The Decade's Most Intriguing Sports Story

Bonds and Balco. Kobe and Eagle, CO. Spygate. Vick. Tigergate. Shocking. But not surprising. The squeaky clean and faithful professional athlete is a convenient fiction.

Tiger introduced the word transgressions into the parlance of our times but none of his transgressions were as shocking as those of Adam “Pacman” Jones.

Life is a series of transitions from one level to the next, one job to another. The compelling saga of “Pacman” Jones is a series of unsuccessful transitions and unbelievable transgressions chronicled by this timeline.

2001- Jones tallies six interceptions and 1,850 rushing yards and leads his team to his second Georgia 4A State Championship. He commits to play football for West Virginia.


2003- As a sophomore, Jones records 89 tackles and four interceptions, making 2nd team All-Big East. He makes the Athletic Director's Academic Honor Roll an Athletic Coaching Education major buts faces a year in prison for beating someone with a pool cue. The sentence is reduced to probation.


2004- Jones leads the team with 76 tackles and three interceptions earning first-team all-Big East and honorable mention All-American honors. He forgoes his senior year and declares elgible for the NFL Draft.


23 April, 2005- The Tennessee Titans draft West Virginia DB Adam “Pacman” Jones with the 6th overall pick. He is the first defensive player selected. Jones holds out due to a contract dispute over safeguards which would deny him bonus money if convicted of a crime.


19 February 2007- Video shows Jones celebrating NBA All-Star Weekend with rapper Nelly and producer Jermaine Dupree in a Las Vegas strip club.



26 March, 2007- The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department implicate Jones and his entourage in the shooting following the strip club melee.

10 April, 2007- The NFL suspends Jones for the 2007 season.

18 June, 2007- Jones threatens a man named Darian in an Atlanta strip club and shots fire on Darian's car at a nearby intersection shortly after he leaves the club. Dekalb County Police question Jones but the victims could not identify the shooter so there were no charges and the story quietly evades excessive media coverage.



20 June, 2007- The Metro Police and the Clark County DA charge Jones with two felonies and he accepts a plea bargain.



6 August, 2007- Jones signs a contract with TNA Wrestling.



Jones’ NFL contract limits “The Greatest Team Sport Athlete That Ever Lived” to a non-contact role. He forms a tag team with Ron “The Truth” Killings.



Jones “makes it rain” in the ring and eventually wins the World Trade Team Championship with Killings.



15 January, 2008- Atlanta stripper Wanda S. Jackson pursues an arrest warrant alleging that Jones hit her in the strip club.

23 April , 2008- The Dallas Cowboys acquire Jones for a 4th round pick in a deal that includes compensation for Jones’ failed reinstatement or future suspension. He drops the "Pacman" nickname that was once represented by the P on his jersey, in an effort to disassociate from his checkered past.



13 October, 2008- Commisioner Roger Goodell suspends Jones indefinitely after an alcohol-related scuffle with a bodyguard on October 7.


7 January, 2009- The Dallas Cowboys announce that they will release Jones.

2 September, 2009- Jones agrees in principle to a one-year deal with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the CFL but they revoke their offer when Jones contemptuously refers to the league as the United Football League.

What does the next decade have in store for Jones? Bonds? Kobe? Vick? Tiger? Matt Walsh? More transgressions, I hope.

Coach Kroll's XMAS Comes Early

In baseball, there was the DiMaggios, Alous, Ripkens and the Boones. Basketball had the Wilkins, Paxsons and the Barrys. Hockey had the Hulls, Sutters, and Gretzkys. But who watches hockey anyway? Football had the Barbers, Baileys, Sharpes, and of course the Mannings. Right now, tennis has the Bryan and the Murray brothers. Vassar College men’s tennis has the brothers Jasso, Nick and Josh, aka Stretch and Smash, or Jassito and Big Jasso.

