Rafael Nadal is a Spanish tennis player who has won 11 Grand Slam singles titles, between 2005 and 2012. His wins include a record seven French Open titles and the 2008 Olympic gold medal in singles. He’s one of the greatest tennis players of all time—and the greatest clay court player in history, as his nickname “The King of Clay” attests.
Note: This is 8-bit tennis character #7 of 8 in celebration of Wimbledon.
Roger Federer is a Swiss tennis player who has won a men’s record 16 Grand Slam singles titles, between 2003 and 2011. He has appeared in an unprecedented 23 career Grand Slam tournament finals, including a men’s record ten in a row, and appeared in 18 of 19 finals from 2005 through 2010. He’s one of the greatest tennis players of all time.
Note: This is 8-bit tennis character #6 of 8 in celebration of Wimbledon.
Pete Sampras is an American former tennis player who won 14 Grand Slam singles titles between 1990 and 2002. He was the year-end world No. 1 for six consecutive years (1993-1998), a record for the Open Era. His seven Wimbledon singles championships are also an Open Era record. He’s one of the greatest tennis players of all time.
Note: This is 8-bit tennis character #5 of 8 in celebration of Wimbledon.
Andre Agassi is an American former tennis player who won eight Grand Slam singles titles (and competed in 15 Grand Slam finals) between 1990 and 2005. He also won the 1996 Olympic gold medal in singles. Agassi has been called the best service returner in the history of the game. He’s one of the greatest tennis players of all time.
Note: This is 8-bit tennis character #4 of 8 in celebration of Wimbledon. Now-bald Agassi is sporting his iconic 1990s-era mullet, which he recently revealed was a wig.
Boris Becker is a German former tennis player who won six Grand Slam singles titles and an Olympic gold medal in doubles between 1985 and 1996. He is the youngest-ever winner of the men’s singles title at Wimbledon at the age of 17. He’s one of the greatest tennis players of all time.
Note: This is 8-bit tennis character #3 of 8 in celebration of Wimbledon.
Stefan Edberg is a Swedish former tennis player who won six Grand Slam singles titles and three Grand Slam men’s doubles titles between 1985 and 1996. A major proponent of the serve-and-volley style of tennis, he is a former world No. 1 professional tennis player (in both singles and doubles). He’s one of the greatest tennis players of all time.
Note: This is 8-bit tennis character #2 of 8 in celebration of Wimbledon.
Mats Wilander is a Swedish former tennis player who won seven Grand Slam singles titles from 1982 through 1988. He won three of the four Grand Slam singles events in 1988 and finished that year ranked No. 1 in the world. He’s one of the greatest tennis players of all time.
Note: This is 8-bit tennis character #1 of 8 in celebration of Wimbledon.
Ernie is a Muppet on the children’s television show Sesame Street. He and his roommate Bert form a comic duo that is one of the program’s centerpieces. Ernie is known for his fondness for baths with his Rubber Duckie, learning to play the saxophone and keeping Bert awake at night. Ernie has made appearances within the Muppets franchise, including The Muppet Show.
I am in Boston for the HOW Design Conference 2012 this week.
Bert is a Muppet on the children’s television show Sesame Street. He and his roommate Ernie form a comic duo that is one of the program’s centerpieces. While clearly adults who share an apartment, Ernie and Bert have no visible means of support and no reference is made to any form of employment, income or attempts to find work. Bert has made appearances within the Muppets franchise, including The Muppet Show.
Kermit the Frog is puppeteer Jim Henson’s most famous Muppet creation, first introduced in 1955. He is the protagonist of many Muppet projects, most notably as the host of The Muppet Show, and has appeared in various sketches on Sesame Street, in commercials and in public service announcements over the years.
