Maria Sharapova Starts Her Comeback

Congratulations to Maria Sharapova who, attempting a comeback from shoulder surgery, played and won her first match in a Grand Slam tennis tournament in nearly a year, 3-6, 6-1, 6-2 over Anastasiya Yakimova. 

Aces Don't Guarantee Wins in Tennis

Towering Croat Ivo Karlovic broke the record he already shared by serving 55 aces in a five-set, first round match against Lleyton Hewitt at the French Open yesterday -- and lost. Actually, that's pretty consistent. The five top service games of all time, at least as measured in aces, all ended as losses.  

Watch Elvis Costello's Sulfur to Sugarcane

The prolific and chameleon Elvis Costello is back with a new album, Secret, Profane and Sugarcane, this one all acoustic. 

It's worth a listen. His site is streaming some selections while we wait for the album to ship. 

Here's a video sample of the single Sulphur to Sugarcane, with some lyrics and commentary below the video:

Server Delays Hurt ATP Tennis

Last week's Madrid Masters' tennis tournament had several great matches, including a 4-hour baseline shoot-out between Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic in the semifinals, and a radically different final, where an attacking Roger Federer upset Nadal on clay to win the tournament. Unfortunately, the tournament was less entertaining than it should have been because officials refuse to enforce time rules. Nadal and Djokovic are among the worst offenders on the tour, and when they meet the matches become excruciatingly slow. As Nadal and Djokovic are preparing to serve they bounce the ball, and towel off, and bounce it, and bounce it, and fix their hair, and bounce the ball, and adjust their under ware, and then bounce the ball ... and so on. 

(Mise à jour: Traduction française pour les visiteurs)

Watch Bryans Do Romanian Davis Cup Drill

If you play doubles this tennis drill might inspire you. The Bryan Brothers do the Romanian Davis Cup drill. They do peter out a bit after 100 volleys. 

Alternatives to Obama's Tepid Derivative Plan

After five months which saw the Obama administration make U.S. taxpayers responsible for $15 Trillion in bank liabilities through combined guarantees, equity investments and loans, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner has finally proposed regulation of derivatives -- some derivatives that is. 

The Obama-Geithner plan is extremely disappointing in two regards: First, like so much coming from the Obama administration, this isn't a plan but a two-page memo asking Congress to create a plan. As with health care, Obama is basically punting to Senator Nancy Pelosi and Representative Harry Reid. He gets the headlines, while they take the heat and do the heavy lifting. Secondly, Geithner wants to exempt many so-called "custom" derivatives, which would basically gut the regulations by creating loopholes big enough to drive many Enrons and Goldman Sachs through, as explained here. 

Here are my alternate proposals on regulating derivatives: