Cheryl Murray

• Yes, Mo really is like that

  2009-08-11 09:57:57
  

  There is a truth universally accepted among tennis journalists – you just never know what you're going to get when it comes to food at tournaments. Sometimes you have to pay for them and sometimes meals are just part of the package. I've had tournament dining experiences in which waiters came by brush away every last crumb from your baguette (I'm sort of messy so my waiter had to work hard) to an actual bout with food poisoning. And no, I am not making that up.
  
  So far I've found the food in Montreal to be among the best I've tasted. For a reasonable price, journalists and other tournament people sample from an outstanding buffet, drink decent wine and indulge in espresso or cappuccino. For lunch, I had cold shrimp, linguine, spinach salad, a glass of chardonnay and a dessert of fresh apricots, grapes and a plum. Dear readers, it was a seriously top-notch luncheon.
  
  While I was eating and watching the bizarre Youzhny/Cilic match on a jumbo screen, I noticed that some of the chair umpires were eating as well. Folks, let me just tell you that Mohamed Lahyani is not just friendly on-camera. From everything I can gather, he's just... a happy person. Impossible though it may seem, the man always seems to have a smile on his face.
  
  For all that seeing Mo was cool, the real story of the day (as always on the first day of a tournament) is the state of my feet. I am currently wearing as my only foot covering a pair of Nike socks that I purchased for $12.00 earlier this afternoon because I am stupid. The very lovely pair of brown leather high-heeled sandals that I chose as my preferred foot attire for the day…well, let's just say I'm paying a heavy price for my vanity.
  
  So I now wear a pair of white athletic socks with my white linen pants and sky blue sleeveless sweater. It's quite the look. Plus, I just realized I had it on the wrong foot. See that "R" on the sock? I think that means "right" and it is clearly on my left foot. Le sigh.
  
  I'm going off in a few minutes to watch Rafael Nadal's doubles match with Francisco Roig. Since Roig is like 65 years old (ok, fine. More like 40), I expect it to be highly... er... entertaining. For you Nadal fans holding your collective breath about the knees – I'll report back immediately with my findings...
  
  I'm back. I've decided that Rafa deserves his own blog. Let me just say as a little preview that Francisco Roig is QUITE spry for his age, and Rafa had – even if for just a few brief moments – his sleeveless shirt back on. I don't think it's permanent though. Sorry ladies. Until tomorrow...

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