Novak Djokovic is buying the world’s entire supply of donkey cheese

Novak Djokovic is buying the world’s entire supply of donkey cheese

By Jay Busbee | Busted Racquet – 6 hours ago

• Email0

Why is this man smiling? Donkey cheese! (Getty Images)We know that "Novak Djokovic is buying the world's entire supply of donkey cheese" sounds like the kind of headline that would show up around April Fool's, but it's apparently legit. The world No. 1 is spending millions to purchase all of the rare cheese made from, uh, donkey milk.

The cheese, known as pule, is white, crumbly and made from donkey's milk. It runs over $500 per pound, in part because one pound of the cheese requires over three gallons of milk. It's produced in Djokovic's native Serbia, and he plans to use it in his soon-to-open chain of restaurants. (Too much to hope that the restaurants are named "Donkey Cheese"?)

Pule recently received the distinction of the "world's most expensive cheese." Created at one farm in one town in Serbia, the cheese is derived from milk on one of Serbia's most well-known natural reserves. Djokovic purchased the farm's entire year's supply.

"It will save a lot of effort having to deal with various restaurants, with only one customer buying the lot we don't have to worry too much about salesmen," said Slobodan Simic, manager of the farm. "It is a great vote of confidence as well in what we do here." Simic recently told Reuters that the cheese could fetch as much as $2,900 a pound if it were sold on the open market, but it's sold privately at around $576 a pound to promote the farm's conservation efforts.

Congrats to Djokovic for cornering the donkey cheese market. We look forward to Donkey Cheese Sticks and Donkey Cheese Omelets showing up on his menus very soon.

2012 year-end NTRP ratings have been published.

You can look up players at tennislink

http://tennislink.usta.com/Leagues/

 Check it out and chime in if anything looks out of line. 

Fall 4.5 Play-offs

This weekend are the fall play-offs.  For those paying attention there has been the usual Fall BS going on.  I understand why people do it but that doesn't make it right.......

For those of us that are trying to win every time we step on the court and improve our game every week there are play-offs.  The seedings are as follows (it's very complicated due to the unbalanced schedule and flights)

Seedings:

1. Fair Oaks 8&0 - have some strong players (Fleming & Cervantes) but have made it unbeaten through a seemingly weakish flight and didn't have to play Brookhaven - however, finishing unbeaten is impressive;
2. TBar 7&1 These veterans have played consistently well all fall;
3. GlenEagles 7&1 - came through clearly the toughest flight despite losing their 3 studs to 5.0.  This is a team to be reckoned with;
4. Lakes 7&1 - Continue to ride Welwood & Jannesch and have enough other weapons to find their way to 3 wins every week;
5. Brookhaven 7&1 - Not sure what to make of this rebuilt team.  Are they dangerous? of course but who will be available;
6. Greenhill 5&2 - Disappointing showings against TBar and DFW Hilton.  Hopefully they fare better next week - lucky not to be the 8th seed or even in the playoffs at all;
7. JCC 6&2 - I am surprised this team didn't win flight B and are the dark-horse to win the tournament
8. Village 5&2 - Seem to have struggled to get their best players out but I suspect they will do so for the play-offs.  This is a dangerous team.  Tim Frick is a very good player as are Baker, Vacalis & Peiser

No Royal Oaks! No Oak Creek! Were the 2 Dallas Sectionals representatives drained by the August heat?

The format is knock-out!  Not round robin.

Matches are split between Brookhaven & LBHouston on friday at 6pm   Semis at Brookhaven at 11am on Sat and final at 3pm at Canyon Creek. 

Based on the above seedings match-ups are:

Fair Oks vs Village

Lakes vs Brookhaven

GlenEagles vs Greenhill

TBar vs JCC

I think JCC will play the Village in the final

I suspect that Brookhaven & TBar will lose some players to 40s sectionals which happens in Arlington on the same weekend.

Predictions?

