SI.com: Jon Wertheim

Jon Wertheim: Decades before Lin's rise, Misaka made history for Asian-Americans

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 16:59:09 EST

If you're not smiling at the Jeremy Lin story, consult your cardiologist immediately. There are, of course, so many irresistible elements to this story. This humble kid -- close to being cut for a third time since December, sleeping on his brother's couch, accosted by arena security -- just dropped 38 on Kobe Bryant and the Lakers, his fourth dazzling performance in a row, all Knicks victories. There's the Harvard pedigree, the Chinese-American heritage, the Tim Tebow-esque, unapologetic acknowledgment of faith. We love that even in this age of Moneyball and analytics, it's still possible for prospects to surprise us, to make even the best talent evaluators look silly.

Jon Wertheim: Super Bowl QBs bring to mind Nadal-Federer; post-Aussie mail

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:18:56 EST

So let's start with some intersport comparisons, a favorite activity here. A few minutes after the Super Bowl, I asked via Twitter if Giants quarterback Eli Manning is the NFL's Rafael Nadal, and Patriots QB Tom Brady is Roger Federer.

Jon Wertheim: From humble beginnings, Super Bowl has exploded in stature

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 10:36:41 EST

The American Football League and National Football League played their World Championship Game in 1967 at the Los Angeles Coliseum. Technically, this was Super Bowl I, though no one had thought to title the game, much less give it a numeral, Roman or otherwise. The Green Bay Packers beat the Kansas City Chiefs in front of something less than a capacity crowd. Don't believe it? Well, you'll have to take our word, because no one thought to keep a tape of the game.

Jon Wertheim: Clearing out post-Aussie mail

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 10:52:47 EST

Tons of mail after Australia, so let's go speed round..... AUUUUHHHHH-EEEEEEE

Jon Wertheim: 50 thoughts from Australian Open

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 15:22:10 EST

Cleaning out the notebook from a ripper of an Aussie Open. Please forgive any typos. We were going to run spell check but ran out of challenges ...

Jon Wertheim: Djokovic wins match for the ages

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 13:13:21 EST

SI.com caught up with Sports Illustrated senior writer Jon Wertheim after Novak Djokovic defeated Rafael Nadal 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-7 (5), 7-5 on Sunday to win the Australian Open in the longest Grand Slam final of the Open Era. The top-ranked Djokovic won his third consecutive major title and third Australian Open.

Jon Wertheim: Azarenka steamrolls Sharapova to win first Grand Slam title

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 12:14:14 EST

MELBOURNE, Australia -- Let's start with a story. On a summer day almost eight years ago, a young woman reached her first Grand Slam final and was pitted against an accomplished, experienced, heavy-hitting star. There were concerns that deer-in-headlight syndrome would strike, as it so often does. But this young player absorbed the power of her opponent, stared down the occasion and walked off with the trophy.

Jon Wertheim: Djokovic prevails over Murray in test of nerves, fitness

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 03:57:41 EST

MELBOURNE, Australia -- Funny thing about tennis. Players often compete for hours, matches encompassing five sets, dozens of games, hundreds of points, thousands of shots. Yet so many encounters come down to a couple of crucial junctures, a few of what the clich�-prone tell us are "big points."

Jon Wertheim: Roles reversed in Nadal's win over Federer

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 14:37:01 EST

MELBOURNE, Australia -- As Roger Federer made his way through the intestines of Rod Laver Arena on the way to the court, he did not roll his head like a pre-fight boxer or perform kangaroo hops. When he arrived at his chair, he did not meticulously line up his water bottles or futz with his headband. And, just before the start of the warmup with his opponent, he did not sprint to the baseline like a T-shirt shot from a cannon, racket gripped firmly in his left hand.

Jon Wertheim: Sharapova, Azarenka set to meet for Australian Open title, top spot

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 11:29:45 EST

MELBOURNE, Australia -- Some thoughts on Thursday's women's semifinals at the Australian Open, where Maria Sharapova and Victoria Azarenka advanced with three-set victories to set up a final in which the winner will become the WTA's new No. 1 ...