I am proud to be a Wahoo

You always watch tennis on TV and somehow out of a ball being hit back and fourth on the court there's a narrative. Tennis is a mental sport, so it's almost the emotion and the drama of the sport's ups and downs that overshadow the shear athletic talent to hit something over 100 miles per hour on a consistent basis. Play after play, then a victorious winner, and the player looks up to their respective box for approval and a moment to share in the glory. I've always wanted to be in one of those boxes, and none of my family is talented enough to get there... so I knew my next bet would be either 1) marry a tennis star... (I had my hopes on Roddick, but he's engaged to some supermodel, oh well) 2) Know someone...

So number 2 worked out this year as I was just about at the point of REALLY missing my Hoo Crew of Virginia sports fans, a sense of camaraderie and nostalgia, along came Somdev Devvarman who got a wild card spot in the qualifying rounds of the Legg Mason Tennis Classic. It's become a family tradition to go these last few years and I've got to watch some greats play in my home town. Highlights being: throwing Michael Chang a ball he hit over the fence; watching Andre Agassi on his fare-well tour; and last but not least, seeing some Cavaliers succeed, first being Treat Huey, and now his old doubles partner Somdev!

Som is no underdog, having won TWO NCAA titles, and going nearly undefeated in his futures tour matches, he has had a great start to a professional career. I would give you more numbers, but I reserve that right to Steve Kirkland, who works for media relations at UVa and whom I found sitting on the sidelines of Somdev's matches. It was great to catch up, as I traveled with him and the women's soccer team to Orlando for the ACC tourney and as we know, the media must stick together!

Somdev breezed through qualifying rounds and made it all the way to the quarterfinals of the main draw before being ousted by Russian Igo Kunitsyn. My favorite night of tennis watching by far had to be a Roddick, Somdev double header as Roddick went 3 sets, coming back after losing the first set for a stunning display of sportsmanship, all to a packed crowd, that ended with a standing ovation. Somdev followed with another 3 setter, the stands nearly empty except for one corner that was filled with blue and orange, occupied by friends, former UVa teammates, and Athletic department staff. It was great to cheer him on, as the nailbiter nearly went till midnight. In those break points, deuces, and more we were there, almost part of the game without actually playing. It's nice to know I can still proudly wear my orange and blue (we won't mention football and basketball).

I can't live without the Olympics

Despite being incredibly busy, it seemed to be to my luck at coming home at 1 am almost every night meant that I could watch Olympic events LIVE (I found it hilarious though to watch the 7 o'clock news with Brian Williams expounding on the exciting events "coming next" although he already knew all of the results). I also fell asleep to some of those events out of exhaustion, but it did not stop me from enjoying the crazy mad exhibitions of human strength.


The opening ceremonies were a masterful display of artistry and precision. Every 10 minutes I found myself saying "did they just really do that?" Especially after the footprint shaped fireworks that marched their way to the Bird's Nest (it turns out that those actually were CGI). But the stadium could not have been more beautiful draped in video boards and filled with culture that honored the past while gave hope for the future. It was as if the director, Zhang Yimou, was unafraid to address the problems that China faced and how they could move on. My favorite quote from him would be, when asked why he used 15,000 performers, none of which repeated a performance, "we have enough people."

The first week was drizzled with swimming, which meant Michael Phelps was a headliner, keeping us as entertained as a scripted drama. I stoodup when he won a gold by only one one-hundreth of a second. I cried when his mother cried, I relished in his story of just a young boy in Baltimore turned superstar in a matter of years.

There was also gymnastics. Now, I grew up with Shannon Miller, Dominique Dawes, Kerry Strugg vaulting with the bad ankle greatness... so I have high standards for girls flipping about while trying to stay atop a 4 in wide beam (you know you're older when you no longer look UP to 16 year old gymnasts and instead remember when you used to be able to spend hours running about and not be sore afterwards [ok Dara Torres makes me feel even worse]).

I can't help but admit that I LAUGHED at the name "redeem team" I mean, yes, they needed to redeem themselves, but I mean, it was funny that it was newsworthy that Kobe, Kidd, and Lebron watched other sports (gasp) and said hello to other US athletes (oh my!), yet at the same time it was nice to hear that egos were set aside fo world-class competition and (like a great olympic movie stated) it's about the name on the front of the jersey and not on the back that matters (thanks, Miracle).

By the second week I was overwhelmed by all the coverage and found myself catching up with highlight reels online. I do have to give NBC credit though, as it never failed to keep up with all the action and allowed lazy viewers like me to was all or part of events by scowering through all of their content. In the end, it was a great olympics and I can't wait for Vancouver in 2010!

Check out highlights HERE!

I have double proof

After sifting through HOURS of footage
I found the matching still of my Jonas Brother's celeb gossip fame
The photog in the Hollister shirt must've been the one who snapped the pic that made my mom, and a few other friends believe me when I said I was following them around for the day starting at the White House :)

I look like a member of the paparazzi

I REALLY need to update this blog with MANY things.
But this couldn't wait

I spent the day with the infamous Jonas Brothers
by spending the day, I mean everything from the white house to wax figures all the way backstage to the concert.

don't believe me?* Photo from Celebrity Gossip along with many more

Yup, that's me in the back with the white sunglasses.
and I look like TMZ trash.... oh wait,
I made it on TMZ as well..

I'll explain more of this craziness later...

I love American pastimes

I used to have a back-row seat because that's where the press box or control room was. Now I observe from afar because not only is it all I can afford, it also gives me a birds eye view of what its like to be be a fan.
My co-workers decided to venture to the Nationals Park after our last day of teaching. Why we thought we could survive nine innings after a 40 hour work week producing over 20 videos and controlling middle-schoolers, who knows? Regardless, we enjoyed burgers and a view of the park, but since we were on the top row, the city skyline was right behind us. As I was coming in with my camera the lady checking bags told me to make sure I made it all the way to to top because the views were so spectacular. Little did she know that my seat was at the top.
The first thing I noticed once entering was of course the big board in center field, and the ribbon boards around the stands. I believe this is the first sporting event I've attended that I haven't worked. With every change of video, stat updated, and advertisement flash the cues run through my head as I visualize the operators hitting a few simple buttons to make the red white and blue flash before our eyes. I miss being behind the scenes, but it was nice to just enjoy a game with friends.
The nationals were on a nine-game losing streak, and every joke about how terrible they were was made on the way in, but they scored an impressive 5 runs against the Cincinnati Reds in the first two innings and they never looked back. That made the fireworks display at the end worthwhile. I congratulate the city on such a spectacular park that entices fans, families, and forward thinking, as I hope DC becomes a sports powerhouse (I can dream right?).