This was a great match, but I hate NBC's coverage of this tournament. It's not just the commentators, although I can't stand Mary Carrillo and Johnny Mac is getting more and more disjointed in his commentary. No, it's the way they treat those of us in the Western U.S. Since they insist on showing their crap morning shows, we're forced to wait until 10 am local time to see tennis. For those of us in Arizona (MST) and in the Pacific Time Zone, that means 1 pm EDT. As a result, ESPN is forced to black out their 1 pm EDT coverage in our part of the country. So, NBC's scheduling means we are deprived of seeing all of the television coverage. During the first week, those of us who use DirecTV have the luxury of watching any one of 5 or 6 matches. We get to choose what to watch. During week two, not only can we not do that, but we can't even watch all of the televised matches. NBC is solely to blame for this. Man, how I miss the days when HBO held the U.S. rights to Wimbledon. NBC's programmers are horrible. Must be why I haven't watched any of their regular programming since the days of Seinfeld. As long as they keep treating those of us out West like this, I'll make sure to continue that practice.

You nailed it, aznemesis. No coverage at all of Roddick/Hewitt here in AZ or the entire west coast. NBC's French Open coverage was just as bad. If they care so much about their Today Show ratings, they shouldn't buy the rights to these events. Or, at least not force ESPN to black out their live coverage.

Well said aznemesis ^^. I couldn't agree more! The only reason I am on my computer typing this right now is to vent on the POOR coverage!!!! I also am on the west coast, took the day off of work to enjoy what appeared to be one of the best days of the entire Wimbledon tournament. Only to be completely let down to find out that ESPN 2 had to black out their coverage while NBC replayed the morning match of Federer winning a match EVERYONE knew would be a walk over. Not only was there absolutely no intrigue as to who would win the Federer match, HE IS NOT AN AMERICAN!!!!

The same thing happened on Monday. Didn't get to see one point of Andy Rodick's match.

Absolute Bullsh!t!!!

And they wonder why American tennis has been falling in the ratings....

ps - NBC owes me for a vacation day!!!

I am not going to say anything about the coverage as all I can do is follow it via the internet every few minutes at work.

What I want to ask is where the hell is Bud Collins and his writing off of Federer. I have missed his well writen write offs for the past three slams. In fact, and I may have missed it, but the last one I can remember is just before the US Open last year when he swore blind Fed was finished and Murray would win. Strangely enough I don't remember him writing saying he was wrong either.

Bud, can I just aks why you haven't written for a while. Please come back as I need a laugh right now.

I too am totally furious about the coverage and the gall of NBC to decide what we viewers can and cannot watch, when they don't even bother to cover the entire event! Not only do I agree with every word said here, but I was appalled last Saturday when they started the tape-delayed coverage beginning with the first set tiebreak!!!!!

How do they get away with editing a sporting event to fit their time slot? It is just ridiculous and a throwback to the olden days when the network programmers cut away from the NBA Finals to show Heidi in its entirety.

I like John McEnroe, and have grown to appreciate Mary Carillo (starting with her excellent essay on why she wanted her sons to be 'clay courters'), but let them work for a company that actually wants to broadcast the event they are covering!!!!!!! And a company that realizes that many fans live in the Central and West Coast time zones.

We are their customers, and they should treat us with respect!