Friday, September 29, 2006

World Trade Center (2006)



Today I went to see the movie: "World Trade Center" and it made a positive and very sad mark on me. Positive because the story was true and it was very good directed. And sad because it was a big tragic that shouldn't never had happened.

I will attach here some of the photos (13) I took on the "site" of the former Twin Towers in NY on the 30th of August 2004.

I decided instead of photos of the movie to add some of my photos to made me remember the time I was there.

I wish in the future to see more movies about the stories of everyone related with this "accident", about the NYPD alive or deceased, the NYFD alive or deceased, the civilians alive or deceased and everyone that made part of this tragedy. But please real and truly stories only.

- 15:05 (WTC)

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- 16:10 (WTC)

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- 16:15 (WTC)

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- 16:16 (WTC)

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- 16:18 (WTC)

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- 16:32 (WTC)

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- 16:46 (WTC)

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- 16:46 (WTC)

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- 16:51 (WTC)

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- 16:57 (WTC)

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- 16:57 (WTC)

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- 17:03 (WTC)

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- 17:10 (WTC)

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"World Trade Center" Imdb Site

Taglines for
World Trade Center (2006)

The World Saw Evil That Day. Two Men Saw Something Else.

Every generation has a defining moment.This was ours.

A True Story Of Courage And Survival.

Plot Summary for
World Trade Center (2006)

In the aftermath of the World Trade Center disaster, hope is still alive. Refusing to bow down to terrorism, rescuers and family of the victims press forward. Their mission of rescue and recovery is driven by the faith that under each piece of rubble, a co-worker, a friend a family member may be found. This is the true story of John McLoughlin and William J. Jimeno, two of the last survivors extracted from Ground Zero and the rescuers who never gave up. It's a story of the true heroes of that fateful time in the history of the United States when buildings would fall and heroes would rise, literally from the ashes to inspire the entire human race.

Summary written by JJ Brent (jjbrentmusic@yahoo.com)

User Comments:

75 out of 122 people found the following comment useful:-
Very Well Done Movie!!! With No Political Agenda..., 11 August/10
Author: dianajay from United States

We weren't sure whether or not we would want to see this movie. Oliver Stone is someone who's movies we don't usually agree with. After reading many of the reviews on this site, we decided to give this movie a chance.

It is a very impressive, well executed movie... with excellent acting, directing and editing!!! It is a movie that will remind you of that day, however, it is a movie about heroes, friendships and triumphs. Yes, there are points in the movie that you will tear up and even cry, yet there is also laughter at some points and there is a lot of positive throughout the movie even though it is was a time of crisis and horror surrounding the situation. The horror of that day does exist in the movie, however it isn't overplayed or too dramatic to watch.... Also, that is not the main part of the movie. The movie is based on the lives to two of the trapped survivors as they tell/recall what happened to them on that day.

The audience sat in awe watching the movie... nobody ever got up to leave their seats... and everyone was amazed at the end of how well the story was told. I've never seen the Theatre so crowded on a weeknight (almost at capacity)... and it was being shown on multiple screens at a big theater.

I do recommend all American's see this movie... as it pays tribute to the heroes and shows some of the good that came from the tragedy.

Trivia for
World Trade Center (2006)

* Oliver Stone used many of the East Coast www.PoliceActors.com members to play cops in the film. All members of PoliceActors.com are active or retired members of a Law Enforcement agency who are also Screen Actors Guild members.

* A billboard for Zoolander (2001) is visible in one shot, as the shadow of a hijacked airliner descends over New York City. That film, released shortly after the 9/11 attacks, had images of the World Trade Center digitally removed.

* Oliver Stone thought of casting Kevin Costner as Sgt. John McLoughlin, his JFK (1991) lead. Costner had narrated the 2006 documentary On Native Soil (2006), about the 9/11 Commission Report's investigation of the causes of the terrorist attacks and what could have been done to prevent them from happening. Paramount Pictures was concerned that Stone and Costner would then delve into another conspiracy theory.

