Song of the Day: ‘Gold He Said’ by Bow Wow Wow

 

I can't remember the last time I watched an important Djokovic match live. But something told me to get up this morning to take it all in -- and how glad I am that I did. A true thriller -- 14 break points with zero converted -- deserving of the occasion, which saw Novak's hands and legs literally shaking when it was over. If it were up to me, I’d have much rather he’d won a fourth Roland Garros. (Only my Steffi has a minimum of four of each major.) But this clearly is what his goal was for 2024 -- and it was very obvious what it meant to Nole -- so even a tennis Olympics skeptic has to be thrilled for him.

More history made! 

What's it all about, Selfie?

In a post-match interview, Djokovic was asked if his puzzle is complete now. 

"Yes it is. It is. I'm telling myself always that I am enough. Because I can be very self critical. I don't know. That's one of the biggest internal battles I keep on fighting with myself. That I feel like I haven't done enough or been enough in my life on and off the court. So it's a big lesson for me. I'm super grateful for the blessing to win a historic gold medal for my country. To complete the golden slam. To complete all the records." 

“Is it enough?" 

"I think so."

UPDATE:

 

😳😳😳

All That Glitters Is Gold?

Forgive me if you've heard this one before, but I've never cared much for the marriage of tennis and the Olympics. (There’s no such thing as “third place” in tennis!!!!!) 

I don't care about amateur players, but don't like that pros are in the Games -- professional boxers aren't allowed in, so why pro tennis players? -- especially ones who now try to claim winning a medal is more important than a major. (Um, no.) Even when my girl Steffi won it in 1988 it ended up rubbing me the wrong way, because no one ever used the term Grand Slam — the sport’s highest achievement— instead replacing it with “golden.” (That’s not something everyone had access to, so it’s kind of apples to oranges.) 

I'm even less interested now that Angie Kerber is out. (A medal would have been a nice way to cap her stellar career.) And how about all of this American women drama: Emma Navarro and her bullshit heiress sour grapes!; Danielle Collins turning into Alexander Zverev after retiring (because her racket wasn't doing the talking) against Iga!; and silly Coco Gauff, who wants to blame her unreliable forehand on a perfectly fine overrule! So dumb. 

But the show must go on, so whom do you think will be golden in 2024? 

AI does it again 😂😂😂

Nadal’s AI sharing his thoughts on the defeat against Djokovic 😂😂

‘Even his own mother knows it’

AI is a menace indeed pic.twitter.com/W16T7nPtoz

— SRF (@S_RF_CA) July 31, 2024

Can't even root for Carlos and Nadal anymore.

Kind words from Garbiñe Muguruza

Gus Kenworthy Has an Eye for Art

 

After Adam Rippon's glorious Olympics debut, I am really looking forward to seeing our other out-and-proud athlete compete!

And in case you're wondering about this art that caught this handsome Olympian's eye, BuzzFeed says the giant penises are called "Bullet Man." They were installed outside the media center and the Alpensia Ski Jumping Center in Pyeongchang in 2009 and are meant to symbolize "the human desire for a cool body, wealth, honor with a concrete image." Here's hoping that's just a bad translation. 

Putting My O(h) Face On

I called out at work this morning. I threw my back out last night -- sitting at my kitchen table -- and cannot walk. I wish I were kidding. (This has happened before.) I’m subsisting on a heating pad and expired hydrocodone from a root canal in the mid-oughts. (I'm dying.)

Luckily I just got the top photo from a reader:

Some half naked Canadian skaters for you. Eric Radford on the right is openly gay. And I agree with you about Matteo. Jesus!

Oly Shit!

I'm glad I have friends like Chad:

This skeleton Olympiad just showed up on "Top Chef" for an Olympic tie-in episode. And they showed this photo of him. I immediately Googled it of course. Wowza!

His name is John Daly and you can see what he looks like half-dressed HERE.

PHOTOS: Hottest Olympic Athletes at the 2016 Rio Olympics

USA MEN'S WATER POLO TEAM 

Hello, men's water polo team! The hunks representing the red, white and blue in Rio are getting a lot of talk on the Internet for being a group of VERY handsome men. 

DAVID BOUDIA, DIVING 

Starting his Olympic career while still a student at Purdue University, diver David Boudia, known for his hot ass and teeny red Speedo ... 

SAM MIKULAK, GYMNASTICS 

It's hard to single men out on the gymnastics team because they are all very handsome! Sexy shorty Sam "Hollywood" Mikulak definitely tops the list as the California born gymnast will be flipping his way to his second Olympic games. While studying at the University of Michigan, Sam won back-to-back NCAA all-around titles. 

