Let’s get the party started! Wimbledon kicks off on Monday 6/24/13

Posted on June 23, 2013 by admin

The tennis equivalent of  The Masters in golf gets underway on Monday, June 24, 2013, Wimbledon, The Championships at the All England Lawn and Racquet Club.  This year has some interesting side story lines, some of which got going with soap opera like drama.  Maria Sharapova (the #3 seed) and Serena Williams (the #1 seed and overwhelming favorite) have had a bit of a “girl fight” kind of tit for tat thing going on in the media prior to the start of play.  Has been rather trashy overall as far as I am concerned.  Seems like Serena made some comments in an interview with Rolling Stone magazine referencing the “love life” of another top five player.  The assumption was made that she was referring to Sharapova.  Well, was she?  Who knows?  Anyhow, Sharapova decided to take a few shots in her pre-Wimbledon press interview, then later, Serena attempted to tone things down by explaining that she had personally apologized to Maria at the players’ dinner and that she had learned to never assume that the media has gotten the story correctly.  So, was she saying the comments in the interview were not about Sharapova?  Oh well, who cares?  I do not care for Sharapova, never have, but Serena has had her moments on the court that have been hugely offensive.  Off the court, I have never really heard much about Serena as she does try to keep her private life just that, private.  At the end of the day, we will assume these two have at the very least declared a “truce”, and it is time to play tennis.  As mentioned earlier, Serena is seeded #1 and is the huge favorite, Victoria Azarenka is seeded #2 and Sharapova #3.  Could be an interesting semifinal match if Serena and Maria make it to that point.  Williams has owned Sharapova as of late.

Moving to the men’s draw, WOW, what a lopsided draw it is.  Due to the current ATP rankings, the seedings are a bit questionable, but they are in line with the current rankings.  Novak Djokovic is #1, Andy Murray #2, Roger Federer (the defending champion and winner of 7 Wimbledon titles) is #3, David Ferrer is #4, and Rafael Nadal (the hottest player on the tour so far this year) is #5.  Rafa is seeded in the 5th slot largely due to the time he was away from the game due to his knee injury.  Still, it does make things difficult.  If things were to go as we all hope they do,  we could actually have a Roger Federer vs. Rafael Nadal quarterfinal at Wimbledon.  Then, the winner would perhaps have to go on to face second seeded Andy Murray in the semifinal before moving onto to the likely contest against world #1 Djokovic in the final.  Heck of a tall order for either Federer, attempting to win his record setting (when is anything Roger does not record setting?) 8th Wimbledon title, or Rafael Nadal should such a scenario indeed play out.

At any rate, Djokovic definitely gets the easier draw and action gets underway tomorrow with live coverage beginning at 7:00 am EST on ESPN.  Roger Federer will start the day’s action on Centre Court against Victor Hanescu (a honor reserved for the defending men’s titleholder) and Rafa Nadal, Andy Murray and Maria Sharapova will also be in action.

Stay tuned…let’s hope for good weather and some fantastic tennis as always at The Championships!

 


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Heat “repeat”, win 2nd NBA title in two years with victory over Spurs, 95 – 88

Posted on June 21, 2013 by susan

Not one, not two, not three, not four…and so on, you all remember the speech.  Well, let’s give it up for Lebron and the Miami Heat who defeated the San Antonio Spurs last night, 95 – 88 to win their second (that would be two) NBA title in the past two years.  OK, I was not pulling for the Spurs (I am a Lakers fan, but if not them, why not Timmy, Tony, Popovich and the Spurs?); but I am a self confessed card carrying member of the “ABM Club”, ie. anybody but Miami.  It is really nothing against Lebron, I like him, admire and respect him as a player and a person, and I am even over “The Decision” nonsense.  I just do not like Miami.  So too bad for me, uh?  The Spurs could have, and should have, won this series in game six.  But, they did not, so congrats to Lebron, Wade, Bosh, and the rest of the Miami Heat.  Whether the prediction of so many more titles comes to fruition, well time will tell.  I believe there will be some serious threats to that coming true in the years to follow.

So, to last night’s game, it was a great one.  Back and forth, Heat up 18 – 16 after the first period, 46 – 44 at the half, 72 – 71 after the 3rd period.  In the fourth period, Timmy Duncan missed a crucial jump hook shot that would have tied the game.  Also, the Spurs would have gone to the locker room with a lead at the half were it not for an incredible 3 point shot hit by Chalmers at the Buzzer.  Danny Green went cold on his three point shooting for the Spurs.  Meanwhile for the Heat, Shane Battier was on fire, hitting an astounding percentage of three point shots.  Ginobili was both good and bad, several crucial turn overs.  And, why was Tony Parker on the bench with 25 seconds left in the game and the outcome not yet decided?  Oh well, it is done, and Lebron had 37 points and was 7/7 from the free throw line.  Tremendous show of class and sportsmanship after the game by the Spurs team and Coach Popovich.  Really sensed some heartfelt respect from them to the Miami team in congratulating them with hugs and conversation after a wonderfully hard fought seven game series.

