There are so many great sales this weekend, I thought I would just put it all on one post for you to make it easier for you to do all your fall shopping this weekend. There are sales for men, women, and children. Now is the time to really stock up for Fall and back to school.
15% Off Your First Order at Les Nouvelles! Use Code: LN15 at checkout.
Take An Extra 15% Off Sale Items, Code: Extra15 at The Trend Boutique
Tory Burch Labor Day Sale – 25% off all orders over $300. Enter LABORDAY10 at checkout.
Celebrate Labor Day – Extra 60% Off Sale! Use Code: Celebrate60 at Tracy Porter.
Boutiquetoyou.com has a 40% off coupon code for Labor Day on sale items. Get an extra 40% off with code 40sale
Dress up this fall with 15% off ASOS Collection Dresses. Enter code AWDRESSES at checkout until 09.09.10. Shop now!
Save 20% on any purchase with coupon code “TWENTY” at Blue Heaven Boutique!
25% OFF All Styles at CoutureCandy.com
Gap 25% off Online only offer – Today only. The discount goes to 20% tomorrow and 15% off on Monday.
New arrivals – the latest and greatest styles at gap.com and get 25% off at Gap with GPLABORDAY code
US Open Fight: A Video of Fans Brawl in Stand at the US Open 2010 - A lot of main attraction happened tonight at the US Open 2010. And who would think that the fights only happened at some sports like UFC, soccer or hockey. And yes, a fan was caught in the act on a video of fighting scenes between the spectators.
At the latest results and updates at U.S. Open 2010, the number three seed Novak Djokovic had to contend with crowd trouble on center court to overcome Philipp Petzschner, taking the match 7-5 6-3 7-6.
Meanwhile, world number two Roger Federer continued his perfect start to the U.S. Open, brushing aside Germany’s Andreas Beck 6-3 6-4 6-3 on the Arthur Ashe Center Court.
But wait, who would rather say that Tennis is not a contact sports. And it was confirmed and the video is now spreading over the internet that a fight broke in the stands of Arthur Ashe Stadium during the game match at the US Open 2010 this Thursday night as the two fans duked it out over some harsh languages.
What you can see in the video is a shot by a fan, a show of an older woman and a younger guy arguing with each other. Apparently, the woman was so sick of hearing the guy explaining during the yawn-inducing match between the popular tennis seeded players Novak Djokovic and Philipp Petzschner.
What happened next? The woman smacked the guy in the face and obviously, the guy answered a slap in the face.
And because of the said incident, the match had to be stopped. Later a U.S. Tennis Association spokesman said: “It’s a hot night in New York. Things happen.”
You can watch the video at youtube and come to think of how the fight started in the middle of the US Open 2010 games.
Without the hindrance of 'Models of the Runway' we can have a challenge on 'Project Runway' that has nothing to do with the models.
This week Heidi announced that the contestants would have to transform a bridesmaid's dress into something fashionable and hip, but not anything wedding related. Everyone was still reeling from the drama of last week, with Michael C. still wiping the truck tire marks off his face.
Since the contestants had to use most of the bridesmaid's dress in their new dress, they were given only $50 and a maximum of two yards of fabric. Obviously, the loophole was that they could grab as much trim, feathers, buttons and zippers that they needed. Interestingly, most of the contestants picked the two yards of fabric. Christopher got tossed a wrench almost immediately when his client was changed; ironically, we don't hear much from him the rest of the episode
Our two characters with editing panic this episode were Michael D. and Peach. Michael tried his best to be politically correct by not calling his model fat, and decided to make a dress that emphasized his model's shape. Tim's critique with Michael D. pointed out that the bra looked oversized. Peach coined a "Peach Panic" as she messed up her skirt and slowly ran out of material as the commercial arrived. April tried to save her roommate, but to no avail.
Tim's critiques managed to go by without much of a hitch. His drama with Gretchen was put aside so he could give her more critiques. That's a true professional. The two Michael's went with a sheen fabric to accent their dresses. Valerie's original dress looked like the Cheerios outfit on 'Glee.' Casanova told Tim "exactly" about 20 times; it didn't matter, he was immune. Peach feared the pattern fabric she chose wasn't right, but Tim reassured her.
The contestants got a twist by showing their dresses at a public showcase. The attendees got to vote for their favorite outfit. Peach claimed that she could "sell Ice to Iceland," but I think she meant Greenland. I thought everyone learned that Greenland had ice and Iceland was green; maybe she had a Casanova moment. Michael C. managed to sweet talk his way to a few votes.
