Maria Sharapova unveiled her limited-edition Canon Powershot Diamond Collection Wednesday, August 20 2008 at New York City's South Street Seaport.

I had the enviable task of covering the unveiling of Canon’s new Powershot Diamond Collection on Wednesday. I wasn’t as interested in the diamond encrusted camera, however, as I was the 6’2 Russian tennis player that was doing the unveiling. Although Maria Sharapova won’t be playing in the U.S. Open this week due to a torn rotator cuff, she did make it out for a night on the red carpet at the South Street Seaport. I caught up with her to talk about the injury, and her thoughts on having to sit out her first major. Video after the jump.

This year marks the 36th anniversary of the passing of the Title IX amendment -the Education Amendment to the Civil Rights Act. The amendment states that no discrimination exist for those seeking opportunities in education. The most “public face” of Title IX is in athletics. Basically, girls and young women in high school and college must have access to sports programs as their male counterparts.

One of the most vocal leaders in the pursuit of equality is tennis Hall of Famer Billie Jean King. She spoke with our Sal Marchiano about Title IX’s importance and continuing impact.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEO...

Sometimes athletes let their emotions get the best of them. Guys break clubs, bats or knock over water coolers. We love to see players come undone or be strong emotional leaders. Giants QB Eli Manning would disagree. Blasted for years for not being part drill sergeant, part Tony Robbins, Elijah will soon have a brand new ring from Tiffany’s to prove there’s a place for calm and understated.

Eli may need to talk to Russian tennis player Mikhail Youzhny. Until recently, this 25 year old was so obscure that there’s not even a picture of him on ESPN’s tennis website. But Youzhny has gained Youtube cult status.

The other night in Miami, Mikhail lost a point and promptly hit himself in the head 3 CONSECUTIVE TIMES with his graphite racket. Result: A gash down his face that had to be patched up by medical staff on site. He then proceeded to win the match in three sets!
Mikhail-two things: Give John McEnroe, Jimmy Connors and Jeff Tarango a call-they’ll be happy to explain how to properly abuse a racket, linesman, or chair umpire. That’s why they exist on a tennis court. You could become a tennis celebrity like say, Anna Kournikova-NOT good enough to win, but interesting to watch.

Remember fans: Clubs, sticks, rackets and bats are NOT to be used for any study in masochism-self or otherwise. Please use them as intended.

Youzhny’s episode is funny, but turns out Johnny Mac may be right when he claims tennis officials are asleep at the wheel. Because one year at Wimbledon, a lineswoman-or is that ‘linesperson’ in our comically PC world -fell asleep during a match!

Turns out in 1964, on the first day of the tournament, Dorothy Cavies-Brown, according to legend, came straight from the first day umpires party (aka ‘liquid lunch’) and nodded off during a match between Clark Graebner and Max Segal. No one noticed until a close call in the third set. On a close call, there was no sound from Dorothy. Instead of 40 love, it was 40 winks, Conflicting accounts have Segal, Graebner and/or a ballboy named Robbie Thornton waking Cavis-Brown up (apparently ALL 3 tried) to the laughter of the fans and London tabloids.

Can you IMAGINE McEnroe -he’d call for firings and a replay of the entire match!

By the way, Segal won the match, and Dorothy was eased out of Wimbledon despite protests that she was stone cold sober. As for the first day umpires party, it was never held again.

Thanks to the book The Sports Hall of Shame by Bruce Nash and Allan Zullo and this website for the curious but true case of Dorothy Cavis-Brown.