* Oliver Stone thought of casting Kevin Costner as Sgt. John McLoughlin, his JFK (1991) lead. Costner had narrated the 2005 documentary _On Native Soil (2005)_ , about the 9/11 Commission Report's investigation of the causes of the terrorist attacks and what could have been done to prevent them from happening. Paramount Pictures was concerned that Stone and Costner would then delve into another conspiracy theory.

* Three weeks before its August 9 nationwide release, producer Michael Shamberg and director Oliver Stone held private screenings of the finalized film for Port Authority officers and firefighters who risked their lives at the World Trade Center. The screenings were held in local multiplexes in the New Jersey/New York area.

* George Clooney turned down the role of Sgt. John McLoughlin.

* After seeing his performance in the film, Crash (2004/I), Maggie Gyllenhaal recommended Michael Pena for the role of Officer William Jimeno.

* As part of his research, Michael Pena moved into Officer William Jimeno's home in New Jersey.

* Due to her infamous quote that "America is responsible in some way" for the 9/11 attacks, Maggie Gyllenhaal personally offered to withdraw from the project to Officer William Jimeno and his wife Allison Jimeno. They both declined and gave their blessing for Gyllenhaal to take the role.

* John Travolta was in serious consideration for the role of Sgt. John McLoughlin. He declined the offer from Paramount Pictures, citing he had just done a similar role in Ladder). He suggested Nicolas Cage, his Face/Off (1997) costar.

* Hilary Swank was once slated to star as Donna McLoughlin when Kevin Costner was attached to the role of Sgt. John McLoughlin. They had both narrated the documentary, On Native Soil (2006) which investigated the 9/11 terrorist attacks. When Costner dropped out of the project, Swank went on to pursue other projects as well.

* Mel Gibson was a hot favorite for the role of Sgt. John McLoughlin. Screenwriter Andrea Berloff had Gibson in mind while penning the screenplay. McLoughlin, a longtime fan of Gibson, enthusiastically gave his approval. And due to his commercially appealing name, Paramount Pictures was very interested in casting him in the part. Although Gibson liked the script very much, he turned it down in order to direct Apocalypto (2006).

* Nicolas Cage was the first actor to be given the script. Producers Michael Shamberg and Stacey Sher circulated the Andrea Berloff's screenplay over to Creative Artists Agency, where it was given to Oliver Stone and Cage.

* Test audiences believed that Dave Karnes (Michael Shannon), the former Marine, was a Hollywood invention. This is, in fact, a true story that occurred. Karnes later re-enlisted in the Marine Corps and served two tours of duty in Iraq. Also, as reported by the Associated Press on August 14, 2006, the Marine identified only as Sergeant Thomas (who disappeared shortly after 9/11) has been identified as Jason Thomas, a former Marine who grabbed his uniform and immediately drove to Ground Zero to help. Because his identity was unknown at the time of filming, Sgt. Thomas - who is black - was portrayed by William Mapother, a white man. The producers have since apologized to Sgt. Thomas for the miscasting. Thomas has laughed it off and told them not to be concerned, stating, "I don't want to shed any negativity on what they were trying to show."

* In preparing for his portrayal of Sgt. John McLoughlin, Nicolas Cage focused on accurately speaking with a New York accent. And to also capture the fear and claustrophobia of McLoughlin's ordeal, Cage spent hours in a sense-deprivation tank in Venice, California.

* The real-life John McLoughlin and William Jimeno appear in the final scene of the film at the "thank you" cookout.

* Approximately 240 tons of material was used to recreate a fully 3-dimensional Ground Zero in Los Angeles.

* Came to theaters under code name "bluelight".

* Officer Scott Strauss, a first responder with the New York City Emergency Services unit, was offered the chance to play himself in the film. However, Strauss refused to do so and Stephen Dorff was then cast to portray him. Strauss's services as a consultant were retained for the film to which he didn't accept payment.