Josh is one of the teams natural veteran leaders and Nick has already made an immediate impact as a true freshman. Nick is easily the hardest worker on the team, a torch I am proud to pass. He was the first person to do the 7:30 am Monday, Wednesday, Friday plyometric workouts with the basketball team. Coach caught wind of these magic training sessions and suggested it to rest of the team. Mike ran with the idea, made it a mandatory OTA (Organized Team Activity), and the team responded. The guys who showed up reaped the benefits of plyometrics. Josh was a dependable presence and I recently saw him dunking basketballs in the gym. As for me, I survived DOMS (Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness) and blisters and I’m in the best shape of my career.

The Jasso experiment has worked out so well thus far, that the expert recruiter Coach Kroll recently added a new brotherly weapon to the lineup, Carleton sophomore transfer Giles “Ben” Guzick. Hey, that name sounds familiar. Well it should, he’s the older brother of freshman sensation Andrew “Goose” Guzick, and a devoted follower of this very blog.

I didn’t make it to Ben’s pro day so I haven’t been able to evaluate him in person but other GMs tell me that he’s as good or better than his one-year junior sibling “Goose.” I don’t know if the brothers Guzick play doubles but they do know how run a student government. Just like Kennedy’s cabinet, Ben was president of the prestigious Harley school with Andrew as his secretary. I’m excited to see these reunited brothers in action.


I love to see brothers interact. Big Jasso is very protective of Jassito and I think Nick would be lost at times without his guidance. Nick once called Josh from the ATM to ask where the money came out. I feel the love from the Jasso brothers because I haven’t ever seen Josh lay a finger on Nick. However, Josh does make it clear that if anyone is going to beat up Nick, it will be him, and only him.

Apparently, Josh’s protection dates back to childhood when Josh would bear the brunt of the blame from his parents for shared mishaps in order to protect Nick’s innocence. My mention of this arrangement during dinner at the President’s house instigated an argument between the brothers Jasso about a particular incident with a vase. The jury is still out about the vase because if there’s one thing I gleaned from a research paper I just wrote on psychology in the courtroom, it’s that memory is fluid and subjective.


I have a break chock full of Bowl games before I meet the newest addition to our team but I have still given the issue some thought. How will two sets of brothers affect the team climate? One third of the team will be brothers. Will Ben and Goose act like the Mannings? What will Ben’s nickname be since Goose is already taken? I’ve heard that he is called Buzick (pronounced BOO-zic) but I have some other ideas that play off the alliteration in his name. Maybe he could be 2G, Double G, Straight G. I also like GG because it means “good game” i.e. “it’s over” in computer gamer jargon. Well, until we meet, kiss the baby.

The Best Burger Ever

I'm currently staying with my friend Pete on his family's dairy farm in the Hamptons and it exemplifies the French concept "terroir." I can throw this fancy word around because I'm taking a French class on it, but for those behind the times, it essentially refers to the variance of a particular food's taste bestowed by its geographical origins and cultural traditions. Pete and his family have a centuries-old bond to their land and its offerings. Put simply, Pete is so stubbornly confident in his food's quality and his immune system that he eats uncooked beef, carves pigs barehanded, rarely washes his hands afterward, and to top it all off, he even drinks raw milk (unpasteurized, unhomogenized).

As an outsider to the ways of the Ludlow (that's Pete's last name) farming tradition, I am constantly blown away by the vastly superior taste of simple ingredients like eggs and milk. Without hyperbolizing (of which I am always vigilant), I have encountered many of my "best I've ever had" foods on the farm:

- eggs
- milk
- brie
- bacon
- duck
- veal
- pancakes, made with the eggs and milk

The success by virtue of simplicity reminds me of the locker room saying, "Don't complicate winning." Although I've tasted the "terrior" in simple preparations, I haven't quite applied my skills to elaborate uses of the "terroir."

Thanks to my knowledge of goal-setting from my Sports Psyc class, today Pete and I decided we would attempt to make the best burgers we've ever tasted. Normally, I wouldn't spontaneously undertake such a daunting challenge but I figured that because I had access to the highest order of several key ingredients, this superlative quest was preordained.

