Garcia and Tiger have big days at Players Championship

Posted on May 10, 2013 by admin

Both Sergio Garcia and Tiger Woods went out early today at The Player Championship at  TPC Sawgrass and had really great rounds of golf.  Garcia currently sits atop the leaderboard at -11 with Tiger on his heels at -10 (round of 67).  Tiger has not performed particularly well at this event, his only victory coming in 2001, but he is lighting it up there this year.  He had a gorgeous eagle on the 11th.  The current leaderboard shows Garcia at -11, Tiger at -10, Chappell and Westwood at -9, Ryan Palmer and Zach Johnson at -8, Matt Kuchar and Steve Sticker at -7.  Play continues until 7:00 pm EST today.  Rory Mcilroy is currently at -7 thru 5 and Mickelson sits at +1, in danger of missing the projected cut of -1.

Update: Cut now at even par.  Moving leaderboard (except for Garcia and Woods).  Garcia – 11, Woods – 10, Stenson, Westwood, Chappell, Lingmerth at -9, Palmer and Wittenberg at -8, Scott, Kuchar and Mahan at -7.  Rory and Stricker both at -6.


Posted in Blog, events, golf, sports figures | Comments Off on Garcia and Tiger have big days at Players Championship

Nadal survives in three sets over Ferrer at Madrid Open

Posted on May 10, 2013 by susan

Rafael Nadal came back to defeat fellow Spaniard David Ferrer in three sets at the Madrid Open, 4 -6, 7 – 6, 6 -0.  Really a shame for Ferrer who seemed to have the match on his racket in the second set.  Once Nadal took the second set, you kind of new the advantage had swung his way.  Andujar took out Nishikori (who upset Roger Federer) 6 – 3, 7 – 5.  Other men’s matches not yet completed.

On the women’s side, Ivanovic, Errani, S. Williams and Sharapova all advance to the semifinals.

Interesting note:  Roger Federer told the press yesterday that he would make sure that he doesn’t have one of those kind of days again (like he had yesterday) after being upset in round number 3 at the Madrid Open by Nishikori.  I sure hope he means it!

Update: Andy Murray falls to T. Berdych, 7 – 6, 6 -4.  Next up, Tsonga vs. Wawrinka!  The other Swiss guy, Stan Wawrinka pulls out three set victory over Tsonga, 6 -2, 6 -7, 6 -4.  Congrats to Wawrinka!


Posted in Blog, events, sports figures, Tennis | Comments Off on Nadal survives in three sets over Ferrer at Madrid Open

Tiger Woods shoots best round ever at The Players

Posted on May 9, 2013 by susan

Tiger Woods shot his best round ever at The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass, a 67 to finish at -5.  Almost a bogey free round, until the 18th.  Still, looking good Tiger!

The big story of the day was Roberto Castro, 27 years old, and a Georgia Tech guy who shot a 63 matching the lowest round ever at The Players and he sits alone atop the leaderboard at -9.  Rory Mcilroy had a very nice round of golf to finish at -6.  Zach Johnson joins him at -6.  At -5 are Tiger Woods, Steve Stricker, Hunter Mahan, Webb Simpson, Ryan Palmer, and Casey Wittenberg.  Last year’s winner, Matt Kuchar, also a Georgia Tech guy, is at-1.  Phil Mickelson had a tough round and came in at even par.

Tiger tees off early tomorrow so tune in to Golf Channel at 9:00 am EST to catch coverage.  Full coverage of the second round is on Golf Channel beginning at 1:00 pm EST tomorrow and will switch over to NBC for the weekend.


Posted in Blog, events, golf, sports figures | Comments Off on Tiger Woods shoots best round ever at The Players

Tiger Woods shoots best round ever at The Players

Posted on May 9, 2013 by admin

Tiger Woods shot his best round ever at The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass, a 67 to finish at -5.  Almost a bogey free round, until the 18th.  Still, looking good Tiger!

The big story of the day was Roberto Castro, 27 years old, and a Georgia Tech guy who shot a 63 matching the lowest round ever at The Players and he sits alone atop the leaderboard at -9.  Rory Mcilroy had a very nice round of golf to finish at -6.  Zach Johnson joins him at -6.  At -5 are Tiger Woods, Steve Stricker, Hunter Mahan, Webb Simpson, Ryan Palmer, and Casey Wittenberg.  Last year’s winner, Matt Kuchar, also a Georgia Tech guy, is at-1.  Phil Mickelson had a tough round and came in at even par.

Tiger tees off early tomorrow so tune in to Golf Channel at 9:00 am EST to catch coverage.  Full coverage of the second round is on Golf Channel beginning at 1:00 pm EST tomorrow and will switch over to NBC for the weekend.


