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Visiting Toqueland 02/18/2012 - 7:00 AM

TOQUELAND Badgeby Pete Bodo

Mornin'. Feel free to use this as your thread to follow the action in the far-flung corners of the tennis empire today and tomorrow. Today we'll take a little detour that will be of interest to many of you.

A few weeks ago, we celebrated the publication of new books by friends of (and contributors to) TennisWorld, Jay Clark and Sam Starnes. Today, I'm happy to publish another Q and A, this time with a fella whose name might be even more familiar to many of you, Andrew Friedman. You know, co-author of James Blake's bestselling autobiography, Breaking Back. Frequent contributor to both Tennis magazine and TennisWorld, especially during the U.S. Open.

What many of you may not know is that Andrew is one of the most successful food writers - a guy whose idea of a fun Tuesday afternoon is swinging by the house of some famous chef and screwing around with recipes in the kitchen. He's written numerous books, the most intriguing of which to me, who's never been accused of being a foodie, is Knives at Dawn - a fascinating account of team USA's quest to win the Bocuse d'Or cooking competition - the culinary world's answer to Davis Cup.

Andrew recently started a website, Toqueland, which is the main reason I'm writing this post. If you're any kind of a foodie, or are interested in the world of the chef, you will want to bookmark it. Andrew's intent is to create a great new website that goes beyond the typical menu-and-review grind. Andrew has promised to drop by the website now and then over the weekend, and he'll be happy to answer any questions you may have; I suggest getting them in before most of the tennis action starts, so the questions won't be lost in the comments.

And yes, Andrew has promised to take me out to dinner for writing this post. He suggested Papaya King, on 72nd and Amsterdam, where the "recession special" is two hot dogs, with mustard, kraut, onions, ketchup - or all of the above, no extra charge! -  and a signature pina colada drink goes for $4.50.

                                                               ****************

Andrew Friedman C Harvey WangQ - Why did you decide to start Touqeland, what does the name mean, and what are you bringing to the foodie's world that may not have been there before?

 A: First of all, for non-foodie readers, let me explain the name: a toque is a chef’s hat, one of those tall, cylindrical, fluted deals that you wear in cooking school and old-fashioned kitchens. The truth is, and this isn’t just idle flattery – both the name and the site were kind of inspired by TennisWorld.

As for what I offer, the point of distinction for Toqueland is that it’s a chef site, not a food site. I won’t be doing slideshows of restaurant menus, or recipes, or cooking tips; plenty of people already do that and do it just fine. I’m exclusively interested in what makes chefs tick, what their daily and nightly life is like, and how they express themselves on the plate. That kind of thing.

I think I’m uniquely positioned to do this because I’m somebody who participates in that world but isn’t truly of it. I’m not a chef. I’ve never cooked professionally. But I’ve collaborated on more than 20 chef books, which has allowed me to really get into the heads of a wide variety of chefs and also to be on a fly on the wall for every aspect of their lives. On the site I try to bring that intimacy to bear in profiles, interviews, commentary, and what have you. I think I ask questions that few others would ask, and so get answers that are very revealing. A good example is the interview I just did with Timothy Hollingsworth, chef de cuisine of The French Laundry, that went up on the site Friday; parts of it are more of a dialogue than a strict Q&A.

The other thing I’m doing, although I have to be careful about it, is write about my social and personal life with chefs. Most of my friends are chefs, which is a perfectly natural thing given that they are basically my coworkers. But one day it occurred to me that going out to dinner for me is a different experience than it is for most people based on who I’m with and how we experience the meal. On the site, I’ve begun writing essays under an umbrella I call Slice of Life that capture some of these moments – they’re very personal, especially one I wrote about Marcus Samuelsson this week, so I have to watch out that I don’t give up any insider information or become somebody who people won’t want to hang with. But so far, friends who have been in my posts really like them.

Lastly, in addition to being a site for chef fans, I’d like Toqueland to be a place where chefs themselves come to learn about each other. Last night, one of the best chefs in New York Tweeted my site’s name with the simple message “great website” … that made me very happy.

