ATP Party in the USA

 

Happy Independence Day from barely legal Tommy Paul, Taylor Fritz and Reilly Opelka! 

Didn't We Almost Have It All?

 

Beyond taking the day off, I'm not really up for commemorating what’s become of this country of ours. 

But for a brief moment there in the summer of 2015, this place was really on track to forming a more perfect union. 

Boy was that short-lived.

Independence Clause

Well, USA … it was fun while it lasted.

At least Wimbledon’s on TV here.

Happy 4th of July!

I'm taking the day off and hope you are, too. I'll see you again tomorrow!

Happy Independence Day!

Lions and Tigers and (Lots of) Bears -- Oh, My!

Hope everyone had a great Independence Day, whatever floats your boat. 

Mine was extra special spending it with my brother Bill (and wife Jacqueline) in Washington, who I surprised by coming down for a visit ...

Harvey's cousins Charlie and George!

Song of the Day: 'Fourth of July' by X

Hey, baby -- it's the 4th of July!

Speedo Sunday

Be a perv and feel patriot while doing so!

Happy Fourth of July!

 Hope you're having a great holiday wherever you are.

Happy Fourth of July!

You're a Grand Old Hag

Sorry, America: I was in Detroit on the Fourth of July so wasn't blogging properly. If I had been, you'd have seen this!

Song of the Day: 'Fourth of July' by X

The Independence Day anthem that should have been, by the seminal L.A. punk band X. They're touring with Blondie this fall -- how can I resist?

Morning Wood

 Happy Fourth, guys!

Read about this kid's "masturbation film" HERE.

State of Independence

Well, here we are again. And it's the Fourth of July. Hope everyone is having a great holiday weekend. I'm working both days -- and even had to fill in for someone on Friday. But I'm still looking forward to two big Wimbledon finals -- the all-American Battle of the Williamses today and the resurgent American Andy Roddick against Roger Federer on Sunday.

Now for the past few years I've done my best to turn the Dave Alvin song "4th of July" -- which X recorded for their "See How We Are" album back in '87 -- into the holiday anthem it was destined to be. X was great in concert last month but sadly did not perform it for me to film. You can, however, hear the band's singer/guitarist John Doe perform this bittersweet love song live in the clip below or click HERE to play original version.



While I stand by my assertion that it is the definitive Independence Day song, it does have some serious competition from Aimee Mann song of the same title, which somehow slipped my mind until earlier today. It's from the former 'Til Tuesday-er's debut solo album, 1993's "Whatever," and while I must say it's one of her finest, I do not recommend listening to it alone if there is a bottle of pills or a loaded gun in the house. (Then again, isn't that true of all of her song?) Watch her perform it below or listen to the original HERE.