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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.

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

The Tribe traded C.C. Sabathia to Milwaukee (of all places) for prospects.  He won his debut for the Brew Crew.  The Cubs answered back by snagging Rich Harden and Chad Gaudin for prospects.  Johnny Damon Jeff Suppan, Bobby Jenks, Vernon Wells (again), Mark Mulder (again), Erik Bedard (again), Dustin McGowan, and Tom Gordon were placed on the DL.  Brad Lidge signed a three-year extension with the Phillies.  Randy Johnson picked up his 289th Win.  Hiroki Kuroda lost his Perfect Game bid in the 8th on a Mark Teixeira Double.  He had to settle for a Complete Game one-hit Shutout.  David Ortiz took Batting Practice.  Derek Lowe lost a Perfect Game in the 7th.  The Mariners cut ties with Richie Sexson.  Evan Longoria and Corey Hart won the Internet vote for the last spots on the All-Star rosters.
 

Former Texas A & M star and San Diego Charger CB Terrence Kiel died in a car crash.  Tony Gonzalez was on the opposite end of the spectrum saving a man’s life via the Heimlich maneuver.  Kevin Faulk pleaded no contest to his week possession charges.  Trent Dilfer is hanging it up.  Jacksonville’s Matt Jones got pinched with nose candy.  What a tool.  T Shane Olivea signed a one-year deal with the Giants.

 
Chris Duhon signed a two-year deal with the Knicks.  Hurting for some positive news, the team formerly known as the Seattle SuperSonics signed draft picks Russell Westbrook and D.J. White.  Round One went to Michael Beasley as he dominated (28 points, 9 rebounds) Derrick Rose (10 points, 4 assists).  I wonder if Baron Davis is regretting his decision to go to the Clippers now that Elton Brand has made the move to Philly.  His former teammate, Corey Maggette, moved up the coast to Golden State.  He won’t get a chance to team with Mickael Pietrus because he left G.S. for Orlando.  Milwaukee is locking up Andrew Bogut for five years at the hefty sum on $72.5 million.  The Clippers renounced their rights to Shaun Livingston, Dan Dickau, and Smush Parker.  Brent Barry signed with the Rockets.  Brad Miller got suspended five games for substance abuse.
 

Detroit and Chicago are going to play a game at Wrigley this year.  Jaromir Jagr has left the NHL for a Russian league.  Good luck with that.  San Jose acquired D Dan Boyle from Tampa Bay.  They also signed D Christian Ehrhoff to a three-year deal.  The Wild signed RW Owen Nolan.  Pittsburgh signed LW Matt Cooke.  Buffalo traded RW Steve Bernier for draft picks.  Columbus signed R.J. Umberger to a four-year deal and Coach Ken Hitchcock to a three-year deal.  Toronto signed Matt Stajan.  Calgary signed Todd Bertuzzi.  The Flyers gave GM Paul Holmgren a three-year extension.  Anaheim signed C Brendan Morrison.  Tampa Bay signed Mark Recchi.  The Islanders gave D Brendan Witt a two-year extension.  Vancouver matched Calgary’s offer on RW Steve Bernier.  Montreal signed G Jaroslav Halak.  Ottawa signed D Jason Smith.  Carolina signed D Dennis Seidenberg.  Washington signed Sergei Federov and Brooks Laich.  Vancouver signed LW Pavol Demitra.  Goalie Ray Emery is bolting to Russia.  Martin Straka is bolting to play for a Czech team.  G Jose Theodore signed a two-year deal with Washington.
 
 
Louisville WR Trent Guy was shot.  He should make a full recovery.  Another Louisville WR (JaJuan Spillman) is no more as he got kicked off the team after another arrest.  Florida State G Evan Bellamy will miss the year because of a blood clot.  Indiana reinstated QB Kellen Lewis.  Rich Rodriguez will pay a $4 million buyout clause.  Michigan will pay half.  Maybe this will be the last we hear of it.  Ohio State CB Eugene Clifford was charged with assault.  San Jose LB Ryne Gonzalez got 45 days in the cooler for popping a man in the face three years ago.  It was over a girl, so I guess I understand.  East Carolina LB Max Joyner was suspended for assault.
 
 
Georgia F Jeremy Jacob is transferring.  Notre Dame tacked on two more years to Coach Mike Brey’s contract. 
 
 
Rafael Nadal defeated Roger Federer to win the men’s side of Wimbledon in an instant classic.  Venus Williams won her fifth Wimbledon title on the women’s side by taking down little sis Serena.  They also teamed up to take the Doubles title by defeating Lisa Raymond and Samantha Stosur.  Daniel Nestor and Nenad Zimonjic defeated Jonas Bjorkman and Kevin Ullyett on the men’s side.  Mike Bryan and Katarina Srebotnik beat Mike’s brother Bob and Stosure in Mixed Doubles.
 
