The US Open of Tennis begins today in New York. After careful analysis of the draw, the following is a list of potential must see matches in the upcoming fortnight. Mark them in your calendar now!


Third Round (Beginning Saturday September 5)

Roger Federer (1) vs. Lleyton Hewitt (31)

Two Grand Slam champions will face off very early in the tournament due to Hewitt’s low ranking at 31st. If nothing else, the Aussy should provide a strong early test to Federer’s fitness.


Round of 16 (Beginning Monday September 7)

Andy Roddick (5) vs. Fernando Verdasco (10)

Verdasco has guts of steel, as he showed at the 2009 Australian Open, playing in the semi-final against the eventual champion, Rafael Nadal, in what would go down as the longest match in the tournament’s history.

Rafael Nadal (3) vs. Gael Monfils (13)

Frenchman Monfils is very fast, and Nadal’s fitness is an unknown. We will find out a lot about Rafa’s status during this match.


Quarter Finals (Beginning Wednesday September 9)

Novak Djokovic (4) vs. Andy Roddick (5)

This is must see TV. The pair faced off in the quarter-finals last year, and it ended with Djokovic being booed off the court by the New Yorkers.

Rafael Nadal (3) vs. Jo-Wilfred Tsonga (7)

Being the third seed makes the road to the final a lot tougher, and Nadal’s shaky knees may not be able to carry him that far. Tsonga is a powerful hitter who will pose all sorts of problems to Rafa.

Andy Murray (2) vs. Juan-Martin Del Potro (6)

So far in his career, Del Potro has been described as an inconsistent underachiever. But he’s only 20, and if he’s underachieving, he can only improve. This will be a great test for last year’s finalist, Murray.


Semi Finals (Saturday September 12)

Andy Murray (2) vs. Rafael Nadal (3)

If all goes according to plan, next Saturday will be brilliant. Andy Murray will square off against Rafael Nadal in a battle of 2 versus 3. If Nadal is healthy, this will be an epic.

Roger Federer (1) vs. Andy Roddick (5)

About 305 million Americans and I are hoping that Roddick defeats Djokovic to set up this rematch of the Wimbledon final. Federer and Roddick have played some unforgettable matches at Flushing Meadows over the years, and this will match will be a classic.


Finals (Sunday September 13)

The predictions stop here. Whoever plays in the final, we will all be watching.

Tennis’ fourth and final Grand Slam of the year begins in just one week’s time, on Monday August 31st. The men’s field is showing the most parity it has in years, with Roger Federer’s age catching up to him, and a group of young, talented individuals who can challenge. Here is a preview of the contenders:


Andy Roddick: #5 Seed

A-Rod is enjoying a wonderful comeback season, in which the highlight so far has been his epic championship match against Roger Federer at Wimbledon. He has been working with a new coach, Larry Stefanki, since December, whose first order of business was ordering Roddick to rid himself of that spare tire he carried around his waist. After those 15 lbs. were banished, he began retooling Roddick’s skillset.

In his favour:

Before Stefanki, Roddick was one dimensional: all power all the time. Unfortunately, against the variety of Nadal, Murray, and Federer, his game had no chance.

At Wimbledon, he showed that his new game can be both unpredictable and very consistent. He should be even better, having a few more months under his belt with the new coach.

Opposing forces:

At the end of the day, one man stands in his way. Roddick, playing the way he did at Wimbledon, can beat anyone right now, except for that one guy who has always had his number…


Novak Djokovic: #4 Seed

Djokovic has to grow up. After losing to hometown favorite, Andy Roddick, in the quarter finals last year, Djokovic turned on the audience for cheering against him. Dumb idea, riling up a group of upset New Yorkers. It will be interesting to see the way they greet him this year.

In his favour:

He did beat Rafa in the semi-final of the Cincinnati Masters last week to reach the final. And he has won a Grand Slam – the 2008 Australian Open.

Opposing forces:

Lots. He’s too quick to make excuses and too quick to blame injuries. Definitely has the skill to be the best in the world, but he needs to get his head straight.