* Fifty real-life members of PAPD, NYPD and FDNY were flown to Los Angeles to film the chain of men moving stretchers out of the rubble.

>>> WARNING: Here Be Spoilers <<<>

* SPOILER: Jeanette Pezzulo, the widow of Officer Dominick Pezzulo, demanded that her husband's death be edited in the final version of the film. Jay Hernandez portrays the late Dominick Pezzulo, who died in the collapse of the World Trade Center towers.

Wednesday, September 13, 2006

Miami Vice (2006)

I have to tell that I already saw this movie 3 times and is really awsome. One of my favourite movies of all time.

I was really amazed when I saw it. I didn't know that the movie was even made. It was a huge surprise for me to see the trailer when I went to see other movie.

I loved the 2 main actors: Colin Farrell and Jamie Foxx. I also liked to see a portuguese actress: Ana Cristina De Oliveira. She in the movie was a bartender who spoke with "Detective James 'Sonny' Crockett - Colin Farell" in the beginning of the movie.

What is your opinion about the movie?

User Comment:
Author: jakelamotta06 from United States

Michael Mann's 2006 cinematic update of the 80s-television show "Miami Vice" is gritty, violent, and nothing like the television show it is updating. Opening the movie during an undercover operation, we are introduced to the new Sonny Crockett and Rico Tubbs. We, the audience, are also introduced to the high-risk crime world these characters are a part of. Mann's picture is very detailed and seems to be more interested in being an undercover police procedural. That is until love connections of the two main characters are developed, trying to make these two characters more human and identifiable (and, in an all-too-calculated fashion make the high-risk world riskier). After the long-winded and uneven set-up arrives the movie's action set pieces, Mann's directoral specialty. But, what makes "Miami Vice" entertaining are its remarkable and impressive visuals. Michael Mann and cinematographer Dion Beebe, again, use the HD-digital camera and create a visual feast for the eyes (Some images making the movie seem better than it actually is). The beauty of exotic locales, a plane in flight, a boat traveling in the water, even the characters on top of building among the city's skyline are all gorgeously shot. Ultimately, it all adds up to an okay movie. Not close to the greatness Mann achieved in "Heat" or "Collateral". But, let's just say, its what "Bad Boys 2" (not a Mann picture) should have aspired to be.

PS: I will write here the "Plot outline" of the movie. Taken of the site http://www.imdb.com

Plot Outline: Based on the 1980's TV action/drama, this update focuses on vice detectives Crockett and Tubbs as their respective personal and professional lives become dangerously intertwined.

Ricardo Tubbs (Jamie Foxx) is urbane and dead smart. He lives with Bronx-born Intel analyst Trudy (Naomie Harris), as they work undercover transporting drug loads into South Florida to identify a group responsible for three murders. Sonny Crockett (Colin Farrell) [to the untrained eye, his presentation may seem unorthodox, but procedurally, he is sound] is charismatic and flirtatious until - while undercover working with the supplier of the South Florida group - he gets romantically entangled with Isabella (Gong Li), the Chinese-Cuban wife of an arms and drugs trafficker. The best undercover identity is oneself with the volume turned up and restraint unplugged. The intensity of the case pushes Crockett and Tubbs out onto the edge where identity and fabrication become blurred, where cop and player become one - especially for Crockett in his romance with Isabella and for Tubbs in the provocation of an assault on those he loves.

