No Challenges Remaining

Episode 45: Wimbledon, Bloody Wimbledon

Things got way too real at Wimbledon on Wednesday, so Ben and Courtney needed to rush to the microphone to come to grips with perhaps the craziest day of results and withdrawals in tennis history. After Rafael Nadal exited in the first round Monday, Wednesday saw the exits of Roger Federer, Maria Sharapova, Victoria Azarenka, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Caroline Wozniacki, Marin Cilic, Ana Ivanovic, Jelena Jankovic, John Isner and Lleyton Hewitt, all on one day. It was weird, surreal, and we have lots of thoughts about what happened, and what will happen in the future, in this draw that now will guarantee some thoroughly unexpected players in the late rounds of this tournament. We make picks, but really who knows. Make your quarterfinal picks on our Facebook page, and we'll see who's wronger! We may have lost lots of players, but we're glad not to lose you, dear listeners! As always, thanks for liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, and leaving us reviews on iTunes!

Episode 44: A Russian Sniper (and a Wimbledon Preview)

In this episode live from the Wimbledon Village, Ben and Courtney have a whooooole lot to talk about on the eve of Wimbledon.  First we discuss the controversial Serena Williams profile published this week by Rolling Stone, so we discuss the piece and her controversial comments on Steubenville. We then discuss Maria Sharapova's shocking takedown of Williams' personal life in her pre-tournament press conference, which was perhaps the most direct shot ever fired in this decade-long rivalry. We then pick our jaws up off the floor to look back at the week that just passed, including Courtney's time with Jamie Hampton in Eastbourne and Ben's time at Wimbledon qualifying, including a peek into the culture of the British National Training Centre. We then discuss the lack of a seeding bump for Rafael Nadal and preview the Wimbledon men's and women's draws. It's a whole lot of show, but we have a whole lot of love for you listeners, as always. As always, thanks for liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, and leaving us reviews on iTunes! It's a good way to make sure we won't say something about your boyfriend.

Episode 43: Halle Atcha Boy and Girl

The grass season has started off with a bang, and so does this episode! In their respective press rooms in Halle and Birmingham, which are full of fun sudden ambient noises, Ben and Courtney discuss the start of the grass season. Is Queen's as stuffy and bothersomely bougey as its made out to be? (Yes). Is Halle a delightful place full of beer, sausage, pretzels, and tuba music? (Yes). How do you solve a problem like Gael Monfils? And what about the French Open that just finished? Whose win was more impressive, Serena's or Rafa's? And lastly what is making Tomas Berdych such a phenomenal tweeter? All this and more in a short-but-sweet episode, because Mikhail Youzhny had to do a press conference, or something.

Episode 42: Shortly Before La Fin

In this French Open Second Week special, Ben and Courtney catch up on all the happenings in the middle of the French Open, and look forward to the exciting last few matches of the tournament. We also find ourselves on the opposite sides of a few issues that arose. Should the tours do more to stop excessive grunting, after the chorus of shriek-denouncers again arose during the Sharapova-Azarenka semifinal, and are the complaints valid? Should a final set tiebreak be instituted to save the players from marathon fifth sets like the one between Haas and Isner? Then we largely agree on stuff some stuff as we talk about the status of the French Open in the Grand Slam landscape, as well as the culture of Twitter and betting. We also take a few questions, and explain why Ana Ivanovic is a terribly redesigned video game character, why Serena took so long to contend in Paris again, and what a fresh Slam winner could mean to the men's game. As always, thanks for liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter,and leaving us reviews on iTunes! Nous voulons te voir, dear listeners.

Episode 41: Demi-Paris! (French Open Halfway!)

In this very special midway-through-the-French-Open episode, Ben and Courtney discuss the first week in Paris. The highs, and the lows. What was it like to watch Venus in orbit, even if she burned bright but not for long? What do we make of a section that featured Berdych, Gulbis, and Monfils but yielded Tommy Robredo? And are the Big 4 boring in press, like Gulbis said? We have lots of thoughts, especially about Nadal impassioned irritation over the schedule. We also take questions, such as "Who is the most impressive youngster in Paris?" and "Caroline Wozniacki." Please know that we made our "bold predictions" before play started on Saturday...so yeah. As always, thanks for liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter,and leaving us reviews on iTunes! You guys are seriously the meilleurest.

Episode 40: French Open Preview Spectacular

In our 40th(!) episode, Ben and Courtney are all about the French Open, wearing berets, eating croissants, and being generally disdainful for no particular reason. We have the same picks to win the title, but we explore how things could possibly go wrong for both him (Rafael Nadal) and her (Serena Williams). Then we do a more thorough breakdown of our entire draws, which is very detailed and features syllables not often uttered on this show, like "Ma-ka-ro-va." Then we debate which first round match we wouldn't take money to watch, because we take the bad with the good. Ola is in love, and we are in love with you, dear listeners. As always, thanks for liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, and leaving us reviews on iTunes!

Episode 39: A Slice of Rome

In this short-but-sweet episode, Ben checks in with Courtney, who is in Rome at the Italian Open this week. Does the tournament still have all its old charm? And what have we learned about the current young crop of players, especially on the men's side? What does this all mean, anyway, when it comes to Paris? And why does the Ukrainian Eurovision singer lady get carried onto the stage by a giant who then disappears? We may not have the answers to all the questions, but we try our best.  As always, thanks for liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, and leaving us reviews on iTunes!

Episode 38: Laura Robson

In a very special Episode 38, Ben and Courtney discuss what was a huge weekend in tennis. Sloane went at Serena with her words in a revealing ESPN the Magazine interview that made us all afraid to ever unfollow anyone ever again. Then John Tomic (allegedly) went at his son's hitting partner with his head, in a bloodying Madrid throwdown.  Then we talk about the Madrid tournament itself, and if it deserves its status as equal or even above the more established Italian Open in Rome.  Last but very much not least, we chat with phenom Laura Robson about her improbable young career, life in the British spotlight, and her favorite sounds in tennis.  We trust her singing will blow you away, will blow you away-ay. As always, thanks for liking us on Facebook and leaving us reviews on iTunes!

Episode 37: Did I Stuttgart?

In this episode, Ben and Courtney wrap the second week on red clay, which saw Maria Sharapova drive off in a Porsche, and Rafael Nadal continue to drive a bulldozer over nearly any clay court opponent.  We then discuss the coming out of NBA veteran Jason Collins, and the state of gays and lesbians in the tennis world. Why haven't more tennis players come out? We have thoughts. We then answer a question about our best/worst interviews, take a couple numbers, and lastly rant about the relentless pursuit of greatness. Ben may not yet be in the Guiness Book of World Records, but you listeners all have the high mark for awesomeness. Thanks for listening, and tell your friends. And leave us reviews on iTunes and "like" us on Facebook. We like that.

Episode 36: Money for Nothing

In this episode of No Challenges Remaining, Ben and Courtney slide into the clay season with all the gracefulness you'd expect. We discuss Novak Djokovic's surprising win over Rafael Nadal that ended his Monte Carlo monopoly.  We also dissect the massive prize money increases that have been awarded to players this year, what impact they will have, and if they were really necessary.  Then we answer a question about awkward presser questions, and finally regale you with rants and raves about our forays into other sporting arenas, with Courtney's Portland soccer paradise and Ben's thoughts on the hockey media culture. And last but not least, we have way too much fun with Star Head Candle. We cheer for you too, dear listeners.