A while ago I wrote about Roger Federer needing to bulk up and get stronger and change the way he plays a bit in order to break through at the US Open. Well.....he didn't......and he's still in the semifinals. Last night, Sept 8th, I watched him dismantle Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in straight sets. The same guy who beat Federer in 5 sets after losing the first two sets at Wimbledon, Fed's favorite tournament, just a couple months ago. It was clinical. It was classy. It was Federer being the best that has ever lived.
Fed changed up some tactics this time around. He took the ball early. He forced Tsonga to twelve feet behind the baseline regularly. He served big and volleyed fairly well. The bigger Tsonga couldn't hang last night. He gave Roger too much time. Tsonga was faulting too many times on his first serve. When Federer got the chance to put away the second serves he went at them. Forehand, forehand, forehand. Not the strongest ever, or even on the tour now, but the timing was impeccable. He took the ball early. He attacked. He played aggressive.
At one point in the match I looked at my wife and said after one of the longer rallies where Fed dictated the whole point, "I've never seen him look this good." I probably have, but it's been a little while now. He hasn't been the aggressor that often these days. He used to make it easy on himself by going for big shots all the time. Those days seemed to be gone. He was content to hang out at the baseline and trade punches with the younger, stronger players. He played on his pedigree alone, seemingly. I guess if you have the shot-making ability he has you would too. It's a sight to see. And he knows it. And he knows he can still make shots. And I think last night he showed the world that he can still crank it up when he needs to.
Tsonga is a beast. Big boy. Strong. Tall. Quick as snot. Pretty much the prototypical body styling for a tennis player. He hasn't put it all together yet but he's still young. He might. The technique falls apart sometimes and he gets into trouble when his athleticism and strength let him down. Last night Federer broke him. He crumbled him. The Frenchman just couldn't hang. Roger had his share of unforced errors but that is a good sign for him. He's going for shots. He's forcing the issue. He made Tsonga his bitch.
Maybe he's not bigger, faster, stronger than everyone else. Maybe he doesn't need to be. I still think putting some weight on and going after points Pete Sampras-style would be good for keeping him healthy and playing longer, but I guess that's why Roger gets paid the big bucks. He's been criticized in the past for not adapting his game enough. I guess he feels he doesn't have to. I guess he feels the track record speaks for itself. He's won everything imaginable. He has the streaks that are unparalleled. But he hasn't won a grand slam in a while. And he's getting older. And the kids have caught him. Seeing 3 in front of Federer's name at a tournament just seems wrong. Maybe 3 will work out though. Or maybe Djokovic will have enough to beat him in the semis. If he loses will someone please tell Roger to bulk up and start bullying around the court a little more? It would really be great. Thanks.
Friday, September 9, 2011
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Hands Down The Best Ever
Try to think of the best pizza you've ever eaten. For some of you it might be easy. It's right there. On the tip of your tongue. It was so good it had to be the best you've ever eaten. For the rest of you it might be tough. Maybe one time something was so great but the next time fell flat, thus tainting the overall experience of that place. Maybe there are just so many things that you like about different pizzas and places it's hard to narrow down. For those of you who can't decide....I pity you. You've never had Pirrone's.
Now I know what you're going to say: there's no way anyone can say that one place is better than any of the others; it's too subjective; what gives you the right to decide....fine. But Pirrone's is the best pizza anyway. Those of you who disagree are just wrong. Deal with it.
The original Pirrone's, or at least the one I think is the original, is off Washington Street in Florissant, MO. Pretty close to the best bowling alley ever....Dick Weber Lanes (this is definitely not debatable). My experience with Pirrone's is vast. I've had it cold, reheated, fresh, burnt, under-cooked, weird toppings, the regulars, in a buffet, takeout, eat in.....pretty much every way I can think of. I've had it at least once a year for every year of my life after 1st grade, including the years while I was away for college.