We spent the morning attempting to lasso a pig for slaughter and discussing the Aristotilean form of a perfect burger. We visualized our lofty goal and with no margin for error and I'm proud to say, we executed. That's it. It was a success.

The award for the "Best Burger I've Ever Tasted" goes to the Mecox Bay Bacon Apple Brie Burger with carmelized onions and watercress on a Portuguese roll.

Thank you Pete and family for making this burger possible. While this is a great accomplishment for Pete and I, I appreciate that the title "Best I've ever tasted" is not absolute and it will not sidestep challengers; so bring 'em on because this burger is no paper champ.

Burger Ingredients:
- Mecox Bay grass-fed ground beef
- Worcestershire Sauce, key ingredient
- Garlic, minced
- Parsley, chopped
- 1 egg, farm fresh, binds ingredients
- Paprika
- Nutmeg
- Ground mustard, tiny bit
- Rosemary
- Thyme
- Salt
- Pepper

Burger toppings:
- Caramelized onions, cooked in the bacon grease because the toppings must measure up
- Jowl bacon, crispy, farm fresh, not from the belly like traditional bacon, meatier
- Mecox Bay Atlantic Mist brie-style cheese, the best of its kind one will find
- Granny Smith apple, thinly sliced, adds a tart crunch
- Watercress, peppery, pretentious, pretty

Burger Vehicle:
- Portuguese roll, similar to English muffin, broiled with garlic butter, store didn't have proper buns but this was excellent

Side:
- Home fries, gold, purple, red potatoes dug up in the dark because Pete refuses to buy potatoes from the store, for good reason
- olive oil
- garlic
- rosemary
- cayenne
- salt
- pepper
- garnish with chopped parsley

My Favorite Videos Right Now

I have re-watched all of these multiple times because I find them so captivating.

1. This is the definitive internet video. Are we doomed?

2. Dude has a particular set of skills that make him the "Coolest Guy in The World."

3. This is some poor soul's embarrassing, outspoken mom. Well, maybe not.

4. I painted my house this summer but it wasn't as cool as this.

5. Chappelle's genius inspired this gem.

6. Thank you whoever compiled this. Not sure how you did it.

My Two Favorite People on the Internet

I must apologize to my readership for my recent drop in the rate of posts. I have focused my efforts on my other blog as of late.

1. King Curtis

Whether or not the producer prompted these tirades, this indignant redneck already understands how to orchestrate a successful "reality" TV confrontation and his sassy on-screen aura shows promise.

He already has a dance remix.

2. The "Your Business Card is Crap" Guy

This meme has grown over the past few months and it turns out that this guy is a motivational speaker named Joel Bauer and he posts videos to google. In this video, he gives a 20 minute discourse in excruciating detail about his Mary Poppins suitcase and its contents; which sounds dreadful but is oddly captivating as I have watched it many times. This speaks to his mantra, "It's not about being liked, it's about being effective." Thanks for the packing tips. I wonder if he does graduation speeches.

U.S. Open Part Deux: The Greatest Match Ever Played... well, the greatest match I've ever seen live (even in an age of hyperbole)

(Ed. note: To my loyal readership, especially those who have this blog as their homepage, or at least favorited or RSS, I apologize for the delay but I'm making up for it with these baller pictures of Tsonga.)

So, I mentioned earlier that I witnessed the match of my spectator life and made cameos on TV! (Go to 1:32 of this video) This is that story. It all started when my phone died. I was with my friend Pete who had to leave soon, trying to reach my boy Dias who was part of Istomin's entourage cheering him through a 5-setter against Lapentti. Pete and I tried to go watch various other matches and sneak onto courts but the night session people were arriving, full of vigor, trying to get their money's worth by viewing some of the day matches that ran late. The influx of feisty nightlings causes huge lines and our stick-to-itiveness was running low this late in the day. I also have an annual line waiting quota which I save for the NFL Draft so I didn't want to dip into that account. P and I said goodbye and I hadn't reached my other friend D. For some reason, I wasn't ready to leave yet so I figured I would give it one last shot to try to get a seat on a court. The line to get into Armstrong had subsided and it's connected to the Grandstand so I figured I might be able to get in there to see Dent and possibly find D. After my usual crafty maneuvering, I found a seat in the 3rd row of the Dent Navarro match. Then my intell training came in handy because I spotted my friend D and sat with him. This is the e-mail I wrote to my poor friend Pete after the match:

