Props for Serena's balance of style, tennis, grace

I'll admit to it. I just love to watch Serena Williams. She is fierce in every sense of the word, bringing fashion to the court and transcending race, ethnic, and gender stereotypes in American sports culture and abroad. She amazes me with her tremendous athletic ability and intense poise. I could obviously filibuster for awhile.

Serena Williams will advance to the Bank of the West
Classic final. She's been successful since Wimbledon.

But really, who else can rout the world's No. 5, Maria Sharapova, in straight sets with a blinged-out heart necklace banging against her chest and massive studded hoops swinging from her ears?

Even the anchors on ESPN's set covering the Bank of the West Classic asked Williams in her post-match interview: What's up with that No. 169 WTA international ranking?

Williams has been hot since Wimbledon, where she exited early in attempt to defend her single's title after coming back from a serious foot injury. In the Bank of the West Classic semifinals, she'll next face Slovakian Dominika Cibulkova, who's currently ranked No. 19 by the WTA.

You'd better believe I'll be watching -- for the sake of her ensemble and her play.

Road to Brazil may be lonely for U.S. men

Soccer in America blossomed under Bob Bradley during the 2010 World
Cup run. However, the now-former U.S. men's team coach has been fired.

Today was a sad day in American soccer.

And I'm not saying this because the U.S. men's soccer team's coach, Bob Bradley, was handed the red slip one year into his four-year contract. This piece of news has made my argument timely, but I'm writing this for two primary reasons. One: America doesn't get it, and Two: America doesn't care.

American sports junkies -- legitimate soccer fans or not -- could undoubtedly recognize the piercing blue eyes and shiny, bald head of Bradley, who has been replaced by Jurgen Klinsmann about a year after he led the U.S. to its World Cup run, where Ghana prevailed in the Round of 16. Bradley was fired apparently as a late reaction to the team's lack of production at the Gold Cup tourney, where the U.S. squeaked out a win against Panama and ultimately lost the title to Mexico 4-2.

Revolving doors are pretty common among head-coaching gigs in soccer. It's just the nature of the beast. It's frowned upon when a coach lasts more than one World Cup season, and with the 2014 qualifying matches coming up, it was simply Bradley's time. But that doesn't necessarily mean it was the right thing to do. In theory, what did he ever do wrong? If anything, U.S. soccer should thank him for sparking a team and a nation to believe in a sport that has just never developed domestically.

Football, as the rest of the world calls it (who knew?), is as popular internationally as, well, our football is here. The American culture is one that demands more drama. Right. Now. And soccer, while one of the world's most adrenaline-pumped athletic competitions, is typically a low-scoring, drawn-out 90 minutes. Americans are quicker to pull out a remote to change channels than a vuvuzuela when they cross paths with a soccer match -- one that doesn't involve the U.S., that is.

The pro-soccer case has been stated zillions of ways, even more times than numbers can count. I'm not going to go there. I'm just commenting that it deeply saddens me to see such a beautiful, passionate sport gain a little bit of traction here after the 2010 World Cup, and then see progress halted as Bradley, arguably a national soccer figure, departs unwillingly. Bringing in Klinsmann, German player-gone-coach-extraordinaire, identifies the sport as what Americans already see it as: foreign. That's a mistake that disengages an already nonchalant, hard-to-please American audience and its culture further.

I'm not suggesting Bradley be hired back, or even that he was a remarkable coach. He was decent, he did the job. But most of all, the American public related to him and could trust him. Because he (and his U.S. team central midfielder son) was one of us, born and raised on soccer moms in SUV's in New Jersey like a kid in cleats next door. So it's a shame to see him go at this time.

As the international soccer community gears up for the 2014 World Cup qualifying matches that begin in 2012, the U.S. camp will have a difficult transition. And after somewhat alienating its fan base by releasing Bradley prematurely, it may be pretty lonely out there.

5 NFL, free agency thoughts

Chad Ochocinco has been acquired by the Patriots.

1. I think Bill Belichick and the New England franchise need to seek professional attention for their problem. Belichick's obviously got an addiction to binge-signing low-risk acquisitions (see: Ochocinco deal, drafting QB Ryan Mallett to "back up" Tom Brady). And gray XXL Pats hoodies. Put this guy on Hoarders already.

