Belgium #1!

mke · August-10th-2003, 08:22 PM

Kim Clijsters wins the LA WTA tournament to become the world's #1 female tennis player.

ha!

Tanager · August-10th-2003, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mke
Kim Clijsters wins the LA WTA tournament to become the world's #1 female tennis player.

ha!

She is in fact ranked #1, but it's generally a ranking viewed with some skepticism, since she's never won a slam. Having said that, it couldn't have happened to a nicer or more well-liked player (Clijsters is universally regarded as a wonderful person on the tour). Congrats.

Uli · August-10th-2003, 08:47 PM

Ces Belges!

They are kiddin themselves. Kim who?

Jon Abbey · August-10th-2003, 08:47 PM

yeah, slightly more genuine than when Thomas Müster was #1, because at least she is a contender on all surfaces, but still pretty silly. she's quite possibly not even the best player in Belgium.

I gather there's not much to do over there these days, though, just sit around, drink beer, eat chocolate, sweat a lot and play childish avatar games. so congrats, you should be very proud, mke.

Tanager · August-10th-2003, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jon Abbey
yeah, slightly more genuine than when Thomas Müster's was #1, because at least she is a contender on all surfaces

And probably not in danger of having her victories marked with the dreaded asterisk for suspected steriod use, either.

I think that, in terms of physical skills, she's the better player (or should be) than Henin-Hardenne, but her head's in some funky place right now. I'm hoping that this win gives her some momentum going into to the Open - with Serena out, there's a reasonable chance of a non-Williams winning the tournament, since Venus isn't exactly brimming with confidence these days, either (but this isn't an anti-Williams rant - I like Venus and would like to see her turn it around).

Maybe we should start a Tennis thread...any interest out there?

john williams · August-10th-2003, 11:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tanager
...it couldn't have happened to a nicer or more well-liked player (Clijsters is universally regarded as a wonderful person on the tour). Congrats.

Pity about her boyfriend, he could learn a thing or two from Kim.

Knike · August-11th-2003, 05:40 AM

The Men's ATP-Ranking will too have a new leader soon. Swiss Roger Federer had the chance to climb on top on the semifinal last saturday vs. Andy Roddick. He lost the game and now is "only" Nr.2 behind Agassi. But he will be on top when if he wins the 1st round in Cincinatti (and J.C.Ferrero doesn't reach the final) !

While we had a women on Top of the WTA for many years (M.Hingis) Federer would be the first ever male swiss tennis-player to be the Nr.1

mke · August-11th-2003, 05:41 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Uli
Ces Belges!

Kim is Flemish, so it should be "Deze Belgen!"

mke · August-11th-2003, 05:43 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jon Abbey
I gather there's not much to do over there these days, though, just sit around, drink beer, eat chocolate, sweat a lot and play childish avatar games. so congrats, you should be very proud, mke.

Goes to show how much you know:

beer and chocolate don't mix
heat and chocolate don't mix
melted chocolate and keyboards (to play avatar games) don't mix

It is pretty hot, though.

Alastair · August-11th-2003, 06:29 AM

Damn, I hoped this was going to be an "Isn't Belgium great?" thread.

I love Belgium. Beer, mussels, Jacques Brel, Herge, the royal museum of Central Africa in Tervuren, the list goes on...

Tanager · August-11th-2003, 07:30 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Knike
The Men's ATP-Ranking will too have a new leader soon. Swiss Roger Federer had the chance to climb on top on the semifinal last saturday vs. Andy Roddick. He lost the game and now is "only" Nr.2 behind Agassi. But he will be on top when if he wins the 1st round in Cincinatti (and J.C.Ferrero doesn't reach the final) !

Now here's a #1 with some meaning - to my eyes, Federer is clearly the best all-around player in tennis when he's on, and with an absolutely dominant performance at the most recent Wimbledon behind him, I don't think there'd be any asterisk next to his #1 ranking, if he gets it.

On a somewhat related note, I was impressed (although bummed) to see Roddick claw back in the third set against Federer in Montreal - Roddick showed a good bit more variety to his game in spots, and that bodes well for his future success if he can keep mixing it up whenever necessary. I do, however, think that Federer is still the superior overall player.

Tanager · August-11th-2003, 07:30 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by JBW
Pity about her boyfriend, he could learn a thing or two from Kim.

Either that, or maybe he'll sue her, too.

mke · August-11th-2003, 07:34 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Alastair
Damn, I hoped this was going to be an "Isn't Belgium great?" thread.

There's no reason it shouldn't be!

Quote:

I love Belgium. Beer, mussels, Jacques Brel, Herge, the royal museum of Central Africa in Tervuren, the list goes on...

I'm not a mussels fan, but there's chocolate, cheap jazz concerts, crazy Walloon and Brusselaer accents and vocabulary (though not as crazy as French Canadian ones) and great cities/architecture like Ghent and Bruges.

Jon Abbey · August-11th-2003, 07:37 AM

beer and chocolate don't mix? speak for yourself.

Quote:

Originally posted by Tanager
Now here's a #1 with some meaning - to my eyes, Federer is clearly the best all-around player in tennis when he's on, and with an absolutely dominant performance at the most recent Wimbledon behind him, I don't think there'd be any asterisk next to his #1 ranking, if he gets it.

yeah, he's awesome. I don't go to many tennis matches, but sometimes I go to one of the first few days of the US Open, and just walk around and watch matches on the outside courts, I'm always amazed at how close you're allowed to the players out there. I went out of my way to watch Federer here two years in a row, when he was still an up-and-comer, and you could tell he had unlimited potential, all of the tools, he just needed to get the mental part together. it sure looked like he did that at Wimbledon this year.

