OWENWBROWN

I learned to play tennis when I was a little kid. My dad took me out to the courts in Franklin, Tennessee for the first time on a Sunday afternoon. It was sunny and warm. We each had a wooden racquet. That must have been at least thirty years ago. I certainly wasn’t a progeny but I remember having a good time. Enter love for Tennis stage left.

I didn’t play much after. A little in high school. Not until college where I had some buddies who played every day. In order to be at all competitive (I never was) I decided to take a class. I played almost every day during that semester. After that, not so much. When I met Linda she encouraged me to play. There were courts right across the street from her apartment in Culver City, CA. We’d walk over most weekend days and play for an hour; sometimes two.

It was also around that time I got back into watching Tennis on television. While I knew all the big names, as Linda watched, I watched, and I picked up more and more of the less famous and upcoming athlete’s names. Once you know the names, it’s much easier to get into the action. That’s true for any sport. This is why, for example, the Olympics take such great care with their athlete highlight profile pieces.

With a few years of television viewing under my belt, I had the opportunity last year to attend the opening week of my first Grand Slam in person (My Tips). The US Open in New York City. It was really an amazing experience. I’m not there live this year but you can bet I’ll be watching; as much as time allows.

Here’s who I’ll be rooting for and why.

Federer – I haven’t exactly rooted against Roger since he won the French but I haven’t felt bad for him loosing. It’s not that he broke Pete Sampras’ all time Grand Slam Titles record, but the way he started acting afterwards. A little smug and self important for my taste. For a Tennis legend that is. Just my opinion.

Nadal – I always enjoyed making fun of his guy’s muscle shirts and clam diggers. That was kind of hard to get past. Maybe it was the wardrobe update, but whatever the reason, the more I watch the more I respect the guy. Not only for being so good, working so hard, but for being so gracious. For a while there I felt like he was the anti-Roger; not talking about head to head competition, but in his attitude.

Soderling – The Big Swede. The Giant Killer. This guy lately has been going for it against the big boys; goes for broke on every serve, every groundstroke. He crushes it.

Monfils – This Frenchman is a hoot, that’s what he is. He plays like a madman sometimes.

Roddick – Andy would have a half dozen titles if it wasn’t for, well, the Fed Express. Fun to watch, always gives a good post game interview, and I follow him on Twitter. He’s one dryly funny dude.

Fish – How can you not root for a guy who recently lost 30 pounds. Why? He realized that for a professional athlete he was overweight and out of shape. Really? Well, he did move from like 200 to the top 20 and made it to the finals in Cincinnati. His reward? He got to face Federer. Oh, well.

Sharapova – I own her camera. Can’t wait for the comeback!

Oudin – Unless you’ve been living under a rock, duhh. Great story.

Williams – Who doesn’t love a gal who plays tennis in her pajamas? Venus is there without her younger sister this year. At least Serena won’t be threatening the lives of any lines people this year.

Stosur – Having taken out Justine Henin, Serena Williams, and Jankovic, only to be beaten by Schiavone (who?) in the finals of the French Open this year was heartbreaking.

Safina – Okay, so if you’re counting Dinara is actually number eleven. However, she doesn’t count since she’s already out. I’m not sure when the last time she’s made it past a first round of a Major but with her talent I’m pretty sure it’s time for her to cut out the partying (one would have to assume) and get down to business. Maybe she’ll show up for the Australian Open.

Happy Tennis Watching!

Dear Microsoft:

Let me start this letter off by saying that I am by no means a Microsoft hater. I am (still) an especially big fan of your XBox Consoles. I bought the original, owned the 360, and will no doubt buy whatever you come out with next. My wife and I are XBox 360 Live Gold Members for crying out loud. However, I do have a suggestion; a bone to pick, if you will, in regards to a recent in my opinion avoidable experience. Allow me to describe.

After almost two years, our XBox 360 finally gave into what you call the Red Ring of Death. Heartbroken at first, some friends provided information on how to handle the situation. To my utter joy, when I called your support, they reassured me that my console was still covered under an extended warranty. The process was simple. More or less I take the console, put it in a box, affix the UPS shipping sticker you provided (you even provided me with free shipping!), and drop it off at UPS. The expectations were set and they were high! Two to three weeks later I would receive my repaired device.

As you know, that is not what happened. After three weeks, you returned my console to me in the same condition I sent it to you in. Broken. The accompanying letter you sent said the reason was that the console had been tampered with. Huhh? After a few phone calls over multiple days, several escalations, and a couple hours total on the telephone, we finally got to the bottom of what the “tampering” was all about. Stay with me Microsoft. This is where it gets weird.

As you can see, there are two laser etched serial numbers on the back of the console. As you can see above, they both match. However, it turns out that there is a third serial number you’ve decided to locate underneath a trapped door on the front of the console. As you are aware, it’s a sticker. Yet, in my case, the number on the sticker doesn’t match the other two.

Do you find anything about this a little off? First, why do you need three serial numbers? Second, why would you go to the trouble of ensuring the first two serial numbers are tamper proof and then make the third a STICKER? On top of that, when I talked to one of the your call center managers, he actually admitted you receive calls on this same issue all the time. Crazy amounts. Yet, you have denied the possibility this mixup could have happened on the assembly line during manufacturing or at inspection. You blamed me. You blamed the retailer. I actually had one of you suggest it might have been someone who snuck into my house and did it. You don’t know me very well, but believe me, that’s where I just about lost it.

Bottom line, this issue is still open; however, at this point you’ve seen fit to void my warranty. You win for now. I cave and will pay the $99.99 charge to have my XBox repaired out of warranty (which according to you means you’ll actually be sending me a refurbished model to replace my busted one). In the end, I say Caveat Emptor. Buyer Beware. You’d better believe when I receive my refurbished console that I will check the box to ensure all the serial numbers match.

Oh So Sincerely,

Owen

Been trying to make some headway on a photography project but can’t seem to get it moving. I have made some progress but actually moving would mean actually taking some pictures. Feeling a little frustrated. Had a shoot booked the first of last week that, for reasons unknown to me, fell through. Thought I had the subjects all lined up; yet, I called to confirm that morning, and then again that afternoon, and nada. Zilch. Zero. No call no show. Flakes. Whatcha-gonna-do.

My response? I’m gonna try again on Wednesday with new folks. I expect a completely different result this time. Fingers crossed.

Oh, by the way, that’s a picture of a corn flake in case you where curious.

Happy Tuesday