Celebrities Serve - Book

Well here goes my first book review.It feels a little funny to call it a review because I'm writing about a book that came out a long time ago.I've bought quite a few books about tennis over the years.I'm sure my collection is pitiful compared to some.But what I'm interested in is the actual experience of reading it.I don't buy books just to have them.


I read a story about a book collector once.It said he had the books stacked all over his house.Someone would come in and ask,"Have you read them all?".He would answer,"Every last page".Because when he got a book he would glance at/read the last page of the book.
Ha ha.Jackass.

I read them.Old,musty,brown pages,or worse,boring.I read them.
Whoever stuffs their head with the most useless information before they die wins.Wins what?I don't know.But let me tell you,I'm ahead of most people.

This book is subtitled "A Celebrity Tennis Cookbook".It was written(or compiled) by Dee Gordon,De Lora Maurus, and Shirley Gorospe.It was published in 1991 to benefit The International Tennis Hall of Fame.It's a hardback with ring binding on the inside.


It's nicely made with a good number of color pictures.Many pictures taken at the beautiful Hall of Fame in Newport RI.
It seems like the sort of thing people would do for a benefit project.Very Junior League.



There are recipes from current (at the time) players,former players,executives,and famous fans.

Many of the recipe's come from a particular genre of American cooking I like to call the Campbell's soup casserole.Noodles,meat(probably chicken) some vegetables to keep it respectable,and a can of Campbell's cream of chicken,celery,or mushroom soup.
If that doesn't bring back memories of childhood dinners.

I do have a feeling most of the young players just asked their moms for a recipe."Hey mom what's that thing you make,you know,the thing with the noodles"?
My mother had one of these dishes,she called it glop.
The older players may have gotten recipes from themselves, wives,or maybe the chef from the club.Some casseroles,and a lot more seafood.A match at the club,a shower,and then a lovely lobster salad.
Almost every recipe from a Czech is for Dumplings.

The recipes start out with Hall of Famers.These are from people already in the hall.
Saint Germain Soup from Arthur Ashe.
Tennis Club Special from Margaret Osborne duPont.(It's taco salad,and I can make a far better version of it.)
Cheesy Potatoes from Billie Jean King (Hash browns,cheese,and cream of chicken soup.Right off the package I bet.)
Then Professional Tennis Players.
V.J. Armitrage with two chutney recipes.
Gourmet Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich from Jennifer Capriati (sigh)
Swedish Meatballs from Stefan Edberg
Puerto Rican Chicken Fricassee from Gigi Fernandez
Weiner Schnitzel from Steffi Graf
Black Forest Cake from Tim Mayotte
Paella from Arantxa Sanchez Vicario
The next section is Celebrity Chefs.Former players,coaches,sportscasters,and fans.
California Lemon Bread from Dick Enberg
Cape Cod Fish Chowder from Edward M Kennedy
Roast Squirrels from Larry,Darryl,and Darryl (These guys were characters on a sitcom called Newhart.Which doesn't really even begin to explain it.Uhh..they was hicks.)
Irish Colcannon from Bob Newhart (Yes! that Newhart.)
Kennebunk Pickle from Tom Poston(Newhart cast)
Sorrel Vegetable Soup from Julia Duffy (Newhart cast)
What I want to know is,where the hell was Peter Scolari the day they turned in their recipes!
The last section is Tennis Parties.
This is by Martha Stewart.

I ordered this book directly from the Hall,and it had a brochure to join as a contributor.
I wonder how much they raised with this effort? Maybe time to do another one.

As a recipe book,I would have to call it a little uneven.
As a tennis book,it's an interesting item.A bit of fun in seeing what the players contributed.
There are plenty of copies available from sellers on Amazon for about $5.00 to $10.00.

Larry Scott's Corn Bake recipe

I have been meaning to start writing about my tennis book collection.To write some reviews etc..
But since it's Thanksgiving time,I thought I would start with this.
In 1991 the International Tennis Hall of Fame put out a cookbook called "Celebrities Serve".
It contains recipes from Tennis Players,and fans.
Here is a very easy,and very good one from Larry Scott.

Corn Bake

1 17- ounce can whole corn(I would suggest using a bag of frozen corn instead,tastes better)
1 17-ounce can cream style corn
1 box corn bread mix(Jiffy is perfect for this)
1 stick butter,softened
1 8-ounce container sour cream
1 egg

Preheat oven to 375 F.Grease a 9" x 9" baking dish.

