Novak Djokovic took a break from his Australian Open tennis match Saturday to applaud a marriage proposal in the stands.
"It's nice to see this moment," Djokovic said after advancing to the fourth round in Melbourne. "I'm sure he was very happy when she said yes."
At the end of the second set, Djokovic and his opponent, Fernando Verdasco, were seated on their benches when a stir erupted in the crowd at Rod Laver Arena. The capacity crowd of 15,000 watched on giant courtside screens as a man offered the woman beside him a ring, and she said yes.
The crowd applauded, as did Djokovic from his courtside chair.
He later said it wasn't the first marriage proposal to occur during one of his matches.
"I think it happened maybe once prior to this match in my whole career that someone proposed," he said. "It's one of these moments you remember forever. Not just for them, but for everybody who was there."
Mr. Cub
Ernie Banks, who died Friday at the age of 83, was popular as a player and a former player, but two-time National League MVP Dale Murphy said via Twitter that the Chicago Cubs great might not have made everyone happy.
"Did a card show w Ernie Banks," Murphy wrote. "He drove the promoter crazy! Spent time/talked with every person. After an hour had signed maybe 15."
Airing it out
A few observations from Brad Dickson of the Omaha World Herald regarding the NFL soap opera that has become known as Deflate-Gate:
m "At the rate this Deflate-Gate thing is going, soon Aaron Hernandez will release a statement to distance himself from the Patriots.
m "The good news: Tom Brady is still fairly handsome, even after his nose grew three inches during Thursday's press conference.
m "On Christmas, I picture Brady and Belichick going around the neighborhood, letting the air out of all the inflatable Santas."
Embarrassed
Marshawn Lynch, unhappy about recent fines, especially one levied against a teammate, tweeted that he was "embarrassed to work" for the NFL.
"If we wants to be really embarrassed," wrote Janice Hough of leftcoastsportsbabe.com, "Lynch could sign a free-agent deal with the Jets."
Headlines
m From sportspickle: "Bill Belichick vows 'swift justice' for whoever failed to deflate 12th football"
m From theOnion.com: "NFL braces for record-low Pro Bowl player attendance"
SPORTS QUIZ
Which franchise has hosted the World Series in four different stadiums?
SPORTS ANSWER
The Philadelphia Phillies
TIM COOPER
Sports on 01/25/2015