RafaLint: September 11th
Photo by Patrick McDermott/ Getty Images
Before tomorrow’s final, I just want to remind people, this is a pro-Rafa site; it’s not an anti any-other-player site. No matter the outcome tomorrow, no matter how either player conducts himself on the court, this is not the place for hate and passing judgements on the perceived character of others.
Vamos responsibly, my friends.
Recommended Reading:
- Wise Kid by Steve Tignor (tennis.com)
- For the Poet Laureate, the Joy of Tennis Is in the Effort by Geoff MacDonald (NY Times)
Articles:
- Nadal Holds Off Murray To Set Blockbuster Final via the atp
- Nadal d. Murray: Raquet Reaction by Richard Pagliaro (tennis.com)
- Andy Murray loses to Rafael Nadal in semis by David Ornstein (BBC)
- Murray falls to nemesis Nadal as defending champion sets up US Open final with Djokovic by Malcolm Folley (Daily Mail)
- Ten years later, players at US Open remember 9/11 by Erin Bruehl (usopen.org)
- Rafa gets day off — and he’ll need it by Jane McManus (espn.com)
- Nadal tries to break Djokovic’s control by Douglas Robson (usatoday.com)
Video:
- iB3 match report
- Video from a lucky fan who was invited onto Rafa’s practice court to watch him and Feli hit earlier in the tournament. And here’s another short one.
Photos:
- Match gallery at the US Open site.
- Neil Harman tweeted a photo of Rafa & Benito.
- USO Day 7 photoset on flickr by K. Chae
Rafa does social media:
- Rafa tweeted support to Spanish basketball players Gasol and Fernandez
- Not satisified with that display of support, he also posted a video to Facebook. I think the extra floofiness of the hair is somehow part of his support…somehow….it must be.
- And, a few minutes after I posted this, he added a more serious message of support to the families of the victims of 9/11.
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It’s so cool that you linked my practice videos on here! (I’m the one that met rafa and he invited me to watch him practice). I’ve always loved this website— thanks for posting literally everything about Rafa. Here’s the rest of the story of me meeting him if you wanted to see it: http://bit.ly/qETzBU
And yes, vamos responsibly, people…
Thanks for the link to your story. And so glad you got to have such a wonderful experience!
I love the end of Tignor’s piece. Very true
Here’s what Matt Cronin thinks: http://www.usopen.org/en_US/news/articles/2011-09-11/201109111315775722022.html?promo=home
(didn’t know where else to post it).
“Vamos responsibly, my friends.”
Miri, you’re a pip. Great turns of phrase; always happily anticipate the next lint — which, in itself is felicitous. Thanks for the one stop shopping for all things Rafa.
That is not my turn of phrase. It’s been floating around twitter for quite awhile – I’ve seen Atch, Nana and sapphireswell use it many times.
well, thanks for bringing it to the twitterverse-less masses.
Thank you Miri for all the links and videos. I really enjoyed the NYT article and Philip Levine’s quotes.
Vamos responsibly tomorrow. I hope Rafa gets the NYC crowd behind him and wins his 11th.
The US poet laureate has exquisite taste in tennis. Vamos Rafa for tomorrow; I know that you will give your best.
OMG Such Horrible hair. I hope it helps the basketball team, because otherwise, it is USELESS!!!
Well, I did find myself feeling sorry for both players named Andy that Rafa beat as well as Roger yesterday. I don’t think I will feel as sorry for Djoker when Rafa is biting his trophy though (*anti-jinx measures taken)* since he is still young & already won 2 grand slams this year. It’s Rafa’s turn to win the last one :) Vamos Rafa!
I really like that the 80-something poet Laureate is a Rafa fan and finds lovely words to say about Rafa. Our boy is inspiring on so many different levels.
I’m having a positive aktitude and will be sending him happy thoughts and good feelings all day! Vamos!
The hair. Oy, the hair. It causes me actual physical pain. I sincerely hope it’s a sign of support for Pau and Fernandez because otherwise, it’s inexplicable.
The New York Times article is priceless, not only for its’ writing but also and foremost for its’ context. The importance of not hurring, finding your own speed, making your way through life on your own time. In an age where everything arounds us just speeds by in warp speed, it’s conforting to know that sometimes it pays off to be slow.
I found the following NYTimes blog post interesting: http://straightsets.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/09/12/for-nadal-an-early-lead-is-essential/
Oops – now I notice that it is linked below among the list of other articles. Thanks Miri.
thanks Miri for the links, I guess now I sort of understand why Rafa uses a whole jar of hair gel each time there is a formal occasion. He really has mad scientist hair!
I can’t access the photo for some reason but I prefer the fly-away hair to all that slimy gel, but yeah I can see he needs to use it for certain occassions :~)
Someone has pointed out that my first paragraph on the lint post today sounds negative. It wasn’t intended to. I was just trying to get people to, once again, realize that this isn’t the place to insult players because it’s been creeping into quite a few comments.
My mantra today is: Same opponent; same court; same result. Vamos!
Teary eyed at the end of the NYT article about Philip Levine and tennis. Poetry is one of my passions along with Rafa (and other things) so it was sweet to see them intertwined, his observations about Rafa were very touching.
Miri, I didn’t see your post as negative. This is the only tennis site I ever look at with the exception of tennis.com and it is because you run a clean respectful ship w/o pap photos and soap opera blogging. Thank you!
Vamos Rafa, we know you will do your best!
Miri – you’re not being negative – just keeping us in check – some comments do become too neagtive about other players though can I also ask that we don’t become too negative about rafa too if he doesn’t win. Thanks yet again for all your fantastic work on this website! Vamos Rafa – you can do it!
Really good stuff, miri. Thank you.
VaMoS RAFA!!!
Wow. Just wow. That arse is positively swallowing those jeans. Looks almost uncomfortable. I’d go jeans-less if I were you, Rafa, ’cause that ain’t a good look. Let the arse free!
I know, right? Do you think Rafa has a hard time finding pants that fit him properly? His bum is disproportionately (and deliciously!) big compared to the rest of his body so I can only imagine that finding pants is a bit of an ordeal.
Great post Miri, and no, I didn’t see any negativity in it, on the contrary I think you do a wonderful job maintaining this site decent, honorable and fun. I’ve seen some of the comments in other forums or posts, and they can get quite nasty. I mean, people have the right to express their mind regardless of how little sense or lack of a broader perception, but they should do it on the respective forum. I enjoy this site very much and it stays classy.
Not negative at all, Miri, just precautionary and I appreciate that. There are plenty of forums out there for character attacks on players (I’m looking at you, Men’s Tennis Forum) so I like that this site keeps it civil and classy.
Not at all Miri, infact well said! there has to be some control’ over player abuse on here, there are so many sites where it gets out of hand.. tennis is a sport and there is no need for a comment war!