Ana Ivanovic: In the Finals and Dangerous

In January 2008, Ana Ivanovic fought her way to the finals of the Australian Open. There she lost to Maria Sharapova: 7-5 and 6-3. Five months later, Ana Ivanovic is in the finals of the French Open with even an improved game:

“…The match had also been a straight fight for the world No 1 ranking, so Ivanovic, a 20-year-old who learnt to play at the bottom of a drained swimming pool and whose later training sessions in Belgrade had to fit around Nato’s bombing raids on the city, became the first Serbian to reach the top of the rankings, and is more than likely to go into Wimbledon as the world No 1.”

link: Ana Ivanovic climbs to top of the world by reaching final against Dinara Safina

It is obvious that Ana Ivanovic has improved since that last match in Australia against Maria Sharapova. What is noticeable is that Ana Ivanovic does not become rattled when she runs into a rough spot in her game. In her match with Jelena Jankovic, for example, she lost seven consecutive game but maintained her composure and won the match. Ms Ivanovic has benefited from her appearances in finals matches. She is able to refocus and pull her game back together. She will go into the finals with the expectation of winning. Ms Ivanovic is playing with confidence and her opponents know that she is very dangerous.

Catherine

Kevin Garnett and Another Gear

The headline in the Los Angeles Times was “Celtics’ Kevin Garnett expects to kick it up a notch” (June 4, 2008). The question becomes ‘does Kevin Garnett have another gear?‘. Kevin Garnett plays with such intensity, even in exhibition games, that it is difficult to conceive that Kevin Garnett could play at a higher level without somehow imploding.

There was a telling sequence in the close out game between the Boston Celtics and the Detroit Pistons. In the fourth quarter, Kevin Garnett was at the foul line for two shots. This would have given the Celtics a cushion to their lead. Kevin Garnett knew the importance of the two shots; and he missed them both. One school of thought is that sometimes he is playing at such a hyperactive level that it works against him.

For most athletes, a coach would ask for greater focus and for greater intensity. For Kevin Garnett, it may be just the opposite. He may need to dial down the intensity, when he is on professional basketball’s biggest stage and he is playing for the biggest stakes. In these NBA finals, Kevin Garnett may be the leading candidate for spontaneous self combustion.

Catherine

Ana Ivanovic: In the Finals and Dangerous

In January 2008, Ana Ivanovic fought her way to the finals of the Australian Open. There she lost to Maria Sharapova: 7-5 and 6-3. Five months later, Ana Ivanovic is in the finals of the French Open with even an improved game:

“…The match had also been a straight fight for the world No 1 ranking, so Ivanovic, a 20-year-old who learnt to play at the bottom of a drained swimming pool and whose later training sessions in Belgrade had to fit around Nato’s bombing raids on the city, became the first Serbian to reach the top of the rankings, and is more than likely to go into Wimbledon as the world No 1.”

link: Ana Ivanovic climbs to top of the world by reaching final against Dinara Safina

It is obvious that Ana Ivanovic has improved since that last match in Australia against Maria Sharapova. What is noticeable is that Ana Ivanovic does not become rattled when she runs into a rough spot in her game. In her match with Jelena Jankovic, for example, she lost seven consecutive game but maintained her composure and won the match. Ms Ivanovic has benefited from her appearances in finals matches. She is able to refocus and pull her game back together. She will go into the finals with the expectation of winning. Ms Ivanovic is playing with confidence and her opponents know that she is very dangerous.

Catherine Forsythe
Director of Operations
FlyingHamster: http://flyinghamster.com/

Kevin Garnett and Another Gear

The headline in the Los Angeles Times was “Celtics’ Kevin Garnett expects to kick it up a notch” (June 4, 2008). The question becomes ‘does Kevin Garnett have another gear?‘. Kevin Garnett plays with such intensity, even in exhibition games, that it is difficult to conceive that Kevin Garnett could play at a higher level without somehow imploding.

There was a telling sequence in the close out game between the Boston Celtics and the Detroit Pistons. In the fourth quarter, Kevin Garnett was at the foul line for two shots. This would have given the Celtics a cushion to their lead. Kevin Garnett knew the importance of the two shots; and he missed them both. One school of thought is that sometimes he is playing at such a hyperactive level that it works against him.

For most athletes, a coach would ask for greater focus and for greater intensity. For Kevin Garnett, it may be just the opposite. He may need to dial down the intensity, when he is on professional basketball’s biggest stage and he is playing for the biggest stakes. In these NBA finals, Kevin Garnett may be the leading candidate for spontaneous self combustion.

Catherine Forsythe
Director of Operations
FlyingHamster: http://flyinghamster.com/

Pets Suffer During This Economic Downturn

One of the victims of this present economic downturn is pets. With the housing crisis, soaring gas prices, escalating food bills and other economic pressures, people are finding that their income cannot cover the cost of keeping a pet. Many animal shelters are reporting peak capacity for their facilities. Pets are being abandoned at these shelters. People see no alternatives.

Two things that would help immensely are financial donations to your local shelters and finding suitable homes for these pets. These pets are there because of the financial problems of their owners - and not through any troublesome misbehaviour. They would be wonderful pets.

The problem with abandoned pets may parallel the economic trends. As everyone knows by their budget, the financial pressures show no signs of abating. For those who are looking for a pet, please consider these new residents at the animal shelter. Their numbers are growing.

Catherine Forsythe
Director of Operations
FlyingHamster: http://flyinghamster.com/

Justice Sandra O’Connor and a Video Game

It seems like such an unlikely pairing. However, Justice O’Connor was at a digital gaming conference and talking about a video game:

“NEW YORK (Reuters) - America’s first female Supreme Court justice unveiled a videogame project on Wednesday to teach children how courts work, saying she wanted to counter partisan criticism that judges are “godless” activists.”

link: Retired U.S. justice O’Connor unveils video game

It may be a commentary on the cultural zeitgeist when a video game can reach a young audience far more effectively than books. It is now possible to dissect a frog virtually. The gaming industry knows that there is a lucrative market in the educational niche. Justice O’Connor may be representative of the first wave of ’special interest’ gaming with more traditional mainstream education to follow.

Catherine Forsythe
Director of Operations
FlyingHamster: http://flyinghamster.com/