Interview: Part 3

Q : Hello again…

A : Yes.

Q : How do you feel today?

A : A little bit freaked out. But, I think right now I’m doing better.

Q: Why is that? Why are you so terrified?

A : Does it show?

Q : Mm-hmm…. Would you like to share it with me?

A : Uh… yeah, it’s more of a… a religious, thing.

Q : Maybe I can help.

A : It’s just… someone I knew finally urged me to read the Bible, based on everything that he has said that made me… scared to death. And… reading it, I didn’t find the comfort, but I did find what I was looking for.

Q : About the apocalypse?

A : Yes.

Q : You think that it’s near?

A : Well, based on the description, almost everything matched. The others, it’s just a matter of time.

Q : Why do you think that you’re so scared?

A : Personally, it doesn’t matter, you know? I mean, I think I’m ready for it. But, it’s my dreams, you know? There are a lot of stuff that I want to do and I… I don’t think that I can do it.

Q : For instance?

A : I’ve always wanted to go to a culinary school, you know? Learn how to be a chef, etc. One time I think, oh, it’s possible. Then, it’s like, "I don’t think that’s gonna happen." I dunno, I mean, I want to have a family of my own, that’s one.

Q : You don’t think you’re going to have those things?

A : I know it sounds like the negative talking, but yeah. The signs are here, if you read the paper and you look around. I don’t think there’s much time left.

Q : But you said to me earlier that you’re ready. In what part?

A : Well, in the Bible, it says something about testifying for God, and how people are going to hate us, the Christians, for standing up for Him, and stuff like that. I didn’t find comfort, but I… I don’t know, once I read the Bible, I was much more content, and calm. I think that if I have to testify and be hated, then so be it.

Q : Now you’re really positive.

A : When I heard what that person said, and it was early in the morning, I don’t think that I was ready for that kind of talk, you know? I guess I remember what I’ve been praying about all these years, and it made me… make peace with it.

Q : What have you been praying?

A : Before I go to bed, I pray that… You know, I hope I can rest well, so that I can continue my activities tomorrow. And, I pray for her, hehehe… And… I always say to Him that I know, whatever it is that lies ahead of me, whatever it is that happened to me, it’s for the best. I believe that there’s a reason for everything that has happened to me and everything that will be happening to myself.

Q : By remembering those stuff, you think you’re ready?

A : There’s a part inside of me that says that I’m just going to take each day, and not think too far ahead, like I always do. Try to enjoy the moment, if I may say. I’m the kind of person who’s always thinking far, far ahead. How many children I’m going to have, what kind of restaurant will I be opening, in which country do I wanna live, what’s my house going to look like… Now I’m reducing those thoughts, but I can’t help but fantasize a little bit, you know it helps me to relieve my stress. If I’m going to face the apocalypse without a family of my own, without having my big dreams realized, I’m just going to have to deal with it. Maybe not in this lifetime. Maybe in the next lifetime, that I’m going to achieve them. I’m just going to have to believe that everything will eventually falls into place. And that it will works out for the best. All we have to do is wait, and do our part of the job. And pray.

Interview: Part 2

Q : So, how’ve you been?

A: It’s been pretty good. Quite good.

Q : I’m guessing there’s a reason why you want to do this again?

A : Yeah.

Q : And what is that?

A: Have you seen ‘it’?

Q : Yes, as a matter of fact I have.

A: That’s why.

Q : What do you think is on their mind?

A: I dunno. You’re the expert, you tell me.

Q : I want to know how you feel, first.

A : Oh, F*** it! I just think they’re full of s***!

Q : Easy…

A : No! I just can’t take it anymore, you know? It’s… enough! Like, I don’t want to deal with it anymore. It’s bad enough that she got them to where they are right now, and they showed no appreciation at all! Not at all, and that sucks!

Q : Do you think that they treated her…

A: Bad? Hell, yeah! Man, I don’t know what she had done to them , you know? She has the right to do what she did, and hell, I thought that it’s okay to take a break. Oh, no! Apparently not for them! Damn it!

Q : I’m guessing that there’s more…

A : You know, I just… they’re older than me. They can THINK CLEARLY, right? They HAVE A BRAIN, right? What pissed me off is that why THEY DON’T USE IT!

Q : Mm-hmm…

A : I mean, if they were her, you know? What would they do? What did they expect? For her to join them again after weeks of hard work? And just so you know, from three jobs, she finished two jobs. The other one, she almost had it.

Q : I can understand how you feel. I really do.

A : You know what, they’re jerks. No matter what. The other teammate, I don’t care how nice people think she is,  and maybe she is, you know, I don’t know, but I just think that what they’ve done to her, it’s BS, you know? God, you don’t just treat people like that! Specially the captain. You don’t tell her to come by and watch and be a supporter if you’re just going to send her home like that!

Q : Why do you think that you can relate to her that much?

A : Because, I mean, she’s a real pride to the nation, you know? She came from a kinda messy family background, and all her life she’s had to put up with so many things, and I think that she’s a survivor, being where she is right now, and all that stuff…

Q : Right, right…

A : She’s an inspiration to me, you know? How she came back from everything that she has had, and for her to accomplish so many things, it… she’s a role model to me. Everytime I’m down, I just look at her picture and I would be inspired again all of a sudden. Like there’s a fire inside of me or something. She’s just a very amazing person and I’m pissed off right now because of what people had done to her. It’s not fair. You don’t expect her to have everything and to do as she’s told, you know? She’s not a robot. She need a break. And I just don’t understand why people won’t let her have it.

