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Casinos in the Movies: An Evolving Theme

George Cando
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Casinos in the Movies: An Evolving Theme

casinos in the movie james bond evolution 2015

The casino motif is one that’s been used by movie directors for many years for a number of reasons. Aside from creating an air of glitz and glamour, casino backdrops offer a sense of anticipation, uncertainty and, in some cases, danger. When these dramatic elements are combined, it helps create a movie that’s both entertaining and engaging for audiences of all persuasions.

However, throughout history, the way in which casinos have appeared in movies has gradually changed. As the industry has evolved and major casinos shifted the way in which they offer services to players, directors have moved with the times and altered the way in which this motif is portrayed on screen.

From black and white products to modern marvels, the movie world has used casinos in a variety of ways and we’ve run through some of most interesting examples throughout history. Moving from the classic Rat Pack days of Las Vegas to future projections of how the casino world will look in a few years’ time, this list takes in many of the main major hits from the last 60 years.

Classy Casino Kings: Ocean’s 11

Back in the 1960s, Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davies Jr. and Dean Martin were the kings of the Las Vegas strip. Offering a subtle blend of charm, charisma, style and singing talent, the Rat Pack members lit up the stages of Sin City on a nightly basis and came to embody the vibe of the casino culture at the time.

Wearing suits, smoking cigarettes and always having a way with the ladies, Sinatra, Davis Jr. and Martin were the obvious leads for Lewis Milestone’s 1960 hit movie, Ocean’s 11. Using the trio’s style and connection to Las Vegas, Milestone pounced on the popularity of casinos at the time with a classic heist movie.

The story of Ocean’s 11 centers around the lead, Danny Ocean, who is intent on producing the ultimate theft. After rounding up some of his World War II friends (11 in total), Ocean plans to rob five casinos in a single night by using a mixture of cunning, guile and luck. Featuring an inside look at Las Vegas during the 1960s, the film portrays casinos in a positive light. Everyone in the film is dressed to impress and gaming tables were a lot more sedate and refined than they are today.

Although Milestone’s film is about the robbery of five major casinos, it certainly captures the zeitgeist. When casino hubs such as Las Vegas first came to prominence in the 1960s, the overall theme was class and style. Sitting in contrast to the images of excess that are common today, classic casino images used to focus on sophisticated fun rather than crazy gambling.

A Culture of Excess: The Hangover

In more recent years, one of the most entertaining movies about gambling has been The Hangover. Sitting in complete contrast to Ocean’s 11, The Hangover replaced the old images of Vegas as a classy town where the slickest crooners of the day would hang out with a city without limits.

In sharp contrast, the four main characters get to see the crazy side of Las Vegas. Instead of taking to the gaming tables with a few drinks and a three-piece suit, the guys are crowded onto the gaming floor with overflowing drinks, flashy looking shirts and handfuls of cash.

The Hangover’s storyline then follows the protagonists as they try to piece together the events of the night before and find their friend, Doug, who is due to get married. As the haze of a hangover begins to fade, memories of each event begin to poke through and viewers are given a glimpse into the modern vision of Las Vegas.

the hangover casino scene 2015

One of the most iconic scenes from the film is the showdown between Alan and the casino. On a mission to win back the money his friend had lost, Alan takes to the tables, armed with a strategy that goes far beyond knowing the basic rules, and ends up crushing the casino for thousands. Aided by his friends, the group escapes from the casino unscathed and with a profit thanks to the somewhat dim-witted excellence of Alan.

While some like to criticize the modern view of Vegas, moreover the city’s portrayal in modern movies, the reality is that times have changed. Refined entertainment was the order of the day when Mr. Sinatra was on the strip as that was largely the culture across the world at the time.

Today, however, casino-goers want more. Because it’s now possible to ante-up from the comfort of your own home through an online casino operator, venues now need to offer a lot more in terms of entertainment to pique the interest of punters.

Because of this, bars, nightclubs, pool parties and shows are now an integral part of the casino scene in Las Vegas (and beyond) and these supplementary services have become even more pronounced in recent years because of online casinos.

Moving in the Future: James Bond

daniel craig casino royale movie scene 2015

Another staple character of the casino genre and someone that’s served it well over the years is James Bond. From subtle nods to the casino world in classics such as Goldfinger to overt gambling motifs in Casino Royale, Bond has always had an affinity with the industry. However, with the industry now moving into the digital realm, could it mean an end to Bond and casino games? In a word: no. If there’s any movie character that could blend well with online and mobile casino gaming, it’s Mr. Bond.

As well as chasing girls, playing blackjack and killing bad guys, Bond is a lover of gadgets and that means he could easily become an online gambler. Today, mobile casinos are a huge part of the industry and in his next cinematic outing there’s no reason why Bond couldn’t be an avid user. With a little help from Q, the mobile device could easily be set up to reel in his enemies and track their movements in some sort of clever way.

Images of Casinos From Then to Now

justin timberlake casino scene 2015

As the casino world has evolved from a form of social interaction to an online endeavor, so too has the portrayal of the industry on screen. The casino motif is one that will always be a favorite for directors and as the industry continues to grow, that will mean new ways of representing it on screen. In the last few years Hollywood has tried to broach the online sphere with Runner Runner, a film with references to the online poker industry, but this certainly won’t be the last attempt to do so.

As online portals continue to proliferate and evolve, new storylines will open up and directors will be the first ones to jump on these themes and create something engaging and entertaining. As we’ve said, James Bond could easily slip into this new market and look completely natural and there are plenty more examples that could conceivably did the same. Overall, the casino genre is one that’s enlivened hundreds of films over the years and, even as the industry evolves, it’s likely to continue doing so for many more years to come.

casinos in the movies evolving themes 2015 images

The Media Exploitation Of Caitlyn Jenner: For the Record

The Curvy Girl Diva
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The Media Exploitation Of Caitlyn Jenner: For the Record

media exploitation of caitlyn jenner images

On June 1st, the world was introduced to Caitlyn Jenner formerly known as Bruce Jenner the Olympic athlete and patriarch of the Kardashian/Jenner clan. Such a fuss had been made about his transforming from a man to woman and we were inundated with interviews, rumors, documentary style episodes of “Keeping Up with the Kardashians.”