Summary written by achinn

After a tragic security breach in the Joint Inter-Agency Task Force (JIATF), the FBI ask for help from the Miami authorities, who are not part of the compromised group. This assignment goes to Detectives James 'Sonny' Crockett and Ricardo 'Rico' Tubbs. Going undercover as offshore boat racers and outlaw smugglers Sonny Burnett and Rico Cooper, they take on the narcotrafficking network of the mysterious Archangel de Jesus Montoya-Londono and his Cuban Chinese banker Isabella. The intensity of the case pushes Crockett and Tubbs out onto the edge where identity and fabrication become blurred, where cop and player become one - especially when Crockett falls for Isabella, and when there is an assault on Tubbs's loved ones

Summary written by Anonymous

Monday, September 11, 2006

Michael Schumacher Retires this year, 2006-09-11

As you know I love Formula 1 and my favourite driver is and always was Michael Schumacher.
Yesterday "Schumi" after winning the Monza Grand Prix (Italy) finaly said that he will retire at the end of this season. With 3 more races to go. He also said that he will try to end his career with 3 wins on the 3 races.
We will miss you.



http://www.eurosport.com/formula1/italian-gp/2006/sport_sto961990.shtml

Michael Schumacher’s reign as the top Grand Prix driver of the last 10 years comes to an end in little over a months time, but where does the German rank amongst the greats? eurosport.com readers have been emailing in their suggestions all day.

A man who will be remembered as much for his immense speed and sensational car control as for the numerous controversial incidents that has blighted his career, Schumacher will retire at the end of this season to be replaced at Ferrari by Kimi Raikkonen.

Since making his debut in the 1991 Belgian Grand Prix, Schumacher has put his name on almost every Formula One record, with Fernando Alonso's title as the youngest world champion the only significant stat that eludes him.

Schumacher has started 247 Grands Prix, winning 90. He has also taken 68 pole positions, 75 fastest laps and scored 2,154 points.

As well as that, he has collected seven world titles including five in a row between 2000 and 2004 and dominated every team-mate he's ever had.

But how does he compare to the sport's other great names.?

Would he have beaten Juan Manuel Fangio, Jackie Stewart, Alain Prost or Ayrton Senna in equal machinery while all were at their peak?

We appealed to Formula One fans across Europe and were overwhelmed with the response that saw at least 60 per cent of voters nominating Schumacher as the greatest driver in Formula One history.

Here are some of the top fives we recieved. Go to the bottom of the page to see the drivers ranked.

Ene Alexandru (Bucharest): Michael Schumahcer, Ayrton Senna, Jackie Stewart, Juan Manuel Fangio, Alain Prost.

Oto (Tiblisi): Schumacher, Senna, Prost, Fangio, Niki Lauda.

Ray Cattini (London): Ronnie Peterson, Jim Clark, Alberto Ascari, Fangio, Stewart.

Radu Chirila (Cluj-Napoca): Schumacher, Senna, Prost, Lauda, Fangio.

Stanislav Raykov (Europe): Senna, Fangio, Schumacher, Prost, Mika Hakkinen.

Carl Barenbrug (Edinburgh): Schumacher, Senna, Stewart, Fernando Alonso, Fangio

Alam Alsous (Vojvodina): Schumacher, Senna, Fangio, Prost, Stewart.

Jelic Branislav (Becej): Senna, Fangio, Prost, Schumacher, Stirling Moss.

Stijepo Letunic (Dubrovnik): Nigel Mansell, Senna, Schumacher, Prost, Lauda.

Wouter Nagel (Groningen): Senna, Schumacher, Fangio, Clark, Jos Verstappen.

Manoiu Marius (Constanta): Schumacher, Senna, Lauda, Mansell, Ascari.

Jurgen Kolenda (Frankfurt): Schumacher, Fangio, Prost, Senna, Stewart.

Izuchukwu Ig (Lagos): Schumacher, Prost, Senna, Stewart, Mario Andretti.

Zara (Bucharest): Schumacher, Senna, Fangio, Emerson Fittipaldi, Lauda.

J.Mark (Europe): Kimi Raikkonen, Senna, Hakkinen, Schumacher, Prost.

Linda Jansone (Riga): Schumacher, Senna, Lauda, Fangio, Prost.

Affa Mustaffa (Europe): Schumacher, Schumacher, Schumacher, Senna, Prost.

Rad Victor (Cluj-Napoca): Senna, Fangio, Prost, Stewart, Lauda.