Mix all ingredients together and put in baking dish.
Bake for 40 minutes.


My family has made this often.

If you're wondering who Larry Scott is http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larry_Scott_(sports_administrator)

Elena Dementieva Retires.

There aren't many times that tennis happenings make me genuinely sad.I called myself the melancholy tennis fan for the sake of whimsy.I'm a bit of an Eeyore,that's all.

Elena quitting does make me sad.What can you say,it's a bummer.

I'm sure the timing makes sense.Though really I thought she could play maybe two more years.But it just came out of the blue.No hints,no whispers.No farewell tour.Just that's it ,I did what I could.Bye.

She could do a lot.Fight like hell.And unfortunately yes sometimes come up short.She won the o8 Gold medal.I know she's very proud of that.If I could play tennis god;I wish I could give her that French Open over Myshkina(no offence to Myshkina)And I very much wish to give the 09 Wimbledon title.Held match point against Serena,and lost in the semi.Of course she would almost certainly have lost to Venus in the final.But it's my dream,so she gets it.



I can't say enough for a female player who never gave a whiff of the Diva bitch act.I have no use for that kind of person.She was a class act.Not shallow and self focused.Not a brat.Not an,"It's all about me"type.Gad what a breath of fresh air that is.



Ok,she didn't win any majors.But how can you not love a pro player who could make you feel so good about your own serve.Bless her.



So I guess now she marries her Hockey player and has kids.Happily ever after is warmly wished,and deserved.



Here are a few things said.



from Elena;

"It's so emotional. It's hard to say goodbye. I'm going to miss you so much".



"You don't have to be perfect, but you have to try very hard, and I did all the time".



Kim Clijsters;



"She brought elegance,kindness, discipline and beautiful tennis to the tour!I will miss having her around because there are not many like her ".



Vera Zvonareva;



"She was a role model. I looked up to her. She had such a great career. Right now, the whole country will be sad and everyone will support her,''





And here's why Jon Wertheim is one of the best;



http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/jon_wertheim/10/29/dementieva.retires/index.html



That last paragraph is beautiful.

The Champs Nadal and Clijsters

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Clijsters,and daughter;Jada

Nadal;Champion 2010



Clijsters fought for for it and earned it.Gutty,and well deserved.That woman could almost outrun her own shadow.What chance did Stosur,or Venus have against that.Not enough.

Venus lost the US Open trophy in the Second set tiebreak vs Kim in the Semis.Two double faults.She blinked.She lost.Kim closed it out.Venus would have beaten Zvonoreva.I could be wrong about that.But I'm not.

Poor Vera popping strings,fraying nerves.But what a great year for her.solid victory over Wozniacki.



Kim Clijsters is going into the Hall of Fame.This just cements it.I do hope she can add a few wins at the other majors.She can.



Nadal.

People who think he is a greater player than Federer are bad at math.

But he doesn't deserve to be graded on a curve.He is a great.

I have a rare feeling of surety watching him when he's playing at his best.That no one can out muscle him,and wrest the match out of his hands.

Death to the Crawl line!

Or the ticker,or the info centipede,or whatever you want to call it.It's a bad idea.
I don't have any illusions that anybody actually reads my blog (heck,I don't even have any spam in my comments) but I'll have my little say.
I hate crawl lines.They are in fact a useless distraction.In the age of the Internet,and super phones,and ipads, there are other,better ways to give people information than to ugly up a TV screen.
When you try to watch a tennis match, it's like having a strand of string raked across your eyeball.There it goes constantly racing across the bottom,or middle,of the screen insisting on it's own importance."Look at me!!" "I'm value added!" "Wouldn't you rather read trivial information than watch a sporting event?"
No. No I would not.

Maybe dull witted people don't mind it.Goody for them.
It bothers me.It bothers plenty of people.But how loud would you have to complain to get it stopped? Probably hopeless.
I'm afraid the button pushing monkeys in the control rooms enjoy it to much."Ooh,ooh dump some more eye stabbing crap on the screen." "Because we can!"
Just because you can,doesn't mean you should.

ESPN has always done this.They should have classed up and dropped it some time ago.But now for some inexplicable reason,Tennis Channel has added a constant crawl line.Which is usually in the middle of the screen.To small to read,but enough to annoy.
What are you thinking?

If it does irritate you;there is a way to rid yourself of the pestering visual trash.Cover it up with duct tape.
No I don't mean to stick it to the screen,and damage the TV.