The day after the public viewing, several designers scrambled to fix their dresses. Peach still couldn't get her dress to work and no one was nice enough to warn her that her ruffles looked like a woman with stuffed napkins on the side of her skirt. She did listen to her gut and tried to cover as much of her dress with a straight hairstyle.
Joining Michael Kors and Nina Garcia for judging was Cynthia Rowley. As the dresses went down, I had mixed feelings for most. Ivy and Casanova created the same basic idea; I'd prefer Casanova's pants with Ivy's top. I loved Mondo's whole look after he mentioned that his client was from Jersey City; it was fitting for her to have tacky New Jersey hair. I was confused by Valerie's black squares on the side of the dress; they looked almost as if they peeled off the sides. I also couldn't believe that Andy got away with dying his outfit; it looked great, but it felt like the easy way out, turning something blue -- that he himself mentioned complimented his model's skin tone -- into a gray/purple. Christopher's dress was well tailored and looked pretty, but it couldn't have been that hard. I'm confused as to where a whole jacket came from on Michael D's dress. I don't recall his model having a jacket at the showcase.
The high scoring dresses were Mondo (streamlined, modern), Michael C.(great mix of fabrics, great), and Christopher (strong top, bottom a bit too short). Even though Mondo had the most votes at the showcase, Michael C. won again. Michael used a similar dress without the lace to audition for the show. I'm getting bored with his designs.
The low-scoring dresses got bashed hard this week. Peach was assaulted with words like "avocado goiter," "Holly hobby," and "bedskirt ruffle fest." Michael D., who looked like he went to jail for drug possession, made his dress worse and cheaper looking than the original. Nina claimed she could use the dress to prevent dengue. Valerie apparently repositioned her model's breasts in a tacky fashion. Wonky breasts and mosquito netting aside, Peach was sent home. She proclaimed that the "Fairy Dragmother" was no longer with her kids.
It was really Peach's time to go; she never got past doing a few outfits that she thought looked modern, but actually looked old. If she didn't listen to Tim and put a transition between the shirt and the skirt, the dress could have looked better. Some thought had been put into the the back of the dress and was tailored correctly as well.
On previous seasons of 'Project Runway,' or even 'Top Chef,' when the audience got to vote, that vote counted. Whether it was via an auction (Season 1's Envy challenge) or an actual vote (Season 2's Banana Republic challenge), the person/team that got the votes won. There was no reason that Mondo shouldn't have won other than the fact that Heidi and the judges knew that, from the week before, Michael C. had enemies. They gave him the win to save him and create more drama.
What's your take on the elimination? Leave your comments below.
'Project Runway' airs Thursdays at 9PM ET on Lifetime
Genre: Comedy/ Family/ Musical/ Romance/ Tv
Release: 9 August 2010
Mitchie Torres (Demi Lovato) cannot wait to return to Camp Rock so that she and rock stars Shane Gray (Joe Jonas), Nate (Nick Jonas) and Jason (Kevin Jonas) can spend the summer making music and having fun with their friends. When they arrive, however, she discovers that Camp Star, a slick new camp across the lake, has lured many campers and instructors away, threatening the very existence of Camp Rock. Tess Tyler (Meaghan Jette Martin), the diva of Camp Rock, returns, but soon ditches the camp for Camp Star. Meanwhile, Nate and a girl from Camp Star, Dana Turner (Chloe Bridges), fall in love, and struggle to be together as their own camps fight. To make matters even more difficult, Camp Rock challenges Camp Star to a musical showdown to decide which is the better camp and has the right to remain open. Shane and Mitchie kiss..
The Cowboys and San Diego have agreed to a deal regarding wide receiver Patrick Crayton, according to the player's agent, Fred Lyles, in which the Cowboys will receive the Chargers' seventh round pick in 2011.
The Chargers are in a contract dispute with wide receiver Vincent Jackson , who has threatened to sit out the season. San Diego also has Malcolm Floyd and Legedu Naane but was looking for more experience, which Crayton delivers.
A seventh round pick in 2004, Crayton caught 196 passes for 2,888 yards and 23 touchdowns for the Cowboys. His best year came in 2007 in which he caught 50 passes for 697 yards and seven touchdowns in 13 starts. He also averaged 9.6 yards per punt return and had two touchdowns last season.
Due to make $2 million this year, the Cowboys did not want to keep Crayton as the No. 4 or 5 wide receiver behind Miles Austin , Roy Williams and Dez Bryant, as well as possibly Kevin Ogletree.
