Nice showing by Juan Martin del Potro tonight at the US Open, stunning Roger Federer and putting stupid jerks like me in my place.

See, I’m not a big tennis guy…and like most other dummies who think they know everything about sports, I didn’t give JM del P much of a chance to beat Federer.

In fact, I went ahead and gave the 20-year-old Argentine a nickname that I thought summed up his chances to win….. “Del Potro-Potty.”

Not my best effort, but it got a few chuckles around the office.

And then he went ahead and pulled off one of the greatest upsets in US Open history….effectively slamming the door to the “Del Potro-Potty” in my face.

So I take my hat off to del Potro, who’s quest for the title went through NOT JUST Federer (who had won 40 straight matches at Flushing Meadows), but Rafael Nadal, too.

My goodness what is going on in Flushing Meadows...first of all Roger Federer actually LOST in the Mens final of the US Open. 40 straight wins...DONE! You have to hand it to the 20 year old Argentine, Juan Martin del Potro though, he showed grit with all those comebacks. Congrats to him on his first majors victory! However, you can't dismiss the fact Federer broke down after arguing a call with the head official in the second set and couldn't get it together. Federer mentioned the S-word on live air...that's always interesting.

It seems frustration ruled the Open this year. Serena...Federer...top players just losing it. Look it's an emotional sport, I get it but quit the outbursts and cursing unless you are a John McEnroe who will do it on command. Then it becomes more show than sports and I don't want that. I want to see/hear the slams and forehand winners more than the potty mouths. Clean it up folks!

Wow... Never saw this before... A tennis match ending like this... Serena Williams was defeated by Kim Clijsters 6-4, 7-5 in the semis of the U.S. Open. The match ended in a controversy. Clijsters was leading 6-5 in the second set when Serena was called for a foot fault. Serena vehemently disagreed with the call... Replays showed that it was a very close call, possibly a bad one... but very close. But Serena lost control. Instead of arguing the call, she verbally assaulted the line judge. The audio was somewhat tough to hear but it looked like Williams threatened to shove the *expletive omitted* ball down the women's throat. That's not nice. She definitely gestured with the ball and later racket. That much I do know. This is supposed to be a gentleman's sport. Serena definitely did not act in a sportsmanlike manner. Her behavior got her a point deduction. So that ended the match. Serena went to Clijsters, who had no idea what was going on, and congratulated her. Williams was on her way.

Who is Richard Gasquet, and what is he doing in this blog? In case you're not a tennis fan, Gasquet is a French tennis player who a few years ago was ranked as high as number 7 in the world.

Two months ago, Gasquet tested positive for cocaine, and faced a ban from the International Tennis Federation of up to two years. However, in the "Strange But True" category, the ITF believed Gasquet's defense.

It seems that the admittedly hard partying Gasquet was in a London nightclub when he kissed a girl he knew only as "Pamela." According to Gasquet, during the smooch "Pamela" "contaminated" (the official report's word) the Frenchman with the drug. The ITF believes that Gasquet's a man of good character: the case unusual "to the point of being unique."

Gasquet's other argument:He wasn't competing at the time of the drug test because of a shoulder injury. Cocaine is ONLY a banned substance for COMPETING players. Huh??? That seems fishy to me.

Maybe Manny Ramirez could have used that excuse. He wasn't on the field or at plate when he tested positive for PED's and served a 50 game suspension. He was in a men's room submitting a urine sample

Accidental or not, athletes, like all adults, have to keep tabs on what's going into their bodies. There's no report that Gasquet went running to a hospital or his own doctor saying, "Oh, no, what did I just swallow?!" It happens all the time: Celebrities escaping trouble because of their celebrity. This case is just a bit more ridiculous.

Now that Roger Federer has finally achieved the career Grand Slam with his win at the French Open, are we finally ready to call him the best ever?

Pete Sampras thinks so. He said as much after Federer won this morning and tied him with 14 career Grand Slam titles.

But I say, “not so fast, Pete.”

While most of us were swept up in the A-Rod nonsense, this story flew under the radar, and it’s one that arguably should leave you MORE outraged.