Quick Draw McGraw is an anthropomorphic cartoon horse who starred in The Quick Draw McGraw Show (1959-1962), the third cartoon television production created by Hanna-Barbera. He is usually depicted as a sheriff, with a Mexican burro deputy named Baba Looey. Quick Draw was the mascot for Sugar Smacks (now Honey Smacks) from 1961-1965. In the 1970s, he appeared in several productions with Yogi Bear and friends.
Moses Malone is a former ABA/NBA player who played from 1974-1995, with the Houston Rockets, Philadelphia 76ers and several other teams. He was a 12-time NBA All-Star and won an NBA championship in 1983. He played the center/power forward position and is one of the greatest NBA players of all time.
Note: This is 8-bit character #13 of the 13 greatest NBA players of all time.
George H. W. Bush was the 41st President of the United States. During his presidency, the U.S. started the Persian Gulf War (codenamed Operation Desert Storm) in 1991 response to Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait. Bush was born on this day in 1924. His eldest son served as the 43rd President of the United States.
Note: This is 8-bit U.S. president #13 of 43.
Secretariat was an American Thoroughbred racehorse, who in 1973 became the first U.S. Triple Crown champion in 25 years, setting race records in the Kentucky Derby (1:59 2⁄5) and the Belmont Stakes (2:24) that still stand today. He’s the greatest racehorse of all time, in part due to his freakishly huge 22-pound heart.
Note: The 144th Belmont Stakes was run on Saturday, June 9. But few cared because favorite I’ll Have Another—who could have become the first Triple Crown winner since 1978—was retired on Friday after an injury.
Frank Lloyd Wright was an American architect and interior designer who believed in designing harmonious structures of organic architecture. This philosophy was best exemplified by his design for Fallingwater (1935) in Pennsylvania, which has been called “the best all-time work of American architecture.” Wright was born on this day in 1867.
Of Wright’s over 400 works, only one structure is located in Oregon. It’s the Gordon House at the Oregon Garden in Silverton. I plan to visit the Fallingwater property when I’m back in Pennsylvania later this month.
Chief Seattle was a Duwamish chief. A prominent figure among his people, he pursued a path of accommodation to white settlers, forming a personal relationship with Seattle founder Doc Maynard. The city of Seattle was named after him. A widely publicized speech arguing in favor of ecological responsibility and respect of Native Americans’ land rights has been attributed to him. He died on this day in 1866.
Shaquille O’Neal is a retired NBA player. He spent most of his career with the Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat, winning championships in 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2006. Standing 7′ 1″ tall and weighing 325 pounds, Shaq was one of the heaviest NBA players ever. He played the center position and is one of the greatest NBA players of all time.
Note: This is 8-bit character #12 of the 13 greatest NBA players of all time.
Kobe Bryant is an NBA player with the Los Angeles Lakers, since 1996. He plays the shooting guard position and is one of the greatest NBA players of all time. He led the Lakers to NBA championship runs in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2009 and 2010.
Note: This is 8-bit character #11 of the 13 greatest NBA players of all time.
Tiger Woods is an American professional golfer and member of the PGA Tour. Through the 2000s, Woods was the dominant force in golf, spending almost the entirety of August 1999 through October 2010 as world number one. He is the highest-paid professional athlete in the world and one of the greatest golfers of all time.
Note: Yesterday, Tiger won his 73rd PGA Tour event at the Memorial Tournament, which ties him with Jack Nicklaus for second-most PGA Tour victories.
Novak Djokovic – No. 454
Novak Djokovic is a Serbian tennis player who has won five Grand Slam singles titles, between 2008 and 2012. In 2011, Djokovic became the sixth male player in the Open Era to win three Grand Slams in a calendar year. During 2011, he compiled in 43-match winning streak and finished the season with a 70-6 record and No. 1 in the world. He’s one of the greatest tennis players of all time.
This is 8-bit tennis character #8 of 8 in celebration of Wimbledon. Also, Djokovic’s long-time girlfriend Jelena Ristić is possibly the most supportive and adorably emotive tennis fan ever. Happy Fourth of July!