Required Reading

• I disagree with a few (I prefer authenticity so all the stuff about scheduling Twitter updates seems bunk, along with the other rules that seem very corporate and self-promotey) but you could do worse than live by these 100 Twitter rules.
• One of the oft-discussed but oft-ignored issues that seemed to gain traction over the course of Wimbledon was players taking too long between points.  I *think* I'm agnostic on the issue (much like I'm agnostic on the shrieking malarkey).  Sure, I'd prefer if players sped up.  But I'm not tearing my hair out about it either.  That said, it is pretty refreshing when you watch players who do play at a quick to normal speed between points. 
• "Most fans won't be bothered by that, but there exists a thin line between advocacy and journalism in some of ESPN's niche sports, especially tennis and women's soccer."  Question: Do you care?
• Some follow-up on my Andy is misunderstood rant here and here.
• Oh, Canada.  You so cute.  In what world did you possibly think that this was going to fly?  I mean, sexism aside, it's just a really dumb slogan.  They've since decided to change it.
• It's easy to poke fun at Caro.  I mean...it's really easy.  But she's a genuinely nice kid, who works hard (too hard?), tries her best, and why should we piss on her parade, you know?  Well Boyfriend Jon has the most eloquent and fair breakdown on the problem (at least mine) with Caro.
• Sybille Bammer, destroyer of all things Serena, is hanging up her weird green shoes.  Happy trails, Sybille.  We don't really understand how you did it, but you did, and that is worthy of respect.  Also, your kid is rad.  
• I love The Rally.
• Fed apparently asked Martina Hingis to play mixed with him in 2012.  That would basically require her to come back on tour.  So...I'm going to go with "highly doubtful".
• "Do we need to say repeat again that Nadal made an absurdly low number of unforced errors (7) in their match?"  Yes.  Yes we do.
• Ok, see, I *seriously* do not understand stuff like this.  I thought Darren Clarke winning was a great story and people seemed absolutely riveted.  Lack of dominance does not mean chaos.  I mean, ok, it does kinda, but can't it be just as, if not more, exciting?
• Pete Bodo recaps Caro's year.  The hard court season will be interesting.
• Non-Required Reading: My new favorite posts on The Hairpin: Reading Between The Texts.
• Non-Required Reading: WTF, Russia.
• Non-Required Reading: Best Harry Potter-related blog post ever.
• Non-Required Reading: Just fantastic, in both concept and execution.