January 2011
134 posts
2 tags
Abu Dhabi: Semifinal wrap up [Updated]
Articles
CNN write up
Sydney Morning Herald write up
A bit of the presser video…or is it snack time? I guess it’s both:
Posted by meko1686.
Photos:
[gallery link=”file”]
Photos by MARWAN NAAMANI/AFP/Getty Images, KARIM SAHIB/AFP/Getty Images, REUTERS/Jumana El Heloueh, AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili, and REUTERS/Jumana El Heloueh
Stupid me, left out the iB3 report -...
December 2010
63 posts
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Abu Dhabi: Hello, new season
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Rafa started off his 2011 season on the last day of 2010 by playing #6 Tomas Berdych in the Abu Dhabi exhibition tournament. Rafa’s timing was a bit off at first, but his forehand down the line was soon firing in the most...
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RafaLint: December 30th
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Ready for 2011 Rafa tennis in 2010? Rafa takes on Berdych tomorrow (well, today for some of you guys) in Abu Dhabi.
Year end wrap-up kind of stuff:
Year in review: Glory for Nadal
Tennis: The moments of 2010
YMAs (Yet More Awards):
...
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Abu Dhabi: Press and play videos
Rafa gave a presser today and then played with some enthusiastic tennis players.
From the iB3:
Mainly the same footage, but just a bit different:
Posted by meko1686.
I know he probably said the beginning is a “little hard”, but I swear he said a “little hairy”. New idiomatic phrase for him? And I love the “so” after that.
Original Article
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Abu Dhabi: First pictures
Presser pics and two from Rafa & Roger’s hit with some tots.
[gallery link=”file”]
Photos by HO/MUBADALA/AFP/Getty Images, and REUTERS/Jumana El Heloueh
Original Article
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RafaLint: December 29th
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Awards, awards, awards…
Rafa’s site has a translation of the elpais article where Rafa was named Spanish Athlete of the year (thanks, Holly)
L’Equipe names Nadal Champion of Champions (thanks, kefuoe) and video of Rafa getting...
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Abu Dhabi: On his way
It’s almost time to start a new tennis season. You know what that means, right? Time for a flight. And if Rafa’s getting on a plane in Mallorca, there must be TV coverage!
Thanks, Inés!
Original Article
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Rafa & Toni interview
Interview with Rafa and Toni for Mallorca Esports.
Original Article
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Abu Dhabi: Prep
Rafa’s getting ready for 2011:
Google mangling of the text on the iB3 page:
All good things end and Rafael Nadal have already completed your holiday. Although knowing the number 1 in the world sure is already looking forward to competing again. The Spaniard will bounce on the slopes soon, this Friday, New Year, the exhibition tournament in Abu Dhabi. How Deims, Rafel is keen to start the...
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RafaLint: December 27th
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Per Rafa’s site he’s been named the “Spanish Sportsman of the Decade” by Marca.com readers and as “Best Spanish Athlete of the year” by elpais.com.
Nadal’s feats are the year’s most impressive - by...
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Rafa's 2010 [Updated]
Vamosrafelnadal has posted the iB3 special on Rafa’s 2010 that aired on December 26th to YouTube.
Too bad the sound and video are out of synch. Although, I suppose it shouldn’t matter since I can’t understand anything!
Original Article
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Abu Dhabi: Autograph signing
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According to the official Abu Dhabi site (click on the “Activity Schedule” tab), Rafa and Roger will be signing autographs on Thursday, Dec 30th. And thus, Rafa’s 2011 season begins…in 2010.
Rafa wants...
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Bee at the Madrid Exo
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First of all, I must apologise to everyone for not getting this to you sooner. My excuses are genuine: exhaustion from very early mornings and very late nights, with a little too much celebrating the season’s festivities. But without further ado, a...
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Spam user accounts
Hey, guys - I’m in the middle of slowly deleting over 7000 spam user accounts. I’m trying to weed out the real ones from the bad, but if you suddenly find you can’t log in…sorry! :(
*note to self: Check these things more often.*
Original Article
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RafaLint: December 26th
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While I’m eating leftover pumpkin pie for breakfast at 1pm (nothing wrong with any of that, right?), thought I’d put together a lint post…
Videos:
The Nike Rafa/Gasol/Iniesta video with English subtitles
Who could say no to...
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Rafa reviews his year
Both posted by TheRafanadalchannel.