It sure sounds like a broken record.  Kyle Busch wins another NASCAR Sprint Cup race.  This time it was at the Daytona International Speedway.  The Nationwide Series race was won by Denny Hamlin.  Busch took second.  Mark Martin agreed to jump ship from Dale Earnhardt, Inc. to Hendrick Motorsports.
 
Anthony Kim was victorious in the AT&T National in Bethesda, Maryland.  Fredrick Jacobson finished second (two strokes back).  Six were tied (including Jim Furyk) for third.  Eduardo Romero won the Dick’s Sporting Goods Open (Champions Tour).  Seon Hwa Lee won the NW Arkansas Championship (LPGA).  Annika Sorenstam defeated Lorena Ochoa in a skins match in Mexico.  Ross Fisher annihilated the field at the European Open.  Sergio Garcia finished second (seven strokes back).  Paula Creamer shot a 60 at the Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic.

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.
 
Thanks again for supporting my blog. Be sure to check out My Links Page for some great sites.

First, I’d like to wish everyone a Happy 4th of July and a Happy Birthday to the United States.  OK, on to the Tidbits.

The Angles no-hit the Dodgers, but lost.  Go figure.  Magglio Ordonez, Luis Castillo, Juan Pierre, Eric Chavez, Jeff Francis, and Troy Percival landed on the DL.  Ryan Church, Carlos Zambrano, Mark Mulder, and Eric Gagne came back from it.  The White Sox struck back by sweeping the Cubs.  Tampa moved into first in the AL East.  Then they swept Boston. The A’s signed 16 year old Dominican prospect Michael Inoa.   Hank opened his ignorant mouth, but the Yanks responded with a bucket full of runs.  I wish the wouldn’t encourage him.  A-Rod and his wife are getting separated.  He’s been linked to Madonna.  His wife to Lenny Kravitz.  Rafael Furcal will have back surgery.  He was having an outstanding season too.

Earnest Graham signed a three-year deal with Tampa Bay.  The Steelers cut RB Najeh “Laundry Basket’ Davenport.  Tennessee signed T David Stewart to a six-year deal.  Roger Goodell said that the rookie salaries are “ridiculous”.  I’ve long been saying that.  Chris Henry’s assault trial ended in a hung jury.  Pointing a gun at your girlfriend will get you kicked off the Patriots Willie Andrews.  The Bears signed rookie Marcus Harrison to a four-year deal. Joe Jurevicius had his knee scoped.  Brett Favre may or may not have the itch to play football again.  All I know is John Madden is willing to scratch it.  Da Bears signed rookie RB Matt Forte to a four-year deal.  Hopefully for the Bears’ sake he pans out better than Cedric Bustson.  The Bills signed DT Kyle Williams to a three-year extension.

 
Baron Davis and Elton Brand opted out of their contracts.  It didn’t take long for Baron Davis to head down the PCH to L.A. (Clippers that is).  New Orleans did the right thing by locking up Chris Paul to an extension.  Washington signed Antawn Jamison to a four-year deal worth a lot of Monoploy money.  He quietly gets 20 & 10 just about every year.  Ron Artest will stay put, although he wishes he hadn’t.  Beno Udrih will remain his teammate.  Utah picked up the option on Paul Millsap’s contract.   Jose Calderon re-signed with Toronto.  Oklahoma City has officially stolen the basketball team from Seattle.  Michael Beasley didn’t finish his first practice because of an elbow to the chest.  A retired Army General will be in charge of the refs next year.  Gilbert Arenas got way overpaid.  I don’t even want to discuss it.
 

