March 5, 2001 - Don't believe the hype!
The eyes have it, well better yet, it's all about vision. For years tennis teachers have been preaching to their students, "Keep your eyes on the ball", up comes modern technology with high speed camera, to debunk this theory.
The back room scientists like Vic Braden, who swears by science and formulas to explain the game, say that the players eyes are not focus totally on the ball, they don't track it into their racquet. The have tons of photographs showing eyes focused on where the ball was and not where they are making contact.
I say baloney, it's a perfect example of believing someone is guilty and deciding to fine proof of his guilt, all along dismissing anything contrary.
I have pictures of players focusing directly at the ball and at their contact point. Yes, there are players who to borrow a phrase from John McEnroe, "do not take care of the ball", they rush through their shots, these players are not the best at their crafts.
There are instances where a great player will not focus on his contact point and more often than not the resulting shot will be an error or will be one with less impact.
When at my best, I see the rotation of the ball, not a blur but a true spin, I pick up a spot on the ball where my strings will make contact with and the ball disappears only after I've hit it.
A great player who's eyes never left her contact point was Steffi Graf, I have a photograph of her, where the ball is on her strings, flatten at impact and her eyes and head are focused directly at the contact point.
If you want to improve your game, keep your eyes on the ball. A strategy that still works!
March 6, 2001 - Jensens, please give it up!
Why do we have to see these "wild and crazy guys" act like the clowns of the game, why does tennis need clowns?
Many moons ago they decided to abandon hard work and training to become a burlesque act on and around the tennis court. For some reason that I fail to see, the tennis establishment continues to embrace Luke and Murphy Jensen by giving them a tennis podium to perform their antics, may it be riding a motorcycle on court, high fiving the fans, hitting trick shots, falling on the ground, they'll do anything for a laugh.
If only they could entertain by playing great tennis instead of trying to be Charlie Chaplin.
They would have had much more impact on tennis fans and aspiring young players if they were winning tournaments. Their act is the longest running 15 minutes in tennis.
March 7, 2001 - It's not Davis Cup, it's Guinea Pig Cup!
Ok, Quick name the countries in the American Zone group 4, give up?
If you guesses did not include, Haiti, Barbados, Panama, Antigua, St. Lucia, & US Virgin Islands than you'd be wrong.
These countries are as far away from the real Davis Cup World group as a 4.0 player is from being chosen to play for the US team.
To make matters worse, the format is different,, all these countries are fighting it out this week in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti in a round robin format, using the short set format ( first to 4) and best of 5. Not only are they light years from the real thing, but they are being used as test subjects.
Oh by the way, don't be surprise if Haiti anchored by the never aging Ronald Agenor wins the "tie".
March 8, 2001 - Are today's players better?
YES, are they better because of ONLY the equipment, NO, they are also better because they are bigger, stronger, faster and more scientifically knowledgeable about the game.
Today's players are blessed with videotape analysis, modern training, (which includes matching mental approach to a player's personality) modern products that enhances everything that a player has.
Players like Laver would certainly be able to compete on today's tour, only if he had the same training and equipment, but he would not be much more than a Chang, a great player, but much too small to be a constant champion.
March 9, 2001 -30 balls are too much!
The ATP's new ball campaign features 15 of the hottest "young" players on the tour.
For tennis's sake I hope that only 3 or 4 become true champions who challenge each other, like Lendl, Connors & McEnroe,
Lendl, Becker & Willander, Lendl, Becker & Edberg.
See my point, it's not about 15 guys, it's about a handful of true long lasting champions with some very good challengers thrown in.
The worst thing that could happen is to have one person dominate without any major on-going threat, (no more Pete please)
Oh by the way, why do they have to look so tough, the pictures make them look like WWF wrestlers with racquets.
It's a good marketing campaign that's unfortunately not reaching the non-fan and barely matters with the average follower of tennis.
In my book there's only ten new balls, and they are Kuerten, Hewitt, Safin, Kiefer, and Haas,
and please take Gambill out of there, I know the ATP had to throw a bone to the USTA and American tennis, but
Gambill is not it!
March 12, 2001 - She deserved it!
The woman who has won more prize money than any other tennis player in the history of the sport and that's excluding her
sponsorship, appearance fees and off-court earnings, which probably
triples her prize money totals, was and is probably still seeking ways to make even more money through unconventional
investments and tax shelters.
She through her dad got busted for tax evasion a few years back, now Steffi Graf has been
taken -, bilked by an unscrupulous investor through a back door investment offer.
According to an AP story, she lost over $600,000 in a six month period and is one of many defendants who lost money through this scheme.
I believe in the free enterprise system and that athletes should earn and get whatever their market value is, but when is
it enough when do one say "I have enough money, my children can live on the interest for eternity"?
Maybe there's is no such thing as having "enough" money, I'd love to find out!
March 13, 2001 - Tennis is a hard sport!
The powers that be should tell the world how difficult the sport is, how much work, skill and athleticism it requires for the pros to produce the caliber of shots that they do.
For years the sport has had a reputation of being one for soft, weak, fragile, and
pampered individuals. I don't know how many times I've heard non tennis players say, "its a sissy sport". By not clarifying and setting the record straight, we in the industry are
perpetuating this myth and even worse, the governing bodies who've made it their duty to get more people to play, are
going along with this notion and telling all how easy the game is.
The bottom line is the game is for everyone who's willing to put
in the hours and deal with the frustration of hitting the ball over the net one more time than his adversary. Tennis is not "easy", it puts all the physical demands on the body that any other challenging sport does, and then some.
A couple of years ago the USTA had an ad campaign designed to illustrate how difficult tennis is comparing to baseball, basketball etc., but the campaign was preached to the choir, instead of running those ads directly during baseball, basketball or football games, they instead ran them during tennis matches where the audience already knew how much
it takes to excel or even play at a good enough level to enjoy the sport.
Once Joe Public with the tennis is easy mentality decides to try it,
thinking that they can hit the ball like Agassi, steps on the court and reality hits them, do they stick it out and admit they were wrong or do they just say "wow, it's tougher than I thought" and never try
again? Unfortunately, most do the latter.
The USTA's (and others) approach that the game is easy as 1-2-3 is wrong, they should tell the public, it's a tough sport, challenge them, ask them if they have what it takes, show then the health benefits, many more will take the challenge and a higher percentage will stick with it.
(c) 1stserve