First of all, I’m thrilled that my team, the New York Giants, won the big game once again. You go, boys in blue! Congrats on a great team effort.

Second, the whole day of coverage was actually a pleasure to watch. And trust me, watch I did! From 9AM-midnight! I get really into this stuff, especially when it’s my team in the mix. NBC did a great job, for the most part. There were no reporters I hated and the whole thing really moved along.

Of course, I wouldn’t be Karen without a few musings along the way, so here they are, in sections this time, rather than my usual totally-linear presentations.

THE GAME ITSELF

New York Giant Mario Manningham making the catch of the century!

Superbowl XXXXVI turned-out to be one of the most exciting ones ever, living-up to its moniker, Superbowl.

The excitement began with the revved-up entrances of both teams. It got everyone‘s blood pumping, not just the players.

Back in the day, I had watched Superbowl XXV with my old pals, Wendy and Martin Mull, and I was so nervous for that last, Giants-opposing field goal attempt by the Buffalo Bills kicker that Wendy had to leave her own house! Martin was brave and stayed watching with the mass of tension that was me, and we were rewarded with the second Giants win. Never had I been so nervous for the last few seconds of a Superbowl since then, until last night, when once again the victor wasn’t known until the very last second. Heart-stopping.

THE BROADCASTERS

Broadcast team of Al Michaels and Chris Collinsworth.

It was Chris Collinsworth’s first Superbowl as the lead color commentator, and he was excellent. (He had done the duty once before, in 2005, but was second to Troy Aikman’s lead.)

How does Michelle Tafoya look the same as she did fifteen years ago??? It’s not like she’s even good-looking, but it is amazing! I don’t see any signs of surgery, so she must just have great genes.

We don’t even know who the other female, Alex Flanagan, is, but Mr. X said her hair was a mess in the back. I actually had no problem with it!

Even though he has two previous Superbowl rings, pre-game commentator, and former new England Patriot, Rodney Harrison, is still broken-up over his not taking down New York Giant David Tyree four years ago! I thought he was going to cry on-the-air talking about it. I’m glad to see that I’m not the only one who can’t let past problems go.

Chris Collinsworth, on the other hand, was cool and laughing about someone who had beaten him twice.

Play-by-play announcer Al Michaels, made a good, intelligent reference at one point, that no one on earth got. He commented that colorful player Chad Ochocinco play was once “headlines” but is now “agate type.” I don’t think any viewers really knew what that was, especially since those last two words were so hard to make-out that even the closed-captioners couldn’t figure them out! Mr. X deciphered them and correctly assumed the definition that even I had to look-up! So, seriously, thanks for the vocabulary lesson, Al! And for the high-class reference. I really appreciated it.

THE PRE-GAME COVERAGE

Victorious New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning.

The most shocking part of all the coverage is that not once in the two weeks leading up to it did I hear Eli’s Coming! (For the Giants quarterback, Eli Manning, for those who just party on this special day, and know nothing about what you’re even partying about!) Maybe the ditty is old, but this is the Superbowl, for goodness sake!!! The announcers never even invoked it when the Giants were driving down the field!!! And I’ve had it in my head constantly for several weeks now, since the play-offs began.

Mr. X was shocked that the pre-game show had so many promos, of all types.

For the most part, the segments were either educational or entertaining or both, but the network one, that showed every person on an NBC show singing and dancing, was offensive in it’s desperation. I know that each network who broadcasts this biggest sporting event of the year has to use the occasion to try to lure new viewers to their regular shows, but they made this insult into a “feature” on the pre-game show, not as a commercial, which is what they should have done.

The story about the Pats dedicating their season to Myra Kraft, the late wife of owner Robert Kraft, was emotional and lovely.

THE PERFORMERS

The opening number by recently-married couple Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert was sweet; they held hands the whole time!

Kelly Clarkson’s National Anthem was excellent; she just got on with it, without sounding like the classic Maya Rudolph parody on SNL, which most big Star-Spangled Banner singers do.

M.I.A. giving a mysterious middle finger, to who knows whom, was just stupid. It was an attempt to get her name out there, any way she could, because she’s the only performer who would have just gone unnoticed otherwise. Yet another classless weirdo who’s lucky to have a career.

Madonna and fun musical guests LMFAO.

Now, to the biggie–Madonna’s much-hyped halftime show: If the old adage “it’s not how you start, it’s how you finish” is true, then she definitely succeeded.

To begin with, she came in on some sort of float, which used up a lot of time where she didn’t have to exert herself. Her entrance was how I wrote reports in school—not a lot of story, with lots of fluff around it.

Then, she sang what I call a “hundred-year-old song” while just walking around the stage. But the guy on the high-wire was great! He had new, interesting moves.

The high-waisted gold belt she was wearing over that black dress made her middle look the way that “mom jeans” do.

And, I know she’s in phenomenal shape, but why was she so klutzy??? Has she always been so, and we never noticed because of all the constant movement around her? Or were those boots just too high for her? Or was it simply her nervousness that she had been talking about?

But, her last song with Ceelo, Like a Prayer, was excellent.

THE COMMERCIALS

The good Chevy yellow car ad.

I loved the Chevy ad featuring a yellow car that a grad thought his parents had given him! It’s actually the only one I cared about at all!

On the other hand, the same company’s ad for a truck, which also featured Twinkies, made no sense. I know what they were going for, sort-of, but it didn’t work and was just a head-scratcher. If they were trying to say that Twinkies are as indestructible as their trucks, (or vice versa,) that would be a slam because it would mean that they’re such crappy food that they’d last through devastation, which they could be sued for. But, the product placement was so major that it seems the Hostess company paid them for it, which means the inclusion was supposed to mean something good. I just don’t get it. And was this ad made before the Hostess company just went into bankruptcy? (Or is at least trying to; I can’t pay attention to everything.)

The Coke polar bears commercials were just stupid and meant absolutely nothing.

I hate the violence in so many ads; even the one for some brand of Greek yogurt, that starred John Stamos, had crazy violence! He should be ashamed of himself, especially since he’s Greek himself.

Go Daddy’s ads with Danica Patrick and Jillian Michaels, two unfeminine chicks, (especially Jillian, who everyone thinks is gay to begin with,) painting a nude female model, were very weird. It would have been creepy if it was guys painting a nude woman, too, but somehow, not as much.

I wouldn’t buy a Hyundai because of the commercial with a mountain lion chasing a person. At one point, they disappear down a hill, and it doesn’t look good for the guy. How is that supposed to make us want to buy their car?

But the Doritos commercials were downright offensive. I thought the dog killing the cat and then bribing his owner with with the crappy chips to keep it a secret was dreadful enough. But I will never, ever buy them again because of their baby slingshot ad!!! That was the most offensive thing I’ve ever seen on network television. And how irresponsible of everyone involved; they know that idiot kids do stuff they see on TV!!! The tiny little warning, “don’t try this at home” just does not cover it. Those ad execs are some sick mofos.

JIMMY FALLON’S LATE NIGHT SPECIAL

[I told you I watched all day!!!]

Jimmy Fallon doing his now-famous "Tebowie."

I think that I think that Jimmy Fallon just may be the best talk show host in history. And that’s coming from one of the finite number of people who have guested on Johnny Carson’s show! I really didn’t think anyone could ever rival the great man, but Jimmy had me rolling in the aisles last night on his post-game special.

I’ve never actually watched even a quarter of one show of his shows. To be more accurate, not even more than a minute. And that was only once. But the bits I’ve seen elsewhere look great. So, I’m at least placing him side-by-side with Johnny. For now, at least, because perhaps it was just the euphoria of the Giants victory that made me giddy. But I was grateful for the laughs, no matter how they were manifested.

