I love the US Open. I love walking around the outer courts in the first week seeing rising and falling stars;, signing up for contests and promotions that I know will only get me another 10-15 emails a day, but I don't care; waiting on line to eat mediocre, overpriced but somehow satisfying food - this year's consumption included a lobster roll, Ben & Jerry's waffle sundae, 2 Diet pepsi's, a Hamburger with spicy fries and a Greek Frozen Yogurt pop . . . and a Margarita (to be fair, that includes lunch and dinner).
This year, after watching a win by American comeback potential star Brian Baker on Court 11, I wandered over to the new Court 17, which I had never been to before. Veteran Tommy Haas was playing underachiever (so far) Ernest Gulbis of Latvia.
It was just after a changeover, so a line formed outside the entrance. In front of me were a burly local guy of about 50 and his wife, and a pleasant looking woman of about the same age.
Burly guy to woman: Where are you from?
Woman: Wisconsin.
Burly guy: Oh! I really like your guy, what's his name, Paul Ryan.
Me: Why do you like him?
Burly guy: I'm for the individual and not the government, and that's what Ryan is for.
Me: Do you like Medicare and Social Security?
Burly guy: Well, I don't need them yet, but I want to see them around when I do.
Me: Do you know that Ryan and Romney want to change them for the worse?
Burly guy: Well, they couldn't be worse than Obama. Look at the unemployment.
Me: Did you know that we were losing 800,000 jobs a month in October 2008, and for the last couple of years we've been gaining about 100-150,000 jobs a month?
Burly guy: But those are government jobs that Obama has added.
Me: Actually not -- government jobs have gone down and most jobs created are private jobs.
Burly guy: You know, I disagree with you, but I like you.
Me: Thanks, but it's important to know the actual facts.
Me, to Wisc. woman: You know whom I like -- Tammy Baldwin.
Woman: (speechless that I knew who she is).
Tennis umpire: Game, Mr. Gulbis.
We file into the Court.