Q - Which were you more interested in first, food or tennis?

A - Tennis. . .by a mile. It’s been a lifelong thing for me. I still remember where I was and who I was with for the McEnroe-Borg Wimbledon final in 1980. I played tennis as a kid in Florida, though not seriously, and used to go to the US Open all the time, way before I was lucky enough to work for TENNIS magazine.

I always wanted to be a writer, but stumbled into the chef thing. I was making a living as a publicist and the firm I worked for represented one of the best restaurants in town, Gotham Bar and Grill. The chef, Alfred Portale, and I had a rapport and he asked me to write his first book. It was a case of right place, right time, and that book was so well received that I saw a chance to parlay it into the beginnings of a writing career. I never thought it’s what I’d be doing for, the way it looks, the rest of my life. But I love being around the cooking profession, and once I figured out what really interested me – the chefs themselves rather than the just the food – it’s become a sincere passion.

Knives at Dawn coverQ - You've written a lot about the Bocuse d'Or food competition; is that because you just have an innate interest in competition? And are there any parallels between the way chefs and tennis pros react to pressure or competition?

A - I have to give my agent credit for that one: I had never given a moment’s thought to the Bocuse d’Or, and he called me up one day and said, “Have I got a book idea for you!” Boy was he right: the intersection of cooking and sports was a natural for me.

Working on that book, by which time I was also writing for TENNIS magazine, provided a moment of clarity: To be able to write about the chefs in that book as characters, I interviewed them in great detail about their lives, and not just their cooking lives, and realized that I was interested in them as people, not just within the confines of the food they cook and create. In many ways, that book was the beginning of Toqueland.

As for the parallels between chefs and athletes, there are some pretty big ones: Both rely intensely on muscle memory. Just as tennis players hit the same shots over and over in practice, so that it’ll be there for them under pressure, chefs perform the same tasks ad infinitum early in their careers, so that they don’t have to think about them during the heat and frenzy of a dinner service.

Completeness is also a big topic in the chef world, though it’s rarely discussed in those terms. Just as the best tennis players don’t have holes in their games, the best chefs have no weaknesses in the kitchen because they took the time as young cooks to develop all the skills that might be required on any given day.

Q - Who are more interesting to interview, famous chefs or famous tennis players?

A - I’m going to say chefs because their stories are more varied. Ultimately, the biography of most tennis players is very similar. Chef come in all shapes and sizes, and it’s not an unusual thing for somebody to first get interested in cooking when they take a job in high school or college. For a tennis player, they’d already be playing tournaments by that age. So the backstories are more diverse.

Now, if you asked me: Would I rather watch (or play) a great tennis match or eat a great meal, I’d go with the tennis match. Other than the people closest to me, there’s nothing I love as much as tennis. I’ve never laid in bed at night obsessing over food, but I have laid there thinking about a great slam final, or how I’m going to try to beat somebody the next time I play them. I actually do that all the time.

Q - It seems that the number of tennis fans among foodies and food-types (you, chefs, food critics, etc) is pretty high, Is that an accurate perception and what might explain it?

A - I do think it’s accurate. I know a lot of chefs who play tennis and I run into an awful lot of them at the US Open every year. And there are plenty of people I’ve met through TW who consider themselves foodies.

Because I enjoy both so much myself, I’d like to just say that “great taste” explains the connection. (kidding) The best answer I’ve managed to come up with is that both tennis and food (and winemaking, for that matter) are very expressive; the best practitioners of each are stylists, and it makes sense that somebody who appreciates the beauty of, say, Roger Federer’s game would also delight in tasting the food turned out by a chef with a definable sensibility. The former is absorbed through the eyes, the latter through taste and smell, but both are appreciated by the same part of the brain.

