RAFA NADAL Nominated for LAUREUS Award - For WORLD Sportsman of the Year

My one-of-a-kind sports marvel, Rafa Nadal, has been nominated for the Laureus World Sports Award for winning the French Open, Wimbledon and Olympic gold medal to become tennis Numero Uno! Camino por recorrer, Rafa! Si, glad you asked. The sport's world has its own equivalent to the film industry's Academy Awards, in the annual Laureus World Sports awards ceremony. Sports media from 112 countries make the nominations and the winners will be selected in a secret ballot by 46 supersportstars, members of the Laureus World Sports Academy, including John McEnroe, Nadia Comaneci and Jack Nicklaus. The Awards are usually presented at an annual Awards Ceremony but this year's ceremony has been scrapped because of the global financial crisis, so the winners of this year's Laureus World Sports Awards will be receiving their Awards individually at a series of presentations during May and June.

"It seemed to us, with so many people suffering, that this was the wrong time to be staging this event," Edwin Moses, chairman of the Laureus World Sports Academy, said in a statement. "This is the responsible thing to do."

Nadal goes up against the likes of :

• Usain Bolt from Jamaica, the first man to win 100m, 200m and 4x100m Olympic gold medals in world records.
• Lewis Hamilton from the UK, the youngest ever Formula One World Champion at 23 years and 300 days.
• Michael Phelps of the US, who won 8 gold medals in a single Olympiad to overtake Mark Spitz's record.
• Cristiano Ronaldo from Portugal, FIFA World Player of the Year, scored 42 goals for Manchester United.
• Valentino Rossi of Italy, who beat Giacomo Agostini's record 68 500cc wins, and won 6th senior world title.

(These names were taken off Rafa's website..:)

Andy Murray wins his first Semi on clay - will play Rafa Nadal

Andy Murray, looking good, after reaching your first semi-final on clay. Big day for Murray - wins match against Italy's Fabio Fognini 7-6 (13-11), 6-4 in morning game and then caps the day by winning the match with Nikolay Davydenko 7-6 (7-1), 6-4 late evening. Match set. Murray vs. Rafa. Tomorrow. Be there, or rawrrrrrrrr! VAMOS RAFA!

Si! Si! Contessa ChiChi hearts Susan Boyle!

I was going to tell you some things I did and saw during my short hiatus, like visiting my friend Charo, then, how I know thees White House's new furkid on the block, Bo - but, now is come down to, "Oooh, Chich, have you seen thees Susan Boyle video?!" "Contessa, you gotta hear thees!" and "Lordy! I have met my Dream girl!!" Ay-yi-yi!! All ready! Of course, I've heard thees video! Poetmeister had to run it by me for approval, dontchaknow? Heh heh.. heh.. har. Just kidding, mistress. Ahem.. what I meant to say is, yah..... she's my new role model. If she can go onstage in front of Simon Cowell (t-t-tremolo) and be as poised and centered as she was with all thees tittering from the audience, then..well, I can get my voice on, too! RAWWWWWWRRRRRR!!! Trixie says I should make sure you have seen thees supercalifragilisticexpialidocious video, too, so here eet ees. Take note tho, how come noone have style her eyebrows (with thees paintbrush,si? I bad, really really bahd. Don't try thees at home..or your mother slap you up side thees head for making fun of my eyebrows, too! -oo- Don't do eet! Instead, cultivate your heart weeth luv for inner beauty, si?)

It's official! Rafa Nadal dispatches Ljubicic 6-3, 6-3

I toldya so! I toldya so! Rafa has secured his place in semi-finals at Monte Carlo Masters!! Will it be Murray or Davydenko? I don't know! Having said that - I'm going with Andy Murray. He looks primed. Mwaaaahahahahaha, cha cha ..si? Why, you ask? Davydenko played Nalbandian earlier today and I think he's pooped out. But, we'll see, no? Live Text this match over on BBC Sport Tennis here.

