I know that it sounds like a commercial when I use brand names and model versions, etc., but I feel that it is important to be as specific as possible when recommending something.
For instance, I have tested various brands of cushioned and/or gel-type shoe inserts, but the one that I have found the most durable is the DrScholl’s model mentioned in the following video:
I hope that you enjoyed this tip. If you have a tennis tip and/or trick that you would like to share, email me and I’ll try to make arrangements to feature it on this site!
Be sure to share with your other Tennis Friends, and I’ll see you next time, with more tennis, . . . outside the lines!
I attended the grand opening of a brand new tennis facility in my area, Andulka Park and Tennis Center.
The name comes from the Czech equivalent of “Little Anne”, which is the childhood nickname of the wife of the philanthropic family who donated this land to the city. The site was designated specifically for community park purposes.
Correction: It was not the owner, but the Director of Tennis, Larry Loeb, who was on center court. Also, apparently Mr. “Stickler for Pronunciation” kept mispronouncing the name of the park as “an-duh-LOOK-uh”, rather than the proper pronunciation of “an-DOOLK-uh”. Sheesh!
I’ll see you next time, with more tennis, . . . outside the lines!
Occasionally there are special events that come along, that are way too much fun!
The K•Swiss Global Tennis Showdown 2009
That’s right, actor and comedian Will Ferrell was facing off against former Swedish World Champion Mats Wilander. In addition, TV comic actor and writer Andy Richter (Conan O’Brien’s original sidekick) was to be the chair umpire!
Celebrity exhibition matches are so entertaining, because it’s usually very unconventional. Will Ferrell decided that because Mats was a foreigner, he had better protect himself from the flu virus, and donned a surgical mask:
At one point, Will needed a little bit more of an advantage in hitting the ball:
In order to handicap Mats, at one point he was required to hold hands with two of the ball kids while playing. Will felt that this was a little too unfair, so he opted to even things out, by actually carrying around a ball kid on his back:
The main singles event was followed by a doubles match of Ferrell and Wilander taking on Rainn Wilson (Dwight, from the TV show “The Office”) and former ATP World Tour touring pro and Tennis Channel commentator, Justin Gimelstob.
All of this mayhem resulted in an extended video report.
A couple of notes:
#1. For the record, there were no coaches, coaching, or Hawk-Eye replays.
#2. Sometimes I have to do more than one “take” for each of my bits. Mostly they are pretty uneventful mistakes, but sometimes they are funnier, depending on who you’re standing next to:
Correction: That was Mark who was the host from the TV Guide Network, . . . Aaron was the cameraman’s name.
Thanks to all of the support staff in making this such a successful event, especially these friendly ladies who are, I believe, teachers at The Swedish School of Los Angeles:
If you ever get a chance to make it to a celebrity exhibition match, I strongly encourage you to go. Hopefully this same event will be back next year!
I’ll see you next time, with more tennis, . . . outside the lines!
It’s time for our final matches of the season, and since our team is 3-3 overall, it will determine wether it will be a winning season, . . . or not.
Since these posts are “time shifted”, I now have the report on our final placement in our area, and the neck-and-neck battle for third place.
We had two strong teams that took first and second place, and when all of the rackets were down, and the balls had stopped bouncing, our team ended up in fourth place by only three individual wins! We kept in the upper half of our eight team draw by two individual wins. We fell right into the middle of the three way tie with a record of 4-3.
A winning team season, and Patti and I only lost the one match. Plus, more importantly, we had a lot of fun!
I hope that you enjoyed these reports. Be sure to share with your other Tennis Friends, and I’ll see you next time, with more tennis, . . . outside the lines!