 NATHAN ADRIAN, SWIMMING 

Swimmer Nathan Adrian shows off his all-American smile -- and his incredible washboard stomach -- while holding up the stars and stripes. This will be Nathan's third Olympic game as he's already taken home 3 gold medals and 1 silver from past games.

ED JENKINS, RUGBY

Ed Jenkins plays Rugby Sevens for Australia, and the 6-foot-2, 210-pound rugger looks mighty good doing so -- and he's got an equally HOT TWIN!

See The Daily News' full list HERE.

Spike in Crime

H'm. I guess maybe the head would work ...

Why? Why? Why?

A friend and I were just discussing how many big news events happened in 1994, but.this was by far my favorite. When it's this good, the question is why not??

Multitasking With Steve Langston

A reader said I wasn't really boycotting the Sochi Games if I posted about them, but I beg to differ. I haven't watched a minute on television -- and it's all about the advertising dollars, as you know -- so what am I to do if others keep sending me photos ... like this one of U.S. Olympic bobsledder Steve Langton? A few more pics HERE.

And his video blog with skeleton stud John Daly brings new meaning to the term "homoerotic" ...

Because just like we, John longs to be close to Steve ...

Daly Nitro YouTube channel HERE.

Sochi Didn't!

Looks like Vladimir Putin just Googled "fuck you."

Freeze Out

  Nicely played, New Yorker. That these Olympics are still going to happen in Putin's Russia is unconscionable. How long before the whole world realizes this?

Quote of the Day: Billie Jean King

"When we step off the plane we are part of America. We are what an America looks like. So I think President Obama has done an amazing job on promoting diversity and inclusion. He has been the all-time president for doing that. And he’s showing the Russians, ‘Listen everybody belongs in the United States of America.'" -- Billie Jean King on the "Today" show discussing her role as a U.S. delgate to the winter Olympics in Sochi. Watch HERE.

Miller's Crossing

"Prison Break" star Wentworth Miller -- long rumored to be gay -- officially came out of the closet today, in a letter to the St. Petersburg International Film Festival declining an invitation to appear there.

With Luke Macfarlane in 2007

Via GLAAD:

Thank you for your kind invitation. As someone who has enjoyed visiting Russia in the past and can also claim a degree of Russian ancestry, it would make me happy to say yes. However, as a gay man, I must decline. I am deeply troubled by the current attitude toward and treatment of gay men and women by the Russian government. The situation is in no way acceptable, and I cannot in good conscience participate in a celebratory occasion hosted by a country where people like myself are being systematically denied their basic right to live and love openly. Perhaps, when and if circumstances improve, I'll be free to make a different choice. 

GLAAD spokesman Wilson Cruz later said:

"Wentworth's bold show of support sends a powerful message to LGBT Russians: you are not alone. "As people from across the globe continue to speak out against this horrific law, more celebrities and corporations should follow his courageous lead in openly condemning Russia's anti-LGBT law."

It's great to have another out gay actor on the scene. Pity he waited till he was fat and unemployed to do it instead of when he was starring on a huge television series!

Boudia Call

A friend writes:

This seems like such a perfect item for you -- hottie David Boudia is auctioning off his clothes for charity (including stained swim trunks), and looking at the bids, it seems he could use a little promotional help. :-)

Bid away HERE.

Built for Speed

 Finally an Olympic competitor I can root for.

A Gif From France

 I have been blessed with so many gifs today that I must keep sharing. Here's Hamilton Sabot of France, who won the Olympic bronze medal on the parallel bars. He's a cutie -- and a veritable giant at 5-8!

Mas Tomás!

Apparently I'm not the only one with a thing for Chilean gymnast Tomás González. Check out BuzzFeed's list of 27 things to love besides the mustache HERE!

No Performance-Enhancing Drugs Needed

Accused erection-haver and U.S. Olympic rower Henrik Rummel denies being hard on the podium while receiving the bronze medal. telling Reddit:

"This is me and I swear it's not erect! I don't know why it ended up in that position but there you go." 

Fair enough. I'm just thinking about the poor presenter, who must have been very confused about where to hang the medal.

Hard Worker

How un-American to get a boner over third place.

Almost Golden

Good for Roger Federer, although I still think Olympic tennis is total bullshit. Read about his epic 3-6, 7-6 (7-5), 19-17 win over Juan Martin del Potro -- the longest match in Olympic history -- HERE. He'll play the winner of Djokovic and Murray for the gold on Sunday.