TND West

In the 1970s tennis was it.  It was a big time trend in sports up until the eighties.  Though still very popular, these years were a high point for the sport.  In the eighties Jimmy Connors conquered most of the people he played against, only to be rivaled by John McEnroe.  Both of these men are known for their tempers, especially McEnroe.  Connors was trying to disprove notions about age and tennis while McEnroe was a young upstart with a disposition to match.  In numerous tournaments, from Wimbledon to the Australian Open, tennis stars like them created legendary stories for this era in tennis.

McEnroe won his reputation for being a great tennis player and for being a brat off the court.  Part of what made him a fantastic player was his left-handedness.  It made the ball go in the opposite direction the opponent was not expecting and therefore throw the opponent off.  It provided him an advantage, along with his velocity and ability to change his angles quickly.

Though he was famous because of his talent, he was not popular.  People liked his edginess, but because he would consistently fight with umpires and other tennis authorities throughout games, it cost him a lot on his reputation.  More often than not, the calls those officials made were justified.  The sulking McEnroe did not help matters either, especially since he claimed to be right because he could “feel” how the ball played.  How bad was his temper?  The British press eventually rechristened him in their media as superbrat.  Other nations, including his home nation of the United States quickly picked up on the term.

McEnroe was known for throwing his racket during tantrums, cursing at refs and other players, and other behaviors that fit his British nickname.  He was a phenomenal player, beating the great Swedish player, Borg, several times, but there were other phenomenal players during and after the heyday of tennis too that had the tact and demeanor that endeared them to the public, and their sport too.  With the upcoming Australian Open, fans wills get to see some of these charming players, though there are still a few bad boys, and girls for that matter, that still give tennis an edginess.

It is official my buddy and I are heading to Indianapolis, IN at the end of May for the Indianapolis 500 race. My buddy has wanted to go for as long as I have known him and he said he never went ‘because his wife didn’t want to go and she didn’t want him to go without her’. I kept my mouth shut, but couldn’t help but think, how long are you going to put up with that? He had even offered a trip where they could both go to Indianapolis together for the weekend and he would go to the race and she could have a spa day or do something else if she preferred. She was still opposed. Clearly it was a control issue there was no way she was going to let him go without a fight.

His wife left him this summer; at first he was really devastated. He did a lot of drinking and was really angry. Once again I couldn’t help but think to myself, you should see this a relief and a favor that she is gone. It didn’t seem to take him to long to start seeing the light and realizing how free he will now be not having his ex-wife trying to control him. I think it really hit him when I said to him, ‘well at least now you can go to the 500 if you want to’. He immediately lit up like he had an idea and said ‘yeah, lets go together’.

Having no plans I was game, he was immodestly off to the computer buying tickets to the race and booking a suite for us at a luxury hotels Indianapolis. He said we were going to live it up because this was going to be a celebration of his freedom.

It will be a lot of fun to finally do something we both have wanted to do for a long time and not have the interference of someone else.

Goa is known as the beach capital of the country of India.  So much of the city is fascinating and exciting that many people who have never been there and never read up on the beaches, may miss them as they never knew they were there.  Many of the four star hotels Goa offers are located along the beaches, so this is a perfect opportunity to find adventure not too far from where you find you accommodations. This is paradise as there are miles upon miles of pristine beaches, and many lakes and rivers for those who love the outdoors and those with a wanderlust spirit.

Adventure sports are becoming increasingly more popular for those traveling through, and any of these can be the perfect way to escape the grind of daily life and to find relaxation and rejuvenation.  There are so many to choose from that each day you will have the opportunity to experience something different.  Adventure also exists in the land surrounding the bodies of water.  Hiking trails are abundant as well as many camp grounds for those enthusiasts who like to rough it in nature through the untouched wild terrain of the Goa countryside.

River cruises are popular and are a great way to explore, while having a guide point out interesting facts and history.  There are any companies that offer island tours, as well as those that will take you out for a chance spotting of a crocodile or a dolphin.  Goa has become a popular adventure destination, a hub of activities that will allow indulgence in nature and offer up challenges for those individuals who prefer that kind of a vacation.

Most of the sports do not require special training or certification in order to participate in them, so this is a great place for beginners to come and learn.  Equipment can be rented and there are any instructors for all the sports, whichever you choose there will be someone there who can teach you.  There are no limits to age, the only limitation is the level of one’s own physical fitness and strength.  And another benefit for these kinds of vacations, is that in Goa you find the prices a fraction of what they would be elsewhere.  So if your kind of vacation is one on the adventurous end of the spectrum, Goa is the place for you.

After Rafael Nadal had to pull out of the Wimbledon due to his knee injury, the entire tennis world is wondering if he will be back for the final Grand Slam tennis tournament of the season. Will Rafael Nadal be a factor in this year’s US Open tennis?

Nadal will play in the Montreal Master’s but reports confirm that he is not sure he is ready for the US Open, physically since he has been out of the competitive tennis circuit for at least two months now. He has not been able to train at the level he normally does due to his knee injury.

Nadal has been doing his best to combat his issues with tendonitis that is affecting both of his knees, but he has not played in a competitive match since he was knocked out of the French Open in the fourth round by Swedish player Robin Soderling.