Rafael Nadal: #3 Seed

In his first action of the summer two weeks ago at the Rogers Cup, Nadal was defeated by Juan Martin Del Potro in the quarter-finals. Last week, in Cincinnati, he made it to the semi-final before losing to Novak Djokovic.

In his favour:

He is in Federer’s head: Roger knows that Nadal is the one guy who can stare him down at a Grand Slam event and not be intimidated. In fact, Nadal’s energy and snarl probably scare the hell out of Fed, though he’d never admit it.

Opposing forces:

Knees of a 40 year old. Pundits always predicted that the way he pounds the pavement would catch up to him, and it may have already done so at the age of 23. He’s not yet moving the way he could before. His strokes also show some rust, but hopefully he will be able to shake it off in the long 2 week tournament, before facing the big guns.


Andy Murray: #2 Seed

After Cincinnati, Murray gained the title of world number two. It’s the first time in 3 years that anyone besides Nadal or Federer has been in the top 2.

Murray is definitely the best player to not yet have won a Grand Slam, but he’s still young at 22.

In his favour:

He won the Rogers Cup in Montreal 2 weeks ago. He has a winning record against Federer: 6-3 all-time. And the hard courts of New York are his favorite surface.

Opposing forces:

Himself. He succumbed to the pressure during last year’s US Open final and did not play well, losing in straight sets to Federer. He has a history of negatively imploding when the chips are down, though he has been working extensively to fix this in the last year.


Roger Federer: #1 Seed

The Fed Express is aiming to win a record 16th tennis Grand Slam at the 2009 US Open.

In his favour:

After winning the Cincinnati Masters tournament last week, beating the world’s (then) 3rd ranked player, Andy Murray, in the semi-final, and the 4th ranked player, Novak Djokovic, in the final, he looks to be in good form.

If he does it, we’ll likely see some waterworks and an annoying speech similar to the one he gave after the Cincinnati final:

“That's the special part, especially winning for the first time as a dad," Federer said. "It gets me going emotionally a little bit, because I know it's been a wonderful summer”

Opposing forces:

Nadal, Djokovic, Murray, Roddick. Someone! Anyone! Please spare us from this torture!

Dion Phaneuf of the Calgary Flames is not known for his brains. In fact, he is known for his lack thereof. At the Team Canada training camp yesterday, TSN reporters asked him about his disappointing 2008-09 season, and how it might affect his chances of making the final Olympic roster. This was his response:

“Last year is last year, and you guys are fishing to, you know, bring up last year, and that is all I have to say about that.”

Wow. He builds a strong case for himself.

I am a born and bred Canadian from Vancouver, BC. I love my hockey, it is a part of me. I’ve been raised watching the B.C. Lions and Vancouver Canucks, and I’m a die hard fan, no matter who’s on the rosters and how little success they have. So why the hell should I care about the NFL – the south of the border football league?

I guess it’s the same reason I love watching golf, tennis or even basketball, the personalities and the storylines. Tiger Woods against Phil Mickleson, Roger Federer versus Rafael Nadal – when they play, I watch, in the hopes that I may witness that rare unforgettable sports moment.

I am not in an NFL Fantasy Pool, so I’m not personally invested in any of the individual or team results, yet every year there are story lines that make me want to sit down and watch. Two years ago, after head coach, Bill Belichick, was caught and reprimanded for cheating – spying on other teams practices – his New England Patriots, led by quarterback Tom Brady, attempted to complete a perfect 19-0 season, with zero losses and a Superbowl championship. Every week, as they inched closer to the goal, the drama heightened and more and more tuned in. That same season, Brett Favre was playing in what everyone presumed would be his last season following an amazing career, and he was having a renaissance with the team, finally producing a winning season after a long down cycle. Favre’s apparent last games as a pro football player were watched by all, as he took the 13-3 Packers to the NFC Championship against the eventual Superbowl Winners – the New York Giants.

