Ex Basketball pro Wilbert Jones loves tennis

I like it, Scoop. I’ve never heard of Wil Jones, but I certainly remember two of his brothers, Caldwell and Major Jones. Pretty cool that the Ashe-Connors match drew his interest so much he picked up a racquet that day and has always used Head racquets since.

That was an amazing Wimbledon finals and Ashe certainly led many black men, I’m sure, and probably women too, to pick up the game. I’d like to see how well Wil can move at 69 and6-8, but some guys just move really well even after long sports lives. Apparently, Charles Oakley, who’s 6-9 plays tennis. I’m going to try to get out on the court and hit with him.

Thanks for the article.

Why would Laura Robson have to run it by Andy ‘if it was going in a book?

OMG these people are so self-important.

So glad I don’t have to deal with all that anymore 🙂

Catherine: Robson is really struggling. Her ranking is about 220 and after injuries she has not been able to improve her ranking or be a WTA factor. She hits the ball well but is a slow mover. She is working hard and has Kvitova similarities with her big lefty forehand but she is slow. Not sure how happy she is now with her game and future hopes. Plus she is probably good friends with Andy. Heather Watson was a lot nicer and friendlier.

What about Robson’s perspective: reporter comes up to her and says I’m writing a book on Andy Murray. What’s she supposed to say. She’s never faced Murray as a player. Why would you even ask Robson about what it’s like to face Murray when she’s a female player? I might not answer that question either because you’re not talking about her game or another female player’s.

Scoop –

I’ve been around a long time, in tennis and otherwise, and whenever I hear that stuff about gay players pursuing others I just yawn. If I had £100 for every time I’ve heard this story I’d be a wealthy woman.

It’s BS, a fantasy and usually (my apologies) a male fantasy. It just doesn’t happen. I know Michael Mewshaw went after that angle but that was Mewshaw’s interest I’m sorry to say.

I don’t want to go on about myself 🙂 but I did travel on the women’s circuit for about 6 months once and I never heard or saw anything remotely resembling that kind of behaviour – there were relationships, true, but outside tennis, or after careers were more or less over.

(and I’m not including the odd players who are open about their lives – a minority)

Parents can be as protective as they like but that doesn’t always work does it ?

Your general points about the women’s tour viv a vis men’s are right, but this has been gone over a few posts back. My angle was probably more technical – that maybe young women players get stuck in a certain style and don’t progress. But that’s probably true of boys, except the best.
(I would put Laura Robson in that category)

Didn’t get the girl to “play on their team?” Scoop, who uses language like this anymore. Being homosexual isn’t being on “a team.” It’s a sexual preference that’s innate, I believe (although Mike Pence our soon-to-be-new VP, once said, who knows he probably still believes it, that you can “change” homosexuals to heterosexuals), and so you don’t choose “a team.”

I don’t remember choosing a team when I started taking an interest sexually in women and not men.

Hartt –

Yes – I agree with you – if I were a parent I’d have lots more worries associated with men around the game and young girls – plenty of male coaches are attracted to the coaching of girls – most are genuine and professional but a few definitely are not.

Sport’s a quagmire in this regard, coaching etc. Look at the trouble the Football Association’s got into in the UK over abuse of boys who were often little more than children.

I only saw a couple of Bertens’ IPTL matches and was impressed by what I did see. Will pay more attention to her next season.

Scoop-

Because players don’t crack a smile on court it doesn’t mean they’re unhappy with ‘the lonely life’ on tour.
Maybe she was just concentrating. Lots of players don’t smile much when competing.

Let’s not get too carried away with the notion of the lonely life – social media suggests some of it is quite fun.

I agree that for struggling players it’s a lonely life and must seem a pointless one sometimes. I wonder why they persist.
I feel the same about the men. Most must know deep in their hearts that it’s not going to happen for them.

With no live tennis and bitterly cold weather, I am happily reading about tennis. Am reading some David Foster Wallace; am in the middle of his essay, “Derivative Sport in Tornado Alley,” and just finished re-reading “String Theory.” I had forgotten what a brilliant writer he was.

In “String Theory” he does touch on the loneliness of the tour, including the players’huge phone bills. But what I especially liked was the way I felt like I was actually in Montreal in 1995, watching Michael Joyce play in the qualies. You get a feeling for how incredibly tough it is to get to the top in tennis.

