As I watched Ferrer and Verdasco relentlessly go at one another for over four hours last night in the round of 16 before Verdasco fell to the floor in celebration after a ridiculous passing shot to win it, I couldn't help but sit in awe and amazement. This was after Stan the Man had taken down Querrey in a nearly five hour epic battle.
I could barely walk or get off the couch myself, because I had played my first ever adult tennis tournament at the 5.5 level. It was the Santa Monica tourni, and I won in the finals 6-3 7-6 (5) against an 18 year-old who ran every single ball down and could play forever. Me, about to turn 33, thought I was in pretty darn good shape, but you simply don't recover in your mid 30's like we did as kids.
Playing in my own tournament gave me a whole new appreciation for what these guys do. I only played 2 out of 3 sets, and by the end of the tournament I felt like I was going to pass out. These guys do it at a much, much higher level for 3 out of 5 in front of thousands of people.
Wow, is it hard out there. Wow, is it a war out there.
To think, Verdasco's reward is to play Rafa less than 48 hours later. Some gift. Some reward.
Playing in my own tournament also gave me an appreciation of just how gutsy you have to be on the big points, when it really really matters. The only reason I was able to pull out that tie-breaker in the finals was because I was simply more willing to go for it. Every ounce in my body wanted to play it safe and be more passive, but I realized I HAD to actually be MORE aggressive on the big points.
I had to play big man's tennis when it mattered most. That is what these guys do when the stakes are 1000 times higher. That takes guts. That takes courage.
That one-on-one battle for over four hours where they both leave their heart on the court is why I love tennis. That is why I consider it the greatest sport in the world.
And that is very much like our own lives. We need to be gutsy and take chances when we may want to be passive. We need to keep fighting when we are down and losing and want to quit. We need to be perseverant and heroic and always continue to battle. We need to COMPETE.
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Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Blog # 17: Defending Andy Roddick (sort of) from Critics
As I watched Roddick sadly go down to Tipsarevic last night and lose his cool at the poor lineswoman who called a foot fault against him, I couldn't help but feel for the guy. I also couldn’t help but get angry when sports fans who know next to nothing about tennis rip into him and call him a failure and disgrace to his sport.
Now, don't get me wrong, I am by no means excusing or defending his conduct last night; it was completely wrong of him to lay into that woman, and once again, he showed he has a very difficult time letting things go on the court. He acted poorly in the heat of the battle. But, that by no means takes away from the fact that he has been in the top 10 seven straight years, he has loyally and faithfully played Davis Cup for his country, he is a good ambassador to the game, he is funny, charming, and classy off the court, and when he messes up on the court, he admits it and apologizes.
We are all human. We all get carried away and say and do the wrong thing at times. I wish Roddick could be as classy as Federer or Rafa on the court, but let's not get carried away with bashing him. When I walked into work today at Brentwood School to teach my English course, several of my colleagues were lambasting him and scoffing at his career.
Do they know how hard it is to be in the top 10 seven straight years?
Do they know how many slams Roddick might have won were it not for Rafa and Roger? How frustrating that must be? I know that doesn’t excuse being a jerk on the court, but can we cut him a LITTLE slack?
Don't get me wrong, there have been three or four times where I have seen him behaving in a less than an ideal manner. But he has always been sincere in his remorse and apology afterwards. As humans, I think it is admirable to admit when we are wrong and try to make amends.
Now, Andy clearly is at a crossroads in his career and he needs to get back to playing AGRESSIVE tennis where he FLATTENS out a big forehand to hit WINNERS and not get into cute rallies with these guys.
But, let's not erase and defame a man's whole career and character based on a few bad moments on the court.
Aren't we bigger than that?
AD OUT...
Now, don't get me wrong, I am by no means excusing or defending his conduct last night; it was completely wrong of him to lay into that woman, and once again, he showed he has a very difficult time letting things go on the court. He acted poorly in the heat of the battle. But, that by no means takes away from the fact that he has been in the top 10 seven straight years, he has loyally and faithfully played Davis Cup for his country, he is a good ambassador to the game, he is funny, charming, and classy off the court, and when he messes up on the court, he admits it and apologizes.
We are all human. We all get carried away and say and do the wrong thing at times. I wish Roddick could be as classy as Federer or Rafa on the court, but let's not get carried away with bashing him. When I walked into work today at Brentwood School to teach my English course, several of my colleagues were lambasting him and scoffing at his career.
