Part II: Advice from Dan Lucey: Tennis is a People Sport

Meet Mr. Cool Man Tennis: Dan Lucey is second from the left. He is flanked on his right by John Holden on his left by Bill Hepner and Alex Swetka (early.1960's)

In Part I, I introduced my life changing relationship with Dan which began in San Francisco over 50 years ago at the Golden Gate Tennis Courts.(To read Part I, click here.) 

In this essay, I want to highlight some advice that Dan related to me over and over again.

      

First, he inspired me to be physically fit: eat healthy foods, get lots of sleep and work out daily. I applied his advice then and even up until now, so that recently my primary care Physician put me in awe when she disclosed that biologically I am 30 years younger than my chronological age.

  Secondly, Dan emphasized total focus on the fundamentals of the game: serve, groundstrokes, net work, serve and volley, then lobs. 

 Thirdly, he  pointed out to me that through my passion with tennis, I would be meeting interesting and fascinating and-- even sometimes well- known people wherever I play. 

How true have been your words Dan. 

With Dan beside me, we watched and analyzed the winning techniques of some of the best Golden Gate players-- such nationally ranked players as Tom Brown who with his precise ground strokes bested Greg Shephard (about 20 years younger) who boasted a smooth serve and volley game. We also watched other great players as Rosey Casals, Whitney Reed (see Part I) and "Peanut" Louie Harper. 

  

 I have lived in over 40 different residences across the United States, enjoyed playing tennis in eight different states (eleven--11-- different residences in both Northern and Southern California alone) and have made many many friends on the tennis court, joined clubs and tennis ladders.  To list all the fine people I have met would be too time and space consuming .So, here are just a few of the interesting folks I have met along the way.

Some tennis greats I have run into along the "way" include  Lew Hoad at a Senior men's tournament  in Sacramento; playing tennis with U.S. Open champ Art  "Tappy" Larson, playing next to Dr. Reginald Weir (a black tennis legend prior to Arthur Ashe) and Dick Savitt, U.S. Open champ (whom I met at the Columbia University Tennis Center on Coogan's Bluff, NYC) 

And finally a chance encounter with Senator Ted Kennedy at a tennis facility in Maine. (recounted in this memorial to my dad's passion for sports.) 

And the beat goes on...

(Now, I have developed another passion: mountain climbing a few of the 48 mountains above 4,000 feet in the White Mountains of New Hampshire (with a guide, of course!).  

Strawberries and Cream: Wimbledon 2011- Memorable Tennis Moments- Playing with a Tennis great: Art Larsen

Art Larsen, US tennis great who was

US Open National Tennis Champ in 1950

He was called Art "Tappy" Larsen (born 1925 in Hayward, Ca.) because he was constantly tapping items around the tennis court.

He was the only US amateur tennis player to win tournaments on all four surfaces at the time: grass, clay, hardcourt and indoor.

He was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1969.

In 1950, Art won the US Open Tennis tournament held at Forest Hills beating Herb Flam 6-3, 4-6, 5-7, 6-4, 6-3.

Unfortunately his tennis career came to an abrupt halt in 1956 when Art (who often would play his matches after an all night partying) was involved in a serious motor scooter accident in Castro Valley, Ca. As a result, he lost sight in one eye and was partially paralyzed.

I met Art at the Golden Gate Park tennis facility in 1971 and we became fast friends. Art was a blond haired and blue-eyed wonder and always had a winsome smile.

Despite his limping, Art could cover a lot of ground tracking many balls down. We played doubles together and I quickly got used to his unorthodox southpaw winning style.

US Tennis great Garnder Malloy

Photo courtesy of thebiofile.com

Gardner Malloy (born 1913, in Washington, DC), an east coast tennis great (#1 US singles ranking in 1942) who played the senior circuit world-wide into his 90's, recalls Art as the funniest player on the circuit: "With Art Larsen...he had so many superstitions. We harassed him all the time."

Photo (1) found on ebay.

Photo (2) source

Celebrating the Birthday of Jack Kramer, Tennis Great

Jack Kramer (August 1, 1921- September 12, 2009) was an was outstanding world class tennis player who later went on to spearhead men's professional tennis.

He is known as the father of the' serve-and-volley', in which he would rush the net behind both his serves. He would go on to win the U.S. Single Championships in 1946 and 1947 and the Wimbledon Singles Championship in 1947.

In the '47 Wimbledon win, Jack whipped fellow Californian Tom Brown in just 45 minutes, 6-1, 6-3, 6-2. During the tourney, he only lost 37 games.

As an amateur, he began touring the country in 1954, playing the top professional player, Bobby Riggs. He consistently beat Riggs and then played against other amateurs as they turned pro--e.g. Pancho Gonzalez, Frank Sedgman, Lew Hoad and Ken Rosewall.

As a rule, professional tennis stars were not allowed to play in amateur tennis tournaments. Then in 1968, tennis went open and Kramer was relieved as his Association of Tennis Professionals could compete in traditional tennis venues.

