⇒ french open '09 first semi

ok so Soderling beat a spotty Gonzo in 5, with Gonzo squandering a 4-1 fifth set lead. To his credit, Gonzo did try to get some Rafa-revenge, squaling 'VAMOS!!!' between bludgeoning the ball.

Should Federer come through as everyone expects him to (even JM Del Potro, his next opponent), I predict an absolute mauling of Soderling. That's my issue with guys like Del Potro, Soderling, etc. They see Fed and they mentally lose the match before the first serve.

on the women's side, I pick Kuznetsova over Safina. Kuznetsova's game/technique is tactically better than Safina, who chokes bigtime.

more bad news for/from Rafa: pulled out of Queen's club tournament due to knee issues.

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⇒ RIP David Carradine

David seems to have perished due to sexual misadventure. I don't really know his work, other than Kill Bill and that Cracked.com article. Highlight: spiral fitness video.



anyhoo, I just had to say:

BILL KILLED

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⇒ useful little things

dreamstime stock photos
broadband plan comparison

showcase magazine: possibly the LONGEST page I've ever visited

fuel search

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⇒ mo' tennis

cool hand davydenko

too bad he got whupped by Soda head-oh wellz...Go FerGonzo! Show him you power!
Yeh, that's my pick for FO'09 win, Fer Gonzales-paid his dues, good enough clay courter, not a prick.

I guess this is one of those years the journeyman makes a run to the finals and dumps the perennial favorite just cause he's on a hot streak (cf. AusOpen '02 final, AusOpen '08 both semis)

I'm sure Rafa will stomp Soda head at some point down the line...mess with the bull you get the horns!

last words about Rafa's loss:
"Um, he didn't retire, right? (Laughter) No, he'll bounce back strong. I'm convinced about that. Sure, it was a big upset, but I mean, the focus wasn't really there, to be quite honest.

Of course, my dream scenario is to beat Rafa here in the finals, but I gotta concentrate on my part of the draw and make sure I come through like today.

...

Well, I mean, I think it's the same for all the players right there, you know, to be quite honest. It's like if you've just beaten a great player, and then you have to back it. Like Kohlschreiber has to do or Soderling has to do.

It's not an easy task,because how often does it happen in your life? It happens just a few times, and it's hard to back them up. I went through it when I beat Sampras at Wimbledon and then lost to Tim. I didn't play that bad against Tim, but youjust realize that not only Sampras can play tennis, but Henman can and there are so many other players that play so well.

Just because you beat this one particular player, it doesn't mean you're going to now beat everybody easily. That's where it's hard mentally to be able to shift. Yourself you have to keep on playing dream tennis, and that's a hard thing to do sometimes."
-Roger Federer
source

"My reaction was surprise obviously, like you or everyone here, because normally Rafa is the winner here, so nobody expected him to lose that quick.

But anyway, it shows that in sport anything can happen. Even Rafa, that it seems that he can never lose, when he's not 100% in a match and the other player is 200%, then things can happen.

Anyway, I think that it was really close. If Rafa would have won the fourth set, maybe he will win the match. But Soderling was hitting great, and Rafa, he wasn't the Rafa that we are used to seeing."
-Tommy Robredo
source

Toni Nadal's thoughts on the Parisian crowd here...I'm inclined to agree purely on my past experiences and personal history with French people.

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⇒ damien walter showreel

yeah pretty good, but some of his stuff has been seen on parkour clips, and some of this was done on a big trampoline. I'm not knockin his ability, just sayin'

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⇒ microsoft project natal

I'm not sure if the software demoed is legit, but the intentions/vision is what the video is all about.

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⇒ bruno nuts

eminem got tea bagged at the mtv movie awards last night....ooh something tells me he's not gonna stop at a mixtape reprisal. I'm thinking driveby with Fiddy, G-Unit, Dre and D12 hanging out the side...

I must admit I found it funny. Sheesh Marshall, have a sense of humor!

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⇒ tennis

I figured some day Nadal would lose, but in the 4th round?!?! To Soderling?!?!
FD: time for vacay
Pete Bodo writes up the loss
someone guessed this would happen

some writeups about the loss--the consensus agrees, that Swedish douche ruined the tournament. Cut his ass up, Davydenko!
excerpts I agree with:
"IT'S THAT HE LOST TO THIS F#CKER!!!"
"Kneel before Sod? As in to show respect? Never. Well, maybe to cut his ### off..."
"...I don't mind him (Fed) winning RG (ok, that's not true, but let's accept it s true for argument's sake) but I just feel like he *has* to beat Rafa for it."
"Go Kolya! Go Gonzo!" (that's Davydenko and Fer Gonzales)

on a side note, I always thought FD was way bitchy but I'm riding shotgun on the bandwagon how...that F#CKEN asshole Soderling ruined tennis history...he's a filler guy, not a champion!

ok...enough tearing the guy down, he won fair--Rafa wasn't up to the challenge today (same thing happened to Federer in FO'08 finals), but bashing him is cathartic for denying tennis fans (and Federer) some hard earned history.

early part of the tennis year is cursed...every player who's won early in the year has faltered at Roland Garros...Federer won AO in 04, 06, 07 and failed to win FO those years...Djoko won in '08 and went down early in Wimbledon...now it's Nadal's turn. BUT they all bounced back...Federer took SW19/USO each of those years, while Djoko won the Masters cup (admittedly, he didn't play Nadal or Federer but still, winning is winning)

consolation for Nadal: he'll bounce back from this, more invincible than ever, he's like Doomsday, once you beat him, he adapts and returns impervious to previous punishment. Just look at his slam records--every year, improve improve improve. I think winning FO'08 too easily last year held him back--had he been challenged by anyone, he would have made adjustments that might've been all the difference...oh well, let's see who will avenge Rafa? I'm rooting for:

• Davydenko - seems like a cool guy, aloof enough to be likeable, unlike that Meatwad Meatball Soderling


• Tsonga - exciting play style and spirit.


• Federer - the man's due. Besides, Rafa and Novak are gone, NO ONE should be able to trouble a stable Fed...?

Rafa and Djokovic out, (downed by Soderling and Kohlschreiber!!!)
GFC
Swine Flu
Floods

If Federer exits early, hell hath frozen over.

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⇒ literal version

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⇒ Rafa LOST!

Rafa beaten at Roland Garros '09 by no-name f#cking Soderling!!! Come on Rafa, you stomped him in Rome, wtf?!?!? Beaten in 4 sets on clay? Totally ruined the French Open for me...and the calendar year Grand Slam! Gah! just so pissed off some random cheated us out of some new Tennis history making, and another possible Rafa-Federer final. Whoever wins Roland Garros '09 has gotta feel RELIEF (that they're not facing Rafa in the final) or REGRET (no-name f#cktard cheated them out of true glory...it's like winning Wimbledon these days without beating Federer...it's just not right!).

Well, I guess Federer's finally due. Djokovic knocked out in 3rd round, now Rafa gone, what else could happen?
Know this: no number 1 seed has won the French Open in 8 years...although Federer's got a good trend in his favour: the number 2 seed has won the French Open the last 4 years.

shiiit

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