Do they know how hard it is to be in the top 10 seven straight years?
Do they know how many slams Roddick might have won were it not for Rafa and Roger? How frustrating that must be? I know that doesn’t excuse being a jerk on the court, but can we cut him a LITTLE slack?
Don't get me wrong, there have been three or four times where I have seen him behaving in a less than an ideal manner. But he has always been sincere in his remorse and apology afterwards. As humans, I think it is admirable to admit when we are wrong and try to make amends.
Now, Andy clearly is at a crossroads in his career and he needs to get back to playing AGRESSIVE tennis where he FLATTENS out a big forehand to hit WINNERS and not get into cute rallies with these guys.
But, let's not erase and defame a man's whole career and character based on a few bad moments on the court.
Aren't we bigger than that?
AD OUT...
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Blog # 16: Learning from Mardy Fish: It is never too late to make the hard choices that will change your life forever
As I watched the Cincinnati final last weekend between Mardy Fish and Roger Federer, I couldn't help but marvel at Fish's comeback and be inspired by what he has done. About a year ago, Fish was at his lowest point in his tennis career; he was overweight, he was facing an imminent knee surgery, and people continued to say he would never, ever live up to his high potential as a tennis player.
Mardy says he had one of those life moments. You know the kind. Where you look at yourself in the mirror and see two potential roads you may head down. Road one (unfortunately often the easier one and road of least resistance) is where you keep doing what you have been and continue to head down this dark path. Road two, the road you know will be the toughest journey you have ever embarked upon, is your new path. It will lead you on a scary and unknown journey, but it is the the road you know you need to be on. You were meant to be on it.
Fish looked at himself in the mirror and contemplated retirement. But he ultimately decided to use this dark time as a learning opportunity. As a chance to change his life. He decided to go through with the surgery and to lose 25 pounds in recovery, to get more fit than he has ever been, and to give his tennis career one last full blown go. He knew he had the physical talent, and now that he had hit rock bottom, he was ready to put in the work. To do the really really hard stuff. The kind of work that is most rewarding.
I had a similar moment about six years ago in my own life. I had always been a heavy drinker and loved to party on the weekends, and I could see what it was doing to me and where I was headed. When I woke up the morning of December 3 2004, I looked myself in the mirror just as Mardy did. I knew I could either continue on the path of destruction, or make the hardest changes of my life. Like Mardy, I chose the harder, but more rewarding journey. It was the most important moment in my life.
This is why I am pulling for Mardy Fish as he heads into the 2010 US Open.
Because he teaches us all it is never too late to make difficult and critical changes.
What difficult and important changes do you need to make as you look in the mirror?
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Mardy says he had one of those life moments. You know the kind. Where you look at yourself in the mirror and see two potential roads you may head down. Road one (unfortunately often the easier one and road of least resistance) is where you keep doing what you have been and continue to head down this dark path. Road two, the road you know will be the toughest journey you have ever embarked upon, is your new path. It will lead you on a scary and unknown journey, but it is the the road you know you need to be on. You were meant to be on it.
Fish looked at himself in the mirror and contemplated retirement. But he ultimately decided to use this dark time as a learning opportunity. As a chance to change his life. He decided to go through with the surgery and to lose 25 pounds in recovery, to get more fit than he has ever been, and to give his tennis career one last full blown go. He knew he had the physical talent, and now that he had hit rock bottom, he was ready to put in the work. To do the really really hard stuff. The kind of work that is most rewarding.
I had a similar moment about six years ago in my own life. I had always been a heavy drinker and loved to party on the weekends, and I could see what it was doing to me and where I was headed. When I woke up the morning of December 3 2004, I looked myself in the mirror just as Mardy did. I knew I could either continue on the path of destruction, or make the hardest changes of my life. Like Mardy, I chose the harder, but more rewarding journey. It was the most important moment in my life.
This is why I am pulling for Mardy Fish as he heads into the 2010 US Open.
Because he teaches us all it is never too late to make difficult and critical changes.
What difficult and important changes do you need to make as you look in the mirror?
Ad OUT...
Monday, August 16, 2010
Blog #15 Top 10 take-aways from Toronto 2010
1. Murray is the best player in the world on hard courts when he plays agressively. He could win majors and be #1 if he always played that way. Unfortunately, 90 percent of the time against 90 percent of opponents, he doesn't need to, so he has a hard time MAKING himself be aggressive.