While he does not have blazing speed, Crayton is crafty and has terrific hands. He's also a good blocker and smart player. He and Tony Romo saw eye-to-eye with their work in the slot.
Crayton's departure does not necessarily mean Sam Hurd is a lock to remain on the roster. He is due to make $1.759 million this year and the Cowboys could want him to redo his deal. The final 53-man roster has to be set by 5 p.m. Saturday.
By acquiring San Diego's seventh rounder, the Cowboys have made up for giving up their seventh in this year's supplemental draft for nose tackle Josh Brent.
Red Bull Flugtag will be landing in Philadelphia for the first time over Labor Day Weekend and what better place to round out the summer than in the City of Brotherly Love. Come Sept. 4 at 11 a.m. at the Camden, N.J. Waterfront, Pier 1
1 Cooper Street, the skies above the Delaware River will swarm with homemade flying machines that are sure to reflect the city’s rich history and also pay homage to the region’s sports, food, culture and rivalries. It’s sure to be one for the Philadelphia’s record books.
32 teams from across the northeast look to defy gravity with their human-powered machines at Red Bull Flugtag Philadelphia. After reviewing over 300 applicants, selected flyers like Team Stork Dorks, Crash Test Kids and Wyld Stallyns will entertain the crowd as they launch their crafts with the hopes of soaring across the bay. To-date, judges for the event include Preston and Steve from 93.3 WMMR-FM, Red Bull Athlete and Professional Drift Car Driver Ryan Tureck, Red Bull Athlete and Professional Lacrosse Player Paul Rabil, along with Philly’s own Betsy Ross and Ben Franklin.
I, I’m good at wasting time
I think lyrics need to rhyme
And you’re not asking
But I’m trying to grow a moustache
I eat cheese, but only on pizza, please
And sometimes on a homemade quesadilla
Otherwise it smells like feet to me
And I, I really like it when the moon looks like a toenail
And I love you when you say my name
If you wanna know
Here it goes
Gonna tell you this
The part of me that’ll show if you’re close
Gonna let you see everything
But remember that you asked for it
I’ll try to do my best to impress
But it’s easier to let you take a guess at the rest
But you wanna hear what lives in my brain
My heart, will you ask for it, for your perusing?
At times confusing, slightly amusing
Introducing me
Doo doo, doo doo doo doo to
Doo doo, doo doo doo doo to
La la la la
La la la la la la la la, da
I never trust a dog to watch my food
And I like to use to the word “dude”
As a noun, or an adverb, or an adjective
And I’ve never really been into cars
I like really cool guitars and superheroes
And checks with lots of zeros on ‘em
I love the sound of violins
And making someone smile
If you wanna know
Here it goes
Gonna tell you this
The part of me that’ll show if you’re close
Gonna let you see everything
But remember that you asked for it
I’ll try to do my best to impress
But it’s easier to let you take a guess at the rest
But you wanna hear what lives in my brain
My heart, will you ask for it, for your perusing?
At times confusing, possibly amusing
Introducing me
Well, you probably know more than you ever wanted to
So be careful when you ask next time
So if you wanna know
Here it goes
Gonna tell you this
The part of me that’ll show if you’re close
Gonna let you see everything
But remember that you asked for it
I’ll try to do my best to impress
But it’s easier to let you take a guess at the rest
But you wanna hear what lives in my brain
My heart, will you ask for it, for your perusing?
At times confusing, hopefully amusing
Introducing me
Doo doo, doo doo doo doo to
Doo doo, doo doo doo doo to
Doo doo doo doo
The racist and homophobic rant video of Floyd Mayweather Jr. against Manny Pacquiao went viral on internet this morning. Mayweather referred to Pacquiao as a midget a number of times and said that once he beats his challenger, he will force Pacquiao to “make some sushi rolls and cook some rice”.
Mayweather also added in his video “we’re going to cook him with some cats and dogs”.
Mayweather Jr.’s break from the public eye ended the same week as Filipino boxer Pacquiao launched his cross-country advertising tour to promote his upcoming bout on 13th November in Texas against Antonio Margarito.
Pacquiao went over Mayweather’s video with one of his publicists close by and said, “The video speaks for itself”.
Oakland County’s Favorite Summer Festival Celebrating Art, Music, Cuisine and Humanity returns September 3-6, 2010. Now in its 13th year Ford Arts, Beats and Eats Presented by Citizens Bank will take place in Downtown Royal Oak, MI for the very first time. The festival will offer more than 200 performances on ten stages, a highly ranked Juried Fine Arts Show, local restaurants with some of the finest cuisine in metro Detroit and international, regional and local attractions that will make the city of Royal Oak the premier destination for Labor Day weekend 2010.