Kulcsar Tamas (Budapest): Schumacher, Senna, Prost, Fangio, Nelson Piquet.

Dana Daneshvari (Basel): Schumacher, Senna, Fangio, Prost, Stewart.

Mauro Onori (Stockholm): Schumacher, Fangio, Senna, Ascari, Prost.

Dany Kattar (Canada): Schumacher, Prost, Fangio, Senna, Stewart.

Zlatko Bocov (Serbia): Schumacher, Senna, Lauda, Hakkinen, Raikkonen.

Kiril Angeloff (Venezuela): Schumacher, Senna, Prost, Lauda, Fangio

Kev Perry (England): Schumacher, Prost, Senna, Lauda, Piquet.

Sergiu Calin (Romania): Senna, Prost, Schumacher, Fangio, Mansell

Bruno Trapan (Pula): Senna, Ascari, Prost, Raikkonen, Schumacher.

Al Mexican (Estonia): Senna, Schumacher, Fangio, Prost, Gilles Villeneuve.

Philip Lamotte (London): Schumacher, Senna, Fangio, Prost, Lauda.

Adis Mulahasic (Jacksonville): Schumacher, Senna, Prost, Fangio, Hakkinen.

Michal Mazur (Poland): Senna, Robert Kubica, Alonso, Prost, Lauda.

Stefan Muresanu (Bucharest): Schumacher, Schumacher, Schumacher, Schumacher, Fangio.

Pavel (Riga): Senna, Prost, Fangio, Stewart, Clark.

Alexandru Druduman (Bucharest): Senna, Schumacher, Lauda, Fangio, Piquet.

Alex Siclovan (Iasi): Schumacher, Lauda, Senna, Hakkinen, Jean Alesi.

Michael (Riga): Schumacher, Senna, Prost, Fangio, Hakkinen.

Bahaa (Dubai): Senna, Schumacher, Stewart, Fangio, Prost

Rodger Baker (Kansas): Fangio, Clark, Moss, Senna, Schumacher

Elias Abi Abdallah (Toulouse): Schumacher, Senna, Prost, Fangio, Hakkinen.

Eki Ehizele (Benin City): Schumacher, Senna, Fangio, Prost, Fittipaldi.

Florin Stefanescu (Bucharest): Schumacher, Senna, Lauda, Prost, Fangio.

Zulkarnain Jalil (Aceh): Schumacher, Prost, Fangio, Lauda.

Borislav Mourdzhev (Sofia): Schumacher, Senna, Hakkinen, Prost, Lauda.

Milan Jovanovic and Gornji Milanovac (Europe): Prost, Senna, Alesi, Patrick Depailler, Jacques Villeneuve.

Joseph Ghanime (Lebanon): Schumacher, Schumacher, Schumacher, Schumacher&helliper. Schumacher.

Bakhodir Shavketov (Tashkent): Schumacher, Senna, Prost, Stewart, Hakkinen.

Immer Cardona (Valletta): Senna, Schumacher, Fangio, Prost, Mansell.

Kliton Ikonomi (Unknown): Schumacher, Senna, Prost, Fangio, Lauda.

Elena (Sofia): Schumacher, Senna, Prost, Lauda, Fangio.

Viljem Rome (Ljubljana): Schumacher, Senna, Prost, Fangio, Ascari.

Jeremy Amer (Vienna): Schumacher, Mansell, Lauda, Senna, Stewart.

Florescu Alexandru (Romania): Fangio, Senna, Hakkinen, Raikkonen, Prost.

So here they are, in order, the greatest Formula One drivers of all time according to eurosport.com readers. Unsurprisinly Schumacher comes out on top, although there are some interesting suggestions and some notable absences. We've awarded F1-style points (10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1) to give them an order. Thanks to everyone who took part.

