Premature applause: a tennis lesson in waiting for the last point

Welcome back. Ahead: a tennis match that ended before it was over, a haircut that refuses to die, and a reminder that confidence is best served with a pause button. Let’s take a look. — Doug Marlowe

Today's Stories

Premature applause: a tennis lesson in waiting for the last point

Sebastian Ofner thought he had sealed the deal in an Australian Open qualifying match and started celebrating mid-tiebreak. The problem was simple: the match wasn’t over, and the points kept coming. His opponent kept playing, caught up, and sent Ofner packing. It’s a tidy reminder that in sports, as in life, the scoreboard, not your confidence, has the final say.

At the Pennsylvania Farm Show, the mullet was not mocked, it was judged, applauded, and awarded hardware. More than a hundred contestants showed up to prove that “business in front, party in back” still has legs. The top prize went to a 10-year-old dressed as Joe Dirt, which feels both fitting and slightly unsettling. Love it or not, the mullet keeps showing up, like a pop song you swore you’d never hear again.

That’s today’s collection of raised eyebrows. If one of these made you laugh, sigh, or quietly nod, you’re not alone. Until next time — Doug