Into the great wide Open

Thanks to Rebecca, we went to the U.S. Open for free again this year. I've never followed tennis as rabidly as some, but I love the Open. It's the most good-natured, civilized sporting event I've ever been to. No yelling "you suck!" at the opponent, no throwing of trash, no conspicuous overconsumption of alcohol. Everyone's just thrilled to be there to watch their favorites slug it out, to dance to the cheesy music in between sets, to laugh good-naturedly at whoever's on the Jumbotron.

At one point, there was a guy sitting behind me who somehow found a way to work the word "service" into every sentence. "Venus Williams just hasn't brought her service today." "Oh, good service." "That service is a little off." "Oh, there's her service!" At any other event, I'd mutter something under my breath like "Say service one more time, beeyatch!" but somehow at the Open, these things make you want to laugh and smile and eat more spicy fries (oh, the spicy fries!).

Probably my favorite thing about the Open is this: If you decide to be a jerk and do something idiotic to distract play -- like yelling into Venus Williams' serve, or throwing a ball onto the court during a tense moment -- you will be roundly booed by everyone in Arthur Ashe stadium. The people sitting around you will obligingly stand up and point you out, so everyone knows where to direct their ire. But of course, the ruckus comes to a stop once the referee silences the crowd with a terse "Thank you." I love it! Can you imagine this happening at a football game? No, you cannot.

(Speaking of football... GO BUCKS!)