Get two long strips of duct tape,and stick them to each other.Sticky side to sticky side.
Wrap the strip around the bottom of the screen.Put a little tape on the ends to hold.
Visually neutral,and much better than a crawl line.

Tennis Racket as Guitar

I did find a few pictures of people,all young men unsurprisingly,strumming on rackets.The shape of the racket does lend itself to the pose.
A old joke from even the earliest days of lawn tennis.

This fellow on the lower left is playing a Badminton racket.

1890's South Africa

Tom (and his bro Harry) Foolery on tennis rackets,under the tree.
1885 Pennsylvania.

Dueling Banjoes on small lopsided rackets.

What would Earl Scruggs make of this?

1878.

My personal favorite.Marcel Proust writer of the masterpiece

"Remembrance of Things Past", serenading on bended knee.

After a long,and somewhat languid day of tennis in the garden,

tea,and madeleines will be served.

And yes,I've read it.

Postcard - Tennis Player and Old Farmer

Caption; "Guess ye kin hit up a purty lively tune on them things, can't ye?"



One of the tennis things I've taken to collecting is postcards.I don't have that many yet.But I thought I would put some up.It can really be fun to see how the tennis images are portrayed,and mixed with other subjects.

This postcard looks to be from 10's - 20's period.You have a tennis player wearing long flannels,and a tie.Holding a wooden racket with a convex throat.He's listening to an old farmer.You have to wonder where the court is for these two to happen to meet.Out past the cow pasture, I reckon.
I hope the player sets aside the pipe during the match.

Tennis with a little country cornpone humor.

It reminds me how often you see someone pretending to play the racket like a guitar in old group photos of tennis players.There's always a wit in every crowd.
I'm sure I could find a few pictures to put up on that subject.

Bryan Brothers win 62

It seemed pretty clear they were going to get the record,but it's still perfect.These terrific tennis twins deserved it.
They are a real credit to the sport.

Brothers with mother Kathy

Rafa Rolls to a second Wimbledon title.

It must have been nice to win in the daylight.He could see what he was biting this time.
After Federer went out,most were saying his path to the title was expected.John McEnroe predicted he would win it from the start.But he had a few close ones.And there is the old saying;there is many a slip between cup and lip.
He got the job done.Played his brand of muscular tennis,and looked very much like the number one player in the world.
He isn't the artist Federer is.But he is unquestionably one of the best of the open era.He's humble,down to earth and deserves everything he gets.I do respect him deeply.
As a fan of Federer;maybe I have sometimes thought of him as the foil.He's richly more than that.
I've never understood the idiotic tone of the extremist fans of either.Roger,and Rafa respect,and like each other.Some people try to invest to much into differences of taste.Easy enough to do of course.
But everyone interested in tennis should be very glad to have them both.If Roger can't manage to reassert himself;the game will be in fine hands.

It's really remarkable what's happened the last three years.Nadal winning the French,and Wimbledon.Then Federer doing it.Then Nadal doing it again.
That's supposed to be a very rare accomplishment.Right guys?
Great players are born to rewrite the rules,and records.

I really liked the somersault.

The Giant Blancmange from outer space "They mean to win Wimbledon"!

I remembered this crazy episode of Monty Python were Blancmange from outer space come to earth to win Wimbledon.Naturally the first thing they do is to set about turning everyone into Scotsman.Because,at least back in the seventies,Scotland was the worst tennis playing nation in the world.
So here in honor of Andy Murray is the episode.

It entertains.It amuses.It answers the important question; "How do you play doubles with five people"?
Be of strong heart,Angus Podgorny.

Vera Zvonareva, losing finalist

Poor Vera.She had a very bad day at the office.Lost in the singles,and doubles finals.No surprise in the singles.Serena ran over her like a buffalo.Like a buffalo in ugly blaring hot pink panties.
(where is the clothing rule when you need it)

I think Vera, and Elena should have had the doubles.I suspect she was bummed out,and falling into her woe-is-me mentality.It may take a little time for her to get over the disapointment,but she had a great tournament.
I would say she is to emotional.She is.But that's her nature,and I don't think she can purge it.She kept it at bay when it counted.I read she got upset in the doubles final.It wasn't aired where I live,so I didn't see for myself.

Vera - just to cheer you up,here's an adorable puppy!

