The Association of Tennis Professionals has announced a six-week suspension of the men’s professional tennis tour due to concerns about health and safety issues related to the international outbreak of the Corona Virus, COVID-19. All ATP Tour and ATP Challenger Tour events scheduled up to and inclusive of the week of April 20 will not be contested including Indian Wells, Miami Open, Houston, Monte Carlo, Barcelona, Morocco and Budapest events. The Challenger circuit is also going dark, including the popular Sarasota Open which was relocated this year to a new venue in downtown Sarasota, in Payne Park.
If the virus is controlled, ATP action could hopefully resume the week of April 27 in Estoril and Munich.
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« Previous 1 2Sam · March 19, 2020 at 7:56 pm
“Sam, No, Harold has vanished like the invisible man. How dare he question my judgement 🙂 He learned he was as wrong and ran for the hills. Probably won’t show his mug around here ever again.”
Well, for many people, disappearing is actually easier than admitting they were wrong. 😉
“Godsick’s behavior to one poor student in particular would trigger outrage. I’m outraged about learning about it. If I was in that school he’d have been knocked out.”
Ouch. Sounds really abusive.
“For decades I was sure Ali was authentic.”
Yeah, it often takes a long time for the truth to come out.
“But what I have learned in recent years about boxing I now question everything.”
Judged sports are especially susceptible to fixing. Figure skating is another example.
“With Mayweather and Deontay Wilder the fixers didn’t do a very good job, it became very obvious.”
Sometimes they do get sloppy. 🙂
“Canelo Alvarez is another suspect. He generates huge profits. So they have the resources to buy every opponent for the career high payday. It was projected in a court case against Canelo’s old manager that Canelo and Oscar De La Hoya project to earn $400m EACH over the next ten years if Canelo keeps winning. So you know he’s going to keep winning.”
Making that much money is insane!
“Pop music industry is just all degenerate filth now. No songs have positive inspiring energy anymore. It’s all about glorifying sex drugs and rock n roll. Love ballads seem to have become illegal.”
I don’t follow today’s music much, but a few things I’ve noticed:
1) Gratuitous profanity all over the place. Forty years ago, it was almost unheard-of for a pop song to have the F-word in it (even bleeped out). Now it seems to be fairly common. 🙁
2) Lack of melody or hook. All the songs sound the same almost these days–just generic “noise,” not really music. It’s definitely hard to write a good melody, and it seems today’s songwriters don’t even bother. But the public seems to eat it up!! 😛
3) You don’t have to be able to sing anymore. A computer will make you sound good enough. A few years ago, Sheena Easton said in an interview, “Back when I was starting out, you actually *did* have to be able to sing.” 😉
Even Elton John had this to say:
“Songwriters today are pretty awful, which is why everything sounds the same. Contemporary pop isn’t very inspiring.”
It’s truly rare nowadays to find a song that you can actually hum.
Scoop Malinowski · March 19, 2020 at 8:07 pm
Sam, here is a modern song you can hum, Tame Impala from Down Under …https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnmEePUXLRs
Sam · March 19, 2020 at 8:08 pm
“David Foster Wallace: ‘There is no such thing as not worshipping. Everybody worships. The only choice we get is what to worship.'”
That’s very true. Whether it’s a conscious decision or not, everyone worships something.
Sam · March 19, 2020 at 8:11 pm
Thanks for the link, Scoop. I’ll check it out.
Actually, here’s a recent song that I like:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XwxLwG2_Sxk
The singer’s voice isn’t that great, but I think the song itself is a pretty good one.
Sam · March 19, 2020 at 8:17 pm
I listened to the Tame Impala song. And then I realized that I had actually heard it for the first time a couple of months ago. Yes, it’s definitely better than most songs nowadays. 🙂
Scoop Malinowski · March 20, 2020 at 8:49 am
Sam it has a very distinct sound, very talented musician behind that group. 33m views proves that Tame Impala is big time.
Scoop Malinowski · March 20, 2020 at 8:55 am
Thanks Sam I like it. But not enough to replay it 🙂
Sam · March 21, 2020 at 12:26 am
“Sam it has a very distinct sound, very talented musician behind that group.”
Yes, he does sound pretty creative.
“33m views proves that Tame Impala is big time.”
Yes, that’s quite a few. I don’t know how I first heard of him a couple of months ago. But there’s a certain Web site that lets you rate all kinds of music. Since this guy’s name sounded familiar, I went there to see if I had listened to his stuff before, and it turns out that I had listened to that song on Feb. 1.
“Thanks Sam I like it. But not enough to replay it 🙂”
Well, we all have different tastes in music. 🙂 Unlike movies, which critics often agree loosely on, music is an entirely different beast. For a particular album, you’ll often find music reviews all over the map. What I’ve found is that if the critics like an album, I generally don’t. 😉 Actually, that’s true with me concerning the general public as well. If lots of fans like a particular album or song, I typically don’t. Conversely, a lot of the music that I really like was never real popular with the general public.
