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Federer beats Roddick for record 15th Grand Slam

2009-07-06T01:58:00.000-07:00

We are talking about THE BEST tennis player in the universe.
Roger Federer has put his finger to wimbledon cup, telling everybody that he is the best player in the world AND in the whole story. Yes it is, Pete Sampras is not more the most value tennis player in the tennis circus universe, is now only the second. I don't like so much the Federer's type of play, but i admit is quite EFFECTIVE. A new king is born, Welcome King Federer!!

Roger Federer was playing for history. Andy Roddick was playing the match of his life.

On and on they dueled, Federer trying for a record-breaking 15th major championship, Roddick striving for his second, in a Wimbledon final that required more games than any Grand Slam title match in the considerable annals of a sport dating to the 1800s.

"Ten games all, final set," intoned the chair umpire. Then, "Twelve games all, final set." And, still later, "Fourteen games all, final set."

They were each other's equal for four full sets and nearly the entire 30-game fifth set. Until Federer, far more experienced in such matters, finally edged ahead, breaking Roddick's serve for the only time in the 77th and last game to close out a 5-7, 7-6 (6), 7-6 (5), 3-6, 16-14 victory Sunday.

The epic match — the fifth set alone lasted more than 1 1/2 hours — gave Federer his sixth Wimbledon title. Add that to five from the U.S. Open, three from the Australian Open and one from the French Open, and Federer's Grand Slam total rises to 15, one more than Pete Sampras, who flew in from California on Sunday morning to be on hand.

"He's a legend," Sampras said. "Now he's an icon."

Indeed, Sampras already was among those labeling Federer the greatest tennis player ever, and there's no doubt the 27-year-old from Switzerland keeps bolstering his case.

"It's not really one of those goals you set as a little boy," Federer told the Centre Court crowd during the trophy ceremony, "but, man, it's been quite a career. And quite a month."

Federer won the French Open four Sundays earlier to complete a career Grand Slam and tie Sampras with 14 major titles (Margaret Smith Court owns the women's record of 24).

"Sorry, Pete," Roddick said. "I tried to hold him off."

He weathered Federer's career-high 50 aces and his 107 total winners in the longest match and longest fifth set in major final history, topping marks set in 1927.

The tennis gods — as well as Sampras, Rod Laver and Bjorn Borg, all in front-row seats — must have enjoyed every moment of the 4-hour, 16-minute tussle. Federer, who can make it all look so easy, was forced to work darned hard to eclipse Sampras' mark, and Roddick was left heartbreakingly close to finally winning Wimbledon.

Roddick dropped to 0-3 in finals at the All England Club, also beaten by Federer in 2004 and 2005. After the match ended on a shanked forehand by the sixth-seeded American, the two men hugged at the net. A mere handshake wouldn't do.

The winner donned a specially tailored white jacket with a gold "15" stitched on the back, while the loser — a word that hardly seems fair in this case — slumped in his chair, head bowed, until rising to acknowledge the spectators' chorus of "Rodd-ick! Rodd-ick!"

"Sports, or tennis, is cruel sometimes. We know it," Federer said. "I went through some five-setters in Grand Slam finals, too, and ended up losing. It's hard."

A year ago, on the same lawn, Federer's five-year reign as Wimbledon champion ended in a 9-7 fifth set defeat against his nemesis, Rafael Nadal. Six weeks later, Federer relinquished to Nadal the No. 1 ranking after a record 237 consecutive weeks at the top.

But Nadal did not defend his Wimbledon title, citing sore knees, and Federer not only regained his championship at the All England Club — the Grand Slam he says means the most to him — but returns to No. 1 Monday.

"It's staggering that I've been able to play so well for so many years now and stay injury-free," Federer said. "I knew what it took to win the big ones. ... It's crazy that I've been able to win so many in such a short period of time."

Sampras — whose 14th major title came in his last match, at age 31, at the 2002 U.S. Open — and his wife appeared in the Royal Box during the changeover after Sunday's third game. Walking to the baseline directly below, Federer acknowledged Sampras with a nod of the head and a little wave.

"I thought, 'I don't want to be rude,' you know?" Federer said.

He wept with joy after his first Grand Slam title at Wimbledon in 2003. And he bawled in the locker room after his 40-match winning streak here ended against Nadal in 2008. This time, Federer kept it together, perhaps because he was too exhausted after a match chock-full of contradictions:

• Federer's ace count was one shy of the Wimbledon record and, most remarkably, 23 more than Roddick, who is better-known for his knee-buckling serves.

• Roddick broke serve twice in the first four sets; Federer, considered a superior returner, couldn't come through until the match's concluding game.

• Federer won both tiebreakers; Roddick is the one who began the day 26-4 in those set-capping races to seven points.

