Big Week

Hey, Tribe. Just finished my first post for ESPN's website, although I don't think it will be live until tomorrow. For access, go to the ESPN home page, click on "More+" (right side of the toolbar at the top), and choose "tennis" from the drop-down menu. I am also doing a 2 P.M. chat with the site - details at ESPN's tennis page. If you're disposed to drop by there, I urge you to represent the Tribe with your comments. You can also bring your comments here, if you feel more comfortable at  home. But in any event, don't be shy.

Well,it looks like the WTA championships are off to a somewhat rocky start, but I'm not jumping to conclusions.

The way Amelie Mauresmo goes about things, she could bounce back and win the whole darned thing - remember, round-robin has always been very friendly to mercurial players: Being able to lose a match without it meaning the end of your tournament helps soothe those nerves. That explains why Ilie Nastase won the old, round-robin Commercial Union Masters YEC so many times (seven, I believe).

From what I see, though, I say that if Maria Sharapova were any less cloyingly earnest and dreadfully serious, she might shrug and think (and if she happened to be the late Vitas Gerulaitis, she might actually say, for public consumption): This thing is a mess but what the hail, somebody's got to win it and end up No. 1, so it might as well be me. . .

I noticed two references in the post below this one, one to the first annual TennisWorld Armadillo Poetry Slam and another to my long-deferred Man or Metrosexual? post and quiz. I apologize to you all for not having delivered closure on those two items; we will get to it - I promise - and soon after the end of the YEC Shanghai (if not before). Incidentally, we've got a decent shot at getting Miguel I play just like Federer, except I do have a forehand drop shot Seabra to post from Shanghai. I'm fired up about that possibility.

Be back tomorrow, everyone. I'm thrilled to see how much you're all posting, and what a civil and enlightening discussion it's been!