Is Novak Djokovic the GOAT?

Novak Djokovic just won his first French Open, completing his career slam as well as holding all 4 major titles consecutively.

As Andy Murray mentioned in his runner up acceptance speech- that is a rare thing in tennis.

I probably won't live to see another man hold all 4 major titles.

Now, I'm a Rafael Nadal fan. The King of Clay. An amazing player with a career slam, 9 French Open titles. He is the ultimate sportsman, humble, respectful of other players. He fights hard on every point whether he is down two sets or up two sets.

Then of course there is Roger Federer-the epitome of grace and beauty on a tennis court. By pure natural athleticism, he makes the incredibly difficult look easy.

As avid tennis fans, we've had the incredible good fortune to see these three men battle each other over the years. Each match becoming a match for the ages.

I had the amazing luck to be in the stands of Arthur Ashe Stadium for the men's final in 2011. It was Djokovic vs. Nadal. Exactly what I'd hoped for. At least until Djokovic took the trophy.

It was a good match, but Djokovic was too much for my Rafa. Still, it'a an experience I will always remember and cherish.

But the thing I'll remember most about the 2011 U.S. Open is not the final. It's the semi-final between Djokovic and Federer. It was match point for Federer. Even though it had gone to a fifth set, Roger was up 5 games to 3, 40-15. All it would take was one big bomb of a serve- something Federer has done thousands of times. And he did it- a huge serve out wide. Unfortunately for Roger, he was facing probably the best returner in the game.

Djokovic swung away and hit a huge return for a winner. That's the way Djokovic plays. Federer was miffed that he would try such a play, called it a "lucky shot".

Maybe...

But that's the way Djokovic plays. He has mad skills and nerves of steel. Perhaps he chose to just go for it on match point. Or perhaps he went with what his natural talent allowed him to.

Risky shot? Maybe. Unless you're Novak Djokovic. Some people, like Roger Federer, thought it was a crazy shot- irresponsible on match point.

I thought it was amazing. It was the first time I thought that Djokovic was the real deal. If he was willing to go for such an incredible return on match point, then he had me. I was a little bit won over. He lived by the sword and was willing to die by the sword.

No matter what you think about it, it was something to be respected. Is Novak the GOAT?

Maybe he is. And he has many years ahead of him...

Bygones!!!!

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“By the time I left for college, they were divorcing. I guess we all ran away—I went to school, my mother left home and my father got lost in a bottle of whiskey.”

Bygones!!!!

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She’d been tense all day and it seemed she’d finally gotten through to him, her angst now so acute it had poked a hole in his force field of calm.

Bygones

                   My new book Bygones is available for Nook, Kindle, at Kobo and iBooks!

 Every scary movie she’d ever seen told her she should go exploring and find the source of the      badness. Well, that was why the stupid heroine always ended up with a hatchet in her forehead.

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Next year is finally here?

Next year is finally here?

Just two days ago that statement would have been followed by a righteous exclamation point. Now it's a question mark.

A lifelong Chicago Cubs fan, I've been positively giddy at the prospects for our season. And I'm not the only one. This year, everyone's talking about the Cubs. The loaded roster, the perfect manager at the right time, the President of Baseball Operations who's made good on his promise to turn around the ball club.

Then of course there's the fans. It's been over a hundred years since the Cubs have won the World Series and the fans keep coming. Whether it's the love of the game or the prospect of a sunny afternoon at the ball park, the fans keep coming. It's a testament to their loyalty, to the belief that hope truly does spring eternal. 

It has to happen some day. Why not now?

Indeed. Why not now?

Here's the thing. The Cubs were off to a 3-0 start, their first in over 20 years. Then there was the injury. Kyle Schwarber and Dexter Fowler in a scary outfield collision. ACL injury for Schwarber and the end of a season before it had scarcely begun.

This Schwarber kid seems like a good guy. Big and burly, he has such power as to make his name a verb. As in, if you achieve something with a definitive power then you really "Schwarbered" it.

Poor guy. A season of expectations and now he has to sit on the sidelines. In the dugout. Whatever.

It would be easy to say "here we go again". I mean, it's always something. A black cat, the curse of the billy goat, the foul ball interference from the poor man who shall not be named.

But no. No.

Despite the fact that I should know better, I refuse to give in. 

I still believe. 

Schwarber's out for the season? Okay. Next man up. Move on. I mean, I feel bad for the guy but this is our destiny.

The time is now. The place is Wrigley Field. In the words of Theo Epstein: "24 hours ago, I thought we were really well positioned to win in large part because of Kyle's presence on the team, and now we're really well positioned to win for Kyle".

Okay. I'm in.

Next year is finally here!!!!!

#Letsgo     #WeAreGood

Spring is Here

Spring is here. Woo hoo.

Not so much.

I am unlike just about every other person who lives in a land of the four seasons. I don't like spring. In fact the only season I like less than spring is summer.

Sacrilege you say? Perhaps. But I've never been one to go with the flow.

It's spring. The time of blooming tulips, the start of new life, the resurrection of life stagnant through the winter. Sure.

It's also the time of muddy ground and constant rain, though I do love me a good thunderstorm.

So here we are. Warmer weather is moving in. And for some reason, this year, I haven't had nearly enough frigid weather. I haven't had nearly enough snow. That's right. I said. Snow.

I realize snow can be a pain when you have to drive in it, but come on. What's prettier than a field of virgin snow sparkling in the bright sun? The air is brisk and clean. More refreshing than any April shower.

I like the cold. It invigorates me. Makes me feel alive.

The heat and the humidity sap my energy, muddle my brain, make me cranky.

So you'll forgive me if I'm not nearly as excited as you are about the spring. Me, I'm waiting for October.