The local reporter just emailed me his story for tomorrow's paper. Hope it gets past the editor, as it is the slow season here in Vegas.
A Witness to Sports History
Posted 07-10-2008 at 03:53 PM by GreenDoberman <!-- | Permalink-->
<!-- ads could go here -->First there was McEnroe-Borg, then there was Navratilova-Evert, recently we’ve witnessed Federer-Nadal. On the vast landscape of tennis rivalries they all pale in comparison to one, however. A sleepy Thursday July morning in Las Vegas brought us the third epic encounter in the trilogy simply known to net minders the world round as the Doberman-Porno rivalry.
The Las Vegas Strip has witnessed sports history before. Who can forget the epic first round of Hagler-Hearns, the sheer chaos of Tyson-Holyfield, or the bone-chilling Rebel chants of the Tark the Shark years? Yet in a city known for tearing down its history, it was only fitting that Bugsy Siegel’s Flamingo Hotel was the setting for a match that will be talked about for years to come. This reporter can only find two other occasions that this city of vice stood still, when JFK got shot and the day we heard Elvis died.
The match started out innocently enough with the wily Doberman breaking serve early as the tourists settled in the lounge chairs around the paradise-like pool setting. Despite the early start time, the Green one was bound and determined that the last meeting, a two set destruction of Porno Paul on his hometown Hollywood Hills turf, was not merely a fluke but an indicator of things to come. The visitor from the Golden State fought back with a scrappy game plan and newly discovered serve to keep the set close. As the heat reigned down on the concrete, Doberman put away the man of Porn 6-4 in the first set.
Determine to keep his momentum going amidst a gathering crowd of showgirls, cocktail waitresses, and aspiring porn actresses the Green one easily took the first game of the second set and the murmurs within the crowd were whether Porno Paul would wilt under the scorching heat. That same heat seemed to sap the energy and momentum from Doberman as Paul ran off three straight games. Fighting gamely and desperate to avoid a third set, Green Doberman rallied to even the service breaks.
As the temperature rose, Doberman’s serve sunk and the legend from Porn Valley once again broke serve and held on to take the second set by an identical score of 6-4.
With his game plan of extending the Doberman to three sets and the torturous heat reaching temperatures near 120 degrees, the decided betting underdog Porno Paul quickly ran out to a 3-1 third set lead. As the crowds mind wandered to strip clubs and craps tables, it was at that moment we saw the greatness that grandparents tell their grandchildren on rainy spring days. Despite rubbery-legs and a rapidly depleting gas tank, Green Doberman reached down for that something extra-special we have come to see in the great ones. Rallying to even the match at 3-3 and with the exhortations of the partisan hometown crowd, Doberman beat the odds and his quickly cramping legs to extend the match.
Going on three hours in triple-digit heat and with the crowd buzzing that they were seeing something historic, the exhausted compatriots traded jabs and evened the score at 5-5. All in attendance knew this would come down to a gut-wrenching tiebreaker for all the marbles. And as each competitor held gamely to their serve, time stood still at 6-6. It would be first to seven for more than bragging rights. At this point, like the vastly inferior in quality but just as compelling Federer-Nadal Wimbledon final, greatness was at stake. Just minutes from complete physical exhaustion, Doberman pulled deep down in his bag of tricks to pull ahead 5-1. With his cheering throng of Dober-fans rooting wildly, the Green one seemed destined for yet another victory. Porn Valley’s favorite son had other ideas, however, as he showed the fortitude that has made him an adult industry powerhouse in running off four straight points to even the score at five apiece.
How much longer could these two warriors continue to battle? Both staggered up to the end line and gave each other there best shot. This was Hagler-Hearns, Castillo-Corrales, and Gatti-Ward all rolled into one. The crowd rose to a crescendo as the Doberman hit a smooth passing shot past the weary Porn-man. Amid chants of “Green D, Green D, Green D” the hometown hero summoned up one last ounce of courage and as the ball fell solemnly into the back of the court and two warriors collapsed exhausted from three and a half hours of toe-to-toe battle, the announcer solemnly read the results. Game, set, match Doberman. 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (7-5).
It is cliché to say there are no losers in a match like this. All who witnessed would agree that the gritty, gutty performance of the underdog Porno Paul was something special despite having fallen just short of his goal. And all would agree that those who watched Green Doberman fight off the leg cramps, the sweltering heat, and the craftiness of his opponent had truly seen what it was like to watch an athlete dig deep. This reporter can tell you that it may be years, decades perhaps, before he can see two heavyweights elevate their game and battle on such a grand stage as this.