Until next year…and I hope Kobe and the Lakers are back in it!!


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It is Wednesday, don’t forget about Surviving “Paradise”

Posted on June 19, 2013 by admin

Gee, here it is, already, Wednesday!  My how time flies when we are having fun, right?  Well, if you want to have some fun, check out my book Surviving “Paradise” by Susan Willoch Shaver.  It is funny, witty, and just an all around good time and great read.  It is available at Amazon.com for $9.99 in paperback, $3.30 in kindle edition, and at Barnes and Noble nook for $4.99.  There is a book signing coming in July at a great Atlanta area boutique, Hemline.  There will be wine and cheese, great clothes, and me, there with my book.  Come on by July 24th if you are in the Atlanta area.  Also, there a couple of young and eager writing students working on a screenplay to present to a local producer.  Hey, this is all good people!!  Please give me some support and check out my book.  Thanks.Surviving Paradise


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It is Wednesday, don’t forget about Surviving “Paradise”

Posted on June 19, 2013 by susan

Gee, here it is, already, Wednesday!  My how time flies when we are having fun, right?  Well, if you want to have some fun, check out my book Surviving “Paradise” by Susan Willoch Shaver.  It is funny, witty, and just an all around good time and great read.  It is available at Amazon.com for $9.99 in paperback, $3.30 in kindle edition, and at Barnes and Noble nook for $4.99.  There is a book signing coming in July at a great Atlanta area boutique, Hemline.  There will be wine and cheese, great clothes, and me, there with my book.  Come on by July 24th if you are in the Atlanta area.  Also, there a couple of young and eager writing students working on a screenplay to present to a local producer.  Hey, this is all good people!!  Please give me some support and check out my book.  Thanks.Surviving Paradise


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OT in game six, Heat take down Spurs, 103-100

Posted on June 19, 2013 by susan

My, oh my!  What a game six!  In Miami, the Heat prevail over the Spurs in OT, 103 – 100.  I was SO hoping the Spurs would win this game and close it out!  They almost did.  Now, we will have a game seven on Thursday, winner take all, and who knows, it is anybody’s game, but you maybe have to favor the Heat at home?  Darn, I am pulling for the Spurs!

Anyhow, what a game six it was.  The Heat led after the 1st period, 27 – 25, the Spurs led at the half, 50 -44, and after 3 periods, the Spurs led by 10, 75 – 65.  Then LeBron James went to work.  LeBron took over but still it was anybody’s game and with time running out, Tony Parker who had struggled all night made two magnificent shots and at the end of regulation it was 95 – 95.  The Heat threw out both the bird man (Anderson) and Miller as ESPN analysts had called for but still, it was a dead heat!   (no pun intended!)  The Spurs were on fire, still shooting over 60% from the field in the first half, but Parker struggled early on and Danny Green lost some of the magic he has enjoyed in this series with his incredible 3 point shooting.  Big surprise for the Spurs, the contribution of Leonard, 22 points, 10 rebounds.  Timmy (Duncan) did his part, 21 points in the first half alone, but down the stretch in OT, for some strange reason he was on the bench and they missed his ability to get the offensive and defensive rebounds.  Chris Bosh game up huge for the Heat in this department with offensive and defensive rebounds!  Perhaps the call that sealed the deal for the Heat, the “no call” on Manu Ginobili (Spurs)  when he drove the lane and was fouled, but alas, no foul called.  So, the Heat survive game six, 103 – 100 and they will now get an opportunity at home to repeat as NBA Champions on Thursday night in Miami.  Can the Spurs overcome the disappointing loss of game six and take game seven?  I hope they can, as I must confess I am a card carrying member of the “ABM Club”, (anybody but Miami).  I don’t know, however, as it is going to be a war.  Stay tuned…action resumes on Thursday evening and I do not think it will disappoint!

P.S. Also a bit disappointed that the Spurs did not close it out last night as that means we will have to wait another week for the ABC drama Motive to return on ABC on Thursday nights at 9:00 pm EST!


