The final Yankee Stadium baseball game on Sunday, the Mets' playoff chase this week, Jets at San Diego Monday night ... there is plenty to write about. And we may be doing just that. But for now, let this suffice as a fresh blog post.
— Max
Roger Federer of Switzerland at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 8, 2008. (Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
By Max J. Dickstein
mdickstein[at]am-ny.com
For Roger Federer, there’s nothing like two late-summer weeks in New York to get things right.
The Swiss star dismissed Scottish challenger Andy Murray 6-2, 7-5, 6-2 Monday evening to clinch his fifth straight U.S. Open title and 13th Grand Slam championship.
-Click here to see photos from the Federer-Murray match
-Click here to see photos of Roger Federer through the years
Only an hour and 51 minutes after the match began, Federer cracked an overhead on his second match point; a ragged Murray shunted his forehand reply into the net and Federer fell to the hardcourt in celebration. Federer had coverted his seventh of 10 break points before the set over the packed and adoring Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd.
"To take this home is incredible," Federer said on the court before he received another seven-pound, Tiffany & Co. trophy and a check from the USTA for $1.5 million. "It means the world to me."
Federer thanked the 23,763 fans “from the bottom of my heart” for answering the call to support him in his quest to finally win a major title in 2008. With this one, the five-time Wimbledon champion became the only man to win five consecutive titles at two major tournaments.
Federer’s 12th title came at this time last year, when he defeated Novak Djokovic in a more suspenseful straight-sets victory. But a semifinal loss to Djokovic in Australia, and painful losses to top-ranked Rafael Nadal in finals at Roland Garros and an epic match at Wimbledon this season had tarnished Federer's sterling record. The 27-year-old was ranked No. 1 for 237 weeks before being unseated by Nadal last month.
But Federer had his flourish back at this tournament, which culminated in a dominant dismissal of Murray, a first-time Grand Slam finalist who appeared ragged at times playing his third straight day of tennis.
"I've got the better of him the last two times we played," Murray said of his 2-1 career edge against Federer entering the match, "and he set the record straight today."
Whether Murray was serving or returning, Federer’s all-court attack often sent Murray staggering after booming ground strokes from either wing and sharp volleys at the net, where Federer won 31 points on 44 approaches.
"Today, I think I really chose the right tactics against Andy, who himself is a good tactician," Federer said.
Tropical Storm Hanna dealt the 21-year-old Murray a scheduling blow, forcing him to play two straight days of high-level tennis against Nadal in their semifinal, which he won on Sunday. Federer dispensed with his semifinal opponent, the third-seeded Djokovic, on Saturday, enabling him to rest on Sunday.
— Max
-Click here to see photos from the Federer-Murray match
-Click here to see photos of Roger Federer through the years
A P.R. release of note:
2K Sports and the NHL will celebrate the launch of the highly anticipated hockey title, NHL 2K9, by offering fans an exclusive opportunity to play and purchase the video game at the “NHL Powered By Reebok” store a day before it becomes widely available at retail.
As part of the celebration, fans can register to take part in a NHL 2K9 single-elimination tournament on Wii™ home video game system from Nintendo, with the finalist going head-to-head against NHL 2K9 cover athlete and Columbus Blue Jackets captain Rick Nash in the final elimination. First prize is a Nash-signed jersey and second prize is an autographed copy of NHL 2K9 on the winner’s choice of platform.
Beginning today, the first 100 customers who pre-order or purchase the game at the NHL store will get an exclusive NHL 2K9/NHL Powered by Reebok puck.
WHO: Rick Nash – three-time NHL All-Star, captain of the Columbus Blue Jackets and cover athlete for NHL 2K9
WHEN: Monday, September 8 @ 4pm – 7pm
(4pm-5pm registration, 5pm-7pm tournament)
WHERE: NHL Powered By Reebok store
1185 Avenue of the Americas, (6th Avenue at 47th Street)
New York, NY 10036
NOTE: The first 32 fans to register will receive a wristband that secures participation in the tournament. Registration is free and open to all ages. Fans under 17 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
—Max
Andy Murray (6) versus Roger Federer (2) 2008 U.S. Open men’s singles final simulated with "Top Spin 3" (2K Sports) for the Nintendo Wii
The contestants enter Arthur Ashe Stadium. I'm playing as Roger Federer against a computer-controlled Andy Murray. (all photos by Max J. Dickstein)
First Set
Roger Federer opens as server. He comes out tight but blazing in the opening points. His serve is irregular, including one double-fault, but Federer cracks four Murray-yanking winners to take the game 40-15.
