Prescient Pete Strikes Again!

'Noon, everyone. Well, it's finally happened. All the junk I've got clogging this danged machine of mine necessitates immediately shipping it back to the home office in LA for a compete hose-down. I think those boys are going to need HazMat suits to get the job done right. Maybe those of you who really do think I just churn out toxic rubbish were right along - whatever the case, my formerly bulletproof Dell laptop is now officially on Injured Reserve. So this is my last post of the day, but we'll be open for business over the weekend, for sure.

My own posting early next week will be erratic to non-existent - I'm doing a speed-trip to Los Angeles, to spend a little time with Sam Querrey for a story for our September issue; I'm taking my MobilePete laptop, but between the travel and work time, I'll have little time to post. But I promise a trip report, probably on Wednesday afternoon/evening. I'll have that more comprehensive look at Ivan Lendl, the ultimate tennis Outsider, later in the week as well.

While trying to get myself sorted out here, I kept half-an-eye on the Rafael Nadal-Novak Djokovic match. Jet Boy looked very sharp; his game on clay really has improved (how do you go a long way up when you're already so far on top that you've got icicles dangling and clinking from your long locks?). And you know that seeing him hammer the Djoker so thoroughly will make Roger Federer's mission to win Roland Garros that much more daunting. We know where Nadal draws his line in the red sand.

Djokovic didn't look very fresh to me; he's played a lot of tennis and made great stride in the first four months of the year. And this I know: anyone who doesn't get his groundies to drop closer to the baseline than the service line against Jet Boy is in deep, deep doo doo. I wish it had been a better match; I'm less for specific players than for great matches, and I expected this one to be a barnburner.

We're going up to game-rich Andes tonight, and I get a double whammy of Mother's Day and my wife Lisa's birthday in the next few days.  Things  are a little hectic . Have a great weekend, everyone!