Veni, Vidi, Vinci

 How much older than Serena is she?

The first person, I think, since Steffi in over 20 years to potentially get a grand slam with this title
As I mentioned in another thread, nothing is predictable

 If Victor is lucky enough to play in another final AND he gets the MOTM, it would either be due to blind sentiment or due to one moment of lucky brilliance. There is no logical way thet he can be the best of the best at @ least 5 years older than the norm AND more than 5kg's lighter than the bare minimum for his position in top flight rugby. People punting him as a game changer is even more delusional than those that thought John Smith was irreplaceable in the previous RWC. Victor is only a starting contender because the coaching staff failed to properly school a proper hire to the throne. Good stop gap player, but contender for the best player in the ultimate match in rugga in 4 years? No chance at all!

 Totally disagree. I bet Victor is just as strong as he was when he won the 2007 WC MOM. It's very plausible he has lost some pace and endurance....but he is probably an even smarter player now. So much of this is the decision making and anticipation.

Next to Victor Lomp is a programmed robot ....if he can operate within the programme he will be effective. If it breaks down as it did in the last 15 minutes against Oz he ceases to be a programmed robot and becomes just a robot.

 Wise man Draad wee victor is a disaster waiting to happen. I see also the hapless mcaaaw getting praised to high heaven for doing zip.
But great credit to Vinci. Never have I been so wrong in predicting an outcome. I switched channels after Vinci lost the first set 6-2 as it seemed a complete mismatch.Serena cho ked big time. 

Chocked?

Serena was under more pressure than she could handle....past the tipping point. It happens to the Proteas all the time....why not a woman by herself trying to do something that has only ever been achieved a handful of times?  

Weight is so over-rated.
Bigger is not better if it sacrifices athleticism. I think the Boks emphasis on bulk is the #1 reason we struggle in the last quarter of matches against Aus and NZ in particular and the #1 reason our lads seem to get injured more frequently. The excuse for bulk and the accompanying heavy weight lifting is that it helps the body cope with the rigors of a season. My observation is that heavy weightlifting and the nutritional focus on weight gain stresses the body more than the actual game does and backing off to a more functional approach to strength would be far more beneficial. 
This is something the NFL has been coming around to in the last couple years. Case in point was Deangelo Williams last night for the Steelers in the NFL opener. Lost 15 pounds in the off-season and he was running last night with more explosiveness and quickness at 32 years old than anything I can remember in the previous 10 years when he was with the Panthers.

 This is the most ridiculous statement on Victor Naledi I have seen for years - he is as strong as he was in 2007 and he is wiser 8 years on.  This statement is not reflected the results in tests he played in since his return to test rugby in 2014 - the results were bad in tests he played in - 12 matches played, 5 losses.  The Bulls also went downhill in Super 15 in 2014 in Super 15 compared to what they achieved in 2013, when he was not playing.
Older and wiser is fine if reflected in his performances in the games he played in.  His performances veered between average and below par.
It is delusional on the part of this supporters to state otherwise - since the deteriorated results in games stemmed from the deterioration in performances of the Tight 5 to a Tight 4 situation  - all because of Naledi Matfield.              

 "Serena was under more pressure than she could handle....past the tipping point. It happens to the Proteas all the time....why not a woman by herself trying to do something that has only ever been achieved a handful of times?"
True Moz, while there's pressure there's an upset waiting in the wings, it takes an iron will to slay the monster.

Yes and a devastating end to all the expectations...all the more so because Serena was playing a woman with half her physical talent. We keep underestimating the mental game.

 A younger player beating an older one - and suddenly it becomes a hot topic for  Mozart - coming from him that really is funny.  He tries all kinds of things to advance the interests of Victor Naledi - nothing works.  

Pleased to admit that I made a bit of money on this game.
Serena had to eventually lose........
Great win for the Italian even with the crowd on Serena's side.
Cheers.

 
Fantastic match!!!!

Thoroughly enjoyed it.

Serena's her senior by a year.

Victor isn't in her league.

Loved Serena's tantrums ... enjoyed Ro berta Vinci smiling face on the other side even more.

Great to see the gorilla go down.

 Victor strong........bwhaaahaaaaaaaaa

 and what about mens tennis.....Roger cleaned up half the youth brigade and is still #2.

I actually think Roger is better now than ever. His peak was defined not by age, but more by the arrival of Nadal and Djokovic. Were it not for the Joker, who is himself 28 years old, Fed would be winning regularly.  

 Mozart
The age demon - at it again.  he backs Naledi Matfield as if hios life depends on it - whenever somebody queries is he refers to a tackle 8 years ago and said that it shows physical strength.   It was nothing of the sort - it was a tackle of a lock on a center and not particularly strong at that - the English retained possession with ease and the actual try was saved by Rossouw - not Matfield.
That is the kind of skyscraper that he spreads on this site regularly.  However, whenever anybody says otherwise.   Let us get the story again - the aged players are stronger than the younger ones.  We will discuss this after the Springbpok's departure from the WC.
There is no bigger fool than an old fool - that fits Mozart like a glove.      

