By BRUCE JENKINS, San Francisco Chronicle

SAN FRANCISCO -- I sat across from John Wooden at his apartment in the summer of 1990, delivering questions about the man he could not beat. An eternity had passed, more than 30 years, but the legendary Wooden was squirming just a little. Such was the impact of Pete Newell on his legacy and his psyche.

Roger Federer can solve this whole problem quite easily. He can win next year's French Open, rub some red clay into his face for good measure, then soak up worldwide proclamations that he is the greatest tennis player of all time.

Why is it that every time I check the sporting Internet, I feel like I'm standing in line at Safeway?

If you're an Oakland A's fan and took the time Sunday to watch the Futures game, a minor-league prelude to the All-Star game at Yankee Stadium, you're probably not upset or disappointed over the Joe Blanton trade.

WIMBLEDON, England -- There will never be another scene quite like it, or another match, for that matter. Wimbledon closed down a 132-year era Sunday night with the greatest tennis match ever played.

WIMBLEDON, England -- Richard Williams never envisioned such a thing. He saw his two daughters taking over the tennis world, causing a great sensation, then bailing out early to pursue more serious endeavors. He couldn't have imagined that Venus and Serena would have an even better idea: playing into eternity, outlasting everybody, and still being the most well rounded people in tennis.

It was no longer a bat, but a split-in-half weapon. As the San Francisco Giants' Fred Lewis held one piece, the other bounced crazily toward the pitcher's mound, where it slammed into the leg of Colorado Rockies pitcher Aaron Cook.

OAKLAND, Calif. -- The Baltimore Orioles are in town, playing the A's for the championship of May. Both teams would have you believe it's a longer road, and that's the beauty of the latest standings. No one can tell them they're wrong.

In the wake of the disgraceful mess that passed for a congressional hearing Wednesday, people wonder how Roger Clemens could possibly sustain such blatant lies -- for weeks, months, even years, if that's what it takes.

Easy. He doesn't believe he's lying.