The Pacquiao - De La Hoya dream match is off (I’d like to think, only at the moment) because the Pacquiao camp is not satisfied with the 30 percent cut offered on the table. According to Bob Arum, Pacquiao’s promoter, they will accept a 35 percent cut.

If you ask me, there should be a 50-50 sharing.  Pacquiao is as marketable as De La Hoya at this stage of Oscar’s career. Read more »

Rafael Nadal recently defeated Roger Federer for the French Open title. It’s another setback for Federer’s quest for the highest number of grand slams won in tennis. Of course, the record holder is “Pistol Pete” Sampras. I wrote earlier that Pistol Pete is my all-time tennis hero. Read more »

I think it’s good for tennis that Novak Djokovic won the recent Australian Open. It will build up his confidence and will try to muddle the grip of today’s tennis elites - Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. Yes, I think there were only two of them for quite some time.

Another pleasant surprise is the rise of Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. I found him to be impatient (rushes his serves) but strong. I believe his impatience (because of his inexperience) caused his loss. However, I feel in time he can harness his strength to his advantage. Personally, I would like to see the comeback of big servers. I hope Tsonga is one.

Between you and me, I would like Federer’s run of Grand Slam wins end at 13 (alright, maybe just 12). He currently has 12 and Pete Sampras has 14. I only have 2 tennis heroes - Ivan Lendl and Pete Sampras. I remember the first time I admired Pete. I was in college (90’s) and I went to the library to read some magazines. I was a Popular Mechanics freak then and I saw how this particular article explained scientifically the Sampras serve! No need to say that Pistol Pete won me over. Read more »