2. Fed is not all the way back. He still is seriously lacking confidence and making way, way too many unforced errors. But, when he is making a large percentage of first serves, he is so so hard to beat. He will NOT win the Open.
3. Rafa is still incredibly vulnerable on the hard stuff. Anyone who hits hard, flat enough, and big enough can beat him on any given day.
4. Djoko still completely lacks confidence and no one takes him seriously as #2 in the world. He has not beaten ANYONE in the top 10 the ENTIRE year. He is so so fragile emotionally. He has all of the weapons to be #1, but not the mental toughness.
5. If Nalbandian lost 10 more pounds and kept working hard, he can win a major and get into the top 5. He would stay more healthy, and no one is better than him when he is on.
6. Berdych is the real deal and will win a slam. He now has won me over because he has learned what it means to COMPETE.
7. Dologolpov is perhaps the best young player in the game and will get to the top 15.
8. Cilic is in a world of trouble and had better get it going FAST.
9. Sod is still way, way too up and down.
10. DavyD may never get back to the top 8, no matter how many thousands of tourni's he plays every year!
2. Fed is not all the way back. He still is seriously lacking confidence and making way, way too many unforced errors. But, when he is making a large percentage of first serves, he is so so hard to beat. He will NOT win the Open.
3. Rafa is still incredibly vulnerable on the hard stuff. Anyone who hits hard, flat enough, and big enough can beat him on any given day.
4. Djoko still completely lacks confidence and no one takes him seriously as #2 in the world. He has not beaten ANYONE in the top 10 the ENTIRE year. He is so so fragile emotionally. He has all of the weapons to be #1, but not the mental toughness.
5. If Nalbandian lost 10 more pounds and kept working hard, he can win a major and get into the top 5. He would stay more healthy, and no one is better than him when he is on.
6. Berdych is the real deal and will win a slam. He now has won me over because he has learned what it means to COMPETE.
7. Dologolpov is perhaps the best young player in the game and will get to the top 15.
8. Cilic is in a world of trouble and had better get it going FAST.
9. Sod is still way, way too up and down.
10. DavyD may never get back to the top 8, no matter how many thousands of tourni's he plays every year!
Friday, July 23, 2010
Blog #14: One is the Loneliest Number
One of the things I love most about tennis is that the men are out there all ALONE, by themselves, with no coaches allowed to help them during their matches. I appreciate and treasure how lonely it is out there for these guys. Sure, Rafa can look up at Uncle Tony for encouragement and support, but I've watched a lot of matches, believe me, and I've never seen Tony hit one cross-court passing shot or one serve up the middle at break point. When the umpire on that court says, "play" it is all up to Rafa.
Now I know that Phil Jackson never shoots a free throw, and Joe Torre never throws a pitch, but in most sports (particularly team sports) like basketball, baseball, football, soccer, there is tons of coaching going on during the actual time of play. There are strategic decisions being made, there are substitutions being shuffled in and out, there are encouraging words being shouted constantly. In tennis, the players can get all of the coaching they want before and after the match, but during the match it is all on THEM, and them alone. Ain't nobody trotting in to give them a five minute rest.
This is a huge part of what makes a one-on-one, mano a mano tennis battle that much more special and intense. When Rafa and Roger are out on Center Court for five hours in the finals of Wimby, they have only themselves to consult. That takes incredible toughness. That takes a man.
Some think coaching should be allowed during matches. I say NO WAY! This is one of the most compelling aspects of tennis. In addition to the tremendous physical grind, the mental toughness it demands is AWESOME. How different would it be if they were sitting there chatting with their coaches during change-overs, or allowed to call timeout to get coached? I like seeing them thinking alone with no one to talk to but themselves as everyone stares at them during the change-overs. How vulnerable they look. How heroic.
To me, that is a lot like our lives, yours and mine. For we may have many people who love us, support us, coach us before big moments and after, but ULTIMATELY we are alone in our words and actions and choices. In the end, when it really matters, we have to take full responsibility and act as our own, independent free agents. We may rely on the strength and support of our "team", just as the players on the ATP do, but at life's most intense and important moments, it is all on us.
How's your cross-court backhand passing shot at break point in the fifth set of a major?
How's that serve of yours?
