Tennis Great Navratilova Being Treated for Breast Cancer

I was saddened when I heard the news that tennis legend Martina Navratilova has breast cancer. According to news reports, the cancer caught the 53-year-old Navratilova off guard. She readily admitted that she got too busy in her life and went for four years without getting a mammogram. Now she’s paying the consequences.

This only goes to show that cancer can hit anyone at anytime. It doesn’t matter who you are, what you’ve accomplished in your life, or how fit and healthy you feel you are. For women over 40, it’s important to get a mammogram every year.

Navratilova is a tough cookie, so I’m sure she’ll fight this disease with the same ferocity as she battled opponents on the court. She is expected to make a full recovery.

Bucket List of Sports

Writers at Sports Illustrated shared their “bucket list” of sports events – events they want to see before they die. That inspired me to share my own list.

I’m proud to say I’ve witnessed several exciting sports events in my life – White Sox-Mariners playoff game in 2000; the memorable “black-out” play-in game between the White Sox and Minnesota Twins last October; the 2006 World Figure Skating championships in Calgary; 2008 and 2009 national figure skating championships in St. Paul, Minn., and Cleveland; and the second round of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament at the United Center in 2007. But there’s plenty more I want to see.

1. Kentucky Derby – Mint julep, anyone? I love a good horse race, and while I’ve been to Arlington Park Race course in suburban Chicago, it probably doesn’t compare to the tradition and excitement of the Derby.

2. Baseball World Series – I missed the opportunity to watch the White Sox in the 2005 Series, but I’m hoping for another chance.

3. Wimbledon – I watched a women’s pro tournament at the UIC Pavillion in the mid-90s, including Venus and Serena in a doubles match when they were mere teenagers. If I’m going to see a pro tournament, it might as well be the grandaddy of them all – Wimbledon.

4. NHL playoffs – With the Blackhawks reaching the Western Conference finals in the playoffs this year, my love of hockey has been reignited. With their young, talented team, there is no reason why the Hawks shouldn’t make a return trip to the playoffs over the next few seasons. The trick will be to get my hands on what is sure to be the hottest show in town.

5. Michael Phelps – As long as he continues to swim competitively, my desire to see him compete is alive and well.

6. Olympics in Chicago – If Chicago is named the host city for the 2016 Olympic Games, I will have a smorgasbord of events to choose from – diving, rowing, gymnastics, basketball. Even better would be to attend the opening ceremonies and the parade of nations.

7. Chicago Fire or Red Stars soccer – The Fire and Red Stars are Chicago’s two pro soccer teams (men’s and women’s soccer, respectively). I watched some soccer while attending a small college. The team was one of the best in the nation, having won eight NAIA titles in 13 seasons. I’m eager to see the Fire and Red Stars at Toyota Park.

8. WNBA – Rumor has it the WNBA is struggling and could be the next league to fold after the Arena Football League suspended operations last week. If that’s the case, then I should check out the improved Chicago Sky this season. Runner up: NBA playoff game featuring the Bulls. Again finding a ticket for the pro game is tricky.

9. Snowboarding – I was fascinated watching the snowboarding competition during the 2006 Torino Olympics on TV. These guys and gals look like they’re having a blast, and it must be even more fun to watch them in person.

10. Gymnastics – When I was in high school, I had to learn to do a routine on the balance beam and uneven parallel bars, and I’m not athletically inclined. I have a tremendous appreciation for what these young men and women do on these apparatuses.

The Battle for Tennis History: Pete Sampras vs. Roger Federer

So who is best men’s tennis player in modern times: Pete Sampras or Roger Federer? We may get a glimpse of the answer tonight as Sampras and current world number one Federer will square off in a historic and dream tennis exhibition match at New York’s Madison Square Garden.

Sampras, who has come out of retirement to play a series of exhibition matches, won 14 Grand Slam titles during his career while Federer currently has 12 and is expected to surpass Sampras’s win total before his career is done. The only time the two met on the tour was in a five-game set in the fourth round of Wimbledon in 2001, which Federer won. At that time, Sampras was nearing the end of his stellar career, and Federer was just beginning his climb to the top. The two champions also faced each other in three previous exhibition matches in November: Federer won two and Sampras won the third.

