Does Andy Murray Deserve To Be Number Two In The World?
Andy Murray defeated Jo Wilfried Tsonga of France 6-4 7-6 in the Montreal Masters semifinals.
Murray’s opponent in the final is Argentina’s Juan Martin Del Potro he defeated Andy Roddick 4-6 6-2 7-5.
Del Potro also defeated Roddick last week in Washington D.C. to win the Legg Mason Classic as well. Del Potro has a 3-0 record against Roddick.
For four long years , Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal have occupied the top two rankings on the ATP Tour.
Federer and Nadal have been very dominant due to their incredible consistency.
Murray is definitely a talent, I am sure the British media will be thrilled.
However, does Murray really “deserve” the number two ranking? Murray is consistent but he reminds me of a male Dinara Safina.
Murray wins the minor ATP Tour events but he still has not won a grand slam. A grand slam separates the “good players” from the “great champions”.
I am not sure if Murray is “ready” to reach the top of men’s tennis?
Murray capitulates at the grand slam events all the time. Murray has a lot of pressure to win a grand slam.
Nadal can still “pass” Murray in Cincinnati because Murray is the defending champion.
The media will say Murray is “a rival” to Federer and Nadal, but I am not sure he is.
If Andy Murray can win a grand slam, then he deserves the media attention.
Until Murray wins a grand slam, he’s just a lot of hot air and hype.
Federer and Nadal Bounced In Montreal Masters Quarterfinals.
I am not surprised that Rafael Nadal lost to the young Argentine tennis star Juan Martin Del Potro 7-6 6-1.
Del Potro is amazing, the man is six foot six, yet he moves so beautifully across the tennis court. He also has a big serve, excellent groundstrokes,
and he has the mental toughness. Del Potro is only twenty years old, but he will become a champion he is very talented.
The bad news for Nadal is, if Andy Murray reaches the final in Montreal he will become the new world number two.
I just don’t believe Murray is the second best player in the world. Federer and Nadal have proven in the past four years they are clearly
above all the other men.
The reason Murray is going to pass Nadal is because the points Nadal earned for winning the Olympics will come off the ATP computer.
Nadal will also lose points because he won the Canadian Open last year but he lost in the quarterfinals last night.
Del Potro also beat Nadal in March, at the Miami Masters event, earlier this year in three sets.
I am shocked that Roger Federer squandered a 5-1 lead in the final set and lost to France’s Jo Wilfried Tsonga.
Tsonga won the match 7-6 1-6 7-6. Tsonga is a good player, he’s flashy but inconsistent.
It is obvious that Roger Federer just choked this match he got tight in the end and lost.
The media are making a big deal out of the British player Andy Murray, but he capitulates at the grand slams.
I am not impressed with Murray he doesn’t deserve the hype.
Murray had so many opportunities to succeed this year at the grand slams. However, Murray failed every single time. Murray lost to Fernando
Verdasco in the fourth round at the Australian Open
.At the French Open, Murray lost to Fernando Gonzalez in the quarterfinals and at Wimbledon he lost to Andy Roddick in the semifinals.
Murray’s loss to Roddick at Wimbledon was the at shocking upset because he has a positive record against Roddick. Murray choked under the pressure.
I am not convinced that Murray can breakthrough he hasn’t proven he can win a slam and until he does the media attention is just hype.
I still believe Federer and Nadal are the players to beat to the win the 2009 US OPEN.
I believe other players such as Murray and Roddick can “slip through” if Federer and Nadal lose early in New York.
The Serbian player, Novak Djokovic continues his slump, he lost to Roddick 6-4 7-6 in the quarterfinals.
I am not disappointed in Djokovic, he has lost his confidence and his fire on the court.
Why Are Most Tennis Writers Asians & Whites People? Is It Just Business Or Covert Racism?
If you surf the internet and read tennis articles on various websites such as the FOX Sports, San Francisco Chronicle, ESPN Tennis, Sports Illustrated, you will notice most of the tennis writers are Asians and white people. The question remains why? Is the media trying to say only Asian and white people are knowledgeable about professional tennis?
Is there a fear that black tennis writers will be more objective? Or is it just the marketing and business strategy to make sure the “Mythical Norm” remains in control? It isn’t by “chance” at major newspapers and internet sites there are a paucity of black tennis writers.
