+ THURSDAY NETCORDS: A-Rod, Maria, Mary goes home...chairs + balls, Men's Vogue hearts tennis and more

- Fed-esque: Andy Roddick gets dumped by coach Jimmy Connors because he was "keeping him away from the golf course a little bit too much" then goes out and impressively defeats World No. 2 Rafael Nadal in the quarterfinals of Dubai 7-6, 6-2. Geez - these top tennis ballers are making the concept of full-time, traveling coaches seem so over. What else is over? A-Rod's recent "boorish" behavior, according to SI's Jon Wertheim.

- Tennis ball chair: I don't know about you, but I don't want that many balls against my ass...furniture or not.

- Anna K. news: Our favorite tennis non-baller is returning to the courts for World Team Tennis. The original Russian glamourpuss was booted by the Sacramento Capitals but landed firmly with the St. Louis Aces.

- Dork is as dork does: Maria "Shriek"apova spoke to Play Tennis Florida for their March issue and revealed that she's a different person off the court than the ultra-confident baller the world watches on the court. "I'm a goofball," said Maria. "I'm the dork [in my group of friends]. I give you Exhibit A (because she's given up Exhibit B already):

- Iconic moment: Frenchie sportswear label Lacoste - who sponsors most of the French ballers, Andy Roddick, and others - celebrates its 75th anniversary this year with its Spring/Summer 2008 collection.

- A long way from home: Tennis commentator and former baller Mary Carillo made a trip home to Naples, Florida to discuss her career and the state of tennis.

- Best Cross-Platform Sport Marketing: Conde Nast mag Men's Vogue is sponsoring the NetJets showdown between Roger Federer and Pete Sampras and has partnered with NBC Sports/MSNBC.com to provide editorial content on the historic match - including the display of the Men's Vogue logo on the web page. Now that's what I call intelligent and innovate cross-marketing - though I think this could have something to do with Anna Wintour's stalkerati moment...creepster!

*via downthelinetennis.com

(images via AP)