Chances of Nadal achieving two career Slams. That’s two of each Slam. I think there’s just one person to achieve it but no one in the open era.

10 Ways to Stay Connected While on the Road. Even if you don’t travel you will find this helpful even when living under that rock. Check it out.

Click here.

Nadal becomes first in the history of tennis to hold three straight Slams – on three different surfaces.

I don’t think even Nadal expected to win it this year despite all the improvements and remodelling, further underscored by the way both Federer and Murray were creating havoc through the draws ever since the hard court season began. But these lucky breaks don’t happen to greats of the game for nothing – or by accident. Federer has had his share specially in the last two years. These easy pickings are produced by an invisible and intangible force called adversity.

Anytime you are going after ANY goal, you will be faced with adversity – sometimes so severe that your very existence in the profession of your choice will be in jeopardy. Research says that the biggest obstacle usually appears when you are at the cusp of your biggest break. Schwarzenegger was almost crippled at an accident endangering his budding body building career. This is a very very very old trick which adversity uses to trick you largely to test you if you have the balls to keep on keeping on. NO ONE achieves greatness without this rite of passage.

Many fail the test and are relegated to the sidelines forever. Few carry on despite the most devastating onslaughts from this opponent until adversity comes out and says “You don’t know when you are whipped. I give up. Ask what you want and it’s yours”.

This gimme or easy picking is actually your reward for your persistence sprinkled through your career. Haven’t you heard “Luck favors the brave?” Don’t believe it? Go through any career from Ali to Jordan to Woods and you will find a strong pattern running through – with authority.

Now that the medication is wearing off, back to issue at hand:

Nadal, with this win, has more than made up for lost time called ’09. Looking back, it may be the best thing that ever happened to him as it forced him to take those painful and difficult decisions with no options. It may have made him grow exponentially mentally and allowed him the ability to appreciate the gift and opportunity with far greater gratitude. He clearly looks far more matured and grown than is reasonable for that time frame.

The biggest achievement however has to be the complete and total absence of any sign of knee or any other kind of trouble raising concern on the tour that he may have finally found the formula to extend his reign far longer than anyone expected.

Without even going into the debate about where Federer was at 24, it’s mind-boggling to realize that at 24 Nadal has already surpassed clowns like Agassi and Connors who got to No. 8 after a career that spanned over a century and was performed against nowhere near the talent of someone named Federer.

More importantly, Nadal appears ready to take this huge step in his career with the poise needed to build on this platform in contrast to Djokovic and Murray who have squandered valuable time stumbling through teething troubles. But Nadal needs to realize his current belief is rooted in what Federer has already produced. It has allowed him to think that reaching 16 is even possible or he can even dream about a calendar Slam – in just the way No. 14 must have motivated Federer.

It’s debatable if Nadal would have had such success without Federer. You see, when you don’t see a target that astronomical in depth and width, it’s hard to summon the greatness needed to create the picture on your own – in vacuum. Tony and the team has exploited the leverage as best as anyone has witnessed anywhere in the sporting world and it seemed massively awkward to watch Nadal NOT mention and isolate Tony by name at the award ceremony. He more than deserved it at this important station in Nadal’s career.

Looking forward, Nadal is still nowhere near No. 16. Even if Nadal produces another ‘3 Slam in a season’ episode next year he will still be short by four – at 25. Not bad. But if you take into account the two factors I mentioned in the above para, looking any further into the future is deceiving if not outright criminal.

How many Slams will Nadal win next year?

Rest of the tournaments. From Claire. Thanks.

CLAIRE

REST OF YEAR TOURNAMENTS:

TOURNAMENTS REMAINING – found on http://www.atp.com

Beijing – 10/4
Tokyo – 10/4
SHANGHAI – 10/10
STOCKHOLM – 10/18
Kremlincup – 10/18
St.Petersburg Open – 10/24
Bank Austria Tennis Trophy – 10/25
Open Sud de France – 10/25
Valencia Open – 10/31
BASIL – 11/1
PARIS – 11/7
FINAL – 11/7

FEDERER – 2009 results
As of today – points – 6,735; record – 44-11

FEDERER 2009 POINTS EARNED:

Shanghai – 0
Stockholm – 0
Basil – 300
Paris – 10
Final – 400
TOTAL POINTS TO DEFEND – 710

