“Ok, I’ve got time on my hands to tell a funny story about Solly. We were playing a 35s event at 18th and Kennedy in Washington DC. We had all finished singles matches in typical DC weather in July. After Solly’s match he went into a tent where he proceeded to get cramps everywhere on his body. He was face down on the grass, spread eagled, cramping. Then it got worse. Ants started to crawl up his shorts. Eddie Dibbs and I were there trying not to laugh but it was impossible. God paid me back though for being very unsympathetic. Stan Smith and I played Dibbs and Solly a little later in day and after 1st set, I was seeing stars. I had to default and went into a very cold locker room and now I proceeded to cramp everywhere. I couldn’t get out of the shower because I would cramp again. They called for paramedics and two African American WOMEN showed up and one got in the shower with me massaging my legs. This was great entertainment for the players that were present as they were howling. The cramps finally abated and they took me to the hospital, where thy pumped me full of fluids. Amazingly I recouped very well and beat Smith in the finals the next day.”
Harold Solomon himself added to the tale…
“One of the good things you forgot to say was that when I cramped and fell into the dirt and the ants started crawling up my legs the only one to help me was the best looking tour manager who, believe it or not, was going up my shorts to get the ants out, it was almost worth the bites I got. One other thing was that Dibbs and I won that doubles match against you and Stan which was a miracle because you guys used to chop us every time. You and Stan were amazing and Eddie and I were very ordinary. Hope your feeling well after the surgery Bob.”
These kinds of interactions happen frequently on the Facebook “Golden Age of Tennis Clubhouse” page where many ex ATP and WTA players post and discuss memories.
ATP · Bob Lutz · Harold Solomon · Washington DC
