LestersLegends.com

Roger Federer defeated Andy Roddick 5-7, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (5), 3-6, 16-14 in an epic five-set masterpiece.  With his 15th Grand Slam title, Federer moved ahead of Pete Sampras for the most Grand Slam victories in history.  Federer set a career high with 49 aces. 

It was Federer’s sixth Wimbledon title.  He also has five U.S. Open, three Australian Open, and one French Open title.

Serena Williams defeated Venus to win the 2009 Wimbledon Final.  Serena beat Venus in straight sets 7-6 (3), 6-2.  Serena now holds a 3-1 edge over her big sister in Wimbledon Finals.  She also moved to a 6-2 record against Venus in Grand Slam Finals, and 11-10 in overall finals.

For Serena it was her third Wimbledon title and 11th Grand Slam title.  Her serve was the difference as she fired 12 aces to set a tournament record with 72 overall.

Atlanta’s Jeff Bennett broke his hand punching a door.  A-Rod juiced his way past Reggie Jackson on HR list.  Sidney Ponson got popped for taking a stimulant during the WBC.  Xavier Nady is done for the year.  Adrian Beltre will miss 6-8 weeks with a shoulder injury.  Cleveland traded Mark DeRosa to St. Louis for Chris Perez.  Andre Ethier clubbed 3 HRs in one game.  Milton Bradley acted the fool.  Mariano Rivera picked up his 500th Save.  Roy Halladay.  Mike Lowell had fluid drained from his hip.  He also received a shot.  Khalil Greene returned to the DL because of his anxiety disorder.  The Pirates traded Eric Hinske to the Yankees for Minor Leaguers Casey Erickson and Eric Fryer.  Antonio Bastardo was placed on the DL.  Carlos Beltran’s second opinion confirmed he had a bone bruise.  The Cubs called up Jeff Samardzija.  Pittsburgh sent Nyjer Morgan and Sean Burnett to the Washington for Lastings Milledge and Joel Hanrahan.  Mike Lowell went on the DL.  Josh Hamilton and Ervin Santana should return this weekend.  Elijah Dukes got sent down.  Mike Aviles is going under the knife to fix his elbow.  Koji Uehara’s elbow injury will cost him 6-8 weeks.  They are expandeing the All-Star rosters to 33.  The Cards signed prospect Wagner Mateo.  Aroldis Chapman defected from Cuba.  The Cubs got Jeff Baker from Colorado for a prospect and sent Ryan Freel down.  Manny is set to return.  I hope he struggles like A-Rod.

Jacksonville sent Dennis Northcutt to Detroit for Gerald Alexander.  LeSean McCoy came to terms with the Eagles.   Calvin Pace got suspended four games for testing postive for a PED.

Shaq will wear #33 for the Cavs.  The Pacers did not pick up Marquis Daniels’ option making him a free agent.  The Nets picked up Jarvis Hayes’.  Zo will be Miami’s VP of player development.  Reports have surfaced that Yao Ming could miss all of next year, and possibly be forced to retire.  Kyle Korver is not opting out for Utah.  The Bucks did not pick up Charlie Villanueva’s option.  The Pistons fired Michael Curry.  Carlos Boozer and Mehmet Okur chose not to opt out either for the Jazz.  Kobe isn’t terminating his contract early either.  Anderson Varejao will see if there is any money in the free agent market.  Corey Maggette had wrist surgery.  J.R. Smith got a 90-day jail sentence for a car accident that took his friend’s life in 2007.  Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva will sign with Detroit.  The Clippers will send Zach Randolph to Memphis for Quentin Richardson.  Ron Artest will sign with the Lakers.  Unreal.  They are going to be tough.  Trevor Ariza will replace him in Houston.  Marcin Gortat will sign with Dallas.