Tomas Berdych,Ivan Lendl and the Wimbledon Final

Tomas Berdych def Novak Djokovic





Ivan Lendl was already living in the United States by the time he made it to the Wimbledon final.He played the final twice in 86,and 87.Lost both of course.
But it's amazing he made it that far in the first place.He was far better on slower courts,and this was the age of the serve and volley grass court attacker.He worked like hell to give himself a chance at it.You can't fault him for effort.I wish he had defeated Pat Cash,but that was not going to happen.
I wonder if he will watch the final with Tomas Berdych.

Berdych does remind me of him.Tall,with Slavic cheekbones.Strong with big strokes.A high toss on the serve,and a big forehand.And of course the accent.I have an affection for those clunky Czech accents.It sounds like they are trying to give their tongue a good beating.
He doesn't have Lendl's willful personality.But I do think he's turning the corner on his career.He has a chance against Nadal.Not a great one,but a chance.



Ivan Lendl;Back in the day when men were men,and they wore shorts.

Roger Federer - Wimbledon 2010 loss in Quarters

As a Federer fan,that was a shame.He has such a special place in Wimbledon history.Breakfast at Wimbledon without him.That hasn't happened in long time.
He acknowledged he was slightly injured since Halle.I think he was just being honest,Not making excuses.I don't blame players for telling the truth.
There was some talk on the web about him being cranky in the press conference.That wouldn't be hard to understand.He did say some things about the other players at the end of it that were taken to be bad mouthing them.Jon Wertheim of SI stated he was being sarcastic,and those statements should not be held against him.
I read the transcript,and it seemed out of character.You do really have to see video to get tone of voice,facial expessions etc..
I think Roger tends to take things pretty well for a man who can be emotional.

Stat of the match Break points converted:
Federer 1/8
Berdych 4/6

Points were;Berdych 127,Federer 118.
That close.

I'm really still trying to digest this.Federer is clearly passing his best.He said he is going to rest for awhile.Best thing for him.I hope he can gear up for the hard court season,and US Open.

He did lose to a thumping big player.Tomas Berdych has been long predicted to step up and contend for majors.He has disapointed those predictors for years.Semi at the French,and now Wimbldon.Maybe more.He woke up.

Best nickname for him T - Berd,Berdman,Berddog.
I like Berddog.

So who's going to win?
Amazing if Murray.

Isner def Mahut

Great jiggledy-piggledy somebody poured crazy in the Wimbledon water supply.

Surreal.
70-68 is the equivelent of two five set matches.That is only the fifth set.
The loping american giant finally pounded down the fleet french fox.Mahut was the one who flinched first.
They did tennis very proud.

And oh by the way,the queen came to visit.She was introduced to a number of former champions.When meeting Martina Navratilova,she was informed MN had won the title nine times.She asked Martina if she had played the tounament many times.The old dear hasn't kept up,has she?
It was really special to see her at the big W.I'm sorry she hasn't put in a few more appearances over the years.But talk about a busy schedule for a lady her age.
At least someone is keeping the British hat industry in business.

The Royal patron of the club is ,of course,the Duke of Kent.HRH Prince Edward,Duke of Kent.
His father was Prince George,Duke of Kent.He died in a plane crash when Edward was only six.
Prince George's older brother was Prince Albert,later King George VI.The Queen's father.
So Duke,and Queen are first cousins.

Isner vs Mahut - Wimbledon June 23,2010

The match between John Isner,and Nicholas Mahut has been called due to darkness for the second evening in a row.Tied at 59 games in the fifth set.
118 games played in the fifth set blows a tennis match out of its framework.

I don't know how one of ,or both,of the players didn't cramp,or simply collapse.
These two athletes have reserves of endurance,and courage remarkable to behold.
Isner did look wobbly to me.There was one service game among the last few where it seemed he was failing,and I was surprised Mahut didn't step around and attempt to pound the ball for a clean winner.I think he was a step back on those returns.Isner got the game.
They must both be staggering with fatigue.But Mahut looked fresher.
I don't know what will happen tommorow.It may just depend on who feels worse when they crawl out of bed tommorow.Either one could wake up with a horrible stiff back,and be out of luck.Whichever aching carcass can loosen himself up for the resumption of play will probably have it.

It was just madness.So much action,and still locked in place.No resolution.
The fact is that without a break of serve,a tennis match can't end.No break of serve,no two game advantage.No two game advantage,no end to the set.
That's why the tiebreak was invented.And,of course you still need a minibreak.James Van Allen,all credit due.
This made me think that there may be some kind of mathmatical inevitibility about this occurance.Like the idea that whatever is possible must happen sometime.I can't believe that is literally true.But an event,no matter how extraordinary that is possible,has a decent crack at happening sometime.So we have the unbreakable,unending tennis match.
But someone will break.Somethings gotta give!

