Make this non-negotiable.

Time you spend exercising.

Photos.

(L-R) Managing editor of the Guinness Book of World Records Matt Boulton and Belgian tennis player Kim Clijsterspose with the Guinness Book of World Records 2011 during the awarding of Kim Clijsters with a Guinness World Record Certificate as a record 35.681 spectators witnessed a match between her and Serena Williams (USA), on September 16, 2010, in Brussels. The match took place on the evening of July 8, 2010, in King Baudouin stadium, in Brussels. This broke the previous record of 30.372 people who witnesses Billie Jean King defeat Robert Larimore Riggs (both USA) in the ‘Battle of the Sexes’ in Houston, Texas, USA, on September 20, 1973. AFP PHOTO / BELGA PHOTO / BRUNO FAHY -BELGIUM OUT-

Slowdown: Federer vs Nadal.

Federer, on his way down, is still able to battle through the draw to eek out a couple of titles, finals and semis – even in Slams. Federer was clearly hit hard with the quarterfinal exit at Wimbledon with Nadal adding another coat of salt in the wound by beating the guy who beat Federer in straight sets in the final.

Result? Federer came up for air one more time. It’s not a coincidence that the tournaments immediately following Wimbledon proved to be his best outings for the season. He reached the final at one, won the title at the other and reached the semis at the last one. On his way to all that he, more importantly, reversed losses to three clowns from earlier in the year – Berdych, Baghdatis and Soderling – two of them in straight sets.

That’s massive progression considering where the train was headed prior to Wimbledon and the clowns he lost to AND how. Heck, he even lost in the opening round in Rome – to Gulbis who hasn’t done much since to validate that win over Federer.

In short, this may have been the BEST he can come up with today given the Wimbledon backdrop and hiring of a coach who can double as someone who can relieve him of some ‘baggage’ he has been carrying since 2002. Even this best wasn’t enough to restore the magic he once produced routinely, having to barely win a title at Cincy – against Fish and Turtle.

In Nadal’s case, there is a mountain of evidence to reasonably expect a swift strike that will knock him off the face of the sport virtually instantly. Nadal’s second best is so far removed from his top form as was demonstrated in ’09 that it will make his stay on the tour absolutely painful and embarrassing.

Nadal secures year-end No. 1 rank.

Other interesting notes on it:

Nadal, Federer and Ivan Lendl are the only players to have held, lost and regained the year-end No. 1 spot in the 37-year history of the rankings. Federer did it last year.

Since the rankings began in 1973, only eight other players have finished the year at the top more than once. Of those nine, Nadal, John McEnroe and Jimmy Connors are the only left-handers.

Since April, Nadal has won 43 of his 46 matches.

“It has been an incredible season—one of my best ever, if not the best,” Nadal said Thursday in a statement. “I worked very hard to get back to the top and it feels really good to know I will end the year as No. 1.”

How blocking people from the site works.

I consider myself a tough guy – at least I pretend to be one – working on ‘fake it till you make it’ BS. But anytime I have to block someone – even a relative newbie – even when the infractions clearly breach the rules violently, there’s the feeling of guilt – more so when the incumbent has been a long poster and has contributed magnificently. Don’t knock this down UNLESS you have had a blog of your own for this long.

In the beginning I even attempted to bring the person back on board after they explained their situation but the second time proved even worse as they appear to carry the stigma of being banned blatantly reflected in their posts. So I eventually had to cut them for good. That was the ‘warning’ experiment I attempted only to fail miserably.

Since then I have noticed a pattern some posters follow. They get on board, begin posting clearly taking it as a privilege. Their posts scream of it. But as they cross a certain time threshold the ‘entitlement’ syndrome begins to take over. Sometimes reaching a point where they begin to manifest that syndrome by belittling others as if saying ‘I am superior and see I can prove it by getting away with what others can’t or won’t.’

I have seen some realize that they are crossing the line and back down on their own. But few don’t.

Bottom line: I very very very very rarely block someone on just a one time ‘accident’ partly because of that guilt, partly hoping it will get better – unless it is a MAJOR MAJOR breach. I feel giving warnings is tantamount to treating people like kids. Everybody knows when they cross the line – over and over again. Worse part? It keeps getting worse further validating a clean cut as it then becomes like a virus taking other well-meaning posters with it.

I don’t know what actually happened with Blake but get the feeling the exchange he had with arbit probably threw him off necessitating the need to be overly aggressive.

But let me take this opportunity to thank all who were once here – irrespective of the duration – for their visit and their contribution. This is a sincere appreciation as most really did make a positive difference.

TV commentators. From Growltiger. Thanks.

GROWLTIGER

New Topic

Jenny got us all going with her great “animal” question.

I got so frustrated listening to Dick Enberg running his mouth during the final that I was screaming “SHUT UP” at the television.

So let’s have at it at the commentators. And don’t be nice except when it’s warranted.

I’ll start.

Patrick McEnroe – Needs to put on a little bra, short tennis skirt and wave pom poms when Federer, Nadal, Murray, Isner or Querry are playing. He is not objective.

Brad Gilbert – smart but with a mean streak.

John McEnroe – A good commentator who doesn’t deserve to be paired with Mary and Enberg.

Mary – Used to be the best but recently talks constantly.

Enberg – Will not shut up. He ran his mouth to the point I wanted to mute the TV but was interested in what McEnroe was saying so couldn’t. He and Mary even talked about the concession stand during one long point.

Conners – The best

Martina – Up there with Conners.

Tracy – Grating voice. Knows tennis but says stupid stuff.

Leif Sheiras – Is that how you spell it? What’s he doing there? Was he a tennis player? I never heard of him.

Courier – Super

Arias – Good, too.

Justin – Irksome but knows what he’s talking about.

Now it’s ya’ll’s turn.