 
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Posted by Aube,the joys of life are indeed a lot simpler than perceived! 02/18/2012 at 07:17 AM


And there are plenty of people I’ve met through TW who consider themselves foodies

hum, you did not meet me but I consider myself the ultimate foodie,until otherwise proven, eating is the ULTIMATE PLEASURE,especially if done right and moderately...
Posted by David 02/18/2012 at 07:22 AM

Ah, I thought Visiting Toqueland was going to be about a trip to Canada, maybe with a Bob and Doug Mackenzie reference thrown in.

Posted by Aube,the joys of life are indeed a lot simpler than perceived! 02/18/2012 at 07:25 AM

ok now that I read the whole thing I'm going to peek at the website,interesting parrallels between tennis players and chefs,thanks for opening some eyes to that Andrew and Pete thanks for the post...

off to see Toqueland...
Posted by Aube,the joys of life are indeed a lot simpler than perceived! 02/18/2012 at 07:43 AM

All right I went to the website and read the interview with Per Se chef and yes you are a "thorough" interviewer,lenghty and the guy knows his topic of course...

also the website is friendly...
Posted by Aussiemarg,Madame President,I Wont Be Taking Any Prisoners In 2012! 02/18/2012 at 08:03 AM

Good Morning Everyone,

Pete..thanks.Interesting subject.
Posted by Aussiemarg,Madame President,I Wont Be Taking Any Prisoners In 2012! 02/18/2012 at 08:04 AM

Good timing as Tomas adn Del Potro have come out on court

Vamos Del Potro!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by Aube,the joys of life are indeed a lot simpler than perceived! 02/18/2012 at 08:10 AM

Good morning Madame President,ready for some Del Mano show,your adoptive son?

he elects to receive,curious!
Posted by tina (Nole No. 5 smells sweet) 02/18/2012 at 08:10 AM

As someone who has lain awake at night thinking of both food and tennis, Andrew Friedman has always been a guy after my own heart. This should be an entertaining match.

Posted by Aussiemarg,Madame President,I Wont Be Taking Any Prisoners In 2012! 02/18/2012 at 08:12 AM

Aube and Tina

Yes this should be a interesting match up

Just made a cup of tea and thanks Aube I missed who won the toss
Posted by Aube,the joys of life are indeed a lot simpler than perceived! 02/18/2012 at 08:13 AM

tina I was thinking both you and JK I know JK likes the food network a lot and follows it,she might like this subject!
Posted by Aussiemarg,Madame President,I Wont Be Taking Any Prisoners In 2012! 02/18/2012 at 08:15 AM

Biz

If you are around....normally I would be going for Tomas but not in this match up:)
Posted by Aube,the joys of life are indeed a lot simpler than perceived! 02/18/2012 at 08:16 AM

niente Madame President,

enjoy your tea I'm muching on a bowl of honey bunches of oats with almonds,hey we can say this here today,Andrew found out that tennis and food go along,lol!
Posted by yello fuzzy 02/18/2012 at 08:17 AM

Hi there
I hoping Juan teaches Berdy some manners
Posted by Andrew Friedman 02/18/2012 at 08:18 AM

Aube and Tina - Good morning, fellow lovers of food and tennis! Aube, my only confusion is this one word you use: "moderately"? I've never heard it before? You sure it applies to eating? :)
Posted by Aussiemarg,Madame President,I Wont Be Taking Any Prisoners In 2012! 02/18/2012 at 08:19 AM

Aube

Its just midnight here.....I will probably need some sugar for Maid v Sam match:)

Fuzzy

Hi!

Love Tomas Kit though:)

Vamos Juan and he breaks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by Aussiemarg,Madame President,I Wont Be Taking Any Prisoners In 2012! 02/18/2012 at 08:20 AM

Andrew

You can also count me in as a lover of food and tennis as well:)
Posted by Aussiemarg,Madame President,I Wont Be Taking Any Prisoners In 2012! 02/18/2012 at 08:21 AM

Me likey that hard,heavy f/hand going behind Tomas

Vamos Juan
Posted by Aube,the joys of life are indeed a lot simpler than perceived! 02/18/2012 at 08:21 AM

haha Andrew I'm probably inventing a word here,as you know English is not my native tongue what I mean is if you eat right portion and stuff,sorry for the confusion,hahah

"manger d'une maniere moderee",i'm sure some kind soul will hepl me translate that!

