Pentad

ESPN, or more recognizable, as the worldwide leader in sports has always been at the forefront of sports news, information, and highlights. In order to keep up with the demands of web 2.0 they have put out a widget/ RSS feed in order to keep their computer slaved audience happy. The widget can be placed on your blog, your iGoogle home page, your Facebook profile, and many of the other most popular sites on the internet. The rectangle shaped widget keeps sports fans informed at all times day or night and gives them up to the second scores and necessary information to follow their favorite teams and athletes. The widget has been in use by hundreds of users for a couple years now. The widget although comprehensive and effective in delivering all the essential sporting news has taken criticism for lacking options. Options such as a search tool, or a way to filter sports news to specific sports or events that the user is interested in are some specific examples to possible improvements to an already fantastic sporting news source.

The widget has also become widely popular on devices such as cell phones. It seems like sports fans always need to be connected to games even when they are unable to use traditional media to stay informed. In the fast paced generation of up to the second demand for information and highlights, sports enthusiasts need specifically that, up to the second. When the game is over fans want specific coverage right away. Fans will no longer wait for next day coverage and analysis. In addition to the standard breaking news and information widget, ESPN has also introduced the ESPN Poll, ESPN Spotlight, and the ESPN Bill Simmons widgets. Hopefully the future will see a more improved widget which includes all of these applications in an easy to use and easy to understand format. Here is a link to the widgets!

The Days After

In the days after the “best tennis match I have ever seen” according to John Macnroe many things are now clear and some not so clear in the tennis world. Is Federer still the best player in the game? Or how will this year’s loss to Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon effect him? The answers to those questions are both uncertain. Only time will tell. However there are many things that are certain. Tennis is finally looking like the game is getting a rivalry that will help fuel the tennis engine for the years to come. Their games couldn’t be more opposite, Federer moves around the court with grace and precision hitting shots that have never been seen before. Nadal an aggressive baseliner who looks like her could tear up concrete with his footwork uses his heavy forehand to make his opponents break down.

The summer has been such an exciting time for tennis. The French Open followed by Wimbledon two weeks later and now the Olympics taking place next month. Tennis is finally getting some recognition for the tremendous athletes and sportsmen that their tour is made up of. The most special part of the Wimbledon final for me was hearing the two players compliment each other and conduct each other with the highest amount of class and dignity for a tennis match that lasted nearly five hours.

The Wimbledon final came at a time when so much importance is placed on performance, heroes and role models are established based solely on hitting home runs, it didn’t matter that they used steroids or shooting game winning baskets, nor did it matter that they cheated on their wives. Finally a sporting event that emphasizes the core values of what sport is all about, honor, courage, respect, and passion.

Blogosphere

It has been more than 60 years since a Brit has won their home championship in tennis, of course I am talking about Wimbledon. Fred Perry was the last Englishman to win the championship back in 1936. The last decade has been filled with great disappointment. Tim Henman was the last Brit to have come close, but never getting past the semi-finals in numerous attempts. British tennis fans were left with an empty feeling after Henman retired in 2007. Many British tennis fans had the same question, who would be their next great hopeful to win the Wimbledon crown? A tough task considering Switzerland’s Roger Federer has won the title for the past five years.

British tennis fans your days of worry are over. Andy Murray is your man, well sort of. The British tennis fans have started to warm up and take a liking to Murray, a native of Scotland and after a series of stunning victories in this years championship Murray seems poised to make his mark on a title. Murray dispatched Frenchmen Richard Gasguet in an epic battle that featured passion, excitement and flashes of brilliance.

Murray’s performance against Gasguet was a feel good story, after being two sets down and to pull of a magical comeback it made viewers realize that they were watching something special and it is performances like yesterday’s that stir the soul. After the match Murray said,

the light was tough at the end and I wanted to try to finish the match, that was the best moment I’ve ever had on a tennis court. To come back from two sets to love and win it is an awesome feeling. The crowd got behind me just when I needed it and to have them behind me was a privilege. I think he got a bit nervous towards the end of third set. I had to keep fighting, he was completely outplaying me and once I won that third set his head went down and I kind of ran away with it

According to the odds Murray now has the third best chance of winning this years Wimbledon title. Ahead of him are of course the guru of grass, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. Murray now faces Nadal in a very difficult match, but one that promises will be another epic clash if Murray has anything to say about it.

Click here to watch the highlights of yesterday's epic battle