Original Article
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Just one more
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As part of the charity match promotions, Rafa did an interview with Blick. Here’s a Google mangling of the text with some assistance by college German that I haven’t used since the year Rafa was born. ;)
On...
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Nadal after Nadal
The past two years (I think), the iB3 aired a Rafa special on Christmas eve. This year, they are going for the day after. Mangle:
Sunday 26 at 21:25 pm, IB3 TV offering Rafael Nadal becomes number 1, a fantastic tribute to Rafael Nadal, making a review of 2010, the most successful of his career.
The beginning was difficult in Australia, but dragged the injury of 2009, but with the...
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Power to the people: Mapping the change
[caption id=”attachment_18405” align=”alignright” width=”150” caption=”Photo via Rafa's Facebook page”][/caption]
Here’s a lovely article about how the school Rafa’s foundation is helping fund and others like it are impacting the lives of children in India.
She is a bit taller than the net. The racquet dwarfs her small stature. But...
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Happy Holidays
For those who celebrate Christmas, I hope you have a wonderful holiday. For those who don’t, just go have yourself some fun too.
My friend Jess can’t stand tennis, but she’s very patient listening to me yammer about it all the time. She brought over my Christmas present today - a Rafa vs. Roger diorama made with pink flamingos (which I collect), Peeps (which I love) and spatulas...
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Grand slammaster Rafael Nadal
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There’s an article/Interview about Rafa in The National by Helena Frith Powell. Not a whole lot new, but here’s a few excerpts:
The world’s No. 1 tennis player is far less imposing in real life than he is on the court. He is...
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What hath Armani done?
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Not trying to ruin anyone’s holidays, but it looks like Armani decided to go with the pre-pubescent no-hair look for Rafa’s photoshoot. I don’t know who to be more frustrated at: society for thinking pre-pubescent is sexy; the Armani...
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RafaLint: December 23rd
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Holy schnitkies the interwebs are getting full of RafaLint. Time to gather…
Charity ball after the Madrid Exo:
Histórica actuación de Julio Iglesias en Madrid junto a Rafa Nadal y Roger Federer - nice photos!...
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New Nike spot
Brilla, ilumina tu país (which Google mangles to Shine, shine your country). Here’s more info about the spot - Marca.com.
Video sent in by Inés; article tweeted by Atch2.
Original Article
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United for Children: complete match video
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Video of the entire exhibition can be found via the rtve.es site:
Part 1 Part 2
Original Article
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United for children: videos and articles
Pre-match presser bit:
Pre-match interview:
Both posted by NadalCuriosities. If the Spanish interpreter makes it difficult to here Federer, put your speakers to all right - the interpreter is only in the left channel. Thanks for the tweet sara_xmn.
Rafa fiddling with a tennis ball during the kid’s clinic:
More from the kid’s clinic.
Last bit of the match:
Posted by...
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United for children: photos
Some photos from the exhibition in Madrid.
[gallery link=”file”]
Photos by REUTERS/Susana Vera, ALBERTO SIMON/AFP/Getty Images, Jasper Juinen/Getty Images, AP Photo/Victor R. Caivano
Original Article
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United for children
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A slower, higher bouncing court today gave both guys a bit of trouble in finding their range. They eventually settled in and the match started to feel a bit more competitive than yesterday. Oh sure, there was some exhibition shot-selection...
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United for children: pre-match
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Sorry, I’m so behind on everything -it’s been a day. Let’s start with a lovely photoset at Rafa’s site. Next up, lots of videos:
rtve report of arrival, presser, and TV appearance
An rtve video that isn’t...
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Match for Africa: Videos
Last game:
On court post-match interviews:
Both posted by vamosrafelnadal.
Another post-match interview.
Original Article
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Match for Africa: photos
Some photos from today’s exhibition.
[gallery link=”file”]
Photos by REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann, FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/Getty Images, AP Photo/Keystone, and Walter Bieri
And Fed posted a picture from the presser after the match. (Check his Facebook for more photos.)
Original Article
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Match for Africa
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No giggles, no microphones, just a well-scripted match with some fun shots and an easy-going atmosphere…oh, and they raised money for charity. Both guys looked relaxed and tried out a few new things: chip and charge...
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More pre-Match for Africa videos
Spanish press coverage:
Posted by Inés
And Fed the tour guide:
Posted by creditsuissevideos.
Original Article
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Photos from the Cornelius Atticus ceremony
[gallery link=”file”]
Photos by Manuel Torres /AFP/Getty Images
Also, more video footage here.
