DC SFs start today: USA@SWE, GER@RUS

Davis Cup Semis starts today! The USA @ SWE on indoor hard [||]. GER @ RUS on indoor clay. There's also several "playoff" ties, including the last match of the retiring GBR's Tim Henman. SUI's Federer will also be in action.

The draw looks great for the USA. SWE's Soderling is injured, so SWE is running 2 Johanssons, Joachim & Thomas against USA's Roddick & Blake. I can't see Thomas having the power to outhit, nor the footspeed to outrun Rod & Blake. Joachim might could win off the strength of his huge serve, but Joachim is coming off of an injury so I doubt it. In doubles, the Bryan Bros are always favored, but SWE's Bjorkman/Aspelin are both Top20 doubles players, so they're not an automatic win. Still, I don't see the Bros losing. Hopefully the USA will pwn SWE 3-0 & end the "live rubbers" [||] part of this DC tie on Saturday.

If USA can beat SWE, we'll prolly face RUS in the final at home in the USA. Like I said, the draw looks great. USA hasn't won DC since Sampras led USA to a win in 1995. Hopefully we can get-er-done. It would also be a great achievement for Rod & Blake, who may never get to win a GS title, since they routinely get sonned by Fed. It's also great for doubles, since the stars/MVPs of the USA DC team are the Bros. Doubs needs to get some shine, it's criminally slept-on, despite being the form of tennis that most rec players play.

Here's the TV schedule from tennis.com. Fire up your TIVO-type devices. Belize says nowadays, any big sporting event like this can be viewed gratis on the internets on sites like SopCast, but I don't know how that works.

TC = Tennis Channel, DISH #400
Vs = DISH #151

Friday, September 21
RUS @ GER 5:00 am - 12:00 pm TC
SWE @ USA 12:00 pm - 6:00 pm Vs
Replay SWE @ USA 8:00 pm - 1:30 am

Saturday, September 22
RUS @ GER 7:00 am - 10:00 am TC
SWE @ USA 12:00 pm - 3:00 pm Vs
Replay SWE @ USA 8:00 pm - 11:30 pm TC

Sunday, September 23
RUS @ GER 5:00 am - 12:00 pm TC
SWE @ USA 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm Vs
Replay SWE @ USA 8:00 pm - 1:30 am TC

FactCheck

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fwd - HS tennis tournament Sep 27-30 in ATL, full college scholarships available

FYI, my team mate Shondria from my USTA mixed doubles team in Atlanta, sent this e-mail below

Basically it sounds like the HS seniors & juniors that play HS varsity tennis, may be able to cop full scholarships, by going to this event Sep 27-30 @ Sugar Creek TC in Atlanta

Pls fwd this to any kids that may be interested.

ALTA internet directions to Sugar Creek TC:
2706 BOULDERCREST RD, Atlanta
(404) 243-7149
I-285; EXIT 51, S ON BOULDERCREST RD; APPROX 1/4M, LT ON SUGAR CREEK GOLF DR; FOLLOW TO CTS.

Never forget that El Gringo Colombiano is for the children (c) ODB. No Mark Foley.

---
Shondria's msg:

FYI......If you know someone who can benefit from this please pass along.

Historically Black Colleges host a Tennis Tournament at Sugar Creek Tennis Center off of Bouldercrest Rd each year. This year the event is being held the last of this month.

18 colleges are expected and the coaches are looking to give out full tennis scholarships. Last year they gave away scholarships to some young men but there were not enough girls to so they left without giving away an additional remaining 8 full scholarships.

The do not have to play like the Williams sisters or James Blake, just play tennis competitively. Please share with any high school juniors or seniors that you may know who play and may be interested.

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HBCU Nationals Tennis Tournament

Calendar of Events

September 27th-30th

THURSDAY - September 27th, 2007

8:30A.M. – 9:00A.M.: Player Reception/Match Play Starts

12:00P.M. – 1:00P.M.: Lunch provided for Players and Coaches

9:00A.M. – 6:00P.M.: Tournament Play

FRIDAY - September 28th, 2007

8:30A.M. – 6:00P.M.: Daily Match Play

12:00P.M. – 1:00P.M.: Lunch provided for Players and Coaches

6:30P.M. – 9:00P.M.: College Pro-Am Fundraiser

* Round Robin Play
* Hit for Prizes and Giveaways
* FREE Food, Beverage, and Live Entertainment

SATURDAY - September 29th, 2007

9:00A.M. – 5:00P.M.: Final Rounds of Tournament Play

8:00A.M. – 12:30P.M.: Kids Day

* Kids Hit for Prizes
* Round Robin Competition for Jrs seeking exposure
* Free Light Refreshments

Blue Scholars' video for "Back Home"

I'm a fan of the Seattle rap group Blue Scholars, I had given their excellent album Bayani a review here.

They have a good emotional song "Back Home" about the American soldiers in Iraq. It turns out they made an excellent, powerful video. Not only my political heads, or rap heads should watch this. Basically everyone should take 5 minutes & watch this video. Really MTV & CNN should be playing this, but I don't expect it in our lame corporate American MSM. So if you like it, forward it to your friends.

fwd - opinion article on Obama

I found this article linked on okayplayer. This opinion article claims Obama is a DLC-type "centrist" Democrat, who practices "triangulation" ala Bill Clinton.

fwd - crazy story on a married couple who cheated on themselves

You should view this TYT crazy story on a married couple who cheated on themselves. WTF say you? Just watch the clip.

fwd - Rap Nostalgists You Gots To Chill

fwd - a good blog article by Brandon Soderberg on the "generational" music debates on rap & music in general.

Iowa Democratic party, NOT democratic, exclude Kucinich

This is really bogus. Tom Harkin & other Iowa Democratic party hacks don't invite Kucinich to Iowa Democratic events, even though Kucinich with 3% of the Iowa vote in polls, is sonning the invited Biden & Dodd who each had 1% in the polls. Here's the story. Here's Kuncinich's statement on this nonsense.

It's bad enough that small Iowa, with 2.9 M people, has such a large role in determining the Presidential nominees in a country of 300M people.

It's bad enough that a rural state, has such a large role in a country that's mostly urban & suburban.

It's bad enough that a non-diverse state that is 96% white, has such a large role in a diverse country.

But now, the Iowan elites are trying to restrict WHICH nominees get to be selected by this SMALL group of Iowan voters. SMH. Is Kuncinich status of NOT being a corporate whore, making the elites restrict him out of the game? Pathetic.

At least Richardson was invited there.

Hey my political heads, you gotta comment on this one. Especially Truth Hunter, as an Iowan. Anonomo/Lucho, you too.