-----Original Message-----
From: Shane Donahue
Sent: September 5th, 2009
To: Pete
Subject: Sorry I was a bad friend

You made me stay and I let you leave. I lacked drive and enthusiasm when it counted most, the adversity of lines. I wish we could've traded places because although I cannot think of a better match I have seen live, you would've appreciated it all the more. Not the classic clash of styles mind you, these two gentlemen paid homage to THE original style, your beloved serve and volley. In this age, how did the final two grisly survivors of a dated, dying, futile, practically extinct style meet in the main draw of a grand slam? I don't know but I'm glad they did. I doubt serve and volley will make a comeback but those very skills need a revival in the modern singles game. How many times did we see a guy dump a volley, choke on a floater, or give his opponent an easy pass? Too often. I saw the composure it takes to deliver a big hold and the tenacity necessary to get the break. In the serve and volley game, they don't hand out breaks and the first person to slip up on their serve is in a hole. I just had a serve and volley clinic and it was inspirational!

Top 10 Things I'm Sorry You Missed:

10. Being on TV. I did end up sitting with Dias so I owe it to him for having my voicemail and inbox full of "haha saw you on TV throwing the X factor wearing a France jersey!"

9. Dent's profanity littered self mutterings, head jerks, cackle, and dropping his racquet and assuming the fetal position after not converting a double break opportunity.

8. The chair ump requesting the crowd to "respect both players and not..." and then being cut off by the cheering crowd.

7. Navarro complaining to the chair ump about the immediate crowd noise when dent launched a 147 mph serve that Navarro somehow returned; and then on the very next point, having the silence broken by a cell phone ring right as Navarro started his motion. He seemed annoyed because it was 5-5 in the 5th.

6. Me screaming "Dent and charge Taylor!" on match point right before Dent carved the winning shot down the line.

5. Dent's 148 mph BOMB!

4. The drop volleys and one handed backhand passing shots, the lunging stabs that always went in and intercepted what seemed to be sure passing shots at a critical moment, the immaculate pick-ups, Dent's topspin lobs off both wings, and Navarro painting the lines with every shot.

3. The anxiety of break points, then mini breaks, match points, and not knowing who was going to win.

2. Cheering and hoping it may bring Dent closer to the win.

1. The collective realization of the crowd that a 3-shot point that ends in a volley is not only highly effective but it's just as entertaining as the long-haired curiosities who slug it out ways away from that over which they hit.

Today I missed out on Del Potro's shank, Monfils' wristband, and seeing an epic serve and volley showcase with you, the purist.

If this seems at all trite or sappy, I assure you it is genuine. I merely occupied myself on the train by writing this.

Also, Navarro used two racquets, one for serving and one for returning.

US Open! Best event in all of Sports! (Besides the NFL Draft. [and maybe the Combine though I haven't been yet])

I went to the US Open Thursday (8.3) night and Friday (8.4). I saw Kohlscreiber def. Devarrman and Roddick def. Giquel on Thursday. I spent 12 hours there on Friday and saw Tsonga def. Niemenen, Del Potro def. Melzer, Simon def. Bellucci, Monfils def. Beck, and finally, the 5-setter instant classic Dent def. Navarro. Before I recount my Dent-Navarro religious experience (serve and volleyism), here's what I liked.

