Your Call, Aug. 21

By Peter BodoPublished August 21, 2008

Larry's Half-Baked Theory of Evolution by Larry and Joyce Oates, of Benton City, Wash., won the first-place award in the sixth annual Baked, Mashed, or Fried art show at the Adam East Museum and Art Center in Moses Lake, Wash., Friday, Feb. 12, 1999. The entry shows three amphibian-looking potatoes coming out of the water, evolving into a couch potato. (AP Photo/Jeff T. Green) — © ASSOCIATED PRESS

Well, the countdown to the US Open continues; today, I'll be attending the draw. I think I have to shoot some kind of video spot on the implications of the draw, with my Tennis magazine compadre Jon Levey. As many of you already know, I loathe exercises in bracketology, and making predictions in general. But I'm glad Jon and I will form a two-headed talking-head monster, because those stand-up monologues are a lot less fun to do, and always seem less natural every step of the way. Danged video. I'm a writer, not a TV guy but it looks like after all these years on the run, the posse in the new Internet age finally has me surrounded.

I had to laugh when I saw the recap of the Pilot Pen this morning - Daniela Hantuchova survived two match points in her clash with Olga Govortsova, whle Amelie Mauresmo had to go to 8-6 in the third-set tiebreaker in order to subdue Patty Schnyder. I guess it was a good day for two of the great head cases in tennis. I'm not sure Mauresmo and Hantuchova are on opposite sides of the draw, but you can imagine the scoreline if they are, and play the final? I'll be posting a lengthy piece on Sesil Karatantcheva in about an hour, based on a conversation I had with her yesteday.

Meanwhile, talk amongst yourselves, call the matches of the day, and for those of you who enjoy the drill, get ready to conduct some serious bracketology in a couple of hours!

Pete***