Arts, Beats and Eats 2010 Event Hours:
Friday, September 3rd - 11:00am – 11:00pm
Saturday, September 4th - 11:00am – 11:00pm
Sunday, September 5th - 11:00am – 11:00pm
Monday, September 6th - 11:00am – 9:00pm
Oh Google, you did it again. The number one trending topic on Google right now is a search for “nag a ram.” What could that strange term mean? Is it some strange 4chan stunt or just a weird glitch? Turns out its neither – it appears to be a fun little “Easter egg” surprise planted by some programmers at Google.
The Internet is good for a lot of things, but its become sort of a default resource for defining terms and concepts in everyday life (sorry Encyclopedia salesmen.) So imagine the fun surprise for thousands of users looking for a quick definition of “anagram.” When one enters that specific term, Google search suggestions asks “id you mean: nag a ram?” Get it? “nag a ram” is an anagram, of anagram!
For the record, the accepted definition of anagram is “a word, phrase, or name formed by rearranging the letters of another, such as cinema, formed from iceman.”
So for all the curious sorts out there looking to hop on the SEO hot topic trend game, Nag a ram is nothing but a fun anagram of anagram. (Silly Google.)
Denis Istomin may have gone down in straight sets against overall No. 1 Rafael Nadal during the US Open on Friday night, but he didn't do so quietly. He forced a tie-break in the second and third sets, challenged Nadal for much of the third and generally spent the evening revealing an infectious personality.
The final score of the match was 6-2, 7-6, 7-5, but it wasn't about the score. Istomin had Nadal on his heels at times, stretched the match to nearly three hours, and delivered some fist-pumping shots that had the crowd shouting in delight.
Istomin wore his emotions on his sleeve, something that easily drew the Flushing Meadows audience in. After one particularly enthralling volley midway through a back-and-forth third set, Istomin pumped his fist wildly and could be seen shouting "Come on!"
The funny thing was, Istomin was far from in the match at that point, trailing by two sets and fighting for his life in the third. But he didn't care. He was in the moment. The outcome of the match wasn't nearly as entertaining as Istomin's emergence, and he showed plenty of fire and skill to make one believe he could make a name for himself in the sport in the near future.
A 7.2 magnitude earthquake rocked New Zealand’s second largest city Christchurch early Saturday, causing widespread damage including the collapse of some buildings and power outages, witnesses and the US geological survey said.
The quake struck at a depth of 16.1 kilometres (10.0 miles) some 30 kilometres (19 miles) northwest of… Christchurch at 04:05 am (1635 GMT Friday), the USGS said.
There was no major tsunami warning.
Aftershocks were ongoing and damage widespread in Christchurch, local newspaper The Post reported, while there appeared to be a power outage throughout the city of about 340,000.
Local resident Colleen Simpson said that many people had run out onto the streets in fear, while the mobile phone network was failing, according to the Post.
Never underestimate the power of smart directing and a strong central performance to keep a movie interesting. Anton Corbijn’s The American isn’t a film with momentum. It’s not rushing anywhere or even setting up a clear destination. It’s an austere, contemplative piece that holds tension despite rarely introducing an immediate threat. Corbijn’s skilled direction is matched by a thoughtful, quiet performance from George Clooney who plays a character unlike any he’s done before. The American is one of the more difficult films this year as it moves slowly, deliberately, and without any hand-holding. But the result is a rewarding picture that’s refreshing after a mostly disappointing summer movie season.
The American of the title is Jack (Clooney), a hitman who is living a seemingly idyllic life in Sweden which is quickly shattered when men come to kill him (for reasons never explained). Jack makes it out alive and hides out in a small, beautiful Italian village awaiting instructions from his contact on how to proceed. He’s given a job that requires him to build a specialized rifle for an assassination. However, his life remains in danger and Jack’s (justified) paranoia becomes more intense throughout the film.
During his time in the village, he begins a friendship with local priest Father Benedetto (Paolo Bonacelli) and a romantic relationship with a prostitute named Clara (Violante Placido). Only Clooney, with his innate charm, could play a character as cold and aloof as Jack and still convince the audience that people like Clara and Benedetto would want to spend time with him. Jack rarely smiles and he doesn’t make standard disaffected hitman quips (he barely even talks), but Clooney uses his tremendous talent to convey the complex emotions of his character.