1. On Thursday, they didn't check tickets at the outer gates or at Ashe. I never used my ticket. They checked my bag.

2. They allowed me to bring my telephoto lens in! The NFL Draft did not. Stupid.

3. My friend bought 2 beers at $9 each, gave the guy a $20, and received $18 change.

4. Shortly thereafter, I found an $85 ticket to Ashe which would have been handy but I didn't even need to use it.

What I didn't like:

1. They confiscated my stainless steel water bottle on Friday but not on Thursday. They checked my ticket too.

2. Monfils was too popular. People went crazy for him which is legitimate because he's entertaining and the most athletic guy on tour; but I was disappointed about being hip no longer. I first heard about him when my friend played him in juniors. I first saw him play when he almost won the Jr. Grand Slam (Murray beat him in the Jr. US Open wearing a hoodie). He appealed to me as an athletic dark horse, under-the-radar underdog type players. While I'm a front-runner, I am no bandwagoner.

3. My camera and cell phone died so no Monfils or Dent pictures.

4. I was disappointed with the ball people at the US Open. I'd rather just say ball boys so I will. Kramer, Kenny Mayne, and Rick Reilly have all tried out (overused idea?) so I expected this job to attract great talent. Many ball boys did not throw well. Even if the ball reaches the target alright, the ball boy should look proper when throwing. Kenny Mayne was QB2 (ahead of Randall Cunningham) at UNLV so he has a live arm. This gave me the idea that ball boys should be required to have throwing experience, probably from football or baseball (sorry no cricket, that would look weird). They also shouldn't be too old. I saw one older guy working the net which was annoying because his body was not built for speed and he was out of breath the whole time. Why did they put him on the net? He did not have Kramer's "gusto." The players are allowed to be tired, not the ball boys. There should be an age limit, say 22, because I might ball boy at next year's open. Actually I would rather be the usher who sits on the court in a chair and does absolutely nothing. Then I could really watch the match. I wouldn't have to trouble myself scrambling around collecting balls, and fumbling with towels and umbrellas. Or they could just use supermodels like at the Madrid Masters. If they do switch to supermodels, don't have them throw it. Teach them to roll it.

Chad Ochenta y Cinco

That's bizarre he changed his name but names aren't particularly meaningful anyway. What's important is that he possesses the catch radius of an elephant and the speed of a horse. He reacts to bad balls and sure can run and climb the tree. His fluid hips also work wonders for his kicking game because dude can kick. He may be a mudder but he's no mauler or road-grader. Watch (go to 1:13 on this) as he lunges at Ray Lewis but lacks the initial punch to drive block Ray who turns him to a rag doll. No matter what he can and can't do, Ochocinco knows how to celebrate.

Why all the vocab? Getting ready for the draft. My rival Mel Kiper came out with his big board. At S, I like Taylor Mays because he is a freak hitter and Eric Berry because he's a center fielder likened to Ed Reed.

Almost went shooting but my friend didn't have any skeet. Reminded me of these funny commercials. The Sproles one reminded me of this play. This dude actually runs on people.

I Hate Twitter.

2010 NFL Combine Update! Cal Bear's RB Jahvid Best will run the fastest 40 in the upcoming combine. He will break Tennessee RB Chris Johnson's 4.24 mark, the fastest time of the electronic timing era (since 1990). 140 Characters. How you like me now?

Apparently they have a combine on Madden. That would be fun to play.

The 13 Most Gut-Wrenching, Heart-Stopping, Traumatic, Amazing, Sensational, Dramatic, Heart-Rending, Exciting, Thrilling Injuries in All of Sports!

Go Bears. My cousin just suffered a career-ending injury squatting an 800 lb couch off the stock room shelf. His knee cap dislodged and ended up in his sock, but fortunately, his company compensated him in excess of six figs. Spencer, this is for you and all the other tough guys out there injured on the job.


13. Inspirational recovery from a frequent incident off the pitch. Go to 2:14.

12. Fingers aren't meant to go that way! McNair had a few like this too.



11. Just saw Hangover. Not as bad as an uppercut.

Full version.

