Greetings, all…
So, I know I kind of ripped the U.S. Open in my blog yesterday, but in truth, it’s one of my favorite sporting events. It comes at a perfect time in the year, just when most people have seen enough regular season baseball and just before college football and the NFL really get going.
It’s also nice to have another Labor Day besides going to the beach, which, to me, is the most unoriginal, depressing way a person can spend a Labor Day weekend. You can spend any day of the summer on the beach, people! Have a barbeque, a luau, something!
Well anyway, today was about as perfect a day as you’ll find at the Open. Breezy, sunny, and loaded with interesting sightings and storylines. Here are some of the highlights, plus a few other random courtside thoughts:
*Being a ballboy/girl at the U.S. Open has to be coolest summer job this side of MTV intern. Think about it, you’re down on the court, running around, playing catch – with the BEST TENNIS PLAYERS IN THE WORLD. Not every day you get a chance to do something like that. While I’m on the topic, any kids in the audience should read “Confessions of a Yankee Batboy,” by Matthew McGough. I’ve never met Matthew, but he went to my high school, and from what I’ve heard and read about his book, it’s quite good. Where was I…
*Tennis is a strange sport in a lot of ways. Does anyone understand why they count sets from 1-5, games from 1-6, but points go from ‘love’ to 15 to 30 to 40? All I can figure is that the French were somehow involved, and that about says it all.
*Tennis is also strange because of the warm-ups. You’re out the on the court, literally minutes before you’re going to play in one of the biggest matches of your life, and you’re practicing against… your opponent! That’s gotta be a hell of a mindgame.
It got me thinking… Do you hold back during warm-ups, not wanting your opponent to get a sense of your style or pace? Or do you really wail away, trying to intimidate them before the match even starts?
I’m guessing the top players, like Lindsay Davenport, could care less about mind games. She seemed pretty relaxed during warm-ups, and then completely annihilated Pauline Parmentier in straight sets. Players like Lindsay don’t need to bother with intimidation -- the big number ‘2’ next her name is probably intimidation enough.
*Saw Sports Illustrated’s Rick Reilly walking around the media area wearing what looked a lot like a ballboy’s uniform. I hope I’m not scooping him, but don’t be surprised if you read his “I Was a U.S. Open Ballboy” column in next week’s SI.
*For all you major tennis fans out there, this will sound like a huge thrill: I watched the first set and a half of Andre Agassi’s match today next to legendary tennis journalist Bud Collins.
What was more legendary than merely sitting next to the man, however, was his distinctly eclectic wardbrobe. From head to toe, Collins wore a pink sun hat, bright green polo shirt, blue pajama pants with red tamale print, and yellow-and-red striped socks. You know a man has put his time in on a beat when he can get away without an outfit like that. Michael Irvin should take a lesson.
*One of the most enjoyable aspects of sitting next to Bud was the number of people that came over to pay homage during my brief time in the adjoining seat. By my count, no fewer than 10-15 other tennis journalists and big shots dropped by to say hello, while I sat there with my hands folded, trying to blend in.
I think if Bud found out I was blogging for a web site, he would’ve decked me on the spot, traditionalist that he is. “Nothing personal,” he would have said. “But the internet is for -- -- ” At least that’s how I imagined it.
*Bud had a funny exchange with a pair of Croatian reporters who were sitting behind me during Agassi’s match against Croatian giant Ivo Karlovic.
After Karlovic double-faulted on a big point in the first set, the pro-Agassi crowd cheered loudly – a flagrant violation of the tennis code of ethics. Bud chuckled, turned to the two reporters apologetically and said, “See how polite we are in this country? We cheer for double faults.” One of the Croatian reporters laughed and replied, “Don’t worry, in my country it would have been the same.”
*A final thought for anyone who is heading out to the Open this weekend. Bring sunscreen!
I’ve never seen so many painful, pink shades of pigmentation in my life. The sun is harmful, boys and girls, and if you don’t cover up, you’ll end up looking like you just took a bath in watermelon Slurpee.