of unnecessary head-butts and trophy have-not's

congratulations to italy for garnering the prestige of being the world's best football nation -- this year! though between the two teams that fought for the coveted cup, i had my hopes for another french victory that would see the streets of paris celebrating as it had eight years ago.

exiting captain, zidane, disappointingly had to leave a graceful football career with a red tag tied around his neck after he threw materazzi a head-butt. a questionable way to bow out of the world stage. i wonder if he ever imagined the curtains closing -- around him instead of before him -- when he envisioned this inevitable day.

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another disappointment, but not entirely surprising, nadal was unable to defeat federer over the wimbledon championship. he started off very poorly, allowing the swiss to completely conquer the first set with 6-0. he recovered during the second set but hardly gave federer enough reason to give-in as he fumbled his way around the court during their tie-breaker. nadal skillfully took the third set for himself, although not without much challenge from the graceful swiss. the extended fourth set clearly defined the champion leaving the young spaniard still longing for mastery on the grass for next year.

on to the US...