The tennis racket bearing Jack's name was de rigeur for any serious tennis player and he made a small fortune as millions were sold over a 35 year time span. His business investments in the Professional Tennis Tour, two golf courses and race horses all proved successful.

Jack will be long remembered.
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A Tribute to a Living Legend E.Victor Seixas, Jr. along with Tennis Heroes and Heroines at San Francisco's Golden Gate Park

 

Here's a tribute to the remarkable E. Victor Seixas, Jr.  US Tennis Stalwart --the oldest living grand slam player now 100 hundred years old-- who I had the pleasure of watching beat Rex Hartwig in the US Open final of 1954 at the West Side Tennis club at Forest Hills, NY 

E. Victor Seixas, Jr.

What follows is a snapshot and tribute to one of the many significant timelines of my evolving peripatetic life- moving from the midwest (where I taught English at Wisconsin State Univ.) to San Francisco and settling in the Haight Ashbury neighborhood - (42 Baker Street)  just a 10- minute walk to a Tennis mecca, Golden Gate Park (GGP). It was a Camelot Life for me for many reasons. But here is just a freeze frame of that special time. 

   GGP is where I hung out when I wasn't studying the Law. Here is where I fast made friends and enriched my academic life with lasting social relationships. Here is where I was in the process of getting in great shape-- 'working my way up' the tennis ladder.' Here is where I achieved a major personal victory. 

  Here are just a few of the friends and tennis greats I include in my anthology and panoply of memorable icons. 

 Dan Lucey: master instructor and strategist who taught me the art of focused tennis. He was ranked number three in the 45's in California. 

Dan Lucey master player 

Henry Pon was one of the most steady players I have ever had the privilege of playing against. Short, thin and soft spoken and a master of defensive retrieval, he would never miss a shot. He played a backcourt game and thrived there in the process of beating most players.     

Howard Lee, how can I ever forget the strategy that you taught me? You are and were a master strategist and you plied me with many printed articles you had written on the fundamentals of the game forehand, backhand, serve, etc. Essential in your tips was mastering wrist control. Memorable are the times we would meet at the neighborhood courts near Chinatown and practice technique. What is awesome was your passion for the sport and your eagerness to share without expecting financial remuneration. You will always be a friend. 

Bill Small: was a solid B player at GGP and thanks to the great preparation from Dan Lucey, a ranked California Netman, I played a nearly flawless match in the No. California Open Tournament winning in two sets. I had an early taste of the mindfulness--the focus and near total  concentration  necessary for playing within the zone ('zone tennis') to play at the top of one's game.  This mindfulness followed me back to the East Coast where I enjoyed doubles play in Connecticut's hard courts in Scalzi Park in Stamford and on the Har-Tru clay courts at Oak Hills Tennis club  courts in Norwalk. 

Lowell Barnhart, your were a solid B player. You often played with the Louie sisters and we played many matches together. You always had a smile and a great attitude winning or losing.

Among,  the many notable tennis regulars included Tom Brown (lost  to Jack Kamer in the 1947 Wimbledon final) Whitney Reed, 1951 Wimbledon champ Art "Tappy" Larsen,  Greg Shepard, Rosey Casals, Arlene Cohen, Dan Lucey, Marcie Louie  and Peanut Louie Harper. 

What an inspiration....reliving the art and grace of tennis.....

Down Memory Lane with the A. B. Davis Tennis Squad 1958

 

Reintroducing the A.B.Davis Tennis Team, Class of 1958. Pictured left to right are Harvey Sande, Les Moglen, Bob (Eder) Adrian, Norm Dayron and Dick Schwartz. We were a feisty, fearless  team led by our coach civics teacher Mr. Elwell. 

   Here are some memories. Though short, Harvey Sande was a steady 'dynamite' player at most times unbeatable. He reminded me of the outstanding Aussie tennis great Ken Rosewall.  He often picked me up in his vintage Volkswagen bug with stick shift and canvas top sunroof. He introduced me to the New Rochelle Tennis Club where I played the summer of 1963. I enjoyed watching Harvey beat some of the top club players by out rallying then on the  immaculately groomed red clay.  I hooked up with Harvey in California where he practiced Law in Berkely. Sadly he ran into his own legal problems. I called him  from Connecticut and Harvey told me in slow speech he was disabled unable to get around and basically homebound. Shortly thereafter, I learned he passed away. Harvey was soft spoken and showed grace under pressure when outplaying players stronger than him. Harvey, you will be missed. 

   Les Moglen was the star of our team: tall, strong and solidly built. The Moglen family, including older brother  Lloyd, Les, younger brother Leland and sister Mary Lou were all inspired to excel in tennis by their dad Maxwell  The family lived down the Esplanade, close to the Columbus Ave. New Haven Railroad stop. Their home was below a steep rise and they had engineered the construction of swimming into the rise. Maxwell would often drive his boys up the hill in his Chevy Impala convertible to practice   tennis at the clay court behind the home built by real estate magnate Joe Durst. He would always bring a tennis ball launcher machine and living across the street,  I would watch him train each of his four kids 

   Les played number one for us and was unbeatable. Both he and Lloyd were ranked New York State Players and Lloyd even made it to the qualifiers at Forest Hills. Les became a plastic surgeon in the Bay Area and sadly passed away in 2014. 

