Author: Christopher Glotfelty (Page 52 of 67)

      Federer sends a message

      May 17, 2009 /

      fed

      Earlier today, Roger Federer ended Rafael Nadal’s 33-match clay winning streak when he beat the Spaniard in the finals at the Madrid Open. The victory should serve as a huge confidence boost for Federer who many predict will face Nadal once again at the French Open next week. Nadal has won that Grand Slam four years in a row.

      The second-ranked Federer broke a sluggish Nadal once in both sets before firing his sixth ace to win his 15th Masters Series title on the second match point. Federer also won here in 2006 when the event was played indoors on a hard court.

      “There are no positives, there is little to analyze,” said Nadal, the 2005 champion. “He broke and broke and I went home.”

      It was only the second victory Federer has on clay against his top rival, with the other coming at the Hamburg final two years ago. The win also ended Federer’s five-match losing streak to Nadal, a stretch that included losses in the finals at Roland Garros, Wimbledon and Australia.

      Federer called his first win over Nadal since the 2007 Masters Cup “very satisfying.” Especially after being left in tears in February following his defeat to Nadal at Melbourne.

      Federer, who is also the only top-10 player to have ever beaten Nadal on clay, saved two Nadal break chances before converting his first try in the ninth game.

      While this is a big win for Federer, I wouldn’t read too much into this if you’re expecting Nadal to flounder at the French Open. Nadal played a grueling four-hour match yesterday in the semifinals against Novak Djokovic and has been bothered by pain in his knees. Like Federer at Wimbledon, Nadal understands the surface at Roland Garros better than any tennis player. Barring any unforeseen injury, I’d count on Nadal to nab his fifth consecutive title at Roland Garros and second Grand Slam of the 2009 ATP calendar.

      Tennis

      Tennis players screw up too

      May 13, 2009 /

      rich

      I just wanted to post this to prove that tennis players are not infallible. We’re constantly hearing about how baseball players juice, basketball players smoke the pot, football players shoot themselves, etc. So, it sort of pleases me in a weird way that French tennis player Richard Gasquet was suspended Monday following a positive cocaine test and will miss the French Open.

      The International Tennis Federation expects to have a panel in place within 60 days for a hearing. Gasquet could face a two-year ban if found guilty.

      The 22-year-old player is gathering evidence to prove his innocence despite two samples testing positive. He said a separate test of his hair samples May 7 showed no trace of cocaine. Cocaine traces were found in Gasquet’s urine sample at the Sony Ericsson Open, in Key Biscayne, Fla., in March.

      “He’s suspended until the end of the hearing,” ITF spokesman Neil Robinson said. “We’re now assembling an anti-doping tribunal. The ideal time frame is within 60 days, but people have to fly in from all over the world for it.”

      The French Open, the year’s second major, begins May 24 and the French Tennis Federation withdrew Gasquet’s name after the provisional suspension.

      Gilbert Ysern, director general of the French federation, said the test was considered an in-competition control, meaning Gasquet could face a two-year ban if found guilty. A player who tests positive for cocaine out of competition would face a reduced penalty.

      Jeez. The ATP Tour doesn’t screw around now does it? Gasquet faces suspension for two years for using a substance that wasn’t even a performance-enhancing drug. Two years for a drug a quarter of the NFL probably uses nightly. Gasquet’s a talented player so it’s unfortunate a decision he made which has nothing to do with tennis can ultimately affect his career. Alex Rodriguez and Miguel Tejada straight-up admitted to using steroids and Bud Selig lets them play whenever they want. Something’s not right.

      Here’s hoping his suspension is lenient.

      Tennis

      Zimmerman’s streak ends at 30 games

      May 13, 2009 /

      zim

      Ryan Zimmerman, the best thing to ever happen to the Washington Nationals, has ended his hitting streak at 30 games. He tried to continue it earlier today against Barry Zito and the San Francisco Giants, but it just wasn’t in the cards. Zito, who’s surprisingly been pitching like a major-leaguer, still gave up 8 hits. None, however, were to Zimmerman.

      I know it’s quite an accomplishment, but as Zimmerman’s streak ends at 30, it really puts it in perspective how amazing Joe DiMaggio’s streak of 56 games really was. Zimmerman accomplished this feat in the same fashion he has always performed, quietly, quite possibly because he’s in Washington and playing for the worst team in baseball. The guy is awesome and sees pitches much in the same way Rollins was when his hit streak went to 38 games (even if it spanned over 2 seasons). Oh, well — cheers, Zimmy. At least you’re a shoe-in for the All-Star team.