The Islanders took John Tavares with the first pick.  Anaheim traded Chris Pronger and Ryan Dingle to Philadelphia for Joffrey Lupul, Luca Sbisa, two first round picks and a third rounder.  There were a few other minor trades (swapping of picks) during the draft.  Scott Niedermayer will play again next year.  Teemu Selanne will return for the Ducks as well.  The salary cap will drop next year.  Minnesota dealt a couple draft picks for Kyle Brodziak.  Calgary landed Jay Bouwmeester from Florida for Jordan Leopold.  Calgary then signed Bouwmeester to a five-year deal.  Leopold signed a one-year deal with Florida.  Bill Guerin re-signed with Pittsburgh.  Jussi Jokinen re-signed with Carolina.  St. Louis bought out Jay McKee’s contract.  Rob Blake signed with San Jose.  Chicago signed Dave Bolland.  New Jersey signed Johnny Oduya.  Ottawa agreed to send Dany Heatley to Edmonton for Andrew Cogliano, Dustin Penner, and Ladislav Smid, but Heatley rejected the trade.  The Rangers sent Scott Gomez, Tom Pyatt, and Mike Busto to Montreal for Chris Higgins, Ryan McDonagh, and Pavel Valentenko.  Daniel and Henrik Sedin signed matching five-year deals with Vancouver.  Marian Hossa signed a 12-year, $52 million deal.  Mattias Ohlund signed with Tampa Bay.  Toronto signed Colton Orr and Mike Komisarek.  Marian Gaborik signed with the Rangers.  Martin Havlat signed with Minnesota.  Montreal signed Michael Cammalleri, Brian Gionta, Jaroslav Spacek, and Hal Gill.  Edmonton signed Nikolai Khabibulin.  Atlanta signed Nik Antropov.  Boston signed Mark Recchi.  Ryane Clowe signed with San Jose.


Duke’s Eliot Williams is transferring to Memphis.  McDonald’s High School All-American Lance Stephenson is going to Cincinnati. Coach K is not going to leave to coach the Lakers.  Holy Cross hired Sean Kearney as Coach.


UConn’s Marcus Campbell won’t play next year.  NC State LB  Nate Irving broke his leg and collapsed his lung in an accident in which he was charged with careless and reckless driving.  Texas LB Sergio Kindle left the scene of an accident.  Arkansas kicked LB Khiry Battle to the curb after he got popped for a DUI.  West Virginia QB Eugene Smith broke his foot. Northern Iowa Offensive Lineman Austin Steichen was arrested for assault.

Kenny Perry won the Travelers Championship.  Jiyai Shin won the Wegmans LPGA.  Nick Dougherty won the BMW International Open.  Lonnie Nielsen won the Dick’s Sporting Goods Open.  Tom Gillis won the Nationwide Tour Players Cup.  Ryo Ishikawa won the Mizuno Open to qualify for the British Open.  Jennifer Song won the U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links Championship.

Serena and Venus will meet in the Wimbledon finals once again.

That concludes the Tidbits. As always feel free to add any stories you liked this week in sports or discuss any of the stories I mentioned.  Be sure to check out my Links Page for some great sites.

Venus and Serena will square off Saturday in their fourth Wimbledon finals.  Venus defeated Dinara Safina 6-1, 6-0 and Serena defeated Elena Dementieva 6-7 (4), 7-5, 8-6.  Serena leads the Wimbledon finals series 2-1 with victories in 2002 and 2003, but Venus won Wimbledon the past two years, including last year against Serena.  Overall they have split twenty head-to-head finals matches.

With Wimbledon underway The King, my fellow Syracuse alum living in London, has compiled a list of the ten hottest Eastern European tennis players.

Kings Court (Top 10 Ladies at Wimbledon)

10. Elena Dementieva (Russia)

9. Marta Domachowska (Poland)

8. Caroline Wozniacki (Denmark)

7. Alona Bondarenko (Ukraine)

6. Nicole Vaidisova (Czech Republic)

5. Maria Sharapova (Russia)

4. Maria Kirilenko (Russia)

3. Tatiana Golovin (France)

2. Ana Ivanovic (Serbia)

1. Daniela Hantuchova (Slovakia)

Honorable Mention:
Gisela Dulko (Argentina)

Dominika Cibulkova (Slovakia)

Ashley Harkleroad (USA)

Romana Tabakova (Slovakia)
Sabine Lisicki (Germany)

Images courtesy of Icon SMI

LeBron James messed around and got three straight Triple-Doubles.  Chris Paul had one of his own.  Luol Deng will miss two weeks with a stress fracture.  Lamar Odom got suspended a game for leaving the bench.  Orlando and the Lakers clinched playoff spots.  Atlanta snapped Utah’s twelve-game winning streak.

Ray Whitney scored his 300th goal.  Montreal fired Guy Carbonneau.  Bob Gainey will take over.  Gary Roberts is hanging up his skates.  Chicago’s Nikolai Khabibulin came of the IR.  Martin Brodeur won his 550th game.  He’s one short of tying Patrick Roy’s NHL record.

Shutouts:  Atlanta’s Kari Lehtonen vs. Montreal & Colorado, Carolina’s Cam Ward vs. NY Rangers, Columbus’ Steve Mason vs. Boston

Hat Tricks:  Carolina’s Ray Whitney vs. Calgary, NY Islanders’ Sean Bergenheim  vs. New Jersey, Columbus’ Rick Nash vs. Detroit, Florida’s David Booth vs. St. Louis, Carolina’s Eric Staal vs. Tampa Bay