Clijsters has proven she's definitely better than Lindsay Davenport, there's something to be proud of.

Neuhaus and Chimay Blue, baby.

Alastair · August-11th-2003, 07:46 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jon Abbey
beer and chocolate don't mix? speak for yourself.

The only time they mix (IM not-so-humble O) is in a bottle of Youngs Chocolate Stout. Try a bottle when you're over next, Jon.

I was bowled over by Ghent when I spent a day there last year, although SMAK was a disappointment.

Orval all the way.

Tanager · August-11th-2003, 07:57 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by mke
great cities/architecture like Ghent and Bruges.

My wife and I loved Brugge/Bruges - one of the best vacation stops we've ever made, 4 blissful days. Best if you go on a weekday, though, b/c on weekends, it seems to fill up with *lots* of Parisians.

mke · August-11th-2003, 08:01 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tanager
it seems to fill up with *lots* of Parisians.

Damn those French bastards!

mke · August-11th-2003, 08:03 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Alastair
although SMAK was a disappointment.

What's SMAK?

Nice to see a few Belgian beer connaisseurs around here.

Tanager · August-11th-2003, 08:17 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by mke
Nice to see a few Belgian beer connaisseurs around here.

I in no way qualify as a conneisseur, but I do love a good Lambic.

Alastair · August-11th-2003, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by mke
What's SMAK?

Nice to see a few Belgian beer connaisseurs around here.

SMAK is the Stedelijk Museum voor Actuele Kunst, (or the museum of contemporary art to those of us who don't speak Flemish). It's in the Citadelpark, opposite the Musueum of Fine Art, which I enjoyed far more.

http://www.gent.be/gent/english/tour...nearts/collec/

Belgian beer has been almost a religion to me ever since I first went to Bruges about twelve years ago. I enjoyed some rather lovely Cantillon Gueuze at the "Biere Sans Frontieres" stall at the Great British Beer Festival last week.

MKE, have you ever been to "Beer Circus" in the Upper Town of Brussels?

mke · August-11th-2003, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Alastair
MKE, have you ever been to "Beer Circus" in the Upper Town of Brussels?

Probably not. What do you call the "Upper Town"?

Nathaniel Catchpole · August-11th-2003, 10:46 AM

What kind of silly avatar games would those be then?

Uli · August-11th-2003, 10:57 AM

Chocolate and Cognac mix, imnsho.

Used to go to Brussels fairly often on business trips. The only side of town I ever got to see was very good restaurants. My business friends used to say, eating is the only thing you can do in Brussels with all the beaurocrats in town and their fat entertainment accounts.

Knike · August-11th-2003, 11:14 AM

Federer is a great player, he only lacks a little constistency. He's always a threat to win any final on the tour, buthe can easily lose in a first-round match, if things don't go together. But the longer he's on the tour (and he's only 22 or 23 years old) the finals outnumber the 1st round losses.

Who's Agassi anyway.... Go Roger !!

BTW: Leffe (blonde) ! That's one of my favourite belgian beer. I don't like Beligians very much, I had bad expiriences. I have been in Belgium only a few short moments in Oostende but managed to get involved in a fight with a drunk. (And I'm never involved in fights,never !!) the Belgian Police had to save me, at least , they were OK. Unfortunately these were my only impressoins from Belgium. But I give them another chance one day. I don't believe Belgians are all that bad. It was just bad luck, wrong place wrong time and all that.

mke · August-11th-2003, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Nathaniel Catchpole
What kind of silly avatar games would those be then?

I have no idea.

Alastair · August-11th-2003, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mke
Probably not. What do you call the "Upper Town"?

The bit up the hill with the royal palace and the museums. I think that's what my guidebook called it. There's a picture of it here:

http://www.negia.net/~brew/belgium98.html

You'd probably hate me for being a tourist, but I really like Cirio, A La Morte Subite and the place that has decor like a thirties liner that you need to ring a bell to get into (name escapes me now) as places to drink.

mke · August-11th-2003, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Alastair
The bit up the hill with the royal palace and the museums. I think that's what my guidebook called it.

That's what I thought you meant, just wanted to make sure.

Quote:

You'd probably hate me for being a tourist, but I really like Cirio, A La Morte Subite and the place that has decor like a thirties liner that you need to ring a bell to get into (name escapes me now) as places to drink.

Everybody's a tourist somewhere! I haven't even been to the places you name, although I have passed in front of La Mort Subite. I think that's the place Jacques Brel used to hang out. I don't go to bars much, except if there's a concert on, like in the Café Central.

mke · August-12th-2003, 05:13 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jon Abbey
beer and chocolate don't mix? speak for yourself.

Havbe you ever found a beer-filled praline in your Leonidas/Godiva/Neuhaus box?

shrugs · August-16th-2003, 02:01 PM

De Dolle anyone?

and have the chocolate beer doubters tried Rogue's Chocolate Stout?

moneyp · August-16th-2003, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tanager
Maybe we should start a Tennis thread...any interest out there?

Start 'er up, man. It's a sport I enjoy watching, but my attention span doesn't keep track of all the details of the tour. Would be interesting to read some informed commentary on it.