      MLB

      The great series that nobody is watching

      May 13, 2009 /

      nhl

      Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals and Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins are currently playing to the best of their abilities in a matchup hockey buffs have dreamed about. Problem is, not many people are aware of it and if they are, they’ll have trouble finding the games as they are on the Versus network.

      It’s a once-in-a-decade duel — the kind of rare treat that somehow exceeds the hype. So tonight, tune into channel 603, and catch the last game of an instant classic.

      That’s right: channel 603, square in television’s Yukon Territory. Since the hockey playoffs are on Versus, formerly known as the Outdoor Life Network, viewers in many markets will have to search the hinterland of channel listings in order to watch the games. Versus is channel 603 on DirectTV, and its placement isn’t pretty on cable, either. On Time Warner Cable’s Los Angeles system, it’s channel 267; in New York, Cablevision puts Versus on channel 146; and in Dallas, Versus gets prime position on channel 254. Of the nation’s 115 million television households, some 40 million do not even get Versus.

      The series is drawing a smaller audience than last year’s College Baseball World Series, on ESPN, when it averaged 1.4 million viewers. On May 8, only 647,000 viewers tuned into Game 4 of Penguins-Capitals, making it the 81st highest-rated program on cable that night. The Crosby-Ovechkin dream duel clocked in behind both a Batman episode on the Cartoon Network (1.5 million viewers), and a “Reba” rerun on Lifetime (930,000). The Los Angeles Lakers-Houston Rockets NBA playoff game on ESPN, with nearly 6 million viewers, came in first. The May 9 NASCAR Sprint Cup race, a regular season affair, drew 7.5 times more viewers than Game 5 — an overtime thriller — shown the same night on Versus.

      I remember when I was completely out of the hockey loop last year. I knew that the playoffs were on and but I didn’t have much interest in watching. Then one day I literally got lost in the hundreds of channels that we received and somehow landed on this station called Versus. Turns out, the Sharks vs. Stars series was on and I stuck around. I had never heard of the network. Even in all the sports reading I did and in watching other sports, I never saw an advertisement for Versus.

      I know what channel the network is on now, of course. It’s just a shame really since these playoffs have actually been fairly exciting. I’m not sure how much of a financial success the NHL was this year but I’m sure it didn’t do horrible. Regardless, here’s hoping Versus puts more money into their public relations department as Crosby and Ovechkin are reasons enough to watch.

      NHL

      Andre Ethier is meeting all expectations

      May 6, 2009 /

      ethier

      Last year, I wrote an article in praise of Andre Ethier, claiming that, of all the young talent on the Dodgers roster, he is the player likely to become the face of the organization. When I made that claim, I wasn’t positive the Dodgers knew what they had in their talented right fielder. At the end of 2008, there was still the possibility that Ethier would have to platoon with Juan Pierre within a crowded roster of outfielders. The Dodgers were gaga over Manny, so Ramirez’s spot was solidified if they could re-sign him and Matt Kemp had already emerged as their everyday centerfielder. Still, were the Dodgers going to give Andruw Jones another shot and stick with Juan Pierre because of his speed? Thankfully, the Dodgers got rid of Jones, resigned Manny, and, by landing Orlando Hudson, realized they had a lineup full of speed in Rafael Furcal, Russell Martin, Matt Kemp, and their new second baseman. What they needed now was more power – somebody to finish off what Manny started. The Dodgers have looked to Andre Ethier to fill that role. Has he come through?

      Um, yeah, pretty much. Ethier is sixth in the league in RBIs (26), tied for eighteenth in runs (21), tied for twenty-fourth in hits (33), tied for twenty-sixth in homeruns (6), tied for twenty-fourth in batting average (.327), tied for eleventh in on base percentage (.439), and tied for twenty-sixth in slugging percentage (.574). While those numbers may not impress you since he doesn’t lead the league in anything, with respect to the Dodgers it’s a huge accomplishment. The 3-4 hitting combo of Ramirez and Ethier has propelled them to the best record in baseball. Granted, they have been playing weaker teams and everybody in the lineup is contributing in their own way, but Ethier is truly beginning to shine this year. Ethier is second on the team in runs, second in hits, tied for first in home runs, first in RBIs, second in on base percentage, second in slugging percentage, and third in batting average. For a first place team, it’s obvious that Ethier has contributed to much of their success.

      Along with his bat, Ethier is an above-average outfielder with incredible range, though he hasn’t had enough opportunities this year that would to earn a gold glove. By honing all his tools, he’s finally putting together an incredible year. He’s obviously not going to win the MVP, but it’s fair enough to say that he’s the most valuable right fielder in the National League.

      As far as fantasy baseball is concerned, Ethier has proven to be a surprise success. He didn’t go until the ninth round in our draft. Where did he go in yours and how is that working out in your league?

      MLB

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