It Must Be Love.

Folks, today was a rather special day.

Today, yes today, was the first day of the U.S. Open.

Yes, I know you are all excited, as am I.

Oh I can't wait to watch all the drama unfold.

The U.S. Open is BY FAR my favorite sporting event of the year.

Let me tell you why. 

(note: I'm talking tennis here people...don't get it twisted.)

The Open is just special.

It's the last Grand Slam of the year.

(Grand Slam = the 4 largest tournaments in tennis, Australian, French, Wimbledon and US)

It's the largest tennis stage in the world. 

And it has a few other unique qualities.

The U.S. Open is the only Slam that plays night sessions.

At most tournaments matches start around 11 a.m. and end around 5 or 6 p.m. 

But at the U.S. they have one set of matches that will start around 11 a.m. and another that starts at 5 or 6 p.m.

So instead of finishing up and going home before dinner, some matches might not even start until after midnight. 

And those night matches are ELECTRIC, especially if an American is playing. 

They truly are incredible, the crowd there is unlike any other. 

The amount of support shown for American players at the U.S. Open is almost unreal.

Yeah I know, it's the home court advantage and all.

But it's something entirely different.

It's hard to describe but it's just like a whole other level of patriotism. 

It's incredible. 

Currently the Open is played on hard courts (concrete), but it has also been played on grass and clay.

Talk about versatile. 

Jimmy Connors (an American) is the only player to have won the tournament on all three surfaces. 

There has been some for real drama go down in Arthur Ashe stadium.

(interesting fact: Arthur Ashe is the only African American to ever win at the U.S. Open, Wimbledon and the Australian Open. He was from Virginia.)

The level of play goes to unheard of levels to be able to compete on this stage. 

Only the best and the most impressive survive. 

It's more than just having the strokes, you have to be able to handle the stage.

I can't wait to see what this year has in store.