For the record, I am all about people doing what they want and feel they need to be happy, but let me offer a bit of perspective here in the situation because honestly, I am sick of getting on Facebook and seeing it, I am sick of hearing it and I want us to pay attention to the other things going around us (no I am not talking about black issues here either). The reality is that Bruce Jenner becoming Caitlyn Jenner just goes to show the power of the media and the agenda setting that it practices on a daily basis.

If you don’t know what agenda setting is, let me enlighten you a bit. In a nutshell, it is when the media takes a situation and puts it in our faces constantly in a way that not only tells us it’s important but also tells us how to feel about it. Right now the message is Caitlyn is so brave, so awesome, so this and that, but bravery is being shown not just on her part.

Here are my thoughts on the whole situation and the way that the media is handling because therein really lies my issues.

caitlyn jenner looking better than kris jenner 2015

To be honest, I don’t care that Bruce Jenner is now Caitlyn Jenner. And if I were to say that in social media or post it on Facebook, immediately #TeamCait would be on my ass. That is fine and all, people need support, but doesn’t that go against what Caitlyn Jenner is all about? People are entitled to their opinions, their likes and their dislikes, right, so much so that they can change their sex. If a person expresses their discomfort, lack of understanding or just down right disagreement with her, they are intolerant or misinformed or deserved to be attacked?

The other point of consternation on my part is what people are saying about Caitlyn looking better than Kris Jenner, which is one of the meanest things the media and are saying. My disgust with it has nothing to do with who Caitlyn is and everything to do with the fucking media’s influence on the minds of so many.

Look, Kris Jenner was married to Bruce Jenner for over twenty years. They loved each other, they built a life with each other. There is no doubt the trauma and heartbreak she is feeling is real and valid. For people to say that her ex-husband turned woman looks better than her is insulting and insensitive. What irritates me through all of this is that the feelings of those who loved Bruce, which are just as valid as his desire to be the woman that he became, are being ignored. Does that mean he should not have gone through with the transition, no. But it does mean that Caitlyn’s family deserves the same amount of support that she is getting and that’s just the honest truth.

The comments being made about Caitlyn looking better than Kris Jenner just speaks to a bigger issue in this country. The standards of beauty are warped and misguided. How can you compare someone who just became a woman to someone who has been a woman all of her life? Make up can work wonders and I am sure that Caitlyn doesn’t look that much different from Bruce when her face is not made up.

More than that, we are living in a time where women will travel four hours to get butt injections, which subsequently kills them, all to achieve a look that is stamped with approval by a certain segment of society. Beauty is subjective.

This situation should be a lesson for everyone on both sides to learn a couple of things. At this point in the game, whether we believe in what someone is doing or not, we can’t really judge those things, or rather these things, we may not get. At the same time, those who choose to make these life decisions and their supports should keep that in mind as well. One will never change the mind of the other so it is enough to just say your piece and keep it moving.

I want us all to look and put what we hear and see about this situation in perspective. Without all the emotions and heresy. We give the media too much power to influence our thinking and no person is better than the other.

Remember too, everything is not always what it seems. My heart goes out to Caitlyn and her family because there is no doubt some healing that needs to take place in the midst of all the adoration and excitement being made about something that happens more often than we realize.

Serena Williams vs Lucie Safarova: 2015 French Open Roland Garros

Shane Lambert
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Serena Williams vs Lucie Safarova: 2015 French Open Roland Garros

serena williams vs lucie safarova 2015 french open

Serena Williams, the World No. 1 and pre-tournament favorite to win the 2015 French Open, has advanced to the final at Roland Garros. Williams, after a making the semifinals through Victoria Azarenka, Sloane Stephens, and Sara Errani defeated Timea Bacsinszky of Switzerland on Thursday 4-6, 6-3, 6-0.

Historically, the French Open has been Williams worst major, as she’s been unwell throughout the tournament and struggling as the temperature in Paris has risen.. She has won the event only twice in her long and heralded career, firstly back in 2002 and more recently in 2013. While two titles in any specific major is certainly no minor achievement, for comparison, Williams has at least five titles in every other major.

serena williams fighting flu during 2015 french open

“I don’t think I’ve ever been this sick,” Williams told ESPN. “I didn’t expect to win that, I really didn’t.”

She added: “I got the flu after my third-round match and I’ve been really struggling ever since then. Hopefully this is the worst and I’ll get better from here.

“I thought, ‘If I’m going to lose, I’m going to go for winners.’

“The next thing I know it was a set all and I thought, ‘I really don’t feel like playing a third set.’ I was so tired. I just fought for every point and here I am.”

lucie safarova vs serena williams roland garros 2015 french open

In the 2015 final Williams will face a veteran making her Grand Slam finals debut. Czech player Lucie Safarova defeated Ana Ivanovic in the semifinals on Thursday in straight sets 7-5, 7-5 to advance to the final. Safarova is a veteran on tour, a player who debuted in Grand Slams ten years ago at Roland Garros. Since that time she has only missed one major, that being Wimbledon 2006.

However, despite all of her experience, success in majors has only been intermittent for the Czech. Safarova made the Australian Open quarters back in 2007 (l. to Vaidisova) but then she went on a lengthy seven and a half year drought for deep runs in majors. That ended last season when she made the Wimbledon semifinals (l. to Kvitova). But with her play at the 2015 French Open, Safarova has reached new heights and, in making the final, she will play in what will be the biggest match of her career to date.

Despite her improved play, there is little reason to believe that Safarova will defeat Williams in the women’s final. The Czech star is 0-8 against Williams on head-to-heads, including a 6-0, 6-1 thrashing on clay in the 2012 WTA Charleston final. Furthermore, Safarova lost in straight sets to Williams at the same event a year later, the two matches combined accounting for all of their head-to-head clay court matches.

