Venus, Venus, Venus

"This is the tournament for me!" I recall Venus saying after her surprise 2005 victory. If she didn't say it, she should have. And she could say it even more convincingly after this year's victory.
What's there to not like about Venus Williams?
Everyone talks about what a class act Roger Federer is.
But it was pretty clear who the class act was at this year's Wimbledon. And it was not the Swiss whiner making snotty comments about line calls and giving supercute Rafa Nadal the evil eye.
Au contraire, mon frere, the class act was over on the ladies' side and she was bringing the fun and the hop back to center court, ladies and gentlemen.
I love it when the good win and the evil lose. OK, so Bartoli and Rafa don't qualify as anything but feisty and oh my goodness.
But what about Roger? Did Venus beat him in the classiest department? That would be yes.
OK, Roger isn't evil either. Jeez! But who is this enigma known as Rog--a source of pity or amusement or, in fact, Clark Kent?
It's hard to actually hate Federer when he's boohooing over his trophy, but he looks like my first boyfriend, so periodically I can't help being a little turned off by the guy.
Maybe I wouldn't find myself smirking at Rog quite as much if he didn't play with his hair quite as much (even though it is enviable, more so than his trophies, frankly) or didn't wear that white suit straight out of Saturday Night Fever before and after the match. Is it just me or does that outfit accentuate his resemblance to a March hare (compare http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/March_Hare and the guy covering his arms at http://www.wimbledon.org/en_GB/news/photos/2007-07-08/200707081183917575162.html)?
What is going on there? I'm sure I don't want to know. Will he be insisting on playing with white balls next? How much time does it take to get him fitted for the smart little suit?
Oh, I'm starting to feel a little sorry for him now. Maybe that suit isn't so awful after all.
Except it so obviously is.
I suppose I'm just jealous, Rog. There. I finally owned up to it. Coming clean, clean as a crisp white suit, feels good.
That white suit makes you look sweet as a magnolia petal. It makes you look like, like, I don't know, really fancy stationary. And, honestly, what's there to not like about that?
So snaps for you too.
But please. Pleeeeeeeease, chill out a little. Oh, and start losing some, so I can start rooting for you again. Everyone loves an underdog, after all. I suppose you might be one again by 3025 or so.
As for Serena in the stands, looking most smart in her flower print and taking photos of our four-time champ--way to coach your sister on to another trophy. I wonder, was this one for Venus, or did she, like Serena supposedly asked, win it for her sister if she couldn't win it for herself?
I await their revelatory posts.

Game, Set, Match Loudest

The biggest surprise this Wimbledon hasn't been the rain, or Serena's comeback against Daniela Hantuchova. It hasn't been Federer getting a bye into the quarters when Haas pulled out, or Venus nearly losing in the first round, and again nearly losing in the round of 32. For me, the biggest surprise has been how loud the event has been.

Not just the players either, but the fans. What is going on here? Will the real Wimbledon please stand?

It sounds like a rock concert out there sometimes. And not just Serena trying to yell loud enough for the world to hear, or Sharapova's obsessive, "Come Ons." (How exactly does Maria behave around the home though, one wonders? Does she psyche herself up to go into the next room or turn on the remote with a hearty, "Come On!"?)

And there Federer was yelling his head off after a win over the heck if I can remember. At least some of the loud fashion statements are fun. Serena's long pants look gets the snaps from me. Very fetching!

Serena vs. Nadal in the finals? Now that would be loud in a very good way. Bring it on!