DramatistDreamer

Great article, Chit. Not surprising that it is in the European/Eurosport, not the U.S. edition. I recently saw a short film Spike Lee did on Mo'ne Davis and besides wishing she were playing tennis, I thought back to how sad it made me feel to read online comments questioning the gender of this talented & beautiful young girl! Sadly, I think when there is a young woman, even a girl who accomplishes beyond what some individuals perceive possible because of a person's gender or race, the accusations and aspersions inevitable stary flying around the atmosphere. As almost a life-long tennis fan (since the days of Steffi and Monica), I can remember seeing the Williams Sisters since before they went pro and I actually remember when Serena's serve became more consistent and as I remember she trained, practiced and consulted a serving coach to make her serve more consistently effective and powerful. And with the improved serve, I really believe it freed her up to work on the other parts of her game. Longevity and success in a sport like tennis, I think you must have a certain type of discipline and intelligence to compete at the level that the Williams Sisters and Federer do into their 30s. Yes, body type and genetics may play a part in constitution but I think that's a fraction of sporting success. I think playing and training smart counts for a whole lot at that advanced stage of a sporting career. Don't know why Serena (and even Venus) don't get credit for this.

LOL. I saw this on Twitter yesterday on Ben Rothenberg's page and couldn't help but laugh!

Around 1990, I believe. From what I read it seemed as though viewer backlash factored into the 'aborted' storyline of the affair, Don Hastings said as much. I think it had to do with the fact that many viewers probably didn't want Bob to seem conflicted where his romantic feelings were as it related to Kim. People probably wanted Bob & Kim to be the stalwart couple, and this probably cut the possibilities for that storyline. I definitely think that Rick Ryan would have opened possibilities up for not only Bob, but John, Barbara, Paul and even Hal. Some of you probably know my feelings on that (that Hunt Block would've been a much better fit for Rick Ryan than Craig Montgomery). Don Hastings stories really diminished the last 15 years or so of the show. As a doctor, I think he could've been utilized as more than the sage adviser to the young. If ATWT actually had bother to do proper medical stories, he could have been more vital.

Sad but not surpising that the Wiliams Sisters are still getting hate and vitriol at this stage in their careers. I thought Tarpischev had class...clearly I must stop giving people the benefit of the doubt: http://espn.go.com/tennis/story/_/id/11718876/russian-tennis-federation-president-shamil-tarpischev-sanctioned-serena-venus-williams-gender-comments I am disgusted.

Toward the end of this article, it sounds as if Don was a bit disappointed in how a few of the storylines in the 90s ended, seems like some of the stories were cut short, maybe because of fear of backlash. He ends the article on a hopeful note but it sort of puts the onus on Felicia Minei Behr, when he says 'I'm told' that there is a good story coming up, that means, if it's not good complain to her y'all (LOL).

I watched some of the unfortunate coverage from Moscow online and saw that the Kremlin Cup is far from the tournament it once was. Does anyone know what happened to Dominica Cibulkova? It seems like ever since she got to the Finals at Oz, the rest of her year went downhill. I saw some of her match and watched her lose to a Russian player, who at 25, had never before even qualified to get into the tournament before this year. And oh, Domi was the top seed. Between the empty seats, the scanty applause and the awful final set, I got the impression that Dominica just wanted to hustle on outta there and grab her check on the way to the airport.

Came across this profile of Andrea Bogart (Abby Haver) from GH in a Wellness Blog: http://wellandgood.com/2014/10/14/working-out-with-celebrity-instuctors-los-angeles/?utm_source=Well%2BGood&utm_campaign=7fcdd6c7a9-October_15_2014_SPONS_ANY_House_LA10_6_2014&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_b430628ea3-7fcdd6c7a9-390392841#working-out-with-the-stars-3

I knew it! Even before the split between Murray & Lendl was confirmed, I just knew Berdych would be getting his hopes up. Lendl seems to know his stuff but other than the Czech connection I wonder if they would be compatible? Lendl must have changed his mind? I got the impression he wanted to do less coaching. Maybe Lendl thinks he can make it work. The Asian Autumn Circuit is quickly becoming the tournaments of attrition this year. Injuries, fatigue, viral infections...

Great for Vicky! Hopefully, it is gone for good and it will be a great and successful life & career for her going forward. On another note: I guess Fabio Fognini won't have to worry about writing a speech for that Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award anytime too soon. http://espn.go.com/tennis/story/_/id/11657068/fabio-fognini-throws-tantrum-gives-obscene-gesture-shanghai-crowd-loss Luckily for him, most of the hot tempered tennis players have retired but one day he might meet up with a new breed of tennis player who may punch him in his face and take the punishment just to put him in his place. He's been getting away with this crap a few too many times now.

Doesn't she?! You're welcome.

Anyone who is wondering about what Judy Pace has been up to...she appears as Judy Pace Flood in a short documentary on the NY Times website about her husband late baseball player Curt Flood: http://www.nytimes.com/video/us/100000003158218/rebel-without-a-clause.html

...if it's not too much trouble, can I be added to that list as well? Thank you in advance.

...and Courtney Cox.

TV One's website is an absolute mess, I've read people complain that things are hard to find but I dont know when or if they will ever sort it out. I was wondering why that episode of the Chi-Lites was still up there as the latest episode. After checking again today, and seeing not even so much as a preview of a new episode, I'd guessed that they weren't airing any new episodes. What a strange, abrupt end to the season of Unsung! ...and no explanations from them? I wonder what that's about.

I'm watching the Laura Simmons storyline on You Tube and am all out of sorts because no one seems to have those episodes of when Bob got to the house after Barbara and Hal's wedding and came face to face with pyschopathic Laura. As my niece would say, "Fiddlesticks!" I'm still miss seeing the 1986 episode of when they found out that Tad Channing was actually dead and not missing. Hopefully someone somewhere will eventually post those missing episodes.