LEFT TO EARN BY TOTALING POINTS AVAILABLE BY YEAR END = 3,250

MAXIMUM TOTAL POINTS FEDERER COULD EARN BY YEAR END – 3,250 -710 =2,540

DJOKOVIC
As of today (including points earned at USO) = 7,945 , record – 44-14

2009 Results:

Shanghai -360
Stockholm 0
Basil – 500
Paris – 1000
Final – 400
TOTAL POINTS TO DEFEND – 2,260

LEFT TO EARN BY TOTALING POINTS AVAILABLE REST OF YEAR – 3,250

MAXIMUM POINTS DJOKOVIC COULD EARN BY YEAR END – 3,250 – 2,260 = =990

TOTAL OF POINTS FEDERER COULD EARN OVER DJOKOVIC – 2,540 (Federer) – 990(Djokovi) = 1,550

Diference of points as of 9/14

Djokovic – 7,945
Federer – 6,735
TOTAL DIFFERENCE IN POINTS BETWEEN #1 AND #2 SPOT = 1,210 (AS OF 9/14)

POTENTIAL POINT FEDERER COULD EARN BY YEAR END -2,540
POTENTIAL POINS DJOKOVIC COULD EARN BY YEAR END – 990

2,540 – 990 = 1,550 ( FEDERER COULD POSSIBLE EARN 1,550 MORE POINTS THAN DJOKOVIC BY YEAR END!

Should be interesting – I think points between #2 and #3 at year end will be small amount!!!!!

PS – hopefully my additional and subtraction is correct – anyone want to check it?????

NOTE _- Federer’s remaining tournament to play was found on http://www.rogerfederer.com

I could not find Djkovic’s schedule for rest of year so I assumed he would play same tournaments as last year. Don’t know if he will skip one tournament or play additional tournaments!

Don Budge: Calendar Slam at age 23. From Claire. Thanks.

CLAIRE

Oops!! Don Budge won calender year GS in 1938 ; Budge was born 6/13/1915 making him achieve a calendar GS at the tender age of 23 – guess Budge is GOAT over Nadal – if you read Budge did not drop one set (Nadal dropped one at USO)when he won Wimbledon! Also Budge (I believe had a winning H2H against other players who are considered the best of all time! SO until Nadal wins a calendar GS, Budge is the GOAT – if that’s what you base it on!

http://sports.yahoo.com/tennis/news?slug=reu-openslam_factbox
http://www.wordiq.com/definition/Don_Budge

Federer’s Tots Take Tiny Steps. From Claire. Thanks.

CLAIRE

“…spend time with my kids…”

This is what matters in life – what does it matter if Federer is someday declared the “GOAT”? I hope Federer feels the same and is not upset by what Nadal has achieved!

Click here.

Number 9. You got better one? No, you don’t!!!!

Have you EVER heard a ‘man’ looking forward to going shopping on his off day? If yes, shouldn’t you ask for ‘credentials’ for verification or assume something else definitively?

It’s not like this is your first and last visit to New York.

———————————————————————————————–

Q. Why won’t you watch?

ROGER FEDERER: Look, I’ve been around tennis for weeks and weeks and weeks right now. Last thing I want to do is watch another tennis match where I’m not a part of. I will spend some time with my kids and take it easy, maybe go shopping.

I don’t know if shops are open here in New York Sundays, but I’m sure something is open. We’ll see.

The only country solely responsible in helping Nadal win US Open title.

Have a clue? Heard of Switzerland?

Or heard of Wawrinka and Federer? If not for these two clowns there was no freaking way Nadal was winning this title – or at least with the ease he eventually did.

Wawrinka eliminated the biggest and sharpest thorn in Murray and then Federer completely neutralized the H2H advantage Djokovic enjoyed over Nadal on hard courts by taking him to a punishing nearly three-hour five setter which even rain couldn’t dissipate – completely.

That’s the last country to be fighting for that honor right about now – not to mention the player(s) – for obvious freaking reasons.

Who do you think is screaming ‘Why me’, the loudest, after the US Open result?

Did you notice Nadal turning into some Prophet for kids at the award ceremony? Geeeezzzzz!!!!!!!

Nadal, don’t jump out of your skin. You are just someone who hits a ball over the net. Don’t freaking push it. Geeeeeeeeeeeezzzzzzzzzzz!!!!!!!!!!!!!