As another season is almost set to begin, the NFL has produced more storylines than ever. Favre comes out of retirement for the second time in two years to play for the Minnesota Vikings, allowing him to face his former Green Bay Packers for two revenge filled matches. Chad Ocho-Cinco (he officially changed his name from Chad Johnson last year) has demanded a trade for 2 years from the Cincinatti Bengals, and yet the loudest trash talker in sports is set to return to the team. Terrell Owens will be given yet another chance to be a good teammate for the Buffalo Bills, after three failed attempts with former squads. And of course Michael Vick, he who funded an illegal dog-fighting chain and allegedly participated in the torture and killing of many of the animals, is returning to play for the Philadelphia Eagles. Drama like this can’t be found anywhere else on television, not on Big Brother, Gossip Girl, or even The Hills!

But I am Canadian and I care not for the NFL. I will only watch about 8 hours of that crap every week.

On August 18, 2009, Brett Favre signed a contract with the Minnesota Vikings, confirming that he would once again be coming out of retirement to play yet another year in the NFL.

Although he is unequivocally one of the best quarterbacks of all time, Favre’s legacy will likely not be dominated by his many records and on-field achievements; rather, the memories will be tainted by his antics between seasons. To the NFL, Favre has degenerated into an attention seeking, egocentric personality, who appears only to be happy when all eyes are on him. Let’s take a quick look at Favre’s retirement history:

2005-2006

It all began four years ago: following a disappointing 2005 season with the Green Bay Packers, on January 30, 2006, Favre told ESPN, “"If I had to pick right now and make a decision, I'd say I'm not coming back."

In an abrupt turnaround, on April 25, 2006, he announced that he would be returning for another year while intoning that the 2006 season would likely be it. But on May 6, 2006, he announced in a press conference that he had not ruled out the possibility of returning past the season.

2006-2007

The 2006 year was another disappointment, and on December 31, 2006, following their last match, Favre was non-committal in a TV interview. "If today's my last game," he said, "I want to remember it. It's tough. It's tough. I'll miss these guys, I'll miss this game."

It did not take long for Favre to quickly take that one back – on February 2, 2007, he formally announced that he would be returning yet again.

2007-2008

Favre led the Packers to an NFC title season and a 13-3 record, showing that he still had some good football left in him.

On March 4, 2008, Favre held an emotionally charged, tear-filled news conference in which he finally formally retired from the NFL, saying that he didn’t have “anything left to give.”

Only four months later, in July, it was reported that Favre is revisiting the idea of returning to the Packers. In a July 14, 2008, interview with Fox News’ Greta Van Susteren, Favre said he was "guilty of retiring early," that he was "never fully committed" to retirement, and that he was pressured by the Packers to make a decision. Unfortunately for him, the Packers were ready to move on and pass the title of starting quarterback to first round draft pick, Aaron Rodgers.

2008-2009

After reporting to training camp, The Green Bay Packers met with Favre and both sides agreed that he would not return to the team. This led to a trade on August 7, 2008 that handed Favre to the New York Jets.

On February 11, 2009, Favre informed the Jets that he would be retiring after 18 seasons, this time calling it “the real deal.” And in an interview on ESPN on February 13, he stated that “there’s no way” he would return for another year. Two months later, when the Jets granted him an unconditional release from the team, Favre reiterated that he has “no intention of returning to football.”

2009

In June, rumours surfaced of Favre having discussions with the Minnesota Vikings about a possible return. He verified this information in an interview on HBO on June 15.

Thankfully Favre ended the speculation quickly, and on July 28, 2009, he told the team that he would not be returning, in what was “the hardest decision” he ever made.

Then, in what came as a surprise to everyone, on August 18, 2009 Brett Favre signed a deal with the Minnesota Vikings, officially agreeing to come out of retirement once again, and play at least one more year.

On the morning of Sunday August 16th, two of the worlds premier athletes were preparing. Tiger Woods held the three round lead at the PGA Championship and was planning to win his 15th golf Major, while Usain Bolt was setting up to once again be the world’s fastest man. Bolt, the boisterous Jamaican, knowing that Woods has conquered that pressure countless times in his career, placed a telephone call to him that morning, and here is a transcript:


Tiger Woods: Usain. How do you feel?

Usain Bolt: Hey Tiger man! Yah man, I’m feelin’ great. How about you? How you feelin’?

