Road Trip! The Things We Will See on the Way to the Sony Ericsson Open

The unofficial fifth Grand Slam Tournament gets underway in a few days, and since everyone loves a road trip, let's take one down to Miami.

We leave Indian Wells Tennis Center and head east. First stop, Las Vegas, Nevada.

When we get to Vegas, we run into Andre Agassi having dinner with none other than Roger Federer. Seems that Fed and Andre are talking about kids and life after tennis, how fitting.

Later on that night, I see Fed at the casinos on one knee! Is he proposing to Mirka? Nope, once I turn the corner I realize he is actually begging Darren Cahill to reconsider the coaching offer.

After leaving Las Vegas, we head southeast and land in Austin, Texas. I run into none other than Andy Roddick. He has found the fountain of youth in Austin; it was actually hiding at Larry Stefanki’s crib. I wave goodbye and am on my way.

I venture east and get lost. While I am struggling to find my way I run into Novak Djokovic and Richard Gasquet. Seems they have lost their way as well, not too surprising.

Eventually, I find myself in Louisville, Kentucky and wait...is that Jo-Wilfred Tsonga? Oops, never mind, just Muhammad Ali.  I get back on the road again and drive through the night to Tampa, Florida.

I run into James Blake who asks me if I have been playing lately, to which I say, no.

He says, “me neither.” So we hang a bit and talk about life in general and then we see Mardy Fish.

Mardy asks us to come on over and help him move his doubles trophy, he is having trouble with his back and cannot lift heavy objects. I tell him, “Well Mardy, that’s what happens when you have to carry Andy to a doubles championship.”

On my way south, I pass through Bradenton, Florida and run into Maria Sharapova. She has decided to take this week off. And why not, she makes more from her commercials than losing in the than round of tournaments.

I head south and eventually hit Key Biscayne. There is Rafa giving Ana Ivanovic golf lessons. Some guys have all the luck.

I finally find the Tennis Center and what do I see? Andy Murray and Serena Williams playing tennis in the middle of traffic. It seems a bit windy and Serena is eventually able to take down Andy. 

Well, I am here now, ready for a week and a half of great tennis and beautiful weather. I have my picks, who do you think will hoist the trophy this year?