Tampa Bay signed Ryan Malone to a seven-year deal, G Olaf Kolzig, and LW Ryan Craig.  Colorado signed Defensemen Adam Foote and John-Michael Liles, LW Wojtek Wolski, RW Darcy Tucker and G Andrew Raycroft.  Buffalo signed F Paul Gaustad to a four-year deal and G Patrick Lalime to a two-year deal.  Detroit signed D Andreas Lilja to a two-year deal and Ty Conklin to a one-year deal.  The Kings sent D Lubomir Visnovsky to Edmonton for F Jarrett Stoll and D Matt Greene.  They also got D Denis Gauthier and a draft pick from Philly for D Patrik Hersley and LW Ned Lukacevic.  San Jose signed goon Jody Shelley to a two-year deal.  Columbus signed D Mike Commodore.  Montreal signed LW Andrei Kostitsyn to a three-year deal.  The Wild trade for Ryan Jones and a draft pick for D Marek Zidlicky.  They also signed LW Andrew Brunette, D Kurtis Foster, and RW Craig Weller.  Ottawa signed G Alex Auld.  Phoenix signed LW Todd Fedoruk and D Kurt Sauer.  The Flyers signed Centers Jeff Carter & Glen Metropolit, D Randy Jones, and LW Riley Cote.  The Islanders signed D Mark Streit.  Boston signed RW Michael Ryder and LW Petteri Nokelainen.  Toronto signed Curtis Joseph.  Anaheim signed RW Corey Perry to a five-year deal.  Edmonton traded LW Raffi Torres to Columbus for Gilbert Brule.  Cory Stillman signed a three-year deal with Florida.  Pittsburgh signed Evgeni Malkin and to a five-year deal and D Brooks Orpik to a six-year deal.  They also inked G Marc-Andre Fleury, Miroslav Satan (nice last name), and Ruslan Fedotenko.  Columbus traded Nikolai Zherdey and Dan Fritsche to the Rangers for Christian Backman and Fedor Tyutin.  They also signed Kristian Huselius to a four-year deal.  Atlanta signed D Ron Hainsey.  Phoenix signed G Al Montoya and D David Hale.  Chicago signed D Brian Campbell.  New Jersey signed Brian Rolston, Bobby Holik, Jay Pandolfo, and Bryce Salvador.  The Rangers signed D Michal Rozsival and Wade Redden.  Detroit signed Marian Hossa to a one-year deal.  Dallas signed Sean Avery to a four-year deal.  Montreal signed RW Georges Laraque.  The Wild signed RW Antti Miettinen.  The Rangers signed Markus Naslund.  The Sharks signed Rob Blake.  St. Louis signed Yan Stastny.  Colorado signed Daniel Tjarnqvist and Chris Durno.  Florida signed Rory Fitzpatrick, James DeLory, Steve MacIntyre, and Chris Beckford-Tseu.
 
 
UCLA broke the mold by signing Coach Ben Howland to a seven-year deal.  Georgia kicked G Billy Humphrey to the curb following his third arrest.  Tennesse extended Coach Bruce Pearl through 2014.  Indiana is out two scholarships next year.
 
 
Georgia Tech CB Jerrard Tarrant was suspended following a rape charge.  Michigan RB Kevin Grady got popped for a DUI.  Tennesse extended Coach Phillip Fulmer through 2014. Virginia Tech WR Barndon Dillard will miss the year after tearing his Achilles.  Georgia DE Mchael Lemon got charged with assault.
 
 
Kurt Busch won the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway.  Tony Stewart won the Camping World RV Sales 200 (Nationwide Series).
 
Inbee Park won the U.S. Women’s Open.  Loren Roberts won the Commerce Bank Championship.  Pablo Larrazabal  won the French Open on the European tour.  Justin Hicks won the Wayne Gretzky Classic on the Nationwide Tour.  Greg Norman and Chris Evert got married.
 
Wimbledon News:  #5 David Ferrer got beat by Mario Ancic.  #11 Tomas Berdych got beat by #22 Fernando Verdasco.  #29 Andreas Seppi got beat by Marat Safin.  #1 Ana Ivanovic got beat by Jie Zheng.  #11 Marion Bartoli got beat by Bethanie Matteck.  #14 Paul-Henri got beat by Marin Cilic.  #25 Dmitry Tursonov got beat by Janko Tipsarevic.  #16 Radek Stepanek got beat by #17 Mikhail Youzhany.  #9 Dinara Safina got beat by #24 Shahar Peer.  #16 Victoria Azarenka got beat by #21 Nadia Petrova.  #12 Andy Murray beat #8 Richard Gasquet.  Marat Safin beat #13 Stanislas Wawrinka.  Marco Ancic beat #22 Fernando Verdasco.  #31 Feliciano Lopez beat #10 Marcos Baghdatis. #14 Agnieszka Radwanska beat #4 Svetlana Kuznetsova.  Tamarine Tanasugarn beat #2 Jelena Jankovic.  Jie Zheng beat #15 Agnes Szavay.  #18 Nicole Vaidisova beat #8 Anna Chakvetadze.  Zheng Jie beat #18 Nicole Vaidisova.  Safin beat #31 Feliciano Lopez.  #7 Venus Williams knocked off #5 Elena Dementieva to earn a trip to the Wimbledon Finals.  She’ll face little sister Serena as she beat Zheng Jie.  Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal remain on a collision course to meet in the Men’s Finals.