And for the Giants winning yet another Superbowl! Yay!!!

It’s midway though the first half of the season actually, so here are some thoughts. Please read at least this first section because it pertains to tonight.

DANCING WITH THE STARS

Please read this before voting tonight!

Tonight, there are only five couples left. Last week, they eliminated the crazy, but funny, David Arquette. That means that the person who’ll come in third this season will be one of the worst contestants on there!

In my opinion, that I’ve held since Day 1, the locks for the final two are JR Martinez, who deserves to win, not just because he’s a war hero but because he’s by far the best dancer, and Ricki Lake, who has the advantage of dance training and the biggest advantage of them all–Derek Hough as her partner.

But the other three “celebrities” vying for the three-couple finale are all lummoxes who should have been gone long ago: overall creepy dude Rob Kardashian, who’s far from a “star” that the show title portends, and awful dancers Nancy Grace (who also appears to be a complete wackadoo,) and Hope Solo, who doesn’t really have enough of her first name. (There’s little “hope” for her on this show, in case you didn’t get my brilliant reference.)

Even though she’s really the worst dancer left, I’m begging you all to vote for Hope and Maks. And not even one whit because I have a crush on Maks. It’s for the human drama that will ensue for at least a week if he’s in the final.

In case you missed my Maks vs. Karina obsession in some of my past DWTS columns, here’s the background on this gossip-worthy story: almost three years ago, these two attractive pros got engaged, with Maks admitting that he had a crush on Karina for many years. They appeared together on Broadway in the wonderful ballroom dance show, Burn The Floor. They were always together.

Then, just a little over two years ago, they inexplicably broke-up. Since Karina was just about the only girl I could accept capturing Maks’ heart, (since I’m not available,) I was crushed. And Maks appeared to be, too. After the initial reports, I never heard another word about it. And I’ve always been dying to know what happened. It looked like she was the one who broke it off, and now she’s set to marry baseball player Brad Penny. (I’m not holding my breath on those nuptials either.)

I’ve watched every DWTS episode since the break-up very carefully, (and actually–I hate to admit this–multiple times!,) and I’ve never seen those two interact for even a second! So, this is why I need Maks and Hope Solo to be in the top three this season—the top three couples have to travel to New York together the night of the finale, on a private jet with just them and the necessary show personnel, and do all the next-day press together. The six of them always sit there on Good Morning America, laughing and joking and referring to each other. And how interesting would it be for Maks and Karina to be two of those six people??? My mouth waters thinking of it! And poor Maks will be third while his ex winds-up the winner! It boggles the mind!

So, please everyone, whether you watch the show or not, take pity on poor me and vote for Hope and Maks tonight. (And next week, as well.) And really, who would you rather have in the finale: obnoxious Rob Kardashian, weirdo Nancy Grace, or poor, put-upon, klutzy athlete Hope Solo? Slim pickings, but I’d go with Hope, even if it weren’t for the Maks-Karina angle.

The phone number for Team Maks and Hope is 1-800-868-3408 and you can dial it from 8PM-10:30PM tonight. And each phone line is allowed only five votes, so it’s not a lot of work. (Don’t let them tell you that “your time zone is currently closed,” because it’s not true until after 10:30PM.) You can also vote at abc.com until tomorrow morning.

Thanks so much! I hope it works. I’m really worried that the idiots who follow the Kreepy Kardashians, (though I can’t imagine who they are as I’ve never met a fan of theirs or even read about anyone liking them,) may keep no-personality-or-talent Rob in there.

By the way, if Maks and Hope last through this week, we have to do it all over again next week. And then back to JR for the win!!! yay!

BIGGEST LOSER

I have just one note on Biggest Loser: Letters from home, or video chats or phone calls, are often the most sought-after prize for winning a “challenge.” But, I don’t understand why the contestants are not allowed to talk to their families to begin with! This is a TV show, not the Gestapo. So, why this controlling tactic?! I think the powers-that-be over there claim it’s to make the contestants function better, without their probable enablers, but an encouraging word for a loved one would definitely make their journey easier, so I still don’t get it.

NEW SHOWS I STILL LOVE

Revenge

Ringer

Suburgatory

NEW SHOWS I’M GLAD I DIDN’T WASTE MORE TIME ON

Charlie’s Angels

Whitney

Up All Night

Last Man Standing

THE X FACTOR

I finally got caught up with The X Factor over the week-end (I hadn’t even seen who the top sixteen were yet!) I’ll publish those copious notes tomorrow or the next day, so please remember to check back for them, if you’re interested.

People always ask me why I love sports so much. They just need to look at the drama from the last day of baseball’s regular season last night to understand. I don’t even care about most of the teams in contention, but my heart was pounding watching it all unfold.

Both Wild Card races came down to the last day, which I believe is a first. I didn’t watch the National League games, although the guys on ESPN kept us apprised of what was going on, which was, sadly for the Atlanta Braves, almost equally dramatic to the American League.

The absolutely defeated Boston Red Sox team, going into the clubhouse after their game, with still a glimmer of hope.

But, truly, I’ve rarely witnessed anything like the last few innings of both games in the AL East. The hated (by me) Boston Red Sox had been up nine games in their division as recently as September 3. The Tampa Bay Rays had been basically an afterthought for most of the season as the Sox battled my beloved Yankees for the top spot.

The Yanks clinched the division title about a week ago, which left the other two teams to battle it out for the Wild Card spot. (The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, with the stupidest name in all of sports, were in it for a few seconds, but not at the very end.) So, last night, the Sox and Rays, in different games, took the field with everything to win or lose. The Sox played the out-of-the-race Baltimore Orioles in that city, while the rays battled the Yanks at home in Tampa. (Well, actually St. Petersburg, but that’s not part of the story.)

I kept an eye on the scores all evening while I worked, until the late innings, when I felt this was perhaps history not to be missed. The Yanks were up on the Rays in the top of the 8th, 7-0, so I pretty much assumed, as I’m sure everyone did, that it was over for the Rays, and as long as Boston also lost, those two teams would play one game today, winner take all.

But the Sox were winning their game, which was now in a rain delay, and, as long as they won and Tampa lost, the Red Sox would be the victor in the Wild Card race.

I really didn’t know for whom to root; I wanted whatever would be best for the Yanks, even though they won’t play either one in the first series of the play-offs. Mr. X kept telling me that he thinks the Yanks would prefer for a limping Red Sox team to get in, but since it wouldn’t affect them in the first round, I would think they’d root against their arch rivals on principle alone. And I just couldn’t bring myself to root for them, either.

But it looked pretty grim for Tampa—down by seven in the next-to-last inning? Come on. So, here it was, two out in the bottom of the ninth, and up comes Dan Johnson to pinch hit. Yes, he had hit a big game-tying home run against Jonathan Papelbon, Boston’s lauded closer, in the ninth inning of an important game three years ago. But how often does lightning strike? (Not against Boston, in this case, but in a similar scenario.)

With two strikes, Johnson hit another game-tying home run! I almost couldn’t believe my eyes! And with that, the game against the Yanks went into extra innings. What an incredible feeling that must have been for him.

So, now the rain had finally stopped in Baltimore, much to the chagrin of the Red Sox, who would have won if the the game had been called off at that point because it was considered an official game in that inning, (which would have been a horrible way for the Wild Card race to end,) and ESPN returned us there.

For blow-by-blows of the innings, please google it. But suffice it to say that with Papelbon (and his dangerous stare,) on the mound for the Sox in the bottom of the ninth, up by one with two outs, it seemed like the worst they could do is go into a one-game play-off against Tampa Bay today, if both won. But, two doubles and a single later, it was all over for the Boston Red Sox. They had lost the game. And with that stunning loss, perhaps the chance to go into the play-offs. It all depended on the outcome of the by now extra-innings game taking place in Florida. And, to make it all worse for them, they had to root for the Yankees to win that game!!! That thought alone had Mr. X and me wringing our hands with glee!

