(UPDATED) VIDEO VAULT: James Blake serves Pam Shriver a mid-match smackdown

Like James Blake needed more things to be pissed off about.

The American, who's returning from a 10-week layoff due to a knee injury and whose ranking now sits at No. 109, layed into resident soccer mom Pam Shriver after overhearing her commentary for ESPN during a critical point in his opening round match which he eventually lost. It happens around the 4:30 mark of the video.

The exchange goes a little something like this...

JB: "Amazing you used to play tennis. I can still hear you."

PS: "James just yelled at me . . . I'm way above the court, but evidently he can hear me. He's got rabbit ears."

JB: "You have to be an ass about it, too? . . . And act like I'm at fault."

PS: "And there he is, talking again. It's amazing. I had no idea."

But Pammy it seems you had an idea after he yelled at you the first time. And, the commentary you were providing wasn't exactly the kind you'd want to hear while you're going down to someone ranked even lower than you. Like No. 151 lower.

However, according to Busted Racquet she later admitted she was speaking loudly but stopped short of an apology.

Nice one, Pammy. You've now officially entered Michael Barkan territory. I wish you well.

UPDATE: More of Pammy's explanation via Doug Robson's piece for USA Today...

Reached later, Shriver explained that she had sought out shade in a new commentary position on Court 5 and didn't realize Blake could hear her. She called the incident "regrettable."

"As a commentator, you never want your voice to be heard," said Shriver, who doesn't believe that Blake could hear what she was saying but could detect her voice.

Shriver, a Hall of Famer who won 21 singles titles and 112 in doubles, said she understood an athlete's irritation when struggling.

"I've been there before. I get that part," she said. She added that neither she nor Blake owe the other an apology. "We were just doing our jobs," said Shriver, who said Blake could simply have instructed her to lower her voice. "I call it like I see it," she said. "I've irritated people before."

THE LOW DOWN: Allegations of drug abuse, violence, and neglect surround Shriver + Lazenby divorce

The pending divorce and custody battle between Hall of Famer and ESPN correspondent Pam Shriver and former James Bond George Lazenby is getting downright nasty. The estranged couple married in 2002 and have three children together: 4-year old Georgie and 2-year old twins Katie and Sammy.

Shriver has accused Lazenby of abuse, threats of violence towards her, anti-Semitism, and even offering their children beer. Lazenby recently submitted papers to a Los Angeles court leveling all sorts of accusations including drug addiction and physical abuse and questioned Shriver's parenting skills saying,

I have great concerns about Petitioner's [Shriver] habitual consumption of prescription painkillers, Ambien sleeping pills and rum or vodka each night and during the day.

When I have expressed my grave concern to Petitioner about her combining Ambien with alcohol, she flew into a rage and attempted to justify her addiction by claiming she has debilitating migraines and shoulder pain.

I have observed Petitioner wake up on many mornings in a stupor from her nightly cocktail.

Petitioner is in no condition to drive in the morning. I have seen Petitioner be drowsy and dizzy, with difficulties in coordination.

I have warned Petitioner on numerous occasions to refrain from transporting our children in the car when she is in such a state.

Petitioner has confessed to me that she has memory blackouts.

Petitioner has rarely been alone with our children, and when she is alone with them she is constantly checking her Blackberry.

Petitioner has never been without the help of her nannies. She cannot tolerate the presence of all three children at once.

She does not know how to handle them and is easily irritated and annoyed by them.

Lazenby even remarked he witnessed "deep fingernail marks" on Georgie's right thigh which Shriver explained as a pinch mark for misbehavior.

Can this divorce get any uglier? I guess it's possible. You just never know what goes on behind closed doors...

(image via tennisserver.com)

+ WEDNESDAY NETCORDS: Justine, Andy, Lindsay, Billie and Elton...Pete vs. Andre, match-fixing update and more

(image courtesy of J R E Y)

- On top of the world: A huge "congrats!" to World No. 1 Justine Henin for clinching the year-end No. 1 ranking (for the third time in her illustrious career) and winning the United States Sports Academy’s Female Athlete of the Month for September. Plus, she's an astonishing 54-4 this season.

- All bets are off? The tennis gods are gathering in London this Friday to hash out all this match-fixing business. In addition Tennis Diary has reported that players' cell phones may be banned from the locker rooms to avoid inside information from leaking to betters. And, Hall-of-Famer Pam Shriver has some choice words for those prone to betting. Can it be stopped? Stay tuned...

- New chief in town: Arlen Kantarian has been newly named CEO, Professional Tennis for the USTA. What does this mean exactly? As part of his new duties, Arlen will oversee the development of a new USTA elite player development program, focused on identifying and developing the next generation of American champions. He will still lead the USTA's Professional Tennis operations, and serve as the lead executive overseeing the USTA's involvement in the professional sport, including the US Open, US Open Series, USTA Pro Tour events, U.S. Davis Cup, Fed Cup, and Olympic teams, and the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.

- Music superstar Sir Elton John and long-time friend Billie Jean King will host the 15th annual Advanta WTT Smash Hits, a special night of tennis featuring superstars including Andy Roddick, Lindsay Davenport and Anna Kournikova. The event, which benefits the Elton John AIDS Foundation and the local charity ActionAIDS, will be held in Philadelphia on Oct. 10. Visit Ticketmaster to purchase tickets to this event and to support AIDS research and charities.

- Getting to know: Stefan Koubek

- If it ain't broke...: In the "What were they thinking?" file, the ATP announced it's 2009 schedule to include the new format of giving tournaments ranking points to determine they're importance (1000 = Master Series level, 500 = Tier II). Is that even correct? We're confused just writing about it...oy...

- Think pink: Daily Racquet has been supporting October's Breast Cancer Awareness month by posting on all things pink and tennis. Check it out!

- Wanna know more about the history of the Lacoste brand? Click here.

- Video vault: Reminisce about the good ol' days of tennis with this great, classic Nike commercial featuring legends Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi playing an improptu set of tennis in a New York City intersection.

Andre Agassi honored with Eugene L. Scott Award at Legends Ball

Andre Agassi was given the Eugene L. Scott Award during last night's Legends Ball held at Cipriani in New York City. Looking dapper in his all-black suit, the legendary Agassi was presented the award for embodying Scott’s commitment to communicating honestly and critically about the game, and significantly impacting the tennis world. Scott founded Tennis Week magazine and wrote the most widely read and well-respected column about the sport, “Vantage Point.” Last year, John McEnroe received the inaugural award.

Other tennis luminaries in attendance: Stan Smith and Guillermo Vilas

Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario, Pam Shriver, and Jim Courier

(images via Getty Images and Cipriani.com)