To put it in perspective.A five set tennis match ending in tiebreaks would be 12 games a set.Plus add a game to represent the tiebreak.That's 65 games.
They are well past that in the last set.

I feel proud of them,and sorry for them at the same time.
Poor guys.

Quotes - Shakespeare "Troilus and Cressida" for Roger Federer

The first time I read this,I was struck by how it made me think of tennis.Of the process of the falling of champions.The passing of years,and glory.A beautiful piece of music,or a great play may be performed again,and again.But an athlete's time is only the time of a human youth.
It made me think of Federer.It certainly makes me think of Navratilova,and Evert in comparison to the current crop.
Watching Roger Federer now,I had to think of this.He's not finished.Years I watched him,and never really worried.But he has started looking more touchable,and less like a work of art in full song.I'm feeling the worry now.
Inevitable.
But I still feel this too;
You cannot tarnish true greatness.It's still there.Always.If you have the memory.
Most people don't seem to have enough.Or perspective.
Whatever shines now,shines brightest.Not always.Not to me.
But I'm an exception.

This is beautiful,sad truth;


William Shakespeare


Troilus and Cressida,Act 3,Scene 3.Ulysses addressing Achilles.


Time hath, my lord, a wallet at his back,
Wherein he puts alms for oblivion,
A great-sized monster of ingratitudes:
Those scraps are good deeds past; which are devour'd
As fast as they are made, forgot as soon
As done: perseverance, dear my lord,
Keeps honour bright: to have done is to hang
Quite out of fashion, like a rusty mail
In monumental mockery. Take the instant way;
For honour travels in a strait so narrow,
Where one but goes abreast: keep then the path;
For emulation hath a thousand sons
That one by one pursue: if you give way,
Or hedge aside from the direct forthright,
Like to an enter'd tide, they all rush by
And leave you hindmost;
Or like a gallant horse fall'n in first rank,
Lie there for pavement to the abject rear,
O'er-run and trampled on: then what they do in present,
Though less than yours in past, must o'ertop yours;
For time is like a fashionable host
That slightly shakes his parting guest by the hand,
And with his arms outstretch'd, as he would fly,
Grasps in the comer: welcome ever smiles,
And farewell goes out sighing. O, let not
virtue seek
Remuneration for the thing it was;
For beauty, wit,
High birth, vigour of bone, desert in service,
Love, friendship, charity, are subjects all
To envious and calumniating time.
One touch of nature makes the whole world kin,
That all with one consent praise new-born gawds,
Though they are made and moulded of things past,
And give to dust that is a little gilt
More laud than gilt o'er-dusted.
The present eye praises the present object.

Wimbledon 2010 Close One,Roger

Roger Federer just came within a whisker of a George Bastl job.Ouch,that was close.
I can see the punny headlines;Federer Falla-en,Fed Falla's in the first round.And other strained witticisms.
It was like watching a plumber tearing apart a miss tuned Stadivarius.
He just hasn't been the same this year.At least he still has the pride,if the urgency is failing.
Burned through that last set in a hurry though.
Maybe this will slap him across the face,and wake him up.

Alejandro Falla has to be amazed at the match he played.But when it got tight,he just couldn't close the deal.
How many times have I seen it happen?
Plenty.

French Open 2010 - Notes

A few things.First happy to get to catch up on my sleep now.

I've always really loved Wimbledon,and the U S Open more.I'll see an orange tennis court and cringe a little.Tennis courts are supposed to be green.Blue concrete is also acceptable.
Orange can never look lush.

But I do enjoy the results of the tournament.Last year Federer,and Kuznetsova winning was wonderful.This year,Schiavone's joy has left a warm honey glow that will take some time to wear off.
As much as I revere Wimbledon,the women's champions have not always produced much joy in me lately.But that's another subject.
The French Open was a good show this year.

There were a few retirements during the course of the tournament.

Camille Pin - The thing I most remember about her is the fact that whenever I looked at the IBM stats during a major,her name was usually at the top of the first serve percentage list.
Which means there probably wasn't a great deal of force involved in the operation.But credit where it is due.
I see she likes to scuba dive.She once said, "When I'm done with tennis,I'm going to make a list of all the things I want to do." Hope she has fun.
She did have fun at her last presser.She had been drinking before it.Maybe during,I don't know.
She said she wanted to show up "pissed".Pissed in the English use of the word,not the American.