Berdych is acting impulsivly pulling the trigger too fast,slow down Thomas although I'm rooting big time for Del manno,I don't like what you did to Lucie,replacing her with that model,like pfff!

Go Del manno,Anne needs this win and so do I actually!
Posted by Aussiemarg,Madame President,I Wont Be Taking Any Prisoners In 2012! 02/18/2012 at 08:24 AM

Juan consolidates the break

Vamos!

Del Potro 2-0
Posted by Aube,the joys of life are indeed a lot simpler than perceived! 02/18/2012 at 08:26 AM

good game for Berdych but Del Po remember no need to be generous on giving back a break,never necessary,ok,va mos instead!,no looking back in this set,hold all the way!
Posted by yello fuzzy 02/18/2012 at 08:31 AM

Berdbrain is nailing those DTL shots
Posted by Aube,the joys of life are indeed a lot simpler than perceived! 02/18/2012 at 08:31 AM

And Andrew, can you refer to me which Oprah magazines you had articles in,just a couple if you don't mind,up until last year I was a subscriber and I have kept a lot of them,just curious,want to go back and read,I see you were a contributor there to...
Posted by gauloises (unrepentant scrunter) 02/18/2012 at 08:33 AM

'fternoon all. Not a foodie. I favour enormous quantities over quality, and indeed the blander the better.

A fun match so far between JMDP and Berdych.

Posted by Aussiemarg,Madame President,I Wont Be Taking Any Prisoners In 2012! 02/18/2012 at 08:36 AM

Good serving Juan

Vamos!
Posted by yello fuzzy 02/18/2012 at 08:36 AM

Juan brought the big stick with him today
Posted by Aube,the joys of life are indeed a lot simpler than perceived! 02/18/2012 at 08:39 AM

speaking of foodie, wished my daughter was up so she could refer to me where I could find that porcupine eating a pumpkin on the net soi could post it for you,ha now that one was a foodie,wahahahaha

Good job Del Manno!it's even cool if you want to break again!
Posted by Aussiemarg,Madame President,I Wont Be Taking Any Prisoners In 2012! 02/18/2012 at 08:39 AM

Ahhhhhh Juan you should have let the ball bounce
Posted by Andrew Friedman 02/18/2012 at 08:40 AM

Aube - It was a LONG time ago. I will try to dig up and find them and let yo know specific issues, but there was a fun piece in spring 2005 (or thereabouts) where I turned the tables and cooked dinner for a bunch of chefs I'd written books with, serving them their own food. Later that year I profiled April Bloomfield, chef of Spotted Pig. And somewhere in between I wrote a piece about my stepmother, from Cuba, and what her home cooking meant to me.

Posted by Aussiemarg,Madame President,I Wont Be Taking Any Prisoners In 2012! 02/18/2012 at 08:40 AM

Nice use of the slice.....however

Come on lets get the double break Juan
Posted by yello fuzzy 02/18/2012 at 08:41 AM

AAAIIIIEEEEE Juan flubs the swinging volley , but he still gets the break point
Posted by Aussiemarg,Madame President,I Wont Be Taking Any Prisoners In 2012! 02/18/2012 at 08:43 AM

Thats the way Juan

Come on Break
Posted by yello fuzzy 02/18/2012 at 08:44 AM

they are pounding the ball
Posted by Aube,the joys of life are indeed a lot simpler than perceived! 02/18/2012 at 08:44 AM

Got ya Andrew,and many thanks!I don't think I kept that many though I have a lot since 2003...

Berdych refused to be broken again,fought the break point valliantly!

but now another break point!
Posted by Aussiemarg,Madame President,I Wont Be Taking Any Prisoners In 2012! 02/18/2012 at 08:46 AM

EEK I would hate to be that ball out there....

