Under the Umbrella

In Camp and Out of Shape

On Tuesday Andre Miller started his first Portland Trail Blazer training camp and his first training camp with Nate McMillan.

At training camp McMillan holds a conditioning test for all players attending. The conditioning test is five full court down and backs or ten lines. Dependent on your position you are required to finish in a certain amount of time, guards having the least amount of time to finish where centers have the most.

Out of all signed Trail Blazers, Andre Miller was the only one not to finish in the time given. He was allowed 61 seconds and finished at 69 seconds.

What does all this mean? Well first, Miller will be required to spend the next seven days with strength and conditioning coach Bobby Medina for 30 minutes a day. Second, it doesn't help that the ma

n competing with him for starting PG, Steve Blake, set a Blazers record finishing a blistering 37 seconds! Third, Miller is getting paid 7 million dollars a year for his time spent in Portland. Getting paid this much one would expect a work ethic and devotion to being the best you can.

Lets hope Andre Miller will realize that this team is serious and ready to win. Lets hope he wakes up and puts this behind him.

Other then Stevie Blake dominating everyone there were some great times posted. G.O. and L.A. tied for second with a time of 47 seconds. Another great sign that Oden is ready and willing!

Also notable, Webster who previously held the record, finished with 14 seconds to spare. A great sign considering he has been dealing with a foot injury for over a year.

U.S. Open Preview

Well its the first week in September, so that can only mean one thing sports fans, The U.S. Open of Tennis is back! And its back with vengeance!

On the men's side we have a familiar face, Roger Federer is back as the number one seed and looking for his 16th major. Andy Roddick looks for revenge after his loss in one of the greatest Wimbledon finals in history. And Murray looks to avenge last years Open finals loss against Fed. O yeah, and Nadal is fighting for remembrance.

On the Women's side, we are left asking the same question. Who will face Serena Williams in the finals?

It's sad to say, but she's been nearly perfect this year. What new face will rise up to face her in the finals?

There's her sister, Venus, who just lost to her sister on grass, probably Venus's best surface. Sharapova is still making a comeback she suffered early in the tennis season. There's Safina who is coming into the open ranked number one, but still lacks the experience to take the title from Serena. And then there's Dementieva, she just beat Serena two weeks ago in Toronto and has two finals under her belt, but a win over Serena at the U.S. Open seems far fetched. 

MEN'S DRAW

In this writers point of view, the semis are set so there is no need to discuss anyone or anything else. The final four will be Fed v. Roddick and Nadal v. Murray.

Roddick looks for revenge in this match. At Wimbledon Fed prevailed as champion in a final set that went 16-14 to Roger. For Roddick its the typical storyboard. Big Serve, hold serve, consistent back hand and make Fed play long points on his serve. We have seen time and time again Fed loves pressure but if Roddick can hold serve easily and make Roger work on his serve this will be close.  

Fed in four sets

Nadal Is not at 100 Percent but Nadal at 70 percent will get him to the semis. There he will run into a freight train known by the name of Andy Murray. With the weight of an entire country off of him, Murray looks to dominate Nadal. Murray was here last year, making quick work of a healthy Nadal just a year ago.

Murray in three sets

Here we go again! Federer V.  Murray. Not many people have faced more pressure this year then Roger, that is except Andy Murray. At Wimbledon, the country came to a stand still. Placing all there hopes and dreams in one man. Andy fell just short losing in the semis to Roddick. But that was then.

He's Healthy, he's experienced, he's good. We just dont know how good yet.

My heart wants Murray in five but my brain says Fed in five. But does it matter? This looks like it will be the greatest U.S. Open finals in years.

Fed in a brutally exhausting five sets!

WOMEN'S DRAW

I get writers block when thinking about the women's side of the draw. The only thing predictable is the unpredictable. It will be a very dusty, unpaved road to the finals. When the dust clears The semis look like this. Safina V. Dementieva and Insert name here V. S. Williams

Safina is a strong, big and constant force on the Womens tour. All of this will place her in the semis but it's not enough to stop Dementieva. With a strong year and an even stronger hard court season' look for Dementieva to control this match from point to point.

Dementieva in 2 sets

Not much to say here. Someone will break through and face Serena in the Semis. But this isn't a fairy tale ending. Serena will use her big serve and Forehand to over power whoever she will be playing.

Serena in 2 sets

Dementieva's confidence will be overflowing. She will come into the first set strong and emotionally revved up. I look for her to dominate the first set. She will slow down in the second and Serena will start to come into her own. It will be a close second but Serena wins 7-5. The third set will be all Serena, with experience and strength being the two players to take this match from Demetieva. 

Serena in 3 sets

Ryan HS

G.O. on P.T.I

Greg Oden sat down with Tony and Micheal today for a short 5 minute interview on ESPN's Pardon the Interruption .

Oden emphaized the imp ortance of having fun in basketball. He said last season it was hard for him to find the fun in basketball because of injuries and the adjustments in the NBA game.

He said he came into the summer league looking to work strictly on defense and rebounding.

Currently he is spending some time in Columbus, Ohio relaxing and having fun.

The big question came towards the interview when tony asked G.O. if he regrets leaving after his first year. Greg said if he could do it all over again he would.

GO G.O.!

-Ryanhs