2. It's sad to see Vince Young -- arguably one of BCS's best quarterbacks in the modern era and whom I ecstatically watched lead the Texas Longhorns during their 2005 championship season -- take such a destructive, fast track to failure in the big leagues in Tennessee. Luckily, the Eagles are becoming somewhat of a team for down-on-luck, second-chance QB's so they'll probably sign him. First Vick, now Vince. City of Brotherly Love indeed.

3. Peyton Manning is finally missing a game due to injury after his neck surgery. Indianapolis' front office is probably relieved, after realizing their star's paycheck makes following the new CBA salary caps more, err, brain surgery than simple financing. Luckily for Manning, Sony spokesmen's salaries don't have a pay cap.

Nick Fairley will line up opposite
Ndamukong Suh for the Lions.

4. If I were Roger Goodell, I wouldn't have reinstated Plaxico Burress. I mean, the guy shot himself in the leg. With an illegal Glock. I'm not even going to get into the irony of that. Ultimate Fo Shame to the NFL franchises currently courting him. If he can't even apply thought to put a safety on a gun, how should any self-respecting franchise trust him to get past safeties on the field?

5. So some hype exists surrounding the Lions for the upcoming season. Nick Fairley just signed for $10 million over four years with Detroit, whose D-line already claims beastly Ndamukong Suh. But where there is hype, crushed expectations lurk close behind. Fairley is a tremendous defensive lineman, but he essentially plays stupid and makes costly mistakes. He has more than twice his body weight of potential in athleticism and drive (which is a lot), but his talent is currently too raw and he's unaware of rules -- and fines -- that will set him back in the NFL.

Rays, Upton search for 'the one' by trade deadline

B.J. Upton is one of the looming non-waiver trade deadline's most-discussed prospects.

Breaking up is always hard to do.

The Tampa Bay Rays and B.J. Upton have been together before the organization got a total facelift. As a No. 2 prospect in 2002, the then-Devil Rays snatched Upton up for a starting SS position on their lineup, later moving him to CF. Upton helped the Rays through a transition period, of which the climactic point was seen in the 2008 season's World Series run, the team's first ever.

But these past two seasons, Upton's production has been dwindling -- in his last 10 games, a home run hasn't come off his bat. He's chugged out three RBI's and is batting a .159 (7-for-44). Even more curious is the ascension of prospect Desmond Jennings, called up from the minors, who has blown away Kansas City (and anyone who pays attention to the Rays) in the last two games going 4-for-6, even stealing two bases in a show of impressive judgment and athleticism. It would seem Jennings is poised to take Upton's place in the Tampa clubhouse. And with a non-waiver trade deadline looming this Sunday, of course the Internet is lighting up with the possibility of Upton retiring his blue and white uniform.

Sometimes the whole "it's not you, it's me," thing isn't exactly true. In the case of Upton and the Rays, the one at fault here is arguably Upton. Although he's repeatedly said his wish is to remain in Tampa, the 26-year-old probably itching for a bigger stage (the Rays have one of the worst MLB attendance ratings in the league), or a bigger paycheck. He's been complacent, knowing he is on contract until 2012. It's safe to say the Rays' majority-of-the-season offensive slump is a trend the centerfielder in question has been a part of. The infamous closed-in dome and catwalks of Tropicana Field can't contain Upton forever.

It's an attractive situation for the Rays, whose offense (or lack thereof) has caused them many a game halfway through this season, at which point the team teeters at a .530 win-loss percentage (53-47). They could acquire a powerful bat by trading Upton out to any of the teams rumored to have interest in him. Arlington is the best possible destination for Upton -- a ballpark whose centerfield seems unpopulated, and a Rangers clubhouse that could definitely use the extra right-handed bat. Another Bay Area -- San Francisco -- could also work out a trade with Tampa Bay. Upton would bring the reigning World Series champs an infusion of needed speed, defense, and stiff AL East experience.

Trades and bargain-shopping have always been the Rays' strength. This off-season, Tampa Bay's entire starting lineup was turned upside down as the franchise traded out fan favorites like Carlos Pena and Matt Garza, and a once-envied bullpen was split up and divided across the MLB. But the Rays capitalized in some places, acquiring OF Sam Fuld, who has sparked the defense with his stellar (and sometimes insane) catches. Expect them to do the same, if they decide to trade Upton this week.

But "should they?" is the moral inquiry of baseballers across the country.