TW: Fine. Just concentrating. Visualizing. Focusing.

UB: Tiger man, why you always lookin’ so angry on the golf course? Relax man! Be more like a Jamaican and just enjoy life! When someone yells “in the hole!” after you tee off on 600 yard hole, turn around and point him out to everyone, so they can all laugh at his dumb ass.

TW: I don’t think so. I have to stay emotionless and in the moment. And I always have to think about my next shot.

UB: Emotionless man? You look like you wanna kill someone out there! Anyways, I have a huge race today. The whole world is gonna be watchin’. How do I handle the pressure?

TW: Just put the spectators out of your mind. Concentrate on what you need to do. You can smile and celebrate after the race is over.

UB: But Tiger, I want to have fun! I love talking and joking with the people before I run!

TW: Geez, you sound like Phil Mickleson. I hate playing golf with him.

UB: Hey! Don’t compare me to that choker! Ok, so what are you gonna do if you win today? You need a signature pose, man!

TW: Signature pose? I don’t have any ideas for that.

UB: No worries man! You can use mine!

TW: Ok maybe I will. Thanks Usain. Good luck today.


Unfortunately Tiger didn’t win the PGA Championship, but we did catch him practicing:

On Sunday August 16th, Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt made history for the second time in two years. One year ago, at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, he became the first human to run 100 meters in under 9.70 seconds, with a world record time of 9.69. One year later, at the 2009 Berlin World Championships, he shattered his own mark by clocking a 9.58. Bolt is not the only sprinter lighting the track on fire these days, Asafa Powell and Tyson Gay are doing incredible things as well, it’s just too bad for them that they have to compete against this abnormality.

If looking at his times doesn’t make your eyes pop out in disbelief, perhaps we should put the numbers in perspective. At the Atlanta Olympic Games in 1996, Canadian Donovan Bailey became the fastest man ever, by recording a world record time of 9.84 seconds. Even after he set that record, the idea of anyone beating the 9.80 mark was unheard of, except by Ben Johnson who did it on steroids in 1988 at the Seoul Olympics. In that race, Johnson blew away the competition with a time of 9.79 seconds, with his closest competitor, Carl Lewis, clocking in at 9.92.

At this weekend’s Berlin World Championships, Asafa Powell matched Bailey’s 9.84 seconds, yet that previous world record time was only good enough for third place. Powell actually held the title of world’s fastest man for two years with his best mark being 9.74 seconds, before Bolt arrived. And poor Tyson Gay. If he had put in this past Sunday’s time two years prior, he would have made headlines worldwide, just as Bolt is doing now. Instead, his incredible personal accomplishment – 9.71 seconds is but an afterthought next to Bolt’s feats.

Back to the current world’s fastest man, experts are saying that the lanky Jamaican hasn’t even hit his peak yet. Professors are predicting that at altitude, he may even be able to beat 9.40 seconds. His combination of height – he towers at 6’-5” – and foot speed are allowing for speed calculations that physics simply didn’t permit before. And then there is his completely unique disposition. In a discipline where one trains for years to compete for 10 seconds, during which one slip, one wrong stride, one misstep can cost you the race in the blink of an eye, before a race, he appears to be as relaxed as if he were about to spend a relaxing day on the beach.

As far as witnessing greatness goes, this opportunity is far less time consuming than watching five hour tennis matches or four full rounds of golf. Next time a world track meet is on, set aside 10 seconds, sit down and kick up your heels. By the time you do that, the race will be over, and you can go back to your regular life!

The 2009 PGA Championship, the year’s last Major golf tournament, came to a stunning conclusion on Sunday, as South Korean, Y.E. Yang, a man no one had heard of, managed to take down the world’s best golfer in the final round. While the record books will have to wait a little longer for Tiger Woods to rewrite them, the finale was wonderful, and we should hope to see more finishes like this one in the future. The true test of greatness in an athlete is how well he responds to pressure.

