Postal Robbery

I hadn't even checked out the new Intel ads until I was alerted to this. Turns out that the Apple/Intel add is a shot by shot remake of the Postal Service's Such Great Heights music video. Evidently the same director was commissioned for both works but such permission was not granted by the band:

It has recently come to our attention that Apple Computers' new television commercial for the Intel chip features a shot-for-shot recreation of our video for 'Such Great Heights' made by the same filmmakers responsible for the original. We did not approve this commercialization and are extremely disappointed with both parties that this was executed without our consultation or consent. -Ben Gibbard, The Postal Service

But, like Only the Good Die Young, it's been good publicity for the Postal Service as Such Great Heights is now the number one downloaded video on the iTunes music store despite being shot in 2003. Still, say it with me: Pleeaaase.

End of the Line

Well, the Chuckster's remarkable run came to an end after a three-set loss to an overpowering Kim Clijsters yesterday. It looked like it might go down to a tie-break but Clijsters finally found her backhand. However, not a bad result for someone who hasn't played tennis for three years. It's obvious that although intelligence will get the Chuckster far, she's really going to have to do something about that second serve. It's obvious that she has no problems breaking other players' serves but she needs to have a few free points on serves of her own.

Anyway, glad to have the old girl back. Here's why:

• Serve and volley!
• No grunting! No fist pumping after your opponent hits an error into the net. Please take notes other WTA and ATP players. To imagine that people once took offense at the Chuckster's smiling ...
• Beautifully timed lob shots. Just gorgeous.
• Finally, some thinking on the court. It's nice to see a player try to construct a point for a change rather than to go for winners on every point by hitting it as hard as she can.
• The way she moves opponents up and down the court as well as side to side.
• Beautiful tear drop shots.
• The courage to move in despite the fact that she's one of the shortest players on the tour. Sharapova and Hantuchova with those large wingspans should be moving in on every other point. I think the Chuckster moved in more times than the entire tour combined during her first four matches.
• The constant motion in her game. Just compare her movement versus her opponent or other players on the tour (including the men sans Federer). She is constantly moving to predict where they're going to hit the ball. She never assumes that anything is going to be a winner and naturally moves to the most probable spot that a counter punch will be made. If she's ever able to graft her mind into somebody like Sharapova or one of the other heavy hitter-small thinkers the mutant would be unstoppable. Serena used to have this court savvy, too before she turned into Butterfly McQueen.

Ending our do you care coverage are selected quotes from the Sharapova-Petrova match i.e. battle of the angry Russian women who hate each other. The match featured 15 double faults in the first set, more errors than you can shake a stick at, and, most importantly, proof that Nadia Petrova is crazy and can get mad if you blankly stare at her the wrong way. It's clear that if more players were like this the Chuckster would really have her way. Unfortunately, she'll also have to deal with players like Clijsters, Sharapova, and the devious Double-H-Lady.

"These are not two happy women." (Tim Ryan, I think)

"Petrova can't wait for Sharapova to fall apart — she's already fallen apart: 27 unforced errors in the first set alone. Hingis has 27 unforced errors throughout 4 matches." (Mary Jo Fernandez)

"She holds, again, with help from Petrova." (Tim Ryan)

"When things don't go her way, she [Petrova] tends to retire." (Mary Jo Fernandez)

"So you're adding hypochondria to that list." (Tim Ryan commenting after graphic was displayed of all the times Petrova retired during matches in 2005.)"

"And that's long from" insert player here.

Finally, it's finally happened. I've cracked. This can go on no longer: PLEASE STOP GRUNTING! Thank you. That is all.