Buy and Sell, 7/7/08

GYA here, introducing a new section coming to you hopefully every Monday called Buy and Sell. Basically, in the world of sports, who’s stock rose this week and who’s dropped.

BUY:

Tampa Bay Rays–Winners of seven in a row, and leader of the AL east by 5 games over the Red Sox, this team just keeps on rolling.

Rafael Nadal–Finally getting over the hump and beating Roger Federer in the match of the century, doesn’t get much better than that.

The Williams Sisters–Venus and Serena both made it to the finals of woman’s singles at Wimbledon, and the champions of woman’s doubles.

Spain–First the Euro and now Wimbledon, Spain is the winner of both large international major championships this week.

SELL

Seattle Mariners–Now 18 games under .500, and 18 back in their division, this team is a mess.

Chicago Rush–The regular season arena football champs lose at home in the divisional playoffs to the Grand Rapids (who finished the regular season 7-9) 58-41.

MLB Allstar Rosters–If this game now means something, stop letting the fans vote and send the actual best players from each league. The winners of a popularity contest play for something important, not the ones who deserve it most based on performance.

Roger Federer–Winner of five straight Wimbledon titles couldn’t defend his terf agains the young gun. 1-13 on break points didn’t help him. Neither did 52 unforced errors.

GYA out.

Wimbledon, Take Three

Wow.

That’s all I could utter after Rafa Nadal lay sprawled on the floor finally haven goten over the hump to beat Roger Federer in the match of a lifetime. 6-4, 6-4, 6-7, 6-7, 9-7 was the final talley in a 4 hour 48 minute match with two rain delays, boasting the absolute best tennis I have ever seen played.

Wow.

First of all, congrats to the Spaniard Nadal. (Great week for Spain, huh? First the Euro now Wimbledon.) He becomes the first player in over four decades to win the French and Wimbledon, and he did it against an opponent who had not lost on grass since ‘02, breaking his streak of five straight Wimbledon finals.

Wow.

Secondly, this match raises many questions. Is Federer still the number one tennis player in the world? Will Nadal now be the player to beat, not the 22 year old young guy who everyone roots for? Is Federer’s time coming to a close? I say, yes, no, and no. Considering what it took for Nadal to win this match, I think he was better on that day. Federer is still the best overall, but not by as much as before; he is getting older, even if his play doesn’t show it. Federer is still the player to beat, he’s just a bit more beatable. He’ll win another four or five grand slams, just you wait.

Wow.

Finally, this final was arguably the best ever, and I think it’s the best. Federer and Nadal are so much better than the rest of the field, and to see them neck-and-neck like that was incredible. Federer with his smash and go style just made too many unforced errors against the dare-you-to-beat-him play of Nadal. The best match I’ve ever seen, I don’t doubt it for a second. Thank you Federer and Nadal for making one of my favorite sports to play and watch great once again.

Wow.

GYA out

Federer

As I sit here watching the Wimbledon finals, I can not believe what I’m about to write: For the first time in my life, I am witnessing Federer outplayed on any court other than clay. Rafa is hitting him off the court, and hitting him with wicked cross-courts. Federer has more unforced errors than I’ve ever seen him make. After the first two sets, he had nearly twenty more winners than unforced errors, and he was losing 2-0.

I hate to ask, but . . . Is the age of Federer domination over? I know, still only Rafa will give him a game, but will their positions switch? Soon will we see Nadal going for 6 titles in a grand slam in a row, and the underdog Federer the only one standing in his way.

Any way you look at it, all I can say in thank you tennis gods for giving us the great Federer-Nadal matchup we love watching so much. You can’t complian when two guys this much better than everyone else in the world are going at eachothers throats.

GYA out