Breakfast with Roger and Roddick at Wimbledon men's final

July 3, 11:42 AMSports ExaminerPaula Duffy

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Andy Murray has to wait til next year. AP/Alastair Grant

Out here in California, the Breakfast at Wimbledon television broadcast is really more the After-Hours Breakfast of Champions. It starts at 6 in the morning and unlike the weekday coverage by NBC is broadcast live.

Don't get me started on the botched arrangement between ESPN and NBC. The Peacock Network guards its Today Show and soap opera cash cows as if they were the Hope Diamond.

In this economy I guess they are but here's the thing, times have changed and sports fans will not tolerate the same old delayed coverage from years past. NBC should get with it or Wimbledon officials should just bow to the inevitable four letter network domination as other sports have. At least they show it live. Jim Williams, Sports Media Examiner, has more, here

Breakfast at Wimbledon on Saturday will feature the Williams sisters and all in favor of them getting into a bit of a tiff prior to the match please raise your hands.

Ok, good, I see that many others like me are tired of the matches between them being less than stellar. I understand their close relationship gets in the way and they can't hate the woman on the opposite side of the court as if she were Maria Sharapova. But how about a bit more of that fighting spirit? That would be nice.

On Sunday we'll be treated to the wait for history to be made as Roger Federer seeks to win his 15th grand slam title and his sixth Wimbledon championship. Pete Sampras' old record is expected to fall unless rejuvenated American, Andy Roddick can muster something from so deep within himself that it would surprise even him.

On Friday, Federer made short work of his semi-final opponent, Tommy Haas although the match was competitive and close but Haas could never break Federer's serve. It made you realize that Rafael Nadal's achievements against the great Federer are unprecedented.

Haas lost 7-6 (3), 7-5, 6-3.and that was all she wrote. After the match was over, ESPN2 replayed the final set from last year's monumental final when Nadal won after five sets and almost five hours of raw emotion and unprecedented shot making from both players. After viewing it again, I can't wait for Nadal's tendonitis to clear up.

In the second semi-final, Britain's Great Hope, Andy Murray lost in four sets to Roddick (6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (7), 7-6 (5) and the hopes of a nation were dashed once again. The Brits are starting to resemble the Chicago Cubs fans who keep coming back and cheering with hope in their hearts only to be devastated each year. No British man has won since 1936 since and the fans have to wait until next year...again.

Murray's overall percentages were better than Roddick's for unforced errors, winners and aces. But in the crucial third set tie breaker, Roddick prevailed. Although the fourth set went to a tie breaker as well, Murray's play seemed to slow down and his shots didn't look as crisp.

OK, on to the weekend and Breakfast at Wimbledon. Crumpets anyone?

Click over to read the great coverage of our Pro Tennis Examiner, here.

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