Crisis Center, Day 10

Mornin.' Skies overcast, air heavy with moisture. Today, I'm breaking out the Crocs (Yeah, I'm man enough - but not to the point where I wear the fluorescent orange or pink ones; I go navy blue, and they're the knock-offs that go for about 20 bucks). I like the squishy sound my bare feet make when I'm plowing through the puddles - and it looks like we'll have some real pools by this time Friday.

They're calling for likely showers today, and rain (heavy at times) and gusting winds tomorrow. We had a lot of momentum going into the second week of the US Open, but as I wrote yesterday, Tuesday marks the beginning of a different tournament. Melanie Oudin is scheduled to play tonight, I hope they get that match in.

Last night, I blew out a tire and mangled the rim on my wife's car when I hit a nearly invisible divider on dark Canal Street, after dropping Tom Perrotta off at the subway station. Poor guy's been sick, too; seems like the press room is a viral hotbed But the man is a tennis-processing machine; all the way home in the car he was glued to his Iphone, providing updates on the Nadal match. He only interviewed 40 coaches and players yesterday, but he'll be back on his game soon!  Anyway, I'll be out at the USTABJKNTC after dealing with the car.

Enjoy the tennis today.***

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-- Pete