Sebastien Grosjean - And I'll miss him.Always pleasant to watch.High quality,compact,well produced tennis.Not up to winning a major,but a fine player none the less.
With his Gallic looks,backwards ballcap,and rumpled clothes he cut his own unique figure on the court.I remember the episode he did for the Tennis Channel Interview show (which they unwisely cancelled).He seemed to have just stepped off a practice court.He looked like a sweaty unmade bed.
He lives in Boca Racton Florida.The host asked him if he had a favorite American food."Ribs" he said.Good choice.
I see that he worked out at the Chris Evert Academy in Boca Raton.I hope he keeps a place there.He would be a great addition to the program if they could get him to work with them.


I happened on a twitter account by Brett Conners,Jimmy Conner's son.Apparently he works for Tennis Channel.Daddy got him a job no doubt.Look what he says about Federer's loss to Soderling.

"Later Fed, love watching you lose. Why no tears this time??"

(june 1st)

Wow ! What a mook.
This twerp insulting Federer.

Quotes - For Sam Stosur on losing in the French Open final

"Don't worry about the world coming to an end today,it's already tomorrow in Australia"

Charles Schulz

It just made me laugh.Yes I should have had it for the day she lost,but I just found it.

Nadal Wins his Fifth at Roland Garros

I would call that a thorough job.A comfortable straight set victory over the man who upset him last year must have felt great.
I really didn't get any feeling of Rafa wanting revenge as such though.Which just proves again what a classy young man he is.He was looking at the big picture.

The Borg era was before my time as a fan.I never got to see him play at his peak.I have seen taped matches replayed of course.But that just can't give you the full feeling about a player.You lose a sense of context.And I've never seen anything from the French except highlights.
So I don't know if Rafa is greater than Borg.Looking at the fact that Borg kept repeatedly winning at Roland Garros,and then Wimbledon, I have to think that Borg is still historically ahead of Nadal.But I think it's almost certain that Nadal will break Borg's record at RG in the next few years.
But can he get Chris Evert's ?
Good luck

Robin Soderling is really growing as a player.But as I said,There is a difference between being an upsetter,and being a champion.One of these days he may be a champion.
But it can't be a easy to be put out of the finals two years in a row.Roger,and Rafa have another gear when they are in shape to win that he can't hit yet.

btw-I refuse to call him Sod for a knickname.Please,that's not good.It's dirt,or a reference to a horrible old Hebrew myth.
Can't we call him Rockin Robin?
That's a really fun little song.Popular with guitar teachers.

Francesca Schiavone Wins the French Open

Viva Italia!
Break out the champagne,and put on the Vivaldi.That was a whole lot of happy out there on the court at Roland Garros.What a breath of fresh air for tennis.
Francesca just played beautifully.She never looked scared.
It times like this I remember why It's worth watching.
To see someone who can play like a violinist.Not the ugly Stomp,Slam,and Scream show.
Schiavone may never get another major,but she will always have this bright day.

You have to feel for Sam Stosur.I do suspect she had shot off most of her ammo in the previous rounds.The experts are saying they expect her to win majors.I think they're right.
I hope she will.Love them Aussies.

Federer's Semifinal Streak - All good things

23 Major Semifinals.That's how many Grand Slam tournaments in a row that Roger Federer made it to the last four.Robin Soderling stopped it today.I don't think that any man will ever beat it.

The last episode of Star Trek;The Next Generation was titled "All Good Things"...
It came into my mind when the match was done.
An old English proverb written down in a work of Geoffrey Chaucer;
"All good things must come to an end".

So simple.
I believe Federer will win more Majors.I hope so certainly.

And to Soderling,there is a difference between being an "Upsetter" and a champion.
Good luck in the rest of the tournament.Because I suspect Rafa would dearly love to rip you bloody.

(Yeah,I just made a Star Trek reference.Everyone is allowed one sometime.It does not mean I'm sitting hear in my Star Trek jammies,with my Jean-Luc Picard action figure gazing down from the bookshelf.)