Joyce was obviously a talented, dedicated player who loved tennis. But I looked him up and his highest ranking was #64 and his only pro titles were 3 Challengers. He is better known as a coach, having worked with Sharapova for about 6 years and currently coaching WTA players.

Must get back to my reading. I am saving re-reading “Federer Both Flesh and Not” for later.

Hartt – here I am pouring cold water again – many people think DFW walks on water but I’m not one of them and I’m not sure why. Perhaps it’s the sheer relentlessness of his writing, it just goes on and on until you feel like shouting ‘stop, please’.
He could be like that in real life conversation sometimes I gather.
I remember reading ‘How Tracy Austin broke my heart’ and wondering how on earth Wallace expected a great tennis book to come from her pen, or her ghost’s.

Scoop – I’m really thinking of players way down the list who are probably not nearly in the class of the ones you’ve mentioned and whose ambitions are just dreams.

Dan, don’t let Oakley beat you if you play a set–maybe play a game of 21 instead. If you play a set and lose, you will regret it.

Peter Robinson is a big deal here in Canada. I read a lot of his books but kind of got away from him, like many mystery writers after a while his books seemed too much the same. But there has been a big enough of a break that I should have another look.

Another local mystery writer I enjoy is Maureen Jennings, who set her books in 1890s Toronto. She usually deals with an important social issue along with the mystery. Her books were the basis for a popular TV series, “Murdoch Mysteries,” but I think the original books are better. Maureen is originally from England and she also has a series set in WWII England.

There are so many excellent British mystery and crime writers. Who do you like in particular?

LOL about the year in review – I am still reading them, have not quite reached the saturation point!

Thanks for the names. I have ordered some from the library, the earliest I could find of Peter Lovesey and Jennie Melville. They don’t seem to have anything by Anne Cleeves.

I enjoy the old standbys as well. Every once in a while I reread 1 of the Sayers and there are still some James I have not read.

I just got back from doing errands and my local library had a couple of the more recent Peter Lovesey books so I picked up Cop to Corpse in case the early title I ordered does not come right away. The only copy of A Coffin for Pandora is at the Reference Library, which means I have to read it there. But that library often has terrific speakers so the next time I am there for a lecture will have a look at the book. Unfortunately used bookstores are a fast dying breed but will keep an eye out for “Pandora”.

Was very glad to see that both Lovesey and Melville have written a LOT of books. When I start on a new mystery writer I tend to go through their books pretty quickly.

Agree with you about obsessions with tennis players. I am a big Fed fan but am always surprised when people invest so much of themselves in any player.

I don’t usually buy things through the mail, getting them delivered to my apt. is a big hassle. But I did check out Abebooks. Unfortunately, the only inexpensive copies are from UK booksellers and the shipping costs are several times the cost of the book. Anyway, if it is short I can easily read it at the Reference Library the next time I am there. Am eagerly waiting for their list of speakers in the new year.

In the meantime there is a big stack of books waiting on a nearby table. 🙂

Yes, I enjoyed both the book and the film.

JG, Oakley beat me in tennis!? He’ll be lucky to beat me in one on one hoops, although I don’t know how I’ll keep him away from the basket. Maybe a game of h-o-r-s-e would be better. If Oak and I hit the courts I’ll give you a full run-down.

We got several inches of snow overnight and I just got back from a walk in the neighbouring park. All the trees are covered in snow and the evergreens in particular are very beautiful. A day like today makes living in this crazy climate worthwhile.

I am trying to avoid the Sharapova stories – if we get inundated with them now I hate to think what it will be like when she is actually back on the tour.

I have filled out surveys for 2017 predictions on a couple sites and have made a record of my picks so I can’t cheat later on and think I did better than in actuality. It’s a fun exercise and I don’t take it all that seriously. 🙂

Basically, I have both Andy and Novak having good seasons, with each winning 1 Slam and 3 Masters. I think Andy will get off to a good start and Novak will finish well, the reverse of 2016. Once again, I am predicting Milos will win a Slam (probably Wimbledon) and also a Masters (Paris?) so I hope he finally comes through.

Really went out on a limb and have Stan winning RG again. Just don’t have a feeling it will be Rafa, Andy or Novak and Stan seemed like the next best bet. But predicting anything regarding Stan is simply foolhardy. Also have Delpo winning Cincy, but that may be wishful thinking as much as anything.