Federer leads 1-0
In Murray’s opening service game, Federer plays aggressively from the baseline, using both the forehand and backhand wings. He robs the serve advantage from Murray at 15-40 on the second break point.
Federer leads 2-0
The game is well underway
Roger consolidates the early break at love, keeping the points short with near-line-painting drives to both sides of Murray’s court. Roger has now struck 11 winners against one error. Murray has one of each.
Federer leads 3-0
Federer is better by one star in each category.
The Swiss No. 2 again breaks Murray, who is apparently not gifted with speed enough to chase down Federer’s finishing strikes from the dry white paint of the baseline.
Federer leads 4-0
The 27-year-old Federer, who lost the No. 1 ranking to Spain’s Rafael Nadal Aug.18, holds at love. He begins to feel guilty for wondering whether Murray is doing an early-career impression of late-career Tim Henman. It was Federer, after all, who said after winning his 12th overall Grand Slam in New York last year that his greatest thrill was to beat younger guys who would challenge his dominance, such as 2007 U.S. Open runner-up Novak Djokovic. "New guys challenging me — this is my biggest motivation out there," Federer said then, having just turned back Djokovic in three sets in the 2007 U.S. Open final. "Seeing them challenging me, and then beating them in the finals." Murray, 21, certainly fits the mold of the young challenger to Federer. The 22-year-old Nadal, a five-time Grand Slam champion whom Murray beat to reach this final, is in another class than his young contemporaries — Federer has acknowledged that.
Federer leads 5-0
With more thunderous and precise ground strokes that are impossible for to reach for scurrying Murray, Federer breaks his opponent at love. At first set’s end, with 22 winners against two errors), the four-time defending U.S. Open champion owns a winner-to-error ratio of 2:1.
Federer wins 6-0 and leads Murray one set to love.
The Wizards, Hawks, and Rockets look to avoid elimination tonight. The Cavs, Celtics, and Jazz are all looking to end it. With Round 2 games already looming tomorrow (Hornets v. Spurs, Pistons v. Magic), who will step up in these crucial games?
The prevailing rumor at the moment is that Mark Jackson is the front-runner to become the next head coach of the Knicks. If he doesn't take the Knicks job, there are several other teams, such as the Bulls, who would love Jackson behind their bench.
While expectations might be low (how could they get lower than the eras of Isiah Thomas and Larry Brown), Knicks fans would likely prefer any candidate to have some level of experience. Marc Jackson is likely one exception to that rule, as a former Knick, but it got me to thinking about where he might gain experience on a slightly lower level.
Then it hit me like an errant Stephon Marbury jumper to the temple.
A college team, one that the city of New York has gotten behind in the past, but has fallen on hard times. A school that has emerged from scandal, but has thus far struggled to re-establish a winning identity.
They are the fifth-winningest program in NCAA Men's basketball history, with 1673 wins, and own the 7th best winning percentage (.680). They also have the 7th most NCAA tournament appearances (27), two Wooden National Player of the Year Award Winners, 11 consensus All-Americans, and 6 members of the Hall of Fame.
They play their home games at the World's Most Famous Arena. And it is the school where Jackson spent his collegiate career.
Give up?
April 21, 1991: Almost a Jet
Arizona renegs on a draft-day deal that would have allowed the Jets to select Southern Mississippi’s Brett Favre with the Cardinals’ 32nd pick. The Jets can’t move up, the Atlanta gets Favre with the 33rd pick.
Jan. 6, 2002: Gift sack?
Michael Strahan needs one more takedown in a meaningless Giants-Packers game to set the NFL’s single-season sack record. With 2:42 remaining, Favre breaks off a run play and rolls away from his blockers to the right. Favre tumbles and Strahan pushes his sack total to 221⁄2.
Oct. 4, 2004: TD after a concussion
Two plays after Giants defensive tackle William Joseph slams Favre’s head to the turf, Favre returns to the field and throws a 28-yard score to Javon Walker. The Packers still lose, 14-7.
Sept. 16, 2007: Most QB wins ever
In a 35-13 romp over the Giants at the Meadowlands, Favre goes 29-38 for 286 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. Favre’s 149th victory eclipses John Elway’s mark for most wins by a starting NFL quarterback. Favre finishes with 160.
Jan. 20, 2008: Bitter End
With a Super Bowl berth at stake in subzero Lambeau Field, in overtime, the Giants’ Corey Webster steps in to pick off Favre’s drop-back pass, intended for Donald Driver. The Packers lose 23-20. Favre’s retirement six weeks later makes this error the endpoint of an enviable career.
