Roger Federer advances to the Fourth round of the on-going Sony Ericson Open tennis after a sloppy win over Florent Serra.
Tennis has been on the backseat after the Australian Open won by Federer. With the March Madness on the Final Four stage, the NBA closing to its postseason and The Masters beckoning, it is not hard to understand why the on-going Sony Ericson Open Tennis championship is almost under the radar.
Two-time winner of the event, Roger Federer was taken to two tie-break sets by an unheralded Florent Serra 7 - 6 (2), 7 - 6 (3) before advancing in the Sony Ericson Open where he will next face Thomas Berdych in the fourth round.
Well, Federer can afford to play half-heartedly if he so desires given that it is not a grand slam event.
But here's a new motivation for the world number one. A dream Sony Ericson Open Tennis championship match looms against Rafael Nadal if both he and Federer take care of their respective brackets. I hope I get to watch this one.
On a side note, this is the first time I saw Federer donning orange tennis shirt.
The Charlotte Bobcats moved closer to a first ever play-off berth by repulsing the Washington Wizards in overtime 95 - 86 in Washington.
The Bobcats are coming from two successive close losses. It seemed like they will suffer the same fate after allowing the Wizards to send the game to overtime. This time they were able to hang tough.
The Bobcats outscored the Wizards in the extension period 13 - 4 to finally secure the win. The wizards downfall aided by the fouling out of Al Thornton and Javale McGee.
Al Thornton earlier tied the game 82 - all with a step back three.
My Phoenix Suns is not really known for defense but the way they zoned out the Portland Trailblazers in the fourth quarter proved to be the key as they win 93 - 87 and strengthen their playoff seedings.
When I tuned in the Suns were staying with the Blazers in a highly defensive third quarter. So, I flicked over to some other TV program. It was the fourth quarter when I returned, Dudley scored 8 points, Nash found Grant Hill on the fast break twice and the Suns were up by 8 with a little over four minutes to go.
Brandon Roy scored on traffic to cut the bleeding after a Camby free throw. Hill answered back with two free throws to put Phoenix up by 7, 88 - 81 with a less than two minutes.
Stoudemire added a free throw with more than a minute to go. Roy attacked the inside and netted a foul from Hill, knocking in two free throws to move the Blazers closer in 6, 89 - 83.
Nash throws the ball away but the Blazers failed to connect a three on the break. Batum scored a free throw. Suns call for time with only 34.5 ticks to go.
Suns turned the ball over with another 8 sec back court violation to give hope to the blazers. Roy scores on a 3 to cut the lead to 2, 89 - 87.
Batun then fouls Nash iwith 19.5 seconds left. But Nash extends the lead to four by taking care of the free throws.
Suns once again showed their improved defense as they denied Roy the ball. Miller forced a three and Hill finished them off with two free throws, 93 - 87.
Sidelight: Nash displaying his soccer skills, to bring the ball to the referee during in bounds. Phoenix wore LOS SUNS on their uniforms.
Here are images used by Google during the recent Vancouver Winter Olympics in its search homepage.
Can you name each winter olympic sport?
Lebron James is fulfilling what he said some time ago. Number 23 should only be MJ's number. It is said that he has already applied to the NBA to wear number 6.
Being regarded by many since his younger days to be the next basketball great, James can not help but be compared to MJ. All the more when he wore jersey number 23 when he turned pro.
I guess it's a class act to pay tribute to greatness. And it shows that James doesn't want just to be called the next Jordan especially that he has yet to win an NBA championship. He wants fans to witness his very own greatness.
I would guess that Lebron chose 6, a number he wore during the olympics, because it is his the first major championship that he won so far in his career.
It remains to be seen though if other players using 23 would follow James' act.
