WilliamM

I have liked Novak too because he is a great tennis player, and not intimidated by Federer at all. I liked his imitations of others tennis players. Negative: neither Serbia not Croatia (his mom is Croatia cared about ethnic minorities in Bosnia, not his fault though).

I met Elaine Stritch once and briefly. Interesting, but insecure. Not Mary Martin.

You assume all the time in the political forum, usually incorrectly.

I remember seeing Edmund White speak at the main library in Philadelphia a while ago. A very impressive guy.

Australian Open explains air policy, with referee discretion By HOWARD FENDRICHJanuary 17, 2020 MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — As wildfires continue to burn in parts of Australia, the country’s Grand Slam tournament explained its recently developed air quality policy, saying it was based on a scientific analysis of something called “fine particulate matter rating” -- but also giving the tournament referee the right to start or stop matches “at his or her absolute discretion.” Australian Open organizers released the policy Friday, three days before the beginning of main-draw action, following complaints from some players who questioned whether qualifying matches should have been held this week even though Melbourne’s air quality was among the worst in the world because of smoke arriving from fires about 100 miles east of the city. On Tuesday, one player collapsed to her knees while coughing heavily; another sought medical attention because he was having trouble breathing. Friday’s statement said measurements of the air quality are made throughout each day of play, and conditions will be rated on a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 being “good playing conditions,” and 5 representing conditions so bad that competition will be suspended -- but even then, not immediately. Instead, the policy says the break will arrive only after a set reaches an even number of games or an in-progress tiebreaker is completed. And then the policy goes on to say: “At any point the Referee may decide to suspend, maintain or resume match play in accordance with this policy and at his or her absolute discretion, taking into account advice from onsite medical experts, visibility, forecast changes to weather conditions and any other factors deemed relevant to the overall assessment of air quality.” At the three arenas with retractable roofs, play will be halted so the stadiums can be covered, and play may resume once that court’s air quality rating drops below 5. When a suspended match resumes, players will be given at least 30 minutes’ notice before needing to be back on court. More than two dozen people and millions of animals have been killed in the fires around the continent. ___ Again, disappointing response. With no Understanding of how Tennis Australia works, or the reason the Melbourne Open is so important.

http://www.alanilagan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/kerry-degman-107.jpg

Maybe you have never played a competitive sport.

Novak is speaking before facing the potential air condition in Melbourne at the worst. He knows it, so the quote about China is not exactly the last word.

Breathing problems differ from person to person.

New York Times Predicting the winners at this tournament has taken a back seat to forecasting the winds. When the winds have blown into the city from the East, smoke from the nearby East Gippsland Bush fires has cast a pall over the city and the tournament, dusting the air creating a haze that caused breathing problems for players who were practicing or competing in the qualifying rounds The tournament director, Craig Riley, has said that play will be stopped if the air quality is too poor, but players and spectators could struggle anyway Ben Rotttenberg wrote the article

Perhaps the qualifiers who lost were losers because of the horrific air quality in Melbourne. Let's pray that a tennis player doesn't collapse on court from the beastly heat and air conditions, particularly on Australia Day.

Federer, Nadal seem sure all will be ok at the Australian Open By Howard Fendrich Associated Press Rafa Nadal said he was told air measurements were taken every 4 minutes and the standard for clean samples tests need to be more stringent than that used by the International Olympic Committee. I really cannot believe that the most important Committee in the world wants bad health for the competitors said Grigor Dimitrov. Tour official have been looking after us. Petra Kvetova, It's the same for everyone. It will be really difficult to breathe, for sure. I have my medicine with me.

Google ESPN tennis

So glad my dad took me to so many professional and college baseball and basketball games so I could choose my favorite team on my own. I was too young to know who Stan Musial was, so it was probably the red bird on the uniform. When I was in basic training, I went on sick call to watch the Cardinals play the seventh game in the1967 World Series and pitcher Bob Gilson and outfielders Roger Maris (a Cardinal in 1967 and 1968), Lou Brock and Curt Flood.

ESPN As brushfires devastate Australia, players should focus on action not reaction. "There is something tone deaf about playing tennis in a country on fire, even when athletes themselves complain they can't breathe." "By focusing on raising money after disaster has struck while being silent before, the players are indirectly taking the easy way out " "Certainly Federer and Nadal strive to be positive influences, but their $500,00 donation undermines a devotion to Tennis Australia." Niote: I have donated $600 to wild fires causes related to the Melbourne Zoo animals fund. Zoos Victoria Brushfires Emergency Wildlife Fund 2020 Suggested by an acquaintance who lives in Australia. And I have visited the Melbourne Zoo.

Australia Day 2020 is a public holiday and will be celebrated on Monday, January 27. Pray for rain before that day, of course.

A relatively few is too many when the issue is air quality at an outdoor sports event. And so far I seem to be the only one here who has attended the Australian Open. Yes, it was about 25 years ago. Still, I doubt the tournament has changed much in terms of enjoyment (very high).

Why? I didn't know if NPR is covering the fires in Australia and the air conditions at the Australian Open in Melbourne. That's a legitimate subject, right?