Then there was the most counterintuitive piece of all: that Roddick would even stay close, much less be on the verge of victory, given that he came in 2-18 against Federer, including 0-7 at major tournaments.

Roddick made quite clear, quite quickly, that he is a new-and-improved version, delivering four passing winners by the time the match was 13 minutes old — three with his backhand, long his weaker side.

And he broke Federer to close the first set. It happened suddenly: Federer won 21 of the first 24 points on his serve, but Roddick took three out of four in a blink, earning the last point of that set with a backhand down the line that drew a wide forehand from Federer.

The crowd roared, sensing an upset. There were more rumblings when Roddick, the 2003 U.S. Open champion, went up 6-2 in the second-set tiebreaker. Here, then, were four chances to take a 2-0 lead in sets.

Roddick might have been forgiven for thinking, "Wow, I'm one point away from leading Roger Federer two sets to none in the Wimbledon final." He certainly played as though burdened by looking ahead, letting all four set points slip from his grasp. Most discouraging was the last, when he wildly misplayed a backhand volley. It was part of a six-point, set-ending run for Federer.

How does someone recover from that? Somehow, Roddick did.

"At that point, like everything else, there's two options: You lay down or you keep going," he said. "The second option sounded better to me."

Roddick lost the third set, too, but rallied to take the fourth, and then came the fifth. Wimbledon doesn't use tiebreakers in fifth sets, and there were times it seemed Federer and Roddick would play into the night.

Federer faced a serious test at 8-8, though, when Roddick earned two break points with a backhand winner down the line. Federer saved the first with a 118 mph service winner, and the second with a volley winner. There was not another break point for either man until Roddick served while trailing 15-14.

At deuce, Roddick sailed a forehand long, giving Federer his seventh break point of the match. Until then, he was 0 for 6. But this was also a championship point, and Federer converted.

"Frustrating, at times, because I couldn't break Andy 'til the very, very end," Federer said. "So satisfaction is maybe bigger this time around to come through, because I couldn't control the match at all."

As he enjoyed the first post-victory moments in the locker room — a more muted celebration than usual, owing to Roddick's presence — members of the grounds crew entered and presented him with the Centre Court net. Another keepsake for Federer's ever-more-crowded trophy room.

This was the first Wimbledon with a retractable roof on Centre Court, a modern touch for a stadium that opened in 1922.

But this edition of the tournament wound up being almost entirely dry, with only two matches contested with the roof shut. This final was played with the blue sky above. The tennis gods must have wanted a good view.

Artest going to Lakers

2009-07-03T05:31:00.000-07:00

For me Artest, is a winning player, he is able to score, to go in transition, but specially HE IS THE DEFENSE! Yes, He is a defensive player, and Kobe Briant knows it! Who is not remember the epic fought between L.A. Lakers agaist Houston Rockets. I think that with tha player, Los Angeles Lakers are in top to win another season in the Nba. Boston Celtics, Orlando Magic, and the other teams must struggle A LOT, to try to defeat this marvelous new team with Artest.

By the way, i think this is only the first stage for a "hot" draft.

“I am very excited to finally be going to L.A.,” Artest said in a statement issued by his agent Thursday night. “For years now, the Lakers have expressed interest in having me play for them, but we could never get the stars to align. I’m finally a Laker and I can’t wait to get on the court with Kobe, Pau (Gasol) and the rest of the team, and play for Phil (Jackson). The Lakers really made me feel wanted.”

David Bauman, Artest’s agent, said the final details are still being worked out, but could be finished as early as Thursday night.

“We have entered into discussions with Ron Artest and it is our intention to sign him to a contract at the conclusion of the moratorium period,” Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak said in a statement Thursday night.

ESPN.com reported that Artest had agreed to a three-year deal worth $18 million. Bauman would not confirm those numbers, saying the deal was still being negotiated.

“We’re not quite there yet,” Bauman said. “We’re still working on it.”

Artest, who played for the Houston Rockets last season, decided to join the Lakers on Thursday.

“I made my decision after I had lunch today with Dr. Buss, and I realized what a great organization I’m joining. I’m very, very excited to be a Laker,” Artest said. “I look forward to helping the Lakers defend their championship, and it will be great to finally not get booed in the Staples Center.”

The 6-foot-7 forward earned $7.4 million in his only season with Houston, averaging 17.1 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.3 assists. The 2004 Defensive Player of the Year was also a rugged 1-on-1 defender, often assigned to guard the opponent’s most dynamic scorer.

Bauman said Artest was looking for a championship-caliber team when he became an unrestricted free agent on Wednesday.