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A Witness to Sports History
Posted 07-10-2008 at 03:53 PM by GreenDoberman <!-- | Permalink-->
<!-- ads could go here -->First there was McEnroe-Borg, then there was Navratilova-Evert, recently we’ve witnessed Federer-Nadal. On the vast landscape of tennis rivalries they all pale in comparison to one, however. A sleepy Thursday July morning in Las Vegas brought us the third epic encounter in the trilogy simply known to net minders the world round as the Doberman-Porno rivalry.
The Las Vegas Strip has witnessed sports history before. Who can forget the epic first round of Hagler-Hearns, the sheer chaos of Tyson-Holyfield, or the bone-chilling Rebel chants of the Tark the Shark years? Yet in a city known for tearing down its history, it was only fitting that Bugsy Siegel’s Flamingo Hotel was the setting for a match that will be talked about for years to come. This reporter can only find two other occasions that this city of vice stood still, when JFK got shot and the day we heard Elvis died.
The match started out innocently enough with the wily Doberman breaking serve early as the tourists settled in the lounge chairs around the paradise-like pool setting. Despite the early start time, the Green one was bound and determined that the last meeting, a two set destruction of Porno Paul on his hometown Hollywood Hills turf, was not merely a fluke but an indicator of things to come. The visitor from the Golden State fought back with a scrappy game plan and newly discovered serve to keep the set close. As the heat reigned down on the concrete, Doberman put away the man of Porn 6-4 in the first set.
Determine to keep his momentum going amidst a gathering crowd of showgirls, cocktail waitresses, and aspiring porn actresses the Green one easily took the first game of the second set and the murmurs within the crowd were whether Porno Paul would wilt under the scorching heat. That same heat seemed to sap the energy and momentum from Doberman as Paul ran off three straight games. Fighting gamely and desperate to avoid a third set, Green Doberman rallied to even the service breaks.
As the temperature rose, Doberman’s serve sunk and the legend from Porn Valley once again broke serve and held on to take the second set by an identical score of 6-4.
With his game plan of extending the Doberman to three sets and the torturous heat reaching temperatures near 120 degrees, the decided betting underdog Porno Paul quickly ran out to a 3-1 third set lead. As the crowds mind wandered to strip clubs and craps tables, it was at that moment we saw the greatness that grandparents tell their grandchildren on rainy spring days. Despite rubbery-legs and a rapidly depleting gas tank, Green Doberman reached down for that something extra-special we have come to see in the great ones. Rallying to even the match at 3-3 and with the exhortations of the partisan hometown crowd, Doberman beat the odds and his quickly cramping legs to extend the match.
Going on three hours in triple-digit heat and with the crowd buzzing that they were seeing something historic, the exhausted compatriots traded jabs and evened the score at 5-5. All in attendance knew this would come down to a gut-wrenching tiebreaker for all the marbles. And as each competitor held gamely to their serve, time stood still at 6-6. It would be first to seven for more than bragging rights. At this point, like the vastly inferior in quality but just as compelling Federer-Nadal Wimbledon final, greatness was at stake. Just minutes from complete physical exhaustion, Doberman pulled deep down in his bag of tricks to pull ahead 5-1. With his cheering throng of Dober-fans rooting wildly, the Green one seemed destined for yet another victory. Porn Valley’s favorite son had other ideas, however, as he showed the fortitude that has made him an adult industry powerhouse in running off four straight points to even the score at five apiece.
How much longer could these two warriors continue to battle? Both staggered up to the end line and gave each other there best shot. This was Hagler-Hearns, Castillo-Corrales, and Gatti-Ward all rolled into one. The crowd rose to a crescendo as the Doberman hit a smooth passing shot past the weary Porn-man. Amid chants of “Green D, Green D, Green D” the hometown hero summoned up one last ounce of courage and as the ball fell solemnly into the back of the court and two warriors collapsed exhausted from three and a half hours of toe-to-toe battle, the announcer solemnly read the results. Game, set, match Doberman. 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (7-5).
It is cliché to say there are no losers in a match like this. All who witnessed would agree that the gritty, gutty performance of the underdog Porno Paul was something special despite having fallen just short of his goal. And all would agree that those who watched Green Doberman fight off the leg cramps, the sweltering heat, and the craftiness of his opponent had truly seen what it was like to watch an athlete dig deep. This reporter can tell you that it may be years, decades perhaps, before he can see two heavyweights elevate their game and battle on such a grand stage as this.
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