First major upset of the Australian Open 2011 - a Ukranian wild card beat #4 Robin Soderling (earlier he kicked Tsonga).  Never a big Soderling fan anyway - but this kid, Alexandr Dolgopolov, can play!  He comes from great lineage, his dad coached Medvedev, and like Agassi he picked up a racquet at age 2.  Has a weird service motion, but good variety of shots; he has no fear, and an impressive ability to out-think his opponent.  He lost the first set 6-1, as Soderling unleashed a barrage of huge groundies - but then settled down and figured out Soderling's game.  From then forward, he fed the big Swede unpalatable angles, slices, and produced an unrelenting defensive game.

Next up, Murray - so Alexandr's moment in the sun (for now) is about to set.  Murray whipped him good at Davis Cup last year.  Still think Rafa will win, but at least 3 others have a real shot this year:  Federer, Murray, and Djokovic.  In fact I predict the Fed doesn't make it to the final, it'll be one of the other guys.

work is ruining my tennis!

Call us die-hards. My regular Saturday tennis buddies all showed up at my house today to play doubles. It was overcast, misty and foggy, which made the court a little slick in spots, but we started. Half an hour later, a light rain made the court too wet to play. Broke my heart, because with my new full-time job, I only have weekends to play in daylight, and prefer to play 5-6 days a week! But we decided to play at night a couple nights this week, so we'll see how my astigmatism affects me - I gotta do something, work is ruining my tennis game! I've also been invited to be on a USTA night league team, so guess I'll do that too. Off to the gym now...

Montreal in January

I just got back yesterday from Montreal, where it was about minus ten degrees and snowing.  Little rain here in Hollywood, but no problema - it's 75!  Actually don't mind cold weather as long as I have my Marmot mountaineering jacket!  You really don't feel a thing if you zip that thing over a lightweight fleece shirt and draw up the hood.  I walked for hours, drooling over the amazing architecture, museums and art galleries in Vieux Montreal.  I actually stayed at a 1900-era bank building (now a cool boutique hotel called L'Hotel), in what was a century ago Canada's "Wall Street".  Also shot a video for the TV Show "Kid Spaces" which went ok.   Here are a few photos!

New Year, new job!

I started 2011 with a big change - if not a big bang - by joining the staff of VTA Florida as Creative Director, a full time job!
I've operated my own company, Time is NOW Productions, for eight years - but when this opportunity presented itself, I couldn't turn it down.  I've known Art Nardin (manager of this facility) and everyone else here for years, and they do the kind of work I'm very familiar with.  I feel I can bring in some new energy - and new clients - jump-starting the year for all of us.  Watch this blog for much more about new projects and stuff - it's going to be a great ride!