“He wants to win a ring,” Bauman said. “He’s a winner and a hard worker and he went looking for a team with whom he could find some justification for what he does. He plays his best when he’s in that kind of an environment.”

Earlier Thursday, Bauman said Artest was being courted by several teams that made the playoffs last season and received text messages from unspecified “superstars” who were trying to lure him to their cities. Bauman would not say if Bryant was one of those players, but acknowledged on Thursday night that their friendship was a factor in Artest’s decision.

“The whole situation was extremely appealing to Ron,” Bauman said.

The two had a feisty individual battle in the second round of the playoffs, as the undermanned Rockets pushed Bryant and the Lakers to seven games. Artest and Bryant often mouthed off at one another, and Artest was ejected from one game for confronting a referee and claiming that Bryant elbowed him in the neck.

Artest’s decision is another tough blow to the Rockets, who acquired Artest in a trade with Sacramento last summer.

Rockets general manager Daryl Morey did not immediately return a phone message Thursday night.

He already seemed resigned to losing Artest, flying to Las Vegas earlier in the day to meet with Lakers forward Trevor Ariza

. The Rockets and Ariza later agreed on a multiyear deal, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press on Thursday night. The person, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because NBA rules prohibit announcing free-agent deals until next week, said the Rockets offered Ariza the full mid-level exception for the first year, about $5.6 million.

The 6-8 Ariza averaged 8.9 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.8 assists for the Lakers last season and will fit into Artest’s role in Houston’s starting lineup.

Houston already knows it will be missing McGrady for the bulk of next season as he recovers from microfracture surgery on his left knee.

The Rockets are also awaiting a definitive prognosis on Yao, who sustained a hairline fracture in his left foot in the playoffs.

Morey made an aggressive pitch to free agent center Marcin Gorgat shortly after the free agency period began on Wednesday.

Artest was on his best behavior in Houston last season, but he’ll always be remembered as the central figure in the 2004 brawl with Detroit fans at The Palace of Auburn Hills when he played for the Indiana Pacers.

Artest was suspended for 73 games, the NBA’s harshest punishment for a fight.

Early in the 2005-06 season, Artest demanded a trade from Indiana, angering his teammates. He was dealt to Sacramento in January 2006 and meshed well with coach Rick Adelman, who now coaches the Rockets.

Two years later, Artest left the Kings in a bitter dispute with the team’s ownership.

Fans must register for tickets to Jackson memorial

2009-07-03T01:17:00.000-07:00

As you can see the"odissey" of Michael Jackson is never ending, personally i do not care about the family, the money, and everything that is acting now...
Michael Jackson was a GIANT of the Pop, and we are glad to remember him for what he has created in his life, and not for his "behaviour".
Seeing his latest performance, before his dead, it seems he was not so "depressed", and he was not in a state of "dead man walking", so some doubts are arising in my head, but is just an opinion.
The only truth is that nobody will know what it happened there, as Kennedy, will be an obscure tunnel, without light.
Bye Michael, RIP

LOS ANGELES, California -- Fans wishing to attend singer Michael Jackson's memorial service next week will have to register for the 11,000 free tickets, organizers said Thursday.

Michael Jackson is shown rehearsing at the Staples Center on June 23, two days before his death.

Details on how to register for the 10 a.m. (1 p.m. ET) service at the 20,000-seat Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, Tuesday are to be announced Friday.

Jackson's family will hold a private ceremony before the public memorial service, his brother said Thursday.

Speaking to CNN's Larry King, Jermaine Jackson said the ceremony will be held Tuesday morning, but he did not say where.

Jackson rehearsed at Staples Center two nights before he died, and he appeared healthy in a video clip of the rehearsal obtained by CNN. Jackson died June 25 after collapsing at his rented home in Los Angeles.

AEG, promoter of Jackson's planned London, England, shows, released the short video of Jackson rehearsing in the arena on June 23.

Jackson sang "They Don't Care About Us," a song from his "HIStory" album, as he danced along with eight male dancers.

Jackson did not specify where he wished to be buried in a 2002 will, which was filed in court Wednesday.

At a brief talk with reporters Thursday, an attorney for Jackson's ex-wife Debbie Rowe said she "has not reached a final decision" on whether she will challenge Jackson's mother for custody of Jackson's two oldest children, according to her lawyer.

A Los Angeles TV station quoted Rowe on Thursday morning saying, "I want my children."

Except for the statement to the radio station, she has not publicly indicated whether she would seek custody now that Jackson is dead.

Rowe was left out of the will.

"I have intentionally omitted to provide for my former wife, Deborah Rowe Jackson," the will said.

The will nominated Katherine Jackson, now 79, as the guardian of his children. If Katherine Jackson were to die, "I nominate Diana Ross as guardian," Jackson said in the will, written July 7, 2002.