The jubilant Tampa Bay Rays.

And then, literally three minutes later, it was all over. Against what was tantamount to a Yankees farm team, (as manager Joe Girardi had pulled most of his starters by then, in the middle of their seven run lead,) Evan Longoria hit the lowest and shortest home run I think I’ve ever seen.

I’ll be happy for the Rays, as long as their presence in the post-season doesn’t adversely affect my Yanks. I just wish it had taken them longer to win because the Sox had only those few minutes to have to root for the Yankees. I would have liked that to go on at least a little longer.

But what a story for the Rays!!! I like former Yankee Johnny Damon, (although he’s also a former Red Sox,) so I’m happy for him. The whole night proved, once again, that Yogi Berra was indeed right–it’s not over until it’s over.

There was similar drama in the National League, but, with the Mets long out of it, I didn’t pay much attention to it. Speaking of the Mets, the punctuation mark to this whole drama is that now, with the colossal collapse of the Boston Red Sox this month, my beloved Mets are off the hook for the worst baseball disaster in history, which happened just four years ago. I can’t even relive that one here. (It made me glad that my father had already passed on because he couldn’t have borne that pain.) This is one distinction that I’m thrilled to see go to the Red Sox.

For the play-offs that begin tomorrow, all I can say is Go Yanks!!!

I had originally mixed-in some musings on sports with other topics, but the sports section was getting so big, especially with all the baseball happenings, that I decided to split it in two. So, here are the sports thoughts, with the miscellaneous subjects appearing in tomorrow’s column.

Unfortunately, I do have to begin with the horrible news from last week because just trying to ignore it in print is making me feel rude, but the musings get better after that.

–First of all, no matter how much this will bring the room down, I do have to acknowledge the tragic, tragic death of Shannon Stone, the fan in the stands of the Texas Rangers game last week. Believe me, the accident has barely left my mind, but I don’t want to depress readers, so I continue with my frivolity. But every day, my heart goes out to his wife and young son. And Josh Hamilton, too. (I can’t write about it now, so if you don’t know what I’m talking about, and want to, please research it.)

Now, back to more frivolous, happy, and hopefully sometimes amusing or educational thoughts:

–I was saving this column for after the All-Star Game, but I needn’t have because it was pretty uneventful, unlike the one in Yankee Stadium three years ago that went fifteen innings and almost five hours! That was into beyond the wee hours. And I was in New York, at first grumbling that I was in town and didn’t get to attend the game, and then being relieved that I was at my home there, cozy in my bed, though forcing myself to stay awake for the whole shebang!

2011 Home Run Derby Champion Robinson Cano and his proud dad, Jose.

–After Derek Jeter’s storybook week-end, the Yankees streak continued in that vein with second baseman Robinson Cano’s record-breaking win in the Home Run Derby last night. A first time participant, he beat the winners of the previous two competitions, and the baseball batting leader so far this season, to take the title.

The entire event was the most exciting it had ever been, at least in the many years that I’ve been watching it. The best part was seeing just how much the whole All-Star experience meant to Robinson. For someone who really seems to struggle with the English language, he expresses himself perfectly. Everything he had to say after his win was just beautiful, especially about how thrilled and honored he was to be in the All-Star Game. That’s the ‘tude all the players should bring to it.  (And, thankfully,  most do.)

–Which means, of course, that I’m a tad disappointed in Derek Jeter that he didn’t show-up, though voted in as a starter by the fans across the country. And that was before his historic Saturday! (You can read all my thoughts on this particular topic in my column from two days ago, that was all about Derek.)

–While we’re on the topic of the All-Star Game I must say that I’m a tad disappointed in the sitch. Some of the biggest names, like three of my faves, Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, and CC Sabathia, have chosen to sit it out this year. (In all fairness to CC, I don’t think he was chosen until after he had pitched on Sunday, which would preclude him from pitching again two days later.) I know that some guys want the days of rest instead, and some are just jaded.

But it puts a bit of a damper on the proceedings for everyone. There are baseball players whose greatest joy in life would be to make just one All-Star team, and when more famous, or better, players shun it, it lessens the fun a taste for the guys who are happy to be there.

It’s kind-of like a high school situation. In my school, since their were just a few cheerleaders, but over four thousand students (!), we had to have a bigger team called Boosters to do the half-time show. Of course, we all were desperate to make the team, and were thrilled when we did. But it kind-of ruined it a little when some “too-cool-for-school” (literally) seniors would show up in street clothing because they thought they were above participating in the activities. And it totally embarrassed the girls who desperately wanted to make the team but didn’t.

I feel that if you’re lucky enough to get a privilege that few other citizens have, you need to step-up to the plate. Literally, in the case of the baseball players!

Curtis Granderson.

–I never knew much about Curtis Granderson until I heard what Vin Scully had to say one time last year, when the Yanks played the Dodgers in inter-league play. His parents are or were teachers, as were mine, so I can kind-of picture his upbringing. Except my ‘rents insisted we all become teachers, too. (We all see how well that worked-out for me, right?)

But I’ve rarely heard him speak before last night. He was talking about a charity he’s involved with (I know he helms the Grand Kids Foundation, but this might have been something else—it was to get seniors in high school to pitch in in their communities, which is a wonderful idea,) and I swear, that guy could be a politician—he’s so well-spoken, intelligent, and engaging! He’s also a college graduate with a degree in business administration. How many major league athletes can say that??? The Yankees are just getting better for me all the time, as people.

Nomar Garciaparra.

–I love Nomar Garciaparra as a broadcaster.  He’s actually one of my favorites.  He’s fair, intelligent, has a great voice for it, and is sort-of really good-looking, especially in a suit.  I can now understand why Bostonites loved him.  At the same time, though, I’m glad I didn’t realize any of this when he was playing against my beloved Yankees.

–Because my beloved Mets played the Dodgers recently, I got to watch them on the local Dodgers station, giving me the opportunity to marvel at eighty-three-year-old Vin Scully once again. I always forget that he does the entire broadcast alone, which is a rarity, let me tell you. Nowadays, everyone seems to sportscast in not only pairs but trios!!! Even talk show hosts need a sidekick. Or, at the very least, they have to riff off the audience.

When I was doing my show, Karen’s Restaurant Revue, I talked by myself for a half hour straight on each episode, with no commercials, and no proceedings to comment on, such as a baseball game, and people marveled at that, too. But it was so natural to me. (Much easier than writing, let me tell ya.)

Vin Scully.

But, since I’ve never seen anyone else do it, I finally had to admit, if only to myself, that what I did was somewhat special. But I had to do it just once a week! (And down the line, once a month.) Mr. Scully is doing it every day!!! At eighty-three! He’s a wonder!

I’m nowhere as accomplished as he, but still, it made me query why none of the guys who watched both local sports and my show never compared the two of us. There’s no one else who does this one-person bit. I never even made the comparison before! What’s wrong with all of us?!

There is one big difference, though: At the end of his telecasts, Vin says, “Goodnight, everybody,” whereas they had to use a hook to get me off the air. Maybe that’s why his television career has outlasted mine.

–I can’t believe that Bob Lee, a sportscaster for the Women’s World Cup, was interviewing two of the players, and said the next-to-last word in the following: He was talking about something being between the two of them, and said, “…even inter-personally. Even, perhaps, between ‘yous two.’ ” Yous! Without batting an eye! The girls didn’t, either. That’s shocking!