However Serena Williams losing a Grand Slam final to a much less experienced player is not without precedent. The last time Williams lost in a major final was at the 2011 US Open when Aussie Sam Stosur, playing in just her second Grand Slam final, upset Williams in the championship match. The result defied analysis especially since Williams has been almost straight money in Grand Slam finals over her career. Heading into the 2015 French Open championship match, Williams is 19-4 in major finals and 2-0 in French Open finals.

Safarova enters the women’s final with more than just a handful of big wins over some of the best players in the world in the last year. Besides Ivanovic, Safarova also defeated Maria Sharapova at the 2015 French Open. In an earlier event this season, the Czech player claimed a title in Doha through Victoria Azarenka, Carla Suarez Navarro, Andrea Petkovic, Ekaterina Makarova, and Stosur. Perhaps, besides Wimbledon 2014, it was the Doha event that hinted at Safarova’s improved play.

But beating Serena is far more challenging than beating the other players on tour. Needless to say, if any player will be affected by nerves in the championship final it will be the Czech as opposed to the experienced American.

However, despite the 0-8 record and the fact that Safarova will be playing in her first Grand Slam final, she has garnered some backers. Safarova is priced as just a +275-underdog heading into the final (source: bet365), odds that suggest that she has a realistic enough chance to win.

The women’s final will be played on Saturday where Williams will be looking both to avoid an upset and to claim what would be her 20th Grand Slam singles title of her career. That would leave her just two behind Steffi Graf in the Open Era for women’s singles.

Safarova will be looking to both shock the world and to claim her maiden Slam. Aged 28-years old, you have to wonder if the 2015 French Open might end up being her only opportunity to win a major.

Warriors Take Game 1 From Cavaliers: 2015 NBA Finals

Shane Lambert
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Warriors Take Game 1 From Cavaliers: 2015 NBA Finals

golden state warriors beat cleveland cavaliers 2015 nba finals

The 2015 NBA playoffs, following more than a week hiatus, resumed on Thursday night. Oakland, California hosted game one of the 2015 NBA Finals as the Golden State Warriors faced the Cleveland Cavaliers.

In the first quarter, the Cavaliers came out hot as they raced out to a double digit lead. However Golden State would chip away at that lead and, at half-time, the Cavs only lead by three.

The game remained very competitive through the rest of regulation. But as time dwindled down Cleveland had possession with the score knotted at 98. As the final seconds ticked away, Lebron James attempted a jumper that failed. Iman Shumpert then attempted a low-percentage shot at the buzzer, one that appeared to be lined up, however it too missed.

With those missed shots went Cleveland’s hopes in game one: in the overtime session, everything went wrong for the Cavs.

kyrie irving cavaliers injured game 1 nba finals 2015

Firstly, the Cavaliers came out as cold as ice on the offensive end. All Cleveland jump shots missed their targets as Golden State built up a comfortable lead.

Then disaster struck well into the overtime period, perhaps even with the game practically out of reach, as Cleveland’s Kyrie Irving began limping on court following a play on the offensive end. Irving would leave courtside in short order with what was a suspected knee injury by many tweeters:

The only basket Cleveland scored in the overtime session was a garbage two by Lebron. It didn’t even impact the spread as the Warriors, favored at -5.5 (bet365), covered with a 108 to 100 victory.

Lebron had 44 points but Cleveland fans will certainly lament the missed shot at the end of regulation. Had his attempt swished then Golden State would not have had much time to respond and the Cavs would certainly be looking at a 1-0 lead. Instead the Cavs look at a 0-1 deficit and overtime, besides sealing their fate in game one, saw them lose a player that they may not be able to win the NBA Finals without.

Klay Thompson, who wasn’t cleared to play until Tuesday after suffering a concussion last week, scored 21 points and Iguodala added 15 points for a Warriors team that started slow but closed with a flurry.

“That’s what we’ve been doing the whole year,” Thompson said, “wearing down teams.”

Cavalier fans, or those merely hoping for a competitive series, will certainly be interested in the status of Kylie Irving’s physical condition ahead of game two on Sunday.

Cavaliers: Cleveland is still seeking its first victory in the NBA Finals in franchise history. The Cavs were swept by San Antonio in their only previous appearance in 2007. … The Cavs had been 7-0 this postseason when James scores at least 30 points.

Warriors: Golden State is 47-3 at home this season, including 8-1 in the playoffs. … Curry has hit multiple 3s in 21 straight playoff games, tying Ray Allen’s NBA playoff record.

The Game 1 winner of the NBA Finals has a 48-20 series record. James’ teams are 18-2 in playoff series when winning the opener and 7-5 when losing Game 1. Curry’s Warriors are 3-1 in playoff series when winning the opening game and 1-1 when losing Game 1.

Aaron Hernandez Holiday Season Double Murder Trial

Jackie Warner
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Aaron Hernandez Holiday Season Double Murder Trial

aaron hernandez back in courtroom in holiday season december 2015

Former New England Patriots football player, Aaron Hernandez, may have his lawyers working on a new trial due to jury corruption, but his next double murder trial is moving forward.  Jury selection for the double murder trial of former New England Patriotsplayer Aaron Hernandez will be tentatively scheduled for Dec. 1, a judge said Thursday.

Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Locke also set a date of Jan. 4 for the trial to begin in earnest. Hernandez was not present in court Thursday.

He was convicted in April of first-degree murder in the 2013 shooting death of Odin Lloyd, who was dating the sister of Hernandez’s fiancee. He was sentenced in Fall River to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

In Boston, Hernandez is accused of fatally shooting two men after one of them bumped into him and spilled his drink at a nightclub in 2012. He has pleaded not guilty in both shootings.

He is also charged with witness intimidation for trying to silence Alexander Bradley, a friend who witnessed the shooting. Hernandez has pleaded not guilty to that, too.