It’ll be interesting to see what kind of shape Federer is in. He has struggled in the last few matches and failed to make it to the final at the Australian Open. He recently admitted that he was diagnosed with mononucleosis in February.

The exhibition is a fundraising event that benefits Dream Vaccines Foundation, a not-for-profit organization that tests and delivers AIDS and malaria vaccines to poor and underserved populations. The match will be broadcast nationally on the Tennis Channel at 8:30 Eastern time.

Aussie Open: Djokovic’s Breakthrough, Federer’s Breakdown

While in St. Paul this weekend, I missed seeing the men’s and ladies’ finals of the Australian Open. Novak Djokovic’s victory is a breakthrough for the 20-year old Serbian player who is ranked third in the world. He’s been nipping at the heels of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal in the world rankings, and he finally had his breakthrough by winning his first Grand Slam tournament. Normally a popular player on the court, Djokivic had the rare distinction of defeating Federer in the semis to the stunned amazement of the crowd.

As for the world’s number one player, Federer will bounce back from his defeat, but he wasn’t his typical dominant self during the competition. It may be time for the Swiss champion to hire a new coach. He’s been without one since last summer. I don’t care how talented or hard-working he is, Federer still needs coaching as much as any other athlete if he wants to continue his success on the tennis court.

Hingis Retires Amidst Cocaine Allegations

Former tennis champion Martina Hingis announced her retirement for the second time on Thursday, amidst allegations that she failed a drug test. During a press conference in Zurich, Switzerland, the tearful 27-year-old said she was retiring due to injuries that have plagued her since she returned to tennis in 2006. Playing tennis had become more difficult and she hasn’t been able to return to the top form that made her a champion. Hip and back injuries held her back most of the summer, forcing her to withdraw from several tournaments, and she did not make it past the third round at Wimbledon. Hingis also said she was “shocked and appalled” when she learned of her positive test results from Wimbledon for cocaine, and denied ever taking drugs. She did not want to continue competing while also fighting a possible drug probe that was likely to occur.

Hingis returned to tennis in 2006 after a three and a half year layoff to recover from burnout and injury and finished the year ranked No. 7. She was the youngest player to win a major tournament when she won the Australian Open in 1997 at age 16. She also won Wimbledon and the U.S. Open that same year.

Desperate athletes do desperate things. There is no doubt in my mind that Hingis chose to take cocaine out of desperation to get herself through Wimbledon, but also knowing that she would likely get caught. Without the drug, Hingis probably would not have competed at Wimbledon or the U.S. Open. Even before the Wimbledon tournament, Hingis had to know that her tennis career was ending, with or without drugs.

Federer Still Tops, But Are Competitors Gaining?

Roger Federer may have won the U.S. Open tennis championship Sunday for his 12th Grand Slam title in his career, but after watching the championship match against No.3 Novak Djokovic, one wonders if Federer’s competitors are closing the gap. The Swiss champion has reigned supreme for the past two years and no one has really challenged him on the court. That is, until this season. Spain’s Rafael Nadal, ranked number two in the world, has dominated Federer on the clay court at the French Open, and is the only current player to have a winning record against him. In a thrilling final match at Wimbledon in July, Nadal extended Federer to five sets and had several match point opportunities before Federer grabbed the title.

Earlier this week, American Andy Roddick played one of his best matches of his career against Federer at the U.S. Open, only to lose to him in the end. In his first Grand Slam title appearance Sunday at the U.S. Open, Djokovic had Federer on the ropes and squandered seven set points in the first two sets, which were both decided by a tie breaker. While most tennis fans would look at this as more of the same Federer dominance, you have to admit that the matches are becoming more competitive, more balanced. Federer is not blowing out the top competitors anymore, but instead has been scrambling to keep his championship crown, like a magician pulling a rabbit out of his hat.

