Ed note: We were planning on getting a podcast up for djy’all’s enjoyment this week, but real life got in the way. Check out TSF early next week for a Roland Garros wrap-up and a look-ahead to The Championships, Wimbledon. -NM
In case you missed it in our last post, there is something called the World Cup going on in South Africa. It’s the biggest athletic event of its kind on the globe, and will be happening for the next month (!) as 32 teams battle it out for the cup. The media has covered this event from every possible angle, and I wanted to share a couple of those with you faithful folk. The first is a bit historical and artsy: the history of the World Cup soccer ball (compiled by the NYT). The second is a bit of the shallow variety, but it’s worth it.
While some people might not be very impressed with Maria Sharapova‘s Birmingham warm-up frocks (and we sort of agree), the Russian lady was out in the community supporting the game of tennis for youth and unveiling a mural put together by local artists. The WTA put together a video of the scene (linked above in the image, too).
One former player who knew how to paint the court with winners, Monica Seles, was featured on the WTA’s web site last week. Can she joing the comeback train, too?! She’s our second pick behind Mary, Our Lady of Roland Garrolupe. Seeing as though there are now two Italians in the WTA’s top ten, it wouldn’t be the craziest of things to happen.
Laura Robson was in a bit of hot water over the weekend for quotes that she provided to Vogue UK for an upcoming article in the British pub. From the looks of her Twitter account, Robson got the memo from her PR team to issue some sort of response (later a full press release was issued) and since then has been a rather silent Sally while winning four matches (three in qualifying) at Birmingham. Talk about adding to the pressure for this year’s Championships.
After the cut: Shorter balls and a look at the second-ever outdoor WNBA game (along with the first!).
The WNBA made its second foray into the realm of outdoor basketball over the weekend in the Los Angeles area. And for the second time in two tries, the league picked a tennis stadium to house their back-alley ball, playing in the Carson arena. The first time around? That was in Arthur Ashe Arena way back in 2008. Images below.
Two outdoor WNBA games and two outdoor tennis stadiums. Can you tell which is which?!
Shorter balls: Wimbledon has released the names of the wildcard players this year, a list that includes (as it should) Robson. Only one British male made the cut (Jamie Baker). | The USTA took over New York’s Times Square to sell U.S. Open tickets, while Patrick McEnroe joined to help in the effort and push his new book, Hardcourt Confidential, which was written with Tennis’s Peter Bodo. | In case you missed it, the draw in Birmingham included/s such interesting personalities as Mirjana Lucic (who won five matches before running into red-hot Aravane Rezai), noise-maker Michelle Larcher de Brito, Kiwi Marina Erakovic and Sesil Karatantcheva (who has now won six matches, including qualifying). | And tennishead‘s review of Roand Garros in 3D!
(sharapova screengrab from wta web site; 2010 wnba photo by ap; 2008 wnba photo by getty images.)
Heidi says
I’m glad I found your website a few months ago. I love your posts, where I get information (with a twist!) that I can’t find anywhere else. Thanks so much for loving tennis and sharing it with us.