Bradley was in a Boston nightclub with Hernandez when Daniel de Abreu bumped into Hernandez, spilling the NFL star’s drink. Prosecutors say Hernandez took offense, tracked down de Abreu and his friend, Safiro Furtado, and fired five shots into their car while they were stopped at a red light.

aaron hernandez holiday season in court 2015

Prosecutors say Bradley was later with Hernandez in Florida, and Hernandez told him he saw two men watching him who he thought were undercover police officers.

Bradley told him it was because of what happened in Boston, prosecutors have said.

Bradley has said Hernandez retaliated against him for that comment by shooting him in the face, resulting in the loss of his right eye.

Prosecutors have asked that the double killing and witness intimidation cases be consolidated. The judge agreed to consolidate them for pretrial purposes but did not decide Thursday whether to include the witness intimidation charge when the double murder charges go to trial.

Hernandez’s lawyer, James Sultan, wouldn’t comment Thursday when asked about papers he filed under seal last week in the 2013 case. In them, he says he wants an inquiry into a juror’s “exposure to significant extraneous matter.” A hearing is set for next week.

Chicago Blackhawks Underdog Status For Game 2: 2015 Stanley Cup Finals

Shane Lambert
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Chicago Blackhawks Underdog Status For Game 2: 2015 Stanley Cup Finals

chicago blackhawks considered underdogs against lightning 2 stanley cup finals 2015

Game two of the 2015 Stanley Cup Finals will not be played until Saturday night. Heading into the game, the Tampa Bay Lightning, hosts of game two, find themselves down 0-1 in the championship series. In battling back from that small deficit the Lightning will need to put the bad memory of game one behind them.

On Wednesday night Tampa Bay held a slim 1-0 lead for the vast majority of game one. However two third period goals, by peripheral scoring threats, saw that lead both diminished and then overcome as Chicago stole game one 2-1.

The result couldn’t have made the Lightning lockerroom that great of a place to be post-game one. The morning after doesn’t appear to be any more joyous.

chicago blackhawks game 2 lightning stanley cup finals 2015

Brian Boyle, quoted in an NHL.com article of Corey Long’s, stated:

“It’s definitely disappointing. You wake up in the morning today, you should be a little angry … that we had a chance to take Game 1.”

In a cruel twist, the Lightning will have plenty of time to reflect on their game one loss. Normally playoff series follow a game-day/rest-day pattern but in the case of the 2015 Stanley Cup Finals, the second game of the series will not start until Saturday night. The extra day of rest will postpone Tampa Bay’s chance to atone for the bad loss on Wednesday and give commentators all the more time to harp on the choke.

In game two, one that is scheduled for 7:15pm ET on Saturday, the ‘hawks are actually considered straight-up underdogs with numerous sportsbooks. Bet365 and William Hill, as examples, both have the Blackhawks priced at +110 while the Lightning come in as -129 favorites. This is despite Chicago’s proven ability to beat even the very best teams on the road under difficult circumstances.

Chicago had a solid 24-16-1 record as a visitor during the regular season. However their recent play as a road team has been even more impressive. Besides the game one steal from Tampa Bay, Chicago also beat the Anaheim Ducks in California in game seven of the Western Conference Finals to clinch the series. Furthermore Chicago had two wins on the road in their second round series against the Minnesota Wild.

Chicago, winners of three straight, are bigger favorites to win the 2015 Stanley Cup than most people realize. Even though the playoffs so far have featured numerous close series, I don’t see the Finals being close at all. Look for Chicago to take game two on Saturday night, a result that would set the ‘hawks up for a sweep of the outmatched Lightning.

 

Stan Wawrinka vs Jo-Wilfriend Tsonga: 2015 French Open Roland Garros

Jackie Warner
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Stan Wawrinka vs Jo-Wilfriend Tsonga: 2015 French Open Roland Garros

stan wawrinka vs jo wilfriend tsonga 2015 french open

Stan Wawrinka has made some surprises in the past two tournaments. In the Rome Open, he knocked out king of clay Rafael Nadal, but then turned around to be ousted by Roger Federer. In the 2015 French Open, he shocked everyone again by this time knocking out the Swiss Maestro, who had a rather easy draw at Roland Garros.

stan wawrinka beats roger federer 2015 french open

Wawrinka is now in the semi-finals going up against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who continues showing his French countrymen, that Gael Monfils isn’t the only worthy tennis player for them. After his surprising quarterfinal victory against No. 5 seed Kei Nishikori, Tsonga said the most important thing for him is to focus on what he is doing well and adding, merely as an afterthought: “Of course, there is some tactic. “You have some guys who have better forehand than backhand and stuff.”

For his part, No. 8 seed Wawrinka said he considered the gusting winds a great ally in his upset of second-seeded Federer Tuesday, partly because they take thinking and strategy out of the equation. You just swing away and may the bigger hitter wins.

Stan Wawrinka last played Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the 2014 Davis Cup final in front of a rowdy pro-Tsonga crowd in Lille, France.

The Swiss, who won that Davis Cup rubber in four sets, can expect a similar atmosphere on Friday, when he faces Tsonga for a spot in theRoland Garros final.

Luckily, Wawrinka says he’s not affected by a hostile, hometown crowd. He also had some practice dealing with adversity earlier in the tournament when he defeated another Frenchman, Gilles Simon.

“When I played Simon on Lenglen, I got booed,” said eighth-seeded Wawrinka, who lost in the Roland Garros first round just one year ago. “It doesn’t really affect me. I don’t have any problem.

“I don’t think you can change the results. I don’t think [crowd support] is what’s going to make me win or [Tsonga] win.”

Though Tsonga has fallen to Wawrinka in their past two meetings, they are even at 3-3 in their overall FedEx ATP Head2Head series. Five of those six matches have gone to a deciding set, including their two previous encounters at Roland Garros. Tsonga lost to Wawrinka in 2011 only to get revenge a year later.

“It’s going to be an exciting match, for sure,” Wawrinka said. “Jo is a really strong player. He’s been struggling a little bit since Toronto last year with injury, but in the French Open, in a Grand Slam, he’s always there, always playing really well. He already played a semifinal here a few years ago.”

