Bud and I took part in a marvelous six day adventure, ballooning in Switzerland in mid June 2009. We were fortunate to join Sibby and Bob Brasler in an auction item to benefit the Arthur Ashe Junior Tennis Program in Philadelphia. We celebrated Sibby’s birthday on the 16th of June and Bud’s 80th on the 17th of June!!! Our masterful pilot, Stan Hess, and his “chaser” wife, Mary, … [Read more...] about BALLOONING IN SWITZERLAND FOR SIX DAYS!!
GETTING HIGH ON HOT AIR BALLOONS: THE GANG OF SEVEN’S SWISS UPS AND DOWNS
LUSTENAU, Austria — Drop in any time. That was the surprisingly hospitable sentiment of people we didn’t know in this small rural town we’d never heard of. Unannounced, we dropped from the benign blue sky, American strangers providing a little entertainment on a Sunday morning in June. Lustenau? End of the line? Apparently, because there was no choice. This was it … [Read more...] about GETTING HIGH ON HOT AIR BALLOONS: THE GANG OF SEVEN’S SWISS UPS AND DOWNS
HALL OF FAME INDUCTS QUINTESSENTIAL QUARTET: SELES, GIMENO, DELL, DR. JOHNSON
NEWPORT, R.I. – The tiny face peers at you from the showcase. It is an historic survivor and seems to know it, looking theworse for wear but proud of being beat up by a little girl with a big stick. Grown to nearly 6-feet, no longer the aggressive – yet ever gracious – adversary, Monica Seles appeared at the International Tennis Hall of Fame to take her rightful place … [Read more...] about HALL OF FAME INDUCTS QUINTESSENTIAL QUARTET: SELES, GIMENO, DELL, DR. JOHNSON
RODDICK’S GREATEST DAY CAN’T PREVENT FEDERER ECLIPSING SAMPRAS
LONDON – The yellow tennis ball hung above Andy Roddick’s left shoulder like a mini-moon. He eyed it with animosity, his weapon poised to shoot the moon as 15,000 witnesses surrounding the grass patch called Centre Court couldn’t believe that with one simple smack the rejuvenated American would post a 2-set lead over the 5-time champion, Roger Federer. It was oh-so-close to … [Read more...] about RODDICK’S GREATEST DAY CAN’T PREVENT FEDERER ECLIPSING SAMPRAS
SERENA, VENUS PUT SISTERLY LOVE ON HOLD UNTIL WINNING DOUBLES TITLE
Sisterly love may be a beautiful concept, but it doesn’t work on the tennis court for Venus and Serena. At least not until the post-match embrace. They go at each other in their intramural battles in a manner that leaves the rest of their colleagues shocked and awed. Venus, owner of 5 Wimbledon titles, wasn’t up to it this year, but the prize stayed in the family – the 8th … [Read more...] about SERENA, VENUS PUT SISTERLY LOVE ON HOLD UNTIL WINNING DOUBLES TITLE