Now that's the Lucinda I knew and loved. Talking business while simulatenously feasting her eyes and making no secret of her lusty thoughts. Even before Bill Spencer Jr., Duncan was the original tight T-shirt wearer on daytime. You could see his muscles through those shirts. Although watching those episodes as a child, rather than the adult I am now...back then I got more of a Groundskeeper Willie vibe (a la The Simpsons) than anything else.

Oh, yes, even the Troop episode, one poor lady had lipstick on her teeth and I just wanted to tell her. I watch on my laptop but I have a pretty large screen (almost 19 inches) and it shows HD quality, so I am up close to see all the details. Be glad you can't see to notice it. For some reason, almost every episode this season has had at least one lady with lipstick on her teeth and I seem to notice it now, each and every time. I wish I didn't though.

I know that some members were ambivalent about "Oh Girl" because they thought it was too much aligned to a pop music sound but I find it to be a truly sweet song. My one gripe with Unsung in general is that this season, in particular, there seem to be more than one interview with women with lipstick on their teeth. I know I'm being nitpicky but I wish they would've re-cut those scenes and let those women know that they had lipstick on their teeth right away so they could re-shoot. I know the budget is small but for me, this is distracting.

I thought that scene between Emily & Meg @ 26 minutes had a bit of irony to it. Meg tells Emily that she can cry if she wants to and Emily mentions how she hates women who snivel. It's ironic because when KMH played Emily, Emily seemed to be snivelling all the time! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICM8bPglnaE&list=UU72wY2GAt44dAxtnf89y0VA

The polls claimed it would be extremely close 50/50 but with well over a 1 million+ votes difference, it was 55/45 at best. It wasn't a landslide but not as close as was predicted. The Bridge is ovah, as KRS-1 would say. More disappointing is Christie pulling NJ out of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, which even the majority of state Republicans believe is a mistake. It's a cynical move on Christie's part to get backing from Americans for Prosperity A.K.A. the Koch Brothers. And it shows that he's willing to toss the people of NJ aside, so he can get in good with the Koch Brothers and their money. Personally, I'll be surprised if he makes it past the first hurdle in 2016. He probably won't get any further than Giuliani did in '08.

soap fans, God bless 'em...some truly struggle separating reality from the make believe.

This was on Yahoo! Sports earlier in the week. I was debating whether to post it here and decided not to because back then it was still speculative, even though I was on the side of believing it. It mentioned that she would announce during the tournament in Wuhan but perhaps she just wanted to get it over and done with because of all the speculation and rumors? The knee issue is very unfortunate. I didn't know she'd had 4 surgeries! That just goes to show you what a grind the sport can be on the body! The ones who can endure and remain competitive are not only fortunate but it must be something of another full time job for them to keep fit and prepared for these tournaments. I do wonder about the other Women tennis players from China and the effect this could have on them. Tennis is an individual sport but Li was clearly a breakthrough in China and her star status cleared the path for other Chinese women tennis players, not just culturally but financially-- Li, I understand, was the 1st Chinese player to insist that she and other players get to keep more of their winnings, in the past the Chinese government used to keep 80% of a players earnings. Li, also, I think, was the first to insist that she be allowed to choose her own coach (I think the Chinese Sport Ministry used to select the coaches in the past). While I'm sure Li cast a long shadow, others Chinese tennis players probably got more support and more, dare I say it? freedom from the Chinese government because she stood up. Her personality and humor will be missed. And she gave many players very hard times on the tennis court.

The polls were off in their predictions, as they usually are. I wonder when legitimate news shows will stop relying on polls to provide the weight of expectations? I wonder if Cameron & company will follow through with their last minute appeals to give Scots more autonomy. It seems Cameron is facing a backlash from members of his own party for mentioning these concessions earlier in the week. Now you have some members of the Conservative party threatening to caucus their own English Parliament. Then you have Alex Salmond and certain pro Scottish independence voices, on the other side saying that this issue can be brought up again in a few years. Is this over?

I'm thinking it was more than sexual for Bob and definitely Susan but it was the emotional connection that had to be excorcised. Bob is just not the type to 'hit it and quit it' and leading up to the ONS, Bob had been caring for Susan's back injury and subsequent pill dependence. From what I've seen, it looks as if Bob's budding relationship with Susan had lead to a distance in his marriage to Kim for months, even before the ONS. ATWT was really good in how situations like these played out for several months. Sometimes, Marland would keep people apart for a bit too long but it appears he timed this one right and with the noticeable strain in the marriage which played out in extensive therapy. He did not skip over showing the painstaking work involved in putting the marriage back together. I could only imagine how today's soap writers would handle this: They would've went straight from Susan having back pain, to her near overdose on a bottle of painkillers to Bob rushing to her side and then them sleeping together--- all in the same weekend! Then on Monday Kim would discover it, be furious, yell and gesture a lot and within two weeks some other manufactured crisis would occur bringing Bob and Kim back together, as if the whole thing never happened. No need for therapy, until Kim's repressed anger rears its head with her going off the rails (during Sweeps, of course), shoplifting at Fashions, running off with John Dixon and threatenting to kill Susan Stewart.

I actually wasn't saying that I thought of Norway and Denmark because of the economic standard of living but due to the recent tragic incidents that happened in Norway and Denmark in the past few years, namely the Theo van Gogh murder and then the mass shooting that happened at that conference/camp in Norway. I haven't heard of any thing of this sort happening in Sweden, which is why I was a bit surprised. I wasn't talking merely of earnings when I meant standard of living but overally quality of life, I guess. Sorry, if I was unclear (typing very quickly most times).