Placido does a good job of providing the film with what little vivacity it has. Her chemistry with Clooney is essential in convincing us that Clara can get Jack to betray his instincts and trust some one. Less successful in playing off Clooney is Bonacelli. His stilted line delivery and the character’s heavy-handed dialogue are made especially awkward in a picture where every aspect down to the bullets fired is restrained and measured.
Jack’s taciturn and withdrawn demeanor is matched by Corbijn’s sparse, quiet direction. The American is a movie told with almost no flash or tricks, and yet it’s rarely dull. It’s fascinating how Corbijn is able to hold the audience’s attention while intentionally never engaging the viewer. It’s a tricky balancing act and while the film does become a little too remote and somber at times, for the most part it’s a hard-earned success.
Focus Features is trying to sell The American as an action-thriller, and that expectation is going to disappoint a lot of ticket-buyers. The film can be incredibly tense and the brief chases and gunfights are effective, but this movie is a slow burn. It’s about a hitman in an existential crisis as he feels death is about to close in on him and attempting to answer the question of whether he should even bother having a life. Corbijn and Clooney deserve great credit for crafting a film that’s far outside what the mainstream expects and which will catch a lot of viewers off guard. It meanders at its own pace, and walks perfectly in line with its protagonist’s emotional state. The film can at times be distant to its own detriment, but it never falls so far of course that it loses the audience completely. The American doesn’t try to lead and that’s largely why it’s so irresistible to follow.
Brandon McManus kicked a 43-yard field goal with 8 sec. left to lift Temple to a 31-24 win over defending FCS national champion Villanova on Friday night.
Justin Gildea scored on a 26-yard fumble return on the last play of the game for the Owls. There was a penalty on the play and it took nearly 15 minutes for officials to sort out if the score would stand.
McManus also kicked field goals of 53, 44 and 40 yards in front of more than 32,000 fans, the second-largest crowd to watch the Owls in Lincoln Financial Field. The Owls won the Mayor’s Cup presented to the winner of this series.
The Owls went ahead 22-21 on Chester Stewart’s 62-yard TD pass to Michael Campbell. Stewart fumbled the snap on the next possession and the Wildcats recovered inside the 25. Nick Yako kicked a 41-yard field goal with 1:56 left that put Villanova up 24-22.
Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam premieres tonight, September 3, after months of hype and excitement. I’ll be watching to see how it compares to the original Camp Rock – will you?
In case you haven’t seen the marketing blitz of commercials, the Jonas Brothers/Demi Lovato/Camp Rock 2 concert tour, or the merchandise, you must have been living in a non-Disney bubble!
Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam features Mitchie (Demi Lovato) and the Camp Rock gang returning for another summer of singing, dancing and rocking. Look for Shane (Joe Jonas), Jason (Kevin Jonas) and Nate (Nick Jonas) and the other Camp Rockers, plus a new rival camp in Camp Star that lures some of the Camp Rock group over to the new camp.
Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam premieres on the Disney Channel at 8 p.m. ET. Are you watching with your kids?
Here’s the rundown on songs from the Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam soundtrack:
1. Brand New Day – Demi Lovato
2. Fire – Matthew “Mdot” Finley
3. Can’t Back Down – Cast of Camp Rock 2
4. It’s On – Cast of Camp Rock 2
5. Wouldn’t Change A Thing – Demi Lovato/Joe Jonas
6. Heart And Soul – Joe Jonas/Kevin Jonas/Nick Jonas
7. You’re My Favorite Song – Demi Lovato/Joe Jonas
8. Introducing Me – Nick Jonas
9. Tear It Down – Matthew “Mdot” Finley/Meaghan Martin
10. What We Came Here For – Alyson Stoner/Anna Maria Perez de Taglé/Demi Lovato/Joe Jonas/Nick Jonas
11. This Is Our Song – Alyson Stoner/Demi Lovato/Joe Jonas/Nick Jonas
12. Different Summers – Demi Lovato
13. Walkin’ In My Shoes – Matthew “Mdot” Finley & Meaghan Martin
14. It’s Not Too Late – Demi Lovato
If you miss Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam on September 3, you can catch a “rock-along” version on September 4 at 8 p.m. ET and the “dance jam” version on September 5 at 8 p.m.
Ask T.J. Houshmandzadeh, and he’ll tell you he has one foot out of the door in Seattle.
The veteran wide receiver expressed his frustration with a report on the league’s website that the Seattle Seahawks are shopping him around the NFL and looking for a trade partner after the team’s final exhibition game in Oakland.
“If Pete (head coach Pete Carroll) feels like that makes them better, then I’ll be somewhere else,” Houshmandzadeh said. “It’s as simple as that. I can’t control it. I’m the type of dude where it doesn’t bother me because I can’t control it, but it does bother me because nobody said anything to me, and nobody has said anything to me.