–How’s this for low? The IRS is going after the fan who caught Derek Jeter’s 3,00th hit ball, even though he’s not selling it or trying to profit from it in any way!!! But, since it was announced that the Yankees organization gave him four tickets for each game for the rest of the season, including play-offs, (knock on wood,) and some signed memorabilia, the government wants the kid to pay taxes on those items. You can’t even be a good guy anymore in this world. Disgusting.

–And, looking back to the tragic topic I began this column with, you would think that everyone who attends baseball games from now on, especially in the immediate future, would be more cautious about leaning over the railing, especially to try to catch a ball. I don’t think that’s a big supposition. But there was already a close call at Monday night’s Home Run Derby, by a guy standing on a table top along the railing, wearing flip-flops, and leaning over! Now that’s an idiot. I guess some people will never learn, no matter what.

[Note: tomorrow's column will feature my non-sports musings, and will cover everything from Adam Levine to the “trial of the century” to jailhouse tattoos. Talk about eclectic!!!]

[Note #2: Uh-oh. I just remembered the Espys are on tonight! So, there may be a tad more sports thoughts tomorrow. But they'll be gossip-y ones.]

Not that this is even remotely about me, but, if you saw me out and about on Saturday night, and you thought I looked a little pasty, just blame it on Derek Jeter because I was planning on doing self-tanner all day, but I couldn’t stop weeping with happiness when he got his 3,000th hit, and the rest of the day, too, long enough to get it done!

Those of you who are sports fans, or even know a lot about that category, know just how amazing an achievement that is. For the rest of you, it’s a feat that only twenty-seven other players in the history of baseball have accomplished! And he’s the first Yankee to do it!

That last sentence still boggles the mind. With Yankee greats like Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, Lou Gehrig, and Joe DiMaggio, not to mention Whitey Ford and Yogi Berra, how is Derek Jeter the first??? That should prove to everyone just how hard it is to do.

The whole game on Saturday was storybook-worthy; it was much better than The Natural! Here’s a quick re-cap of the whole shebang, including the lead-up to Saturday:

He’d been going for that record all season. About a month ago, he was inching closer. Just six away from the mark, on June 13th, he suffered one of his very few semi-serious injuries—a strained right calf. It was serious enough to land him on the 15-day disabled list, and then a short rehab assignment in Tampa, before returning to the Yanks after losing three valuable weeks in his quest for his 3,000th hit.

One of the worst parts about that is that the Yanks were due for a long homestand, and Derek desperately wanted to hit #3,000 at home, not on the road.

[On a personal note, I was going to get to see all those games on TV, because they were all nationally televised, which most are not. I know I can probably get a Yankees games season package on satellite for a small fee, but then I'd have absolutely no life at all—I insist on watching every Yankees and Mets game that I have access to. That's why I barely go out in New York in the summer—I get to see both daily. Perhaps a tad nutty, but I love my hometown baseball games.]

So, Derek Jeter finally returns to playing, doesn’t get a lot of hits, and then, at long last, they have a few games at home. By this past Friday night, he needed just two more hits, and everything seemed right in the Bronx. Until the rains came, that is. Being rained-out that night gave him just two games at home to get two hits, which, especially with all that pressure on him, is no easy feat. Their opponents, the Tampa Rays, were asked to agree to play a double-header on Saturday, but refused, which is their right, thus putting even more pressure on Derek.

Which brings us to Saturday day. As always, DJ, (as I call him in my fantasies,) is up first. He gets up to a full count, (look it up, if you’re not a sports fan, but, trust me, it added to the drama,) and then…a hit! A single that brought the crowd to its feet (well, in actuality, they were already standing and cheering when he just walked up to the plate,) and a sigh of relief to everyone’s lungs. Only one to go.

Third inning: he’s back! With another full count. With, I believe, sports fans everywhere praying for just a little hit. But then, like a miracle, it happens—a home run!!! On #3,000! [I swear, I'm sitting here shaking with sobs as I'm writing this. It was one of the most spectacular things I've ever witnessed. No hyperbole here.]

He hadn’t hit a home run in Yankee Stadium in almost a year! Nor barely anywhere else—he’s not a home run hitter. And, sit down for this one, folks; as Derek Jeter, in his signature Yankees #2 jersey, got his 3,000th hit, on a home run, after a full count, and also after a so-so year and a half of at-bats, and an injury and a stint on the disabled list, at home in front of the fans, the clock struck two!!! It happened at 2PM. No one would believe this stuff in a movie! They’d think it was too pat or corny.

When Yankees announcer, Michael Kay, pointed out that fact that may have eluded many in the excitement of the moment, he added something like, “I’ll wait for your goosebumps to go down.” He’ll be waiting quite awhile for mine, let me tell ya.

But that wasn’t the end to the drama that day, not by a long shot. Derek wound-up going five for five, accumulating three singles, a double, and that historic home run. (Btw—he’s only the second man to get to 3,000 by a home run—Wade Boggs did it in 1999, I believe.)

Making it the absolutely perfect day for him, and for all of us, actually, his last hit drove home what turned-out to be the winning run!!! I was so relieved, because when the game kept getting tied, I was really worried because I knew that losing the game would just ruin it all for Derek, which he confirmed later in his press conference.

A funny side note is that, after he got two more hits after the 3,000th, Michael Kay said, “Only 998 to go to 4,000.” That made me laugh.

That’s all the technical stuff; now to the “Karen” observations:

Fittingly, when he rounded the bases after his historic home run, and the team ran out to meet him, the first two he hugged were Jorge Posada and Mariano Rivera, his only two teammates of seventeen years! (Actually, that trio is the only one in the history of all sports to be together that long.) To my eye, which is trained for that kind of emotional stuff, he also hugged them the longest and hardest, too.

This is my favorite quote I heard about the situation, and trust me, I watched all the coverage all day and night and the following day, as well: Doug Glanville, an ESPN baseball analyst, said Derek was “playing at the highest of levels in Yankeeland. That’s the other wild card factor. You have to play in a pressure cooker environment and he did it with grace and class and obviously very productively.”

Some commentators were saying Derek was “annoyed” by all the attention on his quest, but I don’t think that’s the right word. I know it wasn’t his favorite thing, but he wasn’t annoyed. Not too happy about it, being as private as he is, so perhaps “bothered a tad” would be more like it.

After I recorded each of my thoughts, the broadcasters said the same thing later!!!

And let’s not forget about Christian Lopez, the amazingly kind fan who caught the home run ball… and gave it back!!! The Yankees organization rewarded him with four suites seats for every home game for the rest of the season, including the play-offs, (knock on wood,) but I think they should have given him lifetime access. What would it have hurt them??? They’re never sold out anymore anyway, since the prices went off the charts. And I know that Derek gave him some signed memorabilia, but what would it hurt him to also write the kid a big check??? If Christian had sold the ball, the least he would have raked-in would have been a hundred grand. At the very least, I hope that DJ sends him a big gift.

And just a few comments on Derek Jeter, in general:

He’s such a class act that I don’t think there’s even one player or fan anywhere who wasn’t happy for him, which is highly unusual. (Even the opposing pitcher who gave up the big hit, David Price, tweeted that his own mom was probably happy! That’s a great sport, and he deserves some props, as well.)

I’ve never heard a bad word about Derek Jeter. And I did sports radio shows for years. National ones and in Los Angeles, where they hate the Yankees.

Still, after all these years, he has the cutest body in all of sports.

He’s never been in a scandal, (unless you count that once he was out late in a club,) never been involved with steroids, or even had dating problems. ones that we’ve heard about anyway. He’s rarely in gossip pages, even though it turns-out that he’s had several high-profile relationships. Until I researched him the other day, I actually had no idea that he used to date Nick Lachey’s fiancée, Vanessa Minnillo! I guess she and I have the same taste in men, on both counts. (She just better stay away from Mr. X!)