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Spurs take down Heat in game 5, 114 – 104

Posted on June 17, 2013 by susan

Way to go Spurs!  Manu Ginobili, Manu Ginobili, I cannot say his name enough.  Ginobili got his first start of the entire season last night in San Antonio, and immediately he set the course for the game.  He and Tony Parker were absolutely superb together.  Timmy (Tim Duncan) was Timmy and what can you say about Danny Green.  He continues to rain 3 point shots and he now is the all time leader in 3 point shots in a NBA final series (with 25), surpassing non other than Ray Allen of the Heat, who of course set the previous record in 2008 with the Boston Celtics.  The Spurs as a team shot over 60% from the field, the big three of San Antonio (Parker, Ginobili, Duncan) outscored the big three of the Heat (Wade, Bosh and James) 67 – 66.  Parker finished with 26 points, Ginobli had 24 points and Green tossed in 24 as well (how about those 3 point shots!!).  Wade and James both finished with 25 points for the Heat.  This game was a MUST WIN for the Spurs, and win they did.  They now head back to Miami with a 3 -2 lead in the series to give themselves a real shot at winning this NBA finals title.  If they do so, it will be the fifth time in franchise history.  Game six is Tuesday night in Miami.  So, what are we predicting?  I say the Spurs get it done, win at least one of the final two games.  It would really help to go ahead and get it done in game six but the pattern of this series has been neither team can win two in a row.  Do what Magic said the Lakers did in his day and time, pack one day’s set of clothes, fly down into Miami, and GET IT DONE!!  GO SPURS!!


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Justin Rose wins US Open Golf Championship, Lefty comes up short again!

Posted on June 16, 2013 by admin

Gee, what a US Open Golf Championship it has been.  The weather, well it has been awful!  Rain the first two days, nice day on Saturday, today a mix, sunshine, rain and wind, heavy rain, then sunshine again.  They really should play this tournament in southern California.  Anyhow, Justin Rose of Great Britain won his first major, coming in at +1 with a winning round of 70 today.  Congrats to him!  Condolences to Phil Mickelson, the birthday boy, who for the record sixth time came in second (tied with Jason Day) at +3.  Has to be a very hard pill for Lefty to swallow.  He really had his chances, and quite frankly, he blew them.  The eagle today on hole #10 had to have you thinking yes, at last Phil is going to win the US Open.  It was not to be.  The final leaderboard is as follows: and by the way, no one wound up under par!!! Justin Rose, +1, Phil Mickelson and Jason Day, +3, Hunter Mahan, +4, Jason Duffner and Ernie Els, +5, Luke Donald and Steve Stricker, +6.

Those are some high scores.  Sort of makes the extremely high scores of the world’s top three, Tiger Woods (+13), Rory Mcilroy (+14) and Adam Scott (+15)  look not so bad!

They were calling the last five holes at this golf course, Merion Country Club, the most difficult in US Open history.  I have to say, I found watching this a bit exhausting!  The weather, the high scores, Tiger and Rory not in the mix, only Lefty seemed to keep it interesting.  All in all, great win for Justin Rose.

I am ready for some basketball…Spurs and Heat underway in game 5.  Let’s go Spurs!


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Before Midnight with Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy

Posted on June 16, 2013 by susan

Oh, how wonderful to catch up with Celine and Jesse after what, eight years?  I am a faithful fan of the Before Sunrise, Before Sunset movies with Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy and director/co-writer Richard Linklater.  I was so happy when I saw there was a third installment, Before Midnight, just not so happy that I had to wait three weeks for it to arrive in a theater near me.  Anyhow, I finally got to the theater to see this movie and it was great, interesting, and left me wondering, is this the last one, or will there be a fourth?  For those who do not know this wonderful and ongoing love match, it all began when Jesse and Celine were young and met on a train in Vienna and spent one glorious night together.  Next, they reconnect in Paris (Celine is French) in Before Sunset.  Jesse is married, (not happily) with a son and has written a book about their chance meeting and lasting connection.  I don’t want to spoil the whole story of these first two movies for those who have not been fortunate enough to have watched them (I encourage you to do so, especially before seeing Before Midnight).  Anyhow, let’s just say the second movie ends with Jesse missing his plane, and there was no mystery as to why he missed his plane and what transpired after.  Now, here we are eight, nine years later, Jesse and Celine have adorable twin daughters (blonde headed and look just like Celine) and they live in France and are vacationing in Greece.  Jesse’s now fourteen year old son has been visiting for the summer and must fly back to the states.  Jesse feels so guilty that he cannot be with his son more, the relationship with his ex-wife is horrible to put it mildly, and well, a lot of discussion about that, their future, and their lives together ensues in this movie filmed beautifully on location in Greece.  The conversations between these two is the trademark of this movie series and once again, it does not disappoint.  There is a horrific fight in the latter stages of the movie, and one wonders could this really be the end for Jesse and Celine?  NO, say it is not so!!!  But, you will have to see the movie, I don’t think it is the end for them at all, but is it the end of this wonderful collaboration between Hawke, Delpy and Linklater on this unique and enticing movie franchise?  I hope not.  This is an indie film, art-house movie making at its very best.  You really have to watch from beginning to end, start in Vienna (Before Sunrise), then enjoy them in Paris (Before Sunset) and finally watch them in their early forties navigating their way through their relationship (not married, just together) on vacation in Greece as they reflect, argue, and try to decide what is next for them in their lives.  So happy I finally got to see this movie.  Recommend it to all, and especially fans of this couple and their story!