How Humans Think

Since January until now, it’s been a hectic 7 months. For me and for Justine Henin-Hardenne. All sorts of things we get. Victory, defeat, bad publicity (well, not publicity in my case, but it’s kinda close).

Victory for her is winning the Roland Garros. Victory for me is making it to the 12th grade. Defeat for her is having to retire in Australian Open. For me, it’s my grades. Even though I made it, it’s not good enough. My promise to my parents about making it to the top five somehow went out the window, and I was a little bit disappointed in myself.

Bad publicity? Nah, it’s more her thing than mine. And that’s why I’m writing this blog in the first place.

What is it about people that only wants to support someone just when that person is at his/her best forms, and then when he/she made the decision that all the people think is not good enough, they can turn their back on him/her? Just like that. You don’t believe me? Read this :

I am addressing to you the concern about the participation of Justine at the FED CUP final. Contrary to assertion, and promises made by the Francophone Tennis Federation of Belgium President Andre Stein that Justine will take part in the Italy tie to be played in September; Justine will not participate in these conditions.

I want to start by telling you about the week in precedent. In London after the Wimbledon Ladies final on Sunday night Justine contacted the Belgian team Captain and gave her decision, she cannot participate in Fed Cup next weekend.

But to my surprise, as much as the Belgian team Captain, the Francophone Tennis Federation president Andre Stein said not to release the information until Wednesday or Thursday. This was in the pretext to ensure the visiting American contingent would not gain anything by knowing there will be a missing major team member. However, if anyone has taken interest or noticed the information was already out that the big stars of the American squad were not going to play in this FED CUP match. The choice to not release Justine’s decision may have been other than a sporting tactic, but in final analysis, they have misled the supporters. Tennis fans were left in doubt, on hold for three days, much to Justine’s embarrassment. She has announced earlier, and promised that her decision would be made the following day after elimination from Wimbledon.

There were more bad surprises. At the request of the Captain, Justine was contacted to attend, and encourage the team on Saturday and Sunday at Ostend. Justine arrived on Friday to Brussels, and much to her astonishment was then told by the Francophone Tennis Federation that the Captain said; yes the very person who told her to come and support the team in person, not to make an appearance because the general public, and the supporters did not want her there in Ostend. He also said that it would not be good for the atmosphere of the team. I think this is evidence there is a lack of respect and recognition from the authorities of Belgian tennis in regards to Justine. She was thrilled to be joining the team at the FED CUP dinner on Friday, but was turned away for that too! The lack of respect and recognition gives her real pain.

Unfortunately, as you can now understand, if she’s rejected for the Semi-Finals, I do not see how welcoming it would be in the Finals. If I cannot accept the decisions of certain people, I can on the other hand sympathize with the supporters who wanted to see Justine this past weekend on court at Ostend. As I always say it above all, it’s the price to pay so that Justine can continue to rise, and give you rivers of emotions with her tennis from Roland Garros, Eastbourne and to Wimbledon. Even, if she didn’t win her 6th grand slam I think we’re all proud of her to have a Belgian in the final.

I know that you will understand that under the current conditions, for the principles and respect, and simply of human values, it does not look possible for her to join the tie played in September.

To finish, I think the most penalized one is Justine. When I see all that she’s done for tennis, and Belgian sport, all that I see around her is simply a lack of intelligence and good direction.

With this messy sad episode, Justine will not deal with FED CUP matters, and from now on we have decided that I will be the only person to contact if you need to speak about FED CUP.

Carlos Rodriguez

She’s had her fair share of bad publicity, what with her withdrawal in the Aussie Open final, and now her decision to skip the Fed Cup. Just so you know, it’s like the World Cup for tennis. For women it’s Fed Cup, for men it’s Davis Cup. I just wanna say, for everybody who read this, and for the people who read this and understand tennis, that whatever she’s done, it’s just not fair. She has EVERY RIGHT to withdraw from the match against USA, and she did it because she need sometime to rest. I just don’t know that someone who won 5 Grand Slam titles is not suppose to have a break. Like it’s unacceptable or something.

Maybe the world IS coming to an end. And this is one of the signs, besides earthquakes and bombs and tsunamis, that people just don’t know how to think rationally anymore.

When Goliath beats David

Everyone is familiar with the story of King David, specially the part where he beats Goliath, a man 10 times his size (according to the picture in my sister’s bible). But when I thought about it more, in real life, it’s Goliath who beats David.

I don’t know whether the story about David and Goliath is true or not, an as I’m writing this I wonder about the story’s point. Is it like a fairy tale? To make people have faith? Or is it just a side story… Okay, now I got the point. It’s to make people surrender to God, that when you believe in Him, nothing is impossible.

From 26th of June to 9th of July there’s a tennis event called The Championships, or, as they like to call it, Wimbledon. Asia roared, before finally got slashed out in the quarterfinal.

Hyun-taik Lee is a man from South Korea. I’ve never heard of him before, but he gave Hewitt a problem, and an almost four hours of gruelling match, before finally bowed down the the "Come On!" guy in 5 sets.

Then, there were two Asian girls, one from Japan and one from China. Ai Sugiyama, whom to my surprise beat Martina Hingis in the 3rd round, and Li Na, who took on Sveta (Svetlana Kuznetsova) in the 2nd round and Nicole Vaidisova in the 4th. The two women eventually lost to stronger players like Severine Bremond (a quali girl) from France and Kim Clijsters from Belgium.

David beats Goliath… in some cases. But sometimes, it’s Goliath who took the life out of David. What do you expect? It’s real life.