1. Michael Schumacher 430pts

2. Ayrton Senna 399

3. Juan Manuel Fangio 229

4. Alain Prost 223

5. Niki Lauda 96

6. Jackie Stewart 64

7. Mika Hakkinen 48

8. Nigel Mansell 31

9. Jim Clark 25

10. Alberto Ascari/Kimi Raikkonen 19

12. Stiring Moss 18

13. Ronnie Peterson 14

14. Nelson Piquet 12

15. Fernando Alonso 11

16. Emerson Fittipaldi/Jean Alesi 10

18. Robert Kubica 8

19. Patrick Depailler 5

20. Gilles Villeneuve/Jacques Villeneuve/Mario Andretti/Jos Verstappen 4

Wednesday, September 06, 2006

Andre Agassi, the king of the court retires. 2006-09-03

Here it goes the news about the best player of the world retirement.
It was sad to see the end of Agassi on court. A great sportsman.
Well, here it goes the news below about their last game.

Updated: Sep. 4, 2006, 11:19 PM ET

http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/tennis/news/story?id=2571758

Agassi gave until his body gave out
By Greg Garber
ESPN.com

NEW YORK -- Andre Agassi is only 36 years old, but these final days he has shuffled around like a senior citizen, limping into restaurants, hobbling through the hallways underneath Arthur Ashe Stadium. Four injections in five days did little to quiet the shrieking pain in his back.

He was unseeded here and his one-time No. 1 world ranking has slipped to No. 39. And yet, when he stepped onto center court for his first two matches, the eight-time Grand Slam champion came alive. Elevated by a full house of passionate believers, his aching body seemed to, fleetingly, live in the past.

Andre Agassi
Al Bello/Getty Images
After two dramatic wins, Agassi was physically unable to stay with his younger opponent in the third round.


On Sunday, Agassi -- his face frozen into a perpetual grimace -- walked into Arthur Ashe for a third time to play a 25-year-old qualifier named Benjamin Becker. His heart, his soul and the U.S. Open crowd were desperately willing, but this time he couldn't rise above his horrible physical reality.

Moving poorly and with great effort, Agassi lost the last match of his glorious career, 7-5, 6-7 (4), 6-4, 7-5. His career trademark was taking the ball early, on the rise, but on this day he was too often too late. Despite his inability to reach many shots at the edges of the court, he managed to stay in the match all the way to the end.

It would have been sad if it hadn't been so curiously uplifting. Perhaps courage is a word better applied to exploits in the theater of war or in the face of natural disaster, but it might best describe Agassi's final performance.

With Becker serving for the match at 6-5 in the fourth set, the stadium of 24,000 spectators was stone silent. After Becker won the first three points of the ultimate game, the crowd stood and cheered. They didn't sit down. After Becker's 133-mph ace whizzed past Agassi, he walked slowly to the net, congratulated Becker and sat in his changeover chair, beaten but not defeated.

Amid a sustained standing ovation, Agassi, tears beginning, walked to the middle of the court and issued his signature four-corners, bow-and-kisses routine. Then he returned to his seat and, finally, he began to sob. The applause continued -- Becker never stopped -- and Agassi walked out for a second salute. He sat back down and buried his face in a towel and, still, the love flowed.

"I was sitting there realizing that I was saying goodbye to everybody out there," he said later, "and they were saying goodbye to me. Nothing I've ever experienced before. Overwhelmed -- [I] was overwhelmed with how they embraced me at the end."

For more than five minutes, the crowd tried to give back to Agassi, after he had given them so much -- maybe too much -- of himself. It was this tender and symbiotic relationship that Agassi addressed when he finally stood to speak.

After two halting attempts to find his vocal chords, he began in voice choked with emotion, "The scoreboard said I lost today, but what the scoreboard doesn't say is what it is I have found. And over the last 21 years, I have found loyalty. You have pulled for me on the court and also in life. I've found inspiration. You have willed me to succeed, sometimes even in my lowest moments. And I've found generosity. You have given me your shoulders to stand on to reach for my dreams, dreams I could have never reached without you."

