SF Tennis Freak

Archive for the ‘General’ Category

Or at least pretty close to it…

After a long week covering the SAP Open and driving back and forth to San Jose from San Francisco, it was time for some much-needed R&R in the form of an anniversary trip to Hawaii with my partner. It was precisely what the doctor ordered to help ease my stress! I took a few pictures…not to make you jealous, mind you, only to share the experience. 😉

There was no tennis on this trip outside of some online viewing. Just some quality time spent eating and drinking by the pool with my guy, and staring at the ocean. The closest I came to playing tennis was walking to take a picture at some awesome courts that had a wonderful view of Diamond Head. Maybe they’re used to it, but I’m pretty sure that my concentration levels would suffer.

Maybe I’ll get a chance to try out that theory next time.
Next up: finishing my volunteer days for umping at an NTRP in Pleasonton, CA.

Sometimes there are other things far more important than tennis.  This is one of those times.

The facts aren’t completely known, but in the wake of news that Oscar “Bladerunner” Pistorius shot and killed his girlfriend, I’d like to post this piece of information regarding “guns in the home”.  I’m not posting it because I hate guns or gun owners; I simply want people on both sides to acknowledge the statistical reality of what happens when you keep a gun in your home for “protection”.

American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine

Risks and Benefits of a Gun in the Home

David Hemenway, PhD

Am J Lifestyle Med. 2011;5(6):502-511.

One of the most cited studies involved approximately 400 homicide victims from 3 metropolitan areas who were killed in their homes. Half died from gunshot wounds. In 83% of the homicide cases, the perpetrator was discovered; among these cases, 95% of the time, the perpetrator was not a stranger. In only 14% of all the cases was there evidence of forced entry.*

*-Kellermann AL, Rivara FP, Rushforth NB, et al. Gun ownership as a risk factor for homicide in the home. N Engl J Med. 1993;329:1084–1091.

 Numbers don’t lie, but then again we live in a society that loves to deny statistical reality.  Sometimes, however, there’s no denial strong enough to cover up this many dead…

What a night!

The San Francisco 49’ers lost a close one to the Baltimore Ravens in tonight’s Super Bowl. No, it only seemed close at the end. In reality, it was a on one-sided embarrassment until the lights went out just after Beyonce’s halftime show. Thirty minutes later, after the Ravens’ momentum had been completely stopped, the Niners finally remembered who they were and what game they had come to play.

By then it was too late. You can’t spot a team 2 quarters and 22 points and expect to win any game, let alone win a Super Bowl.

Colin Kaepernick, the savior of the season after Alex Smith’s injury, showed his inexperience in the biggest game of his life. The first half reminded me of the game in Seattle against the Seahawks, where he looked unprepared for the conditions (fan noise, mostly) he had to face.

Fortunately for us, he was able to apply the lessons learned from Seattle in later games – notably the NFC championship game in Atlanta. But there can be no lessons learned after a Super Bowl… at least not until next season. Colin did his best to play better and lead the team in the second half, but the deficit was way too much to overcome.

Colin wasn’t alone with respect to first half nerves, though. Our top-notch defense looked terrible, missing tackles left and right and putting absolutely no pressure on Raven’s quarterback Joe Flacco. As with Colin, the second half, after the outage, was much better. But again, it was way too late make for the missed opportunities from the first half.

The Super Bowl party I attended with my partner started winding down fairly early, during the power outage. A few of the guys had only come for Beyonce’s performance, but it was more than that. The disappointing first half of the game (and ensuing second half kick return for a touchdown) had really taken the air out of the room. And let’s face it: nobody wants to watch their team get blown out! I’m glad we stayed for the comeback, but it still kinda sucked in the end.

Since then, it’s been really quiet in SF. Apart from those momentary bouts of shouting/giddiness/hope in the fourth quarter, the quiet settled over the city like a wet blanket. I hope it’s gone tomorrow, however, and we can look back on a pretty great and improbable season for the Niners.