Original Article
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Rafa's arrived in Zurich
And guess who picked him up at the airport?
More videos and pictures here - love it when Rafa checks to make sure he got the car door closed properly.
(Thanks, Inés! Eeep! I’m late for work.)
Original Article
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RafaLint: December 20th
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Do These Guys Look Too Tired? - by Tom Perrotta
The fear in tennis is, if the season gets even shorter, the players are going to maintain their form by playing in more exhibitions, to the detriment of the current circuit.
He noted another...
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Ask Rafa and Rog
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Per this article (mangling), Rafa and Roger will hold a press conference before their Madrid match and will answer questions submitted by fans.
(Thanks, IsaRom.)
Original Article
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Atticus award [Updated]
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Rafa and Jorge Lorenzo have received their Cornelius Atticus Award. (Google mangling)
Before the words of the tennis player, spoke his representative, Carlos Costa, who praised the virtues of Nadal, especially his “enthusiasm, passion, friendship...
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On the couch with Ana Maria Parera
[caption id=”attachment_19383” align=”alignright” width=”150” caption=”Photo via Marca”][/caption]
Inés sent me an interview with Rafa’s mom that appeared in the print edition of Marca. She also kindly transcribed the pdf file and I’ve put it through a google mangling..trying to at least clear up some pronouns along the way.
INTERVIEW...
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Charity Exo news
Here’s an article at iB3 about the exos - sounds like there are some fundraising gala dinners going on as well. (Google mangling)
And here’s a nice promo for the Zurich match and Roger’s foundation:
Posted by daveress1976
Original Article
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Rafael named BBC Overseas Sports Personality of...
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As many people have emailed and tweeted me about, Rafa has been named the BBC Overseas Sports Personality of the Year. The text of Rafa’s video acceptance speech can be found on the program’s live blog. And, if you are in...
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The court in your hands
Rafa’s foundation will be selling the court the Madrid exo was played on. After the match is complete, they will cut up the court and sell the pieces to raise money for the foundation. More about this can be found on Rafa’s site.
A unique occasion to help children and obtain a piece of history: a sample of the court where the duel of all duels will be fought, a match which will be...
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Manacor favs Rafa
Video from today’s ceremony whereby Rafa was named a favorite son of Manacor. First up, a video from rtve via Inés:
Will someone please get and force that man to use a blow-dryer? The shots of him outside? Stripes of hair and scalp…not a good look.
Unfortunately, embedded blip.tv videos (used by the iB3) have suddenly started auto-playing on page load. I can’t stand that. So,...
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Favorite son
Per the text accompanying this video (see below), Rafa will be named a favorite son of Manacor this evening and the event will be live on TV. No new footage in the video, but some nice moments in there.
Rafel Nadal serà nomenat avui capvespre fill predilecte del seva ciutat, de Manacor. D’aquesta manera, l’Ajuntament vol reconéixer la trajectòria del seu ciutadà més internacional. També és...
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RafaLint: December 16th
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Articles:
Rafa and Kim Clijsters have been named the ITWA’s 2010 Ambassadors of the Year
Rafa’s one of Hello! Magazine’s personalities of the year
Ten on ten in 2010
The 2010 Baggie Awards
And some photos from today’s...
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Onda Cero interview
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Inés pointed out a Spanish radio interview (Part 1; Part 2) to me. She also sent me a link to an article with quotes from the interview and offered to translate it tomorrow. (Until then, here’s the Google mangling.)
Poking around the web, I...
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Charity exos and TennisTV.com
TennisTV.com will be streaming Rafa and Roger’s charity exhibitions online. You can watch both of them for the reasonable fee of $9.99! (This is not a full subscription to all TennisTV.com matches, this is for the exhibitions only.) All proceeds from the streaming fees will go to Rafa and Roger’s foundations!
Here’s the promo text from TTV:
Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer...
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RafaLint: December 14th
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Man, go on a long weekend vacation out of town and the lint piles up…in the freaking off-season!
Articles:
Rafael Nadal and Caroline Wozniacki are world champions
Piqué, Leo Messi, Rafa Nadal y Alejandro Sanz, chicos de calendario por...
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Win tickets to the Madrid Exo
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Are you able to get to Madrid but are without tickets to the Rafa/Rog exo? Here’s info on a contest that might just be for you!
Original Article
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Practice vids
Videos of Rafa trying to hit Marc! off the court:
Posted by davidjnadal and pointed out to me by Inés.
Original Article