The DTA

From the dta.org website:

DTA Annual Meeting

The DTA will hold its annual meeting on Wednesday, September 19th, at Canyon Creek Country Club. The meeting will begin at 7:30 (refreshments will be served) and include an annual report, adult volunteer awards presentation and the election of officers for 2012-13. The slate of nominees will be posted here by September 5th.

What follows has not been approved or authorized by the DTA and are not the views expressed by the DTA or USTA and I currently do not represent either in any capacity.  It is merely my editorial opinion:

Guys, there is far too little representation on the DTA by guys that play in the usta!  We cannot expect the DTA to represent us if we only bitch Anonymously on the blog.

 The DTA runs the usta leagues on behalf of the USTA and it is the USTA rules that must be followed.  The DTA is legally bound by the USTA rules.  The DTA does have some latitude, however, in certain areas eg playoff formats, putting teams in flights etc.  They have an Administrative role.

 With the exception of just a few positions (I think just 2) no one on the DTA is paid.  They act under the direction of the aunpaid appointed directors elected at the AGM and voted on by you.  If you don't attend you cannot vote & therefore have no say in who represents you! (Consider it practice for Nove 5!)

 

Also, the DTA is a not for profit organization.  Nobody is getting rich off your league registration fees.  Most of the league fees go towards playoffs! (court fees, balls & prizes) and also the player participation gifts. Their major fund raisers are the TBar Challenger and the Dallas Cup and the proceeds are almost entirely used to develop Tennis in the Metroplex mostly for kids.  They have been heavily involved in building quick start courts and providing after school tennis activities for kids with working parents thereby keeping them off the streets and out of gangs (away from drugs and crime!)

 Whatever your prejudice of the DTA I challenge you to open your mind and reassess your view of the organization and your involvement.  We need representation on the DTA in order to make a difference and particularly on the men’s side where we have minimal representation.  We cannot expect people who have no idea about men’s 4.5 tennis to flight the teams equally if we all just sit on the fence and criticize.

I know Russ Johnson has been involved as has Brandon Myers.  I plan to try to get involved again in 2013 (if they will have me – I think I pissed them off last year…..).  Let’s get Brandon nominated as the VP of Leagues and get some more representation and support on the board.  This includes all levels not just 4.5!

Texas Tennis Open

The Texas Tennis Open Kicked off last week-end and runs through Friday.
Featured players include world #7 Angelique Kerber and former world #1 Jelena Jankovic.

Special Events

When visiting the Texas Tennis Open, you not only get to watch world-class tennis but you get the chance to participate in a wide variety of events and activities.

Player Autograph Sessions & Contests

Get your favorite player’s autograph in the Sponsor Pavilion. Autograph sessions will be held Friday, August 17th – Wednesday, August 21 along with giveaways and contests with great prizes from many of our sponsors!

Rebounce – Help Green the Game of Tennis

Help Rebounce, tennis and the earth by recycling your used tennis balls. Receive $10.00 off one admission ticket to any session with 6 used tennis balls. (Not valid with any other discount or on previously purchased tickets.)

CELEBRATE OUR HEROES

Monday, August 20th — Come and help us pay tribute to the heroes that serve our community! Admission is free to all members of the Military, past and present, Police and Fire Department with valid ID shown at the Box Office. Additional guests or family members will receive a 50% discount at the box office.

Community Tennis Day – NETT, TCD AND USTA NIGHT

Tuesday, August 21st—NETT, TCD and USTA members will receive 50% off tickets at the gate with their membership card on East Box and GA seating.

DALLAS SPORTS NIGHT

Thursday, August 23rd — Wear your favorite local team jersey, Rangers, Mavericks, Cowboys etc, and help us celebrate the history and tradition of sports in Dallas. Purchase your tickets at the box office Thursday night wearing your sports shirt or jersey and receive $5.00 any level of ticket.

Get out And support Tennis in Dallas!

I'll be there volunteering all week if you want to say Hi, Just look for the Fila bucket hat.