Chips are down, you are all in, there is no Uncle Tony. It is all you.
How do you compete?
Ad OUT...
Now I know that Phil Jackson never shoots a free throw, and Joe Torre never throws a pitch, but in most sports (particularly team sports) like basketball, baseball, football, soccer, there is tons of coaching going on during the actual time of play. There are strategic decisions being made, there are substitutions being shuffled in and out, there are encouraging words being shouted constantly. In tennis, the players can get all of the coaching they want before and after the match, but during the match it is all on THEM, and them alone. Ain't nobody trotting in to give them a five minute rest.
This is a huge part of what makes a one-on-one, mano a mano tennis battle that much more special and intense. When Rafa and Roger are out on Center Court for five hours in the finals of Wimby, they have only themselves to consult. That takes incredible toughness. That takes a man.
Some think coaching should be allowed during matches. I say NO WAY! This is one of the most compelling aspects of tennis. In addition to the tremendous physical grind, the mental toughness it demands is AWESOME. How different would it be if they were sitting there chatting with their coaches during change-overs, or allowed to call timeout to get coached? I like seeing them thinking alone with no one to talk to but themselves as everyone stares at them during the change-overs. How vulnerable they look. How heroic.
To me, that is a lot like our lives, yours and mine. For we may have many people who love us, support us, coach us before big moments and after, but ULTIMATELY we are alone in our words and actions and choices. In the end, when it really matters, we have to take full responsibility and act as our own, independent free agents. We may rely on the strength and support of our "team", just as the players on the ATP do, but at life's most intense and important moments, it is all on us.
How's your cross-court backhand passing shot at break point in the fifth set of a major?
How's that serve of yours?
Chips are down, you are all in, there is no Uncle Tony. It is all you.
How do you compete?
Ad OUT...
Monday, July 19, 2010
BLOG # 13: Why it is harder to win a tennis major than a Golf Major
As I watched the 27 year-old South African Louis Oosthuizen calmly and casually win the British Open in golf and celebrate with his wife and daughter yesterday, my first thought was: why the hell aren't I out in Scotland on some beautiful course winning a million dollars for my new family?
My second thought, though, was why someone like him, ranked 56 in the the world (and a guy nobody outside of his family and mailman had heard of) could NEVER win a tennis major. Sorry but don't be betting on Lukasz Kubot (ranked #56 on the ATP) to win the US OPEN in Fushing Meadows this September.
So....why?
Why does it happen relatively often in golf, and NEVER in tennis? Well.. Three important reasons come to mind.
First, in golf Louis was only battling the course and himself. He had no direct opponent hitting balls at him. What I love so much about tennis is the one-on-one, mano a mano battle between two gladiators. That changes absolutely everything. If Oosthuizen had to take on Tiger Woods directly or a competitor like Federer or Nadal, that would drastically alter the equation. He wouldn't believe he could win that fight on national television in front of millions of people. Even if it is match play in golf, or even if it is the final twosome fighting for the title, there is no DIRECT conflict. No opponent can physically alter the way Louis hits his drive or putts his putt. Can Andy Murray say that about his return of serve against Roddick? Nope. Roddick's serve has everything to do with Murray's return.
Reason number 2 is that Louis only had to do it for four days. To win a tennis major, you have to perform for seven straight matches. I don't think a guy ranked 56 in the world in golf could do it seven straight days. Eventually, the pressure would get to him. He would only be entering the second week of a tennis major right now. That's one heck of a difference.
The last reason why this could never happen in tennis is because in tennis you ALWAYS have to go through the top 5 or so guys directly to win a major. Whether those guys are Federer and Nadal, or Connors and McEnroe, you have to beat them on the tennis court. And they simply won't let you beat them. In golf, you only have to go through the course. Would Rafa or Roger have gone down to the Louis Oosthuizen in tennis? I don't think so!
Now, one could argue this makes it tougher to win a golf major since there are more potential people who could win. One could also argue this makes golf more interesting since it is even less predictable.
I beg to differ. I like GREATNESS and consistency and rivalries.
I like how they have to do it for 7 days in tennis.
I like how they have to do it directly against another human being on the court. And that to me is the life lesson here. In tennis you get the one-on-one battle and you have to make constant adjustments and tweaks based on what your opponent is doing. Isn't that more like life, where we constantly have to tweak our behavior based on the reactions and actions of others? The tennis match is like a chess game, each player trying to outsmart, as well as out hit, the other. That is simple AWESOME.