Tsonga, currently ranked No. 15 in the Emirates ATP Rankings, is competing in his first Grand Slam since being sidelined by an arm injury at the beginning of the season. As a result of his marathon five-set win over No. 5 seed Kei Nishikori in quarter-finals, he has spent 12 hours and 24 minutes on the court in his first five rounds, compared to 11 hours for Wawrinka.

As the final two players aged 30 or older remaining in the Roland Garros draw, both Tsonga and Wawrinka are proving that it’s never too late to cover new ground.

[pdf-embedder url=”http://movietvtechgeeks.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/2015-french-open-semi-finals-mens-draw-schedule.pdf”]

Here’s are the numbers for Wawrinka and Tsonga:

If history is any indicator, the semi-final showdown between Tsonga and Wawrinka has blockbuster potential.

They have split their previous six FedEx ATP Head2Head meetings, five of which have gone to a deciding set. The two have faced each other twice atRoland Garros, with Wawrinka topping the Frenchman in 2011 and Tsonga downing the Swiss in 2012. Wawrinka enters the contest having won their past two matches, including a four-set victory in the 2014 Davis Cup final.

Both players are serving well, with Tsonga having a slight edge in consistency. A quick scan of their stats, however, shows an evenly matched pairing. Tsonga looks to have a slight advantage on the forehand side, but Wawrinka makes up for it with his backhand dominance.

Will Tsonga delight the hometown crowd? Or will Wawrinka play for a chance to win his second Grand Slam title?

stan wawrinka 2015 french open

TSONGA (14) WAWRINKA (8)
43 Aces 38
12 Double Faults  18
63% 1st Serve %  50%
81% 1st Serve Points  81%
55% 2nd Serve Points  57%
9 Broken 6
19 Break Points Faced  24
82 Games Served  75
89% Service Games Held 92%
226 kmh – 140 mph Fastest Serve  219 kmh – 136 mph
36% 1st Return Points Won 35%
57% 2nd Return Points Won  55%
30 Breaks Of Serve  26
68 Break Points 70
44% Pct. Converted  37%
79 Return Games Played  74
38% Return Games Won %  35%
97 Forehand Winners  88
76 Forehand Unforced Errors 85
23 Backhand Winners  44
57 Backhand Unforced Errors  62
194 Winners 204
152 Unforced Errors  173
80 of 113 Net Points Won  67 of 95
71% Net Points Won Pct.  71%
51% Baseline Points Won  55%
59 Games Lost  54
3 Sets Lost  1
12:16 Time On Court  9:41

Tsonga Highlights

  • Big first serve – 43 aces – 81% first serve points won – 140 mph top speed
  • Improved return of serve – won 36% vs 1st serves and 57% vs 2nd serves – 30 breaks in 79 return games (38%)
  • Improved forehand consistency – 97 forehand winners – 76 forehand unforced errors
  • Has lost 3 sets and played over 12 hours to reach the semis

Wawrinka Highlights

  • Big but inconsistent first serve – 38 aces – 81% 1st serve points won – 136 mph top speed – but has hit just 50% of his 1st serves in play – strong 2nd serve has helped this (57% 2nd serve points won) – broken just 6 times
  • Strong return of serve – 35% won vs 1st serves – 55% won vs 2nd – 26 breaks in 5 rounds
  • Big forehand and backhand – 88 forehand winners – 44 backhand winners
  • Has been on court less than 10 hours to reach the semis

 

Unstoppable Novak Djokovic vs Andy Murray: 2015 French Open

Jackie Warner
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Unstoppable Novak Djokovic vs Andy Murray: 2015 French Open

novak djokovic vs andy murray french open 2015

Novak Djokovic keeps proving why he’s been the number one ranked tennis player in the world for over 140 weeks, and now Andy Murray gets to challenge him on Friday at the 2015 French Open. The Serbian tennis star is on a mission this year, and his latest is to take his first Roland Garros title home with him.

This mission ousted Rafael Nadal from the open and we’ll see if Murray, who has a tendency to let Djokovic get in his head, will go home empty handed or shock the world with his third clay title this year. Murray will surely be looking for signs that could point in his favor.

novak djokovic eye on andy murrays balls for 2015 french open

Any positive omen is welcome when you are trying to beat Novak Djokovic, so Andy Murray will hope the weather forecasters are right when he begins his French Open semi-final on Friday afternoon.

The temperature is predicted to nudge into the nineties, bringing back memories of the tropical feel that accompanied his last win over his Serbian contemporary, in the 2013 Wimbledon final.

Where there is heat there is hope. The imperious world No 1 is not always comfortable in it and the unusually quick conditions might just help as the Scot goes for the finest win of his career.

There will be a new men’s Roland Garros champion this year, with France’s Jo-Wilfried Tsonga playing an emotionally charged semi-final against Stan Wawrinka before Murray’s match.

For the second Grand Slam in succession there is no Roger Federer and no Rafael Nadal in the last four:

‘This is like the changing of the guard,’ is the view of John McEnroe, who sees the magnitude of Djokovic’s win on Wednesday as a possible factor.

‘This is just huge for Novak,’ added McEnroe. ‘I think even he would have preferred to play Rafa in the final. So that, to me, helps the person (Murray) playing him directly after. But that doesn’t mean Novak’s going to lose to him.’

Murray was back out hitting on Thursday afternoon, accompanied by Amelie Mauresmo, whose appointment he so dearly wants to vindicate with a Grand Slam. He is clearly using that as a motivational tool, repeatedly insisting she has been unfairly criticised.

It is looking more likely that she will be at Wimbledon, but for now they must focus on engineering what would be his greatest achievement, halting a seven match-losing streak against the Balkan marauder.

While still searching for his place in the wider public affections, Djokovic’s recent streak, coinciding with becoming a father, is intimidating. Not only did he win the last Grand Slam, he has won his last five Masters events and the World Finals in London, amassing a 45-2 record.

‘The challenge of winning against him this year has been extremely tough,’ said Murray. ‘He has lost only two matches: one against (6ft 10in Ivo) Karlovic in his first tournament, then Federer in the final in Dubai where the conditions were very quick.