Tomas holds after saving a couple of BP
Posted by Aube,the joys of life are indeed a lot simpler than perceived! 02/18/2012 at 08:48 AM

Yeah Madame President they're whacking it big time!lol!
Posted by Aussiemarg,Madame President,I Wont Be Taking Any Prisoners In 2012! 02/18/2012 at 08:53 AM

Juan with 3SP

Tomas called out for a foot fault on his 2nd serve
Posted by Aube,the joys of life are indeed a lot simpler than perceived! 02/18/2012 at 08:53 AM

may be you'll take the set breaking him right here,either way, just take the set

va mos!
Posted by yello fuzzy 02/18/2012 at 08:53 AM

FF at 0-30 2nd serve OUCHY for Berdy
Posted by Aussiemarg,Madame President,I Wont Be Taking Any Prisoners In 2012! 02/18/2012 at 08:54 AM

Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Del Potro breaks to love and takes the 1st set 6-3

Vamos Juan!!!!!!!!!
Posted by gauloises (unrepentant scrunter) 02/18/2012 at 08:55 AM

Berdych's facial expression after that foot-fault was terrifying. That linesman should invest in some sort of liver protection.

But JMDP takes the set 6-3 like a boss. Literally. Doing a lot of bossing. Good, positive play, pushing Berdych around, not letting him settle. I, it must be said, LOVE it.

Posted by gauloises (unrepentant scrunter) 02/18/2012 at 08:56 AM

I've still got your photo of JMDP open in my browser, AM. Just thought you'd like to know.

Posted by yello fuzzy 02/18/2012 at 08:57 AM

I love the show Top Chef, does that make me a foodie?

meanwhile back at the ranch...
Delpo starts the 2nd set with an ace, then a badly flubbed volley by by Berdy
Posted by Lynne (Rafalite) 02/18/2012 at 08:57 AM

Morning all !

Count me in as good quality food lover ... good quality over quantity though.

Sounds as if Delpo is back in form and long may it continue !
Posted by Aube,the joys of life are indeed a lot simpler than perceived! 02/18/2012 at 08:57 AM

slice to slice,perfect scenario!
Posted by Aube,the joys of life are indeed a lot simpler than perceived! 02/18/2012 at 08:59 AM

Del Po's forehands just too heavy for Berdych,whooo!
Posted by Aube,the joys of life are indeed a lot simpler than perceived! 02/18/2012 at 09:01 AM

Morning Lynne,

I think your way with food sounds about cool...
Posted by Zeljana (идемо даље...) 02/18/2012 at 09:03 AM

Good match DELPO. Would love to see him take this title, if he could beat fED along the way even better for his confidence
Posted by Aube,the joys of life are indeed a lot simpler than perceived! 02/18/2012 at 09:03 AM

weigh of shots killing Berdych and the double faults,I guess he is scared to foot fault again,psychosis!
Posted by Aussiemarg,Madame President,I Wont Be Taking Any Prisoners In 2012! 02/18/2012 at 09:04 AM

Gauloises

I still have 'the photo of the year' on my camera and look at him on a daily basis:)

I showed a few g/friends and told them...this is the man I would turn Cougar for....they all agreed:)

Lynne

Hi!
Posted by Aube,the joys of life are indeed a lot simpler than perceived! 02/18/2012 at 09:05 AM

now berdych if you do all that in this game and still be broken,really ouch!

I feel for you...

Va mos Del Po!
Posted by Aussiemarg,Madame President,I Wont Be Taking Any Prisoners In 2012! 02/18/2012 at 09:05 AM

All this food talk is making me hungry by the way:)
Posted by yello fuzzy 02/18/2012 at 09:06 AM

Berdbrain griping about time between serves
Posted by oakley sunglasses online 02/18/2012 at 09:07 AM

dsfladlfjsaf
Posted by Aussiemarg,Madame President,I Wont Be Taking Any Prisoners In 2012! 02/18/2012 at 09:07 AM

Gerry Armstrong the umpire told both players at the beginning of the match

'to be quick with their challenges' which is fair enough.
Posted by Aube,the joys of life are indeed a lot simpler than perceived! 02/18/2012 at 09:08 AM

the other thing is I really root for Del Po for personal interests in him further down for other usage,lol