I have visited various tennis websites such as FOX Sports, ESPN Tennis, Talk Tennis Warehouse, WTA Tennis Forum, and the negativity written about the Williams Sisters is racist, misogynist, and abhorrent.
I also notice the Williams Sisters fans of various racial backgrounds rally to defend them. It is obvious there are knowledgeable tennis fans that are black. However, the voices of black tennis critics are silenced in the media due to racism.
The great thing about the internet is the silence is over, black tennis fans can write our views on the internet for the world to see.
The Williams Sisters made tennis popular with all races over the past decade. I am certain there are qualified black tennis writers that can bring more diversity to the tennis coverage. However, it appears the status quo remains supreme.
My perspective is, the reason black tennis writers probably haven’t been hired is because they would challenge the entrenched “white supremacy”.
Most Black writers would not allow ESPN, FOX Sports, or Sports Illustrated to continue the “covert” racist attacks against the Williams Sisters and other black tennis players such as Donald Young.
The racism in professional tennis more “covert” instead of “overt”.
Tennis writers aren’t going to write “racial slurs” such as the ” N word” to discriminate against black tennis players.
However, the racism is more subtle and obvious when the white and Asian writers use coded words such as “arrogant” , ” strong” or “very athletic” to describe black tennis players. I cringe whenever I read articles on Jo Wilfred Tsonga or Gael Monfils because their “intelligence” is never mentioned.
Why aren’t the tennis writers writing articles about the fact Monfils and Tsonga volley very well, serve well, and use the whole tennis court to beat their opponents?
All the black tennis players currently on the ATP and WTA tours have class, they are always professional on the tennis court.
Where are the articles about white American male tennis pro Andy Roddick’s petulant attitude? Where are the pieces about the white male British tennis player Andy Murray’s immaturity?
Murray and Roddick consistently use scatological language on the tennis court and they always look like they are constipated.
Do Roddick and Murray get a free pass just because they are white heterosexual males? Roddick and Murray are belligerent, obnoxious, crude, and very immature. Murray and Roddick should be fined by the ATP Tour for their unprofessionalism.
Where are the articles blasting Roddick and Murray’s unprofessionalism? Where are the articles bashing Roddick for only having “one” grand slam singles title? Ot is sexism the real reason the response is muted towards Roddick and Murray’s persistent disgusting attitudes?
It was no surprise Roddick lost the Wimbledon final against Roger Federer because he doesn’t have the maturity, mental toughness, or temperment. The only way Roddick is ever going to win another slam is if Roger Federer, Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic, lose early at a slam.
However, Serena Williams is constantly criticized because she doesn’t kiss her opponents asses. Serena is the greatest female tennis champion of her generation for a reason a champion hates to lose.
Where is the criticism against Justine Henin the Belgian tennis champion? Henin is a cheater and a liar. Henin cheated Amelie Mauresmo at the 2006 Australian Open women’s final lying about having a stomach problem.
The reason Henin pulled out of the Australian Open final was because she was so embarrassed that she was being destroyed by Mauresmo. Henin also cheated fellow Belgian Kim Clijsters at the 2004 Australian Open women’s final and Serena Williams at the 2003 French Open. Why isn’t Henin crucified for her impudence? Does Henin get a free pass also because she is a white female?
The media have been hyping the comebacks of “great white hopes” Maria Sharapova and Kim Clijsters. However, Serena Williams owns both Sharapova and Clijsters she has a combined 13-3 record against both of these players. There has been a lot of negativity about how women’s tennis is suddenly so “boring” because Serena is dominating the sport again.
Although, the Russian Dinara Safina is number one the WTA tour, she isn’t dominating. Safina is actually capitulating, she has already lost easily in two grand slam finals this year. Venus Williams also destroyed Safina in the Wimbledon semifinals losing only one game.
I am tired of white male tennis writers such as Matthew Cronin, Jon Wertheim, Greg Garber, or Bud Collins writing sexist and racist garbage about the Williams Sisters. Also notice that when the major media outlets hire people of colour they tend to be Asians.
The question remains is why? At ESPN.COM tennis website there are two Asian writers Ravi Ubha or Kamakshi Tandon. Ubha and Tandon have consistently written offensive covert racist articles against the Williams Sisters.