Rafa Nadal hammering Ivan Ljubicic momentarily - serving for place in semi-finals

First things first! You may already know my Rafa is through to the Monte Carlo Masters quarter-finals *grin* after beating Ecuadorian Nicolas Lapentti, 6-3, 6-0; this, after the match was held over due to rain Thursday. Pero, que vida! Rafa has now secured his 24th straight victory! Hurra! Look, I know he appeared a little out of sync coming into his previous round against Argentine Juan Ignacio Chela but you saw how he returned to form towards the end of the match. That'sa my Rafie, Oooolala. But that's not what I'm yapping about now - now it's about Rafa hammering Ivan Ljubicic as I speak (type, you goon!); 6-3, 5-2! World #66, Ljubicic, just came off a win over Italian Simone Bolelli, 7-5, 7-6, under 2 hours. Baaaaa, maybe he be tired and no match for Rafa. heeeeeeeya-haha..chichichi...si? Do I see a semi-finals!! Aye-aye-aye!

I'M BACK ! I'M BACK! - Another Adventure Meets Me Head On!

Si, Si! It's really me! Contessa ChiChi is returned to the Peoples! After a hairy escape from the winter doldrums to meet up with my Rafa at his matches these past weeks. Oh, my! Win some, lose some. He takes the good with the bad. He's always up and positive about life. He learns from his loses and just strives to do better the next time. And hey! Rafa is in good form - si, si - and raring to add many wins to his credit throughout the year. Okay! Okay! So much has happened to me since I last wrote you,, remember my Bro Rascal who almost died from congestive heart failure? Well, he acts like hee's brand new now. I mean, it's kinda creepy.. really. It seems like just yesterday that I had to grab and pull Rascal away from the Pearly Gates! Now he looks great. He can pretty much do what he feels comfortable doing, like going up stairs, jumping on the furniture, playing ball, although at a much less strenuous pace than before, and jazz like that. Except - wow - is he ever p*ssed over not being able to play Frisbee anymore. It's his most favorite thing to do, for cripe sake! I was really going nutz trying to do everything that needed to be done - and jeezes! I never saw so many pills in all my life. Ay-yi-yi!! Rascal's ranged from teeny-weeny to the size of a June bug. No, I swear! He takes 7 pills twice a day hidden in slabs of roast beef and chicken chunks. I was making homemade food for him, too. Rushing him to and fro, here and there, round and round I go! It got a little crazy there for awhile.. that's why I had to get away for a while... Photo by askcorran

You may know El Bribon as..

BATDOG! ..shhh ..don't tell noone you heard it from Contessa ChiChi.. Rascal is undercover.. as in covert. So, don't blow it for heem ! Zeep de leeps. shhhhh..

Contessa ChiChi hearts FurBro

Ay-yi-yi, mis queridos lectores! Si, I've been away for some time. Ay-yi-yi. Mi hermano, el Bribón, ha estado enfermo. *sigh* Si. My brother, Rascal, has been sick. He had surgery 2 weeks ago to remove some lumps and bumps that coulda been cancer, but then he got seecker and seecker with thees dry hacking coughs and shallow breathing. Then, he got worse so the humanoids had to take heem to the ER for Furkinds. He been there for a coupla days and all this while I's been there for heem. Thees ees my Bro when he is very well. Hees very handsome, si? He holds the record for highest Frisbee jump in Contessa ChiChi's family! He's the famous Rascal. Survived a Copperhead snake strike, too, when he was littler, like a boy. That stupid snake bit my Bro in the face 3 times! I would have smackered that doofus in the chops but he slithered away just like a coward!! His face looked like a balloon. You theenk I'm kidding!? See for yourself, then! (grr..) Mi Bro-by hurt so much for so long. Broked my heart in 2, too! And now, hees hurting again. He has too many troubles now.

1. Congestive heart failure due to advanced mitral value regurgitation.
2. Moderately severe pulmonary hypertension.
3. Decreased left ventricular function.
4. Syncopal episodes associated with heart failure and pulmonary hypertension.