Federer has raised the sport of men’s tennis to a whole new level, and for awhile, no one came close to beating him. But if the competition level we saw at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open is any indication, we may be seeing signs that his closest competitors – Nadal, Djokovic and Roddick – are closing the gap. These players have raised their own games and the matches are more tightly contested, which has created some exciting matches for fans to watch. And that’s great news for men’s tennis.

Federer-Nadal Rivalry Intensifies

Roger Federer may have won his fifth straight Wimbledon title yesterday, but it took five sets to do it, thanks to the aggressive play of his opponent and top rival, Rafael Nadal. After Nadal won the second set, I sensed that a possible upset was in the making. Federer grabbed the third set after winning the tie breaker. Then Nadal took the fourth set by breaking Federer’s serve twice. Nadal nearly broke Federer’s serve twice more in the fifth set, and if he had, he might have been holding the Wimbledon trophy.

Throughout the telecast on NBC, John McEnroe observed that the match was a test of the heart and the head, not always about physical ability or talent. Clearly, both players were tested. In Federer’s case, Nadal’s strong and consistent play nearly pushed the four-time Wimbledon champ to the brink, and there were times you could tell he was beginning to doubt himself. Nadal had him at break point a couple of times during the fifth set, but Federer came back to both times to win the point. That showed the heart of a champion. Once he passed those critical points in the match, Federer put Nadal away in dominating fashion.

In Nadal's case, the Spaniard had a drive, determination and focus to win Wimbledon for the first time. After getting medical attention for a knee injury at the beginning of the fourth set, Nadal walked gingerly around the court and couldn't complete some of his serves. You sensed that maybe he was beginning to doubt his ability to finish the set. But he quickly recovered and regained his momentum to win the fourth set.

The men’s Wimbledon final was one of the most fascinating sports events I’ve watched in a long time, not just for the showcase of physical ability but the drama and competitive intensity between two highly talented players who have a lot of respect for one another. Federer is clearly still number one, but Nadal is getting closer – and Federer knows it.

Venus Returns to Victorious Form

Age and injury have taken their toll on Venus and Serena Williams over the past few years. So it was really nice to see Venus advancing to the Wimbledon finals today. She'll face a relative unknown, Marion Bartoli of France who upset top-ranked Justine Henin.

Win or lose tomorrow, Venus's success at Wimbledon and her sister Serena's victory at the Australian Open last January signals a return to form to the dynamic tennis duo. Injuries have kept them out of the tennis spotlight the past few years and in their absence, no American woman has really stepped forward to compete with the likes of Henin and Sharapova on the international level.

Watching Venus today, I have to believe that many tennis fans actually missed seeing her and Serena at the Grand Slam competitions, and in fact, how much this sport needs them. Current top players like Henin and Sharapova are more refined and polite, while Venus and Serena can be brash and controversial. But love them or hate them, they bring a lot of life to the sport.

Roddick Makes Early Exit at French Open

Some athletes have the worst luck. No matter how good they are overall, they can be spooked by a certain competition, foe or locale.

American Andy Roddick may be one such athlete who can’t seem to find his rhythm at the French Open, which began over the weekend. For the second consecutive year and the fourth time in his career, Roddick was eliminated in the first round at Roland Garros, courtesy of Igor Andreev, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4. Roddick is ranked third in the world while Andreev is number 125. According to the New York Times, the match was highlighted by Roddick’s temper tantrum, in which he shook his fist, bounced his racket off the red clay court, and shouted to the rain-soaked clouds above him “Andy, just give yourself a chance on some of these points!”

Roland Garros is also a bit of a mystery for the world’s number one, Roger Federer, who has yet to win the French Open. It is the only Grand Slam title that the Swiss champion has yet to win. That could change this year, but it will mean getting past two-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal of Spain, who excels on the clay court. Federer finally beat Nadal on clay during the Hamburg Masters 10 days ago

Coaching Changes for Federer, Hewitt

With the French Open set to begin in less than two weeks, world number one Roger Federer announced on his Web site that he split with his part-time coach Tony Roche, citing communication problems. The decision follows several weeks of poor play by the Swiss champion who has participated in four tournaments without winning a title.