“And I’ve got a wife and kids that are coming up to Seattle, and now that’s not going to happen because of what you hear. And so I’ll just play everything by ear.”
Speculation that Houshmandzadeh could be traded has been percolating around the league for weeks, but finally bubbled to the surface on Thursday.
Seattle likely won’t cut Houshmandzadeh because they still would be on the hook for his $7 million salary, already guaranteed for this season.
The 32-year-old receiver was outspoken in his first season in Seattle last year, and had communication issues with veteran quarterback Matt Hasselbeck. But Houshmandzadeh still led Seattle in receptions with 79, his lowest output since 2005.
He also is returning from sports hernia surgery during the offseason, so that could have hindered the Seahawks trying to move him earlier during training camp, with teams wanting to make sure he’s healthy.
If the Seahawks are unable to move Houshmandzadeh before Saturday’s final roster cuts, repairing the damage that has been done could be an issue.
“I don’t have to repair nothing,” Houshmandzadeh said. “Why do I have to repair anything? I’m going to go play football, like I always have. And if I play, I play. And if I don’t, it’s because they don’t want me on the field. That’s how I’m approaching everything. It’s out of my control.”
Houshmandzadeh had an opportunity to return to Cincinnati or sign with Minnesota last offseason, but ultimately decided on a four-year, $40 million deal with the Seahawks because he felt most comfortable with then-head coach Jim Mora and believed he could help turn things around for a team that had gone 4-12 the previous season.
“If I leave here that means I’m not wanted,” he said. “Everybody wants to feel wanted. It’s doesn’t matter, but it’s like, ‘Wow.’ But that’s just how it goes. I’ve never been in a situation like this. I’ve never been a guy that wasn’t wanted. I was always wanted. So we’ll see.”
Even Rafael Nadal felt compelled to applaud when his second-round opponent at the U.S. Open hit a spectacular, full-sprint winner and was left doing the splits at the net.
The shot put Denis Istomin within two points of tying the match at a set apiece. He couldn’t manage to close the deal, though — a recurring theme for Nadal’s game-but-outclassed foil in the No. 1-seeded Spaniard’s 6-2, 7-6 (5), 7-5 victory Friday night.
Eight-time major champion Nadal is seeking to complete a career Grand Slam, and he reached the third round at Flushing Meadows for the sixth consecutive year. He’s never been past the semifinals, where he lost in 2008 and 2009.
“I don’t want to talk about (winning a title) here now,” Nadal said, “because I am five matches away. Is a lot.”
He served at up to 134 mph and saved 7 of 7 break points against Istomin, a rare example of an ATP player whose mother is his coach.
“I’m working on my serve all my life. Sometimes, (it) works well. Other times, not working that well,” said Nadal, who has saved all eight break points he’s faced in the tournament after recently changing the grip he uses on his racket. “A few days ago, I started to feel very well with my serve. First two matches, I’ve served very well. Didn’t lose a serve, and that does good for the confidence.”
Two of those break points Friday came when Nadal served while leading 3-2 in the second set. Four came at 1-all in the third set. And the last was at 4-all in the third set, constituting Istomin’s final true stand.
He appeared to be on the way to making things more interesting earlier in the match.
The 39th-ranked Istomin took a 5-1 lead in the second-set tiebreaker with the shot of the evening: After playing some solid defense, he charged up from behind the baseline to get to a drop shot and, leaving a 10-foot skid mark in his wake on the blue court, slid into the splits while stretching for a backhand winner.
Istomin dropped his racket, pumped both fists and screamed, “Come on!” Some spectators reacted with a standing ovation, and Nadal saluted the effort, too.
“A great point,” Nadal said.
That, though, was pretty much that for Istomin, who lost the next six points, the set — and any momentum he appeared to gain.
“I was a little bit lucky in the tiebreak of the second set,” Nadal said. “That’s the truth.”
Istomin pushed a backhand wide on the next point, then Nadal hit a volley winner to cut it to 5-3. Istomin netted a forehand, and Nadal hit a forehand that clipped the net and landed in. Nadal went up 6-5, earning a set point, with a service winner at 134 mph, and Istomin sailed a backhand long on the next exchange, ending the tiebreaker.
During the break between the second and third sets, Istomin got his right thigh taped by a trainer.
Nadal went on to wrap up his 17th consecutive Grand Slam match victory, following titles at the French Open and Wimbledon. Still only 24 years old, he already has won five championships at Roland Garros, two at the All England Club and one at the Australian Open.