Growing up my parents never got it. It was just too damn expensive (and still is). BJ's, Elicia's, and Domino's ruled the household. Those never disappointed but they never transported me to another dimension like Pirrone's did. In grade school my only experience was through Ryan Moore. He'd get it at least 3 times a month with his family and they'd always have leftovers. Those leftovers would make their way into his lunch the following day where they would be put on the trading block. Who had the goods to win the greatest pizza ever? I was always stocked with chocolate donuts, fruit snacks of all kinds, Doritos even.....whatever it took to get that pizza. Sometimes I didn't have the right stuff though. Sad days. Had to wait it out to see if anyone put it "up for grabs" at the end of lunch because they were too full. I was never too full.
As I got older I started seeking it out on my own. The price is worth it if you can afford it. That thin crust, crunchy yet chewy. The sweet and a little spicy sauce, never too much, never too little. The most perfect pieces of pepperoni this mouth has ever tasted. The cheese......oh my God the cheese! A pepperoni pizza from Pirrone's is the best pizza ever. No contest. It hits on many levels, not just tasting amazing. The memories, the future, the present. Your whole life explodes with each bite. You think of the glory days of your youth. How good it tastes in the moment. And for God's sake don't ever close and deprive the world of your tasty goodness. I salute you Pirrone's. You've done it. You've made me a believer since day one and there's nothing anyone can say or do to change my mind. I'm always up for the challenge though.....
Now I know what you're going to say: there's no way anyone can say that one place is better than any of the others; it's too subjective; what gives you the right to decide....fine. But Pirrone's is the best pizza anyway. Those of you who disagree are just wrong. Deal with it.
The original Pirrone's, or at least the one I think is the original, is off Washington Street in Florissant, MO. Pretty close to the best bowling alley ever....Dick Weber Lanes (this is definitely not debatable). My experience with Pirrone's is vast. I've had it cold, reheated, fresh, burnt, under-cooked, weird toppings, the regulars, in a buffet, takeout, eat in.....pretty much every way I can think of. I've had it at least once a year for every year of my life after 1st grade, including the years while I was away for college.
Growing up my parents never got it. It was just too damn expensive (and still is). BJ's, Elicia's, and Domino's ruled the household. Those never disappointed but they never transported me to another dimension like Pirrone's did. In grade school my only experience was through Ryan Moore. He'd get it at least 3 times a month with his family and they'd always have leftovers. Those leftovers would make their way into his lunch the following day where they would be put on the trading block. Who had the goods to win the greatest pizza ever? I was always stocked with chocolate donuts, fruit snacks of all kinds, Doritos even.....whatever it took to get that pizza. Sometimes I didn't have the right stuff though. Sad days. Had to wait it out to see if anyone put it "up for grabs" at the end of lunch because they were too full. I was never too full.
As I got older I started seeking it out on my own. The price is worth it if you can afford it. That thin crust, crunchy yet chewy. The sweet and a little spicy sauce, never too much, never too little. The most perfect pieces of pepperoni this mouth has ever tasted. The cheese......oh my God the cheese! A pepperoni pizza from Pirrone's is the best pizza ever. No contest. It hits on many levels, not just tasting amazing. The memories, the future, the present. Your whole life explodes with each bite. You think of the glory days of your youth. How good it tastes in the moment. And for God's sake don't ever close and deprive the world of your tasty goodness. I salute you Pirrone's. You've done it. You've made me a believer since day one and there's nothing anyone can say or do to change my mind. I'm always up for the challenge though.....
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
No More Jeans Shorts
In the movie "Wedding Crashers" Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson get to have a lot of fun. They bang smoking hot chicks, eat tons of good food, drink like fish, and have cool alter-egos all without having any consequences until the end. Was it all worth it to have to wear madras pants and a V-neck sweaters while playing a touch football game? I'm not so sure.
Never, NEVER, is it okay to dress like that when you play sports. Never. It's not even okay to wear that type of clothes when you go for walks. You have to dress the part. If you're going for a walk go with gym shorts and Tshirt, or sweatpants and a sweatshirt in the winter time. You must not wear jeans shorts. Ever. Unacceptable. But people do it. They do it because they don't know any better. They do it because they don't care. They do it because they may not have athletic style shorts. Stop it! Know better, care, and dress the part.