That is why I LOVE tennis.
AD OUT.
My second thought, though, was why someone like him, ranked 56 in the the world (and a guy nobody outside of his family and mailman had heard of) could NEVER win a tennis major. Sorry but don't be betting on Lukasz Kubot (ranked #56 on the ATP) to win the US OPEN in Fushing Meadows this September.
So....why?
Why does it happen relatively often in golf, and NEVER in tennis? Well.. Three important reasons come to mind.
First, in golf Louis was only battling the course and himself. He had no direct opponent hitting balls at him. What I love so much about tennis is the one-on-one, mano a mano battle between two gladiators. That changes absolutely everything. If Oosthuizen had to take on Tiger Woods directly or a competitor like Federer or Nadal, that would drastically alter the equation. He wouldn't believe he could win that fight on national television in front of millions of people. Even if it is match play in golf, or even if it is the final twosome fighting for the title, there is no DIRECT conflict. No opponent can physically alter the way Louis hits his drive or putts his putt. Can Andy Murray say that about his return of serve against Roddick? Nope. Roddick's serve has everything to do with Murray's return.
Reason number 2 is that Louis only had to do it for four days. To win a tennis major, you have to perform for seven straight matches. I don't think a guy ranked 56 in the world in golf could do it seven straight days. Eventually, the pressure would get to him. He would only be entering the second week of a tennis major right now. That's one heck of a difference.
The last reason why this could never happen in tennis is because in tennis you ALWAYS have to go through the top 5 or so guys directly to win a major. Whether those guys are Federer and Nadal, or Connors and McEnroe, you have to beat them on the tennis court. And they simply won't let you beat them. In golf, you only have to go through the course. Would Rafa or Roger have gone down to the Louis Oosthuizen in tennis? I don't think so!
Now, one could argue this makes it tougher to win a golf major since there are more potential people who could win. One could also argue this makes golf more interesting since it is even less predictable.
I beg to differ. I like GREATNESS and consistency and rivalries.
I like how they have to do it for 7 days in tennis.
I like how they have to do it directly against another human being on the court. And that to me is the life lesson here. In tennis you get the one-on-one battle and you have to make constant adjustments and tweaks based on what your opponent is doing. Isn't that more like life, where we constantly have to tweak our behavior based on the reactions and actions of others? The tennis match is like a chess game, each player trying to outsmart, as well as out hit, the other. That is simple AWESOME.
That is why I LOVE tennis.
AD OUT.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Who the Hell am I and What is this Blog For?
My name is Jake Willens, I am 32 years old, I live in Culver City, CA with my wife Jennie, 7 month old daughter Grace, yellow Lab Kona, and I am a TENNIS-AHOLIC. That’s right, I am powerless over my love for and obsession with tennis, and I may need a 12 step group to bring back my sanity.
Or perhaps this blog will provide a healthy outlet for my crazy tennis mind?
Jennie jokes that 4 times a year (the majors) when I have Direct TV’s 7 channels running in conjunction with ESPN 360’s live feed from our computer, I act like our daughter when she is playing with her ruby duckies in the bathtub. That’s how into I get.
It is kind of sick.
How did I get here? Well, I grew up on the west side of Los Angeles in a family where tennis was ingrained in our blood. My father and mother were professional players (actually my mom was in the top 10 in the world, but much to our dismay before women were even paid), and my two older sisters were college tennis players. My father’s two best friends are college tennis coaches, so one could say I was mildly surrounded by tennis. I couldn’t escape.
It was surprising then, when at age 12 after I had won several junior tennis tournaments and looked to have a bright future in the sport, I chose to focus instead on baseball. I went on to play baseball at Stanford (where my mom and sister had played tennis). I couldn’t escape tennis even there, though, as I lived in SAE, the frat with all of the tennis team, and I even wrote the men’s tennis beat for our school newspaper. We were #1 in the country both in tennis and in baseball when I was there, so I know a little bit about what it takes to play at a high level.
I also learned a ton about that from my grandfather, Frankie Albert, who was a great left-handed quarterback for Stanford University and the San Francisco 49ers. He also went on to coach the 9ers.
Do you get the idea that I have kind of been surrounded by sports my whole life?