Thees ees my Bro while he was in the Furkind hospital. Dunno 'boutchu, but thees doctors either have crazy idea about healing in outer space - or - hees reely spaced out. See what I mean? Because of all thees excitement with mi brother, I missed a lot of Rafa's matches, but he's so thoughtful and understanding. He said he would have liked to be weeth me through thees ordeal and called me everyday to inquire about mi hermano. Meanwhile, Rafa has just given Spain some breathing room with a 2-0 lead at the Davis Cup tournament in Benidrom. He beat Jarko Tipsarevic in 3 sets, 6-1, 6-0, 6-2 at "Terra Mitica" park for his home fans! He put Tipsarevic away in little more than an hour and a half. You go, Rafa! Vamos Rafa! Rafa, you win for Spain and I'll win for el Bribón! Y buena suerte a ambos de nosotros!!

I'm inconsolable *sob* Loss is always difficult

I.. I.. I just.. I'm having trouble finding the words to express the loss.. of dear *sob* Loki! Such a beautiful friend of all Chis everywhere. My own heart goes out to Mickey Rourke with love and sadness over the loss of his beloved companion, Loki. Look at that face. That is a face that begs to be licked. Si. Smothered in licks and slobber. If only for the reason Loki is Chi, si? Let me just tell you, Chis are the best* of all furkinds. Chis are: Alert a la "Contessa ChiChi" "Peanut"-sized Graceful Swift-moving Saucy Observant Bold Adorable Spunky Protective Mischievous Social High-strung Endowed with unique personalities (heh heh - not a chi) Intelligent Loyal Moody Playful Arrogant Sweet-tempered Quintessential Furkind *[The very best of all furkinds are Rat Terriers for which I have been blessed to have in my blood line *sniff,sniff*] So Mickey, please accept my heart-felt condolences over your loss of your Beloved Loki. You can find much comfort in knowing that you gave her the best life she could possibly have on earth by your constant love, care, and kindness, not only towards her, but all her furfriends as well! Says Rourke: "Loki is deeply missed but with me in spirit. I feel very blessed that she fell asleep peacefully in my arms." My Rafa suffered a loss, too, when he lost his last match to Murray, but this loss pales in comparison to Rourke losing his Loki. For me, reverence for all living creatures will always surpass the loss of a game. I can't speak for Rafa personally, but this man Rafa doesn't even like bull fights, one of his country's sports, so I think in my heart he would agree with me. Rafa can always make up for his lost match. We can never 'make up' for loss of Life. Truth. But, theese ees just Contessa ChiChi telling it like it is. Mwah, mwah. [That's licks to you humanoids, k? hee hee] Now - for something sweet: Farewell, Loki.. We will miss you, simpatico!

Whew! Rafa Nadal Squeaks Through to Semi-Final after Beating Tsonga Friday

Whew! Rafa is definitely getting a workout on the courts at the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament in Rotterdam; his path to the quarters not being an easy one. Both Simone Bolello of Italy and Grigor Dimitrov pushed Rafa to the third set; the last set with Dimitrov lasting 2 and 1/2 hours. Rafa had trouble picking up his rhythm because Grigor played fast and hard, leaving Rafa with the impression that Dimitro is headed to the Top 10. His win, 6-4, 6-7, 6-4, against Frenchman Jo-Wilifried Tsonga's 26 aces today also pushed Rafa the distance to a third set; he took the opening set but Tsonga fought back to win the second set on a tiebreak, but he couldn't put pressure on Rafa's serve in the decider and Rafa clinched victory on his first match point giving him the win which takes Rafa into the Semi-Finals where he'll take on Gael Monfils who beat his fellow Frenchman Julien Benneteau 7-6, 6-1. I chuckled when Rafa told me, "Tsonga has an unbelievable good service. It was really heavy," because it doesn't mean anything if my Ruffie wins the match regardless, riiiiight!?! *Rawrrrrrr*