‘Heat makes the conditions quicker here. The ball travels through the air faster so points potentially can be shorter. But any long point you play in 33-degree heat is tough. You lose your breath. Here we’ve been playing in pretty pleasant conditions until now.

‘I’ll try to use that to my advantage. I have played Novak many times and had a bunch of close, physical battles with him.’

Djokovic’s modus operandi against Murray is to hang with him in the first part of the match and then rely on his superior reserves of self-belief to get away. That was the case in the Australian Open final, where there seemed to be some kidology going on about his fitness.

His amateur dramatics interfered with Murray’s focus and, if it is brutally hot and uncomfortable, the underdog will surely not allow himself to be kidded again.

The Scot also sees some possibilities in this title being his opponent’s Holy Grail: ‘You would say this is Novak’s best chance now to do it, having beaten Rafa,’ he reasoned.

‘No-one that is left in the tournament has won the event. To win the career Grand Slam is an extremely difficult thing to do, that’s why so few people have done it. He will obviously put a lot of pressure on himself to try to do it this year.

‘I couldn’t have put myself in a better position to be well prepared and give myself a chance of winning the match.’

Tsonga, the outsider of the surviving quartet, is seeking to become the first homegrown winner since Yannick Noah in 1983 as he faces the fearsome power off the ground of Wawrinka.

The Swiss will be imbued with the confidence drawn from beating Federer for the first time in a Grand Slam and is sure to make Tsonga’s weaker backhand work overtime.

The chances are that the wait for Noah’s successor at the French Open will have to go on for some time yet. It is the kind of wait that, on the other side of the Channel, we know all about.

[pdf-embedder url=”http://movietvtechgeeks.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/2015-french-open-semi-finals-mens-draw-schedule.pdf”]

Now here’s a look at the numbers for both Djokovic and Murray:

Djokovic will look to maintain his focus after a milestone quarter-final win over Rafael Nadal, and take one more step toward completing the career Grand Slam when he faces fellow 28 year old Andy Murray for the 26th time at Roland Garros.

Both players carry impressive streaks into the contest: Djokovic is riding a 27-match unbeaten run, while Murray has won 15 straight matches on clay.

World No. 3 Murray will have his work cut out for him if he hopes to reach the final in Paris for the first time in his career. Djokovic holds an 18-8 FedEx ATP Head2Head series record over Murray, with the Scot’s last win coming in the 2013 Wimbledon final.

Both players are returning well, but it is Djokovic who enters the match having won an impressive 63 per cent of second serve points to Murray’s 48 per cent. In their past nine meetings dating back to the start of 2013, the player who has won the second-serve battle has won the match.

DJOKOVIC (1) MURRAY (3)
20 Aces 34
2 Double Faults 13
72% 1st Serve % 59%
77% 1st Serve Points 78%
63% 2nd Serve Points 48%
5 Broken 14
24 Break Points Faced 34
69 Games Served 81
93% Service Games Held 83%
126 mph Fastest Serve 134 mph
34% 1st Return Points Won 39%
62% 2nd Return Points Won 61%
28 Breaks Of Serve 35
74 Break Points 66
38% Pct. Converted 53%
68 Return Games Played 81
41% Return Games Won % 43%
86 Forehand Winners 71
52 Forehand Unforced Errors 54
56 Backhand Winners 58
59 Backhand Unforced Errors 68
201 Winners 191
116 Unforced Errors 139
90 of 132 Net Points Won 70 of 99
68% Net Points Won Pct. 71%
58% Baseline Points Won 52%
45 Games Lost 60
0 Sets Lost 3
10:02 Time On Court 12:21

Djokovic Highlights

  • Amazing serving performance – 72% 1st serves in play – 77% 1st serves won – 63% 2nd serves won – held 64 of 69 service games (93%) – lost serve 5 times in 5 matches
  • Dominating return of 2nd serve – 62% won – 28 breaks of serve in 68 return games (41% – 3rd best in the tournament behind Murray and Nadal)
  • Great balance and consistency from the baseline – 86 forehand winners – 56 backhand winners – 58% baseline points won leads the tournament

Murray Highlights

  • Strong 1st serve – 78% 1st serves won – 48% 2nd serves won – average 2nd serve speed is 87 mph – 34 aces – broken 14 times in 5 matches
  • Best return game in the tournament – leads with 43% return games won – 39% won vs 1st serves – 61% won vs. 2nd serves – converted over half of his break chances (53%)
  • Strong and balanced from the baseline – 71 forehand winners – 58 backhand winners

 

Will Windows 10 Hello Really Keep Your Computer Secure?

David Silvester
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Will Windows 10 Hello Really Keep Your Computer Secure?

windows 10 hello security

The latest version of Microsoft’s operating system is due for release this summer. Windows 10 is set to be one of the best operating systems yet according those that have been reviewing it during the technical preview made available by Microsoft.

One of the new features that has not been talked about a great deal so far is Windows Hello. This is primarily a security feature from Microsoft but it is also the acknowledgement of a global problem that we are facing in technology and a proposed solution.

Windows Hello introduces biometrics and will allow users to log in to all of their Windows 10 devices using various biometrics including fingerprint scan, optical recognition and facial recognition.

Of course this technology has been around for quite some time but with the release of Windows Hello Microsoft are suggesting to both companies and individuals that it is time to ditch passwords and to start using biometrics exclusively.

windows 10 hello security fingerprint sign in 2015

This requirement comes as computers are becoming more and more powerful and passwords are no longer effective forms of security. One of the main problems with passwords is the user behind those passwords – even today some of the most common passwords used include 123456 and password which is hardly going to stop advanced hackers from getting into the systems that those passwords are meant to secure.

Even aside from the issue of weak passwords, computers are now becoming so powerful that brute forcing even the most complex passwords is no longer the impossible task that it once was.