Turns out women’s tennis player Shahar Peer was barred from competing at the Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships (which began Monday) because she is Israeli.

The United Arab Emirates denied Peer, the 48th-ranked female tennis player in the world, a visa to play in their lucrative ($2 million) tournament despite Peer qualifying as per ATP/WTA standards.

The UAE government cited concerns for Peer’s safety, saying local fans would boycott the tournament given Israel’s military involvement in Gaza. Meanwhile the tournament has gone on as scheduled.

From where I’m sitting, this is an OUTRAGE and the WTA missed a huge opportunity to take a stand against outright racism.

Maria Sharapova unveiled her limited-edition Canon Powershot Diamond Collection Wednesday, August 20 2008 at New York City's South Street Seaport.

I had the enviable task of covering the unveiling of Canon’s new Powershot Diamond Collection on Wednesday. I wasn’t as interested in the diamond encrusted camera, however, as I was the 6’2 Russian tennis player that was doing the unveiling. Although Maria Sharapova won’t be playing in the U.S. Open this week due to a torn rotator cuff, she did make it out for a night on the red carpet at the South Street Seaport. I caught up with her to talk about the injury, and her thoughts on having to sit out her first major. Video after the jump.

This year marks the 36th anniversary of the passing of the Title IX amendment -the Education Amendment to the Civil Rights Act. The amendment states that no discrimination exist for those seeking opportunities in education. The most “public face” of Title IX is in athletics. Basically, girls and young women in high school and college must have access to sports programs as their male counterparts.

One of the most vocal leaders in the pursuit of equality is tennis Hall of Famer Billie Jean King. She spoke with our Sal Marchiano about Title IX’s importance and continuing impact.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEO...

Sometimes athletes let their emotions get the best of them. Guys break clubs, bats or knock over water coolers. We love to see players come undone or be strong emotional leaders. Giants QB Eli Manning would disagree. Blasted for years for not being part drill sergeant, part Tony Robbins, Elijah will soon have a brand new ring from Tiffany’s to prove there’s a place for calm and understated.

Eli may need to talk to Russian tennis player Mikhail Youzhny. Until recently, this 25 year old was so obscure that there’s not even a picture of him on ESPN’s tennis website. But Youzhny has gained Youtube cult status.

The other night in Miami, Mikhail lost a point and promptly hit himself in the head 3 CONSECUTIVE TIMES with his graphite racket. Result: A gash down his face that had to be patched up by medical staff on site. He then proceeded to win the match in three sets!
Mikhail-two things: Give John McEnroe, Jimmy Connors and Jeff Tarango a call-they’ll be happy to explain how to properly abuse a racket, linesman, or chair umpire. That’s why they exist on a tennis court. You could become a tennis celebrity like say, Anna Kournikova-NOT good enough to win, but interesting to watch.

Remember fans: Clubs, sticks, rackets and bats are NOT to be used for any study in masochism-self or otherwise. Please use them as intended.

Youzhny’s episode is funny, but turns out Johnny Mac may be right when he claims tennis officials are asleep at the wheel. Because one year at Wimbledon, a lineswoman-or is that ‘linesperson’ in our comically PC world -fell asleep during a match!

Turns out in 1964, on the first day of the tournament, Dorothy Cavies-Brown, according to legend, came straight from the first day umpires party (aka ‘liquid lunch’) and nodded off during a match between Clark Graebner and Max Segal. No one noticed until a close call in the third set. On a close call, there was no sound from Dorothy. Instead of 40 love, it was 40 winks, Conflicting accounts have Segal, Graebner and/or a ballboy named Robbie Thornton waking Cavis-Brown up (apparently ALL 3 tried) to the laughter of the fans and London tabloids.

Can you IMAGINE McEnroe -he’d call for firings and a replay of the entire match!

By the way, Segal won the match, and Dorothy was eased out of Wimbledon despite protests that she was stone cold sober. As for the first day umpires party, it was never held again.

Thanks to the book The Sports Hall of Shame by Bruce Nash and Allan Zullo and this website for the curious but true case of Dorothy Cavis-Brown.