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Before Midnight with Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy

Posted on June 16, 2013 by admin

Oh, how wonderful to catch up with Celine and Jesse after what, eight years?  I am a faithful fan of the Before Sunrise, Before Sunset movies with Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy and director/co-writer Richard Linklater.  I was so happy when I saw there was a third installment, Before Midnight, just not so happy that I had to wait three weeks for it to arrive in a theater near me.  Anyhow, I finally got to the theater to see this movie and it was great, interesting, and left me wondering, is this the last one, or will there be a fourth?  For those who do not know this wonderful and ongoing love match, it all began when Jesse and Celine were young and met on a train in Vienna and spent one glorious night together.  Next, they reconnect in Paris (Celine is French) in Before Sunset.  Jesse is married, (not happily) with a son and has written a book about their chance meeting and lasting connection.  I don’t want to spoil the whole story of these first two movies for those who have not been fortunate enough to have watched them (I encourage you to do so, especially before seeing Before Midnight).  Anyhow, let’s just say the second movie ends with Jesse missing his plane, and there was no mystery as to why he missed his plane and what transpired after.  Now, here we are eight, nine years later, Jesse and Celine have adorable twin daughters (blonde headed and look just like Celine) and they live in France and are vacationing in Greece.  Jesse’s now fourteen year old son has been visiting for the summer and must fly back to the states.  Jesse feels so guilty that he cannot be with his son more, the relationship with his ex-wife is horrible to put it mildly, and well, a lot of discussion about that, their future, and their lives together ensues in this movie filmed beautifully on location in Greece.  The conversations between these two is the trademark of this movie series and once again, it does not disappoint.  There is a horrific fight in the latter stages of the movie, and one wonders could this really be the end for Jesse and Celine?  NO, say it is not so!!!  But, you will have to see the movie, I don’t think it is the end for them at all, but is it the end of this wonderful collaboration between Hawke, Delpy and Linklater on this unique and enticing movie franchise?  I hope not.  This is an indie film, art-house movie making at its very best.  You really have to watch from beginning to end, start in Vienna (Before Sunrise), then enjoy them in Paris (Before Sunset) and finally watch them in their early forties navigating their way through their relationship (not married, just together) on vacation in Greece as they reflect, argue, and try to decide what is next for them in their lives.  So happy I finally got to see this movie.  Recommend it to all, and especially fans of this couple and their story!


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Federer captures 6th title in Halle at Gerry Weber Open

Posted on June 16, 2013 by susan

Happy Father’s Day!  And Happy Father’s Day to Roger Federer who captured his 6th title at the Gerry Weber Open in Halle today with a come from behind win over M. Youzhny, 6 – 7, 6 – 3, 6 – 3.  Fed looked sluggish in the first set even though there were no breaks of serve and he lost the set in a tiebreak.  He then came to life in the second set and went on to his sixth title at this event, his regular grass court tune-up prior to Wimbledon.  Congrats to Youzhny for making the final (he was also in the doubles final with partner P. Kolschreiber).  But it was Federer who had the shots and after making 13 unforced errors in the 1st set, cleaned up his game and only committed four total unforced errors in the second set.  Federer served twelve aces, and that is going to be very important for him moving forward and heading into Wimbledon.  He must serve well and get free points off the serve.  It is Roger’s first title of the year, has to be a big relief for him.  His adorable twin daughters, Charlene and Myla Rose were in the stands with wife, Mirka, watching the trophy presentation, waving and shouting at “papa”!  Nice to see Fed get that first title and here’s to hoping he can get on a roll and take Wimbledon for Grand Slam number 18.  He will be seeded #2 at the All England Club with action getting underway June 24th.


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