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Fittingly Mad: Sore Losers

FitSugar — Sat, 08 Sep 2007 02:30:00 -0700

She has been railed on by the sports media. They have called her "classless" and "graceless," "sullen" and "sulking." Yep, I am talking about one of my fave tennis stars, Serena Williams and her sorry press conference after losing her quarterfinal match at the US Open.

If you have played competitive sports, or even a wicked game of backgammon, and lost (which inevitably happens if you play games), then you know it is hard to lose. You give it your all, you play the best you can and some days it just isn't enough. Losing with grace, though, is still part of the game. Serena even told reporters:

I really don't feel like talking about it [the match]. It's like I don't want to get fined. That's the only reason I came [to the press conference]. I can't afford to pay the fines because I keep losing.

Not really a stellar postmortem on the match, would you say? Serena lost the match to Justine Henin who just so happens to be ranked #1 in women's tennis right now. So when you lose, and lose to the best, you just need to admit you played your best and your opponent unfortunately played even better. Fans forgive losses quickly, but bad attitudes linger. We love players that show their emotions and get fired up on the court or field, but bad sportsmanship just has a bad aftertaste.

It doesn't matter if you win or lose. It is how you played the game...and how you act afterward!

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Venus' Short Shorts: Cool or Not?

FitSugar — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 11:25:00 -0700

Tennis fashions have certainly evolved and come a long way from the pastels and "skirts only rules" for the ladies. You all loved Sharapova's red tennis dress, but tell me how you feel about the SHORT shorts Venus Williams wore during her last match at the US Open. No doubt she looks amazing, and by making it all the way to the semi-finals being seeded 12th in the tournament, we know Venus is one fierce competitor. Today in the semi-finals, Venus takes on top ranked Justine Henin, who defeated sister Serena just two days ago!!! Should be a great game and she will probably be wearing some fashion forward tennis wear too.Source

Venus' Short Shorts: Cool or Not?

Cool!

Not Cool!

Undecided

Other - Tell me below!

Are You Watching the U.S. Open?

FitSugar — Sun, 02 Sep 2007 02:30:00 -0700

Even though the finals are not until next weekend, Labor Day weekend is when I start to get fired up about the U.S. Open. This year the fashions might even rival the tennis with some of the top seeded players sporting some personal and stylish designs. The competition is fierce and these women are strong, making the matches very exciting to watch.So I want to know...Source

Are You Watching the U.S. Open?

Yes - I love the game and the clothes!

Not right now, but I will watch the finals next weekend.

No - I am not interested in tennis!

Other - Tell me below!

A Week In Review: FitSugar Roundup

FitSugar — Sat, 01 Sep 2007 04:00:00 -0700

In case you missed it, here's what we've been talking about...

The US Open is going strong... My eyes are on Venus Williams and her new clothing line, eleVen.

Not only is Maria Sharapova in Shape, but she's been wearing an unusual tennis dress for the US Open. Do you like Sharapova's red tennis dress? Take the poll.

Speaking of polls, How many servings of dairy do you eat in a day? Also, do you prefer cardio, weights or stretching the most?

Seriously, caffeine is not dehydrating.

Been neglecting your abs? Here are five reasons you should work them.

Like sesame seeds? Then you've got to try Bumble Bars.

Interesting news -- Lip balm is addictive.

Confused about Iron and how much you should be getting? Here's all you need to know about iron and more.

Jessica Alba uses the Wii for exercise while Victoria Beckham talks about how much she hates exercise.

Learn how to do the Camel to Child's Pose for a great yoga combination for you to add to your repertoire.

An 8-year-old girl just completed a really long marathon -- Do you think this is something 8-year-olds should be doing?

Here are five reasons you should run uphill.

Here is a great StairMaster workout that you might want to give a shot next time you're at the gym.

Maria Sharapova is in Shape

FitSugar — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 10:15:00 -0700

I'm following Maria Sharapova religiously right now for the US Open, so I was thrilled to see her on the cover of Shape.