10. Kickboxing one and two. Gymnastics.

9. Patrick Edwards: Why is that cart there?

8. This image is often in the back of my mind when I go up for a dunk.

7. Not a hit but a drag and rollover.

6. The U. Or C. Ewww.

5. Malicious challenge or clumsy tackle? Good soundtrack.

On a lighter note.

4. Career-ending big hit from the greatest defensive player of all time. Similarly, Pete Rose delivered a career-ender to Ray Fosse, who, like Theisman, became an announcer. This collision occurred in an all-star game no less... before it counted.

3. Apparently this legend popped his dislocated hip back in himself, a nearly impossible feat. His place in the 2 HOFs is merely hypothetical thanks to this career-changing injury. Go to 2:10.

2. This block looks routine, a subtle injury. Spinal injuries are the most unfortunate.


1. A spinal injury from "the Assassin."

Al Davis nostaligically reached for Mike Mitchell, probably perceiving him as the 2nd Coming. Well, dude can hit.

Don't sweat the small stuff

During Sam Querrey's match against Tommy Haas at the LA Open, Pam Shriver reported that Sam Querrey left the United Airline tags from an Indianapolis flight on his "nice" tennis bag. Yeah he actually neglected or forgot to remove it. Whoa. Thanks for the insight, you're so observant and thorough. Sam Querry must be a lazy, oblivious, apathetic slob. I also saw him throw his racket in the air and drop it once.

BronBron is a SCRUB!

I was right. All along, Lebron James left a sour taste in my mouth. You can't knock his game but his demeanor always rubbed me the wrong way. Sulking off the court and skipping the press conference does not portray him an emotionally-involved, fierce competitor; it's shows greed and selfishness. A competitor loves to compete for the sake of competition and respects opponents and teammates alike. With that said, I decided to weigh in on incident that has Lebron dubbed Dictator James. It's called Dunkgate. Is it a non-story? Kind of, but that's not why it interests me.

For anyone who hasn't heard, Xavier's Jordan Crawford "dunked on" Lebron James in a scrimmage at Lebron's Nike camp. Immediately after, Lebron conferred with a Nike rep who then rounded up all the tape from the cameras filming the event. While the official tapes were most likely stored in the warehouse in Indiana Jones, someone with a cell phone recently leaked the inflammatory video. Haha, everyone sees it anyway and ironically, the Lebron or Nike's effort to conceal "Dunkgate" and preserve Lebron's image backfired and illuminates the insecurities of one of the most gifted athletes on Earth.

To my untrained eye, it looks like Lebron came late and from the side so he didn't really have a chance at the block. It's not like the guy jumped over him, or went right into his chest, or broke his wrist to throw it down. Was it Nike or Lebron that overreacted and why? Has Lebron made a statement? Crawford did. Kobe weighed in. Darrel Armstrong or well... Jordan wouldn't have gotten dunked on but if he had, he would've threw one down next play. I suppose it was too difficult to laugh it off and give Crawford his props. I think a crossover is more embarrassing anyway. This is filthy.

Similarly, a high schooler beat brash Charger's QB Philip Rivers in a passing competition and Rivers did not confiscate the tape. Good for him.

A Randolph Part 2.

So this is the part two of what happened after I wrote the previous post although it's posted post hoc. I approached Anthony Randolph at the baggage claim. He was super excited to meet a fan who acknowledged his....... Actually he just seemed confused and muttered yeah for all of my super interesting queries. It went just as I expected. Not very memorable or exciting but I made an effort. If I had star power, I would milk and make all my interactions bizarre or heart-warming. I saw the emcee for the Warrior games at security today. He does the annoying interviews and prizes at the games. Didn't feel like talking to him.

Celebrity... no... professional athlete Sighting!

