The best of this week is this fan's encounter with Steffi Graf. I was jealous and happy at the same time, jealous that she was able to meet Steffi in person and happy as she could meet her and even get to take a picture with her. I would have just frozen with excitement if that happened to me. This one sentence sums up how 'unstarly' she is despite being a star athelete.
“Excuse me, are you… Steffi Graf?” I said quietly, not wanting to attract attention. She looked around to see if anyone had heard. “Yes,” she said.
A wonderful read and "words do matter" unless you are Steffi graf who lets her actions be the words.
Richard Williams for one knows how hard it is to win championships in real world and not fantasy match ups as he has successfully coached two of his daughters to become great champions. Here is what he had to say when asked who is the best between Serena, Steffi and Martina. Still remember Richard Williams giving a congratulatory hug to Heidi Graf at Steffi's farewell ceremony at Madison Gardens in 99.
http://www.insidetennis.com/2011/09/thought-die/
Steffi Graf is doing a kid's clinic in Harlem on Sep 13th.
http://www.10sballs.com/2011/09/03/former-open-champ-graf-to-put-on-kids-clinic-in-harlem/
Reading through this SI article and thinking about the 86 US open SF match, my best memory is Martina trying to pat Steffi on the back for a wonderful effort and Steffi not realizing that, walking away being mad at herself for losing a close match and Martina throwing her hands in the air in exasperation. http://joeposnanski.si.com/2011/09/01/my-favorite-year/
Mrs.Sporty makes it to the top on 'IMPULSE' ratings. Congrats Stefanie.
http://relevant.at/wirtschaft/pr/219783/impulse-ranking-mrs-sporty-top-1-franchise-anbieter-dienstleistungs-sektor.story
Not sure why media is so interested in having such 'fantsay contests' but here is one of them to be starting today. Earlier in the week, Steffi was pitted against Venus and almost 84% voted for Steffi (and she is 12 yrs removed from the tennis circuit, who said she is not popular!!!!!)
http://straightsets.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/29/u-s-open-pointcounterpoint-seffi-graf-vs-venus-williams/
And so now, you have Steffi against Serena in SF. Not sure how you can compare retired greats with current players without taking into conisderation the advances in training/technology/medicine and various recovery therapies being used in the modern era.
http://straightsets.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/09/04/fantasy-tournament-reaches-semifinals/
I have a few more to post but since this is the first week, will try to catch up with the rest next week.
