The 2011 US Open Final (Are You Kidding Me?) and Trip #2 Update

 View from my seat for the US Open Final between Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal on September 12, 2011.

Hello everyone!

I'm currently writing from outside security at Boston Logan Airport, at 1:35 AM. Since Sunday morning (about 48 hours ago), I've probably had a grand total of 4 hours of sleep. Definitely running on empty! However, it is a very satisfied and fulfilled empty, considering how everything went today.

First off, the flight from Portland to New York was nice and uneventful - though it did have a particularly memorable flight attendant crew, which had the passengers cracking up at the start of the flight. Again, I felt the Anakin Skywalker "why the heck can't I go to sleep right now" face in full effect about an hour and a half into the flight, but eventually I fell asleep. Having an aisle seat helped - nice that I was assigned one! That's a hard thing about booking all of these last minute flights: there aren't very many seat openings to choose from, and I have to risk just getting assigned one randomly at the gate.

Once I landed in New York, I flew to Boston, stayed for about 45 minutes, then went back to New York, where I stayed in Terminal 5 for a good 4 hours or so, listening to podcasts, reading, charging, etc. No sleep, though. I also called an audible on my plan to check my backpack at Terminal 4, figuring that it HAD to be faster to check it at the US Open and grab it afterwards (it was, and possibly saved me from missing my flight).

I met up with Matthew (via Twitter and text messaging) around 3:50 and got into the stadium for the 2011 US Open Men's Singles Final! Woo hoo!

This is where words do not express how unbelievable the tennis I watched earlier was. I mean, it was by far the best exhibition of two individuals playing a sport that I have ever seen in my life. Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic were absolutely destroying the tennis ball during their rallies; hitting it with such precision and power that it actually gave me the chills during a few points, because I knew I was watching something great.

Novak Djokovic won the match, in a four set slugfest, that lasted over four hours. I'm having trouble gathering my thoughts about it all, but suffice it to say that it was really amazing. I'm so glad that I had the chance to witness it!

Novak Djokovic lies victorious after winning the 2011 US Open Championship, 6-2, 6-4, 6-7, 6-1 over Rafael Nadal.

Now then, the match ended around 8:30 PM. My flight to Boston (that I needed to make to get down to Jamaica tomorrow), started boarding at 10:20 PM. So it was with plenty of nerves and tired legs that I rushed to get my backpack ($5 as a "nominal fee" for a baggage check? Really US Open?) and catch three successive trains in order to get to JFK. I arrived pretty much exactly at 10:00 to Terminal 5, and thankfully, there was almost no security line. A super quick stop to get some fruit for dinner, take my contacts out, then board my flight - and I saw multiple people from the match who were amazed that I took the subway to the airport - they had all either taken a cab or had car service (ugh, some super dorky guy was telling me all about his courtside seats and how he was on TV a bunch). That's right, I know how to run this town tonight.

A great picture by my new friend Matthew (who went to every Grand Slam final in tennis this year)! Right after this picture (at 8:42 PM, according to my camera), I ran my butt off to get to JFK in time for my 10:50 flight.

Eventually, I landed in Boston, which is where I am now. Unfortunately, I guess that security removes everyone from the terminal after midnight, so I was kicked out and now I'm typing from a bench at a restaurant outside security, while listening to a Bill Simmons podcast. I'm really tired. :-)


So, down to Montego Bay, Jamaica in about 4 hours (or more precisely, down to JFK again, then landing in Jamaica around 1:30 PM). Two days there, then I'm going up to Boston again, this time staying with Max and his family again (thank the Lord - they are so amazing!), before heading to... Chicago again! I'll spend the weekend there with my brother as he just bought a big TV that we'll help break in by watching football. Back to Portland on Monday.


Okay, shutting down to try and sleep now. In the meantime, have a great day!