tennis, life and a few things in between

^{The Russian gold medalist Anna Shcherbakova (2004-)}

The Russians went to Beijing Olympics under the ROC banner (Russian Olympic Committee), a shell corporation for Russia due to drug scandal (csce.gov: In 2016, Dr. Grigory Rodchenkov blew the whistle on Russia’s state-run doping program,…). One would think that they’ve learned something … Then the scandal of figure skater Kamila Valieva (2006-) tested positive for trimetazidine on Christmas Day, Dec. 25, at her country’s 2022 Figure Skating Championships in Saint Petersburg, became known AFTER she helped to secure the Russian team gold medal.

^{Lonesome Dove}

The scandalous decision to allow her to continue, not only angered the average spectators/couch potatoes like me but her fellow figure skaters as well: Tara Lipinski ( gold 1998) and  and Johnny Weir condemn the decision; Kristi Yamaguchi (1971; gold medal in 1992) weighted in, said she began to compete at age of 13 and managed it well.

Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled that because of her age – 15, is protected and would suffer “irreparable harm” if not letting her to compete. What kind of bullshit is this? IF she wants world glory and decided to compete with adult, then she is under the same rules as everyone else, regardless in age.

In the end, the druggie teen lost, so did World Anti-Doping Agency WaDa and Court of Arbitration for Sport.

• ^2.17 SI: It’s Time to Raise the Age Minimum in Figure Skating
• ^2.17 women’s individual final
• ^2.14 Time: The Russian School, Johnny Weir | allowed to continue
• ^2.11 ITA statement
• ^2.07 women team final

… and more …

One FB user wrote: “… Anna Shcherbakova delivered extraordinary performances placing first place in the women’s competition. At the completion of the event no one was embracing her. No one was congratulating her. No one was rejoicing with her. She awkwardly stood silent, alone and seemingly lost while her coaches abandoned her to console her distraught teammates. Just plain insanity. She just won a gold medal! …”

I watched her on Youtube, found her to be very beautiful and, it was a pleasure to watch her skate. …

Sorry have to ask, is she clean?

^{Kamila Valieva (2006-)}

A very controversial Olympics (XXIV, Feb 4-20) to say the least.

91 nations with nearly 3,000 athletes in 109 events in 7 sports. The slogan is Together for a Shared Future 一起向未来 and it was opened by president Xi Jinping.

Russians go there under ROC banner because their old doping scandal. Why would they be allowed to compete in the first place?

1. How many people are still watching the Olympics nowadays?
2. 11 countries diplomatic boycott the game, incl. US, UK, Canada and Australia, Taiwan, …
3. the covid-19 pandemic or Omicron is still raging …
4. Putin of Russia is about to invade Ukraine
5. The athletes switching their alliances, high profile such as Eileen Gu and massive foreign athletes playing for the Chinese ice hockey teams
6. A mother of eight in Xuzhou is chained by her neck… Mrs. Xi for real or made up by wishful thinking netizens.
7. Credit Suisse revealed: unmasks criminals, fraudster and corrupt politicians 

The winter games? Seem the least interesting subject. And the bad judges … “Who’s f***ing judge?” fumes Fanny Smith of Switzerland. 

1 E 161 Street
Bronx, NY 10451

My first time to Yankee Stadium, attending the last regular season game against Tampa Bay Rays. It’s a must win for Yanks (92-70), which they did, and meaningless one for Rays (100-62), which is the best in baseball this season (they won AL Pennants last year, 2020). It’s a boring game because only one run scored by the Yanks, which tied them with Boston Red Sox – they’ll play one game to decide the wild card into the playoff. It’s a boring game, only one run scored by the Yanks. We left at the bottom of 7th inning and, then stood to watch a few seconds more when Rays was in the scoring position.

The stadium was built in 2009, costing $2.3 billion ($1.2 b is from public subsidies). The surrounding area is slightly better than Shea/Citifield, but without much potential for betterment, where as Mets @ Flushing, I’m still hopeful that Mets’ could make their home a great place to be.

• a bodega neighborhood, Franz Sigel Park & Yolanda Garcia Park
• Joyce Kilmer Park
• Bronx Supreme Court
• Porto Salvo

Our gear arrived in time for the game. We only spotted one couple with Rays caps – we’re in the sea of Yankee fans. The thick and sturdy road side bars are for safety?

Babe Ruth (1895-1948) was once a Yankee. What did they do in 1949 and 1961? The street vendors sell water for $2 a bottle. The next generation of baseball players!

Forbes ranking rates Dallas Cowboys, NY Yankees and Knicks as the top three most valuable teams ($5+ in billion.

目测 戴养鸡🧢 的中国人多过其它任何一个队 不知道为什么. 最近五年价值最高的职业队是达拉斯的小牛队🏈 养鸡屈居小二, 虽然养鸡赢了27个🥎冠军 牛5才个🏈冠军. 不过鸡队的建队时间比牛长一倍. 挺怀念🐔队的前乔治 Steinbrenner (1930-2010), 和大嘴巴 床铺有一拼.
为了来看这场比赛 特意买了TB的🧢.
七个inning 没有一个run, 🥱

By the way, Tom Brady plays his old New England Patriots. 

A little yoga @ Caumsett Park

Wow … our out door ice skating ring

The state park is huge.

31154

Marina Park in Brooklyn.
It’s a nice day and saw a cute white car -:). The Verrazano Bridge charges half the rate $5.5 for SI residents and $11.06 for NYS and $16 other states. First time saw it.
.
 

From pictures, the routes going up the K2 and Everest are littered with garbages, as more and more climbers seeking the thrill, for fullfilling their dreams.

The confilcts between the wearlth climbers (more of them) and the Sherpas who get them up there. This 2013 incident involved renowned mountaineers Ueli Steck of Switzerland  (1976-2017), Simone Moro of Italy (1967-), and Jonathan Griffith of United Kingdom (Alphine Exposures, Guardian), were attacked by a group of Sherpas at a high-altitude camp, over rope fixing and lack of respect…

• Sherpas and climbers on Everest never used to fight – so what changed?
• World’s highest fight? Sherpas, Westerners come to blows on Everest
• Treading on thin ice: Three European climbers get into fight with Sherpas near Everest summit

• Bethpage Black: green $150, club rental $40, ele cart 18 hole $34
• Bethpage Red: $96
• Long Island National golf club: $59?
• Montauk Downs, state park: $96, club $34, cart $17 single $34 double
• Harbor Links: $113, car $22 pp

• NTC: $66
• Grand Central/Vanderbilt tennis club, $250
• Randall’s Island, $105
• Westside,
• Roosevelt Island, $90