Red Clay Halo

There is this great song by Gillian Welch,and David Rawlings; Red Clay Halo.
I doubt there are many tennis players who listen to country music.But I think maybe they could appreciate this one.It's wonderful.
It would make a fine theme song for Rafa Nadal.
Here is a YouTube link .I know you can't count on YouTube videos staying up,but this is a good live version of the song.It's from Gillian's album;Time(The Revelator).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7knB3VtAqY&playnext_from=TL&videos=tuIfsH27Sec

Kimiko Date Krumm def Safina-Picking matches

The Tennis Channel has a match picking contest called Racquet Bracket.I do try to remember to fill it out for every Grand Slam tournament.I usually do a rather bad job.I try to make myself choose with my head,and not my heart.But as much as I'm usually a logical person,I always find myself making some picks based on sentiment.Following a sport involves emotion.If it didn't why watch at all.So is it a fault to let my feelings play a part in predicting an outcome?I try to avoid picking too many upsets.They are by nature hard to call.
But sometimes you do get a whiff,or a whimsy of a possible surprise.
I think you could see this was a real danger for Safina.

Date Krumm is now the second oldest woman(39) to win a singles match at Roland Garros.The oldest was Virginia Wade.I'm not sure if that is only in the Open era,or ever.
I have to wonder if Safina is going to have much of a career left if her back doesn't improve.It doesn't look like it today.Last years runner up,and out in the first round.

French Open starts-Happy sleep deprivation

Up at 4am ,far more deprivation than happy.
I wish there was some other way the tournament could be televised.But at this point how else would they do it.Tennis Channel paid for it and they are going to show it live.All of it.
The truth is the only way to really get a sense of things is to watch the original coverage.
I'll watch what I can.But it is still overkill.What other sporting event is like this? The only thing I can think of is the Olympics.And tennis does this four times a year.Crazy.

Great to see Martina Navratilova is doing well with her radiation treatments.Going to play the senior doubles with Jana Novotna.Good luck to them.

Lyndsey Davenport has been added to the commentators lineup.Good addition.Why are there so many more women than men who take to commentating? They can't compete with John McEnroe I guess.

This is my 28th French Open.I've watched them all since 1983.Funny how time slips away.

The Queen,her father-George VI,and Wimbledon

I read a few days ago that the Queen (of England,yes that one) will attend a day at the upcoming Wimbledon.She hasn't been since Virginia Wade won in 1977.Long time no see,huh?
I guess she figured what could top seeing "our Ginny" win.
I've heard she doesn't care for tennis.As a matter of fact I think she just doesn't like tennis at all.Oh well,as they say there is no accounting for taste.
But her father did like tennis.I knew I could recall that he played the Wimbledon doubles.
Her father was Albert,the Duke of York.The second oldest son of King George V,and Queen Mary.Mary loved tennis,and attended Wimbledon regularly.At the time he played he was already a married man of 31.Elizabeth had been born in april of the year.
In "Wimbledon-The Official HIstory of the Championships",on page 64.

"The Championships of 1926 were a Royal occasion in another sense because the Duke of York,later King George VI, competed in the doubles with his equerry,Wing Commander Louis Greig (later sir Louis) who,in 1937,took over from Sir Herbert Wilberforce as Chairman of the Club.It was the only time that a member of the Royal Family has competed at Wimbldon."

There is a picture of him,in classic long pants of course, swinging the racket up with his left hand.He was a natural lefty,but he was taught to write with his right hand.
The doubles event of 1926 was won by Jacques Brugnon/Henri Cochet over Howard Kinsey/Vincent Richards.
I couldn't find any information on how the Windsor/Greig team did.I wonder if they could win a few sets.But I would suspect they lost in the first round.
Unfortunately Wimbledon doesn't have the full records available online.Which they should.Who do they expect to do that for them?

Of course the Duke of York became King George VI when his older brother Edward abdicated to marry American divorcee,Wallis Simpson.
That is why his daughter became Queen.Shame he didn't manage to instill a love of tennis in her.But the tennis players loss was the race horses gain,I suppose.

Really a shame William didn't start playing.With his height,and reach he may have been a fine player.

One final note.The truth is tennis was played by a great many Royals.Henry VIII among them.
But that was the old form of tennis.Now known as Real,or Court tennis.And that is another subject.

Lindsay Davenport, Ancestry

I read on Lindsay Davenport's twitter a few weeks ago she mentioned a man named John Emory Andrus.She referred to him as the family patriarch,and said he was 101 years old.Which is extraordinary.How many people do you meet who were alive during WWI?

Since I have an interest in genealogy,I looked into her ancestry.Because she's an American,there are many record sources available.

This John Emory Andrus was born in 1909.He's a Grandson of the first JE Andrus,who was a famous man.She's not a direct descendant of JE Andrus(1909).She is descended from John Emory Andrus (1841-1934).