For the time being, Federer says he plans to go it alone at the French Open and Wimbledon. “I’m not going to take a coach because I know what it takes to win,” he said. “I don’t want anyone interfering with my preparation.”

In the meantime, Roche may soon land himself another coaching job, this time with former world number one and fellow Australian Lleyton Hewitt, according to Hewitt’s manager, David Drysdale in a Reuters’ article. Hewitt has been without a coach since Roger Rasheed quit in January before the Australian Open. He has struggled with his form this season and is recovering from a back injury. Hewitt, who was the world number one for 80 weeks from 2001 to 2003 has not won a grand slam title in five years and is currently ranked 22nd.

Federer Upset Again

Several weeks ago when Roger Federer broke Jimmy Connors' 30-year record of consecutive weeks as the number one player in the world, I wondered if anyone was able to beat the Swiss champion.

Apparently there is. His name is Guillermo Canas, and for the second time within two weeks, the Argentine player upset the top-ranked Federer. The first defeat two weeks ago at Indian Wells, Calif., ended Federer's 41-match winning streak. On Tuesday, Canas defeated Federer in the fourth round of the Sony Ericsson Open in Key Biscayne, Fla., 7-6(2), 2-6, 7-6(5).

Canas isn't one of the better known players and is currently ranked 55th in the world, according to the ATP Web site, but he'll go down in tennis history as one of the few players who could beat the world's top-ranked player. Remember his name: Guillermo Canas. It might make a good trivia question someday.

161 Weeks and Counting….

For those who are keeping track, you can add one more accomplishment to Roger Federer’s resume. This week marks the 161st consecutive week that Federer is the world’s number one ranked tennis player, surpassing Jimmy Connors’ 30-year mark. There doesn’t seem to be any end in sight for the Swiss player either. With each week at number one, Federer will break his own record. You wonder how long he will remain at number one, and if anyone can catch him. This could be one of those records that no one else will ever break.

Equal Pay for Wimbledon Champions

Wimbledon is finally entering the 21st Century. Starting this year, the men’s and ladies’ champions will receive equal prize money. In addition, equal prize money will be offered for all events and in all stages of competition. Wimbledon joins the Australian and U.S. Opens in their equal pay policy. The French Open remains as the only Grand Slam tournament that does not offer equal pay throughout all stages of competition, although the winners do receive pay equity.

The debate over pay equity has been going on for years. Tournament officials argued that the men play a best-of-five set while the women play the best-of-three therefore the men provide better value in terms of competition. Naturally, the news was well received by top players such as Venus Williams. “I applaud today’s decision by Wimbledon, which recognizes the value of women’s tennis,” she told Reuters.

This is yet another old-age Wimbledon policy that has been eliminated. Four years ago, players were excused from having to bow or curtsy to the Royal Family at Center Court.

Who is the Most Dominant Athlete in Sports?

In a recent issue of Sports Illustrated, writers Alan Shipnuck and S.L. Price debated who is the more dominant athlete in his respective sport: Tiger Woods or Roger Federer.

I had a few golf lessons while in college, but I've played tennis more frequently in my adult life. Tennis is by far the more demanding sport, physically and mentally. ESPN.com recently rated all sports based on eight different criteria that were judged by a panel of physiologists, journalists, and sports experts. Tennis was ranked seventh overall, while golf was 51.

I know what it's like to be on a court facing an opponent with a strong serve. You have to be quick and agile, you have to think on your feet, and you have to be aware of what your opponent is doing on the other side of the net. You have to be in tremendous shape to participate in this sport, and Federer does not break down. Federer is by far the better athlete in my book.

Serena's "Bootylicious" Body

Despite her surprising victory in the Australian Open last weekend, Serena Williams still had to respond to criticism about her weight and physical appearance. Her comments in this week's issue of Sports Illustrated showed that she's not afraid of telling it like it is.

"[It's] just because I have large bosoms and a big ass," she told SI. "I think if I were not to eat for two years, I still wouldn't be a size two. We're living in the Mary-Kate Olsen world. I'm just not built that way. I'm bootylicious, and that's how it's always going to be."