Hey so this is my first impromtu, spontaneous post. Pretty excited. I’m on Virgin flying to Vegas (Go to 1:40!) to help my grandma move and vistit my buddy who busted in the WSOP on the last hand of the day while sitting next to Shannon Elizabeth. I was sitting in the terminal and two asian women walked up to me and held out their boarding passes. They didn’t speak English and they were way early for their flight so the terminal hadn’t been posted. I escorted them to the boarding counter as their intermediary and then communicated by pointing to the floor that this was where they would leave from, a pragmatic linguistic adjustment. I figured that deed makes up for the time I accidentally told a lady who didn’t speak English to get onto the wrong BART train. How could there not be any maps? I felt bad. Anyway, after returning to my seat in the terminal, I noticed a gentleman with extraordinary length carrying a Gucci duffel. I saw him from behind and he had a familiar strut, deliberate with his toes pointed outward kinda like Amare Stoudemire. Ginger ale, that sounds good. He was in first class oooooooh. I had a feeling it might be Anthony Randolph but he was wearing a hat so I couldn’t get a good look at the back of his head. I figured he wouldn’t be by himself so it was probably nobody. When I boarded the plane I saw him folded into a seat. His face and LSU warm up pants indicated that it was indeed Anthony Randolph. He had earphones on and his head was down texting so I didn’t want to pull a Larry David and wave my hand in front of his face to get his attention. Maybe I can get him on the way. He probably won’t say anything of value if I talk to him. I know exactly what he would say. It would be a standard celebrity encounter where he offers a half-hearted hey how are you great thanks bye. What’s so interesting about that? Maybe he would appreciate being noticed in which case, he needs my attention so I’m the one doing the favor. I’ll try to catch him later. After sitting down, I texted a bunch of my friends who would find the Anthony Randolph sighting mildly interesting and encourage me to chat him up. The plane was getting ready for take-off and my dad was nagging me to turn off my phone when he came up with a great idea, just write about it on your bliggety blog. I texted the people who mostly likely at this time happen constitute all of my readership. Did I mention I’m excited to be on Virgin. One time the Virgin flight attendant organized a prize shoot out in the terminal with a mini basketball hoop in honor of march madness. They have TV screens so I played Doom for a bit, watched some TV. Apparently Chad Ochocinco (I love that they he’s actually called that now) wants to use Twitter during games. Charlie Villanueva got in trouble for tweeting during halftime I heard. The Ochocinco wants to twit from the sideline. Ooooohhhh. I hate twitter. One of my friends does too so that’s cool. Hmmm… I can send a text to Anthony Randolph’s seat via my TV screen media device! That’s kinda ummm weird. [Click that link!] Wow, I just remembered that I Virgin has Wifi so I can post this in real time and my subsequent post will detail my encounter with Anthony Randolph.

Wow, that’s weak, the Wifi costs money, $10 for the duration of the flight. You can’t exactly get your money’s worth with lewd and explicit content due to the conspicuousness of shared space. Although I’m sure there are others out there like the one who played pocket pool while used the hostel lobby computer. There was a room full of this breed at the Las Vagas public library computer lab. The screen tinting was not sufficient. Well, in-flight wifi was a tease and grandma don’t got internet so I’ll post hoc this one. I just caught the back-story of the Freddy Adu’s lost years. I was just wondering about him the other day. Tony Gonzalez is heading to the ATL, Dirty Dirty, Hotlanta. This was supposed to be my first spontaneous post but it is now delayed.

(This happened on Tuesday July 10, 2009. This was posted on Friday from the airport.)

The Title

I don't really like blogs yet but I know that I hate twitter. Despite its ubiquity even in sports broadcasts, Twitter seems extraneous so I refuse to acknowledge it’s existence. This blog on the other hand, has a purpose. I will use this blog to explain an inflammatory statement that I made after Roger Federer won Roland Garros and that statement shall be the title of this blog. But really, I assumed Soderling would lay down to Federer just as he did when I saw the two play in Paris, so I anointed Federer a “Paper Champion” before the match. Let’s be real, The Fed needs to conquer his perfect storm that is Nadal at Roland Garros, not Madrid, to be crowned GOAT.