If he can add a U.S. Open trophy to his collection, he will become the seventh man with at least one title from each Grand Slam tournament.
Next up for Nadal is a third-round match against former top-10 player Gilles Simon of France, who eliminated 29th-seeded Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany 4-6, 6-3, 1-6, 6-1, 6-3.
Nadal is one of seven Spanish men who won matches Friday, giving the country a tournament-high nine representatives in the third round.
So, those of you who read this blog regularly know that I’m a fan of boxing, and that I was pretty excited about a Pacquiao/Mayweather fight that was set to take place earlier this year. Mayweather, who is undoubtedly one of the best boxers of our generation was slated to fight Pacquiao, last year’s pound-for-pound best according to Ring Magazine, in March of this year.
That fight, which was predicted to break all current records on boxing match earnings, was anticipated around the world. But, it fell through after Mayweather’s camp decided that, because Manny Pacquiao is Filipino, and because the Phillipines are a good source of illegal performance enhancing drugs, that Pacquiao must prove he’s not on PEDs. As I said back in December, the basis of that accusation is racism, pure and simple; so much so, in fact, that Pacquiao filed a defamation lawsuit against Mayweather, his father, and Golden Boy Promotions.
Nonetheless, Mayweather insisted that both he and Pacquiao submit themselves to random blood and urine testing for the entire 30-day period prior to the fight back in March. Pacquiao refused — saying that he would submit to drug-testing until a week prior to the scheduled match, but that he didn’t want to allow himself to be interrupted with tests in the few days before the fight. And so, since Mayweather and Pacquiao could not come to an agreement on this point, Mayweather pulled out and the March date was given to Joshua Clottey, a fighter from Ghana who previously held the IFC welterweight championship. Pacquiao made mincemeat out of Clottey.
Then, again, there were rumours that Mayweather and Pacquiao had entered back into talks for a fight tentatively scheduled for November. But, again, Mayweather and Pacquiao could not come to an agreement over blood testing, and again, Mayweather pulled out. Pacquiao is now scheduled to fight Antonio Margarito, a disgraced fighter who claimed the WBC International Light Middleweight belt in Mexico earlier this year. If Pacquiao wins the fight in November, he will have earned yet another championship title in his seventh weight class.
In a sport that is so incredibly and historically racialized, the Pacquiao/Mayweather talks are no exception. In fact, much of the normal shit-talk that occurs between fighters to hype a pending bout have been incredibly racist — and most of it stems from Mayweather’s camp.
Yesterday, Mayweather — who was recording a live video stream on UStream — launched into an online tirade against Manny Pacquiao that was captured by Pacquiao fans and posted onto YouTube.
In the 10 minute long video clip, which edits together many different moments in the live video stream, Mayweather references many anti-Asian stereotypes and attempts to use racialized humour to emasculate Pacquiao.
Throughout the video, Mayweather refers to Pacquiao as “Poochie-ao”, which sounds like the name one might give to a fluffy little puppy. Mayweather also calls Pacquiao a “midget” — which can only refer to the stereotype of Asians being diminuitive in height, since Pacquiao is actually only 1.5 inches shorter than Mayweather. Mayweather accuses Pacquiao of not being able to speak English and even says that Pacquiao’s using a fake name: Pacquiao’s first name is actually ”Emanual”, not “Manny” (‘cuz no one’s ever heard of nicknames in boxing, right – ”Pretty Boy” Floyd “Money” Mayweather?).
But most gallingly, Mayweather spends about a minute and a half joking that Pacquiao can take his order for sushi and rice (shitty, Westernized sushi, at that — I mean who even eats shrimp tempura rolls except Americans?) and says that, if he were ever to fight Pacquiao, he would “cook him up with some cats and dogs”.
Mayweather’s rant is incredibly racist, and hinges entirely upon mocking Pacquiao’s ethnicity. Mayweather’s words run the gamut of anti-Asian stereotypes, and he even going so far as to confuse all Asians cultures by correlating a Filipino man with Japanese food.
I realize that Mayweather cultivates a villain persona in the boxing world, and that he’s known for his pre-fight trash-talk, but in this case, Mayweather should be ashamed. These racist taunts are infantile and bigoted; while Pacquiao is actually doing his job and fighting opponents, Mayweather is sitting on the sidelines making dumbass racist jokes.
I said it back in December and I’ll say it again: prove you’re not chicken, Mayweather. If you really think you’re better than Pacquiao, than find some compromise on the blood-testing thing, and take your shit to the ring.
