It's better safe than sorry

Israeli tennis player Andy Ram said Swedish authorities made a “stupid decision” when they barred fans from the Davis Cup series between the two countries.

Well, Ram, take a look at what had happened to the Sri Lankan cricket team yesterday, and you might want to think twice.

Eight people were killed and seven other wounded in the attack when unidentified gunmen firing at the visiting Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore, the capital city of Punjab.



In the latest updates, New Zealand Cricket has called off their Pakistan tour scheduled in December.

Now back to tennis, I understand how frustrated Ram, his fellow teammates and the Swedish team were to play the first-round series in Malmo in an empty stadium.

Malmo city officials had to make the hardest decision by keeping the fans away as they couldn’t guarantee security at the 4,000-seat Baltic Hall.

Anti-Israel protests are already expected in Malmo, and about 1,000 police have been called to keep protesters from the arena.

After Sweden, other countries who will be playing Israel could follow suit.

“I think it was a wrong decision. I think it maybe can open the door for other countries to make a stupid decision like this one,” Ram said.

“I think it’s going to be very bad to play without a crowd.”

Harel Levy, another member of Israel’s four-man team, said it was wrong to mix sports and politics.

“We are here to play tennis,” Levy said.

“We are not here to talk about politics or to talk about terror.”

Dudi Sela and Noam Okun are also on the Israeli team.

Sweden are represented by Robert Lindstedt, Simon Aspelin, Bjorn Rehnquist and Daniel Berta. Veteran Thomas Johansson has been practicing with the Swedish team.

“We’re here since Sunday and we saw him (Johansson) play every day, practicing very hard, so he’s going to play,” Sela predicted.

Johansson, the 2002 Australian Open champion, was disappointed his country won’t get the benefit of a cheering crowd.

“When you play Davis Cup on home turf you want a full house, and we think it’s too bad that there won’t be,” he said.

(Via AP; Images by Drago Prvulovic/AFP/Getty Images via Yahoo! Sports)

Roger Federer and Stanislas Wawrinka win men's doubles

Gold medalists Roger Federer (3rd L) and Stanislas Wawrinka (3rd R) of Switzerland, Silver medalists Simon Aspelin (L) and Thomas Johansson (2nd L) from Sweden, and Bronze medalists Bob and Mike Bryan of US pose for pictures after competing in the men's double's tennis competition at the Olympic Green Tennis Centre in Beijing on August 16, 2008.

It doesn't matter whether it's men's singles or doubles, Roger Federer still won his first Olympic gold medal! And that matters!

An Olympic gold is priceless for Roger Federer who has an extensive trophy collection. By teaming up with Stanislas Wawrinka the Swiss duo won the Olympic doubles yesterday beating Simon Aspelin and Thomas Johansson of Sweden 6-3, 6-4, 6-7(4), 6-3.

Federer extended his arms in triumph and began to hop (which you don't quite often see as a singles player. Then, he embraced Wawrinka and they hopped together (hehe!).

With so many disappointment this year, Federer had waited long enough for a big victory to celebrate. And the Olympics is such a huge boost for his confidence.

After three Olympics, Federer is finally a medalist for the first time!

"Sort of a dream-come-true moment," Federer said. "Maybe it comes around once in a lifetime. It's almost disbelief, to some degree."

(Images by PHILIPPE HUGUEN/BEHROUZ MEHRI/AFP/Getty Images)