Today (well technically yesterday by the time I post this) The Fed was proclaimed GOAT after his 15th Grand Slam title put him past Pistol Pete for most GST all-time. Even in an age of hyperbole, it must have been the 2nd greatest match ever played, after last year’s epic final, of course. Roddick put up a fight a but he doesn’t have the huevos to take The Fed. He’s just the second straight scrub Federer walked over in a GSF. No disrespect to Andy Roddick, but he’s really just a huge server who slaps forehands, muscles backhands, and botches volleys. That’s all the game he needs to be a top tier pro. The Fed, on the other hand, has touch and creativity that was probably evident at an early age. [Insert a maestro virtuoso composer da Vinci-type metaphor] That’s the foundation of greatness in tennis, basketball, or soccer. I'm talking about an unrivaled feel for the game, part geometry, part artistry.

Arod is a great player but he can only dream of the stuff The Fed pulls off. Arod played the match of his life and lost. This is hardly adequate competition for the rising GOAT in a GSF. Put simply, he must beat the best, to be best, as they say in the boxing world. People won’t remember who he played or the circumstances, only the magnitude of the record-breaking victory. But I will. I saw Michael Jordan play once and it was the one of the worst games of his career. Speaking of, I wasn't a fan of the Nike commercial with all the other GOATs and Pistol Pete that played immediately after The Fed dropped to his knees in a heap of joy and relief of monkey-off-the-backedness after his astounding demonstration of persistency. Anyway, I will always remember who The Fed faced and the situation. With that said, I would have preferred to see him take on someone capable of beating him, maybe Andy Murray. Sorry Arod, but what’s your record against The Fed and what was the score in the 2nd set breaker? I know you had a complete make-over and you're in such a good place in your personal life but it wasn't enough. I don't favor either player, especially their personalities, not that I know them personally. Federer reveals his repressed greed in the tears and outbursts that dismantle his pretentious facade in times of duress. Roddick is a prick. I appreciate the games but I dislike the players. Is it wrong or sadistic to long for the taste of Federer’s tears of despair after a GSF loss? Bummer Roddick couldn't open the flood gates today.

So Fed, I'm calling you out! Get ready, the pressure isn’t off just because of 15 slams or the birth of your child. The field you so easily trounced en route to your previous slams is no longer awestruck and deferential. They’re hungry and you’ve been exposed. They’ll show up for every point and try harder than ever before. You have some real competition now just like the greats of the other eras had. You’ll beat most of them anyway, but that’s not what matters. You’re now fighting to erect your legagy and decorate it with gold trim and RF emblems because the people haven’t yet spoken. Fedra, I'm allowing you the opportunity to actualize your Roland Garros title, Career Slam and cement your GOAT status next year when you face the best. Until then, you’re still flimsy product of circumstance, a “Paper Champion.”

What I liked:

1. Roddick's whiney and incredulous retort to The Fed's consolation during the victory speech at 5:59.
2. The lady behind Pistol Pete had her shirt undone. Hmmm.

What I didn't like:

1. Pistol Pete's Nike sunglasses. Tacky.
2. The Fed's track top with, guess what, an embroided "15". Yeah nice. Check the vid at the end.
   

What's this all aboot?

I enjoy sports, playing guitar, photography, fishing, sometimes hunting, cooking & cleaning, chess, and 2 truths. So these are my musings possibly pertaining to my interests. This is primetime, showtime, gametime, anytime. [Yeah you can click on the highlighted words cuz they’re links. Rick Rolls free I promise.]

Inaugural Maiden Voyage

I don’t expect anyone to read this (except for maybe my mom) because I doubt people sit around and read other people’s bliggity blogs with any regularity. Well I don’t but I suppose I would enjoy reading my own blog. So I guess this mainly for personal consumption but consider yourself priveledged to have accesss to my wandering consciousness. I hope it is as swimming for you as it is for me. This is my ness. Hop on and you may learn something of partial value.