 Watch out tennis world: Norm Dayron could be unbeatable on the courts: he had a booming serve and when on, he could serve many a love game. I invited him to join me at the Durst 

Clay court and we often enjoyed pushing each other around. Off the courts Norm often invited me over to his home where we shared our passion for jazz and he particularly liked Shelly Manne. He married schoolmate Betty Zukernnick and I often wonder what happened to him.

Bob (Eder) Adrian was a fearsome player; he mastered the art of court strategy that made him a cagey player both in singles and doubles. He was close behind Les Moglen in court

dominance.

Dick Schwartz spent his High School years in the home built by the grandfather of classmate Richie Feist, Leo Feist, music publisher. He grew up in the Bronx two blocks from Crotona Park which today sports a beautiful tennis facility that hosts the annual Bronx open. He has written many articles showing his passion for tennis. 

 

Dr. Reginald Weir: A Black Tennis Legend, Predecessor to both Althea Gibson and Arthur Ashe

Dr. Reginald Weir, The Winged Mercury at the

Seventh Regiment Armory, March 1948

Images by Ralph Morse, Courtesy of Life

Dr. Reginald Weir Serving at the Wood- Slatted Seventh Regiment

Armory in Manhattan's Harlem, March 1948

Images by Ralph Morse, Courtesy of Life

I am 'rolling my visual videotape back' some 50 years to 1959.

It's the cold of winter and my friend Herb (who plays tennis at NYU) and myself (on the Columbia College Freshman team) are playing singles at Manhattan's 369th  Regiment Armory, located in the heart of Harlem. 

The game of playing on' boards'-- wood slats-- is unlike any other surface.

It's fast, much faster than grass, the ball doesn't rise as on clay and favors the player with quick reflexes. (remember, this was the age preceding the yellow, more visible tennis ball!)

The lighting is meager; while there are lights suspended from the high ceilings, most light filters in from high narrow window 'slats.'

Playing on the next court is a black tennis legend, Dr. Reginald Weir. He is tall and lanky and dressed in long whites and moves around the court like a winged Mercury.

Little did I know then he was the first black tennis player to break the tennis color barrier. In March of 1948, he was the first black to play in the National Indoor Tennis Championship at this very venue.

He made it through the first round and then was soundly beaten by the top-seeded Billy Talbert, 6-1, 6-1.

Reggie as he is known  is fondly known as being to Tennis what Jackie Robinson was to baseball; He always exhibited grace under pressure, a fighter to the very end.

He opened up the prestigious US Lawn Tennis Association sanctioned tournaments to two gifted stars, Althea Gibson and then Arthur Ashe, both winners of major Grand Slams.

I recently learned that Reggie passed on in 1987.

Kudos to a tennis great, who modestly exhibited his sterling character both on the court and as a caring physician serving the community of Manhattan near the Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center. 

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US Tennis Open 2011: Can Tennis Players be Too Nice?

The US Open Tennis Championship 

Flushing Meadows, New York 

Chris Ellsberry, a writer for The Stamford Advocate inspired my last tennis blog about #1 female tennis player Caroline Wozniacki being a class act off the court as well as on the court at the New Haven Tennis Open.

Next comes along Tom Perrotta a writer for the Wall Street Journal who asks: Is Women's Tennis Too Nice? 

He cites many excellent examples  of friendship between rivals, both on the women's and men's circuits. (For this reason, I urge you to read the entire article.)

Wozniacki visited Serena Williams at home when she suffered a pulmonary embolism and also invited her foe Victoria Azarenka (now ranked number 3 by the WTA) to her Monaco home where they dined and then visited the aquarium and beach together.

"She (Wozniacki) talks to everybody, she's very fun all the time," said Gisela Dulko, the veteran pro from Argentina. "She's always smiling."

How times have changed says Lisa Raymond who turned pro in 1993 and with Liezel Huber won the 2011 ladies doubles tournament beating defending champs King and Schvedova  4-6, 7-6, 7-6 .

Lisa is quoted as saying, "If anyone even mentioned Monica Seles or Steffi Graf, it was like, 'Ahhhhhhhhh!' You would never talk to Steffi Graf in the locker room, and I like Steffi. There was just this aura."

Tom rightly poses the key question: will this trend toward friendship and doing small deeds of kindness displayed by arch rival tennis giants inhibit their toughness and competitiveness and thus bring down the level/quality of playing? (He also queries why there are fewer tennis prodigies reaching their peak in their teens. Recall Graf , Seles, Capriati and Martina Hingis of the 1980's and 1990's--but this is getting off subject.)

The answer to the above key question is a definitive NO! Hey, it was just a short while ago that we witnessed the Williams sisters slugging it out to the finish in 8 different Grand Slam Finals matches . Admittedly, they got along very well off the courts--and we have witnessed the more argumentative Serena muscle her way past her sister in six of their eight meetings.