It remains to be seen if Y.E. Yang will be but a splash in the pan, but there are some strong candidates emerging who will challenge Woods in the upcoming years. The first name that comes to mind is Padraig Harrington. Although he had a disastrous Sunday at Hazeltine – a quintuple bogey on the 8th hole put him out of contention – he has shown consistency and mental fortitude over the last two years, the likes of which few golfers can claim. There are others as well, but the name you should remember is Rory McIlroy.

Born and raised in Northern Ireland, the 20 year old McIlroy has long been touted as the future of golf, and with his development this past year, the future may come sooner than expected. In 2009, McIlroy played in the first four Majors of his career and incredibly made the cut in all of them. It started in April at The Masters where he finished the weekend in a tie for 20th. In June, he followed that up with a 10th place tie at the U.S Open. July’s Open Championship (commonly known as The British Open) was tougher for him, as he only managed a t-47th place finish, but keep in mind that Tiger Woods didn’t even make the cut at this tournament. Finally, this past weekend, McIlroy put together his best performance yet at a Major tournament, finishing tied for 3rd at -3.

The youngster also won his first professional golf tournament this year at the Dubai Desert Open in February. At the tender age of 20, McIlroy has achieved his success so far based on mental strength and god-gifted power. With only a few months left on golf’s 2009 calendar and then an off-season before the next Major, he will have some time to work on the variety and maturity of his game, and he will likely improve by leaps and bounds in 2010.

Woods, Harrington and the rest better be careful when they look in the rear-view mirror: objects are closer than they appear.

At the Bridgestone Open last week, as Tiger Woods and Padraig Harrington were battling it out for the championship on the final few holes, the pair was told that they were taking too long to play before they teed off from the 16th. At this juncture, Harrington held a one shot lead over Woods, but a disastrous few strokes would land him a triple bogey to Woods’ birdie, turning the lead into a 3 shot deficit. After winning the tournament by four, Woods spoke about the rule’s enforcement, “"I don't think that Paddy would have hit the pitch shot that way if he was able to take his time, look at it, analyze it. But he was on the clock."

That “pitch shot” was the one that Harrington dropped straight into the water in front of the green. Much has been made of Woods’ comment, including debates about whether he should be fined or not, or if the rule should be enforced when the final pairing is slugging it out for a championship. The problem is, too many people have completely missed the point of Tiger’s words. Quite simply, he was only trying to take some of the sting off Harrington’s devastating collapse. A humble and gracious move by a consummate champion was unfortunately misread by too many.

Moving past that, isn’t it great to see that after day one at the PGA Championship, the two are once again at the top of the leaderboard, with Woods at -5 and Harrington at -4? Although watching Woods scorch the field and run away with victories has its merits, it’s always fun to see him get pushed and challenged, and the three-time major winner, Harrington, has what the mettle to do so.

On Sunday, Chicago Blackhawks’ captain Patrick Kane was arrested for assaulting a cab driver in his hometown of Buffalo, NY. According to the cabby’s account, the scuffle occurred because Kane handed the driver $15 for a $13.80 fare, and the cabby did not have 20 cents of change. An argument ensued that resulted in Kane and his cousin James hitting the driver several times and saying things like “you don’t know who you’re f---ing with!”

The following telephone conversation between Kane and Chicago Blackhawks’ GM, Stan Bowman, occurred shortly after the arrest was made, and it shows that the fight wasn’t really about money.

Stan Bowman: Geez Pat. Fighting a cab driver? Why are you acting like Ray Emery?

Patrick Kane: The cabby didn’t have enough change for me, Stan! First, what kind of cabby doesn’t have change? That’s like a hooker going to work without rubbers. It doesn’t make sense! And second, how could he do that to ME?

SB: What do you mean how could he do that to you?

PK: I mean doesn’t he know who I am? I’m the f---ing alternate captain of the Chicago Blackhawks for god’s sake. It’s an original six team! I’m going to have my picture on the cover of NHL 2010!

SB: Yeah, I’m sure the 53 year old cabbie has played a lot of X-box, Pat. Hell, even if he had, you think he or anyone else in the States plays NHL video games? And he’s an American, he probably can’t even locate Buffalo on a map, let alone Chicago.