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.
 
Thanks again for supporting my blog. Be sure to check out my Links page for some great sites. 

Mark Teixeira blasted 3 HRs.  Umpire Brian O’Nora had to leave the game after being hit by a broken Maple bat.  They are bad news.  Gary Sheffield hit a HR in his return from the DL.  Shawn Chacon got released after tossing Astros GM Ed Wade around like a ragdoll.  Albert Pujols was activated from the DL, and promptly went 4 for 4.  The Twins won their 9th straight.
 

Pacman Jones wants to be called Adam Jones.  Hopefully, he’s serious about changing his image.  Apparently Imus isn’t as he made stupid comments and then backpedalled the next day.  Jevon Kearse got popped for a DUI.  Dude, you’re 31.  Grow up.  Speaking of growing up, Cedric Benson has to blow into a tube before he can drive.  An arrest was made in the Javon Walker thumping.  The G-Men signed G Chris Snee to a six-year, $43.5 million deal.  The Bills locked up G Brad Butler.
 

Allen Iverson isn’t opting out of his last year with Denver.  Carmelo took a plea in his DUI case.  He’ll miss the first two games next year.  Shaq’s silly rap dissing Kobe cost him his stinkin’ badges with Maricopa County.  Portland bought New Orleans’ 27th pick.  Denver traded its 20th pick in the draft for a future Charlotte first rounder.  Toronto traded T.J. Ford, Rasho Nesterovic, and the 17th pick to Indiana for Jermaine O’Neal.  The Nets traded Richard Jefferson to the Milwaukee for Yi Jianlian and Bobby Simmons.  James Jones will test the free agent market.  True to form it was Rose, Beasley, and Mayo with the top three picks in the NBA Draft.  Minnesota sent Mario Chalmers to Miami for cash.  Detroit traded a couple of picks for D.J. White.  Portland traded Brandon Rush, Jarrett jack, and Josh McRoberts to Seattle for Jerryd Bayless and Ike Diogu.  The Wolves traded Mayo, Marco Jaric, Antoine Walker, and Greg Buckner to the Grizzlies for Kevin Love, Mike Miller, Brian Cardinal, and Jason Collins.  The last two draft day trades (Marbury for Ray Allen and Randy Foye for Brandon Roy) didn’t work out so hot for the Wolves.  We’ll see about this one.

Ottawa signed C Chris Kelly to a four-year.  L.A. traded a 2nd round pick to Colorado for C Brad Richardson.  Phoenix got C Olli Jokinen from Florida for Defensemen Keith Ballard and Bick Boynton, as well as a 2nd round draft pick.  Calgary got C Mike Cammalleri, Montreal got F Alex Tanquay, Anaheim got the 17th & 28th picks, and L.A. got the 12th pick in a multi-team deal.  Philly sent F R.J. Umberger and a 4th round pick to Columbus for 1st & 3rd round picks.  The NHL suspended Anaheim Owner Henry Samueli following aguilty plea for lying to the Securities and Exchange Commission.  San Jose signed F Joel Pavelski, F Jeremy Roenick, and G Brian Boucher.  Tampa Bay signed C Vincent Lecavalier to a nine-year, $77 million deal.  Scott Niedermayer is coming back for another run.
 
 
Duquesne signed Coach Ron Everhart to a three-year extension.  Indiana AD Rick Greenspan will resign.  

 
Alabama kicked LB Jimmy Johns for selling dope.  I always thought he sold subs.  Clemson’s Ray Ray McElrathbey is transferring to Howard.  His former teammate DeAndre McDaniel was arrested on domestic abuse charges.  Central Florida RB Ricky Kay was suspended following his recent arrest.

 
Kyle Busch won the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Sonoma (Infineon Raceway).  Carl Edwards won the Camping World RV Rental 250 at the Milwaukee Mile.

Stewart Cink won golf’s Travelers Championship.  Jeff Sluman won the Bank of America Championship (Champions Tour).  Jarrod Lyle won the Knoxville Open (Nationwide Tour).  Martin Kaymer won the BMW International Open.  Eun-Hee Ji won the Wegmans LPGA.  Camilo Villegas and Bubba Watson won the CVS Caremark Charity Classic.  The LPGA U.S. Open is going on.  It’s in Minnesota this year.

Third-ranked Novak Djokovic got bounced from Wimbledon in the second round.  Alla Kudryavtseva beat hottie Maria Sharapova.  Janko Tipsarevic beat Andy Roddick.  Rainer Schuettler beat James Blake.

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.

Thanks again for supporting my blog. Be sure to check out my Links Page for some great sites.