The Montreal Masters could either make or break the chances of seeing Nadal return to the Grand Slam tennis scene. Roger Federer has confirmed he is playing in the event. He just came off winning Wimbledon in story book form, taking down American Andy Roddick in the longest set in Wimbledon history. Despite not playing since the French Open and Federer’s two grand slam title wins, Nadal still sits at second in the world just behind Federer. This begs the question, is Roger Federer ever really going to be better than a healthy Rafael Nadal? Would Federer have been able to claim his tow current crowns if Nadal is part of the field again?

Hopefully Nadal will be able to compete in the US Open, but if his knees aren’t ready he should just bow out for the rest of the season. He’s so young and everyone would like to see him continue to be a dominating force in the tennis world.

An impact player, an impact player, my King-dom for an impact player! Coming off the worst season in twenty-one years, the woeful Sacramento Kings have not had that one clutch player since trading the likes of Ron Artest and Mike Bibby. While Arco Arena fans once had a reputation for being the loudest and most loyal pro basketball fans in the NBA, the past few seasons have seen this trend drop too as the consecutive sellout record came to an end sometime between the Artest trade and former Coach Eric Musselman’s DUI. Artest is probably the best defensive player they have had since Doug Christie on a team that has never been known for quality defense. Although Kevin Martin is a proven scoring machine, he has been prone to injury his last two seasons leaving uncertainty at the shooting guard position. Other than Martin, there isn’t a player on this year’s squad with name recognition across the other NBA cities in the country. The Kings are currently pinning hopes on several young players to have breakout seasons. Among these is third year player, Spencer Hawes, who following the Brad Miller trade to the Bulls last season is now the starting center for the Kings. Additionally, the Kings hope second year forward, Jason Thompson emerges with consistent play on both sides of the court. Lastly, given last year’s injury ridden and disappointing season from Point Guard Beno Udrih, fans are looking for first round draft pick, Tyreke Evans to make a quick splash into the league and to take over the offense for Udrih as the new starting Point Guard.

Much of the focus over the past three seasons had been written about coaching turnover and an ownership team in the Maloof Family who has yet to acquire a deal for a new arena to keep the team in Sacramento. While these are legitimate points of concern for the Kings organization and for NBA basketball in Sacramento, the team’s losing record has little to do with the coach or the court. Rick Adelman was the winningest coach in Sacramento Kings history because of the number of impact players he was fortunate to coach in Sacramento. Vlade Divac, Chris Webber, Doug Christie, and Peja Stojokovic were a formidable match for any team. It remains to be seen after a year or two together whether or not Hawes, Martin, Thompson, and Evans will have what it takes to lift the team back into the realm of playoff contenders. If they can achieve this milestone, it might be likely that Sacramento sports fans will reign again as the loudest and most loyal in the not only the NBA, but also the Sacramento area by purchasing sports tickets that neither bear the name of Monarchs nor River Cats.

The country of Singapore is made up of the main land, and also more than fifty surrounding smaller islands.  Most of these smaller retreats offer vacation spots that are set away from the hustle and bustle of the mainland, with incredibly peaceful beaches, great expanses of blue waters in which to swim or scuba dive, and laid back, and easy going charm.  One of these spots is Sentosa Island just a few miles off the shore of mainland Singapore.  Sentosa hotels range from the quiet and quaint beach side accommodations, to resorts filled with the amenities one finds in resort locations, access to golf,  spas and massage therapists, and five star restaurants.

Even if ones main vacation is on the mainland, one would be refreshed and forever satisfied with a day trip to the smaller island.  There are options for those interested in all of the water sports, as well as hiking trails through beautiful landscapes, sites of historical significance, museums and a very happening night life filled with entertainers and performers from around the world.  Singapore’s Oceanarium is located on Sentosa as well as the Lagoon of Dolphins where even those not certified, have the opportunity to swim with, feed, and even training the pink dolphins indigenous to the area.

Sentosa was once a military head-quarters for the British, but during the early 1970’s the island was transformed into a paradise, that provided not only enjoyment for many, but employment as well.  It is quite difficult to categorize the island, as it provides everything for all types of personalities.  While the island is peaceful, the hot night life of the mainland is just minutes away, via a ferry boat, a car or the spectacular views offered by taking the cable cars.  Millions of tourists travel each year to Sentosa, to find that peace, that nature that is set amongst culture and history, manicured gardens and even some fountains that do dance.  Many will find exactly what they are looking for on the island, and will have memories that bring back specific moments, that will linger and continue to enrich their lives.

Starting a business is no easy feat. It takes time, money and a lot of hard work. But most of American workers are either small business owners or employed by a small business. So needless to say, success can be had in the small business arena. You just have to find your market niche. And with the job market the way it is currently, now just might be the perfect time to start that business that you have always dreamed of.

First off, think about something that makes you passionate. We all know that when we have no passion for our jobs, you just get bored and unmotivated. A job should be something you look forward to doing. Think about what you would do if you were to retire right now, and think about how you could make that into a business. If you have always wanted to own a boutique or love to play golf, think about how you could corner that market to make it some niche that consumers would enjoy and want to be a part of.

Think about times where you wished there was a service or product that you were hoping for. That’s what Steve Barbarich did.  He was in the market for a Jacuzzi hot tub and went about finding one online. When he bought one and it was delivered to his home, he was less than satisfied. When he attempted to get any kind of customer service from the retailer, they simply were totally unhelpful.  This experience prompted him to start his own luxury direct Jacuzzi hot tub company called choosehottubsdirect.com. Now he sells luxury Jacuzzi hot tubs for wholesale prices and excellent customer service. He went ahead and filled a void in the market.

If a small business is something you think you want to do, go ahead and go for it!