Hackers are now able to get into systems even with strong passwords by simply running programs that try hundreds of thousands of password combinations in sequence until the correct one is inevitably found. Of course there are often systems in place to deem these type of attacks ineffective but the principal still remains that passwords are no longer secure enough.

The problem that arises here is that having more and more secure password requirements becomes a real issue for users because the passwords simply cannot be remembered and this in itself will open up other security risks such as when users have to write down passwords in order ot remember them.

As always Microsoft are ahead of the curve and thinking about the ways in which we can replace passwords with other forms of security. They intend to introduce a combination of biometrics and two factor authentication and are proposing that this will form a much better method of security.

Many people will argue that biometrics is actually just as insecure as passwords have been up to now and that may be the case – there are of course ways in which hackers can fool computer systems and replicate biometrics – such as cloning and re-using fingerprints or even reverse engineering the technologies that capture and verify the biometric data.

windows 10 hello promises no passwords security 2015

However, the point Microsoft are trying to make with the release of Windows Hello is the fact that we need a new form of authentication and whilst biometrics may still need further development it is probably the best option that we have to replace password security and cannot be further developed until it starts to be used in the real world.

Personally I agree with Microsoft entirely but I consider the introduction of two factor authentication to be the crucial element here. Rather than being the most secure and hacker proof approach, biometrics actually offers a much more efficient way to for a user to authenticate – it is easier to provide a fingerprint or a face scan than it is to remember and provide a 10 digit non-dictionary based password. This biometric authentication can then be coupled with a second means of authentication – perhaps a requirement to enter a code sent via SMS/Email – and the two coupled together will form an extremely secure means of authenticating that will top that offered by traditional password security whilst also providing a far better experience to the end user.

In my opinion Microsoft are once again heading in exactly the right direction with their offerings and whilst their system may only bid mid-way through its development and will probably be re-working several times before it is perfected it definitely is the way forward in terms of computer security.

Russell Wilson’s Playbook for Contract Negotiations

Shane Mclendon
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Russell Wilson’s Playbook for Contract Negotiations

russell wilson contract negotiations continue for seahawks 2015 nfl

Adrian Peterson will not be writing a how-to guide on contract negotiations anytime soon. Russell Wilson on the other hand could make a few hundred thousand in consulting fees from other NFL players. We all know Wilson is known for saying just the right things and still not coming off as a phony. The way he is handling his contract situation is the way it should be done.

While Adrian Peterson was busy hurting his public image in 2014, Russell Wilson was busy grinding out a second consecutive trip to the Super Bowl for his franchise. The Vikings running back sulked about his team not standing behind him while he was in the midst of the child abuse case and recently whined on Twitter about the uneven playing field in the NFL. Wilson has kept quiet about his contract negotiations, preferring to let his agent handle that behind closed doors.

What did Peterson get for all his trouble? He had to slink back into Viking’s camp like a pissed off spouse who storms out of the house after an argument only to come back inside because he remembered he had no place else to go. Wilson is playing his cards the right way. The Seattle quarterback knows the Hawks are not going to let him get away. There is no scenario in which an NFL team would let a young QB who has won a Super Bowl (should have been two) go to another team as a free agent.

When Wilson was asked recently if he would start the season on the field even without a new deal being done he made it clear he would play regardless. “Yeah, I’m prepared for that 100 percent, if that’s the case. You know, I want to be here for a long time, but if that’s the case I’ve just got to get ready to play. I love the game, and I love being out here with these guys and just playing, and so ultimately I just take it one day at a time and just see where it takes me.” It sounds boring and maybe even lame, but it is the right way to go about it.

Russell Wilson handling contract like pro nfl 2015While there is some risk to playing without a new deal, it isn’t huge. Quarterbacks rarely suffer career ending injuries. They aren’t inherently in danger like linebackers or running backs. The NFL has done a pretty good job of making sure QBs are shielded from most of the violence faced by all the other positions, besides kickers of course. That is an obvious difference in Peterson’s situation and Wilson’s. Age is a slight factor, but the position is the key. General managers know they can find a decent running back if the need arise. That back may not be the next Adrian Peterson, but they can surely grind out 3.4 yards a carry. You can’t just throw any QB into the starting role and expect success.

Regardless of the advantage Wilson has because he happens to play the most important position on the field, he is still executing the game plan properly. At the end of the negotiation he will have a fat contract. The amount won’t be any different than if he pitched a fit like Peterson and his brilliant agent have done. Russell Wilson’s dignity will be intact and he will not have wasted his time airing his contract laundry to the media. He even went as far as apologizing to the local media for being boring and clichéd with his answers, telling the reporters this will be the way it is for the next 10 or 15 years. He is there to play football and isn’t going to let himself be turned into a media circus.

I hate clichés and I hate boring interviews. It’s hard to write a story about boring athletes. If I were an athlete, boring is what I would aspire to be though. Boring is safer. Wilson’s on the field accomplishments have spoken louder than any Twitter rant or boisterous interviews could ever do.

So memo to all NFL guys who are nearing the end of their current contract, just look to Russell Wilson for guidance. Handle your business as privately as possible. Be a professional and do your job. Don’t make idle threats about holding out unless you are really prepared to retire. You have no leverage in the NFL and will only come out looking weak. You will get paid according to your play in the NFL, and that fact is all the negotiating Russell Wilson has needed.

Yahoo! NFL Partnership a Big Deal?

Shane Mclendon
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0
Yahoo! NFL Partnership a Big Deal?

yahoo partnership with nfl jaguars game 2015

The NFL and Yahoo! have announced their plans to show the Jaguars versus Bills game via live stream online in 2015. The game will be played in London and will be available totally free on any device. While this is the first time the NFL has partnered with another company to stream a regular season game online, we still need to ask if this is really that big a deal? Any company would kill to be a partner in any way with the NFL, especially when it comes to a live game. In the long run, does this benefit Yahoo!, football fans across the globe, and the League itself?

Yahoo! is paying $20 million for the right to broadcast this regular season game. The announcement actually boosted the tech company’s stock price by one percent, or 270 million dollars. Just being associated with the NFL is good business obviously.