If you notice at ESPN.COM when they attempt to be diverse they hire “Asians” such as Ubha and Tandon. Just because Ubha and Tandon are Asians doesn’t mean they cannot harbour racial prejudices and biases against the Williams Sisters. Everyone knows any race or culture can be racist and people of colour can indeed be prejudiced against each other.
Why is there a paucity of black tennis writers for major sports publications? Please, do not mention that disgusting monster Jason Whitlock the only reason that man has been is hired is because he writes negativity about the Williams Sisters. It is journalism 101 for media publications to hire the token black writer to writer to write racist garbage about other black people. The image presented is that it isn’t “racism” because the writer is also “black” which is false.
Whitlock’s recent article for Fox Sports after Serena Williams won Wimbledon for the third time was misogynist, racist, and offensive. Whitlock complained about Serena Williams weight has this man looked in the mirror? If anyone needs to put down the hamburgers and fries it is Jason Whitlock.
Whitlock should not be throwing stones in glass houses. Serena is very fit she just has a different body type then the white girls on the WTA Tour. Anyone that has bothered to take a Woman’s Studies course would know black women and white women’s have different body types.
Serena has a more curvaceous body, Serena says she “large breasts and a large butt”. Serena is never ever going to look like a bean pole. Serena also has won three out of the last four grand slams she is the best female tennis player of her generation.
I have a problem when I see white people and Asians writing about the Williams Sisters. I question whether their racial biases will prevent them from understanding the incredible racism and sexism black tennis players experience in a still predominately white sport.
Zina Garrison is currently in a battle with the United States Tennis Association she has sued them for racism.
Garrison says, she was fired from the Federation Cup team due to racism and sexism. Zina Garrison is a proud black woman and I believe Zina is telling the truth.
Garrison has been very vocal along with Lori McNeil about the discrimination black women endure in tennis.
It is hard to read articles written by white and Asian writers writing about black tennis players because they have no reference point they are not black. The system treats Asians differently then black people and this is a fact. Asians are not considered as “threatening” as blacks to the Mythical Norm.
An alternative argument is, James Blake doesn’t get bashed in the tennis media but Blake is also a good loser.
The media don’t care about Blake because he has accomplished absolutely nothing in pro tennis .
Blake is a career quarterfinalist he is also a chronic underachiever. Blake should not be compared to Arthur Ashe because Arthur was a champion and Blake is a chump.
Blake is known captiulating and for his looks and not his talent.
Blake also doesn’t “rock the boat” he’s a good House Negro.
Blake will never become a tennis grand slam singles champion because he has an inferiority complex. Nobody expects Blake to ever win a grand slam. Malivai Washington and Chandra Rubin were better players compared to James Blake but they also did not “rock the boat”.
The Williams Sisters “rock the boat” because they are very outspoken about the racism and sexism in professional tennis. The Williams Sisters always have done things their “own way” and it works for them. The Williams Sisters have also outlasted all their rivals from the late 1990s and they have more slams.
It is time the tennis media become more diverse and allow other perspectives to emerge instead of maintaining the white and Asian racist double standard.
Canadian & European Universal Health Care Superior To United States Health Care
The United States health care is in crisis and inferior to the Canadian and European health care programs.
The French health care system is perhaps the best health care model in the world.
America is the only industrialized country in the world without some form of “universal health care.”
I cringe when I hear Canadians complain about our health care system they are so ungrateful.
The insurance companies in the USA are pernicious, they care more about profit then saving lives.
I am shocked at the outragrous prices Americans pay for health care!
In Canada, it doesn’t matter if you are rich or poor you will receive health care.
Yes I admit, sometimes in Canada, people have to “wait” to get heatlh care, but it’s worth it.
However, the health care is not “rationed” at all this is a lie the Republicans are spreading.
I love the Canadian health care system.
I love the fact that it doesn’t matter if a Canadian person is rich or poor they will receive quality health care.
The USA health care system is profit driven it’s all about class and social status.
Health care is a right not a privilege for only the wealthy.
The rich Americans complaining about President Obama’s health care reform are not looking at the bigger picture.
Yes President Obama’s health care plan will cost more money, in the long term the USA health care system will be better off.
Obama wants health care to be more affordable for poor and middle class Americans.
The American system is clearly not working and President Obama deserves credit for understanding this fact.
I am so glad I am not an American and I think Canadians we should be grateful that we live in a superior country with better health care.
I Am A Bad Actor
Monday morning, I saw an ad on a website looking for black actors to be a part of a staged reading for a play.