Posted in Blog, events, golf, sports figures | Comments Off on Tiger Woods shoots best round ever at The Players

Nashville recap – Rayna and Deacon are together but will it survive?

Posted on May 9, 2013 by susan

Nashville returned with another new episode last night…heading full steam ahead towards the season’s series finale.  Rayna and Deacon are once again together, after fourteen long years.  These two are clearly soul mates, very much in love, but will it survive given all that Rayna has to deal with?  Her oldest daughter, Maddie, and a teenager to boot, is actually Deacon’s child but Rayna has sworn to her soon to be ex, Teddy, that she will never reveal that truth.  Teddy is the only Dad Maddie has ever known and Teddy truly loves her.  But, will Rayna be able to hide the truth from Deacon?  Deacon is very comfortable with Rayna’s children and we will see those dynamics in next week’s episode according to the preview.  Teddy will not be happy!  Things are a bit unclear as far as the future of Teddy and his girlfriend Peggy, will have to see how that plays out.  Coleman, the Vice-Mayor, resigns as he see the writing on the wall; Lamar, Tandy (Rayna’s sister) and Teddy all going after each other and him wisely wanting to be out of the fray, perhaps opening the door for his own political ambitions when all the dust settles.  And then there is Juliette, poor Juliette, she just cannot help herself.  She cannot make good choices to save herself no matter how hard she tries.  Her mom’s former sober coach, Dante, and Juliette’s “former” lover/manager, has taken off with his new/old love, stolen Juliette’s money and credit cards, and will soon be blackmailing her with a “sex tape”.  Gee, what a guy!  Juliette and Rayna are both up for a CMA award in the same category, and the last thing Juliette needs is bad publicity, something that sticks to her like glue.  Gunnar has recorded a demo of his dead brother’s song, Scarlett is not too impressed when she finds out about it.  Still, the neighbor/friend who kissed Gunnar (he is a guy) is hanging around but the secret has not been revealed.  And Avery, now a roadie, gets a great step up chance when Deacon quits Juliette’s band and Avery is invited to step in on guitar at the last minute in her CMA  promo performance.  This show is the epitome of the show that just keeps on giving.  I hope Rayna and Deacon end up together, but this is nighttime soap opera drama at its best.  Next week….more to come!


Posted in Blog, pop culture, tv shows | Comments Off on Nashville recap – Rayna and Deacon are together but will it survive?

Nashville recap – Rayna and Deacon are together but will it survive?

Posted on May 9, 2013 by admin

Nashville returned with another new episode last night…heading full steam ahead towards the season’s series finale.  Rayna and Deacon are once again together, after fourteen long years.  These two are clearly soul mates, very much in love, but will it survive given all that Rayna has to deal with?  Her oldest daughter, Maddie, and a teenager to boot, is actually Deacon’s child but Rayna has sworn to her soon to be ex, Teddy, that she will never reveal that truth.  Teddy is the only Dad Maddie has ever known and Teddy truly loves her.  But, will Rayna be able to hide the truth from Deacon?  Deacon is very comfortable with Rayna’s children and we will see those dynamics in next week’s episode according to the preview.  Teddy will not be happy!  Things are a bit unclear as far as the future of Teddy and his girlfriend Peggy, will have to see how that plays out.  Coleman, the Vice-Mayor, resigns as he see the writing on the wall; Lamar, Tandy (Rayna’s sister) and Teddy all going after each other and him wisely wanting to be out of the fray, perhaps opening the door for his own political ambitions when all the dust settles.  And then there is Juliette, poor Juliette, she just cannot help herself.  She cannot make good choices to save herself no matter how hard she tries.  Her mom’s former sober coach, Dante, and Juliette’s “former” lover/manager, has taken off with his new/old love, stolen Juliette’s money and credit cards, and will soon be blackmailing her with a “sex tape”.  Gee, what a guy!  Juliette and Rayna are both up for a CMA award in the same category, and the last thing Juliette needs is bad publicity, something that sticks to her like glue.  Gunnar has recorded a demo of his dead brother’s song, Scarlett is not too impressed when she finds out about it.  Still, the neighbor/friend who kissed Gunnar (he is a guy) is hanging around but the secret has not been revealed.  And Avery, now a roadie, gets a great step up chance when Deacon quits Juliette’s band and Avery is invited to step in on guitar at the last minute in her CMA  promo performance.  This show is the epitome of the show that just keeps on giving.  I hope Rayna and Deacon end up together, but this is nighttime soap opera drama at its best.  Next week….more to come!


Posted in Blog, pop culture, tv shows | Comments Off on Nashville recap – Rayna and Deacon are together but will it survive?