No one expected this Super Bowl appearance from their sub-par beginning to the season. And Kaepernick wasn’t even in the picture before Alex’s injury. So really, there’s a lot to be proud of in this team’s accomplishments in getting to New Orleans, including the massive 17-point comeback in the NFC championship game.

Maybe next year they’ll realize that they don’t need to be behind to play their best. Or at least one can only hope!

It’s been awhile since my last posting, but trust me when I tell you that I got a lot planned for my December postings. 😉

Before I get started with those, however, I wanted to share my little moment in the sun: my GLTF member spotlight. The Gay and Lesbian Tennis Federation of San Francisco (GLTF) is a great organization that I’ve been fortunate enough to be a part of for many years. I won’t go through my history with the organization, though I will say that it’s been fruitful as well as fruit-filled! I’ve been a member for many years, so I was bound to get my turn in the member spotlight section. It’s usually only shared with GLTF members in the Members-only section of the website, but I’m sure that it’d be okay to share my spotlight answers with you all.
[As if you don’t already know way too much about me already. :-)] 

GLTF MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

General Information

City: San Francisco
USTA Rank: 4.0
Gender: Male
Job: Web Designer/Wannabe Writer
Relationship Status: Partnered
Blog: www.sftennisfreak.com

What got you started with tennis?

I’ve always loved tennis since I was a kid and saw Arthur Ashe winning Wimbledon, but only played sporadically until around ’96. That’s when I started playing more with a friend of mine here in San Francisco toward the end of my career as a dancer. After I retired from performing, I started playing as much as I could… I guess to make up for lost time.

What helped you grow your own game most?

The biggest strides in my game happened when I finally started taking lessons. My first instructor in the club was Kerry Mitchell. He was brutal when it came to assessing your game, actually saying things like “Your forehand and footwork are terrible!”. But he also cared about helping you to improve. Before I took lessons with him my game would break down under the slightest stress. Afterward, I knew I had a better technical foundation to see me through the rough patches. I don’t have as much time for lessons as I used to, but take with Marla Reid whenever I can. She has helped me to have a more positive outlook on court, which is pretty key.

What have you done personally to help grow the game?

I’m not sure if I’ve done anything to “grow the game” on a large scale. I love the game and want to help others love it too. Maybe my writings have helped people who aren’t huge tennis fans have a better understanding of the players and why they’re all pretty incredible.

On a more immediate front, I will always feel a sense of pride in how I helped grow one important aspect of the game for the GLTF. When I first started as webmaster for the club, players had to send checks in to register for events or bring their checkbook/cash to the courts on the day of the event. So I researched a ton of options and finally found a way to introduce online payments to all of our club events, including the USGO. And we’ve never looked back. THAT makes me very proud.

What do you like most about tennis?

I love the simplicity of tennis. It’s not an easy game, but it’s a very simple game. It’s also great that we get to play year-round, outdoors and under the sun, in a city like San Francisco. On those perfect playing days with the perfect temperature, I can’t think of anything else I’d rather do.

Do you have any tennis goals?

My primary goal whenever I step onto a tennis court is to have fun and enjoy the moment. Granted, it’s easier when you’re playing well or winning. But it’s important to me regardless. I’ve had two surgeries: one on my right knee, and the other on my right shoulder. Both are on my dominant/hitting side. After the shoulder surgery there was a real chance I might not be able to play again. So I try to enjoy every moment I can knowing how close I was to never coming back.

What is your favorite [racquet/surface/tournament/shot]?

Favorite racquet: my current one (the Head Speed MP)
Favorite surface: hard court
Favorite tournament: Wimbledon
Favorite shot: Inside-out forehand

Does any one tennis memory stand out?

