Gaels Monfils vs Giles Simon 61-shot Rally in Hamburg

This is what happens when two great movers both decide not to go for winners, but keep hitting predominantly 5 x 5 shots -- a grueling 61-stroke rally near the start of the quarterfinal match between two French ATP pros Giles Simon and Gael Monfils at the Hamburg ATP 500 yesterday. Simon eventually won the match. 

Great Paris Pics in HDR Tutorial

Trey Ratcliff, a photographer specializing in high-dynamic-range (HDR) photos -- basically using software to combine multiple images of one scene to get a broader exposure range -- and travel photos, has a vid that starts out mini-tutorial then has a really nice sequence of Paris shots. 

Close Up on Djokovic's Improved Forehand

Much is being made about how Novak Djokovic's forehand has contributed to his resurrgence. 

Certainly, it is an extremely good stroke. Djokovic's ability to dominate Rafael Nadal's backhand with his forehand is one key to winning 5-straight H2H matches and surplanting the Spanaird as number one. 

Murdoch's Testimony Misleading?

While most of the media coverage of l'affaire Murdoch concentrates on the pie-in-the-face and elder-Rupert's crocodile tears of denial, the NYTs (as usual) has some meat in these two articles:

Midyear Tennis Thoughts

The hiatus between WImbledon and the hard court circuit leading up to the U.S. Open is a good time to pause for reflection. Thus a miscellaneous grab bag of thoughts about pro tennis in no particular order.

Murdoch's Top Editors Knew | Reuters

Reuters claims top editors at Rupert Murdoch's firm knew about bribery, phone hacking, wire taping, and use of criminals. (Murdoch's empire includes News of the World, Fox News and the Wall Street Journal.)

Reporters were grilled for hours each day on their sources, and every expense line item closely vetted, making claims that a few reporters did this on their own ludicrous.

Tea Party GOP Blames "Those People" for Housing Crisis. Again.

This has been an interesting week for the right-wing. 

Tea Party Senator Calls Blacks "Aborigines"

Remember, the Tea Party GOP is not racist, and the mainstream media isn't allowed to call it that. 

PG&E Blames Victims for San Bruno Blast | SFGate

There ought to be a law. Oh, there is.

PG&E is responsible for a large, gas pipeline, which exploded killing people, and burning homes to the ground. For a year, PG&E has apologized for -- the accident, for losing maintenance records, for failing to comply with Federal maintenance rules, for not informing regulators about problems, and now ...

Hit Nothing But First Serves? | Branch NYT

Just stumbled across this nearly-year-old article that argues many tour pros would be better off going for first serves all the time, even on their second serve. 

This is particularly relevant following this year's WImbledon. Jo Wilfried Tsonga was criticized as foolish after  double-faulting when he went for a 130 MPH second serve while attempting to serve out the first set in the Wimbledon semifinal, eventually losing to tournament-winner Novak Djokovak.