Now, all that good stuff being said, I have to add my thoughts on the upcoming All-Star Game situation, in which I’m more than a tad disappointed. Here are the scoops:

So, after all this excitement, I couldn’t wait to see him at the All-Star Game tomorrow. I told Mr. X that this just be a great relief to Derek to have gotten in the “3,000 club” before the game, so that, rather than quizzing him about just when he’s going to achieve it, they can all pat him on the back and celebrate the achievement with him. I was happy for everyone over it—Derek, the fans, baseball, the guys who aren’t nearly as famous as he is who get to glow in the fact that they’re on the field of their mutual sport with him. And, of course, me, who gets to kvell over all of it! [Note: kvell's a Yiddish word meaning to burst with pride, basically.]

But then it sank in—I did, indeed, hear correctly the first couple of times, that Derek elected to sit out the All-Star Game this year, due to his recent (though healed) calf injury. I’m crushed, for all of us. Yes, he seriously needs, and deserves, a couple of days rest. But, isn’t that what he had when he was on the disabled list for said injury? I know he also rehabbed, and had stress over what the immediate future would bring. But first, he rested.

I also know that that kind-of rest is not at all what these three days will be. But, I feel he owes it to the fans who voted him in. He doesn’t even have to play! He can just be there! He can do more interviews, (which I don’t blame him for wanting to take a rest from,) and pal around with his fellow players whom he never gets to relax with any other time.

But, most importantly, he can do it for the fans who spent their hard-earned money and their rest time to go to Arizona to get to cheer for him in person, and give them the thrill that they’re craving. And give us at home a chance to weep our guts out once more. Or is that part just me?

No matter what, I’m hoping that by the time you’re reading is, he’s changed his mind. But, as everyone who’s taking part in the festivities is already supposed to be there now, I have a feeling that we’ll all be disappointed this time. I just know what a perfect celebration it would be. And, at thirty-seven, with such a magical moment recently at hand, I don’t know how many more All-Star teams he’ll be voted onto. I’m just sayin’.

Okay, that’s it. I’ve gotta go get ready to watch the Home Run Derby, just in case I have some happy tears left.

[Last note: there are many wonderful articles out there on the topic of Derek Jeter reaching this milestone; I encourage you to research some. It's such an uplifting true story that every person's take on it should be a worthwhile read.]

Even though I just spent the last two weeks watching every single second of the Wimbledon television coverage, I don’t really have much to say on the topic. I had thought of taking notes as it went along, but, as I knew I wouldn’t be writing about it until after the whole tournament was over, I figured that most people wouldn’t want to read such old news today. So, for once, I have just a few comments on the proceedings.

New Champion Novak Djokovic.

First of all, I’m thrilled that Novak Djokovic beat Raphael Nadal in the final to win his first Wimbledon Championship. With what he’s accomplished this year, losing only one match all year and that was to my beloved Roger Federer, he really did deserve this title. And he worked very hard for it over the past twelve months or so, from changing his entire diet to getting much more fit to working so hard on his serve. He seems like he’s been totally singular of purpose, (even though I know he has a cute dog he adores, which I know from fabulous experience takes up much of one’s time.)

Roger Federer in gorgeous motion.

But none of the above are why I was rooting for him to win. Shamefully, I just didn’t want Rafa to get any closer to Roger’s record of sixteen wins in Majors. Rafa’s at ten now, and at twenty-five years of age, I’m really worried that he may have several more majors titles in him. But, if Novak can keep beating him, that will make Roger’s record safe. Novaks’s at three titles now, so he’d have further to go to catch Roger, which I just don’t envision happening, knock on wood.

A little different criteria for rooting at a sporting event, I know. But it worked.

There are a few girls I root for on the ladies side: Kim Clijsters first and foremost, and then the sports’ two funny ladies, China’s Li Na and Italy’s Francesca Schiavone, who’ve each won one major title. All the women seem nice enough in interviews, and new blood for that gender’s wins is always fun.

The only females I root against are the Williams sisters, who are always full of themselves and never give their opponents any props. Mr. X gets disgusted when the commentators try to say nice things about them, probably because the network tells them they have to. So, we were both very pleased that the sisters both lost in the middle of the tourney and…on the same day! That was a shock.

What especially upset me about their Wimbledon appearances this year is that neither had played in quite awhile—Venus was out about five months, I believe, (I don’t have enough interest to research it that heavily) and Serena missed about eleven, first because of a mysterious foot injury and then possibly severe other health issues—yet many of the commentators still thought they were the ones to beat, which I feel devalues the hard work of all the other players on the tour.

[Note: I've always believed athletes when they say they have a health issue. But, Serena claims that she cut her foot in a restaurant in Germany a year ago, which resulted in her having to have two surgeries, but she can't remember the name of the eatery!!! I'm not the only one suspicious about it, trust me. I think she just wanted an excuse to sit out the US Open last year because she knew that everyone would be talking about her horrible sportsmanship in the semi-final against Kim Clijsters the year before. This way, she had them feeling sorry for her about her “injury” instead. As one brave reporter pointed out in a press conference last week, why isn't she suing the German restaurant for the stupendous loss of tournament money that their carelessness would have caused her? Think about it.]

New Ladies Champion, Petra Kvitova.

While this year’s Wimbledon seemed to lack some star power, with Clijsters out and a non-famous Champion on the female side, (Petra Kvitova from the Czech Republic) not to mention no drama like we witnessed last year with the Isner-Mahut marathon three-day match, it was still interesting to watch. Chris Evert joined the ESPN reporting team, which made me nervous for a couple of days when her rotten ex-husband, golfer Greg Norman, showed-up there with his new wife, (which, of course, no one else has mentioned,) and some cute new guys came along, like Bernard Tomic of Australia and Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria, and there were plenty of fabulous shots to keep us entertained. But best of all to me, who still has my little girl “princess” mentality, William and Kate showed-up in the Royal Box to watch their countryman, Andy Murray. Everyone involved, from spectators to players to commentators to viewers like I, seemed to get some extra pep in their step during that visit.

Fun times. And I got the best treat of all—my once-a-year, super-fattening Breakfast At Wimbledon strawberries and cream. It even made me forget the pain I was in over Roger’s premature exit. Almost.

Recently some readers, both those I know personally and some just kind enough to share their thoughts on this E-zine, have been asking for more of my observations on current TV shows, so I figured I should wrap-up June with some. I’ve included a couple of other topics that are relevant this week, too.

Between Roger Federer losing in the quarterfinals at Wimbledon yesterday and Javier Colon’s duet with Stevie Nicks on The Voice last night, (and subsequent win–yay!!!,) my false eyelashes got quite the work-out.  I basically started crying in the morning and didn’t stop until bedtime. So, let’s go in order and begin with Wimbledon.

WIMBLEDON

I really can’t even write about tennis just yet, I realized. Roger’s loss yesterday was seriously too painful for me. I’m hurting for my little mother, too, who loves him as much as I do. I think even Roger himself is not taking it as hard as we are.

I wish I were still doing sports radio now because I have a lot to say on the topic, but it’s making me ache even to see what I wrote. I’d have to read it over and over to proofread it, whereas on radio, I just let it all out and can’t go back.

But I have to tell those of you who didn’t see his match yesterday against France’s Jo-Wilfried Tsonga– Roger Federer is the classiest guy in sports. The other players always say so, too. His loss should have been crushing, and players in that position always hurry off the court, even though, at Wimbledon, they’re supposed to wait for their opponents and exit together. (I can’t find out if that’s a rule or just a tradition, and I’m out of patience to keep trying for now.) I can probably count on one hand just how many times I’ve ever seen that done.

