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.