December 12, 2009 marks the 47th birthday of two-time U.S. Open champion Tracy Austin. The following is her profile as seen in THE BUD COLLINS HISTORY OF TENNIS ($35.95, New Chapter Press, www.NewChapterMedia.com). TRACY AUSTIN United States (1962—) Hall of Fame—1992 One of the game’s prodigies, Tracy Ann Austin was meteoric, an iron-willed girl whose blaze was … [Read more...] about HAPPY BIRTHDAY TRACY AUSTIN
ANDRE MADE A BAD MISTAKE, BUT HE HAS MADE UP FOR IT SINCE, AS THE GAME’S LEADING HUMANITARIAN
Is Andre just another book salesman? By now everybody from here to the Somalian pirates knows that Andre Agassi has come clean in his new memoir (“Open”) about using illegal drugs (crystal meth) and telling a big lie about it. Undoubtedly it will out-sell any other tennis bio. But is milking another cash cow his motive, as some have suggested? I don’t think … [Read more...] about ANDRE MADE A BAD MISTAKE, BUT HE HAS MADE UP FOR IT SINCE, AS THE GAME’S LEADING HUMANITARIAN
BRUSSELS SPROUTS, JUSTINE AND KIM, ARE THE COMEBACK KIDS
Remember that great western, “Shane”? Sure you do. Shane, the hero, after wiping out the bad guys, of course rides off into the sunset while the young boy who idolizes him, cries out in anguish: “Shane! Shane! Come back, Shane! Come back!” No luck. The movie had used up its time. I felt like that sorrowful kid when the erstwhile “Brussels Sprouts” — Kim … [Read more...] about BRUSSELS SPROUTS, JUSTINE AND KIM, ARE THE COMEBACK KIDS
WITH SHORN LOCKS, HAS NADAL LOST A STEP?????
NEW YORK – Is he risking a Samsonian downfall? Was Rafael Nadal’s visit to a barber shop a wise decision? Trimmed of what seemed his lucky locks, does he yet have the muscle and hustle to win a two-week tussle called the US Open. “Why, he has ears!” exclaimed a woman who saw him yesterday, during what seemed a cameo: 33 ½ minutes of making “Gonzo” (Chilean Fernando … [Read more...] about WITH SHORN LOCKS, HAS NADAL LOST A STEP?????
ROCKET ROUNDS THE GRAND SLAM TWICE, A SINGULAR ACHIEVEMENT SIX YEARS APART
NEW YORK — Can it be 40 years since Rod Laver borrowed a dime from me? Afraid so. It wasn’t a “Brother, can you spare a dime?” plea, however. After all, Laver had moments before won a tennis tournament called the US Open, and was handed a check for $ 16,000. (The same event that will shortly endow a man and a woman with $ 1,600,000 a piece. Yes, you can get rich playing … [Read more...] about ROCKET ROUNDS THE GRAND SLAM TWICE, A SINGULAR ACHIEVEMENT SIX YEARS APART