Three tennis memories stand out to me, all in different aspects of my relationship to the game. The first is my winning shot in a semifinal match that put me and my partner George Torrellas into the final of the Sissenstein Doubles tournament. We lost in the final, but the shot I hit was a screamer forehand pass down the line on the net man. I yelled and dropped my racquet afterward. The second is the feeling I had when I walked into the ballroom at the Westin St. Francis for my banquet when I was director of the USGO. Everything looked so spectacular that I got a little emotional. The third memory is from Miami when I ran into Mary Carillo while walking on the grounds at the Sony Ericsson. I called her and she came over to me. I rambled on about how much I loved her and how much we all did in San Francisco, and she got quite a kick out of it. I have a picture with her that always brings a smile to my face.

When you aren’t playing, what else do you like to do?

When I’m not playing tennis, I like to watch TV (Grimm, RuPaul’s Drag Race, The Ultimate Fighter, Raising Hope, Family Guy) or write for my blog sftennisfreak.com.

If you’re a Bay Area LGBT tennis player, check out the GLTF at www.gltf.org.

As tennis’ International Hall of Fame was preparing to announce its’ induction class for 2012, information was coming to light about a previously-inducted Hall of Famer and abuse allegations that seemed too hard to ignore. But that’s exactly what officials at the Hall of Fame appeared to do, infuriating many in the tennis community.

The subject of this firestorm was Bob Hewitt; a standout doubles player in his day who won all of the Grand Slam doubles titles for both Men’s and Mixed doubles. In later years, he went on to become a junior coach. This is where the story goes horribly wrong. Instead of coaching his young charges, he preyed on them sexually. Some of the victims, all young girls, were as young as 12. By all accounts the abuse was widespread and systemic.

A criminal probe was launched in early 2011. By the fall of 2011, word had spread of the allegations, and several witnesses had come forward against Hewitt. Mary Carillo even did a “Real Sports” story on the Hewitt allegations. But that’s as far as it got in terms of the tennis world.

Hall of Fame officials initially declined action because there was no criminal complaint on the matter. Finally, Tony Trabert, then president of the ITHOF, promised to conduct an investigation on the matter. But he never followed through. By the time the 2012 crop of inductees was being named, the matter had reached the boiling point because of the ITHOF’s inaction.

Mark Stenning, Hall CEO, publicly admitted in May that no investigation had been conducted. When an investigation was finally complete, it resulted in Hewitt’s suspension from the Hall of Fame on November 15, 2012. His plaque has been removed, as well as all other to him on Hall of Fame materials. Hewitt is “suspended” because they felt that expulsion was only appropriate if he were found guilty in a criminal proceeding. But for all practical purposes, Hewitt has ceased to be a Hall of Famer.

Stenning said afterward, “In hindsight, we certainly could have handled this more swiftly.”

You think?

Better late than never, I guess. Don’t get me wrong. I’m all for “due process”, but it took the Hall of Fame well over a year to take action on this matter, in spite of the pleas of many respected members. To their credit (because I do believe they should be given some credit) they spared no expense to investigate the matter once it became clear that Trabert had dropped the ball.

I’m not sure their late-game heroics can make up for their earlier inactivity, at least not for the victims. It’s easy to say you’re sorry after the fact when there are consequences. But it would have been much better if someone at the Hall of Fame had done the right thing from the outset, especially since the Hall of Fame is supposed to embody the best of tennis. And there was nothing “best” about this.

Articles for further reading and discussion:

• http://www.sport24.co.za/tennis/bob-hewitt-victim-speaks-out-20120705

• http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2012/11/15/bob-hewitt-suspended-from-tennis-hall-fame-after-allegations-sexual-abuse/QxC7zbtLwwsHCjDY5wdkJK/story.html

• http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/iteam/2011/11/hbos-real-sports-takes-a-look-at-bob-hewitt-sex-abuse-allegations

• http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/kwazulu-natal/jhb-tennis-mom-to-sue-bob-hewitt-1.1143921#.ULXB8Id9J8E

“I play tennis for a living even though I hate tennis, hate it with a dark and secret passion and always have.“

Andre Agassi, Open.