PK: Stan, when I go to Vancouver, or anywhere in Canada for a game, they treat me like a superstar. Clubs let me in for free. I don’t even bother with cabs, there’s free limo service everywhere! And everyone wants to take pictures with me and take my autograph! That’s what I’m talking about.

SB: Pat, just remember this: if you play hockey in Canada, you get fame and fortune. If you play in America, you get to hang out in a freezing cold building when it’s sunny outside.

PK: Crap. Maybe I should go on Dancing With the Stars, I hear that could make me famous.

SB: Yeah, maybe you can practice your dancing in jail when some dude makes you his bitch. Good luck with that.

When Tiger Woods returned from his ACL injury, a Nike commercial was released, depicting the PGA Tour in Tiger’s absence. The song “Sunshine and Lollipops” is playing, and the players are enjoying a fun filled party complete with success and fame. Near the end of the commercial, the players are relaxing in the locker room and Woods walks in. The music dies and the players realize their party is over. To see the commercial click here.

Tiger Woods won his 70th PGA Tour victory (sitting three behind Jack Nicklaus at #3 all-time) yesterday at the Bridgestone Open, his second victory in two weeks after winning the Buick Open last week. With the PGA Championship, golf’s fourth major of the year, beginning this Thursday, he appears ready to perform. The Bridgestone was won on the 16th hole, when, down by a stroke to Padraig Harrington, Tiger hit an approach shot within two feet of the hole. In answer, Harrington knocked his approach into the water, and that was the tournament. Woods will likely need a bit of luck this week, as his game still doesn’t appear to be where it was pre-injury, but if anyone can grind it out, it’s Woods.

If you listen to Vancouver sports radio, or read the sports section in the Vancouver Sun or Province, you will realize that the city is in crisis mode. The BC Lions are 1-4 and everyone is calling for the head of GM/Head Coach Wally Buono. It is very reminiscent of what happened to Canucks Head Coach Alain Vigneault during a losing skid in January.

The Team 1040 Radio Station fields calls like, “I think Buono’s over the hill. He used to be good but he’s lost his passion.”

And, “Buono has always had a talented team and that’s why he’s done well. He can’t succeed without a very talented group.”

I’m not going to get into refuting these ideas, because there’s no need. The point I want to make is that the majority of radio callers are going to be negative and this is because of who they are. The hardcore sports fan is a blue collar worker, to whom the local sports team is most important. He or she does not have a very balanced approach to life and is from a largely uneducated segment of the population. As such, he lacks the scope to understand that a loss in any given week, or even 3 weeks in a row, is not the end of the world.

The Lions have over 20,000 season ticket holders, and the almost all of them attend every game in support of the local team. They understand that Coach Buono sports a 75-37-1 record as Lions Head Coach and is ranked second in the CFL in all-time wins with 227. They comprehend the idea of a rebuilding phase and a movement to younger players. It’s just too bad that instead of calling the radio, these people just sit back and listen, chuckling at the mindlessness of the comments and focusing on the more important parts of life.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell wishes his players would hit people with sticks. Imagine the headline, “Plaxico Burress strikes himself in the leg with concealed crowbar.”

Vancouver Canuck Alex Burrows is facing possible charges for hitting a goaltender with his stick in a Montreal summer league game. This is an NHL headline today.

Burrows probably wishes he played in the NFL, where newsworthy items include Burress shooting himself at a club with his own gun last year; Pacman Jones allegedly smashing a stripper’s head into the stage in just one of his numerous altercations; Michael Vick bankrolling a dog fighting operation; and fights at nightclubs happening weekly.

Amidst NFL stories, Burrows’ stick infraction would hardly turn a head. Unfortunately for him, he plays in the NHL in Canada, where players are disparaged for declining to sign an autograph let alone breaking the law.

The Edmonton Oilers have spent a month trying to convince Dany Heatley to play for them, with GM Steve Tambellini even travelling to his hometown of Kelowna, B.C. to prove their interest. Just two days ago, Tambellini decided that this has gone on long enough and announced that Heatley's time has run out on the offer.

I offered some insight on Heatley's advising panel in an earlier post. Another member of his inner circle is shown below.