But Roger waited for Jo-Willie for quite awhile because Tsonga said he didn’t realize that Roger had waited, so he was just enjoying the moment. Trust me when I tell you that no one, absolutely no one, would have stood there waiting like Roger did. What an unbelievably class act he is.

Speaking of how classy he is—he could have already just retired, like Pete Sampras did when he stopped winning everything, as the Greatest Of All Time. But, at just about thirty years of age, Roger loves the game and is not afraid to put himself out there and have everyone question his dominance.

I’m sorry, but I just can’t discuss anything else about the tournament at this time. So, let’s move on to a much more shallow topic, but with the happiest of endings.

THE VOICE FINALE

First, the positives, which involve only Javier Colon. His victory is the first really fair thing I’ve seen in show business in a really long time.

And his duet with Stevie Nicks on her iconic Landslide was breathtaking, even with a shaky start on both their parts. But by the middle of it, I was a puddle of mush, as I’m sure most who witnessed that were.  Stevie was so wonderful to him!  I don’t know how he kept it together to get through the song. If people want to call this one “amazing,” I won’t have a quarrel with it.

Okay, most of you will be happy to know that this is where the love for the show ends. Here come the honest negatives:

First of all, as I’m sure I’ve written before, the show is called The Voice, and it’s all about this celeb’s or that celeb’s “teams.” Yet, only an individual wins, and each contestant competes against their other “team” members, except for the very last show! That’s the opposite of “team.” And, after the first “blind” audition, where the team captains have their backs to the singers, they not only can see them, they become friends with them!!! So, it’s only a smidge about their voices, really.

If it truly was, little Vicci Martinez would never have made it as far as she did—all the way to the finals! Her voice is really not very good.  To copy an erroneous word from the American Idol judges, she’s always “pitchy,” which in real words means she hits the wrong notes more often than not.  I recognize that she gives her all to her performances, but this isn’t called “The Performance,” it’s called The Voice.

But good thing it’s not called “The Personality!” Hardly anyone up there has one! Except for the fabulous Blake Shelton, that is. He’s the perfect country star; he can sing and play guitar, is tall and stands straight, is good-looking and dresses cute, and is extremely funny and charming. But the personality of the show ends with him.

I don’t know how he can be so enamored of the creepy Dia Frampton. She does have an interesting voice and she’s an accomplished musician, but she’s the absolute dullest person in the biz!  At least she rates Mr. X’s favorite number on the personality scale: Zero point zero zero. And that’s with us being generous!

I just thought of this: she could play a crazy stalker in a horror movie. She just stands there with a weirdly mysterious look on her face and has absolutely nothing to contribute. Ever. And she makes weird eyes at Blake. So, if they ever re-make Play Misty For Me, with Blake in the Clint Eastwood role and his new bride, Miranda Lambert, in the Donna Mills one, Dia would make a great Jessica Walters substitute. (Wow—I’m hot tonight!)

And where oh where did she come up with that final ‘do???  Mr. X said it was something out of Star Wars.  She must not want to get by on looks because she does everything she can to look her absolute worst! Every outfit she wears makes her look more dumpy and nerdier than the last.

Enough about her. Let’s move on to Carson Daly. He seems like a nice guy, but could anybody be more boring? Other than Dia, of course. I’d love to be a fly on the wall for a conversation between those two. I’d finally get the sleep that I crave.

Last group of questions on this topic: How are these lummoxes, (excluding Javier as one,) going on tour?!  Does the public, (meaning Middle America,) know that the famous singers from the TV show aren’t going to appear with them on tour?  Who’s going to buy tickets to that snoozefest??  I want names.

SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE

After a full day that included watching ten hours of Wimbledon, crying my guts out, going to an early evening event in Beverly Hills, picking-up dinner for Mr. X and me, watching the finale of The Voice, crying my guts out some more, and writing most of this column, I finally got to see So You Think You Can Dance in just about the middle of the night! The time renders me too bleary-eyed to share most of my thoughts with you, but, of course, I have to include just a couple.

Jess LeProtto.

I just love that little Jess LeProtto! His every move is magnificent. I truly can’t take my eyes off him. I just watched his number tonight about ten times. Even Mr. X can’t get over how great Jess is. What he does cannot be learned; it comes from within. I really want to thank the producers for choosing him so I can have something to look forward to every week for a while.

But, once again this season, the direction is just awful. They keep cutting off the feet! Of dancers! In a dancing competition! Okay, don’t get me started. I’m pretty sure it’s the same woman director as last year, and they really do need to look elsewhere next season. I’m just sayin’.

TRACY MORGAN REDUX

In case you missed his latest attempt at career suicide, now he’s bagging on mentally-challenged people. If you really want to read his evil words for yourself, you have to research them because I won’t let such rottenness be typed by my fingers.

If NBC doesn’t fire his ugly ass now, there’s something seriously wrong with the powers-that-be over there. I’m happy to say that I watch only three shows on that network, but I may have to make it none, in protest.

All I can add on the subject is: I told u so!

NEXT MONTH

Please be sure to read all the July features right here.  I have some fun ones coming up, including the scoop on a recent gifting suite, dish on lots of events, some fun (and possibly surprising) celebrity sightings, and, knock on wood that I have time for it and am now allowed to tell it–my jury duty story!  Here’s a hint–I thought I was going to be handcuffed and held in contempt!  Instead the judge told me that I’m charming. But it hit me that he may have been sarcastic. Nice.

OMG!  I love this year’s NCAA March Madness college basketball tournament so much!  My only problem for next week-end is that, although my two favorite teams (outside of UCLA, that is,) are still in it, they have to play each other in next week-end’s Final Four!  The good thing of that is that at least I know one of them will be in the finals.  The bad part is that one of them won’t make it.

The intensity of the Butler Bulldogs, in the dark jerseys.

Those teams are VCU (Virginia Commonwealth University) and Butler.  As amazing as VCU’s journey is, I think I have to root for Butler because they were last year’s runner-ups and if the final second shot of Gordon Heywood, who now plays for the Utah Jazz, had gone in, they would have been the champions over Duke.  So, I’d love for them to win the whole thing this year.  And senior Matt Howard is such is man.

I love both young coaches, too.  Butler’s Brad Stevens, who looks like he’s in high school is thirty-fur and everyone’s new favorite coach, the animated Shaka Smart of VCU, in only thirty-three!!!  Pretty impressive “young fellas,” as enthusiastic play-by-play guy Gus Johnson would call them.

Coach Shaka Smart (center) and his VCU team hanging with former Bull, Steve Kerr.

Another interesting thing is that if VCU wins, they’ll be the first champions who had to win seven games in the tournament’s history.  This year, the NCAA implemented a First Four, allowing extra teams to compete, which I think is great, but no expected any of them to make it this far.  VCU was one of those teams, hence they’ve already won five games to the everyone else’s four.  Interesting stuff for the record books.

UConn and Kentucky round out the Final Four, and at the end, which is next Monday night, I’ll be feeling awful for someone.  Even the teams I root against, I feel bad for.  But I can’t look away.  The whole thing is just so great, and, even for the guys who lose at any point, this tournament is an experience for them to cherish for the rest of their lives.

The last thing I have to say on the subject of college hoops is that possibly even more entertaining than some of the games themselves is the commentary of Sir Charles Barkley,

The always-entertaining Charles Barkley.

who had me rolling in the aisles on Sunday. (It’s just way too long to explain here, but for those of you who saw it, it was when they were interviewing UConn’s Kemba Walker, and Charles was making fun of Kenny Smith’s always asking the same questions that he had just asked, and it involved the word “:switch.“  Hilarious stuff.)

