Black Tennis Pros

I realize that Roger Federer is human and, like any other player, can be beaten on any given day. It's just that not many of those days have occured over recent years, and I got used to it. So today seemed as if the earth had tilted slightly on its axis, or the four horsemen came riding in.

"Some players or people might think, 'Now he's more vulnerable,'" Federer said. "I disagree, obviously. I'm going to hopefully show them again this week and then obviously next year again."

The above is Roger Federer's response regarding his first consecutive match losses in 4 1/2 years! Earlier today Chilean Fernando Gonzalez defeated Federer 4-6, 7-6 (1), 7-5 at the ATP Masters Cup in Shanghai, China. Federer is the defending champion and entered today's match with a 15-0 record in round-robin play at the season-ending tournament. He was also up 10 wins against world no. 7 Fernando Gonzalez.

So why would we expect anything different to happen? We wouldn't. It was safe to assume that Federer would take Gonzalez out for the 11th time. And that's not to put Gonzalez down, because his game has truly turned around over the last couple of years. He's a true pleasure to watch. He's got speed, accuracy and snazzy shots. But Federer is Federer, 'nuff said.

The dragon slayer Gonzalez said, "I was feeling really bad on the court, but after, he went down a little bit and my level went up. I think the key of the match was my serve and don't be scared to go for my shots. After 10 times, it's my turn now." I hear ya' David, ehh.., I mean Gonzalez, Goliath goin' down!!! ehh..., Federer goin' down!!!

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James Blake and his big brother Thomas sit courtside at the game between the Denver Nuggets and Boston Celtics at TD Banknorth Garden November 7, 2007 in Boston, Massachusetts.

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Thomas Blake

Serena Williams arrives at the Sony Ericsson Championship Party at ME Hotel on November 10, 2007 in Madrid, Spain.

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Sony Ericsson Champioinships

Good Sunday Morning!

Here's a small bit of food for the soul to start your day. This Sunday morning is about the fourth law of spiritual success. I love this book so I decided to work through the other laws. This is my favorite law because it talks a lot about what is intrinsically ours, but we allow societal and other conditions to alter what comes natural to us.

The fourth spiritual law of success is the Law of Least Effort. This law is based on the fact that nature's intelligence functions with effortless ease and abandoned carefreeness. This is the principle of least action, of no resistance. This is, therefore the principle of harmony and love. When we learn this lesson from nature, we easily fulfill our desires.

If you observe nature at work, you will see that least effort is expended. Grass doesn't try to grow, it just grows. Fish don't try to swim, thy just swim. Flowers don't try to bloom, they bloom. Birds don't try to fly, they fly. This is their intrinsic nature. The earth doesn't try to spin on its own axis, it is the nature of the earth to spin with dizzying speed and to hurtle through space. It is the nature of babies to be in bliss. It is the nature of the sun to shine. It is the nature of the stars to glitter and sparkle. And it is human nature to make our dreams manifest into physical form, easily and effortlessly.

Nature's intelligence functions effortlessly, frictionlessly, spontaneously. It is non-linear; it is intuitive, holistic, and nourishing. And when you are in harmony with nature, when you are established in the knowledge of your true Self, you can make use of the Law of Least Effort.

Least effort is expended when your actions are motivated by love, because nature is held together by the energy of love. When you seek power and control over other people, you waste energy. When you seek money or power for the sake of the ego, you spend energy chasing the illusion of happiness instead of enjoying happiness in the moment. When you seek money for personal gain only, you cut off the flow of energy to youself, and interfere with the expression of nature's intelligence. But when your actions are motivated by love, there is no waste of energy. When your actions are motivated by love, your energy multiplies and accumulates -- and the surplus energy you gather and enjoy can be channeled to create anything that you want, including unlimited wealth.

There are three components to the Law of Least Effort -- three things you can do to put this principle of "do less and accomplish more" into action. The first component is acceptance. Acceptance simply means that you make a commitment: "Today I will accept people, situations, circumstances, and events as they occur." This means I will know that this moment is as it should be, because the whole universe is as it should be. This moment -- the one you're experiencing right now -- is the culmination of all the moments you have experienced in the past. This moment is as it is because the entire universe is as it is.

The second component of the Law of Least Effort: responsibility. What does responsibility mean? Responsibility means not blaming anyone or anything for your situation, including yourself. Having accepted this circumstance, this event, this problem, responsibility then means the ability to have a creative response to the situation as it is now. All problems contain the seeds of opportunity, and this awareness allows you to take the moment and transform it to a better situation or thing.

The Third component of the Law of Least Effort is defenselessness, which means that your awareness is established in defenselessness, and you have relinquished the need to convince or persuade others of your point of view. If you observe people around you, you'll see that they spend ninety-nine percent of their time defending their points of view. If you just relinquish the need to defend your point of view, you will in that relinquishment, gain access to enormous amounts of energy that have been previously wasted.

Make a commitment to follow the path of no resistance. This is the path through which nature's intellignece unfolds spontaneously, without friction or effort. When you have the exquisite combination of acceptance, responsibility, and defenselessness, you will experience life flowing with effortless ease.

Deepak Chopra
"The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success"

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I read a great story today on a blog that I had never been to. The blog is 'The Everywhere Girl Blog' and the story "Vagina: It's Not a Clown Car" is there. Follow this link to have a good read.

The exclusive "EleVen" line designed by Venus Williams will debut on November 15, at Steve and Barry's Department store. The Steve and Barry's website currently displays this grand 'EleVen' insignia. I'm looking forward to it!