Am I going to have to be a Ranger fan now? (Worst possible scenario.) We found out Mike Comrie is recovering from hip surgery due to a paparazzi pic, and now we got another man down: Chris Campoli. IT'S ONLY PRE-SEASON AND HE'S INJURED?! Least they beat Boston last night...but it's only pre-season. "Coach Gordon listed Jack Hillen, Chris Lee, Brett Skinner and Joe Callahan as other defensemen who could contend for a roster spot." WHO???

The acoustics are astounding; they say when there's a bullfight, you can hear the bull groaning and moaning in even the last row. This weekend, you'll hear the powerful grunting by the matador Rafael Nadal as he and his compatriots aim to demolish the Americans on the red dirt. Yesterday Spain won both rubbers: Rafa over Sam Querrey 67 64 63 64 and then Andy Roddick, in typical fashion, blew it in the 5th for David "Ferru" Ferrer to take it 76 26 16 64 86. However Mardy Fish and Mike Bryan rescued the US today defeating tennis's best looking, Nando Verdasco and Feli Lopez 46 64 63 46 64! Tomorrow ARod must beat Rafa and Sam Querrey must be Ferru. Hmmm...I'm nervous for the Americans.

"The Chinese government had monitored his birth because of the perfect physical and athletic genes of his parents, forever treating him as something of a science project." Does China ask too much of Yao and her athletes, citizens, or are we "Westerners" just lazy? Is it a cultural thing? An economic thing? Or a bare-it-all-on-one-person's-shoulders Yao thing? How many Chinese athletes are famous worldwide? I know of Li Na and Zheng Jie on the WTA tour (women's tennis), I heard the Chinese are putting loads of money into their gymnastics program, and they seem to ping the pong in that mini-tennis game. I've heard Yao works his arse off and never takes a break: Olympics, Chinese National Team, Rockets. We saw the Opening Ceremony and that proves that the Chinese work really REALLY hard. But are the Chinese going to burn out as fast as they sparked, soon after the Olympic flame in Beijing is extinguished since they spent loads on keeping it going?

Bummer...I can't pop the champagne for another 2 weeks?! How many of you are saddened that Federer is now going to have to focus on Mirka as opposed to marketing his "RF" hats, and white manbags and blazers? Well, he's got a couple of weeks to soak it in and it's all thanks to NoDjo's win against Rafa today and according to the Serb, it's "Not official still." It'll take a while for Novak to get to #2, still being about 1,500 points behind Feds (though the ATP website needs to update their #'s). I predict that NoDjo will be #2 very soon and that he'll destroy Murray tomorrow.

Why is Roger Federer playing doubles all of a sudden, at the Rogers Cup-one of the biggest ATP Masters Series tourneys of the year? Asked, "how's it feel to not be 'Wimbledon Champ?'" He bitterly remarks, "I'm still 'FIVE-time Wimbledon Champion,' maybe not 'Defending Champion.'" Roger's already keeping the #1 rank til year-end, and looking ahead he's got the hard court Olympics and the US Open. Feds still thinks he's favored at the US, and that even Djokovic is favored over Nadal. NoDjo did beat Feds to win the Rogers last year and won the Aussie this year, Rafa got the other 2 big ones this year...is Feds playing Doubles tomorrow b/c he thinks he needs the practice!?

Now what exactly did former scrub player Justin Gimelstob say about Anna Kournikova and Nicole Vaidisova, which is probably true anyway? For his sexist remarks on a DC radio program, his tennis commercials are being cut and he's gotta donate money to Billie Jean King's foundation. Let's face it folks, Gimelstob can't play, he's a terrible interviewer, but for the love of God, tennis NEEDS some spice! No? Is his punishment too harsh or not enough?

