11/10/2013



1/17/2011

Comeback of the day -- Gael Monfils (12) def. Thiemo de Bakker 6-7 (5), 2-6, 7-5, 6-2, 6-1

The buzz around Melbourne was that the enigmatic Monfils was nursing a back injury and it sure looked like it for the first two sets against the Dutchman de Bakker. But Monfils turned it around in the third and then won with ease in the fourth, prompting claims after the match that de Bakker tanked the set in order to get to the fifth. After the match, Monfils said (via The Sydney Morning Herald):

"I saw he was tanking. Maybe if I break him early, he would tank and then be ready in the fifth. I was kind of surprised. But I know Thiemo a bit. I know sometimes he snaps in the head ... It's a weakness for him, so you play with that."

http://sports.yahoo.com/tennis/blog/busted_racquet/post/Day-1-recap-Laver-snoozer-Americans-fall-de-B?urn=ten-308616&active_dimension=carousel_ept_sports_ten_experts

1/18/2011

Despite the murder of his father during his senior year of high school, San Diego State's forward basketball player Kawhi Leonard has developed the tenacity and work ethic that will make him a "lottery pick, for sure a first-rounder” as stated by the NBA executive. 

Whereas such an unfortunate event can paralyze most teenagers' lives, Leonard's drive, motivation, and determination make him virtually "unstoppable"!

You can read the full article at the following link:

http://msn.foxsports.com/collegebasketball/story/san-diego-state-forward-kawhi-leonard-stays-on-track-3-years-after-losing-his-father-011811

1/19/2011

Fernando Verdasco (9) def. Janko Tipsarevic 2-6, 4-6, 6-4, 7-6, 6-0

The Serbian, ranked No. 49 in the world, won the first two sets and twice served for the match in the fourth. After losing a key match point, Tipsarevic essentially threw in the towel. He was blanked in the fourth-set tiebreak and then barely put up a fight in losing the final set, 6-0. By the final games, Tipsy was barely running out points.

In his post-match presser, the Serb denied he tanked:

"Three match points, and in one of those, three volleys ... it was not fitness. It's my fault. I don't want people to get the wrong impression. I didn't tank. I didn't lose on purpose. I didn't have a mental meltdown. I was just dead in the legs."

Yeah right Tipsy, dead in the legs... You may fool a couple of people from the crowd with that comment, but that stuff ain't gonna fly by most of us. 

If you're curious to understand the academic explanation for Tipsy's mental breakdown during his match, feel free to let us know. 

Yet another great comeback by Verdasco, showing us the importance of mental toughness in achieving success.

1/22/2011

Tiger has not played the PGA Tour stop at Torrey Pines the last two years, missing in 2009 while recovering from knee surgery and last year while dealing with personal problems related to his extramarital affairs.

Tiger, who lost his No. 1 ranking to Lee Westwood last year, has not won since the Australian Masters in November 2009.

While some may be misled to think that Tiger’s game may not be as good as it once was a couple of years ago, a few people know that the main challenge currently affecting Tiger's performance is within his mind. Issues such as maintaining sharp focus and having full confidence are Tiger’s “X-factors” in regaining his game. Can Tiger regain the No. 1 ranking, sure he can, but the real question is whether he is mentally ready.

1/23/2011

MELBOURNE, Australia -- Francesca Schiavone established a record Sunday for endurance in a women's Grand Slam singles match, needing 4 hours, 44 minutes to beat Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-4, 1-6, 16-14 in the fourth round.

The French Open champion saved six match points, then converted on her third match point in the longest match at a major in terms of time in the Open era.

Schiavone battled exhaustion but, "at the end, you have something more, always."

"Was for me, fantastic," the 30-year-old Italian said. "When you're in a situation like this, every point is like a match point. You have to keep going. You know that physically you're tired. Mentally just keep going."

Kuznetsova said the match was so long she was forgetting the score or who should serve.

Schiavone said it wasn't quite that bad for her, "but I was watching the clock, and I say -- 'Bravo, Francesca, you are tough!"

http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/tennis/aus11/news/story?id=6049318

1/24/2011

After missing out on an opportunity to reach the super bowl, many people in the city of Chicago, as well as Bears fans from all around the nation have been wondering about Jay Cutler's decision for not returning into the NFC championship game against the Green Bay Packers. After picking up an injury that resulted in a sprained MCL, the Bear's QB took the decision to pull the plug on the game, which has probably caused him more pain and distress than that of the physical injury. Cutler has been labeled by many as a "quitter" as well as "gutless".

To analyze this situation,it is crucial to understand both the subject; "Cutler", as well as the situation; "NFC championship game". When we take a look at the subject in the situation, history (statistics) tells us that he doesn't necessarily perform that well in tough situations or under major pressure. However, there is no significant evidence of him being a "quitter". When we consider the situation, we can't help but think of the event's magnitude, and how any player (let alone a team leader) would expect nothing short of giving it his all. Did Cutler give it his all? While, most of us may not doubt the physical pain that he was experiencing, it is the mental aspect that appears to have let us down. 

1/31/2011

“I’m just trying to show people that you can do anything you put your mind to," Anthony Robles said. "There have been people who have inspired me to try to achieve my dreams. I don’t consider myself any different, any more special than any of them. So many people have lent me a helping hand. I want to be that person (for others) coming up.” 

You can read the full article at the following link:

http://www.foxsportsarizona.com/msn/01/28/11/No-limits-for-Robles-as-next-stage-becko/landing.html?blockID=399825&feedID=3698

2/5/2011

After going down 4-0 in the first 26 minutes of the game against the Arsenal Gunners who hold the second place in the Barclays Premier League, Newcastle United found a way to walk away with one point by ending the game with a remarkable score of 4-4. Thanks to a relentless attitude,  courageous second half effort gave Newcastle United 4 goal, which sealed the comeback of the year in the league. 

6/24/2010

WIMBLEDON, England -- Five thoughts after an unbelievable marathon match between John Isner and          Nicolas Mahut:

You can read the full article at the following link:  http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/jon_wertheim/06/24/isner.marathon/index.html#ixzz1E5yFe6Ag

2/20/2011

Genoa recovered from three goals down to beat Roma 4-3 and increase the pressure on the Giallorossi coach Claudio Ranieri in a dramatic encounter at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris.

You can read the full article at the following link:

6/23/2011

Robin Soderling took on one of tennis's true battlers in the gladiatorial arena of Centre Court and showed he had the heart and determination to come back from two sets down to hammer out a memorable victory and cling on to his Wimbledon hopes.

You can read the full story by Alix Ramsay at the following link:

http://www.wimbledon.com/en_GB/news/match_reports/2011-06-23/201106231308827990034.html

8/26/2011

If you've ever wondered if one player can cost an entire team a miserable loss, well here's the answer for you. After basically having the game on lock down with just a few minutes left, defensive back Chip Vaughn was waved off the field by Jim Caldwell after back-to-back penalties. After an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty worth 15 yards and a taunting penalty worth 11 yards, the Colts gave up a touchdown and a two-point conversion, lost an onside kick and saw Green Bay move to a game-winning field goal. One player's actions clearly changed the momentum of the entire game. Vaughn will not have a good weekend. And the Colts just about refuse to win in the preseason. This game signifies the importance of composure as well as focus, which apparently Vaughn didn't have much of...

8/28/2011

Here's an example of how professionals tune their focus on what really matters; performance!

In a battle between Manchester and London in England's Premier League on Sunday, there was one clear winner.

After Manchester City crushed Tottenham 5-1 to raise a few eyebrows, defending champion Manchester United -- not wanting to be outdone -- went one better, thrashing a depleted, weary Arsenal 8-2. Call it the Massacre at Old Trafford.

You can read the rest of the story by Ravi Ubha at the following link:



9/10/2010
Three times on Saturday afternoon, Novak Djokovic looked finished. Three times he held off defeat to cap a thrilling, furious, stunning, use-whatever-adjective-you-can-think-of semifinal comeback against five-time U.S. Open champion Roger Federer, 6-7, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 7-5.

You can read the rest of the story by Chris Chase at the following link:

http://sports.yahoo.com/tennis/blog/busted_racquet/post/Djokovic-fights-back-three-times-to-stun-Federer?urn=ten-wp3214

10/28/2011

 The loudest noises — the crashing objects, the guttural screams — occur out of sight.

You could hear it all from my position next to the visiting dugout for FOX, hear the eruptions of rage as the Rangers twice blew two-run leads when they were one strike away from winning the World Series.

You can read the rest of the story by Ken Rosenthal at the following link:

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/Texas-Rangers-St-Louis-Cardinals-World-Series-Game-6-analysis-102711

1/10/2014

In several, very fundamental ways, they are the same extraordinary person.

Thirty-two years ago, Serena Williams and Roger Federer were born within seven weeks of each other. They are, at the very least, the tennis players of their generation, ruthless competitors when matches mean the most. Appropriately, they both own 17 Grand Slam singles titles.

You can read the rest of this incredible story by Greg Garber at the following link:

http://espn.go.com/tennis/aus14/story/_/id/10258460/australian-open-serena-williams-reign-end?src=mobile