I say that a clean break is needed for both sides to start anew. The Rays franchise, as well as Upton, should allow themselves to be in an open market, and see what comes of it. Who knows? They might just find the one they've been looking for this whole time.

Gators just need to be set out to dry

The Orlando Sentinel, obviously occupying a seat at SEC Media Days this week, asked its readers in a blog post: "Is Florida in decline mode?" Amid a lack of buzz about UF football at SEC Media Days, Sentinel writer Mike Bianchi claims the team Urban Meyer leaves for new coach Will Muschamp is worse than the one Meyer himself received from his predecessor, Ron Zook.

Hats off to Bianchi for saying what the Gator Nation doesn't want to hear.

Meyer ushered in two BCS titles to Gainesville. Which is, you know, great and all. But once he announced his (first) resignation as UF's No. 1 guy, he really meant it. He came back to coach the following season, yes, but he wasn't the same tenacious Meyer known around the nation and feared around the league. That's when his team went an 8-5 that seemed more like 0-14, as I'm sure any fan remembers in frustration.

Will Muschamp will serve his first season
in Gainesville as a head coach this fall.

So Muschamp, the sometimes-scarily-passionate defensive coordinator and coach-in-waiting behind legendary Mack Brown at Texas, is hired in. Let's not forget that UT also had an extremely disappointing season, going 5-7 with 'Coach Boom' on the Longhorns' sidelines.

Let's recap. Last year's Florida team dodged more criticism than points scored throughout the season. Muschamp wasn't exactly heralded at Texas either. Long story short, both sides are hungry. And talented. Meyer gathered up the nation's top recruiting class, but ultimately didn't coach them to their full potential last season. That's what Muschamp is for now.

I'm not saying the Gators are going to take the CFB world by storm and clinch the SEC title under Muschamp in 2011. That level of quality rebuilding takes time. But talking to Muschamp myself when he visited Tampa earlier in June, and seeing his easy comfort in his Gator-blue tie, behind that SEC podium yesterday has given me great confidence in what is to come of the Gators in the not-so-distant future, no matter what condition Meyer abandoned them in.

"I don't think anybody is feeling sorry for the Gators," Muschamp said during his time on the first SECMD. And he's completely right. There's enough talent in Florida's arsenal; it's just raw and inexperienced.

To continue Bianchi's metaphor likening the Gators roster to a cobwebbed cupboard, I would agree that there are some pots and plates missing in Gainesville. But they're just sitting in dirty sinkwater. All Muschamp needs to do now is clean them off and see what happens when he sets them out to dry.

Auburn more question marks than X's and O's

Gene Chizik raises more questions than he answers
about his team at SEC Media Days.

I'm watching Gene Chizik field questions from around 1,000 reporters, analysts, bloggers, and sports junkies lucky enough to have a press pass granting them access to SEC Media Days. And I'm noticing a curious trend, aside from a level of generic coachspeak rivaling that of Jim Tressel: more focus on 2010, less on 2011.

I think there's an obvious reason for this. Auburn had an incredible undefeated season in 2010, no doubt. But somewhere within the oblivion of the off-season, the defending national champ Tigers have become a longshot for 2011.

An overwhelming majority of Chizik's press conference focused around NCAA speculations into violations that cast a shadow over Cam Newton long before he hoisted the Coach's Trophy amid orange and navy confetti. And now these allegations (and investigations) are shadowing a season that hasn't even begun -- one that has seen Newton graduate into the first NFL draft pick.

But somehow I got the inkling Chizik would have rather dealt with these questions than ones about the looming 2011 season. There are huge question marks on critical positions like QB, which mirrors UF's situation last season (see: goodbye to Tim Tebow, enter John Brantley, chaotic 8-5 ensues). Nick Fairley's exit on D is a massive one, physically and conceptually. Auburn's O-line loses four, along with three WRs, two LBs, three DBs and its kicker. Those are glaring changes with no solid solution sets figured out yet.

I don't have a suggestion for Chizik. I'd honestly prefer to see Auburn dip below .500. But the SEC is the nation's toughest football conference, and the SEC West will be an extremely competitive division this season, with LSU and Alabama chomping at the bit for revenge. If the Tigers want to even be considered a threat to defend their BCS title, Chizik and his staff better come up with a plan. Because as fast as they rose to the top, it's always a faster fall going back down.