Monday, January 23, 2006

Canadian Election and Aussie Open Tennis

Wow it really has been along time that I have been away from my native home of Toronto, CANADA. Eight plus years and all of a sudden you lose touch with what is going on, like perhaps a new prime minister, and then the news of a NO CONFIDENCE VOTE! In the end today is election day, and I do feel a bit guilty that this dual citizen has not given closer attention to the issues back home. Although not much has changed, just a country more fractured I guess. Same old story the Bloc Quebecois, NDP in the maritime provinces, Liberals dominating the east, and the Conservatives occupying the west. The only safe thing that can be drawn from this lost Canadian is that I need to stay current on events! I can't even make an educated decision on who to vote for if I came back home or had voted abroad! I just wish that in the end that as many well-read Canadians vote, especially the younger folks! Hopefully this vote is a turning point to mending the country as a whole. As much as I distaste the Separatist party in Quebec that seems to never die, they are not solely responsible for the 4 opposing views/political parties that Canada seems to hold. I am all for differences and diversity, but the PCs, Liberals, Bloc, and NDP having such influences on just certain areas of Canada is not the greatest in my humble opinion.

Oh well, there is my blurb on Canada. Now on to fun stuff. In the land down under the tennis is just sizzling with some high quality tennis brewing. The men's game has taken a big knock with Federer cleaning up as usual, but the women's game has been outstanding! So many excellent players, including the return of the "Swiss Miss," Miss Hingis! Her play is a welcome addition to the women's game, her variety, finesse, and elegant all-court game I think can only spice up the game. The fact that she is kicking butt at her first slam in three years is uncanny! I do enjoy the Belgium contingent of Cjlisters and Henin-Hardenne, but would not mind seeing Hingis pulling out a major upset this morning and making the Semi's. We'll see what happens.

As far as things are with me. It's the usual tennis, tennis and more tennis...oh and of course IT work! :-) My tennis game has been getting better, and everyday I play this winter I am getting closer to the form I had 15 years ago, when I was at the top of my game. A seven year layoff is tough to come back from, and although I am not the 4.5 player I once was, in fact, just hanging around the low 4.0 barrier. My serve is very close to where it was, now getting a bunch of free points, my net game slightly better, my backhand wing much better topspin wise, but not slice wise, and of course, my killer shot the forehand is still there. The forehand is still my best shot, and I show flashes of brilliance. I can still blow forehands by my opponents, and still hit very hard, but not as clean as I once did before. I guess that is the difference, but it's funny to see someone out hitting me. ;-) I have run into a couple guys (younger of course) that were able to outbang me from the baseline, crushed my ego for a bit, but still can handle the pace, and my legs still can get to a ton of balls. One day I will catch my younger self again.

Later folks.

-Matt

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

<< Home