It was only when I was well out of college and into my English teaching career at Brentwood School in Los Angeles that I fell back in love with tennis. It began slowly in 2004 when my dad told me about this Spanish clay courter he’d seen in a satellite tourni in Argentina. My dad said, watch out, this guy is for real. The kid’s name was Rafael Nadal. I started following his progress, and my love for men’s tennis continued to rise as fast as his ranking did.
That love became so strong that when I woke up the Monday after Wimbledon recently with tennis withdrawl and wanting someone to talk to about it, I knew I had to do something. Originally, my idea was to write a tennis book that would require much traveling, but I figured I want to do something before I retire in about 40 years (that is if I ever retire on a teacher’s salary)! So, this blog was born.
What is the purpose of this blog? Well, all blogs are about communicating, aren’t they? This one will hopefully allow us to communicate about tennis, and sports in general, and yes, even life lessons learned there. Let’s create a Center Court where tennis and sports lovers can read about and respond to issues both between and outside the white lines. I hope to make the appeal compelling enough, and broad enough, that all people who enjoy sports (and perhaps even a few who don’t) can sit up and say, “hey, yeah, totally!” Or even, “what, no way, dude.”
And when all is said and done, maybe you’ll even agree with me that tennis the greatest sport in the world and the one that teaches us the most life lessons.
This is what I do every day with my Middle School students; we try to find the lessons for all of us in Shakespeare or Mark Twain or Langston Hughes.
Why not Nadal and Federer?
Let’s serve ‘em up.
AD OUT…
Or perhaps this blog will provide a healthy outlet for my crazy tennis mind?
Jennie jokes that 4 times a year (the majors) when I have Direct TV’s 7 channels running in conjunction with ESPN 360’s live feed from our computer, I act like our daughter when she is playing with her ruby duckies in the bathtub. That’s how into I get.
It is kind of sick.
How did I get here? Well, I grew up on the west side of Los Angeles in a family where tennis was ingrained in our blood. My father and mother were professional players (actually my mom was in the top 10 in the world, but much to our dismay before women were even paid), and my two older sisters were college tennis players. My father’s two best friends are college tennis coaches, so one could say I was mildly surrounded by tennis. I couldn’t escape.
It was surprising then, when at age 12 after I had won several junior tennis tournaments and looked to have a bright future in the sport, I chose to focus instead on baseball. I went on to play baseball at Stanford (where my mom and sister had played tennis). I couldn’t escape tennis even there, though, as I lived in SAE, the frat with all of the tennis team, and I even wrote the men’s tennis beat for our school newspaper. We were #1 in the country both in tennis and in baseball when I was there, so I know a little bit about what it takes to play at a high level.
I also learned a ton about that from my grandfather, Frankie Albert, who was a great left-handed quarterback for Stanford University and the San Francisco 49ers. He also went on to coach the 9ers.
Do you get the idea that I have kind of been surrounded by sports my whole life?
It was only when I was well out of college and into my English teaching career at Brentwood School in Los Angeles that I fell back in love with tennis. It began slowly in 2004 when my dad told me about this Spanish clay courter he’d seen in a satellite tourni in Argentina. My dad said, watch out, this guy is for real. The kid’s name was Rafael Nadal. I started following his progress, and my love for men’s tennis continued to rise as fast as his ranking did.
That love became so strong that when I woke up the Monday after Wimbledon recently with tennis withdrawl and wanting someone to talk to about it, I knew I had to do something. Originally, my idea was to write a tennis book that would require much traveling, but I figured I want to do something before I retire in about 40 years (that is if I ever retire on a teacher’s salary)! So, this blog was born.
What is the purpose of this blog? Well, all blogs are about communicating, aren’t they? This one will hopefully allow us to communicate about tennis, and sports in general, and yes, even life lessons learned there. Let’s create a Center Court where tennis and sports lovers can read about and respond to issues both between and outside the white lines. I hope to make the appeal compelling enough, and broad enough, that all people who enjoy sports (and perhaps even a few who don’t) can sit up and say, “hey, yeah, totally!” Or even, “what, no way, dude.”
And when all is said and done, maybe you’ll even agree with me that tennis the greatest sport in the world and the one that teaches us the most life lessons.
This is what I do every day with my Middle School students; we try to find the lessons for all of us in Shakespeare or Mark Twain or Langston Hughes.
Why not Nadal and Federer?
Let’s serve ‘em up.
AD OUT…
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