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Annual tennis love rant...

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pltr...@xhost.org

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Sep 16, 2011, 2:45:48 PM9/16/11
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(This time of year, when my pro tennis year is over, I just have to vent, and
this is the best place for it. Sorry in advance. 8;) )

I despise the horde/team mentality, e.g., the manic cult surrounding each NFL or
(world) football team; it's for the mentally weaker among us.

The reason I love tennis so much is that it's an individual sport. Even doubles
provides only a minimal departure from that principle.

That's why I have no use whatsoever for Davis Cup, except for its historic
impact on the sport pre-WWII. It's a competition of trivial impact.

Further, I contend that World Team Tennis is the one disaster I ascribe to an
otherwise terrific person, Billie Jean King. It is tennis minus all those
individual challenges that make tennis a great sport.

-- Larry

WatchDemo

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Sep 16, 2011, 3:01:44 PM9/16/11
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wrote in message news:mq5777l644jav32sk...@4ax.com...

>(This time of year, when my pro tennis year is over, I just have to vent,
>and
>this is the best place for it. Sorry in advance. 8;) )

>I despise the horde/team mentality, e.g., the manic cult surrounding each
>NFL or
>(world) football team; it's for the mentally weaker among us.

Tennis has it's equivalent. Just read RST.

>The reason I love tennis so much is that it's an individual sport. Even
>doubles
>provides only a minimal departure from that principle.

>That's why I have no use whatsoever for Davis Cup, except for its historic
>impact on the sport pre-WWII. It's a competition of trivial impact.

I don’t either, really, but nice to see the players enjoying being on a
team. Must be a nice respite for them.

>Further, I contend that World Team Tennis is the one disaster I ascribe to
>an
>otherwise terrific person, Billie Jean King. It is tennis minus all those
>individual challenges that make tennis a great sport.

I totally agree. Makes me cringe from embarrassment.

Rodjk #613

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Sep 16, 2011, 3:15:16 PM9/16/11
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I grew up in (near) New Orleans and followed the Saints, which pretty
much cured my need to follow the NFL.
Many childhood memories of crying in front of the TV still makes it
tough to watch, but I read the scores and headlines so I can pretend
to half-way understand the guys in the office. It was great to see
them win the Super Bowl a couple of years ago. We actually watched the
game with an elementary school friend who I had recently gotten in
touch with...but I have not followed it much since then.
https://picasaweb.google.com/105575501543130957932/Superbowl#

Baseball, well...my dad is a huge Yankee's fan. One of my prized
possessions is the scrapbook of newspaper cutouts he kept as a
child ...lots of DiMaggio, Berra, Ford, Reynolds, Rizzuto...Mickey
Mantle as a rookie...But I find baseball boring to watch so again I
just follow the headlines. As a child, it was great to sit in front of
the TV and watch with my dad. Chris Chambliss hitting that walk off
home vs the Royals...Bucky Dent!!

I have to agree...I cannot stand World Team Tennis. The format just
does not make sense and it just is not that interesting.

Rodjk #613

Coach

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Sep 16, 2011, 8:28:09 PM9/16/11
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On 16 sep, 21:15, "Rodjk #613" <rjka...@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Sep 16, 1:45 pm, pltrg...@xhost.org wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> > (This time of year, when my pro tennis year is over, I just have to vent, and
> > this is the best place for it. Sorry in advance. 8;)  )
>
> > I despise the horde/team mentality, e.g., the manic cult surrounding each NFL or
> > (world) football team; it's for the mentally weaker among us.
>
> > The reason I love tennis so much is that it's an individual sport. Even doubles
> > provides only a minimal departure from that principle.
>
> > That's why I have no use whatsoever for Davis Cup, except for its historic
> > impact on the sport pre-WWII. It's a competition of trivial impact.
>
> > Further, I contend that World Team Tennis is the one disaster I ascribe to an
> > otherwise terrific person, Billie Jean King. It is tennis minus all those
> > individual challenges that make tennis a great sport.
>
> > -- Larry
>
> I grew up in (near) New Orleans and followed the Saints, which pretty
> much cured my need to follow the NFL.
> Many childhood memories of crying in front of the TV still makes it
> tough to watch, but I read the scores and headlines so I can pretend
> to half-way understand the guys in the office. It was great to see
> them win the Super Bowl a couple of years ago. We actually watched the
> game with an elementary school friend who I had recently gotten in
> touch with...but I have not followed it much since then.https://picasaweb.google.com/105575501543130957932/Superbowl#
>
> Baseball, well...my dad is a huge Yankee's fan. One of my prized
> possessions is the scrapbook of newspaper cutouts he kept as a
> child ...lots of DiMaggio, Berra, Ford, Reynolds, Rizzuto...Mickey
> Mantle as a rookie...But I find baseball boring to watch so again I
> just follow the headlines. As a child, it was great to sit in front of
> the TV and watch with my dad. Chris Chambliss hitting that walk off
> home vs the Royals...Bucky Dent!!
>
> I have to agree...I cannot stand World Team Tennis. The format just
> does not make sense and it just is not that interesting.
>
> Rodjk #613

I grew up in Holland (The Netherlands).

In Holland we have the spring competition, which is really the kick-
off of the tennis season. 400.000 people compete in team play.
Recreational players, but certainly good players join in this
competition to get ready for the tournament season.

I like this part of the year, because for once you are with a team and
you are allowed to coach.

This is nice, because the rest of the season you are on your own in
the tournaments.

I agree the format of WTT sucks. The people on the team are not
affilliated, in Holland they do play for their city.

pltr...@xhost.org

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Sep 17, 2011, 12:08:18 AM9/17/11
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On Fri, 16 Sep 2011 12:15:16 -0700 (PDT), "Rodjk #613" <rjk...@gmail.com>
wrote:

>Baseball, well...my dad is a huge Yankee's fan. One of my prized
>possessions is the scrapbook of newspaper cutouts he kept as a
>child ...lots of DiMaggio, Berra, Ford, Reynolds, Rizzuto...Mickey
>Mantle as a rookie...

Your dad has good taste!

I grew up in NJ, with five major league team within an hour of our house. My dad
was the only Yankee fan out of seven boys. So it must have been just a
coincidence that I was born on Mickey Mantle's birthday and have the same given
names as Yogi Berra. 8;)

-- Larry

pltr...@xhost.org

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Sep 17, 2011, 12:05:11 AM9/17/11
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On Fri, 16 Sep 2011 12:15:16 -0700 (PDT), "Rodjk #613" <rjk...@gmail.com>
wrote:

>Baseball, well...my dad is a huge Yankee's fan. One of my prized
>possessions is the scrapbook of newspaper cutouts he kept as a
>child ...lots of DiMaggio, Berra, Ford, Reynolds, Rizzuto...Mickey

Superdave

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Sep 17, 2011, 1:55:48 AM9/17/11
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You remember Richie Ashburn? Robin Roberts? I saw them both play at the old
Connie Mack.

pltr...@xhost.org

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Sep 25, 2011, 12:05:55 AM9/25/11
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On Fri, 16 Sep 2011 12:15:16 -0700 (PDT), "Rodjk #613" <rjk...@gmail.com>
wrote:

>Baseball, well...my dad is a huge Yankee's fan. One of my prized
>possessions is the scrapbook of newspaper cutouts he kept as a
>child ...lots of DiMaggio, Berra, Ford, Reynolds, Rizzuto...Mickey
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