Opening Night is a Late Night at Open

Usually we don't have matchesthat go into the wee hours until maybe the third of fourth round.  ESPN2's first night of coverage was a late one.  Andy Roddick didn't finish his opening round match until almost 1am.

While Roddick didn't mind the lat night victory, I'm sure the majority of fans watching at home were like me and couldn't last that long. 

A ceremony featuring Andre Agassi, and Venus Williams taking almost three hours to win her three set match were the main culprits.

Hopefully we finish up a little earlier the next couple nights.

Tuesday's Match to Watch at The U.S. Open

Novak Djokovic(SRB)[4]

vs.

Ivan Ljubicic(CRO)

An intriguing match on Ashe Stadium.  Djokovic remains a question mark even though he is the #4 seed.  Ljubicic is a former top 5 player trying to regain form.  Djokovic seems to like playing in New York.  He reached he finals in 2007.

Look for Djokovic to have a little too much for the Croat.  Djokovic in 4 sets.

Breaking NFL News: Favre May Have Cracked Rib

Not the kind of ribs you get at Scott Ja-Mama's or Rudolph's in Minneapolis.  The most talked about ribs now may belong to the veteran Viking's quarterback.

Sources have said that Favre has been telling members of his own team he has one, possibly more cracked ribs.

No mention has been made of how he injured it, or how it impacts his ability to throw or take hits.  We'll see if Favre is as good playing through pain as he has been in the past.

NHRA and Drag Racing Need to go "All In" With Force Girls

The World Series of Poker and NHRA Drag Racing are two of the many sports that are featured almost every week on ESPN2. The telecasts play up the stories behind the participants, something striking and unique hoping to draw more casual fans into viewing these exciting events.

As we head this week in the U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis, the most important NHRA event of the year, there are many story lines that will be covered to death.

Maybe the most important story as we look into the future is how stable and healthy drag racing and specifically the NHRA will be heading into the next decade.

It has started, and we will continue to be hit over the head with the story of The Family Force. Can an article be written that doesn't include a mention of the famous world champion father? Well I'm going to try.

What I am saying is that Ashley Force and Courtney Force will be the face of drag racing in the next decade, and the hype machine should start now and kick into high gear. First everyone should go and take a look at The USA Column that Courtney wrote for USA Today as she checked in with them each week and let readers in on her life and how racing appears to becoming a bigger and bigger part of it. It include an entry about her first National Event win in Seattle, her life as a racer, and her "other" life as a normal college student.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/motor/nhra/2009-08-25-courtney-force-diary_N.htm

Coutney is the youngest Force Daughter, you can tell she is learning from Ashley's success, and her mistakes. She definitely has racing in her veins. I think eventually she has the potential to be bigger than Ashley. Even though she is still racing in the sportsman class, it's only a matter of time before she makes the jump to Top Fuel or Funny Car. She will have a good team and a good car no matter what class she races in, and she seem to be a faster learner than Ashley.

You can't turn ESPN2 on during an NHRA event and not see special attention focused on Funny Car driver Ashley Force. Ashley, the oldest of the three racing Force daughters is a contender for the 2009 Full Throttle Funny Car Championship. The camera crews are constantly following her around, she has a loyal legion of fans supporting her. Ashley is well spoken, a college graduate, nice to look at, and you just can't help rooting for her. Ashely may be the biggest draw now at NHRA events.

I don't want to forget the middle Force Daughter, Brittany. She races in the sportsman class too, but even she has admitted she has other interests and is not sure if drag racing is in her long term future.

If this was a poker game, the NHRA and drag racing in general have been dealt a full house with these girls. I believe it is time to ante up and go "all in".

Monday's Match to Watch at The U.S. Open

Viktoriya Kutuzova(UKR)

vs.

Kim Clijsters(BEL

The first match on Arthur Ashe Stadium Court at 11am.  This match marks Kim Clijsters return back to New York and Grand Slam Tennis.

She has played well in lead up tournaments this Summer, and all eyes will be on Kim and her fans supporting her.

Look for Clijsters in an easy straight set win.