Concerning the suspension of the tour because of Covid-19, it’s pretty alarming the way many state governors seem to be overstepping their authority. For instance, in a neighboring state, restaurant owners are complaining that the governor’s “order” forbidding people to visit restaurants is ruining them. I’m no expert, but that kind of meddling just doesn’t sound constitutional to me. 😛
In fact, a couple of days ago, I heard this very powerful quote from F. A. Hayek for the first time: “Emergencies have always been the pretext on which the safeguards of individual liberty have been eroded.”
Sadly, that seems to be what we’re already seeing now.
Scoop Malinowski · March 21, 2020 at 8:48 am
Sam, and so there is a ample motive for dark forces to use fake emergencies to steal the freedoms of the public. The love of the money is the root of all evils. I’m just reading Jim Morrison’s biography No One Here Gets Out Alive. It talks about Morrison’s decision to call his group The Doors: “There’s the known. And there’s the unknown. And what separates the two is the door, and that’s what I wanna be…” There are a lot of knowns and unknowns in the world today. Such as when will Miami Open, Monte Carlo and Indian Wells take place? 🙂
Scoop Malinowski · March 21, 2020 at 12:58 pm
Article today about me and my Vilas and Trump books…
https://tss.ib.tv/boxing/featured-boxing-articles-boxing-news-videos-rankings-and-results/63766-close-encounters-of-the-trump-kind-reviewing-scoop-malinowskis-latest-book
Sam · March 23, 2020 at 12:29 am
“Sam, and so there is a ample motive for dark forces to use fake emergencies to steal the freedoms of the public.”
Exactly.
“The love of the money is the root of all evils.”
Well, lots of kinds. I think the exact quote is “. . . a root of all kinds of evil.” Certainly most large-scale corruption today involves the love of money.
“I’m just reading Jim Morrison’s biography No One Here Gets Out Alive. It talks about Morrison’s decision to call his group The Doors: ‘There’s the known. And there’s the unknown. And what separates the two is the door, and that’s what I wanna be…'”
Didn’t know that was the reason behind their name.
“There are a lot of knowns and unknowns in the world today.”
Probably more unknowns, if I had to wager a guess.
“Such as when will Miami Open, Monte Carlo and Indian Wells take place? 🙂”
Or, where this calendar year is concerned, *if*. 😉
In fact, apparently most American athletes actually want the Olympics postponed:
https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/2020/03/22/tokyo-games-majority-us-athletes-tell-usopc-support-postponing/2893887001/
And in the middle of that article above, there’s this link about how the Covid-19 situation might a doper’s dream:
https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/2020/03/18/tokyo-olympics-2020-usada-wada-athletes-dilemma/2863213001/
I wonder how this whole situation might be affecting any doping in the tennis world as well.
Sam · March 23, 2020 at 12:32 am
The comment I submitted went into moderation. I’ll try again, this time with the links removed.
“Sam, and so there is a ample motive for dark forces to use fake emergencies to steal the freedoms of the public.”
Exactly.
“The love of the money is the root of all evils.”
Well, lots of kinds. I think the exact quote is “. . . a root of all kinds of evil.” Certainly most large-scale corruption today involves the love of money.
“I’m just reading Jim Morrison’s biography No One Here Gets Out Alive. It talks about Morrison’s decision to call his group The Doors: ‘There’s the known. And there’s the unknown. And what separates the two is the door, and that’s what I wanna be…'”
Didn’t know that was the reason behind their name.
“There are a lot of knowns and unknowns in the world today.”
Probably more unknowns, if I had to wager a guess.
“Such as when will Miami Open, Monte Carlo and Indian Wells take place? 🙂”
Or, where this calendar year is concerned, *if*. 😉
In fact, according to a USA Today article, apparently most American athletes actually want the Olympics postponed.
And in the middle of that article, there’s also a link to a story about how the Covid-19 situation might a doper’s dream.
I wonder how this whole situation might be affecting any doping in the tennis world as well.
Sam · March 23, 2020 at 12:44 am
Oh, that’s a boxing Web site? Who’s that guy wearing the baseball cap in the photo?
Wow, that’s a very thorough article. A good read. Have there been any reviews for your upcoming Vilas book as well?
Just curious–do you think Trump knows about your latest book? 🙂
Scoop Malinowski · March 23, 2020 at 9:43 am
Sam, it’s Jeff, he wrote the fine article. I was very happy with the article, better than I expected. Obviously Jeff Freeman is an excellent writer. Yes it’s a boxing site, one of the best ones too. Vilas book not finished yet, still working on fine tuning the book ready manuscript format. Content wise it is complete though. Cover art complete also.
Scoop Malinowski · March 23, 2020 at 9:48 am
Sam, Find it to be pure evil that Schumer and Pelosi are blocking Trump from giving cash to all Americans to help them through this financial hardship virus, yet these same politicians will not dare to cut off billions in aid to our so called allies. Insanity. These democrats are showing us what they really are. They hate Americans (deplorables).
Sam · March 24, 2020 at 10:07 pm
“Sam, it’s Jeff, he wrote the fine article.”
OK. That big picture actually looks a lot different than the tiny picture next to his name as the author. 🙂
“I was very happy with the article, better than I expected.”
Great.
“Vilas book not finished yet”
And it’s still coming out in a week?