— Max J. Dickstein and Erick Blasco
Here is my Top 15:
1. Miami — Glenn Dorsey, DT, LSU
Talented and productive DTs are worth their weight in gold in the NFL and Dorsey is the kind of big, strong player Bill Parcells likes.
2. St. Louis — Jake Long, OT, Michigan
St. Louis has to find a long-term replacement at left tackle for Orlando Pace, whose health can't be counted on anymore.
3. Atlanta — Chris Long, DE, Virginia
Their new coach, Mike Coach, was a defensive coordinator. Plus, after the Vick and Petrino sagas, the Falcons need some good p.r. moves and Long has the intangibles to be a great face for the franchise.
4. Oakland — Darren McFadden, RB, Arkansas
Dallas is a realistic trade partner, but Oakland needs a RB to take pressure off of JaMarcus. Fargas is an unrestricted free agent, Rhodes is not a feature back, Jordan won’t be around, and Michael Bush's knee is too risky to count on.
5. Kansas City — Matt Ryan, QB, Boston College
Do I need to explain how bad their QBs are? Even Herm Edwards isn’t naive enough to think Croyle can be the guy. At least I hope not for that city’s sake. Plus they didn’t get Brady Quinn last year, so this is them fixing that mistake.
6. Jets — Vernon Gholston, DE, Ohio State
He can be switched to an outside linebacker in the 3-4 and occasionally line up as a DE in pass rushing situations.
7. New England — Aqib Talib, CB, Kansas
I really think they'll try to trade down and pick a LB, since none of them are worth the seventh pick’s money. But if they don’t, like every other NFL team, they could use some secondary depth.
8. Baltimore — Brian Brohm, QB, Louisville
I wouldn’t be surprised if they go for a DE or OT, but McNabb is worthless, Boller has lost his biggest supporter in Billick, and QB impresario Cam Cameron was just hired as the OC. (Enough initials for you?)
9. Cincinnati — Sedrick Ellis, DT, USC
Ellis is the best value with the pick and Cincy’s defense needs an infusion of talent.
10. New Orleans — Mike Jenkins, CB, Ohio State
The Saints defense was terrible and the worse part of the unit was at cornerback.
11. Buffalo — DeSean Jackson, WR, Cal
Cal pals Jackson and Marshawn Lynch can befriend each other in lonely western New York and Buffalo needs another dynamic piece to fit around QB Trent Edwards.
12. Denver — Ryan Claddy, OT, Boise State
Denver's offensive line has been crippled the past couple years and Claddy is a known, local product.
13. Carolina — James Stewart, RB, Oregon
Coach John Fox says Carolina will go back to becoming a menacing and powerful running team. Neither of their current RBs, Foster and Williams, can provide that. Stewart is 230 pounds, fast, and has that NBA syndrome (a high ceiling).
14. Chicago — Kentwan Balmer, DT, North Carolina
He's being projected to New Orleans at No. 10 right now, so Chicago, with a need for DT depth, would feel good about the value of this pick.
15. Detroit — Sam Baker, OT, USC
Detroit needs to better protect their QB next year. The coaching staff has said it also wants to run the ball more, so the Lions could replace Jeff Backus with Baker at LT or shift Baker over to RT.
— Kyle Stack
In case you somehow missed the NHL's second-ever outdoor hockey game (bowl games? we don't need no bowl games!), some kid named Crosby apparently led the Penguins past the Sabres in a shootout.
Check out all the cool photos here.
Hockey under the snow--now that's faaaaan-tastic!
Maybe the Rangers can block off 8th Ave and get some street hockey action going?
Getty Images photo
New York-area pro teams on Facebook.com fan applications developed by Watercooler Inc., as of Wednesday:
1. Giants, 55,687 fans
2. Yankees, 53,287
3. Mets, 34,875
4. Rangers, 30,040
5. Devils, 17,545
6. Jets, 14,586
7. Islanders, 9,493
8. Knicks, 8,441
9. Nets, 4,222
Here the the most-subscribed pro teams overall among the four major sports, as of Wednesday.
NBA: Boston Celtic, 100,410 fans
NHL: Montreal Canadiens, 235,983
NFL: New England Patriots, 226465
MLB: Boston Red Sox, 84606
Read more on page 46 of the Thursday, Dec. 20, edition of amNewYork.
Out!
—Max
