, with the Cocksuckers (Barcelona) winning easily. Barca is just like a ESPN top ten plays list, but you still have to sit through entire game to see those plays. A game that will be filled with millions of small passes, bore most to death but then have a couple moments of liquid football. Barca won and totally deserve the title.

But one thing that must be commented on -- many people are saying that "Barcelona is football" and they really couldn't be more right. The majority of their "fans" support another 1 or 2 clubs, so much for club loyalty. They make Man U fans look like diehards. Barca is the team for the people that support one club out of obligation but cant go without a fan circlejerk around the trophy. On top of fake fans, they have a player named Sergio Busquets, that was caught on camera calling one of Real Madrid's darker players a "Monkey." We also must not forget that Barcelona are in deep debt from purchasing players. So, when people say "Barca is Football" and they really mean a bit boring, a bit racist, followed by plastic fans and deeply in debt, well then those people are spot on.

I refuse to buy the Memorial Day weekend in hype but I will thank it for giving me Monday off of work and for the weekend coming to an end, which will mean the start of the Stanley Cup Finals (meh) and then of course the NBA Finals.

-Max

25 Coolest

While GQ isnt the finest magazine, often I see it as the guy that wants to be cool but is always late into trends or a style and just comes off looking mass produced and without much personality. Example, in the wear this not that section, Dont wear that hoodie, put on a sweater and a button down and some pants. But then don't tuck your shirt in and make those pants cargo pants. Then put on a pair of tennis shoes that your grandpa would wear. But anyway.

But after saying all this GQ has put together a pretty decent list of the 25 coolest athletes of all time. While a list can never be perfect, and yes they do have Tim Lincecum on it but leave out the likes of a Satchel Paige or a Jack Johnson, over all I think they did a pretty good job.

Joe Namath
Mario Andretti
Allen Iverson
Bjorn Borg
Arthur Ashe
Pele
Walt Frazier
Evel Knievel
Jean-Claude Killy
Pete Maravich
Tom Brady
Muhammaed Ali
Bob Gibson
Julius Erving
Bo Jackson
Arnold Palmer
George Best
Derek Sanderson
Tim Lincecum
Kenny Stabler
Michael Jordan
Gary Player
Jim Brown
Ted Turner
Kelly Slater

Who do you think they missed?

Beyonce Knowles and Jay-Z

Beyonce Knowles and Jay-Z

Beyonce Knowles and Jay-Z Watch Rafael Nadal at the French Open Rafael Nadal's victory at the 2010 French Open at Roland Garros tennis stadium dated June 6, 2010.

Courtney Cox Cougar Town

Courtney Cox Cougar Town

The pictures of Courtney Cox films an intensive tennis scene for her hit TV show "Cougar Town" in Culver City dated December 15, 2009.