For rock people, I am talking about Nadal’s comment on Djokovic’s attitude after losing “It’s good for the kids”. Give me a freaking break.

Photos.

NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 14: Rafael Nadal (L) of Spain, the 2010 U.S. Open Champion poses with actress Blake Lively prior to his appearance on The Regis and Kelly Show on September 14, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images for ATP)

This is not looking good.

Did anyone tell him this hard court not the sand stuff on the beach making certain acts impossible?

Rabbit ears?

ATP Make a Tribute to Nadal’s Career Grand Slam. From Joy. Thanks.

JOY

ATP Make a Tribute to Nadal’s Career Grand Slam

http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/DEUCE-Tennis/Nadal-Grand-Slam.aspx

From Joy. Thanks.

I noticed though that Greg Sharko’s ‘By the Numbers’ article forgets to mention that Rafa is the only other man besides Agassi to achieve a career golden slam

Pictures – US Open 2010 Men’s Singles Final – Rafael Nadal v. Novak Djokovic. From M. Thanks.

M

Pictures – US Open 2010 Men’s Singles Final – Rafael Nadal v. Novak Djokovic
Congratulations Rafa on your Career Golden Slam

*Lots* of sports tonight – football, the Mets won in ten,
Thought I’d miss tennis, sulking, but rain helped time bend,
And thanks go to the spiritual largesse of friends –
I was there to see Rafa make history. Again.

Though it wasn’t the final I’d *so* hoped to see,
These men gave all their best, I think, for you and me,
So ‘stead of bore you with my words’ inadequacy,
Here is Rafa’s Career Golden Slam Poetry.

Thank you, Roger. Thank you, Nole.
Congratulations and thank you, Rafa, for all you give us.

\o/ \o/ \o/ \o/ \o/ \o/ \o/ \o/ \o/

\o/ \o/ \o/ \o/ \o/ \o/ \o/ \o/ \o/

Some caveats:
Some shots are blurry because I plain old missed the shot but there was a quality of movement I didn’t want you to miss just ’cause I’m a little klutzy.
Some, I couldn’t crop out the guy’s head that got in the way at the last minute, without cutting out part of the person I was shooting!
Some are included in a sequence I thought would be incomplete otherwise. And some are blurry because I was emotional (I’m sure you’re going to be able to guess which ones, lol).

Password remains the same.

Despite the technical challenges, I hope you enjoy.

“Talent is not only hitting the ball beautifully or having a lovely slice backhand and a perfect volley. Talent is a lot of things.” -Rafael Nadal

http://s953.photobucket.com/albums/ae16/roolz1/USO%202010%20FINAL%20-%20RAFA%20AND%20NOLE/

Something to entertain. From DSG. Thanks.

DSG

During the doldrums, here is something to entertain:

A man boarded an airplane and took his seat. As he settled in he glanced up and saw the most beautiful woman boarding the plane. He soon realized she was headed straight towards his seat. As fate would have it, she took the seat right beside his.

Eager to strike up a conversation he blurted out,” Business trip or pleasure?” She turned, smiled, and said,” Business. I’m going to the Annual Nymphomaniac’s of America Convention in Boston.”

He swallowed hard. Here was the most gorgeous woman he had ever seen sitting next to him, and she was going to a meeting of nymphomaniacs. Struggling to maintain his composure he calmly asked,” What is your business role at this convention?”

“Lecturer,” she responded. “I use information that I have learned from my personal experiences to de-bunk some of the popular myths about sexuality.”

“Really? And what kinds of myths are there?”

“Well,” she explained, one popular myth is that African American men are the most well endowed of all men, when in fact, it is the Native American Indian who is most likely to possess that trait. Another popular myth is that Frenchmen are the best lovers, when, actually, it is men of Jewish descent who are the best.

I have also discovered that the lover with absolutely the best stamina is the Southern Red-Neck.”

Suddenly the woman became a little uncomfortable and blushed. “I’m sorry,” she said,”I really shouldn’t be discussing all of this with you. I don’t even know your name.”

“Tonto,” the man said. “Tonto Goldstein, but my friends call me Bubba.”

The King of Treetops working hard on his comeback. From Bjornino. Thanks.

BJORNINO

The King of Treetops working hard on his comeback: