Kudos and Thanks to All Those Who Taught Me Well
All awesome teachers, trainers and Masters of the art of combat and movement. |
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Friday, October 17, 2008
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Everybody Loves a Winner...
At this moment in time, who in the televised world does not know that Michael Phelps won 8 gold medals in Beijing? You'd literally have to be living in a cave to not know.
Endorsement deals have come pouring through his roof, and now I see Michael everywhere; on magazine covers, TV commercials, billboards, ads and stories on the net, newspapers, anywhere that an image can be posted, there he is. He accomplished something that no one else has, and he worked hard to get it. Way to do it, Michael!
As gold, silver and bronze medals shine and provide limelight and accolades, 4th place finishers and also-rans fade quickly into the background and disappear completely from our minds. What were their names, again?
A life dedicated, a hope smashed, a dream put on hold, or now out of reach forever. That's the way it boils down for more than just a few. They also sacrificed, trained, committed, dedicated themselves completely. They prepared, they competed, they fought. However, not everyone can make it to the winner's circle.
This post is for the non medal winners, still out there training somewhere, still hoping, still dreaming. Another 4 years. Will next time be your time to shine? Guess it all remains to be seen. However, in the meantime, you are not forgotten!
by The Fitness Diva
Saturday, September 6, 2008
How Novak Djokovic Let Bitterness Defeat Him
I love Novak Djokovic. Don't get me wrong. LOVE him. Love his personality, his style, his tennis game. From the moment he began to gain prominence on the tennis circuit, I've been on his team. He's likable as hell. Well...at least, he used to be.
Flash forward to the 2008 season, and I can't help but to notice that that effervescent, engaging, entertaining, completely appreciative personality of his has changed a bit.
Some might speculate that it's due to injuries and physical ailments that plague him on the long, grueling tennis tour that these guys do year in and year out. Maybe that's so. All I know is that the Novak Djokovic that I personally have gotten to know and love was not the one that showed up at the US Open this year.
Novak has been gaining a reputation of crying wolf when it comes to ailments during tennis matches. Whether it's legit, or not, only Nole knows....
Andy Roddick made light of all these illness claims at a press conference, and in a quite entertaining way. Hell, even I had to chuckle, although it's really not good sportsmanship to joke about someone's injuries. Wasn't the best moment for Andy Roddick, really. Funny? Yeah, it kinda was. Should he have said what he said? No. But ya know what? It worked. Those words had Djokovic steaming during that entire match they played.
Novak allowed Roddick's snarky little comments to get to him. He got angry about it. Put a huge chip on his shoulder about it. And that, in my humble opinion, is why he didn't beat Federer in the semis the following match. He let these emotions get to him and it messed with his head completely. He then wanted to win for spite, it seemed, instead of for the joy of just being the best, like he used to. It made him lose concentration and focus. You are never at your best when you're angry.
As we all know, trash talking is part and parcel of any and every sport. A true champion knows how to roll with the punches and allow the BS to roll off his/her shoulders. As far as I can see, Djokovic has yet to develop this skill. If he ever really intends to become the #1 tennis player in the world, he had better develop a slightly thicker skin, and quickly.
In everyone's life, a little negativity will fall. It's how you let it affect you (or not) that counts more. You can either let it defeat you, like it did Djokovic, or you can use it to your advantage. Let it spur you on to be even more successful.
Better. Fiercer. Stronger.
And that, is the absolute BEST way to win.
by The Fitness Diva
Friday, September 5, 2008
Serena Williams Poised to Take 3rd US Open Title
This Saturday evening, under the bright lights in Arthur Ashe Stadium in Flushing Meadows, Serena Williams will be going up against Yelena Jankovic for what will be her 3rd US Open title, if she wins it.
Having beaten her sister, Venus in the quarterfinal, and dispatching Dinar Safina in the semis, Serena won some tough battles against some of the top players on the circuit this year, while making it look easy. Having missed singles gold at the Olympics, and also failing to claim any of the 4 major titles (yet) this year, here's hoping that she wins the big one in Flushing Meadows!
Yelena Jankovic is playing her very best tennis lately, matching her opponents stroke for power stroke in her matches. Her game is really starting to mature and improve, so Saturday's match promises to be a great contest. Serena had better be bringing her A game. Judging by the way she's been playing the past two weeks, I'm not doubting that she will. If she wins this, it will be her 9th Grand Slam title.
You all know that I am such a Serena Williams fan. I cannot help but to root for her! Good luck on Saturday, Serena! I will be watching! :)
Update: Due to torrential rains, the US Open Women's Final has been moved to Sunday, Sept 7th at 9pm EST.
I personally think that this is great! With one more day to rest up, these ladies will definitely be coming out and putting their absolute best tennis on the court!
Friday, July 4, 2008
Venus and Serena Make Wimbledon History!
The phenomenon known as the Williams sisters not only made it to both the women's singles AND women's doubles finals this week, but will also go down in history as the first and only sisters to ever do so for the THIRD time. Watching these two slice through opponent after opponent this past couple weeks has been an awesome sight to behold! There is nothing and no one better than Venus and Serena Williams when they are on their A game! They are absolutely unbeatable when they pull it all together, and now that both they and their respective games have definitely matured, every one else in the field had better look out!
When they won the women's doubles semifinal this morning to make it to the final, it brought a tear to my eye. I love these girls, and have followed them since day one. I'm not only proud to see how they've developed as tennis players, but also as people. They are strong, intelligent, talented young women, and are still taking the world by storm! I love it! It's too bad we can't clone them! I'd love to see more role models and champions like Venus and Serena these days. They carry it all so well.
Saturday will see me screaming at my tv "go Serena!" "go Venus!!" every other minute. It will be so hard to choose who I want to win!! Too crazy! Go, ladies, GO! I'm always cheering for you both! Here's to knocking 'em dead at Wimbledon! :)
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Parade of Champions..
I missed the Giants Superbowl Parade this morning because I had to work! I'm so pissed! I'da been there with blue, white and red paint on, like, "What?!". Seriously!
But I guess somebody had to keep the rest of the city running! We're all still basking in the glow of this great win, and talking trash by the minute. You know how we New Yorkers do! ;) Hey, bragging rights are sweet. We're gonna ride 'em til the wheels fall off! ;)
Meanwhile, back down on earth, we are experiencing some freakishly warm weather for January! I tried to wear a down jacket today, and ended up sweating my butt off! To tell the truth, this really is getting scary. I have lived in New York my whole life and have never seen weather like this. January is usually bitingly cold. You shouldn't be able to walk around with your coat hanging open. And a very light coat, at that. WTH is up with the global warming? Is it accelerating that fast? We'd better do something quick, folks.
In the end, it's not gonna be pretty. At all.
Thursday, September 6, 2007
Rock it Like Federer....
....That's my new catch phrase. You know, as in "Bend it like Beckham"? After watching Roger Federer wipe pretty much everyone else in sight off the court with such precision, mastery, and at times, effortlessness, I have now dubbed the word 'Federer' an adjective (and a verb!). Who better to deserve this honor?
Here is the complete definition:
fed*er*er 1. strong, dominant, masterful
fed*er*ate 1. to demolish, conquer or annihilate
fed*er*ize 1. to endow a person, place or thing with superior quality or ability
fed*er*es*sence 1. complete dominance and mastery of a situation
2. flawless precision
Just as with Spanish and Italian verbs, you drop the er (r/re) suffix to conjugate.
Ok. I think that sums it up! Let's use each of them in a sentence!
Dude, I'm about to go completely Federer on this project pitch. We are going to GET that client!
My abs are killing me today! I totally federated my entire body during that last workout!
My apartment layout sucks! I'm going to rip out that wall, hit Home Depot, and absolutely federize this place!
She handled that entire situation with complete federessence. I had no idea she had such cojones!
To federate, federize or 'be federer' about something is to completely annihilate it, knock it out, rock it....be it a task, an opponent (in any circumstance), a concept...whatever. I think it works!
Now, try out a few sentences of your own. You might even be able to come up with better ones than I have!
Now, do NOT make the mistake of slipping up and saying "Federline" instead of "Federer". That, will unfortunately, bring up a completely opposite list of definitions! Always be sure to carefully differentiate the two!
My prediction for the winner of the 2007 US Open men's final? You know who. Of course, you do! Federer is gonna get out there and Rock it like Roger. Tennis at its awesome best, and I will be there watching, admiring, and wondering how anyone can be THAT damn good!
Saturday, July 7, 2007
Congratulations, Venus!!
MY girl! The Williams sisters are SO inspiring, and in my opinion, prove that will, self determination and unstoppable confidence are key in achieving your goals. For the past couple years, people have been saying they're washed up, Serena's out of shape, their dominant run is over, etc...la la la. Come again??
After recovering from injuries, this year Serena's been decimating opponents left and right, and if not for her sudden calf injury in the quarterfinals, we'd have had a Williams vs Williams final. I'da bet the house on it! ;)
After it was all said and done, Venus won her fourth Wimbledon championship!
I was hoping for Serena to complete her vicious and stellar comeback after winning the Australian and jumping back up in rank, but seeing Venus make it all the way back is just as good! Well done, ladies! Keep up the inspiring work!
I am now on my way out the door to hit the tennis courts...:).
Yeah, I've been working on my game this summer, just like the last. It's getting good.
Those girls aren't the only ones with Grand Slam aspirations.... ;)
See you on the courts!