Va mos del Po,all you need to do from now on is to hold and the match is yours!

now love-40, for what Del Po, for what?
Posted by Aussiemarg,Madame President,I Wont Be Taking Any Prisoners In 2012! 02/18/2012 at 09:08 AM

Ahhhh Juan please keep your 'eyes on the prize'

Grumpy Tomas has 2 BP
Posted by Aussiemarg,Madame President,I Wont Be Taking Any Prisoners In 2012! 02/18/2012 at 09:10 AM

Thats the way

Saving BP...back to deuce
Posted by Lynne (Rafalite) 02/18/2012 at 09:10 AM

Hmmm, wish I could actually see this match but as I'm in and out will just rely on the match calls for the present.
Posted by tina (Nole No. 5 smells sweet) 02/18/2012 at 09:10 AM

It seems like a million years since we've seen Gerry Armstrong in the chair. T-Berd is understandably playing with a bit of "angry mustard" right now.

As a chef, I rarely eat out, but when I do, nothing bugs me more than over-size portions.

Posted by Aube,the joys of life are indeed a lot simpler than perceived! 02/18/2012 at 09:10 AM

more heartbreaking for Berdych all break points erased,va mos!
Posted by Aussiemarg,Madame President,I Wont Be Taking Any Prisoners In 2012! 02/18/2012 at 09:11 AM

Lovely angle cross court by Juan and he gets the ad
Posted by Aussiemarg,Madame President,I Wont Be Taking Any Prisoners In 2012! 02/18/2012 at 09:12 AM

Yes and a Ace to hold his serve

Del Potro 3-0 2nd set

Vamos Juan!!!!!!!
Posted by yello fuzzy 02/18/2012 at 09:12 AM

Delpo blasts his way outta 0-40 he's up 3-0 now in the 2nd, and on the changeover you could hear Thomas still bitching
Posted by Zeljana (идемо даље...) 02/18/2012 at 09:12 AM

Novak probably won't play at Serbian open

http://www.vesti-online.com/Sport/Tenis/203694/Nole-Necu-igrati-na-Srbija-openu

And the news of the exo in Belgrade with Monica Seles

http://www.sportske.net/vest/tenis/nole-pozvao-moniku-na-egzibicioni-mec-u-beogradu-67105.html
Posted by Lynne (Rafalite) 02/18/2012 at 09:13 AM

I don't think I've ever cleared my plate at all in this country, the portions are so large.
Posted by Aube,the joys of life are indeed a lot simpler than perceived! 02/18/2012 at 09:14 AM

you could see a deflated look on Berdych's face,he knows his fate,ohhhh!

Va Mos Del Po boy!
Posted by Aube,the joys of life are indeed a lot simpler than perceived! 02/18/2012 at 09:17 AM

does anyone gets "captcha--d" like I do alnmost every post?just ughhhhhhh!

hey site, I'm a clean poster,I don't do drugs!uhg!
Posted by Aussiemarg,Madame President,I Wont Be Taking Any Prisoners In 2012! 02/18/2012 at 09:17 AM

BP for Juan!
Posted by Aussiemarg,Madame President,I Wont Be Taking Any Prisoners In 2012! 02/18/2012 at 09:18 AM

Double break for Juan

Vamos

Del Potro 4-0 2nd set

Me Likey!!!!!!!!
Posted by yello fuzzy 02/18/2012 at 09:19 AM

wheres my lox and cream cheese
Posted by Aussiemarg,Madame President,I Wont Be Taking Any Prisoners In 2012! 02/18/2012 at 09:20 AM

Juan serving to the b/.hand side of Tomas and getting the error
Posted by Aussiemarg,Madame President,I Wont Be Taking Any Prisoners In 2012! 02/18/2012 at 09:23 AM

6th ace for Juan and he leads 5-0 2nd set

Vamos Juan!
Posted by yello fuzzy 02/18/2012 at 09:23 AM

Wham, bam, thank-you-ma'am'
Posted by Zeljana (идемо даље...) 02/18/2012 at 09:24 AM