Thank you Tom Perrotta for an excellent article with lots of quotes.

Perhaps the most memorable one was from Samantha Stosur, the first Australian lady to win  the US Open since Margaret Court Smith in 1973-- with a stunning upset of the favorite Serena Williams in  straight sets 6-2, 6-3:  "If Federer and Nadal can seemingly get along so well, then why can't everyone else? They've got one of the greatest rivalries in sports."

Thank you Woz, Azarenka, Nadal and Federer to name a few of the current players for being outstanding role models, displaying modesty, humility and humanity by performing small acts of kindness!

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Those ESPN Guys: Cliff Drysdale and Pat McEnroe a Class Act at the US Open

After watching the Grand Masters of Tennis play: Stan Smith, Mary Jo Fernandez, Ille Nastase, Hana Mandlikova etc., I was wandering about the grounds at the US Open; and so it was a delightful surprise to run into two of the finest tennis broadcasters in the game and to swap a joke or two with them. In the photo above that's Drysdale giving me a thumbs up for my badinage and Patrick McEnroe, the last man standing (the brother of the court terror, explosive John Mcenroe)

Here, my camera catches them during some 'down time.'

I told the obviously tired and droopy eyed Cliff and his partner that "You guys haven't put in real day's labor since you put your rackets down years and years ago (to focus on business). When are you guys going to get a real job?" This levity brought some smiles.

Actually, each of these 2 broadcasters brings a class act demonstrating his love of the game.

Drysdale was in the top ten for six years and contested in the finals of the US Open National Championships at Forest Hills against Manolo Santana of Spain in 1965. His smooth voice "combines precise South African diction with a natural ease on air that recalls James Bond engaged in a game of backgammon." (see interview in TennisWeek.com on 1/10/08) He combines his love of broadcasting tennis with his passion for developing' pied pipers': masters of the game such as Roy Emerson, Fred Stolle, Owen Davidson and Aaron Krickstein, to name a few, to create enthusiasm in spreading the game anywhere and everywhere. He says it best:

"You can grow tennis anywhere; give us a tennis facility--even in some place where no one has played tennis for a long time--and if you put the right person in charge of that place who can energize people it will catch on because it's a great game that everyone--kids, adults, men and women--can play."

In a short You Tube video, Cliff demonstrates his incisive low key analysis of the similarity of the Steffi Graff and Ana Ivanovic forehands.

John McEnroe and his brother Pat teamed up at the US Open and its very clear that Pat is as analytical as his brother and comes across like a smooth quaff on a hot summer's day: pleasant, informative and entertaining. Pat has worked hard both as a player of renown, particularly in doubles and has come into his own as a formidable broadcaster, as Captain of the US Davis Cup Squad and as general manager of the United States Tennis Association's player development program. Besides displaying his aura as a gentleman of tennis, he is a unique serious promoter of the sport.

Hats off to both of you. You guys are a class act! And great for the sport.

Crotona Park Comes Alive with Another Bronx Tennis Open

Crotona Park Tennis Scene: Circa 1930's: Tennis

as it was and Still Continues to this day

Crotona Park located in the East Tremont section of the Bronx is where I had lots of fun growing up.

It's where dad would take us in winter to go sledding down its snow covered hills.

It's where we kids enjoyed snowball fights with the neighborhood rowdies

It's where I learned to play handball by watching the 'pros' compete: my dad, my uncle and their cronies.

It's where I played softball with my brothers and other kids from the neighborhood .

About 14, years ago, on the the eve of US Open in Flushing Meadows, I revisited my childhood home at 1928 Prospect Ave. at Ellsmere Place to see P.S. 44, now the Jonas Salk School, the Cross Bronx Expressway which tore apart such an established area and reminisce about Dollinger's toy store, Gelbs (kosher hot dog deli), Powers TV (where our family purchased a Stromberg Carlson 10 inch TV)

Alas, these stores are there no more.

So, it was a treat to walk into my old stomping grounds and become a spectator at the Bronx Tennis Open--open to all free of charge. I got to see Alex Corretja, a top ranked world class player compete-standing just a few feet from the court.

In 1998, the Spanish native Corretja would be ranked the number #2 player in the world and twice would be runner up at the French Open: in 1998 and 2001!

So, it was with great delight to read Kathleen McElroy's 8/27/10 article in the New York Times: "Easy Breezy Bronx Open Adds Star Power." She talks about the "charm of the Bronx Open" which- though a satellite tourney to the US Open at the Billy Jean King Tennis Center-- allows the tennis fan to see some qualifiers play at no charge in a most pleasant ambience.

So go see some great tennis and beat the crowds; come back to my old stomping grounds.

You'll have to wait until next summer, of course.

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PART ONE: Remembering Dan Lucey, A Highly Ranked Spunky San Francisco Tennis Player: My Coach and LIFE MENTOR:

Dan Lucey at a Tournament in 

Stockton, California (Thank You  Rena Lucey

for the photo--she is a  friend for over 50 years) 

It was in the mid 1970's that I came under the wing of Dan Lucey at San Francisco's Golden Gate Park tennis facility.