“still working on fine tuning the book ready manuscript format. Content wise it is complete though. Cover art complete also.”
Sounds mostly done then.
It looks like traffic has picked up again on your Web site. Good to see some of your regular contributors are popping back up.
Sam · March 24, 2020 at 10:18 pm
“Sam, Find it to be pure evil that Schumer and Pelosi are blocking Trump from giving cash to all Americans to help them through this financial hardship virus”
Oddly enough, that might end up being a blessing in disguise. Art Laffer, the economist under Reagan, believes that it’s a misguided plan. From a Web article:
———–
“Art Laffer, in an interview Monday . . . called the bill a ‘helicopter money proposal’ of handouts that has a bad track record historically.
‘It never works, it just causes the problem to get worse and worse,’ said Laffer, known for his Laffer curve.
‘You don’t tax people who work and pay people who don’t work and expect more work,’ he said. . . .
He proposes, instead, cutting the payroll tax for the next seven to eight months ‘to make sure that it’s more attractive for people to work and more attractive for companies to hire.’
And he suggests guaranteeing or granting liquidity loans to businesses to help them stay afloat. . . .
‘That’s all you need, and stand back: This economy will do really well.'”
Anyway, I’m no economist, so I have no idea what’s best. But the spirit behind the obstructionism is obviously very sick.
“yet these same politicians will not dare to cut off billions in aid to our so called allies. Insanity. These democrats are showing us what they really are. They hate Americans (deplorables).”
It all goes back to, as you said, the love of money.
Incidentally, it’s interesting that the Olympics are being postponed, but no real surprise, I guess.
Scoop Malinowski · March 24, 2020 at 10:47 pm
Sam, Vilas book is now done, all wrapped up. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0863TQ4SN Our site visitors actually held steady during our recent storm, I followed the alexa numbers and there was no drop off, just a drop off in comments. But as always, the site revives, because we all have one thing, one very important thing in common, we all love tennis and that’s more important than the other stuff.
Sam · March 27, 2020 at 11:09 am
“Sam, Vilas book is now done, all wrapped up. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0863TQ4SN”
Oh, that’s great. Are all your books on Goodreads too?
“Our site visitors actually held steady during our recent storm, I followed the alexa numbers and there was no drop off, just a drop off in comments.”
Good to hear. Well, you’d better hope that Alexa never gets laid off, because if she does, you’re up a crick. 😉 LOL.
“But as always, the site revives, because we all have one thing, one very important thing in common, we all love tennis and that’s more important than the other stuff.”
Reminds me of a line from a Madonna song:
“I tried to leave it but I never could.” 🙂
Scoop Malinowski · March 27, 2020 at 1:43 pm
Sam, what is good reads? I knew know Some women like our sites magnetic powers )
Sam · March 30, 2020 at 11:16 am
Goodreads is a book-review Web site–owned by Amazon. In fact, you’ve actually used the site yourself, according to this link:
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/59728195-scoop-malinowski
I guess you’d forgotten that you had a profile there!? 😉
“I knew know Some women like our sites magnetic powers )”
And apparently Alexa is one of them. 🙂 LOL.
Scoop Malinowski · March 30, 2020 at 3:02 pm
Sam yes I forgot I posted once or twice on good reads, will try again.
Sam · April 2, 2020 at 1:11 pm
Scoop, you can also make sure that there’s an entry for all your books there as well. It appeared that some of yours aren’t yet listed.
Scoop Malinowski · April 2, 2020 at 1:26 pm
Thanks Sam.
Scoop Malinowski · April 2, 2020 at 6:59 pm
Just interviewed the boxing coach of Sarasota since the 90s. He coached Maria Sharapova for 9 months when she was 11 in his gym. He also coached Serena in 2006 or 2007 when she was coming back from injury, he coached her in boxing for four sessions. Also many other tennis players from IMG. Story coming soon…
Sam · April 4, 2020 at 12:48 pm
“Thanks Sam.”
No problem, Scoop.
“He coached Maria Sharapova for 9 months when she was 11 in his gym.”
That’s cool. Maybe she can box professionally now. 🙂
Scoop Malinowski · April 4, 2020 at 2:03 pm
Princesses dont box or fight. That model Adriana lima does do serious boxing training though. But she will never fight anyone. There was another low level model in her Miami gym who wanted to fight her but it didn’t happen.
Sam · April 7, 2020 at 2:55 pm
“There was another low level model in her Miami gym who wanted to fight her but it didn’t happen.”
So I guess they just fought on social media instead. 😉
Scoop Malinowski · April 7, 2020 at 6:59 pm
No the two models didn’t bicker on social media. The more successful one just ignored the other.
Andrew Miller · April 8, 2020 at 4:45 pm
Wow, me, toxic narcissism? Nice. Well, golden rule. Hope you’re safe.
Scoop Malinowski · April 8, 2020 at 8:50 pm
A one week special tournament and possible mini circuit for lower ranked ATP players is currently being organized in florida bradenton. At a special private court. No audience. Big sponsor on board.
Scoop Malinowski · April 8, 2020 at 8:51 pm
We’re all safe here thank you Andrew. Assume you are too.