I e-mailed my resume and I was contacted on Wednesday for the reading.
I was surprised to get the call because I am not a professional actor!
I don’t know “anything” about acting!
Yes, I had a radio documentary on CBC Radio two years ago but that’s radio not the stage.
The AfriCan Theatre Ensemble is developing a new play called ” Woman King”.
I attended the reading yesterday and I was a bit nervous. The reading started at 10:00am at the Tarragon Theatre.
I met the rest of the cast, some of them are professional actors. We read the play between 10: 00 am to 12:00pm.
At noon, the playwright, York University English professor Mdoupe Olaogun arrived for the cast reading of the script.
We read the play for her and she made some changes to the script.
Next, between 3:00pm to 7:00pm we rehearsed the play with the director.
The rehearsal was fun but it also was tough. The last time I “acted” was when I was just a kid in middle school. I am not an actor!
At 7:00pm, we performed the play for a small select audience of professional playwrights and guests.
It was exciting performing for an audience.
It was nice at the end of the performance to receive a cheque!
I realize though, acting is so hard. I am not from Nigeria, and some of the Nigerian words in the play are hard to pronounce.
The play is still a work in progress and definitely needs a rewrite.
However, I enjoyed the experience but the acting industry is very hard.
We only had four hours to rehearse the play. I tried my best. I know I didn’t pronounce some of the Nigerian words correctly, but I tried.
After the play, cast, director, professional playwrights, and professor Olaogun discussed the nuances of the play.
My opinion is, I felt the play was too “wordy” and a bit “preachy”.
Professor Olaogun obviously has an important story to tell about Nigerian women’s rights.
The general consensus was the play focused too much on “historical information”.
I understand Professor Olaogun wants the public to “understand” the importance of the issues. However, the audience needs to be entertained.
There needs to be more emphasis on the “dramatization” of the “historical events”. The public needs to “see” the “action” not just “hear” about it.
The ending also appeared “rushed” and too “simplistic”. I don’t believe an evil king would just “abdicate” the throne without a fight.
I hope professor Olaogun wasn’t offended by my comments? I am cognizant of the fact that professor Olaogun’s script will improve and get
better.
Top 20 Countries Reading The Blog
Wow I just read the statistics, it is really a pleasure to know the audience for my blog is so diverse. Almost all the continents are represented in the top 20.
Current Country Totals
From 16 Jun 2009 to 6 Aug 2009
| United States (US) | 24,464 |
| United Kingdom (GB) | 5,179 |
| Canada (CA) | 3,046 |
| Germany (DE) | 1,256 |
| France (FR) | 914 |
| Australia (AU) | 784 |
| Netherlands (NL) | 568 |
| Italy (IT) | 547 |
| India (IN) | 540 |
| Mexico (MX) | 453 |
| Poland (PL) | 416 |
| Brazil (BR) | 399 |
| Spain (ES) | 335 |
| Ireland (IE) | 298 |
| Turkey (TR) | 235 |
| Sweden (SE) | 226 |
| Belgium (BE) | 213 |
| Switzerland (CH) | 209 |
| Norway (NO) | 208 |
| South Africa (ZA) | 193 |
Sudanese Woman May Receive Forty Lashes For Wearing Trousers
A Sudanese female journalist, Lubna Hussein, may receive forty lashes for wearing trousers in Khartoum Sudan.
Ms. Hussein’s trial has been postponed until September 7th 2009.
The question has to be asked, is the feminist movement focusing enough on women of colour?
I remember, when I was taking the introduction to Women’s Studies course we only focused on the experiences of western women.
I am cognizant of the fact there are numerous Women’s Studies courses that do focus on international issues.
I feel the introduction to Women’s Studies course should also focus more on women’s issues in the developing world.
We live in a world where male domination and male supremacy is so entrenched that the rights of women are denegraded.
It is shocking, outrageous, sexist, and disgusting how women are treated across the world.
The Sudanese judicial system is using Islam as a cover for their misogyny. Perhaps this is a cultural issue and not just a religious issue?
My perspective is, the real issue here, is men will find any means necessary to control women at any costs.
The police in Khartoum has already beaten female protesters for supporting Ms. Hussein.
Ms. Hussein is a very brave woman and I hope she gets justice.
The international community needs to rise up and speak out against this misjustice.
Gayblackcanada 