Tall, thin and lanky, Dan had the most fluid strokes of anyone I met. He was a pleasure to behold as he gracefully moved around the court with short, movements always returning to a central position awaiting the next shot.

His strokes were always clean precise and consistent.

He knew how to coach the fundamentals of the game: the serve, ground strokes and volleying.

He was also a  master of strategy.

He would hop on my court (as I was practicing with a partner) take my position and quickly modeled the fundamental strokes and strategies of the game. Then I would take over and Dan would continue to coach me.

He was ranked in the top ten statewide in the 45's; tournament play had evidently honed his competitiveness and spunk.

 In 1974, he was ranked number 2 in the Men's 55 Singles in the Northern California Tennis Association's tentative rankings just behind John Morrison of Sacramento at number one, with Norm Brooks of San Francisco following Dan at number 3. 

Dan worked for The Water Department and while doing fieldwork often visited the tennis courts during his lunch hour.

He knew every tennis player at the facility-- their strengths and weaknesses.

Tom Brown

on the cover of his Tennis Memoir book

As Tom Goes By

He often commented about Tom Brown's aggressive ground stroke game  as we watched him beat local ranked  players 25 years younger  (Tom lost to Jack Kramer in the US Open finals in 1946 and the Wimbledon finals in 1948) ; He also commented  about Rosie Casals' feisty style as we watched her matches at the Park. 

Whitney Reed 

from www.whitneyreedtennis.com

He directed my attention to the unflappable Whitney Reed, the top seeded player at the annual San Francisco Open tournament. Whit, as he was called, hailed from Alameda across the Bay.

At one point in the early 1960's, Whit displaced Chuck Mckinley to be the number one ranked men's singles player in the US. In his career, he had wins over Rod Laver, Roy Emerson, Neale Fraser, Frank Sedgman, Gardner  Mulloy and Manuel Santana to name a few. All the latter have been enshrined in the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

Dan always would observe my game and worked often with me (and others)-- ALL GRATIS!

Of course, I admired his patience as he devoted time to coaching his boys, Glen and Marco. 

 
He matched me against other players on my level and encouraged me to play some Bay Area satellite tournaments.

This was how I improved my game--thanks to Dan.

We miss you Dan.

I thank Rena Lucey  Dan's loyal and dedicated wife (and my friend for over 50 years ) for sending me photos of one of my life's hero so I can complete this  posting originally  published on May 13, 2012-over 10 years ago.

It is wonderful to to connect--recently- with Rena  (remembering her visit to NYC in the 90's)  so I could complete Part I of my saga and move on to Part II.

Dan inspired me with what he repeated to me over and over again. So do go on to Part II. 

Caroline Wozniaki number one women's tennis star displays world class off the court

Caroline Wozniacki at the 2010 US Open 

Kudos to Chris Ellsberry of the Stamford Advocate who first reported how the 22 year-old blond, blue-eyed, lithesome Wozniaki has taken New Haven 'by storm' in the recent Open tennis tournament held there. 

We all know that she has been ranked the number one women's tennis player for nearly a year. Indeed, at the baseline she is rock solid and plays near-perfect tennis.

But, it is off the court where she truly excels. On a non-play day, she is espied by Ellsberry roaming the Connecticut Tennis Center "hours on end, lighting the place up with her megawatt smile."

She can be found at the USTA Smash Zone signing autographs and posing "for pictures with hundreds of kids."

At the Cybex treadmill for breast cancer research, she ran three miles in front of an admiring crowd.

When  ladies tennis star Steffi Graff was a no-show at a The Teekanne tea party meet-and-greet, Caroline gladly filled in for the former tennis great.

It's very clear that she has an exemplary character, giving of herself, off the court wherever and whenever she is needed. It is no surprise that the entire Yale football team of 100 has come out two years straight to watch her compete.

It also comes as no surprise that she has won the New Haven Open four consecutive years including 2011!

Hats off to Caroline and to Chris Ellsberry for an inspiring story!

In my next blog, I will write about perceptions of Caroline's character from the perspective of another writer at the 2011 US Open.

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Althea Gibson, International Tennis Star, was Born Today

Born in Silver, South Carolina, raised on the tough streets of Harlem, quitting school and working as a

"counter girl in a Chock Full o' Nuts shop in lower Manhattan, a chicken cleaner on Long Island..., an elevator operator in the midtown Dixie Hotel, a packer in a button factory, a mechanic in a machine shop ('It was puttin' screws in somethin', I don't remember what')

- quote source (Sport: That Gibson Girl, Time Magazine, August 26, 1957)

Althea Gibson (August 25, 1927- September 28, 2003), created history on her 23rd birthday-August 25, 1950, when she became the first black to ever play tennis in the US Lawn Tennis Championships held at the prestigious Forest Hills Tennis Club.

On that day, she easily breezed past her first round opponent Barbara Knapp 6-2,6-2.