And hopefully, when he finally gets a chance to, that “midget” will kick your skinny, racist ass.
Third seeded Venus Williams advanced to the fourth round of the US Open Tennis At Flushing Meadows in New York by beating word 185th ranked Mandy Minella 6-2, 6-1 on Friday night. Williams is set to meet 16th seed Shahar Peer of Israel in the next round.
Williams cruised to an easy third round win over the 24-year old Minella, a qualifier from Luxembourg. Mandy Minella has gained some attention as she comes into the US Open winless against players in the top 50 (0-5 career) but she managed to beat No. 34 Tsvetana Pironkova and No. 47 Polona Hercog that advanced her to the third round match against Williams. With Venus knocking her off, it ends a good run for her at the US Open.
Williams is coming off a knee injury but she hardly showed the effects of two months being away from competition. Her match against Peer in the next round should prove to be a tougher test for her.
Pittsburgh Panthers at Utah Utes 2010 NCAAF Week 1 Odds, Preview, and Predictions: The preseason ranked 15 Pitt Panthers travel to Salt Lake City Thursday evening to take on the preseason ranked 20 Utah Utes. Head football coach Dave Wannstedt is coming off his best year with the Panthers and has them as a favorite to win the Big East Conference. Utah has had a string of successful season resulting in this being their last season in the Mountain West Conference. The Utes accepted an invitation to join the PAC 10 next year where a conference victory would give them an automatic BCS bowl berth and possibly a shot at a national title. Something that eluded them during undefeated seasons in 2004 and 2008 when they needed an at large bid. “Opening out at Utah, there’s no margin for error,” Wannstedt said. Vegas odds makers have the Utah Utes a -3 point favorite at home against the Pittsburgh Panthers.
The Panthers will rely on third year sophomore quarterback Tino Sunseri to lead the offense even though he has thrown only 17 collegiate passes. Making his job much easier will be the play of running back Dion Lewis who broke Tony Dorsett’s freshman running record in 2009 with 1,799 rushing yards. Lewis was the offensive player of the year in the Big East Conference, a second team All-American, and is being hyped as a Heisman Trophy Candidate. Lewis helped Pitt to its first bowl win in 7 years with 159 yards and a touchdown in a 19-17 win in the Meineke Bowl over North Carolina. Vegas odds makers have Dion Lewis at 15/1 odds to win the Heisman Trophy.
Utah is also coming off a Poinsettia Bowl win 37-27 over California its 9th straight bowl victory. Head football coach Kyle Whittingham will look to sophomore quarterback Jordan Wynn to continue to lead the offense like he did as Offensive MVP in the Bowl going 26-36 for an impressive 338 yards and three touchdown passes. Wynn will hand the ball off to senior Eddie Wide who is coming off a season with 1,069 and 12 touchdown runs to lead the team. Odds makers at SBG Global have the over/under for the total score at 49 points combined of the Utah Utes and Pittsburgh Panthers.
This is the only opening day meeting of two ranked teams and promises to be a good one. I predict a Utah victory in a close game so take the points. The game can be seen on Versus at 8:30 PM ET. Note: Rich Fritz is a Blog Writer on NSAwins.com and not a pro handicapper. For expert College Football Predictions against the vegas spreads please visit the NSAwins.com homepage for top predictions today from the National Sports Advisors.
Elizabeth Olsen may not be a household name like her famous big sisters, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, but she’s showing up all over the Hollywood radar with new film roles and an acting career on the rise. Look out, Olsen twins—there’s another Olsen sister in town.
NEW YORK - AUGUST 16: Actress Elizabeth Olsen attends a screening of 'Mao's Last Dancer' at the Crosby Street Hotel on August 16, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images)
The littlest Olsen sis has landed a starring role in the indie drama ‘Marcy Martha May Marlene,’ opposite Hugh Dancy. In the film, she plays a girl who escapes a dangerous cult and goes to live with her sister (not played by an Olsen twin—what a shame.) According to Reuters, it’s not Elizabeth Olsen’s first turn on the big screen; she appears in another indie, ‘Peace, Love and Understanding’ with some major Hollywood names—Chace Crawford, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Catherine Keener and ‘80s icon Jane Fonda.
Not bad, for a little known sibling most famous for being the namesake of Mary-Kate and Ashley’s high end clothing line, Elizabeth and James. So where has Elizabeth Olsen been hiding for most of her 21 years? Hidden beneath the double shadow of Mary-Kate and Ashley, no doubt. But since they have faded from the spotlight in recent years, maybe it’s time for another Olsen sister to rise to the top.