After Elena Dementieva was ushered outta Wimby by Venus, she commented on what the Finals will look like. "It's really hard," she said. "For sure it's going to be a family decision. They know their game very well. So maybe there is not so much fight in the end." Made it sound like dad, Richard, just flips a coin to see who should win the match when the Williams sisters go head-to-head, or that maybe they just take turns winning. Venus' response: "I'm extremely professional in everything that I do on and off the court. I contribute my best in my sport and I also have a ton of respect for myself and my family. So any mention of that is extremely disrespectful for who I am, what I stand for, and my family." No matter what Dementieva meant by her comment, and whether or not her English is just struggling, it'll be another duel for the ages. When asked a few days ago what she thought of the fact that her sister is favored between the two of them, Serena replied, "I don't know why anyone would say that when I'm still in the draw, what are you ON!?"

Wouldn't that be a great headline to see on Friday afternoon?! We all wish we could get into Marat's head. Hernan Gumy needs to spill all, tell us what in the world he says to his pupil, #75 in the world, each morning and all throughout, how he motivates Safin-- Marat Safin--to be playing the best tennis he's played since Jan '05 when he won the Aussie. He's actually, dare I say, an inspiration now. We know Federer's been thrown for a loop this year so far and I think Friday's match is going to be fascinating and quite telling of whether Marat's here to stay. Head-to-head, Feds has 40 more titles and is 8-2 over Marat.

Streit from Montreal comes the veteran Swiss. Now, is it Mark "Straight" or "Street" or "Ster-esche"-as the Germans would pronounce it? Either way, he's now an Islander for the next 5 years. Snowy says "Mark provides us with the stability on the blueline that we were looking for" so maybe it's a smart move since the Isles really gotta score and stop losing. Don't they need a few offensive guys?

When's the last time Shawn Bates put on skates? Last season, Bates missed all but two games while recovering from groin/sports hernia and hip injuries. He was scoreless in those contests. I do remember when he scored a game-winning penalty shot goal at the Coliseum against The Enemy (i.e., Toronto--always hate them for when Tucker swept Peca's leg) to tie the series in Game 4 of the 2002 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. "We felt this move is the most beneficial for both the team and for Shawn going forward into next season," said Islanders General Manager Garth Snow.

Up $6.4 million, the NHL's salary cap goes to $56.7 million. Isn't that what Jeter makes in a month? For the 4th straight season since the lockout, the NHL has put more money into its program, in an effort to keep appearances that they still care. What CAN the NHL, the players, and the fans REALLY DO to get people into hockey?!

Although Novak Djokovic is out, another Serb has taken the torch: Janko Tipsaravic JUST threw Andy Roddick out of Wimby, destroying any hopes of anything exciting happening this year. Guess it's just going to be Rafa vs. Feds again?

Besides the fact that I had NoDjo losing to Rafa in the Finals, I definitely only had Safin goin to the 2nd round. I'm speechless. With a 6-4, 7-6 (7-3), 6-2 beating, Djokovic came close in the 2nd, but had no chance in the 3rd. Safin's new coach, Hernan Gumi, seems to be transforming his life. Marat's been training hard, and even gets angry during practice sessions, which means he CARES. You think he cares enough to make it deep into the draw or is this still erratic Marat?

The wait is over. Barry Melrose will coach the team which itself seemed to be *struck* by lightning than have produced any; Tampa Bay finished DEAD LAST and the man who has only been given 5 minutes on ESPN every 2 months is now going to take them into the Playoffs. Ya think? Melrose has coached before, taking the Kings into the Stanley Cup Finals in his 1st season as coach. TB's got new ownership: everything from a lawyer/I-Banker, to a doctor, to a Hollywood producer. Maybe *I* can own a team too!

Tying Bjorn Borg's 4 consecutive French Open titles, Rafa Nadal barely got any clay on him but threw dirt in Federer's face by embarrassing him 6-1 6-3 6-0. SIX-LOVE IN THE FINAL SET?! Surely Johnny Mac shouted, "You cannot be serious!" Ain't no way Feds can be named "The Best Player of All Time" if he can't win all 4 Grand Slams. CAN Roger Federer come back to win his Wimby? Anyone agree and say "NO WAY?" I think Rafa's got the momentum and confidence.