Her second round opponent was three time Wimbledon winner, Louise Brough. The future tennis star was one game shy of knocking off Brough (leading 1-6, 6-3, 7-6) when a violent lightening storm--which knocked off a cement eagle from the top of the stadium--halted play.

Next day, with fear and trembling dominating her game, Gibson lost to Brough.

This street kid fought back and 7 years later--at age 30-- she became the number one ladies player in the world. She would win the French Open in 1956 beating Bristisher Angela Mortimer Barrett 6-0, 12-10 and then go on to win Wimbledon in 1957 against fellow American Darlene Hard 6-3, 6-2. (Hard was the number one American female tennis star from 1960-1963)

Gibson would go on to win three more Grand Slams, for a total of five.

In addition, she won a total of 11 Grand Slam titles in the Women's and Mixed Doubles events.

She added further sports glories, by being the first black woman to join the Ladies Professional Golf Association tour in 1963 and was appointed as Commissioner of New Jersey Athletics.

Two tennis facilities are named after her: One in Newark, New Jersey and the second in Wilmington, North Carolina.

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The Tennis Channel: The Coming of Age for an Elitist Sport

Steve Bellamy: Founder of The Tennis Channel

It's been a six year wait for the Tennis Channel founded in 2003 by Steve Bellamy.

The TC is now into its second year broadcasting live from the US Open
in the 11AM to 7PM weekdays slot and now on weekend evenings.. It shares daytime coverage with ESPN II , which broadcasts live from 1PM -7PM.

The network claims to have broadcaster/analysts with over 31 Singles Championships among them.

You've come a long way in such a short time.

With some jockeying on my part, I can now access Channel 399, Cablevision in Connecticut, by paying $4.95 premium for a sports tier, a very, very modest sum compared to the $50 one day fee for a grounds pass to the US Open

But, it wasn't always that way.

About three years ago, I switched to ATT U-Verse which had no agreement with tennis channel, nor were they in any serious negotiations at the time.

A group of tennis diehards went online to publicize demands to AT&T. They never responded.

So last year, I switched to Cablevision which has a very attractive Optimum triple play package: high speed internet, telephone and TV/Tivo

Thanks to the relentless, passionate and aggressive Steve Bellamy founder and current president, Ken Solomon and the many investors who keep tennis streaming 24/7!
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Two years without the Tennis Channel: the dispute between Cablevision and the TC: the deeper issues.

Three years ago, I unequivocally lauded the Tennis Channel in a post aptly titled "The Tennis Channel: The Coming of Age for an elitist sport."

 In September of 2010 when I posted the blog, there was a cozy relationship between the TC and Cablevision (CV).

 For a $4.95 fee, I was able to enjoy 24/7 access to dozens of non-major tournaments as well as the Grand Slams.

 All that changed on fourth of  September 2011-- during the US Open. 

CV and Vios pulled TC from its lineup during the US Open and I could no longer access Channel 399 when I most enjoyed its coverage!

What's at issue here?

It's simply, greed, greed and more greed--involving both companies.

The TC wanted to move its Channel from CV's 'premium' sports tier to basic cable.

TC wanted basic because its content would be available to a much much larger audience than the more limited sports tier.

 Thus it could charge more for its advertising for indeed viewers of tennis are a prime market  for Rolex watches, Mercedes and Lexuses autos,etc.

At the same time, TC was negotiating higher fees from the CV for a vastly increased audience.

This proposal did not sit well with CV because it would lose the lucrative sports package fees it was used to reaping which presumably would far outweigh the increased fees payable to the TC.

Fast forward to February 2013.

Just after negotiating lower monthly cable fees from Cablevision after they raised my 'triple play' coverage nearly 50%,  CV sent me a bill with a brand new sports surcharge--without any announcement-- of  $2.98 per month.

CV says they must collect these additional dollars because the sports channels are asking more for content.

While it offers ESPN and ESPN 2, CV does not offer ESPN 3 which provides additional tennis coverage during the US Open.

Nor does it offer the TC as part of the surcharge.

And what I've read from recent blogs, many sports fans do not want many of these sports 'packages' such as MSG, SNY, Yes, etc.  --AND YET WE ARE FORCED TO PAY EXTRA FOR UNWANTED basic cable sports programming.

Shame on both sides for shafting the consumer in their pursuit of the dollar.

Enter the unspoken hero usopen .org website which in an effort to spread the excitement of watching top tennis offers live streaming coverage of up to six matches with minimal advertising along with PIP, match chat and match stats.

Hail to the US Open organization.

Dorothy Cheney, Tennis Star, Turns 94 Today

Dorothy "Dodo" Cheney ( born in Los Angeles September 1, 1916) has great tennis roots. Her father Tom Bundy was a former U.S. doubles tennis champ and her mom is a former tennis Hall of Famer May Sutton Bundy.

In 1936, she reached the quarter finals of the United States Open. Then in 1937-1939, she was a member of the U.S. Wightman Cup teams. She reached star status in 1938 when she became the first American woman to win the Australian Open beating Dorothy Stevenson in the final 6-3, 6-2.