It was a shockingly unexpected comment from one of the game’s greats, and a hero to many, me included. However, all things change with time. And if the huge smile on Andre’s face during the ‘BILT by Agassi and Reyes Champions Showdown’ (part of the PowerShares series) was any indication, he’s had a change of heart.

The final events of the PowerShares series are coming up this week in Denver and Anaheim, with Andre participating in both for a shot at finishing in the top three for a share of the $1M prize money. I had a chance to chat with Andre before his matches in San Jose, and one thing is certain: Andre is having the time of his life these days, and is wholeheartedly enjoying his association with a sport that was once the source of great turmoil and pain.

The 42 year-old Vegas showman lit up the arena with comprehensive victories over Jim Courier and John McEnroe. It was vintage Agassi: smacking backhands to the corners, crushing forehands, and blasting service returns winners at will past the net-charging McEnroe. When I asked Andre before the match how he was able to juggle his business ventures while still playing competitively in events such as this, he jokingly responded, “You’ll see tonight that I don’t spend too much time playing tennis anymore“.

To the contrary, Andre’s play was an impressive display of shot-making. Both Courier and McEnroe did their best to keep the ball out of Andre’s strike zone with high topspin, low angled slices, and deeply chipped shots with very little pace. It was a strategy that probably would have worked against most other players, but not against a guy like Agassi with the ability to hit the ball cleanly on the rise from both sides, no matter where he is on the court. It was inspiring tennis.

The best part of the evening, hands down, was seeing the joy on Andre’s face as he played. It’s a fitting reward for a guy who once hated tennis “with a dark and secret passion”. In fact, Andre’s current state of happiness with the game of tennis is palpable. It’s given him everything he holds dear, including his wife of eleven years, Stefanie, and their two kids, Jaden and Jaz. Steffi, in particular, provides the stability that allows him to pursue his passions.

“I have a strong infrastructure and great people around me certainly. But my wife is where it begins, because without that foundation at home none of this would be possible.”

The biggest slice of “this” is most certainly Andre’s work with his Andre Agassi Foundation For Education, helping disadvantaged kids get the education needed to succeed in life, and the Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy. Andre’s continued efforts on behalf of the foundation have helped grow its’ endowment to over $550M to help build charter schools across the country.

“Am I a philanthropist? Yeah, I give a lot of money, but I feel there should be more to it. I came to the conclusion that what I am is a facilitator. I bring a lot of people together to create a vision, to get involved, to put leadership in place and get people to go above and beyond” (Bob Cohn, “Tennis no longer 1st in Agassi’s life“, TribLIVE, Oct. 14, 2012).

As if his foundation work wasn’t enough, Andre has created the ‘BILT by Agassi and Reyes’ line of training equipment with his good friend, Gil Reyes. The philosophy behind the BILT machines is one of maximizing training while also protecting the athlete’s body and joints. As Andre put it, it’s a bit “surreal” how it’s all come together – the culmination of their work together, combining all the knowledge they’ve amassed over the years of Andre’s time on tour.

“This particular time in my life is really special because it’s a full-circle kind of journey for me to see the sport give a platform and allow me to do some of the things I care about off the court. To watch what Gil did for me… and see it turn into a business that will help others like it helped me.”

Even with his loaded schedule, Andre still finds time to enjoy the current generation of top players. When I asked if he thought his best play could match up with that of the “Big Four”, his answer was a quick and decisive “No”. He went on to say, “The game has gotten better, and it keeps getting better. What these guys do now is they have as much offense as I ever thought of having, and their defense is far superior.” But when asked if he can still take a good rip at a ball like the old days, he smiled and said, “Oh yeah.” Having witnessed his demolition of Courier and McEnroe, I agree.

Andre has always been one of the greatest ball strikers to ever play the game. But six years removed from his dramatic retirement at the US Open, he’s that and much more. Andre is a man who’s driven to give others the opportunity for education that, ironically, he never had. And he’s gone from hating tennis to realizing its’ potential to help others achieve success and personal happiness.

We should all be so lucky.