News, gossip and other items of interest from the world of tennis:
Scud Was a Dud
Amanda finally speaks! What’s that? Amanda who? You know, Amanda Salinas, the woman who stole Mark Philippoussis’ heart on "Age of Love," the reality TV show that introduced “cougar” to our pop culture vernacular. Yes, it aired two years ago and nobody cares anymore (if they even cared then), but the winning kitten is purring her heart out about the failed relationship. She says they broke up because Philippoussis liked to spend money on gadgets, was “aloof,” and would watch movies instead of working out. Sounds like every guy I’ve ever dated, but anyway… The most interesting revelation here is that Salinas and Philippoussis were together for five months. (I gave them a week.)
Battle of the Sexes...Really
A woman in Raleigh, N.C., is suing the city for discrimination. Tennis player Nancy Griffin claims men don’t want to play her (apparently she wins a lot of the time), and that she is owed $10,000 or more for the emotional distress the situation has caused her. Her league used to have a rule that penalized a player for not taking up an opponent’s challenge to a match. The rule was rescinded three years ago, and Griffin believes it should be brought back because she’s not getting a chance to play against quality players. Her lawyer addresses some readers’ comments here. I’m not a legal expert, but it seems like this could get more interesting, and depending on the outcome, it could affect the future of league competition. Is that possible?
Technicality Speaking
The Recreation Wish List Committee, a group that offers educational and tennis programs and that helped launch the Southeast Tennis and Learning Center in Washington, DC, is facing eviction, the Washington Post reports. Founded by Cora Masters Barry, the estranged wife of former DC mayor Marion Barry, the center has hosted tennis clinics with the Williams sisters. The city, which owns the center, told the RWLC that it needed to vacate the center in 30 days because its corporate registration had been revoked. Many parents are rallying around the organization. Based on what I’ve read, it certainly seems to have a good reputation. Let’s hope things get worked out and the group can continue to operate through the center.
USTA Plays “Spot the Talent” in Maryland
Speaking of the Washington area and the Post, the newspaper has a feature and slideshow on the Junior Tennis Champions Center in College Park, Maryland. The center, founded in 1999, was named the first USTA regional training center for finding talented American players, like Top 10 junior Denis Kudla, who has been going to the center since he was 8.
A “Grubby” Affair Down Under
Wow, a lot of legal stuff going on around tennis these days. Bec Cartwright, Lleyton Hewitt's wife, is suing a magazine for saying she was having an affair...with her brother. Well, the magazine didn't really say that, but it printed a picture identifying her brother as the man with whom she was supposedly cheating on Hewitt.
Bryan Brothers Album News
I thought this story was about the Bryan brothers, who are putting out their first album, Let It Rip, in September. (Turns out the story is about the Tennis family gospel singers.) As for the No. 1 men’s doubles team, they’re going to be performing some songs at Arthur Ashe Kids Day on the Saturday prior to the U.S. Open, and will be playing at Mercury Lounge in NYC on August 30. For more information, the Bryan brothers have launched a music website, bryanbrosband.com. For more information about the third member of the band, David Baron, click here.
Don’t Mess the Dress!
I was catching up on some New Yorker reading the other day, and in the June 29, 2009 issue, there’s a humorous description of tennis by Edith Wharton, the author of Age of Innocence. Wharton, writing to her governess Anna Bahlmann in August 1876, says that lawn tennis is “difficult, tiresome, & destructive to pretty dresses & to the complexion, but nevertheless delightful.” Funny how styles change, but attitudes don’t. Here’s a tennis video series I think Edith would approve of.
Mark Your Calendar
“Shaq Vs.” premieres Tuesday, Aug. 18, at 9:00 EST on ABC. As I mentioned in Backcourt a couple weeks ago, Shaquille O’Neal is taking on professional athletes at their own sport, and Serena Williams is his opponent for tennis. “There’s no way she’s stopping this serve,” he says in the promo at ABC.com. Can’t wait to see him try to ace her. In the first episode, he’ll be playing 7-on-7 football against a team that features Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger.
Stat of the Week
Serena Williams wears a size 10.5 shoe. (Stat courtesy of ABC.com)
Ready to Rent
Some experts believe now is the time to purchase real estate. If you’re looking for a place near a famous tennis venue, the *Wall Street Journal* has three homes you might want to consider. Hey, you can always rent out rooms during the tournaments to help pay your mortgage on the new digs.
Tennis Meets Design
If you happen to be in the New York area, say, over the next three weeks, you might want to stop by the Hayden-Hartnett store in the Nolita neighborhood of Manhattan. Why? So you can check out a cool art installation by Hugh Hayden. Hayden, 25, is a Brooklyn-based furniture designer who has become quite well known in the tennis world for his tennis ball chairs. There will be more on Hugh and his HEX Tennis furniture collection in Backcourt next week. Meanwhile, go see his current installation at Hayden-Hartnett, which is located at 253 Elizabeth Street.
Sarah Thurmond is an associate editor at TENNIS. Follow her on Twitter.