Due to World War II, she was unable to compete in the Australian, French and Wimbledon tourneys. However she played in U.S. tournaments and rose to number 3 in 1937, 1938 and 1941.

She competed in numerous doubles championships and was a three-time runner up in Grand Slam women's doubles tournaments. She holds more then 300 United States Tennis Association titles.

She has played winning tennis from her teens into her 90's.

Francesca Schiavone Electrifies the Tennis World Twice at the Australian Open: Great Commentary from ESPN Broadcasters

Francesca Schiavone at the Brisbane International, in 2009

To be a witness to two women's matches for the ages, orchestrated by one peak performance player in successive rounds is indeed a rarity.

And that's exactly what I was privileged to see--brought to us 'live' on ESPN TV.

The performer was Francesca Schaivone who it seems has flashed across the skies like a comet that debuts once in a century.

This small Italian powerhouse electrified the tennis world by winning the 2010 French Open at 30 years of age. (Really, who had heard of her before this sensation?)

So high was her level of play, so full -throttle her gutsy shotmaking that she captured not only my attention, but pumped up my adrenaline level as well. She nearly knocked off the number one player in the world -- not even 2 days after playing a fatiguing 4 hour and 44 minute match in which she bested her opponent Svetlana Kutznetsova 6-4, 1-6, 16-14.

I watched tennis history being made in a brilliant three-set round of 16 match between Francesca Schiavone and Svetlana Kutznetsova. The Italian player successfully fought off 6 match points to outplay her opponent. Along the way to the 16-14 win, both players called on their trainers--simultaneously-- to help overcome severe cramps and fatigue; they then played at an even higher level of tennis.

The nearly 5 hour match was the longest in the open era.

Two early AMs later (early evening in Melbourne), Schiavone raised her game to a higher level playing against the much more rested, 20 year old number one seed, Caroline Wozniacki.

Here is the poignant pivotal commentary by the ESPN tennis team:The score is 3-6, 6-3, 5-2 and Wozniacki serving at 40-15, with a double match point. Schiavone saves the first match point.

Dick Enberg: She truly honors the game.

Schiavone then saves the second match point with a crisp passing shot.

Mary Joe Fernandez: Outstanding

Dick (TV camera panning to Wozniacki's dad): Father Peter (is wondering) 'where in the world that Italian is finding these shots?'

Mary Joe: You have to give her an ovation because of the desire, the will that's carrying her through.

Pam Shriver: She has fought off 8 match points [in two consecutive matches].

The game in now tied at deuce. Wozniacki wins the next point to take an advantage for a third shot at the match.

In the next point Schiavone drop shots her opponent to save match point number 3.

Mary Joe: Got it!

Schiavone then wins the next two points to break serve and tightens the score to 5-3. The crowd breaks the hushed silence with a standing ovation.

Mary Joe: I'm standing....that's worth a standing ovation...that game.
....................I mean unbelievable!

....................God loves you Francesca Schiavone.

The ESPN team says it all so well and Francesca gave it all....Two matches and stars to remember for all times

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March 11, 1948: Dr. Reginald Weir of New York City becomes the first black tennis player to compete in a US Lawn Tennis Association tournament

Serena (on left) and Venus Williams Grand Slam Champs

in Ladies Doubles at Wimbledon, Sumner of 2012

photo from pryncepality.com

The tennis world takes it for granted that for the past decade women's tennis has been dominated by the Williams sisters.

Between the two of them they have  24 Grand Slam singles titles (Serena has 17  and Venus 7) and an amazing 54 total GS titles including women's doubles and mixed doubles.

66 years ago, the Williams sisters would have been excluded from achieving such formidable success because of the color of their skin.

Dr. Reginald Weir serving on the wood slatted courts at the

Seventh Regiment Armory in Manhattan's Harlem, March, 1948

Images by Ralph Morse of Life Magazine

On March 11, 1948, all that changed!

 One man opened the door to the successes of Althea Gibson,  Arthur Ashe, Sloane Stephens and, of course, the Williams sisters.

That man was Dr. Reginald Weir who I had the privilege of witnessing and watching  play--  in his prime-- on these very courts.

To learn more about this black tennis legend, a man of sterling character,  click here

Agassi: The Punk Kid, but more much more than a "haircut and a forehand"

He is the only tennis player to win a career grand slam (winning Wimbledon, The French, US and Australian opens) and Olympic Gold Medal.

He precipitously fell from #1 in Tennis in 1995 to #141. He could have quit then at age 27 and dealt with his demons off the court.

No, he chose--he had no other choice-but to face his demons square face to face-on the very turf that generated them. He battled his addiction to crystal meth, his hatred of the game, his hatred of his dad Mike (who shoved a tennis ball in his crib before he turned 1, and was evidently behind Andre's winning $500 from Jim Brown in 3 sets at age 9!) and his self disgust

No he did not give up; he played the qualifying circuit all over again, practiced day and night, with a passion for the game that propelled him to the top of the tennis world again. And he won more slams after the late age of 29, than before.