I rarely, but occasionally, scroll through the games if I get very behind, but never the halftime report because of Charles.  He makes everyone, fellow commentators and the audience alike, enjoy themselves.  He’s who I always wanted to do a talk show with.  Back in the day, a production team was trying to put me together with David Emmanuel, the man who designed Princess Di’s wedding dress!!!  While he was a lovely person, the royal wedding was such old news, and, while we all know that I can always talk with anyone at anytime, this was just a strange combo.  I’d tell them that they should pair me with Charles, (who wasn’t doing TV at the time, but I always loved his outspokenness while being interviewed himself,) and we’d have a hit, but no one listened to me.  I bet that now they regret it.  I know I certainly do.

While I’m on the topic of commentators, I have to commend Reggie Miller.  I used to hate him when with a passion he was an Indiana Pacer, but now I love listening to him.  He’s an excellent color guy, especially because of his loud and clear voice, with good diction.  I can understand about 95% of what he says, which is far from the norm.  Especially in the case of poor Marv Albert, who I believe is having difficulties with his voice.  I feel terrible for him, but I think they have to hire someone in his place until Marv’s very muffled voice heals.  Nowadays, he talks like Michael Bolton sings.

As you can tell, college hoops have been my main focus this month.  But I also got to see a couple of pre-season games of my beloved Yanks and Mets, which was very enlightening.  In the case of the Yankees, I’m a tad sad to see so many strangers wearing the revered pin stripes, but I’m willing to give them a chance.  I have to keep reminding myself that just a few seasons ago, Mark Texeira and Nick swisher were strangers too!

Former Met, Keith Hernandez.

But I have to report that Keith Hernandez, the former Met who’s their color commentator on the New York channel WPIX, was even more disgusting than usual this past week-end.  Besides that he was reading the paper while his team was playing(!), which he readily admitted, thinking that makes him look above it all, he showed-up with a cold so bad that he was worried he might be getting pneumonia!  For the fifth time!  So he foisted it on everyone else there!  Including eighty-eight-year-old guest announcer Ralph Kiner!

All Keith was thinking about was himself, (as usual,) and how he was hoping he didn’t get sicker.  How about being considerate enough to not get anyone else sick!  I’m horrified at this behavior.  And his bosses are just as bad because they should have made him stay home or sent him home when he showed-up.  His disinterested insights are not necessary or warm and inviting anyway.  You know how I’ve pointed out that many American Idol contestants aren’t selling the song–they’re trying to sell themselves?  That’s what Keith does with baseball.

I actually have to force myself to tell this story, and it’s not even to really support what I just said about him, but it may give you a little insight into Keith, and it’s on-topic and sort-of fun, so here it is.

About seven summers ago, my mother and I were leaving our cabin in Aspen for early dinner when I saw a man walking in the patch of grass on the side of the property.  I could not believe my eyes!  Here was former Met Keith Hernandez!  It was so strange.  I was sure I was correct, but I asked my mother, “Isn’t that Keith Hernandez?”  She seemed very unconcerned, which was also a surprise because she and my father had been long-time fans.  So, off we went.

But I couldn’t let it go because I was sure I was right.  So, during dinner, I called my friend at the front desk of the lodge and she confirmed that it was indeed Keith Hernandez who had checked-in.  [Sidebar: When I told my mother that it was Keith Hernandez next to our cabin, she exclaimed, “Keith Hernandez?  I thought you said ‘Hernandez,” so I thought you meant the gardener and I was wondering why you were so excited to see him!”]

So, when I got back to the cabin, I left a brief message for him telling him that if he needed to know where to go in Aspen, I would be happy to fill him in.  (I was sort-of the town Cruise Director.)  Goony of me, I know, but Aspen is very easy like that, and I assumed he was stranger in a strange land.  But when I hung-up, I called Mr. X back home and embarrassedly told him what I had just done.  He couldn’t believe it!  He asked, “If you bumped into him in L.A., would you even say hi?”  I answered, “Of course not!  If I walked out of our house and Keith was right in front of it, I wouldn’t even say hi then!”  To which he inquired, “So, you go to Aspen and turn into a yokel?”

Just as we were laughing about it, guess who called me?  You got it.  Keith said to please come over to his cabin and tell him what I know about the town.  Never remembering how disgusting guys can be, I walked the few steps over, and he spent the whole time lying on the bed!!!  And I thought I was the goon!

I couldn’t get out of there fast enough!  And the next couple of days, my mother said he came to our cabin looking for me.  Ew.  I avoided him until I knew it was his last night, and then I felt bad, so I left him a message that my friends and I were heading over to the private club for the night, and I’d leave his name at the door.  As we girls were dancing and having a great time, while making fun of the trampy blonde who was dancing next to me, I heard the guy who was grinding on her call out my name.  Again, you guessed it.  We girls were hysterical.  The whole week ruined a Mets hero for me.  Oh well.  At least he didn’t have a cold to foist on me, so it was a good week.

Between this week-end’s National Figure Skating Championships and the Australian Open tennis tournament finals, which ware being shown live in the middle of the night, I’m exhausted. But, of course, I have many thoughts on what took place. Here are just some quick ones, so that I can finally get some sleep.

NATIONAL FIGURE SKATING CHAMPIONSHIPS

All my favorites won! The Ice Dance results were the only lock, with Meryl Davis and Charlie White, two of the most All-American names I’ve ever had to type, being head and shoulders above the up-and-coming competition.

But the other three disciplines were exciting contests from start to finish. I’m thrilled that the most artistic female skater, Alissa Czisny, re-claimed her crown from two seasons ago. She usually falls on her jumps and takes herself out of contention, but not this year. I’m extremely sad, though, that adorable Mirai Nagasu dropped to third place and will not get to go to the World Championships, after finishing a fabulous fourth at last year’s Olympics.

And I couldn’t be more thrilled for the most popular national male skater competing today, winner Ryan Bradley. I was holding my breath until he finished his long program and took the crown. It was exciting, though, to see newcomer Richard Dornbush move up from seventh place after the Short Program to take second! And third place finisher Ross Miner, at his first Senior Nationals, skated the most like what I feel a champion should. So, props to all of them! (I do feel bad for last year’s champ, Jeremy Abbott, to have come in fourth, though, and therefore be off the world team. Oh well.)

But the best performance of the entire championships, to me, was the long program of Pairs Champions, Caitlin Yankowskas and John Coughlin. Caitlin was absolutely breath-taking. I have not seen such grace in a Pairs girl possibly ever! She skated like a Russian Pairs lady, although I can’t even remember one of those who were as graceful as she. Ekaterina Gordeeva is the closest in my lifetime, and I think that Caitlin outdid even her.

The weirdest part is that the announcers, Scott Hamilton and Sandra Bezic, to whom I’m even related, never even once mentioned it!!! All they talked about was that John’s mother had died a year ago. It was just really odd. Mr. X and I were sitting here with our mouths open at this girl’s beauty on the ice, and the pros didn’t have a clue. Shame on them. [Note: I’m never a fan of the commentating of these two, so I wasn’t really surprised.]

Also shame on John for not even looking at his poor partner when they won. He was making it all about him. Every comment he made post-performance was for the camera and not really for whomever it was he was talking to off-ice. That made me not want to root for him. And in the on-air interview, that lovely girl never took her eyes off him, while he never acknowledged her once! I’ll give him a pass this time because possibly he was too overwhelmed to act normal, but if he snubs Caitlin once more, I’ll pray she finds a partner worthy of her before the 2014 Winter Olympics. [Note: in my opinion, they won because of Caitlin, and not John. He’s not even close to artistic, and is just a big galoot back-drop for her beauty on the ice.]