It is easy to say this is not much of a game with perennial losers from Jacksonville facing Buffalo, who failed to make the playoffs last year despite a good 9-7 record. The Jags don’t illicit much excitement anywhere in the country, and I doubt folks in Nigeria or India are amped up that they get to see them on an iPad. The actual game and ramifications for the 2015 season are not the larger issue with this over the internet live NFL stream. The possibilities that come afterward are pretty exciting.

One game for free globally in 2015 could turn into more for the coming seasons. The NFL is pretty damn good at making money, but all the answers as to how best to do that online are not obvious until a game is actually shown via the web. The numbers after the fact will be a good indicator as to what the League does next. If a guy in Utah can make money on Youtube with his cat videos and a lady can earn a living showing how-tos on origami creations, then I am sure the NFL can become efficient as raking in the ad dollars available online.

Having this upcoming game available on all devices is a smart play as well. The NFL would just be leaving out viewers if they made it only for Apple devices or Android. Why make it exclusive if it is going to be free and supported with ad revenue? More eyeballs is more exposure for the game and the advertisers that are supporting this new venture.

yahoo partnering with nfl streaming 2015

Live games are not the only avenue up for grabs here either. There is the content after the content. Think there may be room online for following individual players all season long? If folks will tune in to watch the Kardashians talk about nothing each and every week, surely there are plenty of viewers who would watch Richard Sherman’s adventures. I know I would love to watch a show about my Atlanta Falcons weekly if it had an interesting angle. And I’ve already talked about how we could use more “Hard Knocks” type shows for training camp.

Will this be a revolutionary step that changes the way we all watch football? Hardly. The big TV deals are not going away anytime soon. That is still where the NFL’s bread is buttered. Roger Goodell isn’t going to hand over four games a week to Yahoo! just because they are experimenting with online options. All this move does is create the opportunity for more NFL growth. What form that ultimately takes remains to be seen. The outside world may not be as crazy about American football as we are here in the states, but exposing more countries to our game in the easiest way possible can’t hurt.

Caitlyn Jenner: Sensationalism at its Finest or a Serious Subject?

Chris Maurice
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bruce jenner athlete before caitlyn 2015

Bruce Jenner. The name holds more weight nowadays as that of a celebrity socialite, a Kardashian. It’s crazy to think that in the 1970s, Jenner was synonymous with track and field. He set world records in the 1976 Olympic decathlon, becoming an American hero overnight by stealing the gold from the defending Soviet champions in the midst of the Cold War.

bruce jenner decathlon winner 2015

With his success came fame; and Jenner capitalized on the opportunity, as most in the situation would. Unfortunately for Bruce, it backfired, prevented future Olympic appearances due to rules preventing the Olympic “amateurs” from seeking pay by means of their sports celebrity. Meanwhile, the USA Basketball Team consists of LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and all the other NBA superstar multi-millionaires. But that’s a different story.

kris jenner married to bruce 2015

From there, Jenner’s career left the field and entered the public eye. His stint as an actor in generally lackluster film and television programs maintained his relevance. Then, in 1991, he married Kris Jenner, having two kids, Kendall and Kylie. Now, along with Kris’s other children—the infamous Kardashians—they star on Keeping Up with the Kardashians. The show is lampooned by many, including myself, as reinforcing celebrity ego and being as tactless as one would expect from a reality show. Once again, different story.

It happens, and we see it all the time. People are famous for being famous all the time. Gawking at famous people is the modern Great American Pastime. Controversies arise, gossip spreads; and whether the gossip is true or false is irrelevant, as the end result is the same: nothing.

bruce caitlyn jenner behind shots vanity fair 2015

But this time around, the situation takes an interesting turn. As you likely know, Bruce Jenner came out as a transgender woman about two months ago, and to put it lightly shit hit the fan. Now Jenner has revealed her transitioned self to the world—Caitlyn Jenner.

Most Americans’ initial reaction was simply “Who cares?” An interesting question. I mean, whether you’re for Caitlyn or against her, she ain’t gonna tell me Chef Curry’s odds taking on The King as we approach the NBA finals.

But when you take a look at the situation, the publicity surrounding Jenner becomes clearer. She comes from a family mired in controversy, but this unlike any of that. After 65 years of life as a man, why change on the back-end? Caitlyn’s coming out highlights a greater trend towards understanding transgender people—something America as a whole is coming to address.

While the media does as it always will and sensationalizes the situation, many people start to seek answers. What does transgendered even mean? Why would an Olympic athlete, a paragon of masculinity, want to become a woman?

Jenner sought to address these questions. A two-part special of KUWTK, which I forced myself to watch, gives her perspective. The program itself sucked, but the underlying message was important: Then identifying as Bruce, Jenner discusses how hard it was trying to ignore who she was all her life. A clear concern is shown for how coming out will affect her family members, who are generally supportive of the transition.

bruce jenner family 2015

The show gives as insightful a look into then-Bruce’s struggle as you could possibly hope from a program spawned from a Ray J sex tape that typically concerns itself with ratings and nothing more. Jenner’s sincere concern for her family and for anyone going through the same struggle shines through the glamour and BS of the show’s typical nature, actually giving thoughtful insight into LGBT issues as a whole.

Still not enough of a reason to keep the show on television in my opinion, but at least we got to learn something from it this once.

Caitlyn/Bruce stands strong in response to the public backlash. Her new Twitter account exploded in popularity, coupled with the newest Vanity Fair cover on which she revealed her new name to the public.

Jenner picked now as a time to come forward with who she really is, and there’s a reason why. Transsexuality is an oft-ignored topic, but it has come to the table for discussion along with gay marriage and other such social issues, and boy do we still have a lot to discuss. There seem to be many new beginnings to Jenner’s old story, 65 years in the making.

caitlyn jenner images 2015 bruce

Regardless of name, Jenner is a legendary athlete that’s done no small part to shape the world around us, and isn’t interested in stopping. She may be a former track star, but there’s no more running now. Caitlyn Jenner is here, and she’s here to stay.

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