When you are away from your house your clothes should reflect your activity for the day. If you're wearing scrubby clothes with paint on them you're working on something around your house and needed supplies. You don't wear busted ass jeans, a sleeveless shirt and flip flops to Applebee's. Don't do it! Dress the part. Don't overdo it though and go with the suit and tie. That's just plain retarded.
Dress the part at your house too. Be comfortable. If there's nothing going on, dress like it. Old people don't adhere to this way of living at all. Maybe they think at a moment's notice there's a good chance that the pair of Dickie's pant, faded collared shirt, and busted up dress shoes are going to come in handy. And maybe that's true. Maybe the wisdom they've collected over the years is paying off and I just don't know it. Maybe they DO have to leave at a moment's notice and give up watching the John Wayne marathon that they've been watching for the last three days. Maybe. I guess I won't know until I'm their age. But believe me when I tell you this: when I'm 88 years old and it's a Tuesday morning and I've just woken up from my Monday night football drink-myself-stupid-fest at 11:30 AM I'll be wearing a Tshirt and, hopefully, some underwear until I'm told to change into something more respectable......at which point I'll immediately walk out to my front porch and sit on my swing until it's time to eat. I've earned it. I'm dressing the part. Join me.
Never, NEVER, is it okay to dress like that when you play sports. Never. It's not even okay to wear that type of clothes when you go for walks. You have to dress the part. If you're going for a walk go with gym shorts and Tshirt, or sweatpants and a sweatshirt in the winter time. You must not wear jeans shorts. Ever. Unacceptable. But people do it. They do it because they don't know any better. They do it because they don't care. They do it because they may not have athletic style shorts. Stop it! Know better, care, and dress the part.
When you are away from your house your clothes should reflect your activity for the day. If you're wearing scrubby clothes with paint on them you're working on something around your house and needed supplies. You don't wear busted ass jeans, a sleeveless shirt and flip flops to Applebee's. Don't do it! Dress the part. Don't overdo it though and go with the suit and tie. That's just plain retarded.
Dress the part at your house too. Be comfortable. If there's nothing going on, dress like it. Old people don't adhere to this way of living at all. Maybe they think at a moment's notice there's a good chance that the pair of Dickie's pant, faded collared shirt, and busted up dress shoes are going to come in handy. And maybe that's true. Maybe the wisdom they've collected over the years is paying off and I just don't know it. Maybe they DO have to leave at a moment's notice and give up watching the John Wayne marathon that they've been watching for the last three days. Maybe. I guess I won't know until I'm their age. But believe me when I tell you this: when I'm 88 years old and it's a Tuesday morning and I've just woken up from my Monday night football drink-myself-stupid-fest at 11:30 AM I'll be wearing a Tshirt and, hopefully, some underwear until I'm told to change into something more respectable......at which point I'll immediately walk out to my front porch and sit on my swing until it's time to eat. I've earned it. I'm dressing the part. Join me.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Listen Boys....
Billy Joel had it right when he sang about keeping a woman happy. "Tell Her About It", even with the cheesy video, is a great refresher for any man in a relationship or looking for a relationship. The guy who was married to Christie Brinkley for an obscene amount of time knew what he was talking about. He looks like Paul Giamatti with a piano necktie and he was married to one of the hottest women of the last 50 years (arguably). Listen to him. He knows some good shit.
You have to talk to your girlfriend/wife/lover/mistress/obsession. Talk to her about everything you can. And better yet....let her talk to you. Communication is key. And be honest with that communication. Tell her you miss her AND MEAN IT. Tell her you love her AND MEAN IT. Tell her you need her AND MEAN IT. She probably knows it but hearing it is so much more rewarding than just guessing at it.