 
Serena's age has exactly what to do with Victor?

Federer's age has exactly what to do with Victor?

The "hack's" age has exactly what to do with Victor?

Are you off on a delusional tangent again?

Not feeling well after you nap?

Really Mozart ... surely you can do better than that?

It's what is known as "desperation" I'm afraid.

Try all you like ... it's a silly attempt to validate your worth to society.

You are still going to wake in the morning to a wet bed. You are still going to wonder where you are ... and at times who you are. You are still going to leave us with a host of blank posts that will need revisiting so that you can type in the word "duplicate" ...

Old is old ... old is weak ... old is slow ... old is tired .. old even gets to the point where you are no longer self aware ... old is everything that young is not!!!

As a young man you probably had the ability to shag your wife 10 times a day, everyday ... now if you manage to get a single session of whoopy, every six months, it's an achievement ... and then it probably takes you a week to catch your breath.

Live with it.

Federer has been revived by his coach, Stefan Edberg. He's playing a brand of tennis we haven't seen from him in quite some time.  He's found a second breath so to speak.

The Federer of old has returned and looks hungrier than ever. The proof of that is visibly on display every time he plays a match

It's fantastic to see.

Sadly it also has nothing to do with Victor Matfield ... no matter how much you try to twist the facts ... he is weaker than he was before ... slower than he ever was before ... tires far easier than he ever has before ... his reactions are a lot slower than they were before ... and all of this has to do with an aging body ... a body that's slowly rotting away ... giving ground to age. 

He is less of his former self ... and each day that goes by makes it even more so.

This too is visibly apparent each time he runs onto the pitch. The entire planet has taken note of it. Except you of course.
 
Trying to convince us that he's getting stronger is laughable. As I said above ... it's a desperate attempt of yours to hang on to the fantasy of youth.

Really pathetic.

You are frail and weak. Lesser of a man than you were yesterday and I'm afraid I have some very bad news ... you'll be even worse tomorrow.

In the end it's not us that you need to convince but rather yourself. We already know what age brings. You alone are a fine example of what going backwards looks like.   

I have tried to explain this as simply as I can ... all in an attempt to help you and your feeble brain find closure.

 Dr Mozzzz even if wee matfiled is a strong as he was in 2007 that spells disaster as he has always been the weakest lock ever to play international rugby.  The guy is hapless show pony who cons those lacking rugby acumen! victor's backline play is simply not up to it and very importantly he is supposed to be a tight forard. 
Because of him we have to field big and slower loose forwards to compensate. wee victor the pap one fouls up our whole pack.
Bring in a real lock like Lood and send the con man packing.

 CC you are going to offend some of our liberal members on this site with your references to some sport figures and teams. So, who cares.
Two in particular Gorilla and Zuma's Goats brought the house down at our breakfast get together of rugby supporters this morning.
By the way I paid for the breakfast as I bet against Serena winning the USA Open and I also took a long shot about the semi final.
Keep them coming....enjoyed the laugh.
Cheers.

Well done Roberta

 Serena today

 Serena kin 2002 with Venus

 Was this incredible change a result of weight training or something else.Heck Nadal looks like weakling in comparison!
Anybody need a body guard?

 

Oh brilliant HasBeen you have discovered Serena has built up.   CC calls her  a gorilla....Fartur applauds that. Frankly you chaps are an embarrassment to South Africa.

 

 No, sorry I have no connection with South Africa what soever.
But I do have a sense of humor.

 Sorry Dr Mozzzz I didnt know Serena was your type of girl!If I am mistaken you could try her as a body guard.  I doubt Etzebeth could best her!

 Mozz, Slyvestor Stallone wouldnt beat her in an arm wrestle and neither would those oaks you were watching the other day. 
I do however agree that the mental aspect of the game is important. Victor though flopped as attack coach and as the bulle captain. Zero credentials? 

Wrong again HasBeen, I don't like the whole Serena circus ...but while I am relaxed about the odd insult, calling a black woman a gorilla is beyond the pale. We should be more sophisticated  than that  Its high school humour at best, racist at worst.

Lets not get two politically correct Mozz. If Serena was white the same comment could be made. 
She is huge and I wonder how she got that big. Look at those arms. Weird. Also she is pretty short at 5 ft 9"  Built like a tank. A man' s worst nightmare. 

 A hearty congrats to Flavia Pennetta. Fancy retiring after a win like that. 
So glad to see some thinking tennis and not ou Serana bellowing away at every opportunity and being a very overblown drama queen.
Some Italian style went down very well with everyone. It was refreewshing to see something authentic with real warmth.
D r Mozzz will be having a minor stroke by now. 

Duplicate . 

duplicate  

 Beeno, she  probably could beat Etzabeth, good point but what does that say about your best lock?

 JW lets get some perspective here. Serena could outscrum the wee abs pap pack all by herself! 

The comment could be made, but it wouldn't be made...that's the point. Serena may not be sweetness and light, but generally she is gracious to her opponents. And my guess is she is a nicer person than Halep or Azarenka.