When yesterday JM destroyed Troicki it was brutal but this is even more impressive against Tomas who was playing so well at the start of the year
Posted by Aube,the joys of life are indeed a lot simpler than perceived! 02/18/2012 at 09:26 AM

Lynne I think they're just now realising how eating the right portion helps in their diet and a lot of networks are now talking about it,they should really know though as most people take left overs boxes?~!
Posted by Aube,the joys of life are indeed a lot simpler than perceived! 02/18/2012 at 09:28 AM

And he avoids the bagel!
Posted by Aussiemarg,Madame President,I Wont Be Taking Any Prisoners In 2012! 02/18/2012 at 09:28 AM

Del Potro will serve for the match 5-1

Vamos Juan!
Posted by jodiecate: sleep? who needs sleep??? 02/18/2012 at 09:29 AM

Hi People!!

WOW!!!
Juan Martin has remembered who he is!
Great to see. How he's been playing so far this year i thought he wouldn't measure up against Berdych. Sometimes it's nice to be way wrong.

Tomas, you leaving it 'til now to start fightback?
That's a big ask buddy!
Posted by Lynne (Rafalite) 02/18/2012 at 09:29 AM

There just is so much waste of food here, Aube. If I eat too much I feel so uncomfortable for hours afterwards, it's just not worth it. And the indigestion !
Posted by Aussiemarg,Madame President,I Wont Be Taking Any Prisoners In 2012! 02/18/2012 at 09:30 AM

High Fives Del Potro Fans

Del Potro d Berdych 63,61

Vamos Juan!!!!!!!!!!!!

Commies to Berydch...also Biz.
Posted by Northernboy 02/18/2012 at 09:30 AM

Well I woke up early to check out the big hitting action and Delpo is annihilating Tomas. What happened to the assertive play Berdych showed against Nadal?

3 and 1, ouch.

Bring on the angst of Bartoli/Stosur!!!

Can't wait to be fully recovered from this surgery and get back on court. On an unrelated note, I have to choose this weekend where I want to do residency, stay in Alberta or go to Toronto.... leaning out east.

Posted by Aube,the joys of life are indeed a lot simpler than perceived! 02/18/2012 at 09:31 AM

not even a Berdych fan can say this was not yummy!yeah Del Mano,the tennis world misses your winning way,va mos!
Posted by Aussiemarg,Madame President,I Wont Be Taking Any Prisoners In 2012! 02/18/2012 at 09:31 AM

First man to the final here in Rotterdam

Vamos Juan you have played great all week and you deserve to be in the final

Your serving has been a high light soo far in this tournament.
Posted by jita65 02/18/2012 at 09:31 AM

Toqueland, sound cool :)
Having zero talent in cooking myself, I have great admiration for people who can cook well. My mom's last few years, because of her ever worsening lung problems, she was completely forbidden by doctor to enter the kitchen. So TV shows on cooking with chefs were big favourite with her. Some of my favourite memories on my visits back home are of watching these shows on TV with her.

Good show by Del Potro :)
Posted by Lynne (Rafalite) 02/18/2012 at 09:32 AM

Gosh, that sounds like a beat down for Tomas ... thanks for the match calls AM. Congrats to Delpo and fans.
Posted by yello fuzzy 02/18/2012 at 09:32 AM

Aube
those leftover boxes are for the next day, not for in the car in the restaurant parking-lot
In America we've perfected the art of eating bad foods, badly.how ridiculous is it that there are so many people eating themselves to death and purposely starving themselves in this country
Posted by gauloises (unrepentant scrunter) 02/18/2012 at 09:33 AM

Sorry Tooms fans, especially Bis if he's around.

And also a giant WOOF to JMDP and fellow fans of his, because that was a thoroughly enjoyable beating. A good old-fashioned beatdown in the woodshed, or whatever.
Posted by sokol (Victoria Azarenka, Grand Slam Champion and #1) 02/18/2012 at 09:33 AM

Congrats to Juan Martin, so nice to see him in the final. I hope he wins the title tomorrow.