Heat defeat Bulls in “brawl in Miami”, Golden State over the Spurs

Posted on May 9, 2013 by admin

Last night’s NBA playoff action continued and well, let’s just say it was kind of ugly.  The game in Miami between the Heat and the Bulls was more of a street fight than a basketball game.  There were at least 24 personal fouls called in the first half alone, 5 technical fouls, more in the second half and several ejections.  Some of the Bulls (Noah) were complaining about the “officiating” being biased towards the Heat and not calling fouls on them inside.  The end result was a complete and total rout of the Bulls, 115 – 78.  These teams really do not like each other very much and guess what, it showed!  The series returns to Chicago where the Heat will attempt to take a game back on the road after falling to the Bulls in a very physical game one in Miami (series now tied -1).  Will Derek Rose play when the series returns to Chicago?  This has been a burning question, one has to wonder why that knee is not yet ready for primetime?  Also, will Deng and Hinrich be available?  Stay tuned…this series is going to be a “war”.

In the peaceful West, Golden State took one from the Spurs on their home floor, prevailing 100 – 91 to even that series at 1-1.  They were led by Klay Thompson with 34 points and Curry added 22 points.  For the Spurs, Duncan had 23 points, Parker added 20 and Ginobili threw in 12.  So, this series now heads out to Golden State’s home arena for game 3.


Posted in basketball, Blog, events, rumors, sports figures | Comments Off on Heat defeat Bulls in “brawl in Miami”, Golden State over the Spurs

Federer falls in three sets at Madrid Open

Posted on May 9, 2013 by susan

Well, I am sad and bummed!  Roger Federer fell to Nishikori of Japan in three sets today at the Madrid Open, 4 – 6, 6- 1, 2- 6.  What a disappointment.  Fed looks rusty after the seven week rest but I thought once he cruised to a 6 -1 second set he would pull it out.  Gee, hope things get better for him next week in Rome as the road to Roland Garros continues.  Have to say, those twin daughters looked adorable in the box with wife Mirka, loved the matching pink sunglasses as they were in attendance to watch “Daddy work”.

Nadal advanced over Youzhny in straight sets, 6 -2, 6 – 3 and looks like the man to beat with both Djokovic and Federer both out.  Andy Murray will face G. Simon later today (this evening) for his third round match.

Gosh, I am bummed about Federer losing!

Update: Murray outlasts G. Simon in three tough sets, 2 – 6, 6 – 4, 7 – 6.  So, two of the big four through to the quarterfinals!  (Djokovic and Federer out, now I am sad again!)


Posted in Blog, events, sports figures, Tennis | Comments Off on Federer falls in three sets at Madrid Open

Robert Downey, Jr. on Jimmy Kimmel

Posted on May 8, 2013 by susan

Caught Robert Downey, Jr. on Jimmy Kimmel Show last night.  In case you have been locked in a closet or something, his latest Iron Man movie, Iron Man 3 is huge and as someone who saw it the day it came out, I will say it is the best installment in the series so far!  Anyhow, Robert Downey, Jr. is brilliant, a hugely talented actor and a really cool, introspective guy.  He was at his best on Kimmel and when the conversation turned to the subject of confidence and self esteem, it was both funny and rather enlightening.  Downey, Jr. made a comment that I think is worth sharing for those who did not see it.  Kimmel asked him if perhaps he had gone from no self esteem to huge self esteem, instead of no self esteem to low self esteem as Downey had said.  Robert replied that he was an optimistic guy, after all he said, “if I am not on my team, why should I expect anyone else to be?”

Words to live by…


Posted in Blog, celebrities, movies, pop culture | Comments Off on Robert Downey, Jr. on Jimmy Kimmel

20/20 show on Nasty Neighbors and Surviving “Paradise”

Posted on May 8, 2013 by admin

This past weekend, ABC news show 20/20 showed a repeat of a segment they did earlier on the horrors of nasty neighbors.  This is a subject I am way too familiar with.  There was even a short segment with Hollywood couple Dax Shepard and Kristen Bell on The View talking about the nightmare nuisance and noise they experienced when Justin Biebook_cover_c_rev1ber moved in down the street from them!  Well, my book Surviving “Paradise” by Susan Willoch Shaver is all about neighborhood mayhem in southwest Florida.  For a fun, entertaining read, and a good chuckle as well, check it out at Amazon.com for $9.99 in paperback, $3.03 in kindle edition and $4.99 at Barnes and Noble nook!


Posted in Blog, celebrities, Human Interest, pop culture, Surviving "Paradise", susan shaver, Susan Willoch Shaver, tv shows | Comments Off on 20/20 show on Nasty Neighbors and Surviving “Paradise”