Live chat for finals @ US Open 2010.

M

TP, you may need a new thread just for the final tomorrow.
Anyone else think so …?

Nadal vs Djokovic.

Photos.

Nadal on reaching the final at US Open.

Click here.

8 Things You Didn’t Know About Dreams.

Click here.

Which option do you like the MOST. Think about it for a while, for a massive change, before freaking voting.

Low down on taking too much time between points. From Rick. Thanks.

RICK

Statistics bear out subjective impressions

Click here.

Moment of silence. From Claire. Thanks.

What a terrible day this was 9 years ago – 9/11.

I’m sure there will be a moment of silence for all the people who died because of this terrible act by terrorist!

http://www.lyricsg.com/cache.80d2962b0bb3

Pictures – USO 2010 Rafa’s QF. From M. Thanks.

M

Pictures – USO 2010 Rafa’s QF

‘Twas the Night of the Quarters

‘Twas the Night of the Quarters, and all throughout Ashe
Whipped the blustering wind with its shiver and lash
And fans looked at each other and said “Oh, enough!
Come on! “How are the boys going to play through this stuff?”

Nonetheless, post-interview, they came forth to fight –
Gladiators, they marched from the left and the right –
It’s Nadal! And Verdasco! It’s them! What a sight!
That historic AO semi! Maybe more dynamite??

Well … not quite. The wind *buffeted* the ball about,
So perhaps with Fer’s pace, some Planeteers were put out,
but he’d just battled through five sets facing Ferru.
First Ferru — then play Rafa? I’d be tired too.

And it wasn’t so much that the playing was passive,
But the force to exert past the wind must be massive
And you know in tennis’ balancing act takes its toll –
It means more wild shots, sacrificing control

… which we saw from both players. They’d thunder some aces,
Then pop the ball up to the weirdest of places –
But the good shots! Felt hit off the ball! Spin! Whack! Whizz!
(TV makes it look easier than it actually is …?)

And oh yes, there were hints of Tabasco Verdasco!
He dunked DTLs, aces, ’twasn’t all fiasco –
Even in that cold stadium, some fans got hots
at the angles on some of those “Fyah!” passing shots.

And of course there roared Rafa, ripping winners from corners,
Slicing angled drop shots drawing cheerers, not mourners,
And the pundits he wowed and the crowd he did please
When he spun for three hundred and sixty degrees!

Celebs came to see too! Craned their necks like the rest of us,
like on some made-up holiday better than Festivus!,
sporting laudings like modeling, Oscars, and such.
(Well, Charlize and Christi B. KK, not so much. )

Now we so, oh not so, would not have the temerity
Not to have this preserved somewhere for posterity.
(Plus the tale, without photos, might seem a bit flat. )
And so pics. Oh, yes, pics! I was getting to that.

Now, though pix TP has are the hottest of hot –
I missed “Double Match Point” *and* the “Victory Shot” –
it’s sometimes nice to know stuff that led up to that.
And we haz some! Links below ‘ll tell all where it’s at.

To those pleased with the Rog shots, I invite you again –
Come and see “RAFA’S QF – USO 2010″!
Now my new camera’s nice, so shots are a touch better
But! I didn’t quite hew to photography’s “letter”.

See, there were sequences that just seemed too neat to lose
So more “string that string up”, not so much “pick and choose”.
This camera has “burst-mode”, so we took quite a bevy,
And some may find selection of shots Rafa-heavy.

(Cam delivery didn’t come soon enough for Roger’s 4R glory,
And I kept some blurred Rafashots rather than truncate story.
So if you think Fer short-shrifted, or Rog’s shots a tease,
get it over with now … roll your eyes, say “M — please.”

Though I say to all Roger fans – wait a sec, here.
I can use this camera for his matches next year!
Those who think for *all* players I need be better fan –
You should know me by now. R & R. Partisan.

And you’ve had all the tennis you thinks you can takes?
Well, there’s something for you too – we’ve got station breaks!
“Everybody Dance” man, his “Love New York” shirt and such —
Plus the lady who yelled “LOVE YOU RAFA” too much. )

And so now! We have come to the Best of the Best!
They fight on in their quest! The rest felled from their test!

FEDAL Plus Two are left! Let’s get on with the show!
Happy Tennis to All!!

To the Semis We Go!!!

Some notes:
Rafa’s QF pictures are here
http://s953.photobucket.com/albums/ae16/roolz1/USO%202010%20QF%20Rafa/

I’ve moved Roger’s 4R pictures to this link here
http://s953.photobucket.com/albums/ae16/roolz1/USO%202010%204R%20Roger/

Password remains the same.
Syntax looked a little strange to me though, so if you have trouble with the new links, they should be through when TP is done with moderation for the day.
Have a great Super Saturday, everyone!