The debate's still up on whether or not we're loving Maria's bright red tennis dress, but here's what she had to say on dieting and working out:

Banish the word “diet” from your vocabulary: To say Maria enjoys eating is like saying she’s a pretty good tennis player. “Nothing makes me happier than having an amazing meal,” she says. “But I never diet because I need to be strong.” Maria eats three big meals a day, always making sure to have a balance of both carbs and proteins, and she snacks on fresh fruit along with a slice of ham or some other protein. And she never denies herself a sweet if she wants it. “The moment someone says I can’t have something, forget it. I want it even more,” she says. “If I crave a cookie, I eat it.”
Shake up your exercise routine: Playing tennis nearly every day can get boring, so Maria makes it a point to switch up her activities whenever she can. “I bike and do yoga. But my new favorite thing is a salsa dance class called Video-sync,” she says. The program, developed by J. Marcos at Sports Club/LA in Miami, combines dance and fitness with a focus on core work to build strong abs. The classes aren’t highly choreographed, so Maria can let loose without stressing about getting the steps right. “I love it,” she says. “It’s so energetic and fun!”

And does Maria ever give her body an exercise break? To find out, just

Venus Williams Launches EleVen Clothing Line

FitSugar — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 11:00:00 -0700

My girl, Venus Williams, has recently launched her new clothing line, EleVen in collaboration with Steve & Barry's.

While Williams is only wearing the V-Court pro sneaker at the U.S. Open, which is going on now, EleVen's launch collection will have more than 120 pieces. The collection will cover a wide spectrum, from performance apparel to lounge wear, accessories and footwear. Sneaker styles are appropriately named after tennis terms such as Ace, Deuce and Swing. Many of the items are versatile in nature and can be worn to workout and then go out!

Venus has been working at getting her degree in fashion design at the Art Institute of Florida, so I am thrilled at the prospect of fashionable workout gear. What's more? It's affordable too since everything in the collection is rumored to be priced at $19.98 or less. Unfortunately, you won't be able to buy the gear until November, but you can sign up for email updates at EleVenByVenus.com. I've also heard that a couple of hundred pairs of the V-Court will be sold this Friday at the Steve & Barry's Manhattan flagship store -- So all you New Yorkers can get an early peek...

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Sharapova's Red Nike Tennis Dress: Cool or NOT?

FitSugar — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 15:45:00 -0700

Maria Sharapova, defending U.S. Open champion, is one sharp dresser. Her red tennis dress for nighttime play (she has a different outfit dedicated for daytime play) seems more evening gown than tennis dress, to me. OK, so the tennis dress, designed by Nike, is a celebration of New York in functional fashion form. The bright red-flame color represents the Big Apple and the 600 Swarovski crystals are reminiscent of the Manhattan skyline. The back has three crystal buttons down the back, creating a keyhole effect - I don't think that has anything to do directly with NYC, it just looks cool. The functional element is the fabric and construction. The material is breathable wicking jersey constructed with a no-sew technique where seams bonded with heat and silicone instead of thread.Sharapova described the dress as simple and classy, which suits her taste since she doesn't like things that are "tacky." I am not sure I am convinced on the crystals and the color though. I don't know about you, but I think the over all look is a little more ice skating costume then tennis dress. What do you think?Source

Sharapova's Red Nike Tennis Dress: Cool or NOT?

Cool

Not Cool

Undecided

Other - Tell me below

US Open, Opens Today!

FitSugar — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 02:30:00 -0700

Today is opening day of the US Open, the final event of Grand Slam tennis tournament season. The courts at Flushing Meadows have been busy over the weekend with qualifying rounds. Both of the Williams sisters will play today, which is beyond appropriate since it is the 50th anniversary of Althea Gibson’s first U.S. Open tournament title.

Gibson in considered the Jackie Robinson of tennis since she was the first black athlete - male or female - to win a Grand Slam event. Tonight's tribute to Althea Gibson in Arthur Ashe Stadium is titled "Breaking Barriers" and will salute black women pioneers in sports, entertainment, politics and the arts and will include a performance by Aretha Franklin. Sounds like a rocking good time!

Both Serena and Venus dominated the U.S. Open early in the decade, but returning champion Maria Sharapova will definitely give them a run for the money. Look for cutting edge tennis fashion from all three champions.

I will be watching, will you? Let me know in the comments section below.

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