Required Reading

• The amazing Gauloises of the now defunct and horribly missed New Balls, Please is in Paris and writing for TennisWorld.  Now *that's* good writing.
• "Can we just agree that [being president] is an impossible job?"  Only if you agree that you not coming off as a douchebag is an impossible job.  Oh, you agree?  Well...shit.
• Boyfriend nominates Rafa as his Sportsman of the Year.
• Todd Spiker's list of chokes and comebacks of the year is a great read.  I forgot about some of those matches.
• Nice write up from Bodo on the MJ's Coco/Mel decision over the weekend.  I honestly didn't understand why everyone was shocked that Coco got the nod over Mel.  The gamble didn't work out and hindsight is 20/20 but I have to say, I think it is absolutely classless "journalism" to Monday Morning Quarterback it and call MJ's decision "boneheaded", "reckless", or "panicky".  
• Wait.  But I was always told that men were stronger and faster than women.  I has a huh?
• Non-Required Reading: Joe Morgan is out at ESPN.  Thank fucking GOD.  A tool of the highest order.  
• Non-Required Reading: If the price of these pranks is eternal spinsterhood, then yup, still worth it.
• Non-Required Reading: Bow down to Zach Galifianakis.