Better Late Than Never

Okay, okay -- I know that I haven't posted in a little while. All right, a long while. (I do apologize for that, by the way.) As things stand now, you're just going to have to get used to it. Juggling a full-time job, school, and a personal life unfortunately leave me little time for much else. One of those things on the "much else" list just so happens to be There It Is. While this is a mixed blessing for me, it's just something that we're all going to have to get used to. I won't come anywhere close to posting once a day -- like some people do -- but when the mood does strike I'll be sure to let you know what's going on. Hopefully, once this semester passes I'll be able to get back into a more regular routine. Until that time, however, I'm afraid the posts will be sporadic at best. Thanks for stopping by and I hope to talk to all of you soon.

Random Thoughts

1. Is there any surprise at all that, after winning 6 in a row and 9 of the previous 10, the Phillies dropped their first two games in Cincinnati? 2. Is there any way to stop the Eagles bandwagon after one week? Can we all recognize that they played the Giants, and that perhaps this helped out the big day they had? 3. After all of two episodes, is anyone else annoyed by Sarah on “The Real World: Philadelphia?”

Defending Champ Bounced; Semifinals Set

Last night’s U.S. Open action featured a classic five set match between defending champ and #2 seed Andy Roddick and #28 seed Joachim Johansson. I didn’t see the first two sets, won by Johansson at 6-4 each set, but they must’ve been close as he won by one service break in both sets. Roddick had a bit easier time of it in the third and fourth sets as the enormity of what he was about to do set in on Johansson. The fifth set picked up from the fourth with Roddick’s service game simply dominant. (At one point, he won a sick 29 points in a row on his serve over the final three sets.) Several times Roddick managed to jump out to a love-40 lead on Johansson’s serve, only to lose the next five points and the game. Tied at 4 games apiece in the fifth, Johannson held serve to go up 5-4, forcing Roddick to hold serve to stay in the match. If only it were that easy. Roddick quickly fell behind love-40 before coming up with two big serves to make it 30-40. On Johansson’s third match point, Roddick sailed a backhand long ending his hope’s of defending his championship. This marks the first time since 1986 that no American man has made it into the semifinals in Flushing Meadows. World #1 Roger Federer -- aiming to be the first man since 1988 to win three Grand Slams in one year -- completed his rain-delayed five set match with #6 seed Andre Agassi ealier in the day. The men’s semifinals -- Federer vs. #5 seed Tim Henman and Johansson vs. #4 seed Leyton Hewitt -- will be played on Super Saturday, sandwiched around the women’s final. The women shall play their semifinal matches this afternoon, with #8 seed -- and There It Is fave -- Jennifer Capriati facing #6 seed Elena Dementieva and #5 seed Lindsay Davenport -- who has been on fire recently, winning 22 straight matches -- against #9 seed Svetlana Kuznetsova. What scares me is that most people are predicting an all-American final. There’s nothing like expectations, right Mr. Bowa?

Capriati Moves To Semifinals

NOTE: Random Thoughts will reappear next week. For the past week and a half, something fantastic has been going on in Queens, New York -- the U.S. Open. Now that the early rounds are done and the tournament is into the second week, some marquee matchups are taking place. Tonight was no exception with #3 seed Serena Williams facing #8 seed Jennifer Capriati in Arthur Ashe Stadium -- Flushing's version of Centre Court. This match was a three set beauty, with Williams coming out on fire and winning the first set 6-2. Capriati came right back and took the second set 6-4, setting up yet another three set match between these two. (Of their previous 16 meetings, 10 had gone the distance.) The third set was marred by several bad calls that went against Williams, including one that saw the chair umpire completely brick on the score. To her credit, though, she fought through all of the nonsense and tied the set at 4 games apiece before falling 6-4 in the third. In her post-match press conference, Williams was still upset about the calls and the umpire. "I'm very angry and bitter right now. I felt cheated. Shall I go on? I just feel robbed," Williams said. Perhaps if Williams had committed a few less unforced errors -- 57 in this match, compared to 93 in her previous four matches combined -- the match may not have gone three sets and she could have walked off the court a winner. Capriati now looks forward to a semifinal matchup on Thursday against #6 seed Elena Dementieva who ousted #2 seed Amelie Mauresmo in three sets earlier in the day. Not to be outdone in terms of marquee matchups, Wednesday night features a tremendous pairing on the men's side with #1 seed Roger Federer playing #6 seed Andre Agassi in Arthur Ashe Stadium.