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Wednesday, June 23, 2010

59-59 In The 5th Set

John Isner says nothing like this will ever happen again. He is likely right. Isner is going down in sports history for being part of a story that is really beyond description. Isner and Nicolas Mahut of France have been playing tennis for 10 hours and they still don't have a winner. The match has been suspended twice due to darkness. At last count, the two men were tied at 59 games all in the final set---a set you have to win by two games. It is beyond comprehension to wonder what these two men are going through and how they can even stand on their feet and hit the ball. At 10 hours, they have broken the record for the longest tennis match by an astounding 3 1/2 hours. To put it in some more perspective: The 2009 Wimbledon final between Roger Federer and Andy Roddick was the longest Grand Slam championship match in history, running 77 games in all.
I'm guessing whoever wins this battle that won't soon be forgotten won't have any gas left to continue. I wonder how they are finding the gas now.
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Ron Atchison is being remembered as one of the toughest players to ever wear a Rider jersey. CJME's Jamie Nye asked Wednesday night if Atchison might be the best ever football player to come from this province. If he isn't, he'd be right up there. The story about Atch wearing Hush Puppies on a frozen Taylor Field in 1967 is something of legend. You know the Riders will honor Atchison with a moment of silence before the home opener against the Alouettes. I'd like to see them go a little further. You walk into the stadium that has banners of George and Ronnie draped proudly on the side. Before the game, many of you head over to the practice field to have a burger, drink a beer and share some yuks. Perhaps those doing that July 1 and from now on should do that on the Ron Atchison Memorial Field.
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Henrik Sedin beat out both Alexander Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby for the NHL MVP award. Really? In an NHL where Ovechkin and Crosby are the faces of the league, I am honestly surprised to see Sedin win. Its not that he didn't deserve it, but I truly thought Ovechkin would be the guy.
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Roberto Luongo must be loving the fact that he won't have to stare at Dustin Byfuglien's big butt during the playoffs. A key part in Chicago's Cup run is now an Atlanta Thrasher as Byfuglien, Brent Sopel, Ben Eager and a prospect go to the Thrashers for Marty Reasoner and draft picks. I guess this will help clear up some much necessary cap space for the Hawks. I guess it also means guys like Sharp, Bolland and Brouwer won't be leaving Chicago. Speaking of Brouwer, the former Moose Jaw Warrior will join Rod on the Cage tomorrow.
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Is it just me or were the NHL awards lame with a capital L!
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Did Landon Donovan make soccer a spectator sport in the US with his last minute heroics against Algeria. I'm guessing many Americans will sit down Saturday afternoon to watch the US play Ghana in 2nd round action. I wonder if Canadians would ever embrace the game if they got to a World Cup. Hopefully we will find out in four years time, but I doubt it.
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The Jays bullpen just continues to be a disaster. Ricky Romero deserved a better fate last night as he went pitch for pitch with ex-Jay Cris Carpenter. Once Kevin Gregg came in in the 9th, it was game over.
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Interesting read from LP sports guy Craig Slater on Wednesday. Slater talked about a chance meeting with former Jays-current Phillies pitcher Roy Halladay in Times Square a couple of weeks ago. Halladay wasn't noticed by anyone except Slater who asked Roy if he could get a picture. Halladay said NO!, but did offer to sign something. He said getting a picture taken might result in him having to pose for a bunch of them. No one else in Times Square knew who Halladay was so would a picture really have created many being taken. I think Halladay snubbed Slater. Good for Roy for having a brief conversation and offering to sign something, but let the guy take a picture with you.
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An earthquake in Central Canada? Really!
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I miss not seeing Pardon the Interruption every day. Same with Around the Horn.
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Finally a toast to bread. If there was no bread, there would be no toast. Later!

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