I didn't see it, I didn't read it*. I HEARD it.
[t]he third-seeded Sharapova beat No. 2 Justine Henin-Hardenne 6-4, 6-4 in the U.S. Open final Saturday to add a follow-up championship to her breakthrough title at Wimbledon in 2004.Maria Sharapova is one of those professional athletes where even the blind can appreciate her talents. However, it might be prudent to inform the blind viewers that they are in fact hearing a tennis match, not a Russian pr0n flick**, or a dog yelping after getting kicked in the tail.
Nope. It's Maria Sharapova playing passionately.
But the best play of the night happened not on the court, but during the press conference,
"I believe, at the end of the day, personally, my life is not about a banana," Sharapova said.Wise words from a young
I asked an avid tennis fan the other night while we were HEARING Sharapova play, "Isn't that considered such a distraction to the point where it's against the rules? I mean, an occasional grunt over overexerting yourself for a hit or serve may be one thing, but every darn volley?" She said it was OK, and that some big star (yes, they exist ***) from the 90's was well known for her loud on-court exclamations. To which I replied, "If I were a participating in a world-class tennis match," (yes, they do exist), "I'd put down my racket, walk over to the net in the middle of the court and say, "Listen, sweetheart. Shut the hell up so I can concentrate. I don't want to hear a blasted thing other than my tennis shoes squeaking."
And there's my two Lincolns.
* Okay, so I read it on the newsticker - because I couldn't bear to hear the sound of an animal being abused.
** No, I have never seen a Russian pr0n flick.
*** Yes, I realize tennis is a real sport and it pains me to admit this because it is presently causing my step-grandfather, a proud Irishman who refused to acknowledge this reality, to spin in his grave****, and yes, it takes a tremendous amount of talent, training, and determination (and good looks) to compete at such a high level. So yes, it's a sport, to ward off an imminent onslaught of hate-mail.
**** Actually, he was cremated.
Posted by Kyer at September 10, 2006 08:46 AM | TrackBack