AUSTRALIAN OPEN TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS

Admittedly, I didn’t watch every second of this tournament, as I do Wimbledon and the US Open. I just don’t have that kind-of time in January, with the Golden Globes suites, football play-offs, and my birthday being the same time. But I did stay up overnight all week-end to watch the finals.

And I must say that, with four good people as the finalists of both sex singles, I think it’s the first time I did not know for whom to root. After much reflection, I backed the two eventual winners.

It was more than a breath of fresh air to have two lovely women, Kim Clijsters and Li Na, in the final. It seems that everyone had long forgotten about the more-than-creepy Williams sisters and we could just relax and enjoy. (I found-out this morning that their disgusting mother has been tweeting nasty things about Kim, who’s considered the nicest person ever on tour! I guess the apples didn’t fall far from the tree, which I’ve known forever, but I was shocked at the matriarch’s total lack of class.)

Anyhow, even in broken English, Li Na is the most amusing tennis player since the men’s champion, Novak Djokovic. I wanted to root for her, as well, but, since I really wanted Kim to win her first non-US Open championship, I was hoping that Na (which is her first name) would be satisfied with being the first Asian woman to reach the final of a Major.

It took three sets, (she lost the first,) but Kim did triumph in the end. The best part was their post-match speeches. More class you could not find anywhere in sports. Both girls handled their duties exceptionally well, and we, the audience didn’t want them to stop. The Ladies Final was truly a pleasure.

Novak Djokovic.

I had more mixed feelings for the Men’s Final. Novak Djokovic had just beaten my beloved Roger Federer to get into the final, so perhaps I should really not have been in his corner. But he always appears to be a nice, honest guy, so I just can’t dislike him. And he’s the only funny tennis player I’ve ever seen. His spot-on imitations of some of the other players are classic!

But he had won a Major once before, (this one, to be exact,) three years ago, and poor put-upon by the British press Andy Murray has zero Major titles to his name. And they’ve been almost best friends since they were juniors ten years ago.

I always wish I could ask Roger whom he prefers in situations like this, the guy who beat him or that guy’s new opponent, but since that’s impossible, I figured I’d let the action unfold and see who moves me. When Novak beat Andy in straight sets, which is the same thing he did to Roger, it made me feel a tad better because, as the announcers said, no one was going to beat Novak in this tournament. And that they gave each other a big hug at the end of course choked me up. (Like I wasn’t crying already!)

So, both Finals worked out really well. I’m still sick for Roger, but the dude will turn thirty in a few months! I’m just praying that he can finally win an Olympic singles gold medal next summer, and then I’ll be prepared to move on the “post-Federer era,” as it’s being called. I’ll have my fingers crossed for him always until he retires from the game.

SUPERBOWL PREVIEW

So now, with the poor Jets falling short again, and my New York Giants not even coming close in a late-season meltdown, for whom do I root on Sunday? I’ve just never liked the Green Bay Packers for some inexplicable reason, and I did used to semi-like the Steelers way back in the day, but how do I root for an accused rapist?

Who knows if Ben Roethlisberger really did what he was accused of, but if he did, and is getting off scot-free, I couldn’t bear it. I know he’s never been charged, but the fact that he’s had two accusers over the years gives me pause. Again, I don’t know what really happened, and public figures are always open to false accusations, and there are so very many liars are out there, that I really don’t know what to think.

When I was little, my family stayed at the University of Rhode Island for many summers, a place I’m still very attached to. We got to live in the dorms and it was just the most fun in the world. Most nights, all of us would gather in the dorm lounge, and guess who always joined us my first summer there? The Pittsburgh Steelers! I think the university was their training camp, or something like that, and they were housed in our “family dorm.” Being a little girl, they looked even more giant than they were, and were nice to us kids, so I had planned to root for them always, which I did for a little while.

But now they beat my Jets, so it’s the Roger Federer conundrum all over again–would the Jets want their beaters to triumph, or the other team? I think you always root for your conference to win. (My old UCLA basketball champions of 1995 pals taught me that.)

I think I’ll just kick back on Superbowl Sunday with some snacks, and let it play out and see who deserves it. And just concentrate on the half-time show and commercials. So, Go Doritos!

I took copious notes during All That Skate’s opening night at the Staples Center this past week-end, because the way the show was done gave me the perfect opportunity to jot down my thoughts quickly in-between acts, but now I decided that it doesn’t have to be inspected that closely.

All you really need to know is that this is a fun show with a stellar cast of great skaters, all of whom, with the exception of newcomer Ashley Wagner, have been Champions of either Nationals, Worlds, or Olympics. Outside of the amazing Chinese pair of Shen Xue & Zhao Hongbo and thirty-year-old Michelle Kwan, who looks absolutely fantastic, this is a very young cast. And their vital performances reflect that youth and exuberance.

Karen with Men's Champion Johnny Weir at a previous event.

Each time I deemed someone to be my favorite, it changed with the next number. The largely Korean audience went wild for their own current Olympic Champion, Yuna Kim, who’s a beautiful lyrical skater. But aside from her popularity, which was no surprise, and the audience’s overwhelming reaction to perennial crowd favorite Johnny Weir, of whom I’m a major fan, both professionally and personally (I used to know him during the Champion On Ice days, and he’s just adorable and charming,) of whom my guest exclaimed after his first number, “I don’t have to see another skater,“ the real surprise to me was former World Champion and Olympic Silver Medalist, Stephane Lambiel. (How’s that for a run-on sentence???)

I wasn’t surprised by his fabulous performance because I’ve long been a fan of this Swiss spinning master. I was pleasantly surprised that the audience went so wild for him, leaping to our feet as one after both of his solo numbers. Great to see such a knowledgeable crowd in attendance. Stephane even made me not miss the gorgeous Brian Joubert, who was listed in the original press materials and who I reported to you would be in the show. I don’t know what happened there, but with all the major talent we saw, he was not missed at all.

Karen with Ice Dance Champion Ben Agosto at a previous event.

I was planning on going backstage after the show, as I’ve always done with all ice shows forever, to say hi to the athletes I’ve known over the years, like Johnny, Stepane, and the lovely Ben Agosto, who, with his partner, is a four-time world medalist in Ice Dance, but for some reason unbeknownst to me, it didn’t happen this time. (Luckily, I got to greet other legends in the skating world, like Champions On Ice founder Tommy Collins, looking better than ever, I might add, and the never-aging Mr. Debonair from my childhood, Richard Dwyer, at half-time. I hope they didn’t think me rude or uncaring to not meet them backstage post-show, but rather realize it was out of my control.)

I do have one small gossip tidbit for you skating fans, but as a blind item, I’m afraid, which I’ve never done before, but I want to still protect the skating fam in general. There was one man in the audience, whom I’ve also known for years, who sat there like a supreme sourpuss. In the front row! He didn’t applaud for one single act! Including at the finale, when the rest of us were on our feet, whooping and hollering like lunatics. And, almost more than anyone else, he should know better. I hate it when people from the same world show-up at performances and don’t support their fellow whatevers. Even if I don’t like another actor’s performance, if I’m in the audience, I always at least put my hands together to be a good sport. I was really shocked by the negativity he was projecting.

But that weirdness aside, All That Skate is a really fun show, with all skaters who are known to current audiences. From the spectacular costumes (especially Yuna’s stunning dress in the second half) to the colorful videos that were projected on the backdrop the whole time (which was honestly sometimes a little distracting, but usually fun) to the hip-hop dancers and young Korean girl singer, there was not a moment of boredom.

So, if the show comes to a city near you, I recommend seeing it. The only problem for you is that you guys won’t have my favorite usher of all time, the always-pleasant-and-willing-to-help Luis Ayala at your venue because the Staples Center is his lucky home base.

www.allthatskate.com