"Over the last 21 years, I have found you and I will take you and the memory of you with me for the rest of my life. Thank you."

In 111 words, Agassi had succinctly captured his deep bond with the tennis fans of New York. The address underlined his decision to end it here. His circumstances were in no way as dire as Lou Gehrig's when he faced a deadly disease upon retirement in 1939, but his emotion and sentiment were the same. Clearly, Agassi considers himself the luckiest man on the face of the earth.

Less than an hour later, he was more composed in a standing-room-only, post-match interview session. He tried to explain why it was so important for him to play out this last match. His answers were laced with tiny gasps as he was, presumably, visited by spasms of pain.

"This is sort of the last window to a whole series of windows throughout my career," Agassi said. "I feel like the color of the last one can affect how you see the rest of them. I didn't want to be tainted with a lack of desire or preparation."

"I'd rather just be inside the lines."

From the beginning, Agassi was not himself.

"I was still tight," Agassi explained. "But then the pain came quickly. I knew I was in trouble at that point."

He had difficulty bending low for shots, particularly on the backhand side. Still, he found himself serving to force a tiebreaker in the first set. At 30-all, moving in toward the service line he was in position to hit what would have been an easy winner in his prime. This time, the backhand glanced wide. On set point for Becker, Agassi couldn't get over the top on a second serve and, at a modest speed of 84 mph, it sailed long.

Andre Agassi
Jamie Squire/Getty Images
It was hard to tell whether Agassi was racked with more physical or emotional pain after the match.


Agassi's plaintive wail as he struck the ball foretold its path.

Becker, a player so obscure he was escorted out of Arthur Ashe when he tried to watch Agassi's spectacular second-round match with Marcos Baghdatis, was admirably poised in so difficult a situation. The former NCAA champion for Baylor via Germany, failed to show any nerves whatsoever until the second-set tiebreaker.

His first two serves were double faults and it was a hole from which he never emerged. A forehand into the net by Becker sent the crowd into hysterics.

Amazingly, twice Agassi was two points from drawing even at 5-all in the third set, but Becker's bigger serve (27 aces) and forehand prevailed. Agassi was broken at 5-all in the fourth set and Becker served out the match.

The bottom-line numbers do Agassi little justice. He has won more than $30 million in official prize money and his final record of 870-274 gives him an extraordinary 1,144 matches. Only Jimmy Connors, Ivan Lendl and Guillermo Vilas played more.

After Agassi had spun slowly around one more time to wave to the crowd, he walked into the tunnel and through the corridor toward the locker room. When he opened the door, the players were waiting for him. They were on their feet, and prompted by Ryan Sweeting, they, too, were applauding.

"The greatest applause that any person will ever receive in their life is that which comes from their peers," Agassi said. "It's not like we're a company who's working together to accomplish something. We're people that succeed, in some cases, at the demise of the other."

"To have them applaud is the ultimate compliment."

At the end of his eloquent 40-minute interview, Agassi asked, "Are you guys going to really miss me or are you just acting like that?"

The answer was another standing ovation -- a rare tribute from a typically cynical media contingent.

Agassi said he is looking forward to spending more time with family, friends and working with his foundation. "[Tennis] always comes with a cost. You're not doing something. You need to be resting. You need to be training. You need to be going somewhere. Everything you do has come with a sacrifice, it's come with a price tag, whether it's physical or mental."

"You always had to be somewhere and be thinking about being somewhere else. I look forward to being wherever I am."

Agassi, through all the pain, was typically introspective and insightful. No athlete has ever explained himself better.

"I don't think it was sadness," he said, reflecting. "It was a beautiful feeling, combined with a real excitement for the future."

Greg Garber is a senior writer for ESPN.com.