Singer Ross, 65, was a lifelong friend of Jackson's.

There's also a question on when the will's executors should take over control of the late entertainer's assets, which Judge Mitchell Beckloff temporarily placed under Katherine Jackson's control.

One man named as executor is John Branca, who represented Jackson from 1980 until 2006 and was hired again before the singer's death. He helped acquire Jackson's music catalog, which is worth millions.

The other is music industry executive John McClain, a longtime Jackson friend who has worked with him and his sister Janet.

DEA reportedly joins investigation

The Drug Enforcement Administration has joined the investigation into Jackson's death, a federal law enforcement official said Wednesday night.

And the California State Attorney General's office said Thursday that it is helping the Los Angeles Police Department in its investigation. The attorney general's office said it will assist police in sifting through information in a state database that monitors controlled medication.

Two law enforcement officials separately confirmed the DEA inquiry, saying agents would look at doctors involved with Jackson, their practices and their possible sources of medicine supply.

Neither official wanted to be identified because they could not comment publicly on the matter.

Officially, a DEA spokeswoman referred questions to the Los Angeles Police Department, which would not confirm the involvement.

"We routinely offer assistance to any agency regarding the Federal Controlled Substance Act," said Sarah Pullen of the DEA. "However, at this time, we have nothing further to comment about the death of Michael Jackson."

Speculation about the role of drugs has been swirling since Jackson died June 25 at his rented estate in Holmby Hills. The cause of his death, at age 50, was pending toxicology results.

On Wednesday, police released a car belonging to Jackson's cardiologist, Dr. Conrad Murray. They had impounded the vehicle Friday, saying it might contain evidence -- possibly prescription medications.

Police did not say whether they found anything.

Murray's attorneys issued a statement, asking the public to reserve judgment about the cause of death until the coroner's tests are complete.

"Based on our agreement with Los Angeles investigators, we are waiting on real information to come from viable sources like the Los Angeles medical examiner's office about the death of Michael Jackson," the statement said. "We will not be responding to rumors and innuendo."

No public showing planned for Neverland

Logistical and financial challenges derailed earlier plans for a public viewing and private memorial at Neverland Ranch.

Planning had been under way for a motorcade to carry Jackson's body from Los Angeles to the Santa Barbara County ranch, which state and local officials suggested would be difficult and costly.

Law enforcement sources had said a public viewing at the ranch was under consideration for Friday, but a spokesman for the family said that it would not happen.

"Plans are under way regarding a public memorial for Michael Jackson, and we will announce those plans shortly," said Ken Sunshine, whose public relations firm had been hired by the Jackson family.

Despite the announcement, more than two dozen TV satellite trucks lined the narrow two-lane road leading to the ranch.

For a time, the California Highway Patrol closed the road to clear up a small bottleneck of cars created by Jackson fans and the media.

Obama confident in recovery despite jobs report

2009-07-03T00:35:00.000-07:00

Unemployment rises to 9.5 percent

Barack Obama is still confident with the economy without understanding this difficulty period is hanging the economy of the whole world. Seems that nobody in the world is able to recover this state of depression, Europe itself is not able to fight against this depression, and even Switzerland has quite FEW problems to leverage its economy. Only countries related with oil, they are happy with this "state of things". We understand, and we hope we fail, that this depression will bring us to a "civil war" between rich class, and "nothing class". We hope we fail, I repeat!

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama said Thursday that he remains confident the economy will turn around in the short term and the nation will prosper in the long term despite another dose of bad unemployment news.

"And I'm absolutely confident that we can, at this period of difficulty, prove, once again, what this nation can achieve when challenged," Obama said in the Rose Garden after a meeting with executives from energy companies.

Earlier, the government reported that employers cut a larger-than-expected 467,000 jobs in June. The unemployment rate climbed to a 26-year high of 9.5 percent.

Obama called that report sobering news but better than the last economic quarter and a sign that the recession is slowing.

"Obviously, this is little comfort to all those Americans who have lost their jobs," he said.

Obama and his team have pointed to energy companies in citing ways to steady the economy and put people back to work. The White House is working to keep energy in the spotlight even as Congress takes a break this week for the July 4 holiday.

The House last week narrowly approved the first energy legislation designed to curb global warming following furious lobbying by White House advisers and personal pressure by the president himself.

"So these companies are vivid examples of the kind of future we can create," the president said Thursday in the Rose Garden, flanked by energy industry leaders. "But it's now up to the Senate to continue the work that was begun in the House to forge this more prosperous future. We're going to need to set aside the posturing and the politics, and when we put aside the old ideological debates, then our choice is clear."

He added: "It's a choice between slow decline and renewed prosperity. It's a choice between the past and the future."