He learned to love the game, love his dad, love the fans who adored him; he found the elusive peace he sought within himself

He accumulated over $100 million from tennis and is now giving much of it back: he has established a tuition free charter school in Las Vegas for 623 disadvantaged/at risk kids. His foundation has raised over $70 million so far for these kids

Andre should know the value of an education gathered painfully by experience --he got his education the hard way-- by pushing back, by rebelling at the often brutal, aggressive upbringing at the hands of his dad; his denim court wear and his mullet style hairpiece and his short lived tumultuous marriage to Brooke Shields were the outward signs of internal turmoil.

He is one 9th grade dropout who is paving the way for other 'at risk' kids with more formal schooling. The first graduates are now off to college.

Why did he write his autobiography, Open, when he could have avoided the limelight? In an interview with Jim Chairusmi of the Wall Street Journal, Andre says, "...anything worthwhile in life comes with work and risk. This was part atonement, as well. I had something that most people don't get, which is a second chance. Everyday has been a form of atonement. And this book is that."

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The US Open at Flushing Meadows: The Ups and the Downs. Delight with the High Quality of Play

Arthur Ashe Stadium at the US Open 

It is approaching 4:30 AM here in southeastern Connecticut and raining very hard.

We are about 30 miles from Flushing Meadows where the US Open is 'trying to be played.'

We here in the tri-state area enter our third consecutive day of potential washout and its likely that the tournament will be extended into Monday and possibly Tuesday next week.

The rain is a result of tropical storm Lee, which brought 10-15 inches of rain to Louisiana and the Gulf Coast, moving up the Atlantic coast  mixing with a persistent northeast cold front pushing in our direction.

The result is extreme frustration for the players. They are under pressure by tournament director Curley to squeeze in matches so as to have the  women's and men's finals on Saturday and Sunday respectively.

A riveting example of disappointment was a much frustrated Nadal who was interviewed on ESPN  after he had left the court after only 15 minutes of play; he had started his round of 16 match with Gilles Muller at 12 noon, played only three games and was down 0-3!  Though the court conditions were not optimal (the backcourt was still wet), he appeared amenable to play.

(A trio of players: Nadal, Andy Roddick and Andy Murray had marched into the tournament director's office to protest the resumption of play at noon when it was obvious to all that it was still raining!)

Meanwhile, the commentators led by John Mcenroe were discussing the lack of a movable roof over Arthur Ashe or Louis Armstrong stadiums.  It seems that when the facility was being planned  in the mid 1990's, Mac had urged the USTA to include a sliding roof  (much like Wimbledon introduced and Roland Garros has planned for 2015!) only to be shot down. The cost now is prohibitive running up to $200 million. This is a near impossible engineering feat for the Ashe venue because of its sheer size and it is not likely to happen for Armstrong due to cost.

The problem with covering only Armstrong is accommodating the 22,000 plus fans from the larger Ashe stadium to the Armstrong facility that barely holds 10,000 fans.

On the bright side is the excellent online weekend coverage by the US Open website. We tennis fans were able to view up to 6 matches simultaneously aided by a reliable PIP screen. (This was a boon as the Tennis Channel was pulled from our Cablevision system over a monetary dispute.)

The streaming HD quality images online were outstanding. We were able to witness exciting matches- especially the number one seeded Wozniacki versus number seventeen seeded Kutsnetsova. The latter played the highest level of tennis in the first set only to be upended by a stronger Woz in an thrilling three setter:  6-7, 7-5, 6-1.

Another memorable match was the five setter between the eighth seeded American Marty Fish and eleventh seeded  Jo Wilfred Tsonga; it was a tight match that featured Fish finishing at the net 87 times via his serve and volley and Tsonga winding up at the net 47 times (but only once on a serve and volley).  (Thanks to the New York Times' Straight Sets blog for the numbers.) This was tennis reminiscent of the era of fast grass court tennis at Wimbledon and Forest Hills (when the Open was played there.) Tsonga pulled out the match in the fifth set; the score was 6-4, 6-7, 3-6, 6-4, 6-2
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Tennis Enters the Slipstream: The Marathon Isner- Mahut Match Enters its Third Day at Wimbledon

Nicolas Mahut (r.) asks umpire to suspend play as a

weary John Isner (l.) appears to agonize over the decision

(photo courtesy of The Telegraph of London)

At 9:11 PM London time, the umpire of the longest match in tennis history suspended play--so this unbelievable war of the wills enters its third day--just two minutes short of 10 hours. The match is tied at 59 -59 in the fifth set.

About 45 years ago, I thought I was watching tennis history at the US Open in Forest Hills when I saw an aging graceful Pancho Gonzales pull out a 5 hour plus fifth setter with a 31-29 win over his opponent. What an inspiring match to watch in person.

Tennis has now entered a slipstream of its own with a match that won't end. Both players are playing in a rarified level that only playing on immaculately groomed grass, great training, dedication and inbred sportsmanship can inspire.

Thanks to ESPNU, a network dedicated to College sports, we, here in America, were able to get continuing coverage until well past 5PM on the East coast.

We look forward to play resumption on Thursday, June 24th.

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