ANDRE AGASSI RETIREMENT PERSPECTIVE
Age: 36
Titles: 60
Last Title: Los Angeles (2005)
Grand Slams: 8
Career W-L: matches)

DeSimone: Agassi was the best sound byte
• Career photo gallery
Garber: Agassi gave until his body gave out
• Agassi's career ends with four-set loss to Becker
Lorge: Evolution and appreciation of Agassi
Faulkner: Who is Benjamin Becker?
Garber: Decision to play on the right one

DeSimone: Respect and urgency
• Agassi knocks off Baghdatis in second round
DeSimone: Night of stars capped with win
• Agassi beats Pavel, Baghdatis up next
• Looking for long goodbye
• Big names cede spotlight
• Andre draws Andrei (Pavel) in first round
• DeSimone on the Fab Five
• By the numbers
• Player comments

Friday, September 01, 2006

WWE SMACKDOWN in Lisbon, Portugal - Dec. 5th, 2006

WWE SMACKDOWN will come to Portugal in the 5th of December.

Amazing. I love wrestling as many of you probably know by the posts I have on my blog.

Finaly I will see live the best wrestlers of the world. I prefer RAW to SMACKDOWN by far but even though SMACKDOWN has amazing atlets. I already bought the ticket to the show. I payed for 70 euros but it will worth the money spent for sure. I will be on an amazing place where all the stars will pass by me when they go to the ring.

Here it goes the link on the official site to the WWE SMACKDOWN in Lisbon, Portugal:
http://www.wwe.com/schedules/events/?country=Portugal
Tue, Dec 5 - SmackDown Live Tour - Lisbon, Portugal 8:00 p.m.

And here is the link of the details:
http://www.wwe.com/schedules/events/eventdetail/?id=3169174

"
Event Details
SmackDown Live Tour

Date: December 5, 2006
Time: 8:00 p.m.
Venue: Pavilhão Atlântico
City/State: Lisbon, Portugal

On-Sale Date: AUGUST 29 at 12:00 a.m.

Ticket Information: Ticket Prices: TO BE DETERMINED
Purchase Tickets Online at www.pavilhaoatlantico.pt
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Featuring…
“KING” BOOKER
BATISTA
REY MYSTERIO
CHRIS BENOIT
FINLAY
LASHLEY
THE GREAT KHALI
MR. KENNEDY
MATT HARDY
TATANKA
PAUL LONDON
BRIAN KENDRICK
MEXICOOLS
SHARMELL

Plus many more!
Line-Up subject to change.
"

My favourite wrestlers of SMACKDOWN are:
Ashley,
Chris Benoit,
Jillian,
Lashley,
Matt Hardy,
Sir William Regal,
Tatanka,
Undertaker.

My RAW favourite wrestlers are:
Armando Alejandro Estrada,
Candice,
Edge,
Hacksaw Jim Duggan,
Jeff Hardy,
John Cena,
Kane,
Lita,
Maria,
Mr. McMahon,
Randy Orton,
Ric Flair,
Robbie McAllister,
Rory McAllister,
Shawn Michaels,
Triple H,
Trish Stratus.

As you see RAW has many famous and amazing wrestlers. My favourite wrestlers of all time are:



1st: HBK - "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels

Name: Shawn Michaels

Height: 6 foot 1
Weight: 225 pounds
From: San Antonio, Texas
Signature Move: Sweet Chin Music
Career Highlights: 3-time WWE Champion; World Heavyweight Champion; 1995 and 1996 Royal Rumble winner; three-time Intercontinental Champion; three-time World Tag Team Champion; European Champion
Associates: Triple H
Trained By: Jose Lothario

2nd: HHH - "King of the Kings" Triple H

Name: Triple H

Height: 6 foot 4
Weight: 260 pounds
From: Greenwich, Conn.
Signature Move: Pedigree
Career Highlights: 5-time WWE Champion, 5-time World Heavyweight Champion, 4-time Intercontinental Champion, World Tag Team Champion, 2-time European Champion, 1997 King of the Ring, 2002 Royal Rumble Match winner
Associates: Shawn Michaels
WWE Debut: May 1995
Trained By: Killer Kowalski