John Emory Andrus(1841) was known as the "Millionaire Strap hanger",which was a reference to his habit of riding the subway to work even though he could easily afford a car.He was a contemporary of Rockefeller,and J.Pierpont Morgan.He was the son of a minister,Loyal B. Andrus,and worked his way up to considerable wealth.He was invested in Standard Oil,Singer Sewing Machine,and Consolidated Gas.He was a long time member of the board of the New York Life Insurance co.
He was also the mayor of Yonkers,New York.He then served as a U.S. Congressman.
He created a philanthropic foundation called Surdna which has a focus of helping young people.Andrus spelled backwards.It still exists.
He was inspired by his wife,Julia Marie Dyckman.She was the child of Swiss immigrants who was orphaned.He strikes me as an extraordinary character.

He had nine children,one of which was his name sake,John Emory Andrus (1883-1947).

JE Andrus(1883) had a daughter named Edith Jefferson Andrus who married Frederick Morgan Davenport.

They had a son,Winthrop Davenport (1907-1980) he married Elizabeth Mae Langford (1913-? )

Their son Winthrop Davenport (1942- ) is Lindsay's father.

I'm sure I could a better job of this in the future.When I have the time I'll try to do it.

CORRECTION- The Blogger system is so screwed up now it's really hard for me to work on the Blog.
I had to make a correction, and it reset the time stamp.It may be wrong to the reference now.
I apologize.

Best Wishes to Martina Navratilova

Recently,Martina Navratilova anounced she was diagnosed with breast cancer.It was really a disturbing thing to read in the morning news.I'm very glad to hear the prognosis is excellent.No question the entire process is a battle,but she can make it through.
Martina is the reason I started watching tennis.I saw her playing in the 82 Canadian Open.She won the singles and doubles.It was on ESPN.She was wearing the red,and white Kim clothing at the time.Using the revolutionary Yonex R7 racket.I have a very clear image of it.I read a magazine article about her,and decided to see how she would do in the upcoming US Open.She was favored to win.She lost to Pam Shriver.It turned out she was suffering from toxoplasmosis.She was ill,and out of sorts.I did feel bad for her.
I watched most of the tournament.It was a fascinating spectacle to me.I can't remember watching tennis before that summer.I'm sure I had some consciousness of it.I kind of knew who some of the people were.I'm sure I had heard of Chris Evert,John McEnroe,Bjorn Borg,Jimmy Connors,and of course Billie Jean King.
I was a teenager,and ready to learn about some new enthusiasm.I've always loved to learn.It feels like the best,most exciting phase of experience.I just started watching all the tennis I could.I've watched every major tennis event since then.That's over 100 Grand Slams in a row.No not every match.I follow it.I know whats going on,the story.Of course I've had many other things to attend to in life.But I always make time to for the big tournaments.It's been quite a show.

I have a lot of affection,and empathy toward Martina.I don't want to see her suffer.There is something so unguarded about her feelings.She just can't hide much.
She's emotional to a fault.I'm sure I was emotional about watching her play.I know I was always very happy when she won.It gave me a warm feeling of satisfaction for her.
But the fact is,I know I don't have very many personality traits in common with her.
Maybe we do need to feel for others that show us what we lack in ourselves.I wouldn't change my personality.I wouldn't change hers either.

I'm afraid for her.Cancer is so grim.It's horrifying to see people being harmed by cells in their own body.Being mutilated,poisoned,irradiated to survive.It makes me furious seeing humans lose their dignity.
She's lucky to have caught it so soon,and have such good prospects.
I'm glad to know she has many friends who care about her,and will be there to support her.Cluster round,as Bertie Wooster would say.
Yes,I do think she can survive this and live many more years.

One thing that amazes me about Martina is that she finds it perfectly natural to ask people to like her.Not the way I look at my relations to others.I'll take mild regard.But Martina is always pleased as punch to be loved.How odd and charming.At some point I just gave in.I don't think it took very long.
I can't imagine the world without her now.How I hope she returns to good health.

A flip of the coin

You,or rather I in this case,must start somewhere.So I flipped a coin.It was a dime.It happened to be sitting there available.
I called tails,and shot it into the air from my thumb.Caught,slapped on wrist.Tails.Well,not actually tails,a torch,and branches.But I'll take it.
A good sign? I don't believe in good signs.Still,good to win the toss.
I'll serve.