Bye Bye Andre

Andre Agassi, after a long career, played his last match yesterday at the US Open.
I'm not going to talk about his achivements throughout his long carrier, i'll leave it to others cos it is easy to get the records.
what i want to say is what i feel personnaly about him as a person. I began to have interest in tennis in the early 90's, and Andre was the first tennis player i cheered for. I still remember him, with his long yellow hair.
after that period, i don't have much memories about him, till i saw him playing in the French Open in 1999. and i almost didn't like him at that period, i don't know why, but when u just don't like the guy. maybe cos his image had changed from the time i watched him, maybe cos he had beaten my favourite player in that tournment (the 98 champion)...
anyway what struck me most, during that match, that though he was far beyond, he came back in the final to win it. he never gives up, he is dedicated himself to what he is doing.
so over the past few years, i was just pleased to know he his playing around even though lately not that much. He had proved that it is not all about the age, it is about the heart, though there are younger players with more energy, he was still present in tennis courts with his hardwork and his love for the game.
it is rare to find nowadays people doing their job with so much dedication, love, respect without being caught in the routine of life.
so, farewell Andre, will miss u.

EGYPT vs COTE D'IVOIRE

it was my 1st ever football match to attend live, but not the 1st time to enter a football stadium.
i was impressed. overall it was a nice experience though i'm not a big fan of soccer. it's totally different to assist a live match than to watch on tv. u don't feel bored at all, u hear all kind of cheers...
i was in the 3rd class cos there were no tickets available for the 2nd, but i didn't feel that there was any difference. we went earlier but already at 4pm it was so crowded to enter. the electronic gate didn't work or was too slow so they opened the normal gate, but this was en exception.

some of things i liked:
when the national antheme of cote d'ivoire was played, some people were whisteling (which i didn't like at all) the guy beside me, stood up for respect.
at some moment, some guys made bad signs with their hands for the cote d'ivoire fans who were seating under us, but other guys told them to stop it.
hearing the cheers and making the wave (i've experienced the wave thing before).
holding my big pink hand and waving.
and of course.. winning :)

some of things i didn't like:
the big screens don't show the match during the play.
they start the match without a notice.. after few seconds, i just noticed that the players are playing.