Commies to Bismark and other Berdych fans
Posted by Aube,the joys of life are indeed a lot simpler than perceived! 02/18/2012 at 09:34 AM

well it's kind of in the human nature to overdo stuff Lynne but it's indeed an awful feeling when you overate...

I rather leave space for my tea and eventual dessert...but sometimes the food is, may I say, tempting?
Posted by Zeljana (идемо даље...) 02/18/2012 at 09:35 AM

Bravo Delpo keep it going big guy. So nice to see him back to his form

Sorry for Berdych, he was on a run but today no chance
Posted by sokol (Victoria Azarenka, Grand Slam Champion and #1) 02/18/2012 at 09:38 AM

checked Dubai draw and I see Sveta will lose a lot of points frm last year's final...
what a bad luck draw... if she's lucky to pass Goerges, Vika in the second round :-(

Caro has a nice draw, until she meets Vika. Btw, I would like to see these 2 play now. Vika had a mental thing against Caro, wonder if she'll beat her now, that she's playing so well
Posted by Aube,the joys of life are indeed a lot simpler than perceived! 02/18/2012 at 09:38 AM

I definetely feel you yello fuzzy!

but I guess there is an awareness nowadays and people are willing to erase bad habits,a lot had to do with ignorance before but now with everything in the know, I have hope for younger generations,plus people like to live; when they know it's dangerous for their lives they'll quit by one way or another!
Posted by tina (Nole No. 5 smells sweet) 02/18/2012 at 09:39 AM

Happy for JMDP - but the match was a lot less entertaining than I'd hoped.

I've managed restaurants and portion control was a big part of the bottom line. I don't understand the waste of food that happens in some restaurants with the enormous portions. I'd rather pay more for less food!
Posted by tina (Nole No. 5 smells sweet) 02/18/2012 at 09:40 AM

And yes, capt-cha has become a huge problem with TW.

Posted by Aussiemarg,Madame President,I Wont Be Taking Any Prisoners In 2012! 02/18/2012 at 09:41 AM

I think smorgesboards are where people just stuff themselves to death:)

Sokol

I havent had a chance to see the draw in Dubai as yet
Posted by Kristy 02/18/2012 at 09:44 AM

Hi Northernboy, if you're still there -- i would choose Toronto, I think, though I've never been to Alberta so I don't know what I'm missing. I was in Toronto last summer and it seemed very mellow and charming to me (though after New York, what doesn't?).

Andrew Friedman, is it you that's from Alberta? Or is it the other Andrew? Congrats on your chef blog, which sounds very interesting. Tennis and cooking are two great obsessions. (Oh, and I also thought "Toqueland" was going to be a Bob and Doug Mackenzie riff.)

Posted by Aube,the joys of life are indeed a lot simpler than perceived! 02/18/2012 at 09:45 AM

well captcha is annoying,for real!

yeah Dubai is round the corner(although I more interested in their duty free network,lol), I forgot about that both Sveta and Caro had a lot to defend,I don't know where Caro's wrist stands but I feel for her for that many points she has to defend this year,almost cynical!
Posted by Del Pony 02/18/2012 at 10:00 AM

Well that match was kinda boring. I was rooting for Berdych in the second set (no joke) just to see it get more competitive and potentially extend to a third. Didn't like Delpo's late challenge; he MUST fix that bad habit or the karma will bite him in the @$$ one day.

Hoping DelPo can beat Feds tomorrow but doubtful...the match-up is a bad one for My Little Pony.

Posted by Grant 02/18/2012 at 10:01 AM

"(Oh, and I also thought "Toqueland" was going to be a Bob and Doug Mackenzie riff.)"

I haven't been so disappointed since I learned Grantland wasn't about well you know
Posted by sokol (Victoria Azarenka, Grand Slam Champion and #1) 02/18/2012 at 10:06 AM

AM, ready for Sam's match?
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