There are days when missing someone is obviously not on your mind. Long day at work, you're stressed out, you're hungover, you didn't sleep well. There are thousands of things that can get in the way of you thinking about that special woman in your life. Make it a priority to think about her though. When you think about her you'll miss her. It will just happen. You'll catch of whiff of the same smell as her shampoo. Or you'll hear something silly in conversation and automatically think of a story when something similar happened with the two of you. It will happen. You will miss her. And that's good. Now just tell her. Tell her you miss her even if you've just left her. But mean it. Don't tell her you miss her when she's driving away and you call her on her cell phone. Too soon. Too much. Too fake. But a couple hours go by and you think about dinner, and seeing her standing in the kitchen with some short shorts on, and her is swept up in a messy ball on top of her head, and she's gorgeous. Tell her you're thinking about her, you're missing her. And tell her you love her.
You can't tell her enough that you love her. Well you can if you're stalking her and she's got a couple restraining orders on you. But if you're in a relationship and you've both expressed your love say it over and over again. It's nice. It feels good. If she giggles at a stupid joke on tv....tell her. If she teaches your baby a new word....tell her. If she thought of you when she was out with her friends and brought you home a quesadilla.....tell her. It's nice. It feels good. You'll love her even more after you've told her too. It happens. It just happens.
Now, this last one is tricky. Need. Who needs someone else? Small children need a lot of help. Old people need a lot of help. Everyone in between is a little different. Having your independence makes it difficult to even think about actually needing someone. You are you without anyone else. That's a good thing. You want that. You need someone else to make you better though. You need someone else to make you happy. You need someone else to love you back. When that happens you're a happy guy. And it's great when else needs you. It's awesome. You're a better person, you're a better man, because someone you love needs you and you need her.
Love is not easy. It takes effort. But just a simple thought every now and then can make a world of difference. Now if you'll excuse me I'm going to tell my wife I miss her, I love her, and I need her. I think that's a good idea. And that just happened.
You have to talk to your girlfriend/wife/lover/mistress/obsession. Talk to her about everything you can. And better yet....let her talk to you. Communication is key. And be honest with that communication. Tell her you miss her AND MEAN IT. Tell her you love her AND MEAN IT. Tell her you need her AND MEAN IT. She probably knows it but hearing it is so much more rewarding than just guessing at it.
There are days when missing someone is obviously not on your mind. Long day at work, you're stressed out, you're hungover, you didn't sleep well. There are thousands of things that can get in the way of you thinking about that special woman in your life. Make it a priority to think about her though. When you think about her you'll miss her. It will just happen. You'll catch of whiff of the same smell as her shampoo. Or you'll hear something silly in conversation and automatically think of a story when something similar happened with the two of you. It will happen. You will miss her. And that's good. Now just tell her. Tell her you miss her even if you've just left her. But mean it. Don't tell her you miss her when she's driving away and you call her on her cell phone. Too soon. Too much. Too fake. But a couple hours go by and you think about dinner, and seeing her standing in the kitchen with some short shorts on, and her is swept up in a messy ball on top of her head, and she's gorgeous. Tell her you're thinking about her, you're missing her. And tell her you love her.
You can't tell her enough that you love her. Well you can if you're stalking her and she's got a couple restraining orders on you. But if you're in a relationship and you've both expressed your love say it over and over again. It's nice. It feels good. If she giggles at a stupid joke on tv....tell her. If she teaches your baby a new word....tell her. If she thought of you when she was out with her friends and brought you home a quesadilla.....tell her. It's nice. It feels good. You'll love her even more after you've told her too. It happens. It just happens.
Now, this last one is tricky. Need. Who needs someone else? Small children need a lot of help. Old people need a lot of help. Everyone in between is a little different. Having your independence makes it difficult to even think about actually needing someone. You are you without anyone else. That's a good thing. You want that. You need someone else to make you better though. You need someone else to make you happy. You need someone else to love you back. When that happens you're a happy guy. And it's great when else needs you. It's awesome. You're a better person, you're a better man, because someone you love needs you and you need her.
Love is not easy. It takes effort. But just a simple thought every now and then can make a world of difference. Now if you'll excuse me I'm going to tell my wife I miss her, I love her, and I need her. I think that's a good idea. And that just happened.
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