July 4th, 2009 Picks (U.S.A. - 233 Years Strong)

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(skip to picks)3-0-0 today and .750 on my picks in this here blog. Started out with Federer continuing his domination of the men's draw with a straight sets victory over Tommy Haas, then Anthony Kim who completely lost the accuracy on his drive but was just good enough, and finished with the Atlanta Dream even after they killed my W4 the other day. This is my eighth 5 game streak or better this round and I'll just keep going with my strategy of picking games without considering the loss. If I'm lucky, I'm lucky, and recently I've been pretty lucky. So on to a bit more o'da luck and a few more o'da picks.

Recaps

Federer Keeps Date With History

R. Federer def. T. Haas 7-6(3) 7-5 6-3

I think the photos tell the story of the match. Federer was calm and in control while Haas was pushed to the limit just to stay mildly competitive.

``Federer, the five-time champion, can never have served better than he did today. He never permitted Haas even a peek at a break point, landed 75% of his first serves on target and won 89% of his first serve points. Even his second serve was lethal, gathering him an astonishing 81%. After being turfed out of the quarter-finals by Haas, Novak Djokovic forecast that the 31-year-old was capable of surprising Federer. It did not happen, well though Haas himself served throughout. But he was embarking on mission impossible against a genius who permitted him a mere 10 points in three sets of perfection. Trailing 4-3, Haas was foot-faulted on his first serve at 15-all. Clearly disturbed by this, the first such call of the match, his concentration wavered. Four break points were saved but a fifth chance for Federer proved too much as Haas followed a double fault by netting a backhand approach. It was a tame way to drop serve after all that had gone before. So Federer stepped up to serve out for the match. He did it to love, the 10th time this had happened on a day that was just about perfect for him."

Read more....Match StatsFederer InterviewHaas InterviewRecord Setting Roger

Kim A Stroke Better Than Furyk For Nine Holes, And Through Round Two

Front 9 Scores: A. Kim 34, J. Furyk 35

Anthony Kim played a solid drive on the first hole to take a one stroke lead, then hit up and down from the rough for most of the front nine, still claiming a couple of birdies. His bogey on #9 along with Furyk's birdie there nearly drew the two players even.

``Defending champion Anthony Kim couldn't build on his course-record 62 from the opening round. He played in the afternoon, after Woods set the target, and caught him briefly before missing too many fairways and having to settle for a 70 that put him two behind. Jim Furyk, adding more star power to the leaderboard, had a 67 and was alone in fourth. Most eyes were behind Pampling, however, with the prospects of a Woods-Kim shootout at Congressional. Kim is regarded as the most promising young American to challenge Woods, and despite a swing that deserted him midway through the round, he's only two behind."

Read more....LeaderboardKim InterviewFuryk InterviewPhotos

Dream Realized As Atlanta Surpass Inaugural Season Win Total With Five

Atlanta Dream 72 - 65 Washington Mystics

Against a less talented opponent than Minnesota the Dream were good enough to get their fifth win of the season.

``Alana Beard had 16 points for Washington, which has dropped three of four and missed its first nine 3-point attempts before Matee Ajavon hit two straight in the final 2 minutes. The Mystics began the game with the WNBA's third-best percentage beyond the arc at 39.4. The Dream, who had lost four of five, forced Washington into 28 turnovers, a season high for the Mystics that resulted in 23 points. After winning just four games as an expansion team last year, Atlanta improved to 5-6 this season."

Read more....Box Score

Picks
1) Serena Williams vs. Venus Williams - Venus Williams
2) Trelleborgs FF @ Hammarsby - Trelleborgs FF win or draw
3) Fred Couples vs. Rocco Mediate - Mediate cards a lower front 9 score
4) Milwaukee Brewers @ Chicago Cubs - Milwaukee
5) Atlanta Braves @ Washington Nationals - Washington
6) Toronto Blue Jays @ New York Yankees - Toronto
7) Anthony Kim vs. Jim Furyk - Furyk cards a lower third round score
8) New York Mets @ Philadelphia Phillies - New York
9) Detroit Tigers @ Minnesota Twins - Detroit
10) DC United @ Columbus Crew - DC United win or draw
11) Oakland Athletics @ Cleveland Indians - Oakland
12) Jeff Gordon vs. Jimmie Johnson - Gordon has a better finishing position
13) Tampa Bay Rays @ Texas Rangers - Tampa Bay
14) New England Revolution @ Los Angeles Galaxy - Los Angeles win