JAMES BLAKE WAS USHERD OUT OF THE PILOT PEN  IN NEW HAVEN TODAY WITHOUT MUCH OF A FIGHT.

SURE HE WAS RUNNING HARD AND SPANKING WINNERS HERE AND THERE, BUT THE HEART HE SHOWED US IN  HIS SUMMER RUNS AT THE OPEN IN 2005 AND 2006 SEEMS BROKEN.

HE CAME OUT OF COLLEGE TENNIS (HAVARD-IVY LEAGUE) AND WINNING WAS A HABIT.

HIS AGGRESSIVE BASELINE STYLE SERVED HIM WELL AS LONG AS HE WAS HEALTHY-BUT NOW FOLLOWING A KNEE INJURY AND A PROLONGED REHAB STINT WITH A FEW SET BACKS HERE AND THERE, THE WINS ARENT COMING VERY OFTEN ANY MORE, AND AT 30 HE DOSENT SEEM TOO UPBEAT ABOUT THAT CHANGING.

I ASKED HIM IF THERE WAS GOING TO BE ANY TWEAKING OF HIS GAME-- HE SAID THAT HE AND COACH KELLY JONES ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR WAYS TO IMPROVE--- BUT HE SEEMED INSISTENT THAT THE SHOULDER TO THE WHEEL AND NOSE TO THE GRINDSTONE COURSE OF ACTION WAS THE WAY TO GO

HE SEEMED GENUINLY EMBARRASSED DURING THE PRESS BRIEFING, AND IM HOPING THE COURSE OF ACTION HE HAS CHOSEN TO REVIATILZE HIS GAME WORKS.

SHOCK CAN CREATE INACTION --AND JAMES LOOKED LIKE A DEER IN THE HEADLIGHTS THIS AFTERNOON.

                                                                                     JUST MY OPINION,HOWIE BURNETT