Bootylicious? Is that what they call full-figured women these days?

Welcome Back, Serena

It was a welcome sight to see Serena Williams at the top of her game during the Australian Open last weekend. After her brilliant victory over Maria Sharapova (6-1, 6-2) to win the title, Williams vaulted 67 places in the WTA rankings to 14. She entered the tournament ranked 81 and unseeded -- unfamiliar territory for Williams. Her defeat of Sharapova left no doubt that she had returned to her old form. It was encouraging to see in light of the fact that American women have largely been absent from the top of the standing for the past year because of injury. The victory also dispelled much of the criticism Williams received about being overweight and out of shape. Hopefully this is the shot in the arm that the American women need to regain their world dominance.

American Men Improve; Federer Still the Best

On the men’s side, Andy Roddick played superbly, showing how much he has improved his game and his mental attitude since working with his new coach Jimmy Connors. That is, until he met Roger Federer. Their showdown in the semifinals was supposed to show just how much Roddick had closed the gap between the two of them. However, Federer, who has been at the top of his game for the last three seasons, sliced up Roddick with amazing precision and eliminated the top American men’s player. Federer went on to win the Australian Open, his 10th Grand Slam title. He was the first player since Bjorn Borg in 1980 to win a tournament without losing a single set. It makes you wonder if anyone can beat this guy.

Davenport Reaches Break Point

U.S. women's tennis will be losing one of its stars next season. Lindsay Davenport says she will be retiring from the game after she gives birth to her first child, according to a Reuters news report.

There has been speculation for some time that Davenport would follow fellow tennis icon Andre Agassi into retirement. The three-time grand slam winner missed most of the 2006 season because of a back injury, but managed to make the quarter finals at the U.S. Open. "I hate the word 'retirement', but this season was such a struggle physically for me and I can't imagine playing again," she told ESPN.

Davenport began her tennis career in 1993. While she says she doesn't feel any sadness about leaving behind the sport, she is looking forward to her future with her husband and child.

Love Match Over for Evert

Long gone are the days when the husband paid the wife in a divorce settlement. These days, it's bcoming more commonplace to see the woman pay the husband, especially if you’re a well-known athlete or actress. For example, tennis great Chris Evert (I still think of her as Chrissie) just divorced recently from her husband of 18 years skier Andy Mills. As part of the settlement, Evert must pay him $7 million. She is also the primary caretaker for their three sons. The couple was married for 18 years.

American Women Missing in WTA Action

For the first time since 1972 when the WTA championships were first held, the WTA championships taking place in Madrid this week will not include any American players. That’s because the top three American women — Lindsay Davenport, Venus and Serena Williams — are still recuperating from injuries. Of the top eight players who have qualified to play in this tournament, four are from Russia, two from Belgium and one each from France and Switzerland.

Beyond the top three players, the American cupboard seems bare. Several of the European players who are participating in Madrid weighed in on the void left by the American women.

The number one player, Amelie Mauresmo, thinks high expectations have taken their toll on young American players. “It is tough for the young ones because Americans have such a big history with players like Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova, Monica Seles and Lindsay Davenport. So it is hard for the young ones to have the confidence to succeed.”

Elena Dementieva, who is ranked number eight in the world, believes the younger players from Russia and Eastern Europe are more hungry for success. “We are all very motivated and our parents were really involved in our tennis lives,” she says. “It’s really strange with all the system and the great practice conditions that they have in the United States. It is really amazing why they don’t have these players right now,” she adds.

Nadia Petrova, ranked number five, agrees saying that younger players are more hungry for success and tennis is seen as the road to fame and fortune. “Many players start with nothing at all and tennis gives them opportunities.”

Agassi Finds a New Career – Real Estate

So what does a famous world-class athlete do after retiring from his sport? If you’re Andre Agassi, you go into real estate.

He and wife Steffi Graf have formed a partnership with a real estate developer to build several